Tolkienian Heroes

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Marky Lazer

It seems to me Aragorn's decision is weakening the army as I said previously.

I wouldn't call it weakening. 'Depriving of hope' would be more like it. When Theoden says "my strength is lessened by it", well, the army's size is reduced. The moral support, hope, or whatever else Aragorn might have taken away, is not such a big matter to the Rohirrim - as Formy and Esty said already.

As for everyone going pale, wouldn't you, if I told you I'm going to climb Mt. Everest and jump off the top? Aragorn's actions seemed just as suicidal to the Rohirrim, and they were shocked and afraid, possibly grieved that the army's strength is reduced. After all, Aragorn and the 30 rangers are quite a big "strenght".