They enjoyed their few minutes of peace and joy when they're interrupted by the opening of the tent door. In walked the remaining members of the Fellowship, all of them muttering about their rude awakening and what was so important that they needed to be woken up. The King nodded at them from the tent door before turning and leaving although not before glancing at her. He looked at her curiously as she offered him a small smile which he hesitantly returned.
Eleniel sat up from where she was sitting on Aragorn's lap. She made a move to get up but Aragorn only tightened his hold on the fair maiden. She soon gave up, glaring at the smug male and just sat there watching the muttering and tired looking group who still had not noticed them. Eleniel looked at the Elf, Dwarf and Hobbit fondly and said, "Well, well, well, I guess I should just come back at the better time, right Estel?," she said as tears and happy expressions appeared on their faces.
Legolas, Gimli and Merry gasped when they heard her voice. They slowly lifted their heads to look at her. Screeches of 'Lee' and 'Eleniel' was heard from the three of them as they raced towards her. Eleniel moved to race to them but once again Aragorn's arms stopped her. She turned to glare at the amused man, holding her. "Hey! Let her go laddie!" Gimli yelled at him as the others nodded their head, glaring at the amused Ranger.
"Yeah! We just want to hug her." Merry was not pouting. No sir, he most definitely was not pouting. Eleniel elbowed Aragorn in the gut, catching him off guard and momentarily winding him. She easily slipped from his lap now with a loud laugh from her and the others before wrapping her arms around her friends.
She whispered her affections and happiness at seeing them to them quietly. The group cried as they clung to their now alive friend fiercely. Eleniel felt strong arms wrap around her waist and pull her away from them and against a hard chest. She giggled before pressing a soft kiss to Aragorn's cheek. "I think I'm going to throw up." Legolas joked as him and Gimli made retching sounds. Merry punched them both before telling them that they were only jealous because Aragorn had someone while they only had each other.
The Elf and Dwarf spluttered in indignation while Eleniel laughed so hard that she felt like she couldn't breathe.
After a few minutes of chatting and catching the others up on what had happened with her and how she was even alive, Aragorn told them about his plan to take the Dimholt road. The Elf and Dwarf immediately thought he was stupid while the Hobbit has no idea what was so wrong with the Dimholt road. Eventually everyone agreed and the others raced out to gather their things while Merry hung back to speak with her.
They left the tent, following after the others at a much slower pace. "We did it. Me and Merry were able to get Ringil from the Ents." said Merry in Noldorin. Very smart in using a language that currently only him and her could speak.
Eleniel smiled happily at her friend in thanks before speaking, "Thank you. I will retrieve it from you before the others and I leave." The group had agreed that it was safer if Merry stayed behind with the rest of the Rohirrim. Merry wasn't happy about it but after Lee had told him that he was destined to stay with the Rohirrim, he felt much better about being left behind. He felt better, not happy.
Merry hugged his friend tightly before walking away to retrieve the sword. Eleniel smiled after him before continuing on her way. She walked to where her and the others were supposed to meet in silence. She could feel the stares as she walked through the camp. The men of the Rohirrim were very interested in the beautiful Elf that walked amongst them.
Eleniel watched silently as a blonde haired maiden approached her love as he readied his horse to depart. "Why are you doing this? The war lies to the East. You cannot leave on the eve of battle!" Eleniel knew all about Éowyn and felt absolutely no jealousy or hatred towards the girl for falling in love with Estel. He was so easy to fall in love with. Instead she felt sadness for her. Heartbreak was one of the worst pains for anyone of any race to feel and she would not wish it onto another.
"You cannot abandon the Men nor me." She stated firmly, silently pleading that he'd heed her words and stay. Stay with the men. Stay with her people. Stay with her.
Aragorn looked at her sadly. "Éowyn... I do not leave for fear of battle or lack of hope. I leave because I possess such great hope," said Aragorn as he lightly touched her cheek. "I am sorry that I do not return your feelings. I have wished you joy and happiness since I saw you." He said, repeating his words of before and further driving a wedge in her heart.
Éowyn is saddened but not entirely shocked as she watched him lead his horse away. She knew for sure now that he did not love her. He wished her happiness, yes, but he could not be the one to provide her with it. Eleniel watched sadly before she followed Estel and led Atamir to the Dimholt road entrance.
"She loves you." Eleniel said as she came to his side, a sad expression on her face. She wasn't sad because she thought that he loved another, she was sad for the heartache and grief she saw on Éowyn's face as she watched Estel walk away.
He looked at her before leaning forward and grabbing hold of her hands. "She does but, I love you. I cannot choose what my heart wants." Eleniel leant forward and placed a soft kiss on his lips. After their kiss, she pressed her face into his chest with a content smile on her face before looking up at him and slowly reaching to caress her pendant around his neck.
"Lee!" Merry shouted, interrupting their moment. Pulling away from each other, they watched as their little Hobbit friend approached them, a sword strapped to his waist. Removing the scabbard with the sword, he passed Ringil to Eleniel. Once in the Elf's hands, a soft glow could be seen surrounding the sword if one looked close enough and a wistful smile appeared on the elleth's face before she thanked Merry. The Hobbit hugged both of them again before leaving as Legolas and Gimli approached. Legolas and Gimli gazed upon Ringil in awe especially Legolas. He could feel the strength and power of the weapon. They looked at her questioningly but she only shook her head before telling them that she'd tell them later.
The four of them climbed their horses before setting out. The soldiers called out to Aragorn as they moved toward the mountain pass. "What's happening?" One soldier called. "Where's he going?" Another one asked confused.
"Why does he leave on the eve of battle?" Another asked aloud while Gamling moved to answer his question.
"He leaves because there is no hope." He said as the men looked at each other nervously. "He leaves because he must." The King said as he walked through the crowd of Men to stare at Gamling.
"Too few have come. We cannot defeat the armies of Mordor." Gamling insisted while Théoden looked resigned before agreeing with the man.
"No, we cannot but, we will meet them in battle nonetheless." The soldiers looked at each other before they nodded in agreement with their King's words.
They would meet their fate on the battlefield. Whether it is death or victory, only the Valar would know.
Éowyn stood and watched silently as the sun rose. It's sunlight bathed the camp in warmth as the soldiers moved around the camp, packing everything away and getting ready for battle. She tended as a presence made themselves behind her but relaxed when she heard the voice of her uncle.
"Will you not smile for me at least once before I ride for battle?," she smiled at him but it only came out as a grimace, making her uncle sigh.
Théoden lifted his hand and gently caressed her cheeks as the tears fell. "I have left instructions. The people are to follow your rule in my stead." Éowyn nodded before once again looking at the rising sun.
"I thought that he could love me, Uncle. That if I simply kept loving him then the Valar would somehow make him feel some love for me," said Éowyn. "I should have known better."
The King couldn't help but agree that she should have known better. "Yes, you should have known better," he watched as a hurt expression crossed her face before she nodded in resignation. "Lord Aragorn already made known his feelings before yet you did not heed them." Éowyn felt the tears rolling down her cheeks. "I don't say this to make you sad but to help you understand. You are beautiful Éowyn and surely there shall be another man who will come along and be so much more for you than Lord Aragorn could have ever been. Stop waiting for a man that already loves another and instead hope for your own special person." Théoden pressed a kiss to her cheek before leaving her to her thoughts.
Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Eleniel trotted along the mountain pass silently. Eleniel looked around, her dark hood drawn to cover her appearance once again in case she was being hunted. She could feel the ominous feelings of the mountain and it's ghostly residents. Pain. Anger. Betrayal. Those were some of the many feelings.
"What kind of army would linger in such a place?" She heard Gimli ask as his eyes constantly scanned their surroundings for signs of the undead.
Legolas answered, "One that is cursed," he said. "Long ago the Men of the Mountain swore an oath to the last king of Gondor, to come to his aid, to fight. But when the time came, when Gondor's need was dire, they fled, vanishing into the darkness of the mountain. And so Isildur cursed them, never to rest, until they had fulfilled their pledge."
Eleniel said, "Who shall call them from the grey twilight? The forgotten people. The heir of him to whom the oath they swore. From the north shall he come. Need shall drive him. He shall pass the door to the Paths of the Dead." Their eyes found the back of Aragorn who rode in the front of the three of them.
Soon their path widened until they faced the Dimholt door, the door being adorned with skulls. Eleniel looked at the hieroglyphs above the door and began to read them when she realised that the others did not know what it said. "'The way is shut. It was made by those who were dead, and the dead keep it. The way is shut.'" She said aloud as a sinister sound is heard from the entry way of the door. All of their horses reared before taking off back down the path.
Looking upon the door, she moved to enter fearlessly when Aragorn grabbed onto her arm. "Let me enter first," she rolled her eyes at his overprotectiveness but still let him go first before following closely behind him. Legolas followed after her while Gimli hesitated at the entrance before groaning then marching inside. "Well this is something unheard of! Two elves will go underground where a dwarf dare not! Ah, I'd never hear the end of it!"
Eleniel gazed at her surroundings. She saw ghostly figures. Shapes of men and horses. Pale bodies and empty eye sockets. She noticed that they followed their group. "They have been summoned." said Eleniel as Gimli looked around them nervously before speeding up until he stood closely at her side. Eleniel couldn't help but giggle even in their current situation.
They soon found themselves in a great underground hall with a large doorway. The King of the Dead soon appeared saying, "Who enters my domain?," Aragorn looked at him before answering, "One who would have your allegiance."
"The Dead do not suffer the living to pass." The King replied but Aragorn only shrugged his shoulders in response. "You will suffer me!" He said.
A dark, frightening laugh filled the air as the living group soon found themselves surrounded by the dead. "I summon you to fulfill your oath." Aragorn said as he drew the sword of the King. "None but the King of Gondor may command me!" The King took a swing with his sword at Aragorn only for his blow to be blocked.
"That line was broken." The King insisted, certain that Aragorn was not the Heir of Isildur. Eleniel answered him, "It has been remade." She removed her hood and the dead gasped for many recognised the she Elf.
"Fight for us! Fight and I will release you from this living death!" Aragorn vowed. They watched as the King looked at them before glancing at his people. She knew that they would not accept his offer. The ghosts disappeared slowly as a loud noise was heard in the cave. The ground shook. Skulls rolled on the floor. They watched as skulls flowed out of the breaking doorway. "Run!" Legolas yelled. None of them needed to be told twice.
They fought their way through a sea of skulls until they were outside. Emerging from the dark doorway, they saw the black ships and the cities the orcs had ransacked. Eleniel could hear nothing coming from the cities even with her superior hearing. No crying, no screams for mercy, nothing. It unnerved her. Tears began to fall from her eyes and she watched as Estel dropped to his knees in despair. Gimli and Legolas placed a hand on his shoulders in comfort. Eleniel moves to offer him some comfort aswell when the King of the Dead appeared before them.
"Heir of Gondor, do you give us your word that if we fight for you that you will release us?" He asked.
Aragorn swore, "I so swear."
The King of the Dead smirked before his soulless eyes glanced at the black ships. "We fight!" He declared.
A feeling bubbled in the very pits of the stomachs of everyone there. At first they did not know what this feeling was for it was lost from them for many a months. Hope. It was hope. Hope for victory. Hope for survival. But most importantly, hope for Gondor.
So, hi! I've been gone gone for a whole week but I'm back. We're getting closer to the end which is making me sad. Anyways if you didn't already know, I uploaded another Aragorn Fanfiction story which is called Her Foresight. It'll be different to this one as the OC is from our world lol. Also I'm really debating if I should stay with Aragorn and them or check in with the others in the next chapter? I don't want this book to be too long but I really want to write about Boromir and the others so maybe no Eleniel and Aragorn fluff next chapter. If you see any mistakes then please tell me lol. No matter how many times I read over my work, I always miss something that I only see once I publish the chapter hahahaha.
Anyways thank you for the votes and reading. I hope you enjoyed xxx