Okay, I'm so sorry I haven't updated in a week. I tried to post this chapter yesterday, but for some reason I couldn't upload it. I hope you like this chapter, and since I really have nothing to do today, I'm going to do my best to get Chapter 30 out. Hopefully, if all goes well, I will have it out tonight. Thank you for your reviews and again, I hope you like this chapter.
Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings.
Chapter 29: Battle and Loss
"The very warmth of my blood seems stole away," Gimli said quietly as they walked their horses towards the door of the Dimholt. They stopped outside the door and both Aragorn and Boromir looked at the door with set glares. Legolas looked up and read the symbolic script above the door.
"'The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead, and the dead keep it. The way is shut'," he read out loud. A sudden guest of wind came from the doorway and whispering voices. The horses were scared suddenly and reared back from their grips.
"Brego!" Aragorn called after his horse, but when the horse did not come back he turned and took a hissing breath. "I do not fear death," he said quietly and Boromir looked at him as he walked into the doorway. With a deep breath, Boromir followed with Legolas and then Gimli followed.
Aragorn found a burning torch and it lighted there way revealing piles of skulls along the wall and floor. They walked through the cavern and Boromir kept his eyes open for anything. He could feel many eyes on them, but he could see nothing.
"What is it? What do you see?" Gimli asked Legolas quietly. Boromir glanced over his shoulder at the elf whose eyes were scanning around them and ahead.
"I see shapes of men, and of horses," Legolas said.
"Where?" Gimli asked and Boromir's eyes scanned ahead just as Legolas' was.
"Pale banners like shreds of cloud. Spears rise like winter-thickets through a shroud of mist. The Dead are following. They have been summoned," Legolas said. Aragorn picked up the pace and Boromir followed with Legolas hot on his tail.
"The Dead? Summoned? I knew that!" Gimli said before he laughed nervously and paused in his walking. "Very good. Very good- Legolas!" he called and ran to catch up with the others. As they slowed, reaching hands of mist surrounded them as they walked and Boromir stepped away from them just as Aragorn and the others were doing, but Aragorn paused when he took a step and a crunching noise met his ears. He looked down and then quickly looked up. He glanced at Boromir who was looking at him.
"What is it?" Boromir asked and Aragorn sighed.
"Do not look down," Aragorn told him and Boromir nodded and followed him, the ground crunching underneath his feet. However, Gimli looked down and sighed sadly when he saw many skulls littering his path. The crunching continued and he did his best to move through them quickly, but the crunching only worsened.
They continued through the pathway and came upon a large door that was carved unlike anything either of the men, the elf or the dwarf had ever seen.
"Who enters my domain?" a hissing, ghostly voice asked and before them merged a green mist and the Ghost King appeared before them.
"One who will have your allegiance," Aragorn said.
"The dead do not suffer the living to pass," the Ghost King said.
"You will suffer me," Aragorn said firmly and Boromir wanted to smile, but now was not the time. The Ghost King laughed and it seemed to echo all around them as thousands upon thousands of ghostly soldiers surrounded them.
"The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead, and the dead keep it," the Ghost King said and they looked at him. "The way is shut. Now you must die." Like lightening, Legolas fired an arrow that went straight through the Ghost King's head and clattered to the ground behind him.
"I summon you to fulfill your oath," Aragorn said.
"None but the king of Gondor may command me," the Ghost King said before he raised his sword and swung it down upon Aragorn. Only Aragorn raised his sword, and until that moment Boromir did not realize the blade that Aragorn had carried. It was a blade remade from the shards of Narsil, an easy blade to recognize for any Gondorian. Aragorn grabbed the Ghost King's throat and Boromir's eyes widened. "The line was broken!"
"It has been remade," Aragorn said quietly before he pushed the Ghost King away, making him stumble back. "Fight for us, and regain your honor. What say you?" He walked through the soldiers whose ghostly faces followed his movements. "What say you?"
"You waste your time Aragorn. They have no honor in life, they have none now in death," Gimli said as he looked around.
"I am Isildur's heir. Fight for me, and I will hold your oaths fulfilled," Aragorn said as he challenged the dead with his sword. "What say you?" The Ghost King laughed and Aragorn looked to him. The dead began to fade away and Boromir shook his head. "You have my word! Fight and I will release you from this living death! What say you!" They continued to fade away and Gimli pulled his axe.
"Stand, you traitors!" Gimli shouted, but the dead faded away. A wind blew and what was left of the soldiers disappeared.
"Run!" Aragorn shouted as the walls of the hall began to crack and break away with millions of skulls spilling out. "Out!" They were nearly swept away and Boromir lost his footing, but Aragorn pulled his arm and helped him to the path. Soon, the exited the mountain and as the cool, fresh air they saw black ships sailing down the river. Boromir's eyes widened and walked to the ledge when he saw the villages burning.
"Has this failure marked the end of Gondor?" Boromir asked himself quietly and Aragorn fell to his knees as he watched the ships pass. Legolas put his hand on the man's shoulder and the four watched the ships sail slowly down the river. A whooshing noise behind them caught their attention and they looked behind them to see the Ghost King standing there.
"We fight," the Ghost King said as he looked to Aragorn who had stood and looked at him with a smile and nodded. The two men, elf, and dwarf moved down the cliff quickly and stood on the shore of the river as the boats drew near. Aragorn stood, his arms crossed before him, Boromir stood to his right, hands clasped behind his back, while Gimli stood on Aragorn's left with his arms resting on his axe, and Legolas stood next to Gimli bow in hand, but no arrow knotted.
"You may go no further. You will not enter Gondor," Aragorn said firmly. They saw the captain stand from his seat and walked close to the edge of the boat. His smirk was evident even from the distance they stood.
"Who are you to deny us passage?" he called back and without looking away from the ship, Aragorn spoke to Legolas.
"Legolas, fire a warning shot past the bosun's ear," he said calmly and Legolas drew an arrow.
"Mind your aim," Gimli said. Boromir heard iron knock on wood and the arrow Legolas fired went straight into the chest of one of the pirates standing next to his captain. Boroimr's eyes widened and he glanced at the elf who was glaring at Gimli. "Ooh! That's it. Right. We warned you. Prepare to be boarded!" Gimli called and Boromir turned his eyes back to the ships as the captain and his men laughed.
"Boarded? By you and whose army?" the captain called back with a smile. Boromir drew a deep breath and glared at the captain as he heard Aragorn whisper.
"This army." Then like a fierce wind the ghost soldiers suddenly appeared behind them and rushed forward. Boromir's dark hair blew in his face slightly, but he could see the smiles fall from the pirates' faces and his smile grew as the pirates tried to hide, but there was no hiding from the army that assailed them.
The boats drew closer to the port of Minas Tirith. Soon, they would be where none of them doubted a battle steadily raged. Boromir stood at the head of the boat and looked down the river. He could see the darkness that had covered his home, and he hoped that his people were holding strong and that the Rohirrim had reached the battle in time to be of some help. "The White City will not fall," a voice said behind him and he turned slightly and looked at Aragorn who had stepped over to him.
"Not while we have the men of the mountain," Boromir said and Aragorn nodded.
"They will be of great aid, there is no doubt." Boromir gave a small nod, and as his eyes moved further south, they strayed to the west for a fraction of a second, but the second did not go unnoticed by Aragorn. "Someone dear to me lies to the northwest," Aragorn said slowly and Boromir looked to him once again. "She would not have my attention drawn from battle to her, and I am certain that Ellethwen feels the same."
"She does, but I worry for her all the same, as any man would when he leaves his wife and newborn child." Aragorn gave him a small smile and nodded. "However, I know you are right. I only wish I knew if she was well."
"She probably wonders that about you, but you both have tasks that take precedent over your thoughts. You have the battle ahead of us, and Ellethwen has your son to think of." Boromir nodded and smiled before he put his hand on the other man's shoulder.
"You have taken your role?" Boromir asked, changing the subject so his mind could focus on what laid ahead of them. With a heavy sigh Aragorn nodded.
"I have." Boromir lowered his hand and bowed his head.
"Then I have all the more cause to follow you into battle, my friend," he said as he raised his head. Aragorn gave him a smile and shook his head.
"The day has yet to come before it is official, Boromir. We go to battle because we must." Boromir nodded and the two men turned their attention ahead of them. "We should take our positions; we are nearly to the port." They quickly joined Legolas and Gimli and the four crouched down and readied themselves for the battle ahead. The boats came to a stop and Boromir looked at Aragorn who held out his hand in a gesture to wait before they got off the boat. They could hear the battle sounds coming from the land, and it sounded fierce.
"Late as usual! Pirate scum! There's knife work here that need doing! Come on, you sea-rats. Get off your ships!" a slimy voice shouted and Boromir looked at Aragorn who nodded. They quickly leapt over the side of the ships and landed on the solid ground.
The orcs before them looked surprised, but they slowly smiled. Boromir's grip tightened on his sword as they started to walk towards the orcs.
"There are plenty for the both of us. May the best dwarf win," Gimli said to Legolas and they began to run with the dead charging behind them.
When they had battled their way to the field before the White City, Boromir felt his strength double when he saw that parts of the city had been crushed by flying stones. His sword strokes grew deadlier, and stronger. He would not let his city fall. His son would look upon the white stone walls and call it home, and Ellethwen would return to the city she loved. He would make sure of it.
Ellethwen hummed softly trying to keep her worry at bay as she changed Dallin and dressed him for the day. The dawn had come once again, only that time her heart seemed to race. It had been nearly two weeks and still no word from Gondor. When Dallin was dressed and wrapped in his blanket, Ellethwen carried him from her room and walked the corridor and into the main hall, which was quiet and still, just like the city below. However, when shouts and cries rang out from the city, Ellethwen frowned and looked to Rowen who stood from where she sat with her sister Bryn. The three women moved quickly and Ellethwen held Dallin close and away from the chill of the wind. A rider charged up the path, their pace quick and fierce. Ellethwen looked to Rowen and the golden haired woman looked back at her.
"Will you hold Dallin, for just a moment?" she asked and Rowen nodded taking the small bundle in her arms. Ellethwen raised her dark skirts and moved quickly down the steps to where the rider dismounted.
"My Lady Ellethwen," he said breathlessly and she nodded, feeling a large lump in her throat as he took off his helmet.
"Eothain?" she asked shocked. "What . . . what are you doing here? Should you not be with the Rohirrim on their journey to Gondor?" Eothain sighed, but smiled.
"The battle is won, but it is not the last. I was ordered by Lord Éomer to bring news." Ellethwen frowned.
"The battle is won? How is that possible? Éowyn has not returned, so, I thought . . ." Ellethwen trailed off at Eothain's saddened expression. "Come, into the hall. I must get the King's advisor. He is the one you should be speaking with." Ellethwen turned and Eothain followed. She did not want to think what the man was about to tell her. She paused and looked at Rowen. "Will you tend to him a little longer?" Rowen looked at Eothain and then back at Ellethwen with a nod.
"Aye, I will take him inside and watch over him," Rowen said. Ellethwen gave her a smile and nodded her head.
"Thank you," she said quietly before her and Eothain moved to the King's study. Beodred sat at the King's desk reading several pieces of parchment. He looked up at Ellethwen and Eothain as they entered. He quickly stood and moved around the desk.
"I bring news Lord Beodred," Eothain said as he bowed his head. Ellethwen made to leave the room, but Eothain stopped her. "You are to stay, my lady," he said and she nodded.
"Go on Eothain," Beodred said quickly and the soldier sighed.
"The battle was great many lives were lost, including Theoden King," he finished quietly. Ellethwen gasped and covered her mouth as tears came to her eyes. Beodred sighed and looked down at the stone floor. "Lady Éowyn rode into battle disguised as a soldier." Ellethwen felt her stomach plummet and she sank into the chair that was thankfully behind her. "She was injured but is recovering in the House of Healing of the Citadel. It is by the order of Lord Éomer I rode to Edoras and not at his side to the Black Gates." Ellethwen looked up at Eothain with tears falling down her cheeks. "He has ordered that you Beodred keep your charge over the city until either he or Gamling return and if neither return, then your charge remains until Lady Éowyn is well enough to travel."
"What of the others? What of Lord Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, and . . . and my husband?" Ellethwen asked as she stood quickly. Eothain looked at her and took her trembling hands into his.
"All four are alive and well," he told her quietly and Ellethwen let out a small laugh that sounded like a relieved sob and closed her eyes. She slowly opened them and looked at Eothain. He let go of her hands with one final pat and looked at Beodred, whose face was a conflict of emotions.
"We must not tell the people of the loss of their King," Beodred said quietly. "At least not yet. We must keep their hope alive, and when Lord Éomer returns we shall tell them." Beodred took a deep breath and left the study quickly, and Ellethwen assumed it was to tell the council of the loss of their great king. Eothain put his hand on her shoulder and she looked up at him once again.
"Lord Boromir sent you a message as well," he said softly and Ellethwen nodded. "He said that if he returned from his journey to the Black Gates, that he would send for you and your son. He said there is much for you to know, but he would like to be the one to share it." Ellethwen nodded again and took a shuddering breath. Her husband was well, yes, but her friend was hurt and in a strange land, and the man who had treated her with great care and love, that treated her like a daughter was gone from the world.
Eothain left her and she closed her eyes. Her emotions must remain neutral. Rowen would as questions as would Bryn, and she had to keep her sadness locked away, until she was within the walls of her room and when she was with her son. She cleared her throat and quickly left the study. There was much to do that day, and she would get nothing done mopping about.