The Debate of the Captains

The morning after the great battle on the Pelennor Fields, the captains of the West gathered in Aragorn's tents, pitched on the field not far from where King Théoden had fallen. The Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth, having parted from Legolas and Gimli, sent at once for Éomer, and together they came down from the City to take counsel with Aragorn, Gandalf, and the sons of Elrond. The air was still heavy with the memory of slaughter, and the shadow of Mordor yet loomed in the East, but the leaders met not to rest but to decide the next move in a war that had only just turned.

Gandalf's Counsel: The Folly of Prudence

Gandalf opened the debate by recalling the last words of Denethor before he burned himself on his pyre: that even a victory on the Pelennor could be only a day's triumph against the Power that had now arisen. The Stones of Seeing did not lie, Gandalf said, and Sauron's strength was still vast. Hardly had the forces of the West sufficed to beat off the first great assault; the next would be greater. Victory could not be achieved by arms alone, whether they sat enduring siege after siege or marched out to be overwhelmed beyond the River. Prudence would counsel them to strengthen their strong places and wait, but Gandalf did not counsel prudence. He still hoped for victory, but not by arms. The Ring of Power was the foundation of Barad-dûr, and if Sauron regained it, all their valour would be vain. If it were destroyed, he would fall so low that none could foresee his arising ever again. The only hope, therefore, was to keep Sauron's Eye fixed on them, to draw out his hidden strength and empty his land, so that the Ring-bearer might have a chance to reach the Fire. They must make themselves the bait, though his jaws should close on them.

The Decision to March

Aragorn, who had already shown himself to Sauron in the Stone of Orthanc, declared that he would go on as he had begun. Elrohir spoke for the sons of Elrond, saying they had brought this very counsel from their father and would not turn back. Éomer, with little knowledge of deep matters but with unwavering loyalty, said he would aid Aragorn when he called. Imrahil, though mindful of his duty to Gondor, accepted Aragorn as his liege-lord and agreed to go, but raised the practical question of how many men could be mustered and how the City could be left defended. The debate then turned to the numbers and the timing.

The Mustering of the Host

Gandalf asked what force could be led out in two days' time at the latest, hardy men who went willingly knowing their peril. Éomer reported that all were weary and many wounded, and that the Rohirrim had suffered great loss of horses; he could not hope to lead even two thousand, while leaving as many for the defence of the City. Aragorn, however, brought better news: new strength was on the way from the southern fiefs, now that the coasts had been cleared. Four thousand men he had sent marching from Pelargir through Lossarnach two days before, and Angbor the Fearless rode before them. Many more were following up the River in any craft they could gather. He judged that they could lead out seven thousand of horse and foot, and yet leave the City in better defence than it had been when the assault began. Imrahil noted that the Gate was destroyed, but Aragorn replied that in Erebor there was skill to rebuild it, and that men were better than gates.

The Final Resolution

Thus the debate ended: they would set forth on the second morning from that day with seven thousand men, the greater part on foot because of the evil lands they would enter. Aragorn would find some two thousand of those he had gathered in the South; Imrahil three and a half thousand; Éomer five hundred of the Rohirrim who were unhorsed but warworthy, and he himself would lead five hundred of his best Riders on horse; another company of five hundred horse would include the sons of Elrond with the Dúnedain and the knights of Dol Amroth. The main strength of the Rohirrim that remained horsed, some three thousand under Elfhelm, would waylay the West Road against the enemy in Anórien. Imrahil laughed aloud at the jest of riding with seven thousand men to assail the impenetrable gate of the Black Land, but Gandalf answered that the Dark Lord would not smile: he would try to trap the fly and take the sting. Aragorn drew Andúril and swore it should not be sheathed again until the last battle was fought. The board was set, the pieces were moving, and the last move in a great jeopardy had begun.