Властелин колец: Братство кольца
Farewell to Lorien
TheywouldhavebeenwillingtofollowaleaderovertheRiverandintotheshadowofMordor;butFrodospokenoword,andAragornwasstilldividedinhismind.
Hisownplan,whileGandalfremainedwiththem,hadbeentogowithBoromir,andwithhisswordhelptodeliverGondor.Forhebelievedthatthemessageofthedreamswasasummons,andthatthehourhadcomeatlastwhentheheirofElendilshouldcomeforthandstrivewithSauronforthemastery.ButinMoriatheburdenofGandalfhadbeenlaidonhim;andheknewthathecouldnotnowforsaketheRing,ifFrodorefusedintheendtogowithBoromir.AndyetwhathelpcouldheoranyoftheCompanygivetoFrodo,savetowalkblindlywithhimintothedarkness?
"IshallgotoMinasTirith,aloneifneedbe,foritismyduty,"saidBoromir;andafterthathewassilentforawhile,sittingwithhiseyesfixedonFrodo,asifhewastryingtoreadtheHalfling’sthoughts.Atlengthhespokeagain,softly,asifhewasdebatingwithhimself."IfyouwishonlytodestroytheRing,"hesaid,"thenthereislittleuseinwarandweapons;andtheMenofMinasTirithcannothelp.ButifyouwishtodestroythearmedmightoftheDarkLord,thenitisfollytogowithoutforceintohisdomain;andfollytothrowaway."Hepausedsuddenly,asifhehadbecomeawarethathewasspeakinghisthoughtsaloud."Itwouldbefollytothrowlivesaway,Imean,"heended."Itisachoicebetweendefendingastrongplaceandwalkingopenlyintothearmsofdeath.
