"What is it? What do you see?" Asked Gimli.
"I see shapes of men and of horses."
Rin rose an eyebrow at this and searched the path "I don't see any men or horses. Are you sure your not touched in the head?"
"Pale banners like shreds of cloud. Spears rise like winter-thickets through a shroud of mist. The dead are following. They have been summoned." The Elf continued.
"The Dead? Summoned? I knew that. Very good. Very good. Legolas!"
Rin stopped in her tracks when she felt something crack underneath her Geta.
She spared a look down and immediately shot up. A disturbed look evident on her face.
"Don't look down."
Gimli heard her and, against his better judgment, looked down.
Skulls littered the very ground they walk upon.
The Dwarf mirrored Rin's reaction and hurriedly caught up with his companions. A series of crunches and snaps sounded for every step he took.
~Line Break~
The four soon reached a dimly lit hall. An air of dread and mist filled the hall as the group reached the center.
A haunting voice filled the air "Who enters my domain?"
A pale green, figure appeared before them. The ghost's image was frightening to say the least.
"One who will have your allegiance." Aragorn declared as he stepped closer to the spirit.
"The dead do not suffer the living to pass." Responded the ghost.
"Youwillsuffer me!"
The ghost's response was an eery laugh as ghostly images of a city appeared before them.
Ghosts flooded out of the ghostly city and made their way to the group.
"The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead. And the dead keep it." The King of the Dead stared at them menacingly "The way is shut. Now you must die."
The ghosts surrounded them and the King of the Dead walked threateningly to their direction.
"I summon you to fulfill your oath." The Ranger declared.
"None but the King of Gondor may command me!" The King rebutted heatedly and went to strike the Ranger.
Aragorn raised his new sword and parried the blade, much to everyone's shock. He grabbed the ghost by the neck and placed his blade beneath the specter's throat.
The King widened his eyes in disbelief "That line was broken!"
"It has been remade."
The Ranger shoved the ghost back and said "Fight for us, and regain your honor. What say you?"
He looked at each of the ghost army's faces "What say you!?" He repeated.
"You waste your time, Aragorn! They had no honor in life, they have none now in death." Gimli said as he stared wearily at the ghosts surrounding them.
"I am Isildur's heir. Fight for me and I will hold your oaths fulfilled! What say you!"
The only response he got was a smirk from the King of the Dead and a horrifying laugh.
"You have my word! Fight, and I will release you from this living death! What say you?"
The army began to fade away, leaving the group as the only occupants in the hall.
"Stand, you traitors!" Gimli demanded.
The ground shakes. Skulls roll on the floor. Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Rin turn to the breaking doorway to see thousands of skulls flowing out of it.
"Out!" Aragorn bellowed.
"Don't have to tell me twice!"
They run, but are nearly swept away by the skulls.
"Move your asses, now!" Rin yelled as they fight their way through the sea of skulls and escaped through a doorway.
Emerging from the doorway in the mountainside, Aragorn sees the black ships and the cities burning behind them.
The Ranger fell to his knees in despair.
He didn't register the hands that were placed on his shoulders.
Aragorn hears a sound behind him and turns around. The King of the Dead appears before them.
"We fight!"
~Line Break~
The corsairs of Umbar sail upriver. Four figures stand alone on the shore watching them.
The Captain saw a Man, an Elf, a Dwarf and a Woman. All of them armed with weapons.
"You may go no further. You will not enter Gondor." The Man declared.
"Who are you to deny us passage?" The Captain questioned.
"Legolas, fire a warning shot past the bosun's ear." Aragorn whispered to Legolas.
The Elf pulled back an arrow and aimed at his target.
"Mind your aim." Said the Dwarf, a mischievous glint behind his eyes.
Just as Legolas fired, Gimli nudged the lower part of the bow and threw off the Elf's aim. The arrow curved and hit a pirate square in the chest.
"Oh!" Gimli placed a hand over his mouth as if in shock before saying "That's it. We warned you. Prepare to be boarded."
The Elf glared at the Dwarf while Rin stifled a chuckle.
The pirates laugh at the threat and the Captain responded "Boarded? By you and whose army?"
Rin raised an eyebrow at this and smirked.
"This army." Aragorn stated with an amused look.
The King of the Dead, with his army, appears and runs through Aragorn, leading his men in a charge to the ships. The sailors recoil and yell in terror.
~Line Break~
"Darekaga watashi o kono kimigurena fune kara oros-"
Rin didn't finish her statement as she heaved out her lunch on the side of the ship.
Legolas turned to Gimli with a confused expression.
"I did not understand what she said nor do I understand why is she regurgitating when the ship is barely moving."
The Dwarf shrugged as they continued to stare at the retching woman.
"Kuso!"