Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Ride of the Rohirrim
AlreadysheclimbsoverEast-mountains.Itistheopeningofdayinthesky-fields.’
‘Thenwemustsetoutassoonasmaybe,’saidÉomer.‘EvensowecannothopetocometoGondor’saidtoday.’
Merrywaitedtohearnomore,butslippedawaytogetreadyforthesummonstothemarch.Thiswasthelaststagebeforethebattle.Itdidnotseemlikelytohimthatmanyofthemwouldsurviveit.ButhethoughtofPippinandtheflamesinMinasTirithandthrustdownhisowndread.
Allwentwellthatday,andnosightorsoundhadtheyoftheenemywaitingtowaylaythem.TheWildMenhadputoutascreenofwaryhunters,sothatnoorcorrovingspyshouldlearnofthemovementsinthehills.Thelightwasmoredimthaneverastheydrewnearertothebeleagueredcity,andtheRiderspassedinlongfileslikedarkshadowsofmenandhorses.Eachcompanywasguidedbyawildwoodman;butoldGhânwalkedbesidetheking.Thestarthadbeenslowerthanwashoped,forithadtakentimefortheRiders,walkingandleadingtheirhorses,tofindpathsoverthethicklywoodedridgesbehindtheircampanddownintothehiddenStonewainValley.ItwaslateintheafternoonwhentheleaderscametowidegreythicketsstretchingbeyondtheeastwardsideofAmonDîn,andmaskingagreatgapinthelineofhillsthatfromNardoltoDînraneastandwest.
