Sam's Thoughts

Elvish translations

Last chapter

"Tell me, why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours? What do we owe Gondor?" Théoden asked

"I will go." Aragorn offered.

"No."

"They must be warned."

"They will be."

Gandalf said something to Aragorn that the rest of them couldn't hear then raised his voice again.

"Understand this, Things are now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith. And I won't be going alone."

Gandalf and Pippin had left for Gondor. Merry had been devastated when his friend left but Eowyn had managed to cheer him up and she was now teaching him how to ride a horse.

Legolas and Sam were using the time till Gandalf called for them, to spend some time together. They were lying in a field just outside the when Sam saw something on one of the nearby mountains.

"Legolas, what is that up there?"

Legolas stood up as he realised what it was.

"Come it is the Beacon of Gondor, we must get back to the halls."

They both ran back to the Mark and found Théoden and his captains coming out.

"Assemble the army at Dunharrow, as many men as can be found. You have two days." Théoden was saying to Eomer.

Eomer started to walk away but the King grabbed his shoulder and stopped him.

"On the third, we ride for Gondor... and war."

Eomer then left to assemble his men.

"Gamling." The king continued as his nephew left.

"Lord."

"Make haste across the Ridder mark. Summon every able-bodied man to Dunharrow."

The captain left as well.

As they all prepared their horses to leave Sam could hear Aragorn and Eowyn talking.

"You ride with us?" Aragorn asked.

"Just to the encampment. It is tradition for the women of the court to farewell the men."

There was a pause before the woman continued.

"The men have found their captain. They will follow you to battle, even to death. You have given them hope."

"Now is the hour, Riders of Rohan! Oaths you have taken! Now fulfil them all. To Lord and Land. Ha!" Eomer yelled to all the soldiers, before they all rode off.

As they rode into the camp where the soldiers of Rohan were gathering the Riders called out to their king.

"My Lord!"

"I greet you, Sire!"

"Grimbold, How many?" Théoden asked

"I bring five hundred from the Westfold, my Lord." Grimbold replied.

"We have three hundred more from Fenmarch, Théoden King." Gamling said.

"Where are the riders from Snowbourne?"

"None have come, my Lord."

They continued on to a cliff overlooking the camp.

"Six thousand spears. Less than half of what I'd hoped." Théoden sighed.

"Six thousand will not be enough to break the lines of Mordor" Aragorn said

"More will come." The king said confidently.

"Every hour lost hastens Gondor's defeat. We have until dawn. Then we must ride."

Théoden nodded his understanding.

"The horses are restless and the men are quiet" Legolas stated.

"They grow nervous near the shadow of the mountain." Eomer informed the elf.

"That road there, where does it lead?" Gimli asked pointing at a gap in the mountain.

"It is the road to the Dimholt, the door under the mountain." Legolas said.

"None who venture there ever return. That mountain is evil." Eomer said.

"A mountain can't be evil it doesn't have the means. It's just rock. Your all way to superstitious." Sam complained.

They all looked over to Aragorn who was staring down the path.

"Aragorn!" Aragorn jumped, startled, "Let's find some food." Gimli said.

Sam watched from one of the fires as a cloaked figure rode up to the Kings tent, after a brief word with the guard the figure entered to tent and a guard soon left returning a few minutes later with Aragorn. Not long after that Théoden left the tent as well. Leaving Aragorn and the new person alone.

"Legolas. Who was that man who is in Théoden's tent with Aragorn?"

"I'm not sure, but I know that it is an elf." Legolas said. "Somethings going to happen, Lets go get the horses."

They saddled up their horses and then waited for Aragorn. He approached his horse with a new sword, which he was tying to his belt as he walked.

Eowyn ran up beside him.

"Why are you doing this? The war lies to the east. You cannot leave on the eve of the battle. You cannot abandon the men."

"Eowyn."

"We need you here."

"Why have you come?"

"Do you not know?" Eowyn asked him.

"It is but a shadow and a thought that you love. I cannot give you what you seek."

Eowyn watched him walk off, holding back tears as he left.

"Where do you think you're going?" Gimli demanded.

"Not this time. This time you will stay, Gimli."

Just then Sam and Legolas walked over with their horses

"Have you learned nothing of the stubbornness of dwarves?" Legolas asked.

"You might as well accept it. We're going with you laddie." Gimli said.

Aragorn shook his head in acceptance and mounted his horse.

"What's happening? Where's he going? I don't understand. Lord Aragorn!" some of the riders yelled after them but they had already disappeared down the path.

"What kind of an army would linger in such a place?" Gimli asked.

"One that is cursed. 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 oath." Legolas explained.

They approached the door into the mountain. It was decorated with human skulls and there was a message calved in the entrance.

"The very warmth of my blood seems stolen away." Gimli said

"You know there is something about this place that makes me think that these people don't like visitors." Sam said.

"The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead, and the dead keep it. The way is shut." Legolas read.

A gust of wind rushed out of the door spooking the horses, causing them to run away.

"Brego!" Aragorn called after them. "I do not fear death." Aragorn walked forwarded disappearing through the door.

"Come on, I still don't believe this, ghosts don't exsist so nothings going to happen." Sam said following, with Legolas close behind.

"Well this is a thing unheard of! An elf will go underground when a dwarf dare not! Oh, Oh! I would not hear the end of it." Gimli said before finally entering the darkness.

They followed Aragorn through the tunnel till they came to a large caven. Aragorn looked around with his touch then in front of them a green, see-through man appeared.

"Who enters my domain?" The dead king asked.

"One who will have your allegiance." Aragorn said

"The dead do not suffer the living to pass."

Well he's a bit stuck up isn't he.

"You will suffer me."

OK so Aragorn isn't much better. He really needs to work on his people skills.

The Dead King laughed and around them the dead city matirialize, as well as the legendary army.

"The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead, and the dead keep it."

The dead continued to appear around them.

"The way is shut. Now you must die."

Legolas quickly shot an arrow at the king, but it went straight through him, and they heard it clatter to the floor behind the king. The only thing showing that it had hit the king was a misty hole that had been left by the arrow, which was quickly disappearing.

"I summon you to fulfill your oath." Aragorn continued not caring that this guy was going to kill them.

"None but the king of Gondor may command me."

The Dead King swung his sword at Aragorn who pulled out his new sword and caught the misty blade on his solid one. Aragorn then grabbed the ghosts throat.

"The blade was broken!"

"It has been remade." Aragorn said as he pushed the King backwards.

"Fight for us, and regain your honor. What say you?" he continued as he walked through the dead soldiers.

"What say you!"

"You waste your time Aragorn. They have no honor in life, they have none now in death" Gimli stated.

But he ignored the dwarf and pointed his sword at the dead.

"I am Isildur's heir. Fight for me, and I will hold your oaths fulfilled. What say you!"

The dead King finally nodded his agreement.

Reviews

Sk023 – thanks for the idea I might use that.

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