Hidden Secrets
Disclaimer: I only own Aranwen/Wanderer, Beran, and Star, along with the plot!
Chapter Thirty-eight: Encounter With The Dead
T.A. 3019Aragorn was leading Brego away, headed towards the Paths of the Dead. He clearly meant to go alone. He was trying to slip away, unnoticed, into the night.
Aranwen tracked him, leading the ever-faithful Star behind her. The hardy gray mare was tacked and Aranwen had slung her saddlebags onto the horse's back. Her travel-worn cloak covered her, blending her slim body in with the darkness of the night. The hood covered her short-hacked dark hair. Aragorn showed no signs of sighting her until she stood in his path.
"Planning upon leaving without me again, ada?" questioned Aranwen, throwing back her hood, blue-grey eyes twinkling in the starlight.
Aragorn was startled by her sudden appearance. He was no longer able to make a quick escape. She stood in his path and she was just as stubborn as he was, if not more so.
"Aranwen," he sighed. "Why have you come?"
"I'm not letting you leave without me. You need me, ada, and I don't want to lose you."
"It is not safe for you out here. Go back while you still can! You have a long life ahead you—don't throw it away now!"
"No," she said firmly.
Elrond appeared in the crowd, heading towards the father and daughter standoff. "Aranwen, why are you here?" questioned the Elf-Lord.
"I refuse to let ada go off on his own to die! I won't let it happen!" sobbed Aranwen. She had lost everything at a young age and she was unwilling to let go of what she had left. Beran was not worth hanging on to—he had betrayed her. But Aragorn never had. He was just always overly concerned for her. She was still closer to her Ranger father than her Elven mother.
"Aranwen, you have to let Aragorn go. He has a duty to his people and you have a duty to your family. Come home to Rivendell with me and comfort your mother in her despair," Elrond urged her.
The half-Elven Ranger stood her ground and shook her head. "No, I can't. I have to follow him, to whatever end we shall meet."
"My Lord Elrond," Legolas greeted the dark-haired Elf. "Allow the Lady Aranwen to come with us. We will protect her."
"That is a kind offer, Legolas," acknowledged Elrond. "Yet…"
"Aranwen, come with us. I cannot afford to waste anymore time. If you believe so strongly in helping us, then stay with us. The road will be hard and I do not know what dangers we shall face," Aragorn said, caving in. He would have preferred to have his young daughter stay behind, but he was happy to intercede between her and Elrond. He did not really want Elrond caring for his daughter.
"Hannon le, ada," Aranwen said with a smile before turning to face Elrond. "Namarie, Elrond." (Thank you, ada. Farewell, Elrond.)
"Calo anor na ven, Aranwen, Aragorn. Hebo estel," Elrond said solemnly. (May the sun shine on your road, Aranwen, Aragorn. Have hope.)
Aranwen swung onto the back of Star, as Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli mounted up as well. They each quickly said their good-byes to Elf-Lord and various Rohirrim. Aranwen was the first to leave, eager to be away from the camp and Elrond. Her grandfather had tried his very best to separate her mother and father and she could never forgive for it.
The following day, after the sun had risen upon the desolate path, the small group reached the entrance to the Paths of the Dead—the door in the rock from which no one had ever returned alive.
"The way is shut," said Legolas quietly. "It was made by those who are dead and the Dead keep it. The way is shut."
Aranwen and Aragorn halted simultaneously and dismounted. Legolas and Gimli followed suit, just as an eerie wind below from the opening in the rocks. The horses whinnied and shied, breaking free from their owners.
"Brego!" Aragorn called after his bay horse, but to no avail. Horses were no longer of use here.
Aragorn unsheathed Anduril and turned to face the ominous mountain. "I do not fear death," he declared and plunged into the darkness.
Aranwen unsheathed her blade as well, and stalked purposefully after her father. She was not afraid either. Only Legolas and Gimli hesitated and remained outside for a few moments longer, after the two Rangers had disappeared into the pitch-black doorway.
Legolas followed them without a word.
Gimli muttered, "Well, this is a thing unheard-of. An Elf will go underground where a Dwarf dare not! Oh! Oh, I'd never hear the end of it!" before chasing after his companions.
Aragorn led the group by the light of a metal torch that he had found inside the tunnels. Anduril gleamed in his right hand. Aranwen was close behind him, always alert and watchful. Her Elven-heightened senses were working over time.
Mists began to swirl around the four companions. Hands clawed at their clothes and Aranwen shivered. Voices from the Dead evaded her mind.
"Ada," she whispered, voice trembling.
"Do not look down," Aragorn warned the group as bones crunched beneath their feet.
The group continued on, moving at a faster pace now. The assault from the Dead upon Aranwen's mind was worsening. Her head was pounding and she could feel a vision about to come. She could not have a vision while she was in the mountain. Now was not the time.
They entered an open hall and a disembodied voice filled the air. "Who dares to enter my domain?" questioned the voice, the voice of the King of the Dead.
"One who will have your allegiance," Aragorn answered, unafraid.
"The Dead do not suffer the living to pass."
The mind assault ceased but the impending vision continued to bother Aranwen. She had to hold on. She could not have a vision here. They were much too vulnerable.
"You will suffer me."
The King of the Dead laughed and the ghostly Dead began to surround the small group and started to separate Aragorn from the others.
"The way is shut," continued the King of the Dead, echoing Legolas' earlier words. "It was made by those who are dead and the Dead keep it. The way is shut. Now you must die."
Legolas tried to shoot one of the Dead with an arrow, but to no avail. The arrow simply passed through the ghost.
"I summon you to fulfill your oath," commanded Aragorn, his grip upon Anduril tightening.
"None but the King of Gondor may command me."
Furious, the King of the Dead attacked Aragorn. Aragorn parried with Anduril, the Elven-forged sword stopping the King's deadly blade. He managed to grab the King by the throat.
"That line was broken!" the King cries in shock.
"It has been remade."
Aragorn released the King of the Dead and turns to look at all the Dead. "Fight for us, and regain your honor. What say you? What say you?"
"You waste your time, Aragorn! They had no honor in life, they have none now in death," Gimli announced.
Aranwen whirled around to glare at the Dwarf. How dare he try to ruin her father's work?
"Are you with us or against us?" questioned Aranwen, breaking the silence that she had kept since the King of the Dead had arrived. "My father is the heir to the throne of Gondor. He holds Narsil, reforged as Anduril. Dare you stand against him?"
A blade appeared at her throat.
Aragorn noticed the threat and waded his way towards his outspoken daughter. "Fight for us and I will release you from this living death!" he promised. "What say you?"
The mists fade away as the ground begins to shake underneath their feet. The Dead have all disappeared. Skulls shattered everywhere.
"Out! Everyone out!" cried Aragorn, leading the way towards what the group prayed was the exit.
Aranwen stumbled after her father, Legolas and Gimli upon their heels. Skulls cascaded down upon them as they ran. Aranwen tried to shield her head, though she knew it was useless. They would be lucky to make it out of this Valar-forsaken mountain alive.
Aragorn found a small crack in the rock and headed into the sunshine. Aranwen made it through and caught a glimpse of black ships on the river just before her vision hit and the world went black.
"Aranwen!" Legolas' worried voice was the last thing she heard before the vision took over.
Author's Notes:
A long chapter! Finally! And the third update in a row! Aranwen's vision will be revealed in the next chapter. Enjoy and please review! Reviews help keep me going.