Walking with the dead

When the light of the new day dawned, the company riding with Aragorn departed from Dunharrow towards the Haunted Mountain. There was trepidation in all hearts as they drew closer to the mountains and the entry point. Rhia did not see the cause of it at first when she was told its story of how the men of the country betrayed Isildur and so he cursed them to never rest until they repaid their debt to his line. She didn't believe in ghost stories, she was 19 years old! But something was about to change her mind.

The trees standing on the side of the path were black and lifeless, almost as though they had been touched by death and the large boulder like stones that were placed in lines along the path were weatherworn and steel grey. This was the road to the Dimholt, pointed out by a large stone hand.

They were all silent as they rode down this road, half filled with fear, half afraid to disturb what may lie beyond. But Rhia could handle it no more.

"This place is creepy." She said, pointing out the obvious.

"Do not fear, Esgalwen, nothing shall harm you while I stand true." Nauralad said his face grave and fixated on the road ahead.

"Thanks, but I don't think you can kill the dead." She said quietly.

The horses would not go forward; they fought against their masters will. In the end they all dismounted and led their steeds forth. When they had come to a glen and wall of rock, a door stood before them looming like a mouth in the night. Figures were carved into it on its arch but it was too dark by now to read it. All stood in fear.

"The evil of this door brings great fear to my heart, but I will pass it." Halbarad said.

"And I, and so will our horses. Ever our loss here hastens Sauron's loss. Follow me!" Aragorn said, going through the evil door and into the unknown. One by one, each man/elf (or woman) and their horses followed the heir of Isildur, regardless if death faced them or not. He was right. They could not flee in fear now, or all of middle earth will be lost to shadow.

From their last stop, Aragorn brought torches, so now he went ahead and led the way through the dark pathways.

Rhia stood at the back behind with Nauralad, Legolas, Elladan and Gimli. Arod was putting up a fight and refused to be led into the unknown. Legolas covered the frightened horse's eyes and led it into the cavern while singing softly. Nothing could be seen within the tunnel but the flickering of the torches' flames. All were silent as they walked, but they could hear whispers in a language they could not comprehend. From ahead, Aragorn stopped and went to look into the gloom. There was an object ahead glittering.

Bones of a man were on the ground, scattered and showing the time, in his bright chain mail, his belt of gold and garnets, his golden helmet.

Rhia ran forward to see what was going on. When she saw the bones she let out a gasp, but still went forward to inspect them further.

"Oh my god." She whispered.

"Hither shall the flowers of simbelmynë come never unto world's end," Aragorn said with a sigh. "Nine mounds and seven there are now green with grass, and through all the long years he has lain at the door that he could not unlock. Where does it lead? Why would he wish to pass it? Alas, now none shall ever know.

"Keep your hoards and your secrets hidden in the Accursed Years! Let us pass and then come! I summon you to the stone of Erech!" Aragorn cried out loud. Rhia thought that he was loosing it, that all the pressure for him to become King was becoming too much for him.

All were silent and such silence was more frightening than the whispers that followed them. A blast of cold air came past quickly, extinguishing all of the torches and no one could re-light them. They had to suffer to walk in the darkness.

Many hours passed, how many…none could tell. Up ahead of the group, a light began to grow after they could hear water dripping onto stone. They passed through another gateway. In the sky above they could make out the stars twinkling, but the sky was black and little could be seen. They now mounted their horses and rode on in single file. In front of Rhia rode Nauralad and behind her Legolas and Gimli, behind them was Elladan, the last of the group, but not the last to take the path.

"The dead are following." Rhia heard Legolas say to Gimli. She let out a squeal and quickened Brytta's pace.

"Yes, they ride behind. They have been summoned." Elladan replied.


They came at last out of the ravine and before them were the uplands of a great vale, a stream ran beside it. This was the Morthond Vale. Its slopes were steep and were covered in grass thick and green.

Without warning Aragorn called to all those in his company.

"Friends! Forget your weariness! Ride now with all speed! We must reach the stone of Erech ere this day passes, and the way still tolls as long!" he cried.

On command they all picked up their pace, pushing their horses onwards. The Grey Company rode like hunters in the night and by midnight; they came at last to the hill of Erech, their horses now stumbling with exhaustion.

On the top of the hill stood a black stone, round as a large globe and as tall as a man, though half of it was in the ground as though it had fallen from the sky and had been left there unable to be moved. They all stopped about the stone and Elrohir handed Aragorn a silver horn. He put the horn to his lips, knowing what must be done and blew one loud clear note upon it. Many horns answered the horn and then all grew silent.

While all was silent, instinct proved that they were not alone. They could feel a great host amongst them, gathering about with a chilling wind. Aragorn dismounted from his horse.

"Oath breakers! Have you come at last?" he called into the night air.

"Yes, we have come to fulfil the oath broken." A cold voice answered ghostly and distant.

"The hour has come. I must go to Pelargir by the Anduin and you shall follow me. When the land has been cleared of all of the servants of Sauron, then you shall have your peace so long sought. I am Elessar, heir of Isildur. Fight for me, and your freedom from this world is guaranteed." Aragorn said.

Halbarad unwrapped the gift he had brought from Arwen and gave it to Aragorn, then that night the grey company slept light and little.

While Rhia was wrapped up warmly, she felt a chill pass over her. Her eyes flew open and she saw the King of the Dead. He seemed to hover over her, then with a smile and a bow, he continued his circulation of the camp. Her eyes grew wide, but she did not fear, instead, for the first time in months she fell asleep knowing that she was safe.


Dawn rose that pale and cold morning and so did the company, then in great haste they continued their journey, Aragorn's will striving them on. Once Tarlang's Neck had been passed, they rode into Lamedon, and then they came upon Calembel upon Ciril as the sun dropped low and disappeared. The towns were deserted as all either fled to the hills or rode on to war.

The morning after, the dawn had been forgotten, for it did not come, but still the group rode on in the darkness as the storm of Mordor grew high in the sky, threatening any to appose it, yet still the army of the dead followed and obeyed Aragorn.


AE: Yea, I know it's a short chapter but I will make it up to you I promise! I would continue but for what I have planned I can't, stay tunned though!

Levanna: Yes, I know that with only working I could be writing, and trust me I have been, but I have also been preoccupied with getting a new guitarist as our original has left the band, a sad day, but we'll still keep in contact. Lol, I can remember talking about stuff like this ages ago…yikes, I feel so old…anyways…yeah… I should go to uni, but I have decided to take a TAFE course next year. It's a technical music studies course so when I'm done I'm qualified to be a sound tech and get into recording which is right where I wanna be. Can't wait. But I have to save money first. Woot for no typos! Lol, its one of those days again. Yeah, I love that about Faramir, which is what I'm intending to do, mould him to my own uses! Lol, nah, but I'm kinda hoping he won't be too different from book Faramir with movie Faramir's charm. David Wenhem eat you heart out.