Chapter Eleven: Cursed Army
"What kind of army dwells here?" Gimil asked, as they rode.
It was Legolas who spoke, "One who is cursed."
He continued to speak, telling the tale of this cursed army. He ended it with telling how that only the true king of Gondor could call them.
"The very warmth of my blood seems stolen," Gimli said, once they reached an opening.
It was a doorway cut into a mountain. Beyond the door, there was nothing but darkness. Kendra looked above the door and saw pictures cut into the stone just above the door.
"The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead. And the dead keep it. The way is shut," Legolas read from above the doorway.
A foul wind came blowing out of the doorway and the horses were suddenly spooked. All three turned and fled.
"Brego!" Aragorn called, trying to get his horse to return.
They soon disappeared. For a few seconds, they could hear the pounding of the hooves. Soon, nothing reached them. That was when Aragorn turned and faced the dark and desolate opening.
"I do not fear death," he said before disappearing into the opening.
Legolas followed next, with Gimli going next. Kendra seemed frozen, unable to follow. She had to force her feet to move. She wanted to go the other way, the way the horses had gone. But, she had to move forward, into the dark. The darkness swallowed her.
They moved on slowly, Legolas telling them of what he saw. Gimli, trying to be brave, pretended it was all a joke on the elf's part. Kendra, meanwhile, brought up the rear. For her, it was a trial to move. It was like her powers were being drained from her. She was cold, almost frozen.
"Do not look down," Aragorn suddenly said.
Kendra watched as Gimli looked down, doing exactly the opposite of what Aragorn had said, and she managed to pass him then. They made it out of the tunnel and into a giant cavern. They suddenly heard a voice ahead of them. A man, clad in ancient armor, stood there. His flesh seeming to appear and disappear as he moved.
"Who goes? The dead do not suffer the living to pass."
Aragorn replied, "You will suffer me."
The figure laughed and Kendra watched as an ancient city suddenly appeared around them.
"The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead. And the dead keep it."
An army suddenly appeared around them. "The way is shut."
A conversation continued ahead of her, but she did not hear it. She was hearing something else.
"Freedom. Peace. Rest."
"Free us from this living death."
"Give us rest."
"We are cursed."
"Lift the curse on us."
"We have no hope."
"Stand ya traitors!" Gimli suddenly shouted.
The army had disappeared. There was a sound like crumbling walls. They turned to watch as the top of the walls suddenly started crumbling downwards. And coming with the walls was something else. Thousands upon thousands of skulls.
"OUT!" Aragorn shouted.
Kendra felt her wrist being grabbed and pulled. Aragorn had started pulling her behind him, keeping a close eye on her. Legolas was doing the same for Gimli. They managed to make it out of the tunnels before everything finished collapsing. Just outside, they could see the river. And the smoke.
Kendra stopped and watched as the city burned and the ships sailed away. They were ships with black sails. Aragorn fell to his knees right there, defeat slumping his shoulders. Legolas moved forwards and placed a hand on Aragorn's shoulder, trying to comfort his friend. Another wave of ice water rushed over her and she turned back towards the tunnel entrance.
A figure of greenish smoke and ancient armor was appearing out of the cliff face. It was the same figure that had greeted them in the giant cavern. He walked right up to Aragorn and looked him in the eye. What followed next was what they wanted to hear.
"We fight."