Realizations Part Four

Orodreth looked around at his council before speaking. Everyone seemed to be alive and well- all but two, Gwindor and Mormegil. Gwindor was staring into nowhere with a blank look on his face and Mormegil was little better, but every so often he shifted in his seat and frowned. Gwindor only stared.

"I have called this council to decide our strategy at last," Orodreth sighed. "The Enemy's forces are approaching rapidly. As I see it, we have three choices. One, we flee Nargothrond and fighting only when we have to, rejoin our kin in any of numerous locations. Two, we stay silently hidden and hope that they do not know where we are. Or three, we fight."

"If we fight, we will die." Gwindor said simply, face blank.

"Gwindor, there is hope! We can fight, and we can win!" Mormegil protested, standing up. "We have a good sized garrison here, surely we could rout them!"

Gwindor's eyes flashed and his face was no longer blank. He was angry, controlling himself carefully, but obviously very angry. "Moremegil, you do not understand! They outnumber us, perhaps five to one! I allow that we have been outnumbered worse before, but seldom have such battles gone well! We have the advantage of surprise, I think, but that is not enough! They are terrible; do you all not understand?" He turned terror filled eyes on the council, as if willing them to see what he had seen. "So we are supremely confident, hiding in our caves, safe from the outside world and invincible in battle! They will kill us all if we fight them in open battle! "

"Gwindor, you overestimate them," Mormegil said patiently.

Gwindor stood and began to lose control of his anger. "I do not! I do not underestimate them! I have seen them! I know! Valar, how could I forget, I have tried, tried to think that we could fight them, that we were strong- but we are not strong enough!" Gwindor stopped talking, shaking suddenly, only slightly, but enough for those nearby to notice. He clenched a fist and spoke quietly. "You will not believe me…they have robbed me of more than I had thought." He was silent for a moment, then looked first at Mormegil, then at Orodreth. "I will abide by the decision of the council, whatever it may be…and support it with my life." He sat down and pulled his cloak about him as if he was suddenly cold.

Mormegil remained standing. "We are strong," he said. "We must make a stand one day, why not make a victorious one here? With this battle, we may assure ourselves and our families of peace for a little while longer." Then he sat down.

Orodreth looked at his council. "Let us vote."

The vote to fight was almost unanimous, Gwindor did not vote.