Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Ride of the Rohirrim
Hefeltnowbitterlythetruthoftheoldking’swords:insuchabattlewhatwouldyoudoMeriadoc?Justthis,’hethought:‘encumberarider,andhopeatbesttostayinmyseatandnotbepoundedtodeathbygallopinghoofs!’
Itwasnomorethanaleaguetowheretheout-wallshadstood.Theysoonreachedthem;toosoonforMerry.Wildcriesbrokeout,andtherewassomeclashofarms,butitwasbrief.Theorcsbusyaboutthewallswerefewandamazed,andtheywerequicklyslainordrivenoff.Beforetheruinofthenorth-gateintheRammasthekinghaltedagain.Thefirstéoreddrewupbehindhimandabouthimoneitherside.Dernhelmkeptclosetotheking,thoughElfhelm’scompanywasawayontheright.Grimbold’smenturnedasideandpassedroundtoagreatgapinthewallfurthereastward.
MerrypeeredfrombehindDernhelm’sback.Faraway,maybetenmilesormore,therewasagreatburning,butbetweenitandtheRiderslinesoffireblazedinavastcrescent,atthenearestpointlessthanaleaguedistant.Hecouldmakeoutlittlemoreonthedarkplain,andasyetheneithersawanyhopeofmorning,norfeltanywind,changedorunchanged.
NowsilentlythehostofRohanmovedforwardintothefieldofGondor,pouringinslowlybutsteadily,liketherisingtidethroughbreachesinadikethatmenhavethoughtsecure.ButthemindandwilloftheBlackCaptainwerebentwhollyonthefallingcity,andasyetnotidingscametohimwarningthathisdesignsheldanyflaw.
