Властелин колец: Братство кольца
The Council of Elrond
"AsasmalltokenonlyofyourfriendshipSauronasksthis,"hesaid:"thatyoushouldfindthisthief,"suchwashisword,"andgetfromhim,willingorno,alittlering,theleastofrings,thatoncehestole.ItisbutatriflethatSauronfancies,andanearnestofyourgoodwill.Findit,andthreeringsthattheDwarfsirespossessedofoldshallbereturnedtoyou,andtherealmofMoriashallbeyoursforever.Findonlynewsofthethief,whetherhestilllivesandwhere,andyoushallhavegreatrewardandlastingfriendshipfromtheLord.Refuse,andthingswillnotseemsowell.Doyourefuse?"
"Atthathisbreathcamelikethehissofsnakes,andallwhostoodbyshuddered,butDainsaid:"Isayneitheryeanornay.Imustconsiderthismessageandwhatitmeansunderitsfaircloak."
"Considerwell,butnottoolong,"saidhe.
"Thetimeofmythoughtismyowntospend,"answeredDain.
"Forthepresent,"saidhe,androdeintothedarkness.
"Heavyhavetheheartsofourchieftainsbeensincethatnight.Weneedednotthefellvoiceofthemessengertowarnusthathiswordsheldbothmenaceanddeceit;forweknewalreadythatthepowerthathasre-enteredMordorhasnotchanged,andeveritbetrayedusofold.Twicethemessengerhasreturned,andhasgoneunanswered.Thethirdandlasttime,sohesays,issoontocome,beforetheendingoftheyear.
