Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
Minas Tirith
‘Whatsayyoutothat,Halfling?’
‘Thirteen,thirteendays,’falteredPippin.‘Yes,Ithinkthatwouldbeso.Yes,Istoodbesidehim,asheblewthehorn.Butnohelpcame.Onlymoreorcs.’
‘So,’saidDenethor,lookingkeenlyatPippin’sface.‘Youwerethere?Tellmemore!Whydidnohelpcome?Andhowdidyouescape,andyethedidnot,somightyamanashewas,andonlyorcstowithstandhim?’
Pippinflushedandforgothisfear.‘Themightiestmanmaybeslainbyonearrow,’hesaid;‘andBoromirwaspiercedbymany.WhenlastIsawhimhesankbesideatreeandpluckedablack-featheredshaftfromhisside.ThenIswoonedandwasmadecaptive.Isawhimnomore,andknownomore.ButIhonourhismemory,forhewasveryvaliant.Hediedtosaveus,mykinsmanMeriadocandmyself,waylaidinthewoodsbythesoldieryoftheDarkLord;andthoughhefellandfailed,mygratitudeisnonetheless.’
ThenPippinlookedtheoldmanintheeye,forpridestirredstrangelywithinhim,stillstungbythescornandsuspicioninthatcoldvoice.‘Littleservice,nodoubt,willsogreatalordofMenthinktofindinahobbit,ahalflingfromthenorthernShire;yetsuchasitis,Iwillofferit,inpaymentofmydebt.’Twitchingasidehisgreycloak,PippindrewforthhissmallswordandlaiditatDenethor’sfeet.
Apalesmile,likeagleamofcoldsunonawinter’sevening,passedovertheoldman’sface;buthebenthisheadandheldouthishand,layingtheshardsofthehornaside.‘Givemetheweapon!’hesaid.
