Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Muster of Rohan
Nowhavingeatenhemadereadytosetoutagain,andhewishedhisesquireakindlyfarewell.ButMerrybeggedforthelasttimenottobepartedfromhim.
‘ThisisnojourneyforsuchsteedsasStybba,asIhavetoldyou‘saidThéoden.‘AndinsuchabattleaswethinktomakeonthefieldsofGondorwhatwouldyoudo,MasterMeriadoc,sword-thainthoughyoube,andgreaterofheartthanofstature?’
‘Asforthat,whocantell?’answeredMerry.‘Butwhy,lord,didyoureceivemeassword-thain,ifnottostaybyyourside?AndIwouldnothaveitsaidofmeinsongonlythatIwasalwaysleftbehind!’
‘Ireceivedyouforyoursafe-keeping,’answeredThéoden;‘andalsotodoasImightbid.NoneofmyRiderscanbearyouasburden.Ifthebattlewerebeforemygates,maybeyourdeedswouldberememberedbytheminstrels;butitisahundredleaguesandtwotoMundburgwhereDenethorislord.Iwillsaynomore.’
Merrybowedandwentawayunhappily,andstaredatthelinesofhorsemen.Alreadythecompanieswerepreparingtostart:menweretighteninggirths,lookingtosaddles,caressingtheirhorses;somegazeduneasilyattheloweringsky.UnnoticedaRidercameupandspokesoftlyinthehobbit’sear.
‘Wherewillwantsnot,awayopens,sowesay,’hewhispered;‘andsoIhavefoundmyself.’MerrylookedupandsawthatitwastheyoungRiderwhomhehadnoticedinthemorning.‘YouwishtogowhithertheLordoftheMarkgoes:Iseeitinyourface.’
‘Ido,’saidMerry.
‘Thenyoushallgowithme,’saidtheRider.
