Властелин колец: Братство кольца
The Shadow of the Past
Hewasaltogetherwretched.Hehatedthedark,andhehatedlightmore:hehatedeverything,andtheRingmostofall.’
’Whatdoyoumean?’saidFrodo.’SurelytheRingwashispreciousandtheonlythinghecaredfor?Butifhehatedit,whydidn’thegetridofit,orgoawayandleaveit?’
’Yououghttobegintounderstand,Frodo,afterallyouhaveheard,’saidGandalf.’Hehateditandlovedit,ashehatedandlovedhimself.Hecouldnotgetridofit.Hehadnowillleftinthematter.
’ARingofPowerlooksafteritself,Frodo.Itmayslipofftreacherously,butitskeeperneverabandonsit.Atmostheplayswiththeideaofhandingitontosomeoneelse’scare—andthatonlyatanearlystage,whenitfirstbeginstogrip.ButasfarasIknowBilboaloneinhistoryhasevergonebeyondplaying,andreallydoneit.Heneededallmyhelp,too.Andevensohewouldneverhavejustforsakenit,orcastitaside.ItwasnotGollum,Frodo,buttheRingitselfthatdecidedthings.TheRinglefthim.’
’What,justintimetomeetBilbo?’saidFrodo.’Wouldn’tanOrchavesuiteditbetter?’
’Itisnolaughingmatter,’saidGandalf.’Notforyou.ItwasthestrangesteventinthewholehistoryoftheRingsofar:Bilbo’sarrivaljustatthattime,andputtinghishandonit,blindly,inthedark.
’Therewasmorethanonepoweratwork,Frodo.TheRingwastryingtogetbacktoitsmaster.IthadslippedfromIsildur’shandandbetrayedhim;thenwhenachancecameitcaughtpoorDeagol,andhewasmurdered;andafterthatGollum,andithaddevouredhim.
