Хоббит

           Hetookitandgazedlongatit,andheshookhishead;forifhedidnotaltogetherapproveofdwarvesandtheirloveofgold,hehateddragonsandtheircruelwickedness,andhegrievedtoremembertheruinofthetownofDaleanditsmerrybells,andtheburnedbanksofthebrightRiverRunning.Themoonwasshininginabroadsilvercrescent.Heheldupthemapandthewhitelightshonethroughit."Whatisthis?"hesaid."Therearemoon-lettershere,besidetheplainruneswhichsay’fivefeethighthedoorandthreemaywalkabreast.’""Whataremoon-letters?"askedthehobbitfullofexcitement.Helovedmaps,asIhavetoldyoubefore;andhealsolikedrunesandlettersandcunninghandwriting,thoughwhenhewrotehimselfitwasabitthinandspidery.

           "Moon-lettersarerune-letters,butyoucannotseethem,"saidElrond,"notwhenyoulookstraightatthem.Theycanonlybeseenwhenthemoonshinesbehindthem,andwhatismore,withthemorecunningsortitmustbeamoonofthesameshapeandseasonasthedaywhentheywerewritten.Thedwarvesinventedthemandwrotethemwithsilverpens,asyourfriendscouldtellyou.Thesemusthavebeenwrittenonamidsummer’seveinacrescentmoon,alongwhileago."

           "Whatdotheysay?"askedGandalfandThorintogether,abitvexedperhapsthatevenElrondshouldhavefoundthisoutfirst,thoughreallytherehadnotbeenachancebefore,andtherewouldnothavebeenanotheruntilgoodnessknowswhen.

           "Standbythegreystonewhenthethrushknocks,"readElrond,"andthesettingsunwiththelastlightofDurin’sDaywillshineuponthekey-hole.""Durin,Durin!"saidThorin."HewasthefatherofthefathersoftheeldestraceofDwarves,theLongbeards,andmyfirstancestor:Iamhisheir.""ThenwhatisDurin’sDay?"askedElrond.