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Chapter 33-Ride Across the River
It took my eyes only a few moments to adjust to the darkness, but it felt like an eternity. Aragorn was in the lead, holding aloft a torch, with Elladan doing the same at the rear. But they cast too little light for my liking. Strange voices whispered all around us in a language that was probably as dead as those uttering it. As we continued on our terrifying trek, I realized I was praying. I had never been religious, mostly agnostic. But right now, it seemed there was almost living proof of an afterlife and I wanted the comfort of someone who could smite souls.
Time passed indefinitely. The passageway opened into a wide open space, the walls falling away suddenly. I could make out a glinting surface on the ground. Aragorn approached it and Elladan passed by me to stand by him, bearing both torches as our fearless leader inspected what turned out to be the body of a man, clad in mail, his accoutrements bedecked with gold and jewels. He had fallen in front of a door, his bony fingers clawing at the cracks even in death. The sword he had carried lay broken at his side, evincing that his last desperate attempt to open the stony door was a failure.
"This is just beyond creepy," Almira murmured, voice quavering.
I could only nod in agreement as my throat was too dry to form words.
Aragorn eventually rose and sighed. "Hither shall the flowers of simbelmynë come never unto world's end," he murmured. "Nine mounds and seven there are now green with grass, and through all the long years he has lain at the door that he could not unlock. Whither does it lead? Why would he pass? None shall ever know! For that is not my errand!" he cried, turning back and speaking to the whispering darkness behind. "Keep your hoards and your secrets hidden in the Accursed Years! Speed only we ask. Let us pass, and then come! I summon you to the Stone of Erech!" (1)
Aragorn must be a suicidal maniac, I thought, as utter and terrible silence greeted his words. Then, out of nowhere, a cold blast extinguished our torches and they could not be rekindled. "Great," I muttered. "Not only is Casper pissed, he's spiteful."
"Next time, someone needs to make sure Aragorn keeps his mouth shut," Almira stated menacingly.
We pressed on, and I heard Gimli stumbling through the dark behind us. I could feel his terror, but I could not turn. I did not want to face what was behind. I just needed to get out and so I pushed forward. The sound of water suddenly reached my ears and I noticed a lightening of the dark. Our company passed through a gateway out into a strange landscape. A rill ran beside us and beyond that was a road going steeply down between two sheer cliff faces. As glad as I was to be outside, the chasm was so deep and narrow that the sky was dark with tiny stars glinting in it. I would have killed to see the sun, but I took what comfort I could from the stars. It was odd to think that just that morning we had set out from Dunharrow when it felt like once again I had made it to another world.
We mounted our horses again and continued on in single file. We had escaped the dank dark of the cave, but not the dread. At one point, Legolas turned to say something to Gimli and reflected in his eyes was a strange gleam. I knew we were not alone before he spoke.
"The Dead are following," said Legolas. "I see shapes of Men and of horses, and pale banners like shreds of clouds, and spears like winter-thickets on a misty night. The Dead are following." (1)
"Yes, the Dead ride behind. They have been summoned," said Elladan. (1) His tone was the most serious I had ever heard him use and it was weird.
Finally our Company emerged from the ravine. I blinked at the suddenness of the new scene. Before us lay the uplands of a great vale and beside us the stream disappeared over many falls.
"Where in Middle-earth are we?" said Gimli; and Elladan answered: "We have descended from the uprising of the Morthond, the long chill river that flows at last to the sea that washes the walls of Dol Amroth. You will not need to ask hereafter how comes its name: Blackroot men call it." (1)
For such an eerie place it was surprisingly well-populated. Lights twinkled from houses in the grey twilight. Aragorn's voice broke through the still air interrupting my perusal of the landscape: "Friends, forget your weariness! Ride now, ride! We must come to the Stone of Erech ere this day passes, and long still is the way." (1)
Urging Braith into a gallop, I matched the other's pace as we descended into the vale. Doors and windows were slammed shut and locked tight as we passed. People fled their fields in terror as our Company approached. And always the same cry could be heard: "The King of the Dead! The King of the Dead is come upon us!" (1) Frankly I did not want to be associated with him but I did not have much of a choice unfortunately.
But we ignored them as much as possible and strove forward madly until our horses were stumbling with weariness. Just before midnight, we reached our destination in a darkness that was much too much like the caves we had only recently escaped.
You could tell this was a place people did not go to, it just had that feel to it. It was easy to see why, with the large black stone half-buried at the top of the hill. It had been placed there by Isildur after the ruin of Númenor but seemed much more unearthly and, of course, creepy. So that was exactly where we were headed. In hindsight, it makes sense that we could not chat with ghosts over a nice cup of tea in a warm kitchen. But just because it wasn't logical doesn't mean such an alternative wasn't desirable.
Elrohir handed Aragorn a silver horn which he sounded and it seemed that several answering horns could be heard. Despite the lack of any other sounds, everyone was aware that surrounding the hill was a great host. A chill wind blew down from the mountains.
But Aragorn dismounted, and standing by the Stone he cried in a great voice: "Oathbreakers, why have ye come?" (1)
And a voice was heard out of the night that answered, as if from far away: "To fulfill our oath and have peace." (1)
Then Aragorn said: "The hour is come at last. Now I go to Pelargir upon Anduin, and ye shall come after me. And when all this land is clean of the servants of Sauron, I will hold the oath fulfilled, and ye shall have peace and depart for ever. For I am Elessar, Isildur's heir of Gondor." (1)
He then bade Halbarad unfurl the standard which he had brought with him. It was black and any design it bore was hidden in the pitch dark. This was met with silence, which was rather anti-climatic and yet all the more unsettling. To my great displeasure we camped there that night. Despite having Legolas next to me, I did not sleep easy, drifting in and out of fraught consciousness.
Aragorn rose promptly at dawn and our Company departed. Legolas had woken me just before first light appeared to change the dressings on my wound. It was a tense silence, as if we both wanted to say something but simply could not find the words. I think he could tell I was starting to become panicky but had no idea how to console me. I mean, we were approaching the end of the war and the amount of what-ifs and the stakes had just increased exponentially with Almira and I here.
Our ride was of the greatest haste and the most miserable to date. Aragorn was the glue holding our Company together, but it would not have been possible if anyone else had been following him. The Dúnedain gave whole new meaning to the concept of machismo (in the best sense).
The landscape went by in a blur and I could not remember exactly what towns or territories we were supposed to be passing through. Suffice to say it was extremely bleak. Many of the villages were practically deserted as most of the men had ridden to war and the women and children most likely had gone into hiding. However, I noticed that there was no dawn which was disheartening on so many levels. We had passed into the darkness of the Storm of Mordor, and we were followed by the Dead. They had solidified somewhat, which wasn't saying a lot since they started as almost totally transparent. But as we continued they grew more fearsome to behold, and there was a certain gleam in their eyes; which really freaked me out because technically they did not have eyes. Travelling with great haste they nearly overtook us, but Aragorn recalled them with a word. It comforted me slightly that I was friends with the guy who could control the mostly dead members of our Company.
Our Company travelled hard for many days, always in a southeasterly direction. I knew we must be heading towards a river as we had to run into the Corsairs from Umbar at some point, but to my great frustration I could not remember the names of the lands we were crossing through. On the third day after we had set out from Erech we ran into an army of the enemy fighting the men of Lamedon. However, the battle was short-lived once they realized most of our fighting force was invincible. Someone had the good sense to cry that the King of the Dead was upon them and I have never seen any space cleared so quickly. Only one guy stayed behind: Angbor, Lord of Lamedon. "Talk about cojones," Almira muttered to me when we noticed him awaiting Aragorn.
"Obviously he has no common sense. I would have high-tailed it out of here if I had not already bought into this whole save-the-world mentality," I replied.
Aragorn told them he could accompany us on our supernatural trek if Angbor desired. And I thought it was a pretty safe bet he would since he had made it this far without freaking out. "At Pelargir the heir of Isildur will have need of you," Aragorn said. (2) And I giggled a little when he referred to himself in the third person. I still was not sure what to do with this new Aragorn since I was used to quiet Strider.
We pushed the allies of Mordor back before us, across Gilrain. I only knew this because I finally cornered one of the twins and got them to give me quite possibly the fastest geography briefing known to man. Here we rested for a little while and Legolas did a quick check-up on my leg which thanks to the twins was healing quite nicely and hardly causing me any pain, just discomfort. I managed to squeeze in a nice nap and was considering what type of hot food I might be able to cook when Aragorn ruined everything by saying: "Lo! already Minas Tirith is assailed. I fear that it will fall ere we come to its aid." (2) And in what seemed like the blink of an eye we were speeding across the plains of Lebennin. Legolas was not a happy camper because what he had heard were beautiful green fields turned out to be pathetic grey wastelands. And as I had been made aware (about 300 times in the past thirty seconds) elves were not down with environmental destruction.
As he was ranting, Almira leaned close to me and whispered, "I forgot how pissed off elves get when nature is threatened and/or destroyed."
"Yeah...it's a bit intense. I never really met anyone before who could give the worst Greenpeace activists a serious run for their money."
We had our enemies on the run for about twenty-four hours before we ran into the Great River. And where there are large bodies of water (and the Great River is a large body of water as the name implies) there are sea gulls. Upon hearing their call Legolas' eyes glassed over and he sort of went into trance mode. Arod was really confused because his rider was sitting there like a sack of potatoes, but like most horses he decided to take this opportunity to try and eat some grass. Frankly, I did not blame him since he had just gone through the horse equivalent of Hell. But I could not leave behind my boyfriend (still weird saying that), so swearing I turned Braith and went back for Legolas. Gimli was muttering implications while Almira was giggling nervously. "Finally," Gimli cried when I arrived. I tried nudging him which did not really work, neither did poking, nor pinching. Next on my list was slapping or kissing. I decided on the latter because I did not want to feel guilty about possibly hurting Legolas. So I took hold of the front of his tunic and planted one on him. Here's hoping, Hollywood since this sort of the thing usually only worked in the movies. But what the Hell? Technically this was one somewhere in the universe. About thirty seconds later he finally responded. I pulled back and looked into thankfully clear eyes. "Snap out of it," I said. Giving himself a little shake, Legolas and I rejoined the company.
It was a good thing too because we had reached Pelargir and a massive Haradrim force awaited us. They laughed when they saw how small our numbers were. Of course, then Aragorn summoned the Dead. Talk about a classic double-take. That was about the only time I enjoyed seeing the Dead. They swarmed forward, the sound of their horns and cries like a distant echo from the past. The minute they appeared, every enemy fled in the opposite direction. Swarming over every surface like the plague, the Dead did most of the work. Still, we rode among them recklessly pursuing our foes. It was nice to not be ridiculously outnumbered for once. Not like it was going to last, but hey, you take what you can get.
When we had taken over pretty much everything, Aragorn sent one of the Dúnedain to each of the great ships to comfort and set free the poor slaves that had been abandoned. Everyone I knew ended up on the biggest ship with Aragorn. That's just how we roll.
Aragorn let loose a great concourse of trumpets "borrowed" from the enemy and the Shadow Host withdrew to the shore. They stood there, eyes gleaming red reflecting the light of the burning ships, waiting. And Aragorn spoke in a loud voice to the Dead Men, crying: "Hear now the words of the Heir of Isildur! Your oath is fulfilled. Go back and trouble not the valleys ever again! Depart and be at rest!" (2)
With that the King of the Dead stepped forward and broke his spear in two over his knee. I added a mental "booyah" and the comic relief kept me sane I think. He bowed low then the whole group just sort of disappeared, like mist in a strong breeze.
That night I got to rest, like really rest, for the first time in days. I was practically dancing as I followed Legolas and the twins down the stairs where there were some bunks. The first hammock I saw, I cried "Mine!" and launched myself into it. The twins and Legolas were laughing at me as I snuggled in, all the while making sounds of delight, but I did not care. Almira took the hammock next to me almost as quickly, while Legolas took the one at my feet. Gimli had curled up on a bunk built into the side of the ship. I did not know where the twins ended up as I had slipped into sleep. When I awoke, the hold was empty. I quickly made my way on deck to see that it was barely past dawn and the ship was underway. During the night, many ships had been repaired so we had quite the little fleet going. This was good since we had men from Lebennin and Ethir join us, not to mention Angbor and all the men he could muster. I received a ton of strange looks and one or two leers as I made my way towards the prow where Legolas was standing. I had almost reached Legolas when I heard one man mumble that he did not realize entertainment would be provided on ship. Legolas' whole body tensed, and he turned very slowly to face the man. The look on his face was terrifying to say the least.
Gimli grabbed his arm. "Easy, lad," he murmured.
Quickly I stepped to Legolas' side. "Gimli is right. That guy's an idiot. Ignore him. It is enough for me that you respect. What does that misogynist's opinion matter?"
Legolas simply snarled in response, continuing to stare the man down until he got the hint and left. When he did Legolas growled a few choice words in Elvish, then pulled me so I was standing in front of him, which effectively shielded me from view of most of the ship's inhabitants.
We stayed that way for some time. Eventually the tension eased out of Legolas' body. "I do not understand why some Men consider women so inferior. Such beliefs are irrational."
Gimli snorted in agreement. "As if being shaped differently or bearing children affects your mental capacities or martial capabilities. Female dwarves are some of the best fighters I have ever seen. They can gut an orc just as well as any Man. Probably better," he finished with a wink.
"Much the same can be said of elleth," Legolas stated, giving me a squeeze.
"As your lady is living proof," Elladan said coming up to join us. "I assume this conversation came about because some Man made a moronic remark?"
"Gee, how did you guess?" I replied sarcastically. "Is Aragorn still freaking out?"
"Of course. He is afraid we will never make it in time."
"I can sympathize," Gimli commented dejectedly. "Is there no wind in this infernal country?"
Legolas suddenly laughed startling everyone. "Up with your beard, Durin's son!" he said. "For thus is it spoken: Oft hope is born, when all is forlorn." (2)
"Where in the Hell did that come from?" I asked but Legolas would not answer, instead smiling mysteriously. I rolled my eyes. "Fine, be that way. Elves."
"Do I count?" Elladan asked cheekily.
"Of course," I replied.
"Fine, be that way," he retorted with a smile before heading back to Aragorn who had hailed him.
Legolas and I spent most of the day watching the shore roll by. Gimli had wandered below deck. He did not seem to be a big fan of horses or boats. The silence was fraught with tension. What do you say to the person you love when you are facing possible death and definite despair? It's not like we could talk about a desired future, something to pin our hopes on. I had not made my choice.
"I am sorry," I said suddenly, slightly surprised I had spoken out loud.
"For what?" Legolas asked, sounding surprised as well.
"It just hit me that I have taken the certainty of a future to look forward to away from you," I explained. "If that makes sense."
He heaved a deep sigh. What could he say? "It does," Legolas finally replied. "I would that you not feel guilty. There is not much certainty in even living past tomorrow. And despite the lack of assurance, I still hope for such a future," he finished quietly.
I really had nothing to say to that, thus we lapsed back into silence. I snuggled into him a little farther, hoping to give him some solace in the here and now with my physical presence. He rested his chin on my shoulder in acceptance of the gesture, as if to say "It is enough."
As darkness fell, Legolas and I descended below into the galley for supper. Away to the North the sky was glowing red. When we were passing under the wheel, I heard Aragorn say: "Minas Tirith is burning." I shivered at the dread and finality in the statement.
Dinner was a quiet affair. The minute I was finished I escaped back above deck into the fresh air. Staring at the angry red clouds, I really wished Aragorn had not sent the Dead away. I smiled grimly as I realized that for only the second time I wished the movie had been right, not the books.
"You should rest," Elrohir said when he appeared at my side. "I know you feel better," he said quickly when I would have protested. "But you still have not completely healed. Do not think I, or others, have not noticed how you still limp slightly, or how stiff you get after sitting even for a short period of time."
I had to chuckle. I thought I had been so careful. "Serves me right to think I could fool a healer like you or Elladan. And there's no hope with Legolas, he watches me like a hawk, like I am going to crumble any second."
"He loves you," Elrohir said. And that was all that he needed to say.
"And I him. Which is why I must participate in this battle. I will not leave him," I stated rather defiantly. I knew Legolas was worried and did not relish the idea of me fighting in what was definitely going to be a large-scale battle. And if I knew him at all he had consulted the twins about the state of my health.
"I will not stop you," Elrohir said resignedly. "You are fit enough to fight, but you must be very careful with your injury. But I will order you to rest while you have the chance. So go, Legolas is awaiting you below with a fresh change of bandages."
I nodded, doing as he instructed. I approached my hammock where Legolas was standing. He helped me into the hammock then set about changing my dressings. When he had finished he asked me to stand to make sure they were not too tight.
"Perfect, as usual," I said with a half-smile that quickly died when I saw the serious look on his face.
"Wha-" I began but he cut me off with a shake of his head before pulling me into his arms and covering my mouth with his, smothering any further questions.
A few breathless moments later, Legolas withdrew. "There is much to say but now is not the time to say it. So, please," he punctuated this with a kiss, "let this be enough."
Heart beating hard, I nodded. Taking my hand, Legolas led me deeper into the hold to a secluded corner where cargo blocked us from sight. No more was said that night with words.
When I woke the next morning, I lay still with my eyes closed for several moments in that peaceful half-sleep where for a few moments you can pretend that you do not have to get up eventually. I figured what happened between Legolas and I last night was one of those infamous trysts one heard about. I smiled somewhat wickedly. He was probably going to be a wreck. I on the other hand was overjoyed. Getting to second or third base in this world seemed to be about as difficult as winning a Nobel Prize.
The minute I stepped foot on deck Legolas was at my side. "Kate-" he began but I cut him off with a stern look. I had detected the tiniest hint of anxiety and I grinned mischievously. Taking a quick glance around to make sure the few people on deck were not looking at us, I pressed a quick kiss right below his collar where there was a very slight bruise. "I do not regret last night and hopefully neither do you."
Legolas shook his head, a rueful grin gracing his lips. "Nay, I could never. But I was afraid you might think me a complete scoundrel."
I laughed rather loudly at that, garnering us a few strange looks. "Oh Legolas," I murmured breathily. "I have been praying that you might be less of a gentleman for awhile now." The completely god-smacked look on his face had me laughing even harder and I threw my arms around him to stifle my laughs in his shoulder. I felt his shoulders begin shaking in mirth, before he whispered softly in my ear, "Duly noted, my love, duly noted."
"Well, at least someone is smiling on this Doomsday," Almira said wryly.
I turned in Legolas' embrace to face her, and found Elladan, Elrohir, Aragorn and Gimli there as well.
"I wonder why that is," Elladan queried with an all-knowing smile. Legolas and I both flushed at his implication which caused the twins and Almira to laugh. Gimli reaffirmed that he was my favorite person ever by controlling his laughter. It took Aragorn a few seconds, probably because he had not slept in like three days, but eventually his eyes lit up. "Oh," he said, "ohhhh," then promptly started chuckling.
"Right well, I should probably get some breakfast," I stated and beat a hasty retreat to the galley, leaving Legolas to do some damage control.
It was about two hours past dawn and I knew we would reach Gondor by mid-morning. Naturally, this put quite a damper on my mood. Although, if I had more interludes with Legolas like last night to look forward to I was certainly going to do everything in my power to live. When I emerged back on deck I found Legolas at the prow, as usual. The ships were clipping along quite nicely now that we had a strong wind supporting us. Again, Legolas and I were content to just be silent with one another.
Our fleet reached a bend in the Anduin, near the Harlond, and we could see and hear the massive battle raging at the gates of Minas Tirith. The air was hazy from the smoke, and I could hear shouts of dismay when our black ships were sighted. Suddenly, there was a great flapping noise. Turning I saw that Aragorn had unfurled the standard Arwen had made him. In the center flowered the White Tree of Gondor. About were Seven Stars and above it a high crown: these were the symbols of Elendil, signs that had not been seen in a long time. I felt a wealth of emotions rise within me. I was participating in a historic event that I never could have imagined I would be part of; like the others I had come to love Aragorn for all that he was and I was proud to share this with him.
Our Company docked shortly thereafter. Legolas crushed me in a quick embrace. "Be careful," he whispered. Then he vaulted over the edge of the ship. I followed suit. Drawing my bow, I slaughtered my first orc of what would be a very long day. Our battle for Minas Tirith had begun.
(1) Passage quoted from LOTR: The Return of the King, Book Five: Chapter 2- The Passing of the Grey Company
(2) Passage quoted from LOTR: The Return of the King, Book Five: Chapter 9- The Last Debate
