The delegate from the Grey Havens speaks up.
"But will that time ever come?" he asks. "The last time we acted, we struck the Witch-King after he was weakened by two campaigns, and just after a battle in which he had to destroy two grand armies. No such forces exist to oppose him any more, and his host is greater still now than it was then. Arthedain keeps them at bay with fortified defences, and they are wise, for he cannot be met in open battle. If those defences fail, what is there we can do?"
"There is always something to be done," says a distinctly un-Elvish voice. An old man, bearing grey robes, a greay hat, and a staff upon which he wals, lumbers slowly into the clearing.
"You will forgive the lateness of my arrival, Master Elrond," says Gandalf, "but there is much of late to occupy an old man such as myself."
"You are always welcome here, at any time that suits you, Mithrandir," says Elrond, smiling.
"Well now," says Gandalf, striding around the circle of chairs. "Did I hear raised voices on my way? Just as it was when I was last in Arvedui's court, such a sad sound to hear, dissension in such mighty places..."
As he walks around, he hands his hat to the representative from Lorien, who looks at it as if it is about to explode.
"Many have spoken wise words here. Those of Glorfindel, who many wanted to hear. Those of Elrond, who always speaks with a wisdom greater than my own. And even from those who have advised caution and and withdrawl. Those things we do not wish to hear are no less wise than those things we do. It would be foolish indeed if mere high thoughts and feeling of kinship doomed Elvenkind alongside Man. If Man is to be helped, it must be in ways of intelligence and cunning, not sheer brute force. Sheer force will not defeat this enemy, but if force is to be used as a weapon against him, then the force will come from Man. As has been said, the Elves can only help in this peril, they cannot simply stand in its way.
So then, what would best be done? Interesting question, a very interesting question..."
Gandalf takes to smoking a pipe, peacably, as others wait for him to speak further, though he seems ill-inclined to do so."
Meanwhile, at Baranar...
"Now, for my part," says Baranar, "I, like some other Lords, have built a small stable zone in Cardolan. We have here a fortress from which we can keep a garrison which defends the local lands from these scattered Orc and Dunlending raiders. Lacking the support of the Witch-King's armies, they stay away from us. This is the only civilisation of Cardola that remains- Lords who protect their lands, so the Dunlendings stay away, to find easier pickings from the undefended east. No-one has really paid us any attention, until now.
"I received, not long ago, an interesting proposal from the court at Fornost-Erain, a proposal made directly by King Arvedui himself..."
(well, not you, Phoe. Arvedui SENT you to Baranar, if you remember?)
"It was only when I read the message more carefully that I realised what it meant. He did not seek to ally with simp,y me. He wanted to join in a grand alliance- with ALL of Cardolan. But what an odd proposal! As one entity, Cardolan no longer exists! There is no Cardolan to ally with. Had Arvedui lost his wits? It seemed unlikely."
I wonder who this grey old man is, tho he looks like an old man there is somethin about him. Surely he is highly respected by the others at this table, something that is hard to accomplish. His ways radiate peace and rest, the sound of his voice makes me feel warm inside. above all his words speak wisdom and caring for our people
Gandalf continues to smoke his pipe peacably, before he notices that everyone is staring at him.
"What? Oh... errr... yes, of course. Well, what do we all think of Arvedui's efforts to thwart his... wait... you have spoken of Arveduoi and Malbeth here, hmm?"
"We were still discussing the history of things," says Elrond.
"Well now!" says Gandalf. "I see little coherent good coming of this gathering if we do not all understand the significance of Arvedui's actions beyond the mere strategic!"
"Arvedui is trying to defeat the prediction of his name. The Seer Malbeth told his father to name in Arvedui in the sense that it means 'last king.' He said there was possibility to defeat the prophecy, and he thinks that allying with what is left of Cardolan and rebuilding it may be the answer, my good Lord Baranar."
Stands up looking to the Golden-haired Noldor "My name is Corlindel and my sword will follow you with honour if you wish to. Human kind shall be the future of Middle-Earth and it is our destiny to keep their faith on this promisse land before the end of thr connection between Elf and Man. We only would leave to west after trying all to save the Middle-Earth from the darkness of Angmar. Its our role here...I am proud to be here listening your noble words Milord"