بخش 03

Keep breathing. That’s the key.

Breathe.

They’ve run as if the very whips of their masters were behind them.

We’re not going no further…

until we’ve had a breather.

Get a fire going!

Merry!

Merry!

I think we might have made a mistake leaving the Shire, Pippin.

What’s making that noise?

It’s the trees.

What?

You remember the Old Forest, on the borders of Buckland?

Folk used to say there was something in the water that made the trees grow tall…

and come alive.

Alive?

Trees that could whisper…

talk to each other…

even move.

I’m starving.

We ain’t had nothing but maggoty bread for three stinking days.

Yeah!

Why can’t we have some meat?!

What about them?

They’re fresh.

They are not for eating.

What about their legs?

They don’t need those.

They look tasty. Get back, scum!

The prisoners go to Saruman. Alive and unspoiled.

Alive?

Why alive? Do they give good sport?

They have something. An Elvish weapon.

The master wants it for the war.

They think we have the Ring.

As soon as they find out we don’t, we’re dead.

Just a mouthful…

a bit of the flank.

Looks like meat’s back on the menu, boys.

Pippin.

Let’s go.

Go on.

Call for help.

Squeal.

No one’s going to save you now.

Pippin!

A red sun rises.

Blood has been spilled this night.

Riders of Rohan…

what news from the Mark?

What business does an Elf, a Man and a Dwarf have in the Riddermark?

Speak quickly!

Give me your name, horsemaster, and I shall give you mine.

I would cut off your head, Dwarf…

if it stood but a little higher from the ground.

You would die before your stroke fell.

I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn.

This is Gimli, son of Gloin, and Legolas of the Woodland Realm.

We are friends of Rohan and of Theoden, your king.

Theoden no longer recognizes friend from foe.

Not even his own kin.

Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king…

and claimed lordship over these lands.

My company are those loyal to Rohan.

And for that, we are banished.

The White Wizard is cunning.

He walks here and there, they say…

as an old man hooded and cloaked.

And everywhere, his spies slip past our nets.

We are no spies.

We track a party of Urukhai westward across the plain.

They have taken two of our friends captive.

The Uruks are destroyed.

We slaughtered them during the night.

But there were two Hobbits. Did you see two Hobbits with them?

They would be small. Only children to your eyes.

We left none alive.

We piled the carcasses and burned them.

Dead?

I am sorry.

Hasufel! Arod!

May these horses bear you to better fortune than their former masters.

Farewell.

Look for your friends.

But do not trust to hope.

It has forsaken these lands.

We ride north!

It’s one of their wee belts.

Hiro hyn hîdh ab ‘wanath (May they find peace after death.)

We failed them.

A Hobbit lay here.

And the other.

They crawled.

Their hands were bound.

Their bonds were cut.

They ran over here.

They were followed.

The belt!

Run!

Tracks lead away from the battle…

into Fangorn Forest.

Fangorn?

What madness drove them in there?

Did we lose him? I think we lost him.

I’m going to rip out your filthy little innards!

Come here!

Trees. Climb a tree.

He’s gone.

Merry!