A/N- This chapter is still dedicated to Aeronnen. You know what you did- thanks Aeronnen! This one is for you-
Dúvainiel heard Legolas arguing with someone, though she did not understand his anger or frustration. It was decided that she would go back to Edoras with Éowyn, while the males of the group and Éomer and Théoden traveled to Isengard to confront Saruman.
"Dúvainiel," Legolas said. He sounded far away to her. She did not look at him. "You must return to Edoras with Éowyn. I will come for you as soon as I can."
He pulled her into an embrace and kissed her forehead.
The days went by, and Dúvainiel arrived at Edoras. She would not speak to anyone. It worried Éowyn, who spent quite a bit of time with the elleth in an effort to get some kind of response from her.
By the time the members of the Fellowship had returned to Edoras, Dúvainiel's soul had weakened considerably. Eowyn had dressed her in her green dress and her hair was loose and flowed around her. She sat at a table in the main hall, staring at nothing.
"I am happy to see you, Dúvainiel," Legolas said when he sat with her at the table, taking her hands in his. She sat in a daze still, unresponsive to anyone, and it worried him.
He pulled her arm slightly, and she stood and allowed him to lead her away from the table. He led her out of the hall and outside, then down to the stables. He took her to Shadowfax's stall, and led her inside. The stallion nudged her with his nose and when she didn't respond, he pawed the ground. Dúvainiel heard Legolas speaking to the horse in elvish, but it didn't sink in to her mind what he was saying. It was as though he was far away and she couldn't understand him. She couldn't focus… didn't want to focus. She sat in the hay, and it was quiet. She heard Legolas speaking again, and then footsteps, as he walked away, leaving her with the horse.
Shadowfax pushed his nose into her face and then lay down in the hay beside her. She pulled her knees up to her chest and put her arms around them. Shadowfax neighed softly to her, then laid his head at her feet.
They remained that way until hours later when Legolas came back for her. He sat beside her and spoke to her and Shadowfax. She stared at the hay on the stall floor. She felt Legolas put his arm around her. Everything fell silent, until Legolas pulled her to a stand and ushered her out of the stable and back to her room, which was now next to Éowyn's, though she didn't realize it. He took her dress off, and pulled her to the bed, where he made her lay down. He covered her with the blanket as she stared at the wall across the room. She heard him sigh, and he left the room. For the rest of the night, she just stared.
The next morning, Dúvainiel heard her door open, and Legolas came in. He made her sit up, and dressed her in her leggings and tunic. He spoke to her softly as he brushed her hair. Nothing he said could reach her. He pulled on her arm, and she stood, and he walked her to the hall, where others were gathered for the morning meal. Legolas sat her down next to Aragorn and sat on her other side.
"Why is it so cold?" she whispered. Legolas and Aragorn both turned to her, alarmed by her question. Elves did not feel the cold. It was clear to them- she was succumbing to her grief.
"I'm running out of time," she heard Legolas say from far away. "I am taking her." His tone left no room for argument.
He stood and picked her up, one hand around her back and one under her legs. She closed her eyes as she smelled him. He carried her out of the hall and down to the stable, where he put her on his horse. He mounted behind her, and put his arm around her waist. Then he nudged the horse forward and they galloped out of Edoras and across the plain. Her eyes remained closed and her body leaned back against his as they rode for hours, until Legolas came to the edge of a forest. He pulled the horse to a stop, and got off. Then he reached up to her and pulled her down, and carried her once more. He walked through the trees, and Dúvainiel felt the life of the forest around her. The trees were whispering to her. He laid her on the ground at the base of a tree, and sat beside her. He held her hand.
She heard his voice from somewhere far away, "Do not leave me, Dúvainiel. I need you with me."
"Le melin (I love you)," he whispered.
Everything was dark. Then a white light brightened in the distance and she walked toward it. A shadow came into sight and walked to her, and she gasped when she saw his face.
"Haldir!" She smiled at the sight of him. He did not smile back.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
She shook her head. What did he mean? Where was here? Wait a minute. Haldir was dead. Did that mean… was she dead too? "Where are we Haldir?"
"Go back, Dúvainiel."
"What?" she didn't understand.
"Your time for grieving is over," he said firmly. "You must return."
"No. I am happy to be with you, Haldir."
He put his hands on her shoulders.
"It is not your time yet," he told her. "Your task is not complete."
"But Brother…"
"No," he said firmly and turned her around. He stood next to her, put an arm over her shoulders and led her forward.
"Look at Legolas, Little One."
She looked into the darkness and saw herself lying on the ground. Legolas knelt beside her, holding her hand, his head bent in sorrow of his own.
"Le melin," she heard him whisper.
"Oh Legolas," she whispered, even though he could not hear her.
"My journey is over, Little One," her brother said, "But yours is not. You must return. Do you not love him too?"
"I do, Haldir. But it does not erase 2100 years of you being my brother."
"Nor would I expect it to. But Dúvainiel, you can not fade now. You are stronger than this. It is time for you to return."
Her eyes filled with tears as she looked at him. A tear slipped from her eye and fell, and he put a hand on her cheek and brushed the wetness away.
"Not so little any more," he smiled at her. "I'm proud of who you have become."
Another tear fell, and he caressed it away as well. "No more tears. No more sorrow," he said to her. "Do not cry for me any more. When you think of me, smile, knowing that one day, we will see each other again."
The light began to fade around her and he put up his hand to wave.
"He is a good ellon," she heard him say, his voice fading. "I am pleased for you."
Her eyes snapped open and she gasped a deep breath with the life that filled her.
"Dúvainiel!" Legolas cried.
Warmth filled her body once again, as he helped her to sit up.
"Legolas," she whispered. It was a surreal feeling. Had she just been on the brink of death? The last few weeks came rushing into her mind and she shook her head. She looked at Legolas and took a deep breath. He had not given up on her. She put her hands on his face and pulled him towards her, kissing him hard on the lips. If he was surprised, he didn't show it, as he returned the kiss completely. Above all else, she felt the need and desire to be with him right now, as close as two Elves could be. She reached her hands up and caressed his ears, an intimate gesture between elves. He shivered at her touch, and then allowing her to take him with her, he reached up to caress her own ears. She put a hand on his chest, and then grasping his tunic, began to pull it off. He pulled back and looked at her, surprised. There was no hesitance in her face- she knew what she wanted, and he let her remove the tunic. He put his arms around her and held her firmly as he kissed her again.
It was a sacred moment between them, when he laid her unclothed on the forest floor. Their bodies and their souls joined together as one, and the trees sang around them of their love. Dúvainiel felt her life renewed.
Later, as they lay wrapped in each other's arms, she spoke.
"He was more than my brother," she told him. "He was my mother and my father."
He said nothing, just listening to her speak.
"I was young… very young, when my parents were killed." She looked at him and whispered, "I can barely remember what they looked like." She swallowed hard and continued her tale. "My father was a Marchwarden, my mother a Lady of Galadriel. They were sent on a mission to Rivendell, and chose to take us, my brothers and me, with them. It was the only time I had ever left Lothlorien. We were attacked by orcs. It was Mithrandir that saved us. Mithrandir, who came along too late to help my parents, but just in time to save the rest of us. He became like a grandfather to me that day. He returned us to the safety of Lothlorien. Any time he ever visited the Woods after that, he always made a point to come to see us, often he brought us gifts. Sometimes he would even send a gift or note by way of messengers. My circlet was a gift from Mithrandir. He gave it to me the day I took my mother's place as a Lady of Galadriel. But Haldir… as the eldest, it was his responsibility, and he became my parents. He took my father's place as Marchwarden, and raised me and my brothers. Rumil and Orophin are very close in age, and because of that, they are very close to one another. Haldir and I shared a bond that way, too. I was his 'Little One', as he was so fond of calling me. He raised me the way he raised my brothers, teaching me to fight and defend myself. He didn't have any idea how to raise an elleth, but Galadriel balanced it out as I got older. He was a good brother, he always protected me."
She fell silent and he ran his fingers through her hair.
Finally, Legolas propped himself on his elbow and looked at her, "So now I learn the truth. You are a Lady." He looked and sounded incredibly amused.
Dúvainiel sat up and cocked her head to the side as she looked at him, and her dark head fell over her shoulder.
"What about you, Your Highness?" she teased. He had the grace to blush and she laughed at him. "Why didn't you tell me?"
He shrugged his shoulders, "I guess it didn't seem important."
She nodded and he reached for her hand, pulling her back down. She laid her head on his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. She felt him draw a shuttering breath. Startled, she pulled herself up and looked at him. He had tears in his eyes.
"Shhh…" she whispered, as she laid down on him again. She ran her hand across his skin.
He took another deep breath. "I thought you were gone," he told her. "I thought that I had lost you."
"I'm sorry," she whispered. She thought about Haldir and what he had told her. "It's over," she said. "No more despair." She picked her head up and looked at his face. She was very well aware that before it was all over with, either of them could still lose the other. It weighed heavily on her heart. She did not know if she could handle losing him, too. He pulled her up towards him and kissed her lips softly which she returned just as softly at first, and then demanding of him once again, and for the second time that night, they made love under the trees, as the forest sang around them.
They were still wrapped in each other's arms when the morning light hit them. Both of them knew their time had been too short, but they had to return to Edoras. They dressed quietly and then Legolas whistled to Arod. The white gelding came running at the call, and Legolas mounted him, and then pulled Dúvainiel up behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist, and smiled. She thought about Haldir and how much she would miss him, but he was right. Her journey was not over. She would not ever forget him, but she would not grieve for him again. That was his wish and she would honor that, no matter how difficult it would be.
As they trotted back towards Edoras, Legolas told Dúvainiel of things that she had missed- Saruman was dead, he told her. Merry and Pippin had returned to Edoras with them. Then Pippin had an incident with the Palatir, and he and Gandalf had gone to Minas Tirith. Dúvainiel was bothered by the fact that she had been unable to say her farewells to Gandalf. She wondered when she would see him again. She refused to use the term "if".
They reached Edoras by noon, and went straight to the hall after leaving Arod at the stable. It was quiet, but Éowyn, Aragorn and Gimli were seated and eating. Well, picking at their plates was more like it, thought Dúvainiel. Aragorn was the first to notice the two elves, and he rose from the table and smiled at Dúvainiel.
"Dúvainiel, Im gelir ceni ad lín (I'm happy to see you again)," Aragorn said. By the time he reached her, Éowyn and Gimli had also risen from the table and were walking towards her. Aragorn held out his hand to Dúvainiel, "This is yours."
She reached her hand out, and he dropped a ring into it. She looked at it and gasped. It was Haldir's Marchwarden ring- a thick ring of gold, engraved with leaves. It held a red stone.
She looked at Aragorn, surprised. "Le hannon (Thank you)," she said to him. He nodded his head in response. She closed her fingers around the ring and threw herself at the Ranger, engulfing him in a hug. "Le hannon, Elessar," she whispered.
She pulled away, her face and his both red with embarrassment at her display of appreciation. She put the ring on the forefinger of her right hand. Éowyn hugged her next and told her how glad she was to see that Dúvainiel was all right.
Gimli, she noticed, seemed unsure of how to approach her. He finally settled on taking one of her hands into both of his, where he gave it a comforting pat and told her of his sorrow at the loss of her brother. This was a different Dwarf than the one who had told her brother he would spit on Haldir's grave. The journey had changed Gimli- had changed them all. She accepted his condolences gracefully, and was amused when she realized that she was becoming rather fond of the Dwarf. So overcome with this realization, she threw her arms around the Dwarf, and hugged him. The others laughed at the Dwarf's surprised reaction.
"There's something else," Legolas said, when the others went back to their meal.
He led them to her room, and when he opened the door, she was amazed at what she saw on her bed.
Haldir's golden armor and vembrances lay there, completely spotless, as though they were new.
She looked at Legolas, who was watching her carefully for her reaction. She could tell by the expectant look that he had been the one to save the precious pieces of Haldir's property. She reached over and squeezed his hand, and then let go. She walked over to the bed and ran her hands softly over the gold.
"Le hannon, Legolas," she said.
He walked up behind her and put an arm around her shoulders, and she turned and kissed him on his cheek. She then laid her head against his shoulder as she looked down at the bed. She decided that she would wear the items to war, in honor of Haldir.
The next few days passed slowly for the group. Everyone was restless, and even the men felt the anticipation that something big was coming. Dúvainiel and Legolas took time for themselves when they could, even if it was just riding together out on patrol. It was those moments that Dúvainiel knew would sustain her through all this.
It was a quiet afternoon when things changed. Dúvainiel was in the hall, listening as Théoden spoke with his guards as the poured over a map. Suddenly Dúvainiel heard a commotion from outside, and she looked at the door. Aragorn flung the doors open as he came running in.
"The beacons of Minas Tirith!" he hollered. "The beacons are lit! Gondor calls for aid."
For a moment it was silent, as all eyes turned to Théoden.
"And Rohan will answer," he decided. "Muster the Rohirrim."
From the corner of her eye, Dúvainiel saw Éomer bow to his uncle, then set his hand on Éowyn's shoulder in a reassuring gesture. A flurry of activity followed the king's order, and within a half an hour, they were ready to ride towards Gondor. Dúvainiel now wore the Lorien armor and vembrances with the rest of her outfit. Although her brother had been larger in stature, she had had the time over the last few days to work with the gold and cut it down to her size. She felt closer to her brother while she was wearing it- as though he rode with her, always the protective brother.
Dúvainiel again rode Ésha, and Legolas and Gimli rode together on Arod. They were seated on the horses waiting for Théoden when Dúvainiel heard Gimli speaking to Legolas.
"Horsemen, hmph! I wish I could muster a legion of dwarves, fully armed and filthy!"
"Your kinsmen may have no need to ride to war," Legolas responded. "I fear war already marches on their own lands."
She looked at the Dwarf solemnly when his eyes met hers. She carried Legolas' fear with her as well. She knew Sauron's forces would not attack only Minas Tirith. Her thoughts turned to Lothlorien. With the number of elves sailing West and the number of them lost at Helm's Deep, she wondered who would protect the Golden Wood. She swallowed hard at the thought. She closed her eyes and tried to block out the mental image in her imagination of the woods of Lothlorien burning. She opened her eyes and looked at Legolas.
"I worry for Mirkwood, as well," he said.
She nodded, but didn't say anything to him. He had to realize, she thought, her other brothers were still out there. He reached over and took her hand. Gimli said nothing.
Just then, King Théoden moved past them towards the front lines, and Legolas let go of her hand. He nudged Arod forward to follow the king, and Dúvainiel did the same. When they reached the front, Théoden stopped and turned to his soldiers, and then called for them to ride to war. Then he turned his horse toward the plain and led them in a gallop.
It was well into the night when they stopped to give the horses a few hours rest, and then they were off again. By noon the next day, they arrived at Dunharrow.
As they trotted their way through the encampment, men around them stopped to acknowledge their king.
"Make way for the king! Make way!"
"Grimbold, how many?" the king asked.
"I bring five hundred men from the Westfold, my Lord," Dúvainiel heard the man respond.
"We have three hundred more from Fenmarch, Théoden King," came another comment.
They continued to trot up the passage to the top of the mountainside. Tents had already been set up for the king and his company. Dúvainiel slipped off Ésha. The horse seemed unsettled, and it bothered Dúvainiel. She looked around and noticed that most of the horses seemed uneasy.
"The horses are restless," she heard Legolas say. "And the men are quiet."
She turned as Éomer responded to the ellon, "They grow nervous in the shadow of the mountain."
She turned to look at the mountain that loomed before them.
"That road there," Gimli pointed. "Where does that lead?"
"It is the road to the Dimholt," Legolas replied. Dúvainiel felt a shiver run up her spine. "The door under the mountain."
"None who venture there ever return. That mountain is evil," Éomer told them, and then turned to tend to his horse.
Dúvainiel looked at Legolas, and he gave her a reassuring smile.
"Let's eat, and then we should rest," he said.
"I'll go find Aragorn," Gimli told them.
Legolas and Dúvainiel found the tent that their group was to use, and he started the fire outside of it. Dúvainiel found some meat to cook, and the four of them sat around the fire together making plans for when they were to arrive at Minas Tirith. Afterwards, Aragorn went into the tent to lay down, and Gimli went and joined some of the men for drinks. Dúvainiel and Legolas sat outside the tent, always on a constant guard of their friend, who was getting an uneasy sleep inside.
Shortly afterwards, Dúvainiel felt a prickling sensation and she listened intently. A single horse's hoof beats could be heard walking up the path on the side of the mountain. She walked away from Legolas to see what it was. When the rider dismounted and looked in her face, she gasped in surprise.
"Lord Elrond," she said as she bowed to him. It had been many long years since she had seen him, but she would never forget his magniminity.
"Little Dúvainiel," he said with a slight smile. "What sort of mischief do you find yourself in these days?"
She grinned at him, "The usual." She knew he didn't come here to make small talk with her. It was a long way from Imladris. "Do you come to see Elessar? Is all well with Evenstar?"
A shadow crossed the Elf's face and Dúvainiel swallowed. She looked in his eyes and felt him pull her to Rivendell. Arwen lay in her bed, silent and still. Her hands were cold. She was dying. Elrond pulled back from her, cutting the connection.
"It will not be an easy path for him, Dúvainiel." She knew whom he was speaking of. "You must follow him, until the end of it."
She bowed her head to him. She was bound to follow him anyways, but the weight of Evenstar's life hanging in the balance now pulled heavily at her.
"I will take you to the king," she said, then turned away and led him to Théoden's tent.
As she turned to leave him, he reached up and grabbed her arm. "Be ready. His path leads away from Théoden."
She nodded her understanding and he let go. She started to walk away when the Lord of Rivendell called her name.
"Dúvainiel," he called. She turned to look at him. "I'm so sorry about Haldir."
Of course Elrond would know how close she had been to her brother. A twinge of pain went through her heart at the sympathy and she nodded in acceptance, bowed slightly and went to find Legolas.
The blonde elf was still guarding Aragorn's tent. She told him of the visitor and his words, and they walked away to find their horses and get them ready. They returned to the tent, and Dúvainiel noticed that Aragorn was now gone from the bed. She retrieved her pack, put her weapons back on, and went back out. Legolas told her they needed to find Gimli, and they walked the horses around the campsites until they found him. Legolas told the dwarf what was going on, and Gimli assured them that he would be going wherever they went.
Dúvainiel said nothing and as she mounted Ésha, she noticed Aragorn leaving the king's tent.
"It's time," she told the others, as she watched Aragorn return to what had been their tent. He came out moments later, cloak on and sword in hand. She watched as he found Brego and saddled the stallion. Éowyn came rushing around the corner at him, and she noticed the woman's face, first confused, and then devastated as she backed away from Aragorn. Dúvainiel knew this day had been coming, and she felt bad for the woman. Aragorn turned and led Brego away from Éowyn, who watched silently.
"Just where do you think you're off to?" Gimli asked, stopping Aragorn in his tracks.
"Not this time," Aragorn said. "This time you must stay, Gimli."
"Have you learned nothing of the stubbornness of Dwarves?" Legolas asked him, as he pulled Arod next to Brego.
"You might as well accept it. We're going with you laddie," Gimli told him. Dúvainiel nudged Ésha up next to Arod, and when Aragorn saw her, he looked as though he was going to tell her no. She sat straighter in the saddle and stared at him defiantly, daring him to tell her she couldn't come. He turned away and sighed, then mounted Brego. Legolas looked at Dúvainiel and grinned, then he mounted Arod and pulled Gimli up behind him. Aragorn clicked at Brego and led them forward, down the Dimholt Road. Behind them, the soldiers of Rohan called out to Aragorn, then it fell silent.
They walked their horses the rest of the night, and when the morning light fell over them, Gimli was the first to speak.
"What kind of army would linger in such a place?"
Dúvainiel looked around.
"One that is cursed," Legolas answered.
Dúvainiel knew the story.
"Long ago the Men of the Mountains swore an oath to the last king of Gondor," she told the dwarf.
Legolas nodded, "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," Dúvainiel finished, "never to rest, until they had fulfilled their pledge."
For a few moments it was silent.
"There was a prophecy once," Dúvainiel finally said, looking at Aragorn.
It was Legolas who told Gimli and Aragorn, "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."
Aragorn gave the elves a surprised look, but said nothing as he urged Brego forward. Finally, he pulled Brego to a stop as the path became more narrow, and dismounted. The others did the same, and then they led the horses as they walked for a little while.
"The very warmth of my blood seems stole away," Gimli said, as they came to the door into the mountain.
"The way is shut," Dúvainiel read the runes around the entry. "It is made by those who are dead, and the dead keep it. The way is shut."
She turned and looked at Aragorn, just as a violent wind came from inside, and spooked the three horses- all of them bolted.
"Brego!" Aragorn called after his horse, who continued to run. Then he turned and looked at the entry. "I do not fear death," he said confidently and then stalked through the entry. He disappeared into the darkness and the others looked around at each other.
"To wherever it may lead," Legolas said, and then followed his friend. Dúvainiel looked at Gimli and then followed Legolas in.
Her eyes adjusted to the darkness, and she saw an unlit torch on the wall. She called for Aragorn, as she pulled it off the wall.
"Do you have a flint?" she asked him.
He pulled one out of a pocket in his belt, and then lit the torch. Dúvainiel handed it to him and he led them deeper into the mountain. The walls were very close, and they had to follow behind one another.
They were not very far in when Dúvainiel's sensitive eyes begin to see shadows move in front of her. Legolas stopped, and she nearly ran into him.
"What is it? What do you see?" Gimli asked.
"I see shapes of men, and of horses," Legolas answered.
"Where?" Gimli asked. Dúvainiel noticed he seemed nervous.
"Pale banners like shreds of clouds," Legolas continued, ignoring the questions from Gimli. "Spears rise like winter thickets through a shroud of mist."
"The dead are following," Dúvainiel whispered.
Legolas nodded, "They have been summoned."
"The dead?" Gimli asked, alarmed. "Summoned?" Dúvainiel looked at him and raised her eyebrow. "I knew that," he said when he saw the look on her face.
He looked around as the others turned a corner.
"Very good," Dúvainiel heard him say. "Very good." Then, "Legolas!"
Dúvainiel grinned, as the Dwarf realized he had been left alone, and quickly caught up to them. The walls opened up, and suddenly green mist in the shape of arms began to reach at them from the floor. Gimli, she noticed, tried to blow them away. She snickered.
Just then she heard a crunch sound from up ahead, and heard Aragorn whisper, "Do not look down."Naturally, she looked down, and was dismayed to see that they were now walking on skulls- hundreds of them. Gimli crunched behind her, slowly at first and then his pace quickened. Aragorn broke into a sprint, and the rest followed, until the walls opened even further and the came to a large open area. A set of stairs, she noticed, led up to what could have been a palace.
"Who enters my domain?" A voice suddenly echoed. Dúvainiel felt the hairs on her neck stand.
They looked around for the source of the voice and a green figure wearing a crown materialized in front of the stairs.
"One who will have your allegiance," Aragorn responded.
"The dead do not suffer the living to pass," the figure said.
"You will suffer me," Aragorn countered.
The dead king laughed then, a cold laugh filled with malice, as they turned and saw an entire city materialize, as well as hundreds of soldiers.
"The way is shut. It is made by those who are dead, and the dead keep it." They turned back to the dead king as he spoke. Figures began closing in around them. "The way is shut. Now you must die."
Legolas pulled an arrow from his quiver and shot it at the dead king. It swooshed right through him. Dúvainiel pulled out her sword.
"I summon you to fulfill your oath," Aragorn told the dead king, as the ghost walked towards them.
"None, but the King of Gondor may command me!" he retorted.
Dúvainiel watched as Aragorn pulled his sword to the front of his face, as if to show the dead king who he was. The other ignored the sword, and brought his down to strike Aragorn, but it never made it. Aragorn brought his sword up to defend himself, and the swords met in a violent clash.
"That line was broken!" The dead king exclaimed.
Aragorn put his hand on the dead king's throat and squeezed, "It has been remade."
He let go with a violent shove and the dead king stumbled backwards.
"Fight for us, and regain your honor," Aragorn said, looking around at the dead figures that surrounded them. "What say you?"
He began walking through the crowd, showing the soldiers his sword, "What say you?"
The only reply came from Gimli, "You waste your time Aragorn. They had no honor in life, they have none now in death."
Dúvainiel silently agreed with Gimli, but said nothing. Aragorn acted as though he hadn't even heard the dwarf as he continued his walk through the soldiers.
"I am Isildur's heir. Fight for me, and I will hold your oaths fulfilled."
Still Aragorn got no response from anyone, and he finally shouted at them, "What say you?"
The dead king began to laugh again, and as quickly as the dead had materialized, they disappeared.
"You have my word," Aragorn yelled desperately. "Fight and I will release you from this living death! What say you?"
"Stand, you traitors!" Gimli called to them.
For a moment, it became incredibly quiet.
"I have a very bad feeling," Dúvainiel whispered.
The mountain suddenly groaned, and Dúvainiel's eyes widened as the walls began to break apart, and skulls fell out at them.
"Run!" Aragorn shouted.
Dúvainiel did not need any prompting.
Thousands of skulls hit them, and buried their legs as they trudged their way out of the cavern. They walls closed in once more as they ran one after another out of the mountain, which was now falling in on them. The light of day hit them, and Dúvainiel squinted her sensitive eyes at the sudden brightness
From high on the side of the mountain, the four of them looked down at the river. Aragorn fell to his knees at the sight of the ships sailing towards Gondor. She felt his defeat- without the Army of the Undead, they would be unable to stop the Corsairs. Legolas put a comforting hand on Aragorn's shoulder as they stared silently at the ships.
The sound of rushing wind could be heard, and they turned towards the mountain. The dead king came through the wall.
"We fight," he said.
Dúvainiel turned to Legolas and grinned, and the four of them were off and running again, down the steep slope and ahead of the ships, to stop them.
They reached the bottom just in time and stood at the waters edge. Aragorn leaned his sword against his shoulder.
"You may go no further," he called to the captain of the lead ship. "You will not enter Gondor."
"Who are you to deny us passage?" the captain challenged.
"Legolas," Aragorn said, "fire a warning shot past the bosun's ear."
Legolas pulled an arrow from his quiver and notched it on his bow.
"Mind your aim," Gimli said.
Dúvainiel looked down at the Dwarf just in time to see him hook the blade of his ax on Legolas' bow and jerk it, just as Legolas let go. She looked up as the arrow embedded itself into one of the pirates. The pirate cried out and fell.
"That's it," Gimli said as the ship began to sail by. "We warned you. Prepare to be boarded."
The pirates laughed. "Boarded? By you and whose army?"
"This army," Aragorn whispered smugly.
The wind howled past them as the Army of the Undead materialized out of the mountain. Within seconds, the pirates lay dead and the ships were being sailed by soldiers of the undead king. Dúvainiel and the others swam out to the lead ship.
They sailed through the night towards Gondor. It was quiet, and peaceful. Like the calm that came before a storm. When the light of dawn came, they could see the smoke far in the distance. Dúvainiel wondered if they were too late.
They were getting closer, and Dúvainiel looked over the edge of the ship and watched the water rush by. Legolas came and stood beside her. She turned to him and smiled a sad smile. She wondered if they would ever have peace again. Then she turned towards the middle of the ship, pulled her sword out of its sheath, and got down on her knees. She laid the sword on the ground in front of her. Legolas went to his knees beside her as she started to sing.
I edmôr men (The dark road stretches before us),
An gomín ertha(But together we stand),
An ta naa al'aglar (For it is not glory)
Ta naa al'mirian (It is not riches)
Al'ara naa ta (neither is it honor)
An man lye maeth (for which we fight)
An ta naa an lain (For it is for freedom)
A an lain (And for that freedom)
Goinnas heberthad (We will continue to stand)
Dartha I methen ned I gardh (Unto the ending of the world)TBC