"J.R.R. Tolkien - The Unfinished Tales Of Middle-Earth And Nu" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tolkien J.R.R)

House of Hador, for in his deep counsels he purposed that they should play great part in his design for the
succour of the Exiles; and he knew well of the plight of Tuor, for Annael and many of his folk had indeed
escaped from Dor-l├│min and came at last to C├нrdan in the far South.

Thus it came to pass that on a day in the beginning of the year (twenty and three since Nirnaeth) Tuor
sat by a spring that trickled forth near to the door of the cave where he dwelt; and he looked out westward
towards the cloudy sunset. Then suddenly it came into his heart that he would wait no longer, but would arise
and go. "I will leave now the grey land of my kin that are no more," he cried, "and I will go in search of my
doom! But whither shall I turn? Long have I sought the Gate and found it not."
Then he took up harp which he bore ever with him, being skilled in playing upon its strings, and
heedless of the peril of his clear voice alone in the waste he sang an elven-song of the North for the uplifting
of hearts. And even as he sang the well at his feet began to boil with great increase of water, and it
overflowed, and a rill ran noisily down the rocky hillside before him. And Tuor took this as a sign, and he
arose at once and followed after it. Thus he came down from the tall hills of Mithrim and passed out into the
northward plain of Dor-l├│min; and ever the stream grew as he followed it westward, until after three days he
could descry in the west the long grey rides of Ered L├│min that in those regions marched north and south,
fencing off the far coastlands of the Western Shores. To those hills in all his journeys Tuor had never come.
Now the land became more broken and stony again, as it approached the hills, and soon it began to
rise before Tuor's feet, and the stream went down into a cloven bed. But even as dim dusk came on the third
day of his journey, Tuor found before him a wall of rock, and there was an opening therein like a great arch;
and the stream passed in and was lost. Then Tuor was dismayed, and he said: "So my hope has cheated me!
The sign in the hills has led me only to dark end in the midst of the land of my enemies." And grey at heart
he sat among the rocks on the high bank of the stream, keeping watch through a bitter fireless night; for it
was yet but the month of S├║lim├л, and no stir of spring had come to that far northern land, and a shrill wind
blew from the East.

But even as the light of the coming sun shone pale in the far mists of Mithrim, Tuor heard voices, and
looking down he saw in amazement two Elves that waded in the shallow water; and as they climbed up steps
hewn in the bank, Tuor stood up and called to them. At once they drew their bright swords and sprang
towards him. Then he saw that they were grey-cloaked but mail-clad under; and he marvelled, for they were
fairer and more fell to look upon, because of the light of their eyes, than any of the Elven-folk that he yet had
known. He stood to his full height and awaited them; but when they saw that he drew no weapon, but stood
alone and greeted them in the Elven-tongue, they sheathed their swords and spoke courteously to him. And
one said: "Gelmir and Arminas we are, of Finarfin's people. Are you not one of the Edain of old that dwelt in
these lands ere the Nirnaeth? And indeed of the kindred of Hador and H├║rin I deem you; for so the gold of
your head declares you."
And Tuor answered: "Yea, I am Tuor, son of Huor, son of Galdor, son of Hador; but now at last I
desire to leave this land where I am outlawed and kinless."
"Then," said Gelmir, "if you would escape and find the havens in the South, already your feet have
been guided on the right road."
"So I thought," said Tuor. "For I followed a sudden spring of water in the hills, until it joined this
treacherous stream. But now I know not whither to turn, for it has gone into darkness."
"Through darkness one may come to the light," said Gelmir.
"Yet one will walk under the Sun while one may," said Tuor. "But since you are of that people, tell me
if you can where lies the Gate of the Noldor. For I have sought it long, ever since Annael my foster-father of
the Grey-elves spoke of it to me."
Then the Elves laughed, and said: "Your search is ended; for we have ourselves just passed that Gate.
There it stands before you!" And they pointed to the arch into which the water flowed. "Come now! Through
darkness you shall come to the light. We will set your feet on the road, but we cannot guide you far; for we
are sent back to the lands whence we fled upon an urgent errand."