A/N: Two part today and guess what this one is - the paths of the dead.
thatks all of my faithful reviewers, Angry Furby, Gionareth, ms8309, Aussie
Evenstar. It means a lot that after all of this time (and we've only just
hit the halfway point in the story), you've kept reviewing so faithfully.
Thanks.
Part 50.
Arwen awoke once more in the darkness, in time to see the Evenstar, Earendil and the star Silmaril setting and fading. Carefully, so as not to wake Aragorn she pulled away from him, smoothing the blanket over him, and stood, pausing to cover Elrohir over with a blanket, and to adjust Elladan's rug to keep the icy morning air out. Then she walked over to sit by the window and watch the landscape.
An hour later, just as the sun was beginning to creep over the horizon Aragorn awoke. Arwen watched as he looked around, worried about where she had gone.
"Be easy, my love." She called to him softly. "Do not wake Elladan and Elrohir yet."
"Are you feeling any better?" Aragorn asked, moving to sit beside her on the window-seat.
"I feel more at ease now." She told him. "I was frightened last night."
"Mani marte?" He asked her. /What happened?/
"I dreamed that someone took you away from me, and they wouldn't give you back." She whispered, more to herself than to him.
"I won't leave you, ever." He reassured her, "Uuma dela, nin Tarien." /Don't worry, my princess./
Arwen sighed and laid her head on his shoulder. "We should wake the others and prepare to leave."
"Are you sure you still want to ride that road with me?" Aragorn asked.
She nodded, "We should wake my brothers now, then they can go and wake the others."
He nodded and moved to Elrohir's side. "Awake, nin mellon." Aragorn said to him. "Our time to leave is at hand." Arwen followed his lead, waking Elladan in the same way.
"It cannot be morning already." Elladan said sleepily.
"It is and it's high time you were off waking the others." Arwen scolded him gently.
"Are you feeling better now, Arwen?" He asked.
"Much, thank you." She answered, "Now go, haste is needed on this day."
Not long after they were awoken all of the Rangers gathered in the courtyard, their green and brown outfits showing them up against the pale cobblestones.
The four remaining members of the Fellowship, as well as Elladan and Elrohir were almost indistinguishable, their Elven cloaks, blending perfectly with the hue of the stones.
"Halbarad, how long until we can move out?" Aragorn asked.
"All is in readiness, my Lord. We only await your command to leave." Halbarad replied.
Aragorn watched as Elladan held Nallahir's reins for Arwen as she mounted. Leading Brego he walked over to them. "Lady Arwen, are you ready to leave?" Aragorn asked her, passing his hand over Nallahir's neck.
"I am." She replied, "May our road be free for the journey, and may our road also be safe."
"You speak wisely, dear Lady." Aragorn smiled at her.
"Aragorn, the others wait only for you." Arwen reminded him.
He looked around at the others before mounting, then sat tall in the saddle ready to lead his kin along their path. As he was about to speak the Lady Eowyn walked up to him. "Please, Aragorn. Do not take that road. You should lead these men to war, not into Shadow. Wait for my brother and ride out with him."
"I cannot Lady, this path was appointed to me long ago. Say to your brother that we may meet again, beyond the Shadow." Aragorn said to her.
"If you will not turn from this path, I beg you to take me along with you. Let me ride with this company, as the Lady Arwen does." She said to him.
"I cannot, Lady of Rohan. I cannot grant that to you without the leave of the King and also that of your brother, Eowyn. You must stay and take care of your people." He told her.
"No!" Eowyn began, "Must I always be here, away from all that is happening, hoarded away until all chances of valor and victory are passed?"
Arwen dismounted, "No Eowyn, you will not always be here. There is a time for everything, a time to fight and a time to serve. Now is your time to serve. Serve well, Lady Eowyn. There are things here that you must do, things that no other can. Your time will come, and then you will have to make a choice. Have a care to make the right one Eowyn. May the Valar protect you always." Arwen reached out to hug her, then mounted once more.
"Dunedain, ride out!" Aragorn called, turning Brego towards the main gate. "Farewell Eowyn!"
As they rode out, Arwen glanced back over her shoulder, to see Eowyn standing where they had left her. Aragorn looked back when she sighed. "Do you think I was unfair to her?"
"I do not. I think that she will understand, in time." Arwen told him.
"You were always taught that duty to your people came before anything else though." Elrohir said to her.
"I was also taught that there is a time for everything, even disobedience." Arwen answered.
"Have you been seeing things again, Arwen?" Elladan asked her.
"Nothing of great importance to us." She said, dropping her reins and taking Elessar in her arms. Then she looked over at Aragorn, "You haven't noticed that she is quite taken with you." Then she fed Elessar several drops of the same potion she had used in Moria and tucked him safely into her tunic, once more sleeping soundly.
"Then more bodes ill for the Lady Eowyn." Aragorn said, "For my heart is already given to another."
They rode hard, stopping only once they had reached the Door.
"My death lies beyond here, but I will venture it." Halbarad said quietly. "No horse will pass through there."
"We must pass my friend," Aragorn told him, "And so the horses must pass. Every hour brings Sauron closer to victory." Then with Arwen at his side, he led the others into the gateway.
Several of the horses refused their masters, pawing at the ground, sweating, and rolling their eyes until the whites showed. Legolas dismounted from Arod, who was one of the animals refusing, and spoke to him quietly in Elvish. The horse calmed, but still refused, as some of the others did also.
Leaving go of Aragorn's hand, Arwen too dismounted, leaving Aragorn to hold Nallahir's reins. She removed a large white pouch from one of his saddle bags, along with some strips of cloth.
With Legolas's help she managed to feed Arod a handful of grain, with calming herbs mixed in, and blindfold the horse. "He should lead now, Legolas." Arwen said to him.
The other Rangers, some of whom she was unfamiliar with, did the same.
Finally the remaining horses were calmed enough to journey through the Door, onto the Paths of the Dead.
On the road nothing assailed them, nor tried to block their path.
Once on the road, all of the Rangers had dismounted, led their horses. Aragorn, with Arwen at his side walked at the head of the column, with Elrohir bringing up the rear.
Finally the walls faded away, leaving them in a vast open space. Behind them, the whispers that frightened the horses grew louder.
Aragorn turned to call out to them, "Speed we ask! Let us pass, then come! I summon you to the Stone of Erech!"
There was no answer to his call, but for a blast of chilled air, which flickered the torches, then put them out, so that none could be rekindled.
At once Arwen's own light filled the dimness. Handing Nallahir's reins once more to Aragorn she walked back to Elrohir and handed him, what look to be a sphere of white light, burning like fire in the palm of her hand. Then she walked back to Aragorn, accepting Nallahir's reins and allowing Aragorn to take her by the hand.
No one knew how long the walked for, it could have been only an hour, or many more.
The men hung their heads, staring at their feet, unable, or unwilling to look up at the things that lay ahead.
Finally Arwen was able to hear the tinkling of water in the heavy silence, aside from the sounds of the horses hooves on the ground and the occasional clanking of swords or armor, they had heard nothing since they had passed through the Door.
Light grew around them, and the company passed through another gateway, this one hewn of stone, made with huge arches.
They mounted their horses once more and rode on leaving the gate far behind.
Riding double file the Rangers were glad of the company of their companions, although little was said between them.
Behind them Arwen could hear the patter of feet. She lowered her head, unwilling to look.
"Be calm Arwen, the Dead follow us to the Stone of Erech." Aragorn told her softly.
"All is well with me, Hir-nin." She answered. My Lord. Then she tugged gently on Nallahir's reins to reassure the big gray horse.
Then suddenly Aragorn called out, not turning around. "Friends, forget your weariness! Ride now, ride!" He called to the others, "We must reach the Stone of Erech before the passing of this day!"
With those words he spurred Brego faster. Nallahir tossed his head before moving into the faster gait, ever mindful of his mistress and her safety. The big gray horse drew even with Brego, keeping pace easily with him and hastened no more.
Far below then, in the valley bells rang and all fled before the face of Aragorn. Doors and windows were shut up tight and cries of terror resounded in the air, always the same words. 'The King of the Dead! The King of the Dead is upon us!'
The Grey Company did not heed the cries, riding like hunters until their horses stumbled with weariness.
They reached the Hill of Erech, upon which the great Stone was set before midnight.
Once the arrived there Elrohir rode up from the back of the column, handing Aragorn a silver horn, which he blew loudly.
The sound of the horn resounded at once in the empty lands, as though it had been take up be echoes. Instead it was the sound of answering horns, their noise coming closer.
Other than the horns blowing there was no other sound, though all were aware of the great host gathered about the base of the hill. A chilled wind blew around them, like one that brought snow down from the mountains.
Arwen pulled her cloak around her, then buried her fingers in Nallahir's mane.
She watched in silence as Aragorn dismounted and called out, "Oathbreakers, why have you come?"
The voice that answered came from the very night itself, with a strange sound to it, as though it had come from far away. "To fulfill our oath and have peace."
"I go now to Pelargir upon Anduin and you will come after me. When this land is clean of the servants of Sauron I will hold your oath to be fulfilled, you will have peace and depart forever. I am Elessar, Isildur's heir of Gondor." Aragorn said to them.
Once he had finished speaking Arwen dismounted and removed the staff that stood tall against Nallahir's saddle.
Using a small knife she cut through the leather thongs, and handed the gift to Aragorn. "This is your hour Hir-nin, nin melath." Arwen began. My Lord, my love. "Amin sinta thaliolle e dagar." /I know your strength in battle./
He bowed his head to her and unfurled the great standard, black against the night. No color could be seen on it, for all was hidden in the darkness.
Then the Company camped a little beneath the great Stone, sleeping little if at all.
The dawn came, gray and pale. Aragorn rose at once, and led his Grey Company onwards.
Only his strength of will and the love of his men keeping them all moving, for all were weary beyond anything they had ever known.
The rode went on and on through many lands, becoming more and more weary with each passing hour, always feeling the Shadow of the Dead who walked behind them.
The next morning there was no dawn, and once more Aragorn urged them on, into the great storm of Mordor.
"Whither do we ride?" One of the Rangers called to Aragorn.
"The White City of Minas Tirith, over the Pelennor Fields!" Aragorn called, "We are almost upon the Fields."
"We are almost upon war, my Lord." Arwen said to him. "On the Fields of Pelennor I think we shall once more meet with old friends, once the battle is done."
"Very well, Lady Evenstar." Aragorn said to her. "Elladan, Elrohir, stay close to the Lady. She tells that we are riding into a battlefield!" He called out, leaving go of her hand to unfurl the standard Arwen had made for him.
In the sunlight the White Tree of Gondor flowered over the pennant, along with the Seven Stars, and high crown above it, the symbols of the House of Elendil which no Lord had borne for many years. The stars glowed in the bright light, for they were wrought with precious gems, while the crown shone even brighter, for it was created with mithril and gold.
Arwen rode by his side as he held the great standard aloft, allowing the wind from the Sea to pull the pennant out for all to see.
"You are borne to Gondor from the Paths of the Dead, on a wind from the Sea, Aragorn, son of Arathorn, Isildur's heir, Elessar." She called to him, smiling as the wind rushed through her hair, bringing to her ears the mirth of the Rohirrim.
Fighting as one the Dunedain and the Rohirrim drove the servants of Sauron, catching them between the two peoples, trapping them there.
Before all rode Aragorn, bearing Anduril, the re-forged blade of Narsil, the Flame of the West, sunlight glinting on its blade, as deadly as it had been of old. The Star of Elendil glittered upon his brow, catching the sunlight and throwing it off in all directions.
Behind him rode Arwen, Elladan and Elrohir, all with their swords drawn.
Riding with them, Legolas, Gimli and the Rangers of the North cut their enemy down in swathes.
Thanks.
Part 50.
Arwen awoke once more in the darkness, in time to see the Evenstar, Earendil and the star Silmaril setting and fading. Carefully, so as not to wake Aragorn she pulled away from him, smoothing the blanket over him, and stood, pausing to cover Elrohir over with a blanket, and to adjust Elladan's rug to keep the icy morning air out. Then she walked over to sit by the window and watch the landscape.
An hour later, just as the sun was beginning to creep over the horizon Aragorn awoke. Arwen watched as he looked around, worried about where she had gone.
"Be easy, my love." She called to him softly. "Do not wake Elladan and Elrohir yet."
"Are you feeling any better?" Aragorn asked, moving to sit beside her on the window-seat.
"I feel more at ease now." She told him. "I was frightened last night."
"Mani marte?" He asked her. /What happened?/
"I dreamed that someone took you away from me, and they wouldn't give you back." She whispered, more to herself than to him.
"I won't leave you, ever." He reassured her, "Uuma dela, nin Tarien." /Don't worry, my princess./
Arwen sighed and laid her head on his shoulder. "We should wake the others and prepare to leave."
"Are you sure you still want to ride that road with me?" Aragorn asked.
She nodded, "We should wake my brothers now, then they can go and wake the others."
He nodded and moved to Elrohir's side. "Awake, nin mellon." Aragorn said to him. "Our time to leave is at hand." Arwen followed his lead, waking Elladan in the same way.
"It cannot be morning already." Elladan said sleepily.
"It is and it's high time you were off waking the others." Arwen scolded him gently.
"Are you feeling better now, Arwen?" He asked.
"Much, thank you." She answered, "Now go, haste is needed on this day."
Not long after they were awoken all of the Rangers gathered in the courtyard, their green and brown outfits showing them up against the pale cobblestones.
The four remaining members of the Fellowship, as well as Elladan and Elrohir were almost indistinguishable, their Elven cloaks, blending perfectly with the hue of the stones.
"Halbarad, how long until we can move out?" Aragorn asked.
"All is in readiness, my Lord. We only await your command to leave." Halbarad replied.
Aragorn watched as Elladan held Nallahir's reins for Arwen as she mounted. Leading Brego he walked over to them. "Lady Arwen, are you ready to leave?" Aragorn asked her, passing his hand over Nallahir's neck.
"I am." She replied, "May our road be free for the journey, and may our road also be safe."
"You speak wisely, dear Lady." Aragorn smiled at her.
"Aragorn, the others wait only for you." Arwen reminded him.
He looked around at the others before mounting, then sat tall in the saddle ready to lead his kin along their path. As he was about to speak the Lady Eowyn walked up to him. "Please, Aragorn. Do not take that road. You should lead these men to war, not into Shadow. Wait for my brother and ride out with him."
"I cannot Lady, this path was appointed to me long ago. Say to your brother that we may meet again, beyond the Shadow." Aragorn said to her.
"If you will not turn from this path, I beg you to take me along with you. Let me ride with this company, as the Lady Arwen does." She said to him.
"I cannot, Lady of Rohan. I cannot grant that to you without the leave of the King and also that of your brother, Eowyn. You must stay and take care of your people." He told her.
"No!" Eowyn began, "Must I always be here, away from all that is happening, hoarded away until all chances of valor and victory are passed?"
Arwen dismounted, "No Eowyn, you will not always be here. There is a time for everything, a time to fight and a time to serve. Now is your time to serve. Serve well, Lady Eowyn. There are things here that you must do, things that no other can. Your time will come, and then you will have to make a choice. Have a care to make the right one Eowyn. May the Valar protect you always." Arwen reached out to hug her, then mounted once more.
"Dunedain, ride out!" Aragorn called, turning Brego towards the main gate. "Farewell Eowyn!"
As they rode out, Arwen glanced back over her shoulder, to see Eowyn standing where they had left her. Aragorn looked back when she sighed. "Do you think I was unfair to her?"
"I do not. I think that she will understand, in time." Arwen told him.
"You were always taught that duty to your people came before anything else though." Elrohir said to her.
"I was also taught that there is a time for everything, even disobedience." Arwen answered.
"Have you been seeing things again, Arwen?" Elladan asked her.
"Nothing of great importance to us." She said, dropping her reins and taking Elessar in her arms. Then she looked over at Aragorn, "You haven't noticed that she is quite taken with you." Then she fed Elessar several drops of the same potion she had used in Moria and tucked him safely into her tunic, once more sleeping soundly.
"Then more bodes ill for the Lady Eowyn." Aragorn said, "For my heart is already given to another."
They rode hard, stopping only once they had reached the Door.
"My death lies beyond here, but I will venture it." Halbarad said quietly. "No horse will pass through there."
"We must pass my friend," Aragorn told him, "And so the horses must pass. Every hour brings Sauron closer to victory." Then with Arwen at his side, he led the others into the gateway.
Several of the horses refused their masters, pawing at the ground, sweating, and rolling their eyes until the whites showed. Legolas dismounted from Arod, who was one of the animals refusing, and spoke to him quietly in Elvish. The horse calmed, but still refused, as some of the others did also.
Leaving go of Aragorn's hand, Arwen too dismounted, leaving Aragorn to hold Nallahir's reins. She removed a large white pouch from one of his saddle bags, along with some strips of cloth.
With Legolas's help she managed to feed Arod a handful of grain, with calming herbs mixed in, and blindfold the horse. "He should lead now, Legolas." Arwen said to him.
The other Rangers, some of whom she was unfamiliar with, did the same.
Finally the remaining horses were calmed enough to journey through the Door, onto the Paths of the Dead.
On the road nothing assailed them, nor tried to block their path.
Once on the road, all of the Rangers had dismounted, led their horses. Aragorn, with Arwen at his side walked at the head of the column, with Elrohir bringing up the rear.
Finally the walls faded away, leaving them in a vast open space. Behind them, the whispers that frightened the horses grew louder.
Aragorn turned to call out to them, "Speed we ask! Let us pass, then come! I summon you to the Stone of Erech!"
There was no answer to his call, but for a blast of chilled air, which flickered the torches, then put them out, so that none could be rekindled.
At once Arwen's own light filled the dimness. Handing Nallahir's reins once more to Aragorn she walked back to Elrohir and handed him, what look to be a sphere of white light, burning like fire in the palm of her hand. Then she walked back to Aragorn, accepting Nallahir's reins and allowing Aragorn to take her by the hand.
No one knew how long the walked for, it could have been only an hour, or many more.
The men hung their heads, staring at their feet, unable, or unwilling to look up at the things that lay ahead.
Finally Arwen was able to hear the tinkling of water in the heavy silence, aside from the sounds of the horses hooves on the ground and the occasional clanking of swords or armor, they had heard nothing since they had passed through the Door.
Light grew around them, and the company passed through another gateway, this one hewn of stone, made with huge arches.
They mounted their horses once more and rode on leaving the gate far behind.
Riding double file the Rangers were glad of the company of their companions, although little was said between them.
Behind them Arwen could hear the patter of feet. She lowered her head, unwilling to look.
"Be calm Arwen, the Dead follow us to the Stone of Erech." Aragorn told her softly.
"All is well with me, Hir-nin." She answered. My Lord. Then she tugged gently on Nallahir's reins to reassure the big gray horse.
Then suddenly Aragorn called out, not turning around. "Friends, forget your weariness! Ride now, ride!" He called to the others, "We must reach the Stone of Erech before the passing of this day!"
With those words he spurred Brego faster. Nallahir tossed his head before moving into the faster gait, ever mindful of his mistress and her safety. The big gray horse drew even with Brego, keeping pace easily with him and hastened no more.
Far below then, in the valley bells rang and all fled before the face of Aragorn. Doors and windows were shut up tight and cries of terror resounded in the air, always the same words. 'The King of the Dead! The King of the Dead is upon us!'
The Grey Company did not heed the cries, riding like hunters until their horses stumbled with weariness.
They reached the Hill of Erech, upon which the great Stone was set before midnight.
Once the arrived there Elrohir rode up from the back of the column, handing Aragorn a silver horn, which he blew loudly.
The sound of the horn resounded at once in the empty lands, as though it had been take up be echoes. Instead it was the sound of answering horns, their noise coming closer.
Other than the horns blowing there was no other sound, though all were aware of the great host gathered about the base of the hill. A chilled wind blew around them, like one that brought snow down from the mountains.
Arwen pulled her cloak around her, then buried her fingers in Nallahir's mane.
She watched in silence as Aragorn dismounted and called out, "Oathbreakers, why have you come?"
The voice that answered came from the very night itself, with a strange sound to it, as though it had come from far away. "To fulfill our oath and have peace."
"I go now to Pelargir upon Anduin and you will come after me. When this land is clean of the servants of Sauron I will hold your oath to be fulfilled, you will have peace and depart forever. I am Elessar, Isildur's heir of Gondor." Aragorn said to them.
Once he had finished speaking Arwen dismounted and removed the staff that stood tall against Nallahir's saddle.
Using a small knife she cut through the leather thongs, and handed the gift to Aragorn. "This is your hour Hir-nin, nin melath." Arwen began. My Lord, my love. "Amin sinta thaliolle e dagar." /I know your strength in battle./
He bowed his head to her and unfurled the great standard, black against the night. No color could be seen on it, for all was hidden in the darkness.
Then the Company camped a little beneath the great Stone, sleeping little if at all.
The dawn came, gray and pale. Aragorn rose at once, and led his Grey Company onwards.
Only his strength of will and the love of his men keeping them all moving, for all were weary beyond anything they had ever known.
The rode went on and on through many lands, becoming more and more weary with each passing hour, always feeling the Shadow of the Dead who walked behind them.
The next morning there was no dawn, and once more Aragorn urged them on, into the great storm of Mordor.
"Whither do we ride?" One of the Rangers called to Aragorn.
"The White City of Minas Tirith, over the Pelennor Fields!" Aragorn called, "We are almost upon the Fields."
"We are almost upon war, my Lord." Arwen said to him. "On the Fields of Pelennor I think we shall once more meet with old friends, once the battle is done."
"Very well, Lady Evenstar." Aragorn said to her. "Elladan, Elrohir, stay close to the Lady. She tells that we are riding into a battlefield!" He called out, leaving go of her hand to unfurl the standard Arwen had made for him.
In the sunlight the White Tree of Gondor flowered over the pennant, along with the Seven Stars, and high crown above it, the symbols of the House of Elendil which no Lord had borne for many years. The stars glowed in the bright light, for they were wrought with precious gems, while the crown shone even brighter, for it was created with mithril and gold.
Arwen rode by his side as he held the great standard aloft, allowing the wind from the Sea to pull the pennant out for all to see.
"You are borne to Gondor from the Paths of the Dead, on a wind from the Sea, Aragorn, son of Arathorn, Isildur's heir, Elessar." She called to him, smiling as the wind rushed through her hair, bringing to her ears the mirth of the Rohirrim.
Fighting as one the Dunedain and the Rohirrim drove the servants of Sauron, catching them between the two peoples, trapping them there.
Before all rode Aragorn, bearing Anduril, the re-forged blade of Narsil, the Flame of the West, sunlight glinting on its blade, as deadly as it had been of old. The Star of Elendil glittered upon his brow, catching the sunlight and throwing it off in all directions.
Behind him rode Arwen, Elladan and Elrohir, all with their swords drawn.
Riding with them, Legolas, Gimli and the Rangers of the North cut their enemy down in swathes.