A/N: Sorry for another short chapter! They'll get longer in another couple chapters. Thanks for all the great reviews.
Ch. 9: The Paths of the Dead
Aragorn beckoned Seven to ride next to him. "Stay close to me, lady. I fear this path will be more difficult than perhaps you imagine. Legolas told me that you say you can fight. Truly, how well can you fight?"
"I am not very accustomed to these weapons, but I have fought many battles."
"To escape your captivity?"
"No, but I fought as a captive and after I was freed." It was awkward to speak of her time in the Borg Collective like slavery, but it was the easiest way to explain it to these people. "I have fought against single opponents and many opponents. I will not be a liability."
Aragorn nodded, and they continued in silence. As they rode, gloom grew on the entire party. Seven resisted it, knowing that it was illogical, but the forbidding landscape took its toll on her mind as much as the others. On that path, Seven was grateful for the time she had spent on Vulcan, not simply as a refuge from awkwardness on Earth, but also for lessons learned in ignoring illogical emotions. The fear she felt now was certainly illogical and irrational, but she was unable to brush it away as she was accustomed to doing. She found herself avoiding the shadows of the trees and startling at small noises. It reminded her of when she'd first been separated from the Collective. She processed the emotions differently now, but much of what she was feeling now was what she had felt then—fear and confusion. Before the confusion had been from the separation, but now it came from her inability to dismiss the irrational fear.
In the midst of her musings, the party came to a stone standing before a gap in the mountainside like a lone finger pointing to the sky. Gimli was the only one to speak; when he did, his words fell dully in the air. "My blood runs chill."* No one else had the heart to reply; there was nothing more to say. It was how they all felt.
The horses refused to pass the stone, and soon the riders dismounted and led them by their harnesses around the stone. Seven had never ridden the same horse sufficiently to develop a relationship with it, and this one had no special affection for her. Seven led her horse by its harness around the stone, but the animal followed only reluctantly. She could only hope the delay would not be problematic
Beyond the stone, they came to a Dark Door. She could not make out the dim figures on the arch around the door. Of those present, only Legolas seemed unaffected by the fear flowing out from it. Halbarad spoke for all of them. "This is an evil door, and my death lies beyond it. I will dare to pass it nonetheless, but no horse will enter."*
Aragorn shook his head. "But we must go in, and therefore the horses must go too. For if we ever come through this darkness, many leagues lie beyond, and every hour that is lost there will bring the triumph of Sauron nearer. Follow me!"*
The Rangers took their horses and drew them with them into the darkness. Their bond with them was so deep the animals would follow them even into this place. Both Legolas and Seven rode animals from Rohan, whom they had known only a short time, and they would not enter the place. Legolas sang softly to his horse and it followed him in. Seven stared in amazement at the sight, but the terror weighing on her would not allow her to marvel long. The terror weighed heavily on her horse, too, and she could not get it to follow.
"Leave her, Lady Seven. She will find her way back to her people. You shall ride with one of us." Aragorn spoke from within. Seven nodded and removed the shield from the saddle and grabbed the bag of provisions from the saddlebags. She pulled the cloth out of hair and tied it to the saddle. Éowyn would fear if the horse came back alone, but the cloth should reassure her, at least a little. She had a replacement for it in her bag.
Entering the door, even without the horse, took an act of will greater than when Seven had given up any hope of returning the Collective. That, at least, had been a gradual decision, and the process of making the decision for herself really made the choice for her. This was sudden and without the promise of any benefit. She forced herself to go in because she had said she would follow and to show Legolas and Aragorn that she was, indeed, capable of it.
Being inside the cavern was like being blind. Aragorn and the Elf Elladan held torches, but the darkness was oppressive nonetheless. It was like being in a pressure chamber with no emergency release valve. Seven was dimly aware that Gimli was the last to enter, and for a while scrambled behind the party in the darkness, but she had to focus her will on each step. She did not dare to fall behind. Moving her feet required a conscious act of will.
Gimli caught up as Aragorn paused to inspect some bones at the entrance to a side passage. Elladan held both his torch and Aragorn's as Aragorn inspected the armored skeleton. Legolas moved over to Seven. "How are you holding up, Lady Seven?"
Seven breathed deeply before replying. "I can continue."
Legolas nodded. "It is as much as can be expected." He smiled softly, then walked over to Gimli and stood with the dwarf. At another time, Seven might have debated how to interpret his statement, but in the darkness of the caves it occurred to her only dimly to wonder whether she should take it as a complement or an insult.
Rising from his inspection of the bones, Aragorn called out. "Through all the long years he has lain at the door that he could not unlock. Whither does it lead? Why would he pass? None shall ever know! For that is not my errand! Keep your hoards and your secrets hidden in the Accursed Years! Speed only we ask. Let us pass, and then come! I summon you to the Stone of Erech!"** There was no response. It was almost as if the silence became even deeper and more profound. There was nothing to do except continue in the dark.
* p. 49
** p. 51