Властелин колец: Братство кольца
The Ring Goes South
Nolivinghobbit(saveBilbo)couldremembertheFellWinterof1311,whenthewhitewolvesinvadedtheShireoverthefrozenBrandywine.
Gandalfhalted.Snowwasthickonhishoodandshoulders;itwasalreadyankle-deepabouthisboots.
"ThisiswhatIfeared,"hesaid."Whatdoyousaynow,Aragorn?"
"ThatIfearedittoo,"Aragornanswered,"butlessthanotherthings.Iknewtheriskofsnow,thoughitseldomfallsheavilysofarsouth,savehighupinthemountains.Butwearenothighyet;wearestillfardown,wherethepathsareusuallyopenallthewinter."
"IwonderifthisisacontrivanceoftheEnemy,"saidBoromir."TheysayinmylandthathecangovernthestormsintheMountainsofShadowthatstanduponthebordersofMordor.Hehasstrangepowersandmanyallies."
"Hisarmhasgrownlongindeed,"saidGimli,"ifhecandrawsnowdownfromtheNorthtotroubleusherethreehundredleaguesaway."
"Hisarmhasgrownlong,"saidGandalf.
Whiletheywerehalted,thewinddieddown,andthesnowslackeneduntilitalmostceased.Theytrampedonagain.Buttheyhadnotgonemorethanafurlongwhenthestormreturnedwithfreshfury.Thewindwhistledandthesnowbecameablindingblizzard.SoonevenBoromirfoundithardtokeepgoing.Thehobbits,bentnearlydouble,toiledalongbehindthetallerfolk,butitwasplainthattheycouldnotgomuchfurther,ifthesnowcontinued.Frodo’sfeetfeltlikelead.
