Tolkienian Heroes

[Marky Lazer]

Okay, I read some passages and I stay with my earlier point (which is good for the discussion anyway )

When Aragron mentions he'll take the Paths of the Dead in "The Passage of the Grey Company" it reads:

We must ride our own road, and no longer in secret. For me the time of stealth has passed. I will ride east by the swiftest way, and I will take the Paths of the Dead.'
'The Paths of the Dead!' said Théoden, and trembled. 'Why do you speak of them?'
...
it seemed to Merry that the faces of the Riders that sat within hearing turned pale at the words.
...
'You will do as you will, my lord Aragorn,' said Théoden. 'It is your doom, maybe, and my strength is lessened by it[.]'

It seems to me Aragorn's decision is weakening the army as I said previously.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Marky Lazer

It seems to me Aragorn's decision is weakening the army as I said previously.

I wouldn't call it weakening. 'Depriving of hope' would be more like it. When Theoden says "my strength is lessened by it", well, the army's size is reduced. The moral support, hope, or whatever else Aragorn might have taken away, is not such a big matter to the Rohirrim - as Formy and Esty said already.

As for everyone going pale, wouldn't you, if I told you I'm going to climb Mt. Everest and jump off the top? Aragorn's actions seemed just as suicidal to the Rohirrim, and they were shocked and afraid, possibly grieved that the army's strength is reduced. After all, Aragorn and the 30 rangers are quite a big "strenght".

[morwen edhelwen]

Yeah, the army's size is reduced and they are in a desperate situation.

[Marky Lazer]

I guess we can only agree to disagree.