Written by Phoenix & Sunni
Buffy had searched the rest of the camp to no avail at finding Angel. Seeing a large gathering as she neared where they were she saw a group of five horses saddled, their riders standing beside them. Noticing that they were preparing to depart she recognized the dwarf she had seen at Helm's Deep. Instantly realizing this was the company that Angel was travelling amongst, she raced forwards and made her way through the throngs of men in her way just as the last horse went the mountain passage.
"Angel!!" she called out, coming to a halt before the passage, and peering into the darkness that seemed to have swallowed those that had just entered.
What's happening? Where is he going?" Anya asked, "I don't understand. Aragorn is supposed to be the hero right? Why is he leaving right before we're going to battle."
Willow stood behind her and placed her hand upon her shoulder and said, "He leaves because there is no hope."
Théoden approached with his helmet grasped in his hand and said to the two, "He leaves because he must."
"These men are not enough to defeat the armies of Mordor..." Willow replied facing the man behind her.
The King of Rohan stood tall and proud as he looked upon Anya and Willow, "No, we can not. But we will meet them in battle nonetheless."
Seeing his niece looking upon the sunrise he excused himself from their company and left to be by her side. As Anya watched the King leave she leaned over towards Willow and whispered, "Well, we are going to die. Aragorn the so-called hero of this place ups and leaves and now even the King knows we are not going to win. What kind of place is this?"
Éowyn stood alone with her arms crossed, looking into the distance, her face perfectly still in deep thought as her uncle approached.
"I have left instruction. The people are to follow your rule in my stead. Take up my seat in the Golden Hall. Long may you defend Edoras if the battle goes ill." Théoden ordered.
Éowyn stood coldly, her blank expression cut at the strings of Théoden's heart as she said, "What other duty would you have me do My Lord?"
"Duty? No... I would have you smile again." He said as he turned her towards him and took her hands. "Not grieve for whose time has come."
Cupping her head into his hands and bringing her forehead to his he said, "You shall live to see these days renewed. No more despair."
"You and the ranger..." Galuwen asked as she and Linwelos rode a fair distance back behind Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Angel as they traveled the Dimholt Road, "Something is happening between you and Aragorn. My elven eyes know you all too well. You can not hide..."
"We had met once before, and that is all. Nothing one should talk about." Linwelos replied to her friend.
Galuwen looked towards her with doubtful eyes and asked, "Then why is it when he is around you all the world seems to disappear?"
A smile washed across Legolas' face as his keen ears heard their words when Linwelos replied, "I do not know what you speak of..." looking to the gray rocks that surrounded them as the moved through the narrow pass. As the group rode along, Aragorn looked over to Angel and saw his face was that of grief.
"You have great concern for the slayer. She is in good care, you should not worry." He said to the man next to him.
"I have never stopped worrying about her since the day I first saw her." Angel replied, "And even when we forced ourselves to stay away, I still worried for her." he said, pausing to remember those events. "And the time she sent me to hell to save the world. She killed me and I never stopped loving her."
"A love that can withstand death is a love that will never leave your heart." Aragorn replied.
Gimli stared at the mists that rose off of the rocks and said, "What kind of army would linger in such a place?"
"One that is cursed," Legolas replied as they rode slowly through the pass, "Long ago the men of the mountain swore an oath to the last King of Gondor, to come to his aid and fight. But when the time came, when Gondor's need was dire, they fled. And so Isildur cursed them, never to rest until they had fulfilled their oath."
"Linwelos!" Aragorn called from the lead, "Be careful. The cursed army dwells here."
Quickly focusing on his words she tuned out all else around her, even the conversation she was having with Galuwen.
"My senses unnerve me," she said, "I can feel the souls of the unrested. What do your senses tell you Linwelos?"
She did not respond, her eyes were only on Aragorn as Galuwen called, "Linwelos?" still not getting an answer she tried again with the same result. Saying in a whisper to herself Galuwen said, "And still she proves my point."
At the end of the path, a small opening crafted from the very mountainside was visible surrounded in primitive paintings above the entrance.
"The very warmth of my blood seems drawn away," Gimli said nervously.
Legolas stared at the opening before saying; "The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead, and the dead keep it. The way is shut."
Galuwen was haunted by Legolas' words as the group dismounted but kept hold of the reins. The horses jumped about nervously, something about this cursed place unsettling them. A blast of air came rocketing out of the tunnel, thoroughly spooking the horses and causing the group to loose hold of the reins.
"The horses are smarter than we are," Angel replied as they watched the five horses gallop off.
"Brego!" Aragorn yelled, as the horses drew from their sight.
Linwelos turned, looking deep into the mountain tunnel before them. "I do not fear death!" she said firmly as she proceeded into the dark opening, Aragorn quickly following. Galuwen and Legolas hesitated, but with a look to each other, followed suit. Angel looked at Gimli and said before entering the opening, "I'm already dead, so..."
Standing alone at the opening Gimli said, "Well, this is a thing unheard of. Elves will go underground where a dwarf dare not! Ah, I'd never hear the end of it!" stamping his feet a few times before finally finding the courage to follow his companions.
Haste filled the air in the Dunharrow camp. Fires were put out quickly and men jumping onto horses as Théoden left his tent with Éomer.
"We must ride light and swift. It is a long road ahead, and man and beast must reach the end with the strength to fight." King Théoden commanded.
"The King told us to stay here and ride back with Éowyn," Anya said as she, Buffy and Willow stood in the confusion, "He said women were not allowed in battle."
Buffy's eyes turned to anger as a cocky grin fell upon her face as she said, "The King has forgotten one thing."
"What's that?" Willow asked.
"We are no ordinary women. So lets go show him how a slayer, a witch and a thousand year old demon kick ass!" Buffy said as she led Anya and Willow into the armor tent unnoticed as the race to battle took place.
As Théoden passed by, he noticed Merry standing with his white pony and said, "Little hobbits do not belong in war, Master Meriadoc."
"All of my friends have gone to battle. I would be ashamed to be left behind," Merry yelled over the chaos.
"It is a three day gallop to Minas Tirith, and none of my riders can bear you as a burden."
"I want to fight!"
"I will say no more," Théoden said as he rode off, leaving Merry standing lost and ashamed as he watched the riders pass by him.
As one rider approached a hand reached out and grabbed the small hobbit and pulled him onto the horse.
"Ride out with me," a female voice whispered; "You are now safe in the hands of a slayer."
"My lady," Merry said with a smile as he felt an arm around him. Looking to his left, he noticed one of the riders had red hair spilling from beneath the helmet, and just behind was a rider with a soft smile and blonde hair.
"Form up! Move out!" Éomer called out as King Théoden took lead and called out, "Ride! Ride now to Gondor!"
Buffy had searched the rest of the camp to no avail at finding Angel. Seeing a large gathering as she neared where they were she saw a group of five horses saddled, their riders standing beside them. Noticing that they were preparing to depart she recognized the dwarf she had seen at Helm's Deep. Instantly realizing this was the company that Angel was travelling amongst, she raced forwards and made her way through the throngs of men in her way just as the last horse went the mountain passage.
"Angel!!" she called out, coming to a halt before the passage, and peering into the darkness that seemed to have swallowed those that had just entered.
What's happening? Where is he going?" Anya asked, "I don't understand. Aragorn is supposed to be the hero right? Why is he leaving right before we're going to battle."
Willow stood behind her and placed her hand upon her shoulder and said, "He leaves because there is no hope."
Théoden approached with his helmet grasped in his hand and said to the two, "He leaves because he must."
"These men are not enough to defeat the armies of Mordor..." Willow replied facing the man behind her.
The King of Rohan stood tall and proud as he looked upon Anya and Willow, "No, we can not. But we will meet them in battle nonetheless."
Seeing his niece looking upon the sunrise he excused himself from their company and left to be by her side. As Anya watched the King leave she leaned over towards Willow and whispered, "Well, we are going to die. Aragorn the so-called hero of this place ups and leaves and now even the King knows we are not going to win. What kind of place is this?"
Éowyn stood alone with her arms crossed, looking into the distance, her face perfectly still in deep thought as her uncle approached.
"I have left instruction. The people are to follow your rule in my stead. Take up my seat in the Golden Hall. Long may you defend Edoras if the battle goes ill." Théoden ordered.
Éowyn stood coldly, her blank expression cut at the strings of Théoden's heart as she said, "What other duty would you have me do My Lord?"
"Duty? No... I would have you smile again." He said as he turned her towards him and took her hands. "Not grieve for whose time has come."
Cupping her head into his hands and bringing her forehead to his he said, "You shall live to see these days renewed. No more despair."
"You and the ranger..." Galuwen asked as she and Linwelos rode a fair distance back behind Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Angel as they traveled the Dimholt Road, "Something is happening between you and Aragorn. My elven eyes know you all too well. You can not hide..."
"We had met once before, and that is all. Nothing one should talk about." Linwelos replied to her friend.
Galuwen looked towards her with doubtful eyes and asked, "Then why is it when he is around you all the world seems to disappear?"
A smile washed across Legolas' face as his keen ears heard their words when Linwelos replied, "I do not know what you speak of..." looking to the gray rocks that surrounded them as the moved through the narrow pass. As the group rode along, Aragorn looked over to Angel and saw his face was that of grief.
"You have great concern for the slayer. She is in good care, you should not worry." He said to the man next to him.
"I have never stopped worrying about her since the day I first saw her." Angel replied, "And even when we forced ourselves to stay away, I still worried for her." he said, pausing to remember those events. "And the time she sent me to hell to save the world. She killed me and I never stopped loving her."
"A love that can withstand death is a love that will never leave your heart." Aragorn replied.
Gimli stared at the mists that rose off of the rocks and said, "What kind of army would linger in such a place?"
"One that is cursed," Legolas replied as they rode slowly through the pass, "Long ago the men of the mountain swore an oath to the last King of Gondor, to come to his aid and fight. But when the time came, when Gondor's need was dire, they fled. And so Isildur cursed them, never to rest until they had fulfilled their oath."
"Linwelos!" Aragorn called from the lead, "Be careful. The cursed army dwells here."
Quickly focusing on his words she tuned out all else around her, even the conversation she was having with Galuwen.
"My senses unnerve me," she said, "I can feel the souls of the unrested. What do your senses tell you Linwelos?"
She did not respond, her eyes were only on Aragorn as Galuwen called, "Linwelos?" still not getting an answer she tried again with the same result. Saying in a whisper to herself Galuwen said, "And still she proves my point."
At the end of the path, a small opening crafted from the very mountainside was visible surrounded in primitive paintings above the entrance.
"The very warmth of my blood seems drawn away," Gimli said nervously.
Legolas stared at the opening before saying; "The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead, and the dead keep it. The way is shut."
Galuwen was haunted by Legolas' words as the group dismounted but kept hold of the reins. The horses jumped about nervously, something about this cursed place unsettling them. A blast of air came rocketing out of the tunnel, thoroughly spooking the horses and causing the group to loose hold of the reins.
"The horses are smarter than we are," Angel replied as they watched the five horses gallop off.
"Brego!" Aragorn yelled, as the horses drew from their sight.
Linwelos turned, looking deep into the mountain tunnel before them. "I do not fear death!" she said firmly as she proceeded into the dark opening, Aragorn quickly following. Galuwen and Legolas hesitated, but with a look to each other, followed suit. Angel looked at Gimli and said before entering the opening, "I'm already dead, so..."
Standing alone at the opening Gimli said, "Well, this is a thing unheard of. Elves will go underground where a dwarf dare not! Ah, I'd never hear the end of it!" stamping his feet a few times before finally finding the courage to follow his companions.
Haste filled the air in the Dunharrow camp. Fires were put out quickly and men jumping onto horses as Théoden left his tent with Éomer.
"We must ride light and swift. It is a long road ahead, and man and beast must reach the end with the strength to fight." King Théoden commanded.
"The King told us to stay here and ride back with Éowyn," Anya said as she, Buffy and Willow stood in the confusion, "He said women were not allowed in battle."
Buffy's eyes turned to anger as a cocky grin fell upon her face as she said, "The King has forgotten one thing."
"What's that?" Willow asked.
"We are no ordinary women. So lets go show him how a slayer, a witch and a thousand year old demon kick ass!" Buffy said as she led Anya and Willow into the armor tent unnoticed as the race to battle took place.
As Théoden passed by, he noticed Merry standing with his white pony and said, "Little hobbits do not belong in war, Master Meriadoc."
"All of my friends have gone to battle. I would be ashamed to be left behind," Merry yelled over the chaos.
"It is a three day gallop to Minas Tirith, and none of my riders can bear you as a burden."
"I want to fight!"
"I will say no more," Théoden said as he rode off, leaving Merry standing lost and ashamed as he watched the riders pass by him.
As one rider approached a hand reached out and grabbed the small hobbit and pulled him onto the horse.
"Ride out with me," a female voice whispered; "You are now safe in the hands of a slayer."
"My lady," Merry said with a smile as he felt an arm around him. Looking to his left, he noticed one of the riders had red hair spilling from beneath the helmet, and just behind was a rider with a soft smile and blonde hair.
"Form up! Move out!" Éomer called out as King Théoden took lead and called out, "Ride! Ride now to Gondor!"