Властелин колец: Возвращение короля

           ‘Thesearetheterms,’saidtheMessenger,andsmiledasheeyedthemonebyone.‘TherabbleofGondoranditsdeludedalliesshallwithdrawatoncebeyondtheAnduin,firsttakingoathsneveragaintoassailSaurontheGreatinarms,openorsecret.AlllandseastofAnduinshallbeSauron’sforever,solely.WestoftheAnduinasfarastheMistyMountainsandtheGapofRohanshallbetributarytoMordor,andmenthereshallbearnoweapons,butshallhaveleavetogoverntheirownaffairs.ButtheyshallhelptorebuildIsengardwhichtheyhavewantonlydestroyed,andthatshallbeSauron’s,andtherehislieutenantshalldwell:notSaruman,butonemoreworthyoftrust.’

           LookingintheMessenger’seyestheyreadhisthought.Hewastobethatlieutenant,andgatherallthatremainedoftheWestunderhissway;hewouldbetheirtyrantandtheyhisslaves.

           ButGandalfsaid:‘Thisismuchtodemandforthedeliveryofoneservant:thatyourMastershouldreceiveinexchangewhathemustelsefightmanyawartogain!OrhasthefieldofGondordestroyedhishopeinwar,sothathefallstohaggling?Andifindeedweratedthisprisonersohigh,whatsuretyhavewethatSaurontheBaseMasterofTreachery,willkeephispart?Whereisthisprisoner?Lethimbebroughtforthandyieldedtous,andthenwewillconsiderthesedemands.’

           ItseemedthentoGandalf,intent,watchinghimasamanengagedinfencingwithadeadlyfoe,thatforthetakingofabreaththeMessengerwasataloss;yetswiftlyhelaughedagain.