Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Black Gate Opens
Butitistoldthathewasarenegade,whocameoftheraceofthosethatarenamedtheBlackNúmenóreans;fortheyestablishedtheirdwellingsinMiddle-earthduringtheyearsofSauron’sdomination,andtheyworshippedhim,beingenamouredofevilknowledge.AndheenteredtheserviceoftheDarkTowerwhenitfirstroseagain,andbecauseofhiscunninghegreweverhigherintheLord’sfavour;andhelearnedgreatsorcery,andknewmuchofthemindofSauron;andhewasmorecruelthananyorc.
Heitwasthatnowrodeout,andwithhimcameonlyasmallcompanyofblack-harnessedsoldiery,andasinglebanner,blackbutbearingonitinredtheEvilEye.NowhaltingafewpacesbeforetheCaptainsoftheWesthelookedthemupanddownandlaughed.
‘Isthereanyoneinthisroutwithauthoritytotreatwithme?’heasked.‘Orindeedwithwittounderstandme?Notthouatleast!’hemocked,turningtoAragornwithscorn.‘Itneedsmoretomakeakingthanapieceofelvishglass,orarabblesuchasthis.Why,anybrigandofthehillscanshowasgoodafollowing!’
Aragornsaidnaughtinanswer,buthetooktheother’seyeandheldit,andforamomenttheystrovethus;butsoon,thoughAragorndidnotstirnormovehandtoweapon,theotherquailedandgavebackasifmenacedwithablow.‘Iamaheraldandambassador,andmaynotbeassailed!’hecried.
‘Wheresuchlawshold,’saidGandalf,‘itisalsothecustomforambassadorstouselessinsolence.Butnoonehasthreatenedyou.
