Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Ride of the Rohirrim
Nowthetimewasanxious,andthehostwasinperil.Theywerelessthanaday’sridefromtheout-wallsofMinasTiriththatencircledthetownlands.Scoutshadbeensentahead.Somehadnotreturned.Othershasteningbackhadreportedthattheroadwasheldinforceagainstthem.Ahostoftheenemywasencampeduponit,threemileswestofAmonDîn,andsomestrengthofmenwasalreadythrustingalongtheroadandwasnomorethanthreeleaguesaway.Orcswererovinginthehillsandwoodsalongtheroadside.ThekingandÉomerheldcouncilinthewatchesofthenight.
Merrywantedsomebodytotalkto,andhethoughtofPippin.Butthatonlyincreasedhisrestlessness.PoorPippin,shutupinthegreatcityofstone,lonelyandafraid.MerrywishedhewasatallRiderlikeÉomerandcouldblowahornorsomethingandgogallopingtohisrescue.Hesatup,listeningtothedrumsthatwerebeatingagain,nownearerathand.Presentlyheheardvoicesspeakinglow,andhesawdimhalf-shroudedlanternspassingthroughthetrees.Mennearbybegantomoveuncertainlyinthedark.
Atallfigureloomedupandstumbledoverhim,cursingthetree-roots.HerecognizedthevoiceoftheMarshal,Elfhelm.
‘Iamnotatree-root,Sir,’hesaid,‘norabag,butabruisedhobbit.Theleastyoucandoinamendsistotellmewhatisafoot.’
‘Anythingthatcankeepsointhisdevil’smirk,’answeredElfhelm.‘Butmylordsendswordthatwemustsetourselvesinreadiness:ordersmaycomeforasuddenmove.’
‘Istheenemycomingthen?’askedMerryanxiously.
