Two updates in one night! Go me! Okay, enough of that. I think I've had too much sugar or something, I just couldn't stop working on this story tonight. So, I thought I'd update again to make up for the many days I went without updating! Thank you for your reviews! I hope you like this chapter! As always let me know!

Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings.

Chapter 36: A Battle Begins

Ana sat nervously on top the brown mare she was given to ride and she petted the mare's mane. "Don't let me fall, friend," she said gently and the horse snorted and shook her head. Ana smiled and patted her neck when Éomer trotted Firefoot up next to her.

"Are you ready to ride?" Éomer asked and Ana looked over to him and nodded her head. "Fall in." She nodded and pulled her horse behind him, Gamling, and Theoden. It would be a hard ride, but one that would lead to something she didn't know she was ready for.

Haldir rode behind Legolas and Gimli while Aragorn rode in the lead. He could feel the men of the mountain. He could sense their wonder and curiosity, even though they were still a distance away from the door under the mountain. "What made you come with us laddie?" Gimli asked him and Haldir urged his horse forward.

"I knew Ana and I were to follow, but she told me her task did not take her with us, that it took her down the other road," he said slowly. "We said our farewells and I joined you before you left the encampment." Aragorn turned and looked over his shoulder.

"She told you to go on without her?" Aragorn asked and Haldir nodded.

"She said her task took her with King Theoden and his men, and that we would meet again. I only hope that she is right." Aragorn nodded and looked ahead. However, he couldn't help but smile slightly. Soon, they dismounted and led their horses up the path towards the door. An eerie chill ran down Haldir's spine as he looked at the door, but he would not show it.

"The very warmth of my blood seems stole away," Gimli said. They stopped outside the door and Legolas read the doorway.

"'The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead, and the dead keep it. The way is shut'," Legolas read. Wind rushed from the doorway and startled the horses from their grips.

"Brego!" Aragorn yelled as the three horses ran away and back down the path. Haldir sighed and turned around to face the doorway once more. Aragorn did the same with a low growl and took a deep breath as the wind rushed around him. "I do not fear death," he said quietly before he made his way into the tunnel. Legolas and Haldir soon followed behind while Gimli hesitated.

"Well this is a thing unheard of! Two elves will go underground when a dwarf dare not! Oh, Oh! I would not hear the end of it," Gimli muttered before he too soon followed behind them. "What is it? What do you see?" Gimli asked as they walked through the corridor. Haldir and Legolas scanned the darkness and Legolas spoke first.

"I see shapes of men, and of horses," Legolas said.

"Where?" Gimli asked as he gripped onto his axe tighter. Haldir stiffened slightly as he walked slowly behind Aragorn.

"Pale banners like shreds of cloud. Spears rise like winter-thickets through a shroud of mist. The Dead are following. They have been summoned," Haldir said slowly. Not even fully understanding what laid ahead of them.

They rode hard and Ana's mare, whom she had come to learn her name to be Mildburh, was good to her and at times when Ana felt as though she was going to tumble off of her back she would move a certain way and she would be steady once again. They took a break and Ana sighed as she dismounted to rest her backside. She smiled up at Mildburh and petted her neck as she looked out over the men. However, as she did so a familiar golden head caught her eye and her eyes widened. She put her hand on Mildburh's neck.

"Stay here, my friend, I'll be back in a moment," she whispered and the horse neighed before she leaned her head down and nibbled on the dry grass. Ana walked over and put her hand on the warrior's shoulder and the person turned around. The wide eyed face of Éowyn looked up at her with mild horror thinking she was going to rat on her. "Éowyn?" she asked in a whisper. "What in heaven's name are you doing here?" she asked very quietly. Éowyn swallowed the lump in her throat and looked her friend in the eyes.

"I want to fight, Ana. I will not sit idly by while those I love fight. I have just as much cause to go to war as you, my brother, my uncle, as all of these men," she said in a whisper and Ana smiled and nodded her head as she lowered her hand.

"Don't worry, I will not tell a soul," Ana whispered back.

"You won't rat on me will you Ana?" another familiar voice asked. Ana looked behind Éowyn and saw Merry sitting up from the log he laid against. Ana smiled and shook her head.

"No, just you two keep one another safe. I will do my best to watch over both of you, but with a battle, even an elf can lose sight of things around them." Éowyn nodded and Ana looked back at her. "Stay safe and hidden in the lines." Ana winked at Éowyn before she turned and went back to Mildburh and as she did so, she heard Éomer giving Theoden news from the scouts.

"The scouts report Minas Tirith is surrounded. The lower level's in flames. Everywhere legions of the enemy advance," Éomer said and Ana's heart plummeted as she gripped Mildburh's reins.

"Time is against us," Theoden said quietly and Ana mounted Mildburh and urged her over to the King who was standing next to his horse.

"Not all is lost, your majesty, we will get there in time," she said and Theoden looked up at her before he too mounted his horse. He looked at her once again and nodded his head.

"I will hold to your spirit, Ana, for it seems to never diminish," he said and Ana gave him a smile.

"At times it does diminish, my lord, but when I need to be strong, I manage just fine." Theoden smiled and bowed his head to her and she returned the favor before she looked to Éomer who smiled as well before he turned back to the men.

"Prepare to move out!" Éomer shouted and Theoden pulled on his helmet.

"Make haste! We ride through the night!" Theoden shouted to his men before he led the men down the road and towards Minas Tirith.

Haldir stood next to Aragorn on the back of the river. Gimli was on Aragorn's other side and Legolas next to him. Boats made their way down the river and Haldir stood straight and still as his eyes followed the boats. "You may go no further. You will not enter Gondor," Aragorn called and the captain stood and looked at the shore.

"Who are you to deny us passage?" the captain asked.

"Legolas, fire a warning shot past the bosun's ear," Aragorn said. Legolas raised his bow and readied an arrow.

"Mind your aim!" Gimli said and Haldir glanced at the dwarf in time to see him bump Legolas' quiver with his axe. His eyes moved back to the boats in time to see the arrow pierce one of the sailor's in the chest. "Ooh!" Legolas glared at Gimli before he looked back to the boats. "That's it. Right. We warned you. Prepare to be boarded." The captain laughed, and his crew followed his lead.

"Boarded? By you and whose army?" the captain asked.

"This army," Aragorn said quietly and with a rush of wind the army of the dead moved through the four that stood on the shore and moved over the water before they slaughtered every enemy that stood on the boats.

Ana rode behind Éomer towards the ridge and as the horses lined up she swallowed hard at the black mass that attacked what she had read once was a great white city. "Eomer! Take your eored down the left flank," Theoden said and Éomer moved off.

"Make ready!" Éomer yelled to his men and his eored straightened their line. Theoden turned and looked to Gamling.

"Gamling, follow the king's banner down the center. Grimbold! Take your company right after you pass the wall. Forth! And fear no darkness!" Theoden shouted as his men moved and did as they were told. He looked back at Ana. "Where do you chose to ride?" he asked her and she smiled.

"I ride with the King," she said strongly and Theoden gave her a smile and nodded his head before he turned his horse and ran down the line of his men.

"Arise! Arise! Riders of Theoden! Spears shall be shaken! Shields shall be splintered!" Theoden shouted and Ana felt a surge fill her as she watched Theoden ride with such strength and pride in his voice. She almost hated herself for doubting him. "A sword day! A red day! Ere the sun rises!" Ana saw the orcs form a line and ready themselves for their attack, but soon her attention was turned back to the King. He rode down the line and hit his men's spears with his sword as he spoke. "Ride Now! Ride now! Ride! Ride for ruin and the world's ending! Death!" he exclaimed and Ana drew her sword and shouted with the men.

"Death!" they shouted.

"Death!" Theoden shouted once more.

"Death!" the men shouted.

"Death!" Theoden shouted one final time and the men echoed his shout. "Forth Eorlingas!" Theoden shouted and the men and Ana urged their horses on and charged down the hill towards battle.