“Aragorn, they will all die!”
“Then I shall die as one of them!”

A Drop of Despair

But for a small drop of despair… armies are ruined, their strength dashed to the ground.

What you do not see, is that I too am frightened. For you. Aragorn! Do you not realize what folly this is? Do you not see that this will be your end? You yourself have seen the approaching armies, have seen their vastness, and yet – you continue down this hopeless path that can end only one way. Why do you insist on this? Even together, all of the armies of men could not win this fight. Every child here, every woman – all of them are going to die! Do you not understand this? There will be nothing left of this caves! Why do you give them such false hopes, when you know in your heart that they will die, slaughtered like animals? Aragorn, do you want to die? Do you wish to seek your fate upon the battle field? Is that why you cling to such a hopeless cause? Were you disappointed that you did not pass when you fell from the cliff, and so you must now seek death in war? Aragorn! What must I do to convince you? I need you… Middle-earth needs you… Will you not listen to reason?

**

Ai, but it is I who have failed to listen to reason, fallen prey to despair. Forgive me, Aragorn, for the blame lies not on you, but on me. You have not led us astray even once, who am I to doubt you now? My mind is clouded by the hopelessness that I sense within these people… forgive me, for it was not my right to cast fault upon you.

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