Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Passing of the Grey Company
Thenumberofthepursuerscouldnotbetold,buttheyseemednofewerthantheking’sescort,attheleast.
Whentheyweresomefiftypacesoff,Éomercriedinaloudvoice:‘Halt!Halt!WhoridesinRohan?’
Thepursuersbroughttheirsteedstoasuddenstand.Asilencefollowed:andtheninthemoonlight,ahorsemancouldbeseendismountingandwalkingslowlyforward.Hishandshowedwhiteashehelditup,palmoutward,intokenofpeace;buttheking’smengrippedtheirweapons.Attenpacesthemanstopped.Hewastall,adarkstandingshadow.Thenhisclearvoicerangout.
‘Rohan?Rohandidyousay?Thatisagladword.Weseekthatlandinhastefromlongafar.’
‘Youhavefoundit,’saidÉomer.‘Whenyoucrossedthefordsyonderyouenteredit.ButitistherealmofThéodentheKing.Nonerideheresavebyhisleave.Whoareyou?Andwhatisyourhaste?’
‘HalbaradDúnadan,RangeroftheNorthIam,’criedtheman.‘WeseekoneAragornsonofArathorn,andweheardthathewasinRohan.’
‘Andyouhavefoundhimalso!’criedAragorn.GivinghisreinstoMerry,heranforwardandembracedthenewcomer.‘Halbarad!’hesaid.‘Ofalljoysthisistheleastexpected!’
Merrybreathedasighofrelief.HehadthoughtthatthiswassomelasttrickofSaruman’s,towaylaythekingwhilehehadonlyafewmenabouthim;butitseemedthattherewouldbenoneedtodieinThéoden’sdefence,notyetatanyrate.Hesheathedhissword.
‘Alliswell,’saidAragorn,turningback.
