Aragorn’s Speech to the men of Rohan: (following the death of Boromir)
(After dinner, the men gather and Aragorn stands)
“Men of Rohan! I know that you all share in the sorrow and deep darkness under which we have all been crushed and will continue to be, no doubt. But do not lose heart...somewhere there is hope waiting for us and we cannot, no, will not live without it.
I, on behalf of the men remaining in the Fellowship am deeply thankful for your hospitality, though right now, we are only hoping to not take advantage of your provisions.
Quiet! Men, what has happened to you? Why do I see such fear in your faces? Don’t you realize cowardice has entangled your bold faces and made you look like women who are afraid of coming rain? (confused faces and murmuring)
No, I’m sorry...I didn’t mean it that way...this guilt is making my heart weak and my mind crazed. You don’t understand! I stood there...watching insane, painted, bloody orcs kill someone I loved- someone I had always trusted and known would be there...no! You will never be able to understand the pain that shot through me. I’ve watched fear and pain spread like fire, tears collect like rain-water, women cry over their innocent children’s mangled bodies, men wasting to bones in orcs caves...things that left a bitter taste in my mouth, but nothing like finding a merciless, wild, bloody orc aiming arrows as fast as someone spits, at my friend.
A hunted man sometimes wearies of distrust and longs for friendship. This I had found in Boromir. I could not do anything but give myself up to save his life. Oh…
(he groans)
Boromir will never set eyes on the resurrected Gondor, or Minas Tirith in its glorious splendor and victory. He will never see the joy of triumph. He will never taste the rich passion of the sun’s warmth when darkness succombs. But, men...why does this heavy weight of guilt wrap its strong dark arms around people who cannot free themselves? Yet, this only means, that on no account will I stand by with my head bowed and let Middle-Earth be decimated by orcs who cut men to pieces...no matter how glorious their visions were for the future. Oh, but I doubt you will understand! Your lives are built on foundations of war, defeat, battle, revenge, and yes, occasional victory- I see you have no soft hearts, and for this I am both jealous and angry.
Is it not strange that you are the very men who sent Boromir away, by telling him that you would protect Gondor and its beauty forever...so that when he returned, he would find victory in abundance...why? Why would you promise him everything he loved, when you had no security in this vow...you should at least be sorrowful, if not to the point of weeping, that this has happened. But I see no sadness, only a somber fear. Fear of what? Boromir has paved the way with courage as his messenger...and you have only to follow. So do not be afraid, for, is not the fear of loneliness and cowardice greater and stronger than any enemy outside these gates? Oh...we have lost a heart that should be mourned and remembered for centuries.”
(The men are silent, while Aragorn sits and quietly weeps).
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