As twilight whistled through the whispering grass, Mornie had chosen her course of action. She rode through the night, returning to Edoras around late afternoon the next day. Everyone was busy preparing for the feast, so she put Scyld into the stable herself.
"Goodbye, my friend," she whispered to him. "Thank you."
She entered Meduseld alone, though inside many people were busy. She looked around, searching for her father and Legolas. To her surprise, she could not see them, but instead saw many of the Rangers.
"Jim!" she called out, recognizing her friend some fifty paces away from her. He turned, and she saw that he now had the cloak and clasp of a full Ranger.
"There you are," Eowyn said, coming up to her. "I was beginning to worry that you wouldn't have time to prepare for the feast. As it is, you'll be cutting it short. Quickly, this way." Mornie only had time to place her fist swiftly over her heart and bow her head to Jim, as apprentices salute Rangers.
While Mornie bathed, Eowyn took her clothes and replaced them with undergarments before going to look for a dress and a pair of shoes that would work. When Mornie had put on the undergarments and stepped out from behind the screen, she saw a beautiful black dress with a gold-colored overlay.
"Eowyn," she gasped. "I… I don't know that I can wear this."
"Nonsense," Eowyn argued. "It should fit you the best. Put it on, at least for me."
Mornie consented and put on the dress, then crossed the room to stand in front of the mirror. The sleeves loosened just above the elbow, and the skirt flowed gently out and down. Her necklace could still remain hidden under the neckline, however.
"Now, for your hair," Eowyn said, hers already done. "Sit down here. Let me see." And she went to work. When she was finished, she let Mornie look through two mirrors at it. It was mostly just a simple bun, but around the outside was a braid, and one of her shorter hairs fell free behind her ear.
"Eowyn, I don't know what to say," she said.
"Then don't say anything, dear," Eowyn replied. "Come now, we are ready."
She stood near her father. Legolas slipped in next to her.
"You look nice," he whispered, before the ceremony began.
"Thank you," Mornie whispered back, "But it is all Lady Eowyn's artwork."
Then it began, and a hush filled the hall. Eowyn approached the king and handed him the cup. He raised it, and the Men stood, raising theirs.
"Tonight, we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country," Théoden said. "Hail the victorious dead!"
"Hail!" the people responded, and they drank. Mornie slipped away. She found some paper, ink, and a pen not too far from her things. She looked down at her dagger, hesitating. However, she had made her decision. She picked it up, too.
As she walked quietly out of the hall, she tried to avoid eye contact with anyone. She glanced across the hall quickly. Jim was with the other Rangers. Her father was speaking with Eowyn again. Legolas and Gimli seemed to be involved in a drinking competition. She sighed and stepped out.
She sat down, hanging her legs over the edge of the porch, and began to write.
Eowyn, thank you so much. I am no great wordsmith, but know that your kindnesses mattered.
Jim, this will seem strange to you, but know that I have reasoned it out. I was glad to see you again. Congratulations on making full Ranger.
Legolas, all is forgiven.
Adda, I am sorry that your training and hard work with me could only come to this. However, I see no other way out, and this is best for all.
To whomever else it may concern.
In committing this act, I destroy my final enemy: myself.
Goodbye.
She folded the paper and set it down next to her. She took off her second's ring and placed it on top. Then she picked up her dagger. She listened to her heartbeat for a moment, letting it continue for that moment longer. She closed her eyes. She set the point of the dagger close to her heart, and – but there was another hand around hers, pulling the dagger back. It gently took the dagger from her. She opened her eyes and saw Legolas kneeling next to her.
"Do you know what you are doing?" she asked him. "I am an enemy. I should be killed like one."
"You are no enemy," he replied.
"You saw what happened in Isengard. My will is not my own."
"Mornie, Saruman is dead."
"How much does that matter? I do not know who else has power over me. Certainly Sauron probably does."
"Sauron isn't here. And if he was, we could protect you."
"For how long? How long before I would kill all of you? How long before I would tell him about It?"
"Forever, if you fought it with us. I did not need to know you for long to see your determination. It was that determination with which I fell in love."
"You're probably drunk. Why should I trust your words?"
"Ask me again tomorrow morning, then. See that my opinions on your determination and my love have not changed. And so, to answer your first question, yes, I know what I am doing. I am stopping someone from killing my love. Now, will you wait?"
Mornie hesitated. "Yes," she said at last. "I will wait."
"Good. Now, may I have that paper? Thank you." He crossed to a torch, and the paper turned to ash. He returned and sat down next to her, taking her hand in his. Above the mountains across from them, the stars twinkled. Mornie leaned her head down onto his shoulder, exhausted emotionally and physically. Legolas began to tell her the stories of the stars. Almost every star symbolized a story that he had learned, so he continued for a long time. Once, he asked her a question, but she didn't respond.
"Mornie?" he asked again, but she was asleep. He gently kissed the top of her head. "I love you, Morwen Finduilas Ar-Feniel," he murmured. Then he brought her inside, where Eowyn was setting up their beds in the hall. She took over from there, and Legolas went back outside.
She was being held, gently rocked again by her mother. In her fear and sorrow, her mother was singing a gentle lullaby to her.
Hush, my baby, oh, do not cry now;
Sleep until morning, the light will come back
The light comes back, trust me
Dark will leave again, I sing
And you'll smile and sing with me
You'll smile; the sun will come out again at last
Though, perhaps, I will not be there
Something will hold you, a mem'ry, a song
Perhaps someone you love
You will be happy and safe
And you'll smile and sing with him
You'll smile; the sun will come out again at last
Then, farewell, and remember this
I will be with you, at least in your heart
I will be with you, love,
Someday I'll see you again
Then you'll smile and sing with me
You'll smile; the sun will come out again at last
"Hush now, my child," she whispered. "They are coming." A red torch was approaching them. It looked like a star. It came closer, and closer, and closer, and-
Mornie sat up suddenly in bed. He was here! Legolas and Aragorn ran through to another chamber. She threw a small blanket over her bare shoulders, her hair hanging down her back. She followed them to a door, then stopped and waited outside, not hearing anything that shouted immediate danger. Luckily, she did not have to wait long. Legolas, who had seen that she was awake, came back out to explain to her.
"It was the palantir," he said quietly. "Pippin looked into it."
"Is he all right?" Mornie asked.
"Yes, he is fine," Legolas replied. "Gandalf has seen to him. He says that he will talk about it in the morning. Best get some rest, while you can." She returned to bed. She could still remember her mother's lullaby, so she hummed it quietly to herself.
Mornie woke just before dawn. Near her bed was a pair of new boots and a note. "Mornie," it read, "My opinions haven't changed. Legolas." She looked down at the boots. The leather was soft and already movable, even though they were brand new. They were very similar to her old ones. The right one even had a sheath and her dagger in it. She tied them on, and they fit perfectly. She dressed quickly and began to disassemble her bed. The mixture of quiet noise and growing light woke Eowyn. Soon the others were up too. After a light break-fast, Gandalf called them together.
"There was no lie in Pippin's eyes," he said. "A fool, but an honest fool he remains. He told Sauron nothing of Frodo and the Ring. We've been strangely fortunate. Pippin saw, in the palantir, a glimpse of the enemy's plan. Sauron moves to strike the city of Minas Tirith. His defeat at Helm's Deep showed our enemy one thing. He knows the heir of Elendil has come forth. Men are not as weak as he supposed. There is courage still, strength enough perhaps to challenge him. Sauron fears this. He will not risk the peoples of Middle-Earth uniting under one banner. He will raze Minas Tirith to the ground before he sees a king return to the throne of Men. If the beacons of Minas Tirith are lit, Rohan must be ready for war."
"Tell me," Théoden said, "why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours? What do we owe Gondor?"
"I will go," Aragorn said.
"No!" Gandalf said.
"They must be warned," Aragorn argued.
"They will be," Gandalf explained. "You must come to Minas Tirith by another road. Follow the river. Look to the black ships. Understand this: things are now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith, and I won't be going alone." Then he was gone again, taking Pippin with him.
They spent the next few days waiting. Mornie caught up with Jim, chatted with Eowyn much – she was excited to have another woman at the court – and remembered her mother's lullaby. However, she soon began to grow impatient. She knew now that she had been created for action, not waiting around for something happen. At last, something did. About mid-morning one day, her father suddenly burst into the hall.
"The beacons of Minas Tirith!" he called. The beacons are lit! Gondor calls for aid."
"And Rohan will answer," Théoden said. "Muster the Rohirrim."
They sprang into action. Before long, bells were tolling, calling the Men to war. Horses were quickly brushed and saddled. Armor was put on. Mornie put the metal flower back onto her braid. Before long, nearly everything was ready. She sat on Scyld near Legolas and Gimli, who was complaining again.
"Horse-men!" he scoffed. "I wish I could muster a legion of dwarves, fully armed and filthy."
"Your kinsmen may have no need to ride to war," Legolas said. "I fear war already marches on their own lands."
The banners blew in the breeze: a white horse on a green field, outlined with gold as the Men gathered around their king.
"Now is the hour," Eomer called. "Riders of Rohan, oaths you have taken. Now, fulfill them all, to lord and land!" And they set out at a gallop, a river streaming from the city.
They rode into Dunharrow a few days later. Many Men had already gathered there, and they called out greetings to the king, as well as the number of their Men. It was 6,000 all told. They camped high up on the mountain. There was a tenseness there that seemed unexplainable. Legolas also noticed.
"The horses are restless," he said to Eomer, "and the men are quiet."
"They grow nervous in the shadow of the mountain," he said.
"That road there," Gimli asked, "where does that lead?"
"It is the road to the Dimholt, the door under the mountain," Legolas answered.
"None who venture there ever return. That mountain is evil," Eomer finished. A slight chill crept up Mornie's spine. She had heard of the Dimholt.
"Mornie," a voice was calling her away from her mother. "Mornie?" Awake, she recognized Legolas' voice outside her tent.
"Yes?" she answered.
"We are leaving soon; hurry." A moment later, she was out of her tent. Legolas continued. "Your father is leaving. He is taking the Dimholt road."
"And we will follow him," Mornie finished for him, showing her preparedness. She went with him to get the horses. When they returned, Gimli was speaking to him.
"Just where do you think you're off to?" he asked.
"Not this time," her father said. "This time you must stay, Gimli."
"Have you learned nothing of the stubbornness of Dwarves?" Legolas answered.
"Or that of the Mirkwood Elves?" Mornie added.
"You might as well accept it. We're going with you, laddie," Gimli concluded.
Mornie brought up the end of the four, while her father led. As they rode out, many people called out to him, but he did not stop, nor even reply. The 30 other or so Dunadain, including Jim, under orders, remained with the army.
The towers of rocks rising up above them were a pale grey. Only small shrubs grew here and there. It was utterly silent.
"What kind of army would linger in such a place?" Gimli wondered aloud.
"One that is cursed," Legolas answered. "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.
Who shall call them form the grey twilight?
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 pass the door to the Paths of the Dead."
They rode on, and the road became steeper. They dismounted and began to lead their horses. When it leveled out, they rounded a corner and could see the door ahead.
"The very warmth of my blood seems stolen away," Gimli whispered. They stopped at the door, and Legolas read the inscription above.
"The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead. And the Dead keep it. The way is shut."
An unnatural breeze blew out of the doorway. Frightened, the horses turned and ran. Aragorn called Brego back, but to no avail. He turned to face the door.
"I do not fear death," he said, and passed through. Legolas followed. Mornie took a deep breath and followed him.