Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Passing of the Grey Company
‘Yes,’saidAragorn,‘andyourroadlieswithhim,Ithink,Merry.Butdonotlookformirthattheending.Itwillbelong,Ifear,ereThéodensitsateaseagaininMeduseld.ManyhopeswillwitherinthisbitterSpring.’
Soonallwerereadytodepart:twenty-fourhorses,withGimlibehindLegolas,andMerryinfrontofAragorn.Presentlytheywereridingswiftlythroughthenight.TheyhadnotlongpassedthemoundsattheFordsofIsen,whenaRidergallopedupfromtherearoftheirline.
‘Mylord,’hesaidtotheking,‘therearehorsemenbehindus.AswecrossedthefordsIthoughtthatIheardthem.Nowwearesure.Theyareovertakingus,ridinghard.’
Théodenatoncecalledahalt.TheRidersturnedaboutandseizedtheirspears.AragorndismountedandsetMerryontheground,anddrawinghisswordhestoodbytheking’sstirrup.Éomerandhisesquirerodebacktotherear.Merryfeltmorelikeunneededbaggagethanever,andhewondered,iftherewasafight,whatheshoulddo.Supposingtheking’ssmallescortwastrappedandovercome,butheescapedintothedarkness-aloneinthewildfieldsofRohanwithnoideaofwherehewasinalltheendlessmiles?‘Nogood!’hethought.Hedrewhisswordandtightenedhisbelt.
Thesinkingmoonwasobscuredbyagreatsailingcloud,butsuddenlyitrodeoutclearagain.Thentheyallheardthesoundofhoofs,andatthesamemomenttheysawdarkshapescomingswiftlyonthepathfromthefords.Themoonlightglintedhereandthereonthepointsofspears.
