Властелин колец: Братство кольца
Flight to the Ford
Stridernowturnedtheircourseagainnorth-eastwards,andonthesixthdaytheyreachedthetopofalongslow-climbingslope,andsawfaraheadahuddleofwoodedhills.AwaybelowthemtheycouldseetheRoadsweepingroundthefeetofthehills;andtotheirrightagreyrivergleamedpaleinthethinsunshine.Inthedistancetheyglimpsedyetanotherriverinastonyvalleyhalf-veiledinmist.
‘IamafraidwemustgobacktotheRoadhereforawhile,’saidStrider.‘WehavenowcometotheRiverHoarwell,thattheElvescallMitheithel.ItflowsdownoutoftheEttenmoors,thetroll-fellsnorthofRivendell,andjoinstheLoudwaterawayintheSouth.SomecallittheGreyfloodafterthat.ItisagreatwaterbeforeitfindstheSea.ThereisnowayoveritbelowitssourcesintheEttenmoors,exceptbytheLastBridgeonwhichtheRoadcrosses.’
‘Whatisthatotherriverwecanseefarawaythere?’askedMerry.
‘ThatisLoudwater,theBruinenofRivendell,’answeredStrider.‘TheRoadrunsalongtheedgeofthehillsformanymilesfromtheBridgetotheFordofBruinen.ButIhavenotyetthoughthowweshallcrossthatwater.Oneriveratatime!WeshallbefortunateindeedifwedonotfindtheLastBridgeheldagainstus.’
Nextday,earlyinthemorning,theycamedownagaintothebordersoftheRoad.SamandStriderwentforward,buttheyfoundnosignofanytravellersorriders.Hereundertheshadowofthehillstherehadbeensomerain.Striderjudgedthatithadfallentwodaysbefore,andhadwashedawayallfootprints.
