I'm so sorry that I haven't updated for awhile. Things just were a little crazy for me this week. I hope you like this chapter. I know the last two were not my best andto be honest a little crappy. I think this one is a little better. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything associated with Lord of the Rings. It all belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien and the movie producers. I only own Amaris.
Note: Dialouge in bold is spoken in elvish.
Number 43: Destiny
They have been riding in silence for sometime when the sun slowly rose into the sky. As the rays hit her face Amaris smiled but her attention was soon turned to Gimli. "What kind of army would linger in such a place?" Gimli asked.
"One that is cursed," Legolas said as his eyes scanned the walls of the mountains. Aragorn kept his eyes ahead and Amaris who was riding behind the other two watched Legolas as he spoke and told the story of the men in the mountain. "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 had fulfilled their pledge." Gimli just looked around as he listened to Legolas. Amaris suddenly felt like they were being watched from somewhere and she discreetly scanned around finding nothing. She sighed quietly to herself and they continued to ride.
They soon came upon the slope of the Dwimorberg and all four dismounted their horses and slowly made their way up to the door that led them to the door. Gimli took a sharp breath and Amaris looked at him. "The very warmth of my blood seems drawn away," Gimli whispered. Amaris nodded looking ahead trying to lead Marisal further but she was met with more and more resistance. The others went ahead and Amaris paused to speak to her.
"Marisal, we must continue. Be calm," Amaris whispered trying to calm Marisal. The horse snorted quietly and reluctantly went along with Amaris. Soon they reached the door and Legolas read the inscription above the door.
"The way is shut...it was made by those who are dead...and the dead keep it. They way is shut," Legolas read and the words no more left his mouth when a frightful wind whipped out from the cave door and scared away Brego, Arod, and Marisal.
"Brego!" Aragorn yelled.
"Marisal!" Amaris exclaimed as she held on tightly but lost the battle and Marisal broke free of her grasp and followed after Arod and Brego. Amaris sighed and turned her attention back to the other three the wind whipped around her body. Aragorn looked at the entrance with a determined look spread across the face.
"I do not fear death!" Aragorn said and marched into the entrance. Amaris took a deep breath and grasped Legolas' hand and they slowly followed Aragorn. As they entered the darkness Legolas gave her hand a gentle squeeze before letting go just to be ready for anything. They heard Gimli come in shortly after them. Aragorn found a torch and it lit their way.
"Legolas," Amaris said in just a whisper so only he could hear. Legolas nodded lightly towards her letting her know he was listening. "There are thousands of eyes on us. They are watching us and they do not trust us." They continued walking through the darkened tunnels and stumbled across some things that Amaris would chose to forget. They picked up their pace and ran into a vast cavern. Aragorn ran ahead swing the torch around and he looked over the cliff and quickly turned around and faced the door. Amaris was busy looking around when Legolas tapped her shoulder and she turned around to look at him but saw him looking towards the door. Before them appeared who she assumed was the Ghost King. She took a sharp breath but her eyes never left the see through form.
"Who enters my domain?" the Ghost King asked his voice gruff. Amaris quickly glanced at Aragorn and then back at the Ghost King. Aragorn stood straighter and placed his hand on the hilt of Andúril.
"One who will have your allegiance," Aragorn said with a whole new air to him that made Amaris proud of him. A hideous smile spread across the ghost's face and Amaris felt her stomach drop.
"The dead do not suffer the living to pass." Aragorn stood straighter.
"You will suffer me!" The Ghost King let out a laugh that sent a feeling of utter terror to spark in Amaris. Legolas looked at her and gave her a reassuring look. All four of them turned around and the dead army formed around them Amaris' eyes went wide and she readied her hand on her sword, even though she knew it was of no use. They group slowly moved in on them and they all broke out into laughter.
"The way is shut," the Ghost King said causing the four to turn and face him. "It was made by those who are dead...and the dead keep it." They glanced around and the four were now surrounded and Legolas pulled out his bow and Gimli readied his axe. Amaris drew her sword from the sheath. This is pointless, Amaris thought as the ghosts leered at her. "The way is shut. Now you must die." As the Ghost King advanced on Aragorn, Legolas fired an arrow at the ghost king but of course it went straight through him.
"I summon you to fulfill your oath," Aragorn said as he looked at the king.
"None, but the king of Gondor may command me!" The Ghost King exclaimed. Aragorn raised Andúril as the Ghost King went to strike. Aragorn blocked his sword and Andúril to the Ghost Kings neck.
"The blade was broken!" The Ghost King choked out.
"It has been re-made!" Aragorn shoved him away and turned and looked at the army surrounding them. Amaris' heart was racing. She knew that if Aragorn could not get them to help, either they would die in the cave or they would have to face what awaited them alone and then they would die. "Fight for us and regain your honor!" He paused and looked around at the ghost soldiers. "What say you?" Gimli huffed and looked around him.
"You waste your time! They held no honor in life and hold none now in death!" Gimli exclaimed. Aragorn just ignored him and continued to speak to them.
"I am Isildur's heir. Fight for me and I will hold your oaths fulfilled!" Aragorn exclaimed as he turned around and looked at all of the soliders. "What say you?" None answered Aragorn's pleas. The Ghost King just smiled and then they all slowly disappeared. The cavern began to shake and a rumble was heard in the distance.
"What's going on?!" Amaris exclaimed. No one answered because soon thousands upon thousands of skulls descended upon them. They fought their way through them nearly being pulled down the cliff. Amaris slipped and nearly did fall but thankfully Legolas grasped her tightly and nearly carried her through the falling skulls. Once they made it to the path. Legolas sat her down and urged Gimli and her ahead of him behind Aragorn. They ran outside and all four of them felt defeated. They would not help and without their aide all was lost. Aragorn looked out over the water as the pirates made their way down the river. Aragorn looked lost and closed his eyes willing away tears. Amaris sighed. "They will not help us." Legolas looked at Amaris from his position behind Aragorn. He held out his hand to her and she took it. He pulled her closer and she rested her head on his shoulder and he wrapped his free hand around her waist. There the three stood. Legolas with his hand on Aragorn's shoulder comforting his friend and his arm around his love to comfort her as well. Suddenly the Ghost King appeared next to Aragorn.
"We fight," the Ghost King said causing Aragorn to smile and all of their sprits rose.
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They had made their way down the mountain side and the four of them stood on the shore as the pirate ships approached them. When they came within hearing distance Aragorn called out to them. "You shall not enter Gondor! Turn your ships and return from whence you came!" The pirates laughed at them. Aragorn quieted his voice for only the other three to hear. "Legolas, fire a warning shot next to the leader." Legolas drew an arrow and took aim.
"Mind your aim," Gimli said with a smile evident in his voice. Amaris looked from the ships towards Gimli. She had an odd feeling and nearly shouted out when she saw Gimli raise his axe handle and tip Legolas' bow causing his aim to be off and for him to shoot down a pirate. "Oh! Well, we warned you!" Gimli exclaimed. Legolas looked at Gimli like he was ready to kill him. Amaris just ran her fingers down his left hand that clasped his bow tightly and Legolas seemed to relax and turned his attention back to the ships.
"You and what army are going to stop us?" the lead called from the ship. Amaris felt the army of the dead start to appear and smiled to herself when she Aragorn respond quietly.
"This army." Before they even knew what hit them the dead army annihilated every last pirate. They boarded a ship and they made their way down the river towards Gondor and the awaiting battle. As they traveled Amaris looked to the east and saw Mordor come into view. Amaris took a sharp breath and closed her eyes tight willing the feeling of great evil away. She felt the eye on her and yet it could not fully see her.
"Leave me be!" Amaris cried in her mind. Suddenly the black speech filled her mind and then slowly changed to common tongue.
"You will not win. All of you will perish. You know this just give yourself to me and join me. The shadow awaits you Amaris." Sauron said in her mind. She kept him separate somehow. She knew he did not know where she was or what she was doing and for that she was thankful.
"You are wrong! You will fall Sauron and I will be sure of that. Light will shine on Middle Earth and you will no longer have power." Amaris screamed. "Why do you seek me? What is that you want from me?"
"When I take my form once again, I will need one to produce an heir to rule the shadow and you are the lucky chosen one." Amaris felt sick.
"That will never happen. Keep dreaming Sauron for that is what that is, just a dream!" Amaris broke the connection and slowly opened her eyes to find herself lying on the deck of the ship wrapped in Legolas' arms and he was gently stroking her cheek. Aragorn was kneeling next to her and Gimli stood above her head a clearly panicked look on his face. "What happened?" Amaris asked her voice was weak and she felt lightheaded.
"You were standing looking towards Mordor when you started to fall. Legolas caught you," Aragorn said as he studied her face.
"Amaris, it felt like you were there but someone else was there with you. What happened?" Legolas asked as he looked down at her. Amaris locked her eyes with his and felt tears form.
"I spoke to Sauron," Amaris started but stopped when all three pairs of eyes grew wide and she felt anger and fear come from Legolas. "Do not worry, he does not know what we are doing. I think he just wanted to scare me." Amaris paused and sat up and then slowly stood with the help of Legolas. She faced them all and began her story. "He told me that we will not win and that the shadow awaited me. I asked him what he wanted from me and he told me . . . he told me that when he came to be again, he wanted me to produce a heir for him to rule the shadow. He said I was the 'luck chosen one'. I told him that it would never happen and that he was dreaming. I broke then connection and woke up." Legolas' grip around her body tightened and Gimli walked closer to her.
"If any of them so much as lay a finger on you, they'll have to answer to my axe," Gimli said anger clearly evident in his voice. Amaris smiled at him.
"I will not give in so easy Master Dwarf. We will win. Frodo and Sam will destroy the ring and everything will be right again," Amaris paused as she looked at Aragorn. "The king has returned to Gondor and he will lead the people of Middle Earth to victory, even when the darkness threatens to consume all of us, he will stand tall and show no fear." Aragorn smiled and Amaris wiggled from Legolas' arms but not before gently squeezing his hand and made her way to Aragorn. She hugged him tight and felt his arms wrap around her body and he held her tight.
"Thank you my sister," Aragorn said causing Amaris to smile wider and even Legolas broke a smile at Aragorn's words. When they pulled away Gimli and Aragorn went to the other side of the ship and Amaris turned to Legolas who looked at her with a neutral expression on his face but waves of concern flooding her senses.
"Legolas, do not worry," Amaris said as she gently caressed his cheek. Legolas brought his hand and covered hers that rested on his face. "He will not win and he will not have me. I am yours for eternity." Legolas smiled gently and brought his free hand around her waist and pulled her close to him.
"Please, Amaris, do not speak with him again," Legolas pleaded his blue eyes shining with fear.
"I will never speak with him again. I am sorry that I upset you. I love you Legolas." Legolas looked deep into her eyes and pulled her close capturing her lips with his and kissed her gently as they rode towards Minas Tirith and their destinies.
