The next few days passed by in a boring blur. I mostly chatted with Cloud or one of the Twins as the horses grew increasingly uneasy just as the men did. The paths became more wild and tangled, making our travel laborious. The nights were foggier and an unshakeable air of gloom hung persistently above the company.

As I stood watch at night, sometimes kept company by an elf but mostly alone, and felt like I was being watched. I mentioned this to Cloud and she said, "You know it could be that they don't want us here."

I shrugged, "Could be."

Up ahead I heard the men whisper and murmur and I saw a big cavern loom up in front of us. Gimli asked quietly, as if afraid to speak loudly, "What kind of army would linger in such a place?"

Legolas answered, "One that is cursed. 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 fulfilled their pledge."

"Who shall call them from the grey twilight?" Legolas asked, casting a meaningful glance at Aragorn. "The forgotten people. The heir of him to whom their oath they swore. From the north shall he come; need shall drive him. He shall pass the door to the paths of the dead."

As we drew upon the cavern Gimli commented, "The very warmth of my blood seems stolen away."

Boromir agreed and said, "This really is the place of the dead." I whispered in Cloud's ear and took off my pack and she and Amberfire turned and raced back the way we had come. Soon the other horses followed. The group looked at me and I meerly shrugged like, 'Don't look at me, I didn't do it.'

Legolas then read the markings, "The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead, and the dead keep it. The way is shut."

I frowned and said, "Creepy." Boromir nodded and Aragorn dissapeared into the dark, soon followed by Legolas. Gimli said in outrage, "Well this is a thing unheard of. An Elf will go underground when a Dwarf dares not?"

He groaned, "I'll never hear the end of it!" and struts after them. I looked at Boromir, smiled brilliantly and followed Gimli. I heard him and everyone else follow and I nearly freaked when I was surrounded by complete darkness.

I nearly screamed when two hands touched my shoulders and Elladan said quietly, "Easy little one."

Elrohir said calmly, "Walk with us." They took my hands and I stumbled after them, shivering slightly but didn't dare show any other sign of fear. I'm sure the elves saw right through it, but if the other men saw, I'd never hear the end of it.

Suddenly my foot caved in on something and I struggled to get it out. I heard Boromir ask, "What was that?" I grumbled, "Sorry, that was me. My foots stuck."

I let go of the Twin's hand to try and pull it out when my other foot sunk. I snarled, "Peachy, can someone light a match?"

I heard Aragorn and Boromir giving orders and sighed. A ball of fire appeared above me and I flicked it to two unlit torches Legolas held. He handed one to Aragorn and I looked down to see what my feet were caught in.

I nearly flipped. Corpses. Lots and lots of corpses. I grabbed the Twins and they managed to tug me free and I clutched Elladan's sleeve, looking away from the dead under out feet. I hear a man whisper, "That is why woman belong in a house hold."

I looked over at the same man I had punched and growled, "Shut it. By the way, nice black eye."

He scowled and walked away.

Boromir glared after him before asking, concerned, "Are you alright Ariana?" We have set up camp for the time being at a spot away from the decaying corpses, as we tried to figure out where we should go. I nodded, touching his arm, "Fine Boromir."

Mr. Black eye walked past and said sweetly, "That's good, because you have the first watch Lady Ariana." I smiled back just as sweetly and said, "Aw is it cuz your too scawrd of the icky corpses to do it yourself? Don't worry, they only like handsome men."

He smile fell like a hot potatoe and Boromir chided, "Ariana!" I waved bye as Mr. Black eye stalked away. Legolas came up and said curiously, "Isn't he the one you punched?"

Boromir whipped to look at me, "You what? Why?"

I shrugged and said calmly, "he asked whose bedroll I'd be sharing and I took offense. He's been bugging me since day one, don't worry about it." Seeing Boromir's and Legolas's faces ready to kill I said sternly, "Don't hurt him, that's my job."

It took a bit and getting Aragorn involved to convinced them that they couldn't maim or kill the guy. Then I sat up for watch and kept a torch right next to me. Boromir offered to join me, as did Legolas but I assured them I'd be fine and they finally went to get some rest.

Though I was secretly terrified and shaking in my boots, I wanted to show the men wrong and that I could stay up all by myself. Aren't I the perfect student?

I was a bit jumpy and looked around warily until a ranger relieved me and I scurried to my bedroll, which somehow ended up between Boromir and Legolas, curled up and shut my eyes. I made myself think I was in a bed somewhere not creepy and haunted and finally fell asleep.

I woke up to Boromir shaking me awake and I quickly packed up my things and waited ready to move. Boromir handed me some food and we ate in silence until we began to go again. This time I stuck to Boromir like glue and he didn't seem to find that I sometimes grabbed his sleeve or hand when noises or something spooked me.

I didn't hear any insults or cracks about woman and I had a sneaky suspicion that the reason for that was the glaring Elves, Boromir, Aragorn and Gimli. I smiled and thought happily, "Awww. I'm so loved!" Then I scowled and thought fearcly, "This better not make me a Mary sue or there will be hell to pay. Pain and Death!"

I was broken from my mental maniac laughter when we suddenly stopped. I looked around at the skulls on the walls and the temp dropping a couple of degrees. I looked to where Aragorn had led us, to a large underground hall.

"Who enters my domain?" came a voice from beyond the grave.

I looked around warily as the voice said, "The dead do not suffer the living to pass." I clenched my fists and raised my chin in defiance to the voice. The King of the dead appeared in front of us and I glared at him.

"You will suffer me!" Aragorn cried, and I thought happily, "You tell him Aragorn!"

The king laughs a high, cold laugh that sent shivers up and down my spine, and a city of ghosts appear and surround the breathing. "The way is shut," the King repeats, sounding very creepy. "It was made by those who are dead; and the dead keep it. The way is shut."

"Now you must die…"

I tensed, ready to defend if we were struck as Aragorn said loudly, "I summon you to fulfill your oath."

The King of the dead said haughtly, "None but the King of Gondor may command me." I watched as Aragorn pulled out Anduril and held it in front of him.

King Deadman swings his ghostly sword at Aragorn who brings Anduril up for the block. When it clashed the King hissed, "That bind was broken!"

"It has been remade." Aragorn hissed and shoves King Deadman back. Then turns and surveys the soldiers of the dead. "Fight for us, and regain your honor. What say you?"

He turns, looking expectant. I looked around at the dead guys, almost hopeful. Aragorn repeats himself, "What say you?"

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

"I am Isildur's heir. Fight for me, and I will hold your oaths fulfilled!" he cried, a hint of desperation in his gray eyes, and I felt for him, "What say you?"

King Deadman sent Aragorn a horrible smirk and laughed his cold, cruel laugh as the ghostly army began to fade. "You have my word!" Aragorn cried, this time truly desperate. "Fight for me and I will release you from this living death! What say you?"

"Stand you traitors!" Gimli roared.

But it was too late; the dead had disappeared. I put a hand on Aragorn's shoulder as a loud rumbling echoed through the cavern. The company turned to see the doorway breaking and thousands of skulls flowing like water, straight at us.

"OUT!" Aragorn commanded. We ran like hell on wheels. I saw the skulls coming too fast and if we got swarmed, not all of us would make it, or some could get pushed over the edge. I threw out my hand and a wall of wind spread from me to the exit and I shouted, "Go before this breaks!" Everyone bolted and as the last person passed the skulls the wall broke.

We manage to escape from the swarm of skulls and emerged from a doorway at the back of the mountain into the sunlight. I squinted at the sudden brightness. When my eyes had adjusted, I saw the lush green mountains and the shoreline of the sea.

Down below, were the black Corsair ships of the pirates and the cities they had ransacked. I checked to make sure everyone had made it, then watched helplessly as Aragorn falls to his knees in despair.

Legolas places a hand on the shoulder of the soon-to-be-king when he suddenly turns, hearing a sound.

We follow his gaze and see the King Deadman. I see Aragorn's eyes go wide in surprise and I slowly grinned. The King of the dead gazed at Aragorn, as if weighing something.

"We fight!"

I threw up my arms and yelled, "Yes!" I grinned widely and we turned to face the oncoming pirates.