Хоббит
The Clouds Burst
Theseweretheswiftestwolf-riders,andalreadytheircriesandhowlsrenttheairafar.Afewbravemenwerestrungbeforethemtomakeafeintofresistance,andmanytherefellbeforetherestdrewbackandfledtoeitherside.AsGandalfhadhoped,thegoblinarmyhadgatheredbehindtheresistedvanguard,andpourednowinrageintothevalley,drivingwildlyupbetweenthearmsoftheMountain,seekingforthefoe.Theirbannerswerecountless,blackandred,andtheycameonlikeatideinfuryanddisorder.
Itwasaterriblebattle.ThemostdreadfulofallBilbo’sexperiences,andtheonewhichatthetimehehatedmost-whichistosayitwastheonehewasmostproudof,andmostfondofrecallinglongafterwards,althoughhewasquiteunimportantinit.ActuallyImustsayheputonhisringearlyinthebusiness,andvanishedfromsight,ifnotfromalldanger.Amagicringofthatsortisnotacompleteprotectioninagoblincharge,nordoesitstopflyingarrowsandwildspears;butitdoeshelpingettingoutoftheway,anditpreventsyourheadfrombeingspeciallychosenforasweepingstrokebyagoblinswordsman.
Theelveswerethefirsttocharge.Theirhatredforthegoblinsiscoldandbitter.Theirspearsandswordsshoneinthegloomwithagleamofchillflame,sodeadlywasthewrathofthehandsthatheldthem.Assoonasthehostoftheirenemieswasdenseinthevalley,theysentagainstitashowerofarrows,andeachflickeredasitfledasifwithstingingfire.Behindthearrowsathousandoftheirspearmenleaptdownandcharged.
