Властелин колец: Братство кольца
A Knife in the Dark
Sotightenyourbelts,andthinkwithhopeofthetablesofElrond’shouse!’
Thecoldincreasedasdarknesscameon.Peeringoutfromtheedgeofthedelltheycouldseenothingbutagreylandnowvanishingquicklyintoshadow.Theskyabovehadclearedagainandwasslowlyfilledwithtwinklingstars.Frodoandhiscompanionshuddledroundthefire,wrappedineverygarmentandblankettheypossessed;butStriderwascontentwithasinglecloak,andsatalittleapart,drawingthoughtfullyathispipe.
Asnightfellandthelightofthefirebegantoshineoutbrightlyhebegantotellthemtalestokeeptheirmindsfromfear.Heknewmanyhistoriesandlegendsoflongago,ofElvesandMenandthegoodandevildeedsoftheElderDays.Theywonderedhowoldhewas,andwherehehadlearnedallthislore.
‘TellusofGil-galad,’saidMerrysuddenly,whenhepausedattheendofastoryoftheElf-kingdoms.‘Doyouknowanymoreofthatoldlaythatyouspokeof?’
‘Idoindeed,’answeredStrider.‘SoalsodoesFrodo,foritconcernsusclosely.’MerryandPippinlookedatFrodo,whowasstaringintothefire.
‘IknowonlythelittlethatGandalfhastoldme,’saidFrodoslowly.‘Gil-galadwasthelastofthegreatElf-kingsofMiddle-earth.Gil-galadisStarlightintheirtongue.WithElendil,theElf-friend,hewenttothelandof—’
‘No!’saidStriderinterrupting,‘IdonotthinkthattaleshouldbetoldnowwiththeservantsoftheEnemyathand.IfwewinthroughtothehouseofElrond,youmayhearitthere,toldinfull.’
