Maewyn: Shield Maiden of Rohan PartV
The King of the Dead
By: Luthien Meneledur
As the day dawned on their road the companions of the Grey Company grew weary. The black rock turned to a dull gray that surrounded them wholly. The way was quiet as Aragorn was struck with thought and Gimli seemed afraid of what was about them. Legolas sang softly in elvish, songs of green forest and good wine. He was trying to not let his thoughts stray to Maewyn, and the path she was to ride. The high stone walls did not cause him fear, for the elves do not fear the dead of men as others do. He thought of his maiden's face, with her green eyes and dark hair and his song seemed to gain more cheer.
Suddenly Gimli found his courage and spoke. "Why do we travel such a road Aragorn? What are we to accomplish in this horrid land?"
"The armies of Mordor will not be beat with the men we have, we have come here to gather an army." The ranger responded, and was suddenly lost into his thoughts again.
"What kind of an army would linger in such a place?" Gimli asked awaiting an answer from their leader, but Aragorn's thoughts were on the peril that lay ahead of them, and the peril of Arwen.
The Legolas ceased his singing and spoke to his dwarven friend. "One that is cursed." He remembered the tale as he remembered all things he had ever learned of Middle Earth. "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. And so Isildur cursed them, never to rest until they had fulfilled their oath."
This explanation silenced Gimli for a time and he sat atop Arod as a piece of luggage behind his elven friend. Legolas resumed his tune, thinking that it cheered not only himself, but his dwarven friend as well. Though it seemed nothing could brighten Aragorn's spirits, his mind wrestled with thoughts that no one else could heal.
They rode on in the dismal day until they reached a small opening in the rock. Inside were black trees that seemed dead and grew no more needles. This saddened Legolas, for he loved the earth and could loved nothing more than he loved the forests. They dismounted from their horses as the branches of the trees grew low and close, and walked upon the dead needles that were scattered about the ground. There was a thin path through the darkened place that led to an ancient door in the wall of the mountain.
Gimli seemed to cower behind his companions. "The very warmth of my blood seems drawn away." He said, and it seemed that his words faded into the silence.
Legolas looked above the doorway and noticed some primitive letter scrawled above it. He began to read. "The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead, and the dead keep it. The way is shut."
They looked through the darkness into the doorway and a blast of cold air erupted from the tunnel. The horses seemed to go mad, and jumped and pulled at the reigns held by their masters. Legolas could never bear to see an animal chained against its will and quickly let go of Arod's reigns.
"Brego!" Aragorn called trying to calm his friend, but the horse would not have it and Brego pulled free to run from the cave with Arod. The two left the small bit of trees knowing the way home.
Aragorn turned back to the entrance to the tunnel, and held the hilt of Anduril in his grasp. "I do not fear death!" He said more to himself than anyone, and he rushed through the doorway.
Legolas followed without delay, for where Aragorn would venture he would go as well for he felt no fear of this place. Gimli stayed behind, fear gripping him completely. He did not know which was to choose, for he feared this place, and he had never feared anything before. "Well, this is a thing unheard of." He said. "An elf will go underground where a dwarf dare not!" He thought for only a moment more. "Ah," he said. "I'd never heard the end of it!" He stumbled after Legolas into the darkness.
Suddenly a light burst forth and Legolas saw Aragorn holding a large metal torch. "It's as if he knew where he was going all along," thought Legolas. He walked to the ranger and they awaited Gimli's quick approach.
Legolas looked to his terror stricken friend with a smile on his face. "You realize if you would have come at first you would not have had to stumble through the dark alone dwarf." He let out a small laugh.
"This is no place for laughter!" Aragorn said as he put a hand to Legolas' shoulder. "Even if there is no fear for you."
Legolas nodded, feeling almost ashamed.
The three continued through the small, stale tunnel for a time until they made their way into a large open cavern. There were stairs going up to a door on their left, and on their right opened a giant crevasse. A cool wind blew throughout the cave, and there was more in it than just air. There was malice in that wind, a cold malice that even Legolas felt deep into his soul.
Suddenly Gimli latched onto the side of his elven companion and Legolas looked down almost in confusion. "You have hold of my leg Gimli," he uttered.
"Oh right!" Gimli said as he let go in utter fear almost crumbling to the ground.
"Do not fear friend, we shall walk from here yet." Legolas whispered.
"Yes!" Gimli said even quieter, as cold spirits!"
Aragorn remained silent and looked to the stair where a figure had begun to appear. It drew his friends' gaze as well. He seemed a great King, for the crown that sat upon his brow and the tattered robes that fell about his decaying frame.
"Who enters my domain?" The King asked.
Aragorn's confidence grew and he stepped forward a little after handing his torch to Gimli. "One who will have your allegiance." He said calmly.
The King came again. "The Dead do not suffer the living to pass."
"You will suffer me!" Aragorn said harshly.
The King laughed and Gimli's blood ran cold. Suddenly around the company many began to appear in ragged armor with decaying flesh, some unrecognizable as men.
The King's laughing slowed and his cold voice came again, "The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead and the dead keep it. The way is shut." The fire in his eyes grew and little and he said, "Now you must die!" The King began to move forward and the rest of the dead seemed to follow his lead closing in about the gray company.
Legolas quickly drew an arrow, and aimed it towards the King. He let it fly, and it traveled through the King's head bouncing off of the stairs beyond.
Aragorn did not flinch at the oncoming army. "I summon you to fulfill your oath." His voice was calm, and demanding.
"None but the King of Gondor may command me." Said the King foolishly.
Aragorn gave no response, he only lifted Anduril in front of him before the King. The King of the dead came forward and pulled his sword to attack. Aragorn parried with Anduril and the clash of swords echoed unearthly throughout the cavern. Aragorn grabbed the throat of the King.
"That line was broken!" Came the muffled voice of the King of the Dead.
"It has been remade." Said Aragorn forcefully. He released the King and walked among the dead around him. "Fight for us, and regain your honor. What say you?" He awaited an answer, and received none. "What say you?" He yelled at them flourishing the sparkling blade of Anduril.
Gimli found his voice again behind Aragorn. "You waste your time, Aragorn! They had no honor in life, they have non now in death." He regretted it immediately after saying it for the feeling of malice from the dead grew and fear struck the dwarf's heart again like an arrow.
"I am Isildur's heir! Fight for me, and I will hold your oaths fulfilled!" He said ignoring Gimli's words. "What say you?" He yelled, becoming frustrated with the silence.
Suddenly from behind came the words of the King of the dead. "You can be no other." His voice seemed to echo in the chamber with fierceness, though there was no ill will in it. "You will fulfill the oaths then?" He asked.
"I will." Said Aragorn nobly.
And the Dead then followed with no delay for they had no items to pack. They traveled behind the gray company and dared not stray ahead of Aragorn for he rode tall and strong. Legolas dared not sing along the way out of respect for the dead though he had no fear for them. His thoughts went back to his Shieldmaiden and where she would be in her travels, if she still lived and when he tried to think of her face he found it faded from his memory. Gimli wanted nothing more than to be rid of the foul army that would change their fortunes in the war.
And so it was that Aragorn son of Arathorn, Gimli Son of Gloin and Legolas son of Thranduil rode for Pelargir to overtake the Umbars.