Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Black Gate Opens
AndoutofthegatheringmirktheNazgûlcamewith.theircoldvoicescryingwordsofdeath;andthenallhopewasquenched.
PippinhadbowedcrushedwithhorrorwhenheheardGandalfrejectthetermsanddoomFrodotothetormentoftheTower;buthehadmasteredhimself,andnowhestoodbesideBeregondinthefrontrankofGondorwithImrahil’smen.Foritseemedbesttohimtodiesoonandleavethebitterstoryofhislife,sinceallwasinruin.
‘IwishMerrywashere,’heheardhimselfsaying,andquickthoughtsracedthroughhismind,evenashewatchedtheenemycomechargingtotheassault.‘Well,well,nowatanyrateIunderstandpoorDenethoralittlebetter.Wemightdietogether,MerryandI,andsincediewemust,whynot?Well,asheisnothere,Ihopehe’llfindaneasierend.ButnowImustdomybest.’
Hedrewhisswordandlookedatit,andtheintertwiningshapesofredandgold;andtheflowingcharactersofNúmenorglintedlikefireupontheblade.‘Thiswasmadeforjustsuchanhour,’hethought.‘IfonlyIcouldsmitethatfoulMessengerwithit,thenalmostIshoulddrawlevelwitholdMerry.Well,I’llsmitesomeofthisbeastlybroodbeforetheend.IwishIcouldseecoolsunlightandgreengrassagain!’
Thenevenashethoughtthesethingsthefirstassaultcrashedintothem.Theorcshinderedbythemiresthatlaybeforethehillshaltedandpouredtheirarrowsintothedefendingranks.Butthroughthemtherecamestridingup,roaringlikebeasts,agreatcompanyofhill-trollsoutofGorgoroth.
