Властелин колец: Возвращение короля

           TherehadalreadybeenmuchtalkinthecitadelaboutMithrandir’scompanionandhislongclosetingwiththeLord;andrumourdeclaredthataPrinceoftheHalflingshadcomeoutoftheNorthtoofferallegiancetoGondorandfivethousandswords.AndsomesaidthatwhentheRiderscamefromRohaneachwouldbringbehindhimahalflingwarrior,smallmaybe,butdoughty.

           ThoughPippinhadregretfullytodestroythishopefultale,hecouldnotberidofhisnewrank,onlyfitting,menthought,toonebefriendedbyBoromirandhonouredbytheLordDenethor;andtheythankedhimforcomingamongthem,andhungonhiswordsandstoriesoftheoutlands,andgavehimasmuchfoodandaleashecouldwish.Indeedhisonlytroublewastobe‘wary’accordingtothecounselofGandalf,andnottolethistonguewagfreelyafterthemannerofahobbitamongfriends.

           AtlengthBeregondrose.‘Farewellforthistime!’hesaid.‘Ihavedutynowtillsundown,ashavealltheothershere,Ithink.Butifyouarelonely,asyousay,maybeyouwouldlikeamerryguideabouttheCity.Mysonwouldgowithyougladly.Agoodlad,Imaysay.Ifthatpleasesyou,godowntothelowestcircleandaskfortheOldGuesthouseintheRathCelerdain,theLampwrights’Street.YouwillfindhimtherewithotherladsthatareremainingintheCity.TheremaybethingsworthseeingdownattheGreatGateeretheclosing.’

           Hewentout,andsoonafteralltheothersfollowed.Thedaywasstillfine,thoughitwasgrowinghazy,anditwashotforMarch,evensofarsouthwards.