Chapter 13: The Paths of the Dead
A/N: I'm on a roll. Anyway, I know all you want is the story and you probably did not even read this so go read!
Soon after the sun had began its ascension to the skies, the Grey Company made ready to depart. And as the sun peeked over the horizon, sending the first rays of light upon Rohan, the Company was mounted on their steeds. There was great trouble convincing Éowyn to wait for her kinsmen. She wished to ride with the Company and when told that she could not, she became sorrowful. Aragorn knew that she had yet something to do and that she must stay in Edoras for now. And Éowyn stayed, but only because it was Aragorn's will. The Company rode towards the Paths of the Dead.
Arway rode at the tail of the Company with Gimli and Legolas. Some had questioned her change of attire for she no longer wore chain mail. All knew that they were not only riding to war, they were racing towards it. They were trying to beat it to Minas Tirith. Arway knew this too. And she also knew that if she was to survive this war she could not trust chain mail, but rather the work of the Elves. Her strong shirt was now covered with the leather that she had received from Rivendell, hiding it from the view of all. With this on, she was one of the most protected of the group, but also had some of the most freedom in movement.
Legolas chatted quietly with Gimli as they rode to Gondor. It was here, on the paths before they reached the Paths of the Dead, that the Dwarf pointed out Arway. Legolas looked upon the she-Elf and what he saw was different then what he was used to seeing. The determined being from the fight at Helm's Deep had returned. Arway sat upon her horse with grace and underneath he felt her power.
Like many times before, Legolas studied Arway. He saw the warrior in her, the trained warrior. At her left hip, she wore her Elven sword; at her right was the long dagger. The other dagger was at her abdomen level on her left side. Across her back the quiver, long knife, and the bow of the Galadrim were slung.
He looked upon a being going to war, who did not expect to return. She had no place to return to. And that was when the realization came to him. Unlike the rest, she was not planning on returning; she had not place upon Middle-earth to return to that would welcome her with open arms. All had family and loved ones to fight back to, but she did not. She was going into this knowing that she had no one who awaited her return. No one would be too grieved if she did not make it back. Legolas looked upon an Elf who went into war to save a world that they knew they had to be salvaged. That the beings upon it would suffer greatly if their lives changed too drastically. He looked at a woman in a man's world, who survived. But now, she did not expect to return to the game. He did not know if Arway had told herself these things, or if that is just what was seen. In searching her feelings, he could not find these thoughts, but if he looked upon her they were seen.
Arway snapped her head to Legolas; she had felt him calling her. And as she asked in the way Elves can without speaking, she received no reply. But as he looked at her, she saw something in his eyes, telling her that if she did no return her life would be grieved. Yet, the thought of not returning after the war had not entered her mind.
Then, the Company halted. Before them was a door. It was the pass into the Paths of the Dead. The horses would not pass through the doors, and even the Rangers were reluctant to do so. But Aragorn's will led the Rangers and company on. The horses would follow because of their love for their masters. Everyone trembled, every being save Legolas and Arway, for what did Elves have to fear from the ghosts of Men?
Arway set a hand on her horse's head and passed through. Her horse would not have stayed even if asked. Many generations Arway had, had a horse from his bloodline. Love for the she-Elf was in the genes of the horse. As she entered, she noticed Legolas was having difficulty with his horse, Arod. However, she did not interfere for she wished to see the power of this Elf. After a bit, Legolas convinced Arod to enter.
Long were the Paths of the Dead, and there was much time to think. Yet, Arway did not rummage her mind for that which had been lost. Nor did she feel fear as the Men did. Not even in the slightest was it fell for the blood of Men was small in her. In this time, she studied the Rangers- a group, which she had used for cover while in the North. But it was not these men she had ridden with, rather their fathers and even grandfathers. Similar they were, and yet, the men before her were so different. They were ready for the coming of the evil. They were ready to defend Middle-earth, all their life they knew that this would come to rest on their shoulders.
Then, her eyes landed on the son's of Elrond, Elrohir and Elladan. Her older half brothers by blood-though they did not know this. None knew save the four and Legolas. As she watched them, she saw the difference between them and herself. She was younger then Arwen, which gave them more knowledge and wisdom. And as she remembered there was nothing between Arwen and her that were similar either. In appearance and personality, there were no large similarities. There may have been something within the four that was alike, but Arway could not see it. She knew the others would not either. Never would they be told her ancestry. Never would the world murmur her deepest secret.
Around her, the darkness went unnoticed. The dark crevasses of the world were a common place for her. Shadows flickered and disappeared as the torches were carried past. As she looked around the paths and felt the fear permeate through the air, she wondered. Would this be what the world turned to if Sauron continued his grasp on Middle-earth?
It was two hours before sunset when the Grey Company left the closed cave tunnel. They mounted their horses and rode through the ravine. Arway was in front of Gimli and Legolas, yet she heard all that was said. And when Legolas told Gimli that the dead were following, he also told her silently to look. And she did. Even though, she had known they were following for some time now.
Glancing over one shoulder and behind the three beings: Gimli, Legolas, and Elladan, she saw the ghost of Men. To her it was an astonishing sight. She had felt their summons and heard it too. All had, but she doubted that most knew what it was. Before she turned back around, she caught Legolas's eye for the second time. Again, she was something there, but what it was she could not tell.
A/N: I'm on a roll. Anyway, I know all you want is the story and you probably did not even read this so go read!
Soon after the sun had began its ascension to the skies, the Grey Company made ready to depart. And as the sun peeked over the horizon, sending the first rays of light upon Rohan, the Company was mounted on their steeds. There was great trouble convincing Éowyn to wait for her kinsmen. She wished to ride with the Company and when told that she could not, she became sorrowful. Aragorn knew that she had yet something to do and that she must stay in Edoras for now. And Éowyn stayed, but only because it was Aragorn's will. The Company rode towards the Paths of the Dead.
Arway rode at the tail of the Company with Gimli and Legolas. Some had questioned her change of attire for she no longer wore chain mail. All knew that they were not only riding to war, they were racing towards it. They were trying to beat it to Minas Tirith. Arway knew this too. And she also knew that if she was to survive this war she could not trust chain mail, but rather the work of the Elves. Her strong shirt was now covered with the leather that she had received from Rivendell, hiding it from the view of all. With this on, she was one of the most protected of the group, but also had some of the most freedom in movement.
Legolas chatted quietly with Gimli as they rode to Gondor. It was here, on the paths before they reached the Paths of the Dead, that the Dwarf pointed out Arway. Legolas looked upon the she-Elf and what he saw was different then what he was used to seeing. The determined being from the fight at Helm's Deep had returned. Arway sat upon her horse with grace and underneath he felt her power.
Like many times before, Legolas studied Arway. He saw the warrior in her, the trained warrior. At her left hip, she wore her Elven sword; at her right was the long dagger. The other dagger was at her abdomen level on her left side. Across her back the quiver, long knife, and the bow of the Galadrim were slung.
He looked upon a being going to war, who did not expect to return. She had no place to return to. And that was when the realization came to him. Unlike the rest, she was not planning on returning; she had not place upon Middle-earth to return to that would welcome her with open arms. All had family and loved ones to fight back to, but she did not. She was going into this knowing that she had no one who awaited her return. No one would be too grieved if she did not make it back. Legolas looked upon an Elf who went into war to save a world that they knew they had to be salvaged. That the beings upon it would suffer greatly if their lives changed too drastically. He looked at a woman in a man's world, who survived. But now, she did not expect to return to the game. He did not know if Arway had told herself these things, or if that is just what was seen. In searching her feelings, he could not find these thoughts, but if he looked upon her they were seen.
Arway snapped her head to Legolas; she had felt him calling her. And as she asked in the way Elves can without speaking, she received no reply. But as he looked at her, she saw something in his eyes, telling her that if she did no return her life would be grieved. Yet, the thought of not returning after the war had not entered her mind.
Then, the Company halted. Before them was a door. It was the pass into the Paths of the Dead. The horses would not pass through the doors, and even the Rangers were reluctant to do so. But Aragorn's will led the Rangers and company on. The horses would follow because of their love for their masters. Everyone trembled, every being save Legolas and Arway, for what did Elves have to fear from the ghosts of Men?
Arway set a hand on her horse's head and passed through. Her horse would not have stayed even if asked. Many generations Arway had, had a horse from his bloodline. Love for the she-Elf was in the genes of the horse. As she entered, she noticed Legolas was having difficulty with his horse, Arod. However, she did not interfere for she wished to see the power of this Elf. After a bit, Legolas convinced Arod to enter.
Long were the Paths of the Dead, and there was much time to think. Yet, Arway did not rummage her mind for that which had been lost. Nor did she feel fear as the Men did. Not even in the slightest was it fell for the blood of Men was small in her. In this time, she studied the Rangers- a group, which she had used for cover while in the North. But it was not these men she had ridden with, rather their fathers and even grandfathers. Similar they were, and yet, the men before her were so different. They were ready for the coming of the evil. They were ready to defend Middle-earth, all their life they knew that this would come to rest on their shoulders.
Then, her eyes landed on the son's of Elrond, Elrohir and Elladan. Her older half brothers by blood-though they did not know this. None knew save the four and Legolas. As she watched them, she saw the difference between them and herself. She was younger then Arwen, which gave them more knowledge and wisdom. And as she remembered there was nothing between Arwen and her that were similar either. In appearance and personality, there were no large similarities. There may have been something within the four that was alike, but Arway could not see it. She knew the others would not either. Never would they be told her ancestry. Never would the world murmur her deepest secret.
Around her, the darkness went unnoticed. The dark crevasses of the world were a common place for her. Shadows flickered and disappeared as the torches were carried past. As she looked around the paths and felt the fear permeate through the air, she wondered. Would this be what the world turned to if Sauron continued his grasp on Middle-earth?
It was two hours before sunset when the Grey Company left the closed cave tunnel. They mounted their horses and rode through the ravine. Arway was in front of Gimli and Legolas, yet she heard all that was said. And when Legolas told Gimli that the dead were following, he also told her silently to look. And she did. Even though, she had known they were following for some time now.
Glancing over one shoulder and behind the three beings: Gimli, Legolas, and Elladan, she saw the ghost of Men. To her it was an astonishing sight. She had felt their summons and heard it too. All had, but she doubted that most knew what it was. Before she turned back around, she caught Legolas's eye for the second time. Again, she was something there, but what it was she could not tell.
