Ok, so we're finally back on track. My peeps, you must review! We love reviewers! Review, dangit! Or I will be very sad. :(

Queen Islanzadi: at least somebody got the hint. thank goodness. you know, even my friends who I see everyday don't reveiw as much as you do, and i can tell them there's a new chapter.

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Meagan?

Chapter Three

The Paths of the Dead

Because that's what happens

Kelsey's PoV

On the whole, Mandy was taking the Paths better than I thought she would. She had taken to whimpering, her hood so close to her face that she could only see her horse's ears. And staying merely centimeters from Legolas's horse was a plus – I had thought she'd be climbing on him by now. As for me, I kept feeling rushes of cold air blow past my cheeks but when I turned only wisps of smoky mist hung gloomily. It wasn't until I thought I'd try to stab whatever it might be that I found out what it really was.

"Ow!"

"Elladan!' I screamed, leaping at him, whacking him with the ridiculously pink, frilly umbrella I had pulled out of my bag, "you are such a meanie! You are so lucky it was an umbrella and not a dagger!"

"Sorry!" He squeaked, ducking and backing into his twin.

"Hey!" Elrohir snapped.

"Not my fault!"

"Well keep your-"

"Hush!" Aragorn interrupted me and we all fell silent as the lantern brightened a giant chamber. It didn't help that we were surrounded by thousands of pale green, transparent ghosts.

Mandy's whimpers became muffled – glancing over, I saw that she was pressing herself so tightly to Legolas that it was wonder she didn't fall off her horse. Legolas in the meantime, was looking terribly uncomfortable as he aimed his bow at the ghosts. I snickered and was instantly silenced by a cuff to the head by Halbarad. I turned to scowl at him, but caught sight of a ghost pointing a sword at me. I froze, not particularly interested in getting stabbed.

Some ghost began talking, but his voice echoed and it became really hard to hear as Mandy began to mutter under her breath hysterically.

"Why have you-"

"There's no place like home."

"I come to have you fulfill your oath," Aragorn thundered.

"Think of a happy place."

"None but-"

"-Happy Place-"

"-Gondor may-"

"Find a-"

"SHUT UP!" I finally yelled, headache now pounding wildly in my head. Mandy let out a wail and slumped to the ground, beginning to suck her thumb while the guys shot glares at me, "What?"

But the ghosts were all laughing hysterically. Some were rolling on the ground at our feet. It was very uncomfortable, like stepping on warm fish guts when they rolled through your feet. Once the ghosts had calmed down, and I had been put under a restraining order by Elladan and Elrohir, and Mandy had resumed her position on her horse, Aragorn and the head ghost were able to negotiate, with only a few snide snickers and chuckles. We made it out of the Paths as safe as possible. Oddly there was an absence of flying skulls, to Mandy's delight and mine. It meant that we should be on book timeline, on which I was sufficiently more fluent. Once outside, Mandy flung back her cloak and stepped about an inch away from Legolas (a great accomplishment, I assure you).

"I'm free, I'm free!" She cheered, dancing a little. Then her foot caught on a rock and she fell backwards through a ghost. "AAAAEEEE!" she screamed, leaping to her feet. She pulled her cloak around her tightly and leapt into Legolas's arms, shivering violently.

"Aww . . . baby." I crooned, then walked right through a ghost and stopped dead in my tracks. A slimy feeling swept over me and I swayed on the spot, trying NOT to smell the rotting stench that met my nose, "Uh, little help?" I asked faintly before my knees buckled and I fell to the ground.

Nickel's Pov

We landed just inside the wall surrounding the Pelennor at dawn – Rammas Echor- awaiting Shadowfax and Gandalf. I'd considered going into the city before him, but it occurred to me that such would not be a good idea. As Ernie and I dined on toast with some of the best jam I'd ever had, Shadowfax was upon us.

"You could have waited farther out and slept in a guard house." Gandalf commented mildly.

"We just arrived this morning." I told him, "rather than haste, the scenic route was more to my liking."

"I thought we were in haste." Ernie said through a mouthful of toast.

"Compared to a real scenic tour, yes." I told him, "So what do you propose, Gandalf? I would like to hear what Denethor shall say, but I would rather not be revealed to him yet."

"I think, twit, that it would be best, for none to see you, for you will garner questions whereas Ernie will only be thought to be some warrior of the West."

"Men." I muttered, "Úele!"(behold not)

I followed Gandalf across the Pelennor and into the city as the sun strengthened. I was glad I was invisible, poor Ernie and Pippin were getting quite a lot of stares and didn't seemed to like it. Shadowfax was receiving the spotlight as well, but he basked in it. Silly horse.

The great hall of the citadel was rather foreboding in my mind. I didn't like it one bit. There was too much cold colored stone and not enough life in the décor.

"Hail, Lord and Steward of Minas Tirith, Denethor, son of Ecthelion! I am come with counsel and tidings in this dark hour." Gandalf bowed.

I took a moment in my invisibility to examine one of those statues a little more closely, it looked rather familiar . . . I snapped out of my contemplations as Denethor spoke, "And who is this other one who you have bought before me. He is silent and I like it not. What strength have you that brings you to us, youth?" he asked Ernie.

Ernie looked up, "I'm Ernie the Cuban!" he said brightly.

I groaned. Denethor looked around. "Show yourself, spirit who listens in on secret councils." I crept over to Gandalf and poked him.

"She would rather not be known, my lord." Gandalf said, barely concealing his amusement, "But now, Denethor, I will tell you this: the rule of no realm is mine, neither of Gondor nor any other, great or small. But all worthy things that are in peril as the world now stands, those are in my care. And for my part, I shall not wholly fail of my task, though Gondor should perish, if anything passes through this night that can still grow fair or bear fruit and flower again in days to come. For I also am a steward. Did you not know?" And he swept out, without another word, nearly stepping on me. Pippin rushed after him, but Ernie remained, rather confused.

"Truly, why did Gandalf bring you with him on so long and perilous a journey as that from Rohan?" Denethor asked, "it is not because you are simple, for we have simpletons enough." As Ernie was still trying to get his head around the rather stuffy way the people of Minas Tirith spoke, I decided to intercede.

"He is a great prince, who sees neither the evil, nor the good, but seeks a home in Arda." I took the opportunity of Denethor's confusion to drag Ernie out of the hall. This was getting way too serious for me. Once outside, I turned to Ernie, "Go find Gandalf and stay with him, do not wander off and don't agree to do anything without either Gandalf's approval."

"Where are you going?" Ernie asked a tree.

"Do you honestly think I'm spending the nights with you boys? No, I'm going to find a nice abandoned winter home."

"Bye." Ernie waved at the tree and trudged across the courtyard, gaining looks from all the guards.

Kelsey's PoV

"WHAT IN ARDA WERE YOU THINKING?" Aragorn bellowed in my ear. I opened my eyes a smidgen and saw Mandy grinning like a Cheshire Cat at me.

"Wow . . . you make me feel smart." She giggled, watching me as I groaned, holding my head in my hands.

"I know it's very hard to do that." I answered sarcastically.

Aragorn continued to look murderous, "On the horse, Kelsey." He demanded.

"Yes, ada" I grumbled. With his help, I swung myself onto the horse and soon the others (minus the ghosts) were mounted as well (assuming they had dismounted).

Nickel's PoV

As evening drew its curtain over the city, I headed down to the gates, glad of my invisibility. Crowds of soldiers gathered to see the reinforcements from the out lands, fewer that expected perhaps, but still welcome. I was rather late, but managed to see Imrahil come in with seven hundred strong, his gleaming helm like a star in the murky dusk.

I followed the three thousand or so outriders up to the sixth circle, and on up to the citadel with the lords. I had a feeling Gandalf wanted to see me.

The white tree stood out like, well, like the stick of dead wood it was. Gandalf stood beside it.

"I will never understand why they didn't take better care of this thing." I told him, "I mean, its not exactly easy to find a new one."

"Such has been the care of men for this land." Gandalf replied, "the captains and the lords of the outlands meet tonight, it would do you good to hear their news." He gave me a swift glance, or rather the direction he thought I was, "Or perhaps not, you seem to know the outcome better than we ourselves."

I smiled to myself, "Who knows the outcome of anytime save one that has long passed, and even now is questionable. I will not deny that the void, for all its emptiness, holds many answers. Let us hear what they have to say."

I followed Gandalf into the citadel and the hall of kings. The captains and lord stood or sat according to their rank, I suppose. Gandalf was brought a chair, but I was ignored. Then it occurred to me that I was still hidden, how silly of me, "ele" (behold). The servant person bringing Gandalf his chair yelped at my sudden appearance, attracting a lot of attention.

"Hi!" I waved.

Gandalf rushed to my defense before I could get arrested, "This is Mirithil of the West who comes to aide us in these dark times. Yes, Forlong?"

I stared intently at the fat man who had stood up at Gandalf's little speech, "Please excuse my ignorance, Mithrandir, but did you just say this woman came to aide us? Alll the other women and children have left the city for the safety of the countyside. Or does she command an army of looms or legions of thread that willl fight for her and leave her safe at home?"

I sighed, "Forlong of Lossarnach, if looms or thread are of any use, I will bring them forth, but at this moment the book of my aide awaits my writing." I smiled coldly, "Aide of another sort is at my disposal. Have you by any chance heard of Opera?"

Gandalf gave me a look that clearly said, 'no singing'. I shrugged and drew up a chair. Quite literally (A/N: Harry Potter anyone? That is seriously the coolest magic).

A couple of people gasped. Denethor and Gandalf just looked grumpy. Bet Gandalf wished he'd thought of that first. Denethor was angry that I was the voice in his head. What everyone said was really of no importance to me, after all, whenever are politics important? There were two things however worth mentioning about that council. The first being Ernie's allegiance. On this subject, Gandalf and I stubbornly refused to say more than that Ernie would support the destruction of Sauron with al his strength.

The second subject I found important was when Gandalf brought up Kelsey and the fact that, if Rohan arrived in time, the foes of Gondor would be destroyed by her strength. Nobody believed him. That was their problem. By midnight we were dismissed to go to sleep. Unfortunately, I hadn't found a bed yet.

Kelsey's PoV

"What's supposed to happen?"

I looked over to see Mandy watching me. I had been absorbed in Return of the King for the past four or five days while riding my horse. It wasn't the easiest thing to do, but I happen to multitask well.

"Well . . ." I flipped to the appendices, frowning, "we're supposed to-"

"Halt!"

I stopped my horse and watched as Aragorn dismounted with a few others and headed over some hill. With a look from Mandy, we scrambled off our horses and followed, me flipping my bag over my shoulder. Over the hill, the men were watching a large band of ships grow closer. I scanned the ship, wondering if we'd see a PJ look-a-like but no one seemed to be on any of the ships. I frowned, grabbing a few straight pins out of my bag.

The boats were slowing down and once they were close to the banks, a plank connected one of the boats to the ground. I tensed, but relaxed, grinning as a familier figure stood on the deck, a smile gracing his features.

"Haldir!"

Whoo! Long week! My boyfriend cancelled on me for my birthday 'cause he got grounded for a stupid reason, and AP history is burning up any free time I get 'cause Narnia's every single night. Btw, Nickel's right. I'm fufilling my wildest fantasies by acting as an elf onstage. Fun fun. But it's cool, 'cause at least I'll get to act on my birthday, which is a better present than normal. R&R, my pretties!

You heard her, reveiw! And add us to your update alerts, b/c we're rather sporatic

Yesterday was Mandy's Birthday! Yah! So we're posting for you. and IF you're all good, and send in lovely reveiws, we'll post again soon!