Властелин колец: Братство кольца
A Journey in the Dark
Inhislefthandhehelduphisglimmeringstaff,thelightofwhichjustshowedthegroundbeforehisfeet;inhisrightheheldhisswordGlamdring.BehindhimcameGimli,hiseyesglintinginthedimlightasheturnedhisheadfromsidetoside.BehindthedwarfwalkedFrodo,andhehaddrawntheshortsword,Sting.NogleamcamefromthebladesofStingorofGlamdring;andthatwassomecomfort,forbeingtheworkofElvishsmithsintheElderDaystheseswordsshonewithacoldlight,ifanyOrcswerenearathand.BehindFrodowentSam,andafterhimLegolas,andtheyounghobbits,andBoromir.Inthedarkattherear,grimandsilent,walkedAragorn.
Thepassagetwistedroundafewturns,andthenbegantodescend.Itwentsteadilydownforalongwhilebeforeitbecamelevelonceagain.Theairgrewhotandstifling,butitwasnotfoul,andattimestheyfeltcurrentsofcoolerairupontheirfaces,issuingfromhalf-guessedopeningsinthewalls.Thereweremanyofthese.Inthepalerayofthewizard’sstaff,Frodocaughtglimpsesofstairsandarchesandofotherpassagesandtunnels,slopingup,orrunningsteeplydown,oropeningblanklydarkoneitherside.Itwasbewilderingbeyondhopeofremembering.
GimliaidedGandalfverylittle,exceptbyhisstoutcourage.Atleasthewasnot,asweremostoftheothers,troubledbythemeredarknessinitself.Oftenthewizardconsultedhimatpointswherethechoiceofwaywasdoubtful;butitwasalwaysGandalfwhohadthefinalword.
