Hey all! Got the next chapter up and ready! I had so much fun with Gimli as I was writing out this! I just love him at the beginning of this part! I hope you all enjoy!

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FizzWizz2011 – Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

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PotatoMonstah – I'm glad you love it so! And you managed to catch up quick then! Here's the next chapter up and ready for your enjoyment!

Paths of the dead

After walking through the door, we end up walking along a dark corridor before finding a torch, which Aragorn takes. Turning, he holds the torch up to light an alcove, looking in, we see thousands, if not millions, of skulls piled against one another.

"What is it? What do you see?" Gimli asks when Legolas and I glance at one another.

"I see shapes of men and of horses." I reply as I walk on ahead, behind Aragorn.

Gimli: "Where?"

Legolas answers next, confirming what we both can see. "Pale banners like shreds of cloud. Spears rise like winter-thickets through a shroud of mist. The dead are following. They have been summoned."

I hear Gimli's footsteps stop dead at this.

"The Dead? Summoned? I knew that. Very good. Very good. Faron! Legolas!"

I grin as I hear him running to catch up with us, fear laced in his voice (although he won't admit it). Even though dwarves live under ground in the mountains, he doesn't act like he does.

As we're walking on, we soon come to a path where the ground is covered in mist. As soon as we walk through, hands and arms which are created from the mist surround the four of us. Aragorn, Legolas and I simply brush them aside, but I hear Gimli puffing and know that he's trying to blow them away, which just makes me roll my eyes at him.

"Do not look down." I suddenly hear Aragorn say from up ahead.

I hate when someone says that, because it instantly makes me want to look straight down, which I do and regret it as I look back up and keep my gaze fixed on Aragorn's back as we keep moving. From behind, I hear Gimli taking hesitant steps and realise that he has also look down, his grunts echoing around the caves as he staggers.

After leaving the mist behind, we soon come to a huge underground hall with a large doorway to the left and stairs leading up to it. To the right, there's a wall with a large chasm in between us.

"Who enters my domain?" A gravelly voice suddenly calls out.

A ghost in Kingly attire appears by the stairs.

"One who will have your allegiance." Aragorn answers him.

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

"You will suffer me!"

The King starts to laugh, which is soon joined by more laughter. Just by the chasm, a ghostly city appears, dead soldiers and horses walking out of the city and towards us.

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

More ghosts appear by him and soon we're surrounded by them all.

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

The King approaches Aragorn. Legolas shoots at King, but the arrow passes right through the ghost's head. I just look at him with a raised eyebrow as if to say; "Really?" He does nothing.

"I summon you to fulfil your oath." Aragorn informs the King

"None but the King of Gondor may command me!"

Aragorn draws the sword of Elednil. The ghosts swings at Aragorn. Aragorn parries the blow with the Sword of Elendil, much to the ghost's surprise.

"That bind was broken!"

"It has been remade."

Aragorn shoves back the ghost.

"Fight for us, and regain your honour. What say you?"

Aragorn surveys the dead soldiers.

"What say you?"

Gimli scoffs. "You waste your time, Aragorn! They had no honour in life, they have none now in death."

I just give him a look to keep quiet as Aragorn continues.

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

The King of the Dead smirks, then begins laughing as he and his army begin to fade.

"You have my word! Fight, and I will release you from this living death! What say you?"

"Stand, you traitors!"

The four of us are soon standing alone the all the ghosts vanish. After just a few moments, a wind sudden;y picks up as the ground starts to shake and skulls roll on the floor. Turning to the doorway as we hear a rumbling, my eyes go wide in horror as it suddenly breaks out and millions of skulls start flowing out of it.

"OUT!" Aragorn shouts.

The four of us run on towards a doorway ahead of us, but soon get caught up in the skulls which almost completely bury Gimli. We soon get outside, to my relief. I never thought I'd be as happy to see sunlight as I am right now.

"Is everyone alright?" I ask as I turn to the others, quickly scanning them for injuries.

"We're fine, lass." Gimli puffs as he leans on his axe.

Turning around, I see Aragorn standing still as he looks to the river. Following his gaze, my heart drops as I see the black ships sailing away from the cities and towns that have been left to burn. I kneel in front of Aragorn and hold him as he falls to his knees in despair. His head drops onto my shoulder as I share a heart broken look with Legolas, who is standing behind the Dunedain with his hand on his shoulder. Further back, Gimli watches with a look of mourning on his face.

Hearing a sound from the mountain, Aragorn stands and turns to see the King of the Dead walking through the wall and standing before him.

"We fight!"

After we work out a plan to defeat the pirates, commandeer the black ships and sail to Gondor. As they sail upriver, the four of us are standing alone on the shore as we watch and wait.

"You may go no further. You will not enter Gondor." Aragorn orders.

"Who are you to deny us passage?" The leader asks as the other pirates laugh.

"Faron, fire a warning shot past the bosun's ear."

I take out an arrow and notch it onto my bow.

"Mind your aim!" Gimli says to me.

I just roll my eyes as I raise my bow and aim to fire just past the bosun's ear. Just as I fire, Gimli reaches out with his axe and nudges my bow at the last second, causing the arrow to hit a pirate square in the chest. The pirate lets out a cry of shock and pain before he falls to the ground. I glare at Gimli as he lets out a gasp of fake shock.

"That's it. We warned you. Prepare to be boarded!"

The sailors laugh again at the threat.

"Boarded, by you and whose army?" the leader asks.

In reply, Aragorn just says two words, a smirk on his face.

"This army."

At those words, the King of the Dead appears and runs through Aragorn, leading his men in a charge to the ships. The sailors recoil and yell in terror, but there is no escape as the ghosts kill all of the pirates within seconds.

Once the pirates are taken care of us, the four of us board one of the ships and Aragorn begins to steer it in the direction of Gondor and the impending battle that awaits us.

Well, there it is, I hope you enjoyed that. The battle at Gondor is next, so please stay tuned for that. Please R&R and I hope to see you all soon xx