As I remember it, JOANP, the elves stumbled on the Elvenking's gathering in the
woods, when they were lost and hungry. The elves disappeared before the dwarves
could ask for help. They managed to find them twice more, but with the same result.
The dwarves found their home site, but one of the dwarves let his aggravation come
out in sarcasm and arrogance. Don't remember which one. I think that is what decided
the Elvenking to declare them trespassers. He had some excuse for that, imo, but I
think a couple of days in the dungeons would have been punishment enough.
"He seems to say you shouldn't fight needlessly, but should be ready to fight, and
he definitely admires the glory and heroism involved."
I think you're right, PAT, and I can sympathize. I can always admire self-sacrificing
heroism and courageous action. There's no 'glory' in slaughtering people from a safe
distance with the push of a button. With modern weapons, we are now able to destroy
mankind and the planet earth, and our precarious safety depends on our restraint in
their use. God help us!
Nothing like a deadly threat from a common enemy to bring opposing sides to agreement.
Elves, Men, and dwarves alike join their enemies in planning their defense from the goblins, wargs and wolves coming on fast. And Gandalf is with them, as always, in the nick of time. This wizard has unquestionably got more powers than he has let anyone see thus far. Will he reveal more in this crisis, I wonder?
"....defeat may be glorious." Bilbo's opinion on that
"It seems very uncomfortable, not to say distressing. I wish I was well out of it." The little fellow does have a talent for understatement.
Still, it's true, isn't it, that we memorialize some defeats as glorious? I'm thinking of such as the Alamo, Thermopylae... What makes such losses 'glorious'?