New chapter! Yay! Thanks for the reviews and enjoy! There is a bit of a time skip from the last chapter but basically all that happened in between was that they got to the camp and Aragorn received the sword of Elendil, which doesn't concern Reya so why would I write about it? Anyways, hope you like it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings.

Chapter 3:

"Just where do you think you're off to?" Gimli asked Aragorn. It was the night before we rode to war and Aragorn was all packed up to leave.

"Not this time." Aragorn said shaking his head.

"Too late!" I told him just as Legolas rounded the corner with Arod and Fréo.

"Have you learned nothing of the stubbornness of dwarves?" he asked Aragorn, a smile on his face.

"You might as well accept it." Gimli said. "We're going with you, laddie."

"That's right, Estel darling." I winked, knowing it annoyed him when I said that. "I'm not letting my baby brother go anywhere alone."

We weren't actually siblings but we thought of each other as such. We were cousins however, which made us close enough. His father, Arathorn, had had a younger brother than not many knew about. That brother had been my father. My parents had left me in Rivendell, just like Aragorn's mother had, when I was young. Aragorn and I had become close quickly. I had always acted like I was the eldest, though he surpassed me in age. We both have the blood of Dunedain in our veins, each of us being much older than we looked. He looked to be in his thirties or so when he was actually 87 and I seemed to be in my twenties when I was actually in my sixties. Still we got along fine, even when we were young. He had seemed to be a teenager when he was in his actual thirties so it wasn't hard to think of us as close siblings, even though I was a child.

I was the black sheep of the Dunedain, being the first woman in centuries. I also had red hair and blue eyes as opposed to the dark hair and grey eyes traditional to the men. I'm not sure why I was this way but I was. My parents had never explained anything, leaving me in Rivendell before going off and getting themselves killed. I knew that my father had been a Ranger, like Aragorn but that's about it.

Aragorn sighed.

"Alright," he shook his head as if he couldn't believe he was allowing it. I grinned.

"Wonderful."

People whispered and pointed as we left the camp and headed towards the narrow mountain pass we had to go through.

"Lord Aragorn!" someone yelled just as we entered the passage.

Suddenly, all of the whispers were muted and we could hear no other sounds coming from the camp. We were cloaked in darkness, unable to see but the horses seemed to know where to go. By the time the sun had risen the passage had also opened up to become a wider road.

"What kind of army would linger in this place?" Gimli asked, referring to the barren landscape that surrounded us. There was also something else though, something foul in the air; something old and long forgotten, dead and rotting.

"One that is cursed." Legolas answered in that smooth voice of his. "Long ago the men of the mountains swore an oath to the last king of Gondor to come to his aid to fight. But when the time came, when Gondor's need was dire, they fled, vanishing into the darkness of the mountain. And so Isildur cursed them never to rest until they had fulfilled their pledge." His voice seemed haunting and eerie as it broke the silence around us. "Who shall call them from the grey twilight?"

A memory stirred at those words. The grey twilight...I had seen it. When I had been dying I had seen the earth rise up to meet the sky, both as black as night. Just as the two collided a light appeared between them, grey and shining. That was the last thing I remembered. I was snapped out of my thoughts as Legolas continued.

"The forgotten people. The heir of him to whom the oath they swore. From the north shall he come. Need shall drive him. He shall path the door to the Paths of the Dead." Gimli shivered and did not say another word until we had reached the door itself.

The path became narrow once more as we approached it and the door was hidden by some trees, the first we had seen since entering the pass. We dismounted and led our horses the rest of the way.

"The very warmth of my blood seems stolen away," Gimli said, voice just above a whisper. The others looked on edge as well. I felt different, however. Almost as if I belonged there. I did not voice that to the others though, knowing that they would become worried.

We moved closer to the doorway. There were runes above it that only Legolas could read but somehow, I already knew what they meant.

"The way is shut. It was made by those who were dead." Legolas began.

"And the Dead keep it." I finished. "The way is shut."

Everyone stared at me but before they could say anything a wind came from the tunnel, driving the horses away. Aragorn called after his, but I knew it was a lost cause. They would make their way back to the camp without any harm coming to them. Poor Gimli looked terrified as we faced the door once more.

"I do not fear death." Aragorn stated boldly before entering. He disappeared almost as soon as he had gone in, the darkness swallowing him. I looked at the others and shrugged before following. I heard Legolas come in behind me and Gimli after that.

A light shone ahead. Aragorn had somehow managed to light a torch. I made my way over to him and drew my dagger just as he had drawn his sword. I peered into a room in front of us full of skulls.

"What is it?" Gimli asked from behind. "What do you see?"

"I see shapes of men." Legolas answered, avoiding telling Gimli about the room. "And of horses."

"I can see them too." I told them, reaching out to touch one that looked like a horse. I felt strangely calm as it leaned into my touch. The shapes were clear and easy to make out. I didn't know how the others hadn't managed to spot them. They seemed almost solid, as if they were living.

"Where?" Gimli asked in an urgent tone.

"Pale banners like shreds of cloud." Legolas continued, as if he hadn't heard. "Spears rise like winter thickets through a shroud of mist. The Dead are following. They have been summoned."

"The Dead? Summoned?" Gimli sounded frightened. "I knew that." His voice took on a slightly calmer tone but it sounded forced. "Very good, very good." He waited a moment before yelling, "Legolas!" and running after the elf.

By now the others could see vague shapes made from smoke. They grabbed at them, trying to pull them down. Gimli tried to blow them away, which looked quite comical, while Legolas and Aragorn just continued forward, ripping their arms from the ghosts' grasps occasionally. The shadows didn't try to do that to me, however. Instead of trying to take a hold of me, they caressed my cheek and whispered things in my ears.

Aragorn glanced at the ground before looking up again quickly.

"Do not look down." He advised.

Gimli and I, being who we are, did anyways, only to see that the floor was made of bones. Gimli looked as if he was trying very hard not to scream. I wanted to get off of it as soon as I could as well but not because I was frightened. It's disrespectful to stomp on the bones of the dead.

We ran out of there as fast as our legs could carry us. Once we were stepping on solid ground again, I felt relief settle over me.

I looked around. We were in a large chamber that had a great building, fit for a king, carved into the side of mountain.

"Who enters my domain?" asked a voice. It didn't speak loudly but it still rang throughout the entire room. We turned towards the sound. A man appeared. He was green and seemed to be made of vapour. His skin was rotting and ancient but he still looked like a king.

"One who will have your allegiance." Aragorn replied.

"The Dead do not suffer the living to pass." The Ghost King said. He turned to me in interest. "Although I may let you go." The others looked as shocked as I felt. Why me? "Or maybe we'll get you to stay here, with us."

"You will suffer me." Aragorn told him, drawing his attention back to himself. The dead man laughed and as he did others joined in. I glanced behind me to see more and more shapes emerge from what seemed to be a crumbling city. They marched towards us, surrounding us.

"The way is shut." The King of the Dead began. "It was made by those who are dead and the Dead keep it. The way is shut." He advanced towards us slowly. "You brought us one of our own." He looked at me and suddenly it all made sense. I had seen death. I had died. But I had cheated it and now the Dead were calling me home. "Now you must die."

Legolas aimed an arrow at his head and shot it. It passed right through him, not even slowing him down.

"I summon you to fulfill your oath."Aragorn said.

"None but the king of Gondor may command me." He then attacked Aragorn but Aragorn blocked with his sword, actually being able to make contact with the ghost. I recognized the blade. It was the sword of Elendil. I stared at it, wondering where he had got it.

"That line was broken!" The Ghost King said stubbornly as he backed up a few steps, closer to where I was standing. I was getting tired of him.

"It has been remade." I told him as my hand shot out and wrapped around his throat. I wondered if the fact that I had died allowed me to make contact or if it was that the same blood that Aragorn had ran through my veins. "I am the Princess of Gondor." I announced. It was true. Should Aragorn fall, I was next in line for the throne, just as Eomer had been once Theodred had died. "And this is Isildur's Heir." I pushed the Ghost King away from me.

"Fight for us." Aragorn said. "And regain your honor." He turned towards the army. "What say you? What say you?!"

"You waste your time, Aragorn." Gimli called. "They had no honor in life, they have none now in death."

"Shut up!" I hissed, smacking him on the back of the head.

"I am the heir to the throne of Gondor. Fight for me and I shall hold your oaths fulfilled." Aragorn continued. "What say you?!" The King of the Dead began to laugh again and everyone faded away. "You have my word!" Aragorn shouted desperately. "Fight, and I will release you from this living death! What say you?!" The ghosts just continued to disappear.

"Stop!" I commanded, authority in my tone. To everyone's surprise the Dead did stop. The Ghost King reappeared. "Listen to what I must say."

"We will hear one of our own." The dead man decided.

"What reason do you have for running?" I asked. "We are offering you a chance to move on. Why would you not take it? You are proud, I understand that but pride shouldn't stop you from ruining what might be your only chance! Do you want to be trapped like this forever?" the ghosts looked at each other. "Do you want to continue this way? Come with us and fight. You cannot be wounded in battle. You have nothing to lose." The Ghost King seemed to be considering what I was saying.

"I promise to release you." Aragorn added. "I am a man of my word."

That did it for the King. He looked at Aragorn, having made up his mind.

"We fight."

Love it? Hate it? PLEASE REVIEW! Tell me what you think! I'd love to hear it! Reviews mean more chapters. Don't worry; her major reveal was that she was a princess. There will be none of that "wow, I have special powers and I'm the best warrior in all of Middle Earth and I'm practically perfect" stuff. I'm trying hard NOT to make her Mary Sue. She won't be perfect and her being dead before only really comes into play when she's around the ghosts. It doesn't give her any magic or anything. Anyways, please review!

Thanks,

~Liliana