**Walk with the Dead**
At the sound of the Rangers' horn, they rode down the path that led toward the Haunted Mountain. The sun had not yet risen over the ridge when they came to a stand of ominous black trees that guarded the base of the mountain. The path led through them, and a feeling of dread swept through the entire company. Not even Legolas, who loved trees, felt comfortable on this road.
For Miranda it was worse. Her heart was racing, and the murmur of voices grew louder in her ears. She glanced at Haldir who rode at her side, but schooled her expression into one of calm confidence despite her growing fear. He gave her a smile and she managed to return it.
They quickly came to the entrance of the Paths of the Dead which was little more than a black hole in the base of the mountain guarded by a single stone in the path. It stood like a phantom and the horses halted in protest to its presence, loathe to continue.
"This is an evil door," Halbarad said. "I will dare to pass it nonetheless, but the horses won't abide it."
"But in we must go, and we will have need of the horses, so they must come with us," Aragorn said.
Everyone dismounted and led their horses through the black opening. Aragorn led the way, and his determination gave strength to the rest of them. The Rangers' horses followed without protest out of years of trust and love for their masters, but Legolas', Haldir's, and Miranda's horses did not want to go in. Legolas and Haldir were able to calm their horses with soothing Elvish words and lead them in. Miranda stroked Tempest's neck and started to sing 'Over the Rainbow' softly in his ear and he also calmed and allowed her to lead him on.
As the light from the entrance faded, Aragorn lit a torch and continued on. Elladan followed at the rear of the column, right behind Legolas, and carried another torch. Gimli followed last, finding it the one cave in all of Middle Earth he did not care to see. He followed close behind Elladan, and he could see little except for the dim flame of the torches. He could feel a growing throng behind him, and heard murmuring all around him.
Miranda was near the end of the group, with Haldir ahead of her and Legolas behind her. She forced herself to push her fear aside and marched forward as if in a dream. The voices in the darkness were ringing in her ears, and she tried desperately to tune them out. She thought the road would go on forever, but soon they came into a vast cavern, and there seemed to be no walls around them. She saw Aragorn walk out into the vast gloom to investigate a flash of gold that reflected the torchlight, and Elladan went with him. As he drew closer to it, Miranda could see the body of a great man seated propped against a wall beside a great stone door. She felt a sudden lump in her throat as she recognized him from her vision. She felt uncontrollably drawn to him and left Tempest with Legolas.
Aragorn was kneeling beside the man, and was speculating with Elladan as to what might lay beyond the door. Miranda stood in front of the body and said quietly, "Do not disturb him."
Suddenly she could see his ghost standing before her. He had been a handsome man in life, and of obvious importance. She stared in wonder, and as Aragorn rose to continue down the path, he saw Miranda standing as if in a trance.
"Miranda?" Aragorn asked, but she did not hear him.
The specter bowed to Miranda and spoke, "We are the Oathbreakers, and will follow the heir of Isildur to fulfill our oath and have peace."
As the ghost straightened up again, Miranda could see how closely he studied her, and she spoke to him softly, "Who are you, and why are you speaking to me?"
"I was once a king and have paid many times over for my foolishness," he said sadly. "I speak to you because you are a seer, and a keeper of light."
"Miranda?" Aragorn repeated, interrupting the ghost's reply.
Miranda looked at Aragorn with glazed eyes, and then seemed to wake from a dream. "Let's go," she said and then turned back to the ghost and gave him a bow. She walked back to her horse, without another word.
Aragorn stared at the body on the floor for a moment, and then returned to the head of the column. He paused and looked back at Miranda who seemed lost in thought. Aragorn sighed and spoke to the hordes that whispered in the darkness, "Let us pass, and then follow. I summon thee to the Stone of Erech!" Then he turned back to the road and continued.
There was no answer and the voices seemed to silence, but a rush of icy wind blew over them and the torches went out. They continued in darkness, and it seemed like hours or even days, and Miranda thought they would never see the sky again. But then they heard the soft tinkle of water and a light grew ahead of them. Shortly they came to another opening, high and arched and it led to a narrow road, guarded on either side by sheer cliffs that cut like knives in the sky far above. The stars twinkled in the sky, and yet it was still two hours until sunset.
The company mounted again, and rode single file down the mountain road. Legolas turned and saw a multitude of dark figures following. "I see shapes of men and horses following," Legolas said.
"Yes, the dead are following, for they have been summoned," Elladan, who still rode at the rear of the column, said.
Miranda could hear the discussion behind her and was no longer afraid. She remembered the sadness in the eyes of the king that spoke to her, and she felt pity for them. They waited for hundreds of years for this chance to redeem themselves. They would not harm anyone in the company.
Aragorn led them out of the ravine, and there were the uplands of the Morthond Vale before them. Miranda gazed at the sight before her with a sigh of relief. There were lights coming from the windows of homes blanketing the countryside and Miranda thought it was a beautiful sight.
Then Miranda heard Aragorn's voice clear and bright, "Friends forget weariness! Ride now, ride! We must reach the Stone of Erech before the day is done, and long still is the way!"
The riders tore across the countryside, and followed a road that led over a bridge and down into the land. Lights went out in houses, and people barred their doors, whispering with dread, "The King of the Dead. The King of the dead is come upon us!"
Aragorn led them on a relentless pace until their horses were covered with the foam of sweat and were nearly stumbling. It was near midnight when the company finally came to the Hill of Erech. At the top stood a black stone like a great sphere half buried in the ground. The half that showed was still the height of a tall man, and Miranda felt cold all over as she approached it. The company halted when they reached it, and Aragorn dismounted.
Elrohir handed Aragorn a horn, and he sounded it. It echoed clear and bright, like a silver trumpet. After a few moments, it seemed that they could hear the answer of horns off in the distance, and Miranda held her breath. There was a long silence, but the riders were aware of a great host gathered all around the hill. Miranda noticed how anxious everyone was, including Haldir and Legolas, who were never usually afraid of anything. Miranda felt calm, and she looked out over the shadows that gathered.
Aragorn looked out over the ghost army and shouted, "Oathbreakers, why have you come?"
"To fulfill our oath and have peace," was the reply.
"The hour has come at last," Aragorn said. "Now I go to Pelargir upon Anduin. And when all the land is clean of the servants of Sauron, I will hold the oath fulfilled, and you shall have peace and depart forever, for I am Elessar, Isildur's heir of Gondor."
And then Halbarad unfurled the banner he had been carrying, and Miranda couldn't read any device because it was black, and there was little light. Then there was silence from the ghost army for the rest of the night.
The company made camp beside the stone, and Miranda laid out her blanket away from the main group as usual. Haldir was sitting by the fire talking to the twins when Aragorn came over.
"Where's Miranda?" he asked Haldir.
"Let her rest," Haldir said. "She's not used to such hard riding."
"I need to speak to her," Aragorn said. "And Miranda is much stronger than you give her credit for."
"You know her well then?" Haldir asked.
"No one knows Miranda well," Legolas said as he and Gimli approached the conference by the fire.
Haldir made no answer, but stared at the fire, deep in thought.
Gimli studied Haldir for a moment and then offered him a bit of Dwarf wisdom, "Women are a mystery, and Miranda is the most mysterious I've ever met."
"Well I know it," Haldir said. "Last night she was terrified of this road, and today she is the calmest in the group."
"I noticed the change in her," Aragorn said. "I see her there, please excuse me."
Miranda was looking at the stars when Aragorn stepped into her line of vision. "Lady, I seek your council," he said.
Miranda looked at him curiously for a moment, and then offered him a seat beside her. "You have many wise men around you," Miranda said, "Long time friends who understand this world far better than I do. You are a King, why do you want to talk to me?"
"What happened today in the cave?" Aragorn asked.
"A ghost spoke to me," Miranda said. "He told me they will follow you and fulfill the oath, like you heard them say."
"There is more," Aragorn said.
Miranda tried to think of a way to evade the question, but couldn't come up with anything. "Yes, there's more, but his words were for me, not you," Miranda said. "And he never finished what he was going to say."
"What did he say, Miranda?" Aragorn pressed. He looked at her expectantly, and noted the concentration in her eyes. She did not want to discuss this, but he could see she answered despite herself.
"He was the king," Miranda said. "He knew I was a seer, and he told me I was a keeper of light."
Aragorn looked thoughtful for a moment, and then commented, "Do you know what he meant?"
"No," she said softly.
Aragorn seemed satisfied with her answers, and then he suddenly changed the subject, "So, you and Haldir…"
"Stop right there," Miranda interrupted. "That is none of your business."
Aragorn laughed at her briefly, but then he quieted and looked at her with a serious countenance. "Why are you going with us, and not Théoden?"
"Aragorn, I can't really say," Miranda said carefully.
"Don't you trust me with your sight? I have been your friend for a long time," Aragorn said. "Do you trust us so little that you feel you must carry the burden alone?"
"You don't understand, Aragorn," Miranda said. "Galadriel explained it to me once, and I have come to realize that my sight is for me, and the responsibility is mine. I swore to her that I would meet it when it comes…" Miranda's voice trailed off. She realized that she had said far more than she intended.
"What are you going to meet?" Aragorn prompted. "Please, trust me with your confidence."
Miranda turned away from him and said softly, "I am sorry, but I can't. This is not for anyone to know until it is done. It is the reason I am here, and it is my hope that I will be equal to the task. It is very important." Miranda hung her head and added, "Now please don't ask about it again."
Aragorn sighed and rose to his feet. "My lady, you are stubborn, but I understand your convictions. I won't ask again, but if you change your mind, I would gladly listen," he said. "I may be a King as you said, but I am also your friend."
"I know," Miranda said.
"Goodnight, Miranda," Aragorn said, and then he left her to her rest.
Miranda sighed, and watched him head back to the fire. She smiled when she saw Haldir sitting there laughing with Legolas, Gimli and the brothers. She missed the carefree chats by the fire, but she was preoccupied with responsibility. She knew her shadow was coming soon, she could feel it. Her dreams were growing more and more detailed and urgent. She lay down and tried to sleep. The day's events were unnerving, and the ride had been exhausting. It was not long before she was out cold.
Miranda dreamed of the ghostly king and he walked with her in the sunlight on a beach. She could smell the ocean, and he told her of the fateful day he had refused Isildur when he had been called to go to war. Miranda listened to him pour out his soul to her and understood his regret.
"You will gain your peace, and rest," Miranda told him.
"Thank you seer," he said to her. "And your light will sustain you through this dark war. You give my people hope with your presence."
*****
It was before dawn when Miranda was awakened by Haldir and the twins, "Miranda, wake up," Haldir said.
Miranda was startled awake, and sat up suddenly. "What is it? What's wrong? Am I late? Is it time to go?" she asked quickly.
"Not quite yet," Elladan said. "But we were wondering what has happened during the night."
"Haven't you noticed?" Elrohir said as he bent down and picked up a handful of wildflowers. "You are sleeping on a bed of flowers."
Miranda's blanket was surrounded by freshly picked wildflowers, and she was more surprised than any of them. She looked at Haldir, who regarded her with concern.
"I have no answer for you," she said. "I don't know where they came from."
Haldir kneeled down beside her, and the twins discreetly left. "Miranda, did you dream last night?" he asked her softly.
"I didn't dream about flowers," she said with a smile.
Haldir looked intently into her eyes, and said, "Please don't jest."
"I dreamed about the king of those ghosts out there," Miranda said. "He told me I was a good omen for them."
Haldir hung his head, and sighed as he took her hand. "Why do you keep so much inside? Elves are much freer with their thoughts, but you keep your feelings secret."
"I care for you very much, Haldir," Miranda said softly. "That is no secret."
Haldir looked into her eyes again, but he could see the hesitation in her eyes. He gave her a warm smile, despite the stab of pain at her reluctance. "When you are ready, I will be here," he said.
"I wish I could say more," Miranda said. "But…"
"It's alright," Haldir said. "Friends first."
Miranda smiled. "Always friends."
And with that, he rose and prepared to leave. Miranda watched him go, and her eyes were misty, but she did not cry. She would have to break someone's heart, she knew, and it hurt. She loved them both, and didn't know what to do. Perhaps the looming shadow would take her life and save her from the choice, but that would break both their hearts.