[Gwathagor]

"You are justified, Elrohir, in your wish to hear my reasoning. There was not time yestereve for me to explain my vote, though I expressed my intention of doing so. I will now.

“I believe that Bombadil, myself, Dain, and Gildor were justified in voting for one who spoke too little to be helpful, promised he would not vote and promptly did, and, finally, gave no good reason for his voting. In short, he was obscure, erratic, and inscrutable. As has been said, Gandalf, in the end, condemned himself by his own actions.

“We were wrong, yes. But it was an honest, reasonable mistake, and I expect you would have done the same, had you not voted for one who gave you neither provocation nor offense. I speak, of course, of Ugluk. Perhaps you wish to explain your vote as well? I imagine that I am not the only one who found your vote thoroughly inexplicable."