Властелин колец: Братство кольца
The Shadow of the Past
’TheEnemystilllacksonethingtogivehimstrengthandknowledgetobeatdownallresistance,breakthelastdefences,andcoverallthelandsinaseconddarkness.HelackstheOneRing.
’TheThree,fairestofall,theElf-lordshidfromhim,andhishandnevertouchedthemorsulliedthem.SeventheDwarf-kingspossessed,butthreehehasrecovered,andtheothersthedragonshaveconsumed.NinehegavetoMortalMen,proudandgreat,andsoensnaredthem.LongagotheyfellunderthedominionoftheOne,andtheybecameRingwraiths,shadowsunderhisgreatShadow,hismostterribleservants.Longago.ItismanyayearsincetheNinewalkedabroad.Yetwhoknows?AstheShadowgrowsoncemore,theytoomaywalkagain.Butcome!WewillnotspeakofsuchthingseveninthemorningoftheShire.
’Soitisnow:theNinehehasgatheredtohimself;theSevenalso,orelsetheyaredestroyed.TheThreearehiddenstill.Butthatnolongertroubleshim.HeonlyneedstheOne;forhemadethatRinghimself,itishis,andheletagreatpartofhisownformerpowerpassintoit,sothathecouldrulealltheothers.Ifherecoversit,thenhewillcommandthemallagain,wherevertheybe,eventheThree,andallthathasbeenwroughtwiththemwillbelaidbare,andhewillbestrongerthanever.
’Andthisisthedreadfulchance,Frodo.HebelievedthattheOnehadperished;thattheElveshaddestroyedit,asshouldhavebeendone.Butheknowsnowthatithasnotperished,thatithasbeenfound.Soheisseekingit,seekingit,andallhisthoughtisbentonit.Itishisgreathopeandourgreatfear.’
’Why,whywasn’titdestroyed?’criedFrodo.’AndhowdidtheEnemyevercometoloseit,ifhewassostrong,anditwassoprecioustohim?’
