Here you go, a nice long chapter for you. Over 1700 words.
Chapter 33
"What kind of an army would linger in such a place?" Gimli asked as he glanced around at the dead trees and cliffs that surrounded the road they followed to the Dimholt.
"One that is cursed," Legolas replied. "Long ago, the Men of the Mountain 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 from the great twilight?" Haldir continued with a smile at Legolas. "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." Gimli seemed frightened as Legolas and Haldir told the story. By the time the elves had finished, they were there. A door was a short way in front of them, a small opening crafted into a rock. Primitive paintings were above it.
"The very warmth of my blood seems stolen away," Gimli said quietly. Rana's hands tightened on the reigns of her horse.
"The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead. And the Dead keep it. The way is shut," Legolas read
They dismounted, still holding the horses by the reins. Aragorn held his sword, Andúril, in his hand. The horses were clearly nervous. They slowly approached the opening. The horses panicked as a blast of air came out of the tunnel. Aragorn, Caranduin, Haldir, Rana and Legolas lost hold of the reins, and the horses galloped away.
"Brego!" Aragorn called after his horse.
"Morbein, come back!" Rana called after her own horse. Neither of the horses returned. They were too afraid of the paths of the dead.
Aragorn turned and looked back at the tunnel into the mountain, as did Rana.
"I do not fear death!" Aragorn said bravely, and stepped forward, entering the tunnel. Legolas hesitated another second, then followed him determinedly. Rana, Malinaduial, Haldir, and Caranduin all followed.
"Well, this is a thing unheard-of," Gimli mused as the elves entered ahead of him. "An Elf will go underground where a Dwarf dare not! Oh! Oh, I'd never hear the end of it!" Gimli then raced forward and entered.
Boromir watched in disgust as his brother's body was carried unmoving towards them. At least his father was now showing actual emotion. Too bad it appeared to be too late.
"My son," Denethor said, his voice breaking. He looked up at the soldiers who had carried him up. "Say not that he has fallen!"
"They were outnumbered," a soldier said. "None survived."
"You've killed him," Boromir told his father. "This is your fault."
Denethor simply stared at Boromir unblinking.
"He's dead because of you!" Boromir yelled. "You sent him to his death, and before that you never showed a sign of remorse. Everything he did, he did to try to impress you. All he wanted was for you to love him!"
Denethor was speechless.
Pippin ran over and knelt by Faramir as Denethor began stumbling around blankly and silently. "He's breathing," Pippin murmured. Boromir joined the Hobbit by his brother's body. "He needs medicine," Pippin said.
"Faramir," Boromir breathed.
A noise brought them away from Faramir. Boromir followed Gandalf and his father with Pippin close behind. What they saw next was terrible. The forces of Mordor had arrived, and were catapulting the heads of fallen soldiers at the city.
The army was vast, and clearly prepared for a long fight against Gondor to destroy Minas Tirith. It likely wouldn't be too long, though, unless Theoden and the Rohirrim arrived on time.
"Rohan has deserted us," Denethor said quietly. "Theoden has betrayed me." His voice then grew louder as he began shouting orders. "Abandon your posts! Flee! Flee for your lives-" Whack! Gandalf slammed his staff into Denethor's stomach, making the steward bend over. He then hit him over the back, causing him to fall to the floor of the stone outlook at the seventh level of Minas Tirith, unconscious.
There was silence a mment before Gandalf took over. "Prepare for battle!"
"We must ride light and swift!" Theoden said as he rode through the camp. "It is a long rode ahead, and man and beast must reach the end with the strength to fight."
As Anwyn put her helmet on unseen, she watched as Merry looked up at Theoden.
"Little Hobbits do not belong in war, Master Meriadoc," he told him. Merry looked disappointed.
"Eowyn, look," Anwyn said, nudging her cousin. Eowyn turned to see.
"All my friends have gone to battle," Merry replied. "I would be ashamed to be left behind."
"Its a three-day gallop to Minas Tirith, and none of my riders can bare you as a burden," Theoden explained to the hobbit.
"I want to fight!" Merry answered deperately. The poor hobbit looked very upset.
Theoden sighed. "That is my final answer." He then rode away to lead his men to Minas Tirith.
Merry looked upset as Anwyn and Eowyn rode over to him. Eowyn then reached down, grabbed Merry, and hoisted him up to sit in front of her.
"Ride with me, Merry," she said softly.
"My lady," Merry said softly and happily.
Anwyn looked over and smiled. "We will be proud to fight with you, Merry," shen said softly, and Merry smiled at her.
"Form up, move out!" Eomer shouted. "Form up, move out!"
"Ride!" Theoden called out. "Ride now to Gondor!"
"What is it?" Gimli asked nervously. "What do you see?"
"I see shapes of men," Legolas answered. "And of horses."
"Where?" Gimli's voice was panicke.
"Pale banners like shreds of cloud," Rana spoke this time.
"Spears rise like winter-thickets through a shroud of mist," Legolas added. "The dead are following. They have been summoned."
Both elves glanced back at Gimli, who looked rather terrified. "The dead? Summoned?" the dwarf said nervously. "I knew that. Very good. Very good! Legolas!" he ran to catch up.
A greenish mist gathered around the group. Gimli tried to blow it awaay, to no avail. A cracking sound could be heard, and Aragorn froze.
"Do not look down," he said, glancing back at the others.
Malinaduial paled at the thought of what was below, and Caranduin did his best to comfort her. Rana and Legolas exchanged a glance before following Aragorn. Gimli looked highly uncomfortable, while Haldir hesitated a moment before following.
Not long after, they entered what appeared to be a large hall. A green figure appeared shortly after. The figure was ghostly and rather frightening, and he wore a crown.
"Who enters my domain?" the ghostly figure asked.
"One who will have your allegiance," Aragorn replied strongly.
"The ead do not suffer the living to pass," the King of the Dead replied with a wicked grin.
"You will suffer me," Aragorn hissed determinedly.
The King of the Dead simply laughed, a frightening sound. Thousands more of the dead appeared, surrounding the group.
"The way is shut," The King of the Dead told them. "It was made by those who are dead, and the dead keep it. The way is shut. Now you must die."
Legolas and the other elves all shot arrows at the dead. Their arrows simply went through the targets as if passing through air, only to land uselessly on the ground.
"I summon you to fulfill your oath," Aragorn explained.
"None but the King of Gondor may command me," the King of the Dead answered.
Aragorn lifted Anduril, and the King of the Dead attacked with his sword. Aragorn blocked the blow easily, then grabbed the ghost by his throat.
"That blade was broken!" the Ghost King exclaimed, dumbfounded.
"It has been remade," Aragorn responded. He released the king, and addressed the entire crow of the dead. "Fight for us, and regain your honour." He walked through the crowd, glancing around. "What say you?"
The dead had no response, they merely looked uncertain.
"What say you?" Aragorn asked again, looking around.
"You waist your time, Aragorn," Gimli told him. "They had no honour in life, they have none now in death."
Aragorn tried again. "I am Isildur's heir, Fight for me, and I will hold your oaths fulfilled!" The dead watched him uncertainly. "What say you? You have my word! Fight, and I will release you from this living death!" he shouted as they all began to vanish. "What say you?"
"Stand you traitors!" Gimli yelled in annoyance after the dead had all vanished, only then regaining his full courage.
The mists all blew away, and then the ground began to shake. Skulls began raining down on the companions.
"Out!" Aragorn yelled. They all began to struggle through the skulls that were tumbing down on them. They moved as fast as they could through the unmerciful, ever-growing pile of skulls that threatened to engulf them.
About a minute or so later, they were finally out, standing on a hill that overlooked a river. Malinaduial's eyes were still wide with terror as Caranduin wrapped a comforting arm around her.
Legolas smiled as he watched the two. "They're meant for each other," Rana commented as she stood beside him.
Legolas nodded. "Are you alright?"
Rana smiled and nodded. "Yes, are you?"
Legolas nodded, then looked at Aragorn. The man had fallen to his knees and was staring at the black corsair ships that were sailing towards Gondor. Legolas stepped forward and put a hand on his shoulder.
A moment later, the King of the Dead appeared behind them. The group all turned to look. The King of the Dead was silent a moment as the group began to step towards him. Then he spoke.
"We fight."