Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Siege of Gondor
MessengerscameagaintothechamberintheWhiteTower,andPippinletthementer,fortheywereurgent.DenethorturnedhisheadslowlyfromFaramir’sface,andlookedatthemsilently.
‘ThefirstcircleoftheCityisburning,lord,’theysaid.‘Whatareyourcommands?YouarestilltheLordandSteward.NotallwillfollowMithrandir.Menareflyingfromthewallsandleavingthemunmanned.’
‘Why?Whydothefoolsfly?’saidDenethor.‘Bettertoburnsoonerthanlate,forburnwemust.Gobacktoyourbonfire!AndI?Iwillgonowtomypyre.Tomypyre!NotombforDenethorandFaramir.Notomb!Nolongslowsleepofdeathembalmed.WewillburnlikeheathenkingsbeforeeverashipsailedhitherfromtheWest.TheWesthasfailed.Gobackandburn!’
Themessengerswithoutboworanswerturnedandfled.
NowDenethorstoodupandreleasedthefeveredhandofFaramirthathehadheld.‘Heisburning,alreadyburning,’hesaidsadly.‘Thehouseofhisspiritcrumbles.’ThensteppingsoftlytowardsPippinhelookeddownathim.
‘Farewell!’hesaid.‘Farewell,PeregrinsonofPaladin!Yourservicehasbeenshort,andnowitisdrawingtoanend.Ireleaseyoufromthelittlethatremains.Gonow,anddieinwhatwayseemsbesttoyou.Andwithwhomyouwill,eventhatfriendwhosefollybroughtyoutothisdeath.Sendformyservantsandthengo.Farewell!’
‘Iwillnotsayfarewell,mylord,’saidPippinkneeling.Andthensuddenlyhobbit-likeoncemore,hestoodupandlookedtheoldmanintheeyes.
