Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
Minas Tirith
‘ApawndidGandalfsay?Perhapsbutonthewrongchessboard.’
Sotheytalkeduntilthesunreacheditsheight,andsuddenlythenoon-bellswererung,andtherewasastirinthecitadel;forallsavethewatchmenweregoingtotheirmeal.
‘Willyoucomewithme?’saidBeregond.‘Youmayjoinmymessforthisday.Idonotknowtowhatcompanyyouwillbeassigned;ortheLordmayholdyouathisowncommand.Butyouwillbewelcome.Anditwillbewelltomeetasmanymenasyoumay,whilethereisyettime.’
‘Ishallbegladtocome,’saidPippin.‘Iamlonely,totellyouthetruth.IleftmybestfriendbehindinRohan,andIhavehadnoonetotalktoorjestwith.PerhapsIcouldreallyjoinyourcompany?Areyouthecaptain?Ifso,youcouldtakemeon,orspeakforme?’
‘Nay,nay,’Beregondlaughed,‘Iamnocaptain.NeitherofficenorranknorlordshiphaveI,beingbutaplainmanofarmsoftheThirdCompanyoftheCitadel.Yet,MasterPeregrin,tobeonlyamanofarmsoftheGuardoftheTowerofGondorisheldworthyintheCity,andsuchmenhavehonourintheland.’
‘Thenitisfarbeyondme,’saidPippin.‘Takemebacktoourroom,andifGandalfisnotthere,Iwillgowhereyoulike-asyourguest.’
Gandalfwasnotinthelodgingandhadsentnomessage;soPippinwentwithBeregondandwasmadeknowntothemenoftheThirdCompany.AnditseemedthatBeregondgotasmuchhonourfromitashisguest,forPippinwasverywelcome.
