Soory ... that was one for fans of "The Black Adder" or rather "Blackadder the Second" when Edmund seeks out the wise woman and receive the following advice from the man who gives directions:
Old Man : "There are 2 things you should klnow about the wise woman..one, she is wise, two .."
Edmund (in a hurry) "She's a woman I suppose?"
Old Man "Oh you know her then?" Sorry .....
Actually I think Bergil makes it clear that most have gone... but I think it is a good touch that Tolkien uses Ioreth rather than a random woman to be voice in crowd.
BTW .. Gimli as comic relief, is a bit of a film invention. I Master of Middle Earth, Paul Kocher says he only makes one joke in the whole book ... when he meets the Hobbits at Isengard ..
But after all that ... the short answer is "Good points"
