A/N: I own nothing
**Chapter 31**
***Saffy's POV***
Thankfully, the darkness had been disrupted by Aragorn lighting a torch. I had never been so grateful to have my pupils shocked by the change in light. After blinking away the shock and slight discomfort, we walked through the innards of the cavern traversing over the paths of the dead. Scattered across the floor were dozens of human skulls and various other bones. Both Legolas and Nimiwen were peering around us, seeming to watch something moving in the air but I couldn't tell exactly what it was. Whenever I tried to look I would see a flash of mist dissipating.
"What is it?" Gimli asked, looking around confused and trying to catch sight of whatever had the elves spooked and wary.
"I can see the shapes of men and horses." Legolas stated plainly, glancing back at Nimiwen who nodded in agreement with what he was seeing.
"What? Where?" Gimli asked as he spun around looking for the shapes that Legolas had mentioned.
"Pale banners like shreds of a cloud." Legolas continued on eyeing around him and telling us.
With a glance over at Aragorn, whose eyes were wide with wariness, we began moving again while Legolas continued speaking as he moved.
"Spears rise like winter thickets through a shroud of mist. The dead are following." Legolas finished eyes following the movements that were too fine for human eyes to follow.
"They have been summoned." Nimiwen spoke to answer any question why the dead now followed us through the dark of the mountain cave.
My hand slipped back into Nimiwen's, our fingers interlacing as we walked through the sphere of light provided by Aragorn's torch. Gimli's voice from behind us began to soften as though he wasn't moving with us and was simply looking around for what he could not see.
"The dead?" he enquired. "Summoned? I knew that. Very good. Very good."
Another second passed by before we could hear Gimli calling out for us, he must have just now realized that while he stood still the rest of us were moving forward and that he had been left there.
As we continued deeper and deeper into the depths of the cavern, the ghosts that surrounded us became more prominent and visible to all in our party. Ghostly green ethereal hands reached out to touch us, encircling our group in their mist. As we strode through the green mist, I glanced back to see Gimli trying to blow the hands away from him so that it couldn't touch him. He even wafted them away with his hand, trying to get them out of his face. We kept walking until Aragorn halted, looking down at the ground that we stand on.
"Don't look down." He warns us.
Now, I know that people always try and do stuff like that to prevent you from seeing some pretty horrific stuff. Like I would tell Di not to move when there was a bee flying next to her head thinking it must be a flower or something, which let me tell you happens quite a lot. But whenever you tell a person not to do something, they do it. It's in our DNA or something.
So when Aragorn said, 'Don't look down'. What did I do? I looked down at my feet to see that we were currently walking over human skulls. Yeah, I can understand why Aragorn had warned us. But having looked down, I couldn't help but shudder at the thought of walking over dead people. Thankfully, we had all been walking rather carefully, as well as the fact that there were two elves among us, so there was little to no fracturing in the skulls that we walked on. Well, there wasn't until Gimli tried to walk carefully.
Sickening crunches echoed through the air, filling the cavern with the sounds of breaking bone grinding together under the feet of a heavy dwarf. Luckily, we managed to move away from the ground that was made up of human skulls and back onto stone. Though I did glance back at where we had walked noticing that the skulls filled a section of path that had been worn away and created a gap. But still who does that sort of thing? I made a mental note to tell Di about this. She was more into the sick twisted macabre sort of shit than me. I just liked my beautiful gothic adornments.
We continued walking around the corner of the path and soon stood in the center of a large open space which contained building, I was guessing that this was pretty much their town square. Standing here though, we were soon met by a ghastly green man whose face was partially rotting. He bore a crown which sat crookedly on his head, and his nose seemed to only be half-attached to his face.
"Who enters my domain?" the man asked, clearly establishing that he was the leader of the dead army.
"One who would have you allegiance." Aragorn responded, taking it completely in his stride that he was talking to the decomposing ghost of a dead man.
"The dead do not suffer the living to pass." The dead man cackled smiling at Aragorn through a half-rotted away mouth.
"You will suffer me!" Aragorn replied with an air of authority about him, he seemed to exude royalty as he spoke to the leader of the dead.
In response the King of the Dead laughed menacingly, sending a cold shiver up my spine. All around us the forms of ghost soldiers swarmed, leaving us in a small circle of space with nowhere to run to. Their weapons prepared to strike all of us down, which was not the most comforting thing. Especially when I thought about how if I attacked them, my sword would pass through the absent body. But if they chose to attack, I knew that we would die at the tips of their weapons. Happy thought.
"The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead, and the dead keep it. The way is shut." The dead King repeated the words that Legolas and Nimiwen read to us just before we entered into the dark cave. "Now you must die."
The army of the dead moved closer around us, weapons poised to attack. I dropped Nimiwen's hand and instead drew both of my swords, knowing that even if it didn't hurt them at least I would go out swinging. An arrow soared through the air from Legolas' bow, passing through the forehead of the King and leaving a hole for a moment before it closes over and the arrow clattered against stone uselessly.
"I summon you to fulfill your oaths." Aragorn stated, taking a step nearer to the King of the Dead.
"None but the King of Gondor may command me!" The dead King snarled back, coming across menacingly. I think his personal technique of killing people was causing heart attacks.
But still, the King draws a weapon and moves to attack Aragorn. Only to have his blade blocked by Aragorn's sword that he had been given by Elrond. Anduril the blade re-forged from the broken shards of Narsil, sword of the King of Gondor that slew Sauron.
"That blade was broken." The ghost gasped out, shocked that blocking his blow was a blade that had broken thousands of years previously.
"It has been remade." Aragorn answered in a rather threatening tone as he grabbed ahold of the neck of the ghost and shoved him backwards. "Fight for us and regain your honor. What say you?"
The army of ghosts regarded Aragorn as he moved among them with his sword raised next to him. Each of the ghosts moved backwards giving him a respectful amount of space.
"What say you?" he questioned once more, awaiting the response from either the army or their leader.
"Ach! You waste your time, Aragorn. They had no honor in life, they have none now in death." Gimli declared, looking warily at the army that still surrounded our group.
My own eyes wandered over the masses of the deadly army, spying the rotted figures and the weapons that still seemed to almost shine through their misty green form.
"I am Isildur's heir. Fight for me and I will hold your oaths fulfilled." Aragorn announced, in response there were some murmurs of consideration amongst the ghosts. "What say you?"
Spinning around at the sound of laughing once more, we all looked to the Ghost King as the rest of the figures around us slowly began to dissipate and leave the space around us. Finally only the King stood before us with a grim smile upon his opaque face.
"You have my word! Fight and I will release you from this living death!" Aragorn promised to the King. "What say you?"
With one last smile, the King of the Dead disappeared leaving nothing but the slightest trace of green mist where he stood before.
"Stand you traitors!" Gimli ordered into the darkness, attempting to get the figures to return and give their word that they would fight with us.
Instead of the ghosts reappearing, the sound of cracking came from the building in front of us. Before the stone collapsed giving way to thousands of skulls coming crashing down from the building.
"Out!" Aragorn shouted.
Swiftly I sheathed my swords and grabbed ahold of Nimiwen's hand as she ran for the exit helping to guide me in the limited light. Occasionally as we ran a skull or two would bounce over the members of our party as we raced to the exit of the mountain. We slipped out of the cave and out into the midday light of day. Standing outside before us on the path was the leader of the ghost army with a smirk upon his face.
"We will fight." The King declared to us, answered by smiles on all of our faces.
***Deirdre's POV***
Morning, it came far too soon for me that day. The sounds of the camp rising for the day and preparing for the ride brought me from my slumber. My eyes re-focused upon the tent and I rose from out from under the blankets stretching my back until it popped. After dressing in my armor and strapping my weapons on, I left my tent and headed for the horses. My horse Bladen, previously owned by Grima, was standing before me. Around the camp there were men milling about preparing their weapons and horses for battle and making their farewells. I looked down in sadness; there was no one that I would be saying goodbye to. My only close friend here was Merry and he was going to be riding into battle with Eowyn.
With Bladen in tow, I found Theoden just as he was being approached by Eomer. The three of us walked together as Theoden continued giving orders to the men around us and Eomer awaited instructions from his uncle.
"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 still." Theoden told his nephew, before his eyes ghosted over me briefly. "You intend to ride to war with my men, do you not?"
"Yes, my lord." I replied nodding my head along with my reply.
"War is not the place for women, you are sure that you wish to take this path?" he questioned, eyes boring into my own.
"With respect, I have at least an equal amount of training to most all of your men. If nothing else, I will be able to take the place of a fallen soldier of yours." I responded, stating as much in a calm manner.
"You will ride with myself then." He informed me before he moved to speak with Merry who was readied for battle and stood before his pony.
"Little hobbits do not belong in war, master Meriadoc." Theoden commented looking down at the hobbit from his place on his steed.
Merry's eyes traveled up to meet Theoden's, the helmet that he wore was too big and the nose-guard covered part of his eyes and down to his upper lip. He looked so small in the armor that I couldn't help but smile at him.
"All my friends have gone to battle. I would be ashamed to be left behind." Merry argued with the king.
"It is a three day gallop to Minas Tirith and none of my riders can bear you as a burden." Theoden responded, looking sadly down at Merry knowing that he was denying him the chance to fight alongside his friends and for peace in the world.
"But I want to fight." Merry tried to get the king to take back his decision.
"I will say no more." Before Theoden turned away and gave me a stern look saying that I was not to take it upon myself to take Merry into battle.
With a sigh, I nodded my head to the king accepting that he could send me back here and forbid me from riding to battle if I disobeyed him.
"Deirdre, you will let me ride with you surely." Merry asked me hopefully, eyes shining with passion.
I dismounted my horse and kneeled down so that I was eye-level with Merry before I shook my head sadly at him to tell him I could not.
"I'm sorry, Merry. But it is not my place to take you into battle." I told him sadly before leaning in to whisper in his ear. "You will ride to Minas Tirith with another. One who will not be watched by the king in case of a Halfling on their horse."
He looked at me confused, but deciding to accept this he nodded his head. I brushed my lips against his forehead, having to push the large helmet out of the way first.
"We will meet in battle, Merry. Do not doubt that." I assured him before moving away and back onto Bladen.
"I will see you again, my friend." I said before riding off to catch up to Eomer and Theoden.
As I rode away, I glanced back to see Merry picked up by a soldier with hair tucked into their armor. I wiped the smile off of my face just before I rode up next to Theoden.
"Form up, move out!" Eomer called out to all the men who began to form ranks. "Form up, move out!"
Theoden moved from the head of the ranks to face the army that had gathered behind us. Of course, this was only going to be the head of the column as the rest of the army would follow behind us when we rode out through the part of the camp on the plains below the mountain.
"Ride! Ride now! To Gondor!" Theoden called out to the troops before turning his horse and leading us down the mountain.
It was going to be a long three day ride to war, my mind couldn't help but wander to what must have been going on with the others. Our fellowship had spread across the world now, each going a different path to help save Middle Earth.
***Saffy's POV***
Morning came to us the next day. We had traveled towards where the mountains met the river, and we would indeed reach the river by mid-afternoon today. I detached myself from Nimiwen and moved to help Aragorn prepare breakfast for our small group, which was going to pretty much just entail taking out the Lembas bread and giving everyone some. Gimli's snores still rang loudly through the morning air.
"Did you sleep well?" I asked Aragorn, warming my hands with the heat of fire so I could function better.
"Surprisingly yes, considering that it was an army of ghosts keeping watch." He admitted quietly, earning him a huff from one of the ghosts nearby.
"Ooh, sorry 'bout that. Maybe you ought to go apologize. I'll take care of breakfast." I assured him, taking the stick from him and keeping the fire going strong.
I sat there for a time, staring into the flames until I felt a pair of arms wrap around my waist. I turned from the flames to look at Nimiwen, her blues eyes shining at me reflecting the flames from the fire. One of her arms left my waist to brush my hair behind my ear, then she bent forward to press her lips tenderly against mine. A few moments later, we both pulled away but stayed within each other's arms.
"Are you nervous?" I asked her, seeing a hint of worry in her eyes though I knew that she was trying to hide it. She was going to be brave. She was an elven warrior and would face whatever evils came her way with strength.
"Only worried a little for you." She replied her eyes leaving my face to glance over at where Aragorn was talking to the leader of the ghost army. "Although with the army of the dead our chances of defending Minas Tirith are much higher."
"Don't worry, we will all make it out of this battle with little more than a couple scratches. I'm sure of it." I told her, thinking back on the story that I knew so well for but a moment.
"Is that your future knowledge talking or are you just trying to reassure me?" she questioned in a teasing manner.
"That's for me to know and you to find out, maybe." I commented before kissing her quickly once more.
We both pulled away and sat down by the fire, staring into the flames and letting the heat sink into our skin. She reached over and wrapped her arms around my shoulders, so in return I scooted closer into her and entwined my arms around her waist.
"So, melethnin, what is for breakfast this lovely morning?" Nimiwen asked.
Reaching into my pack, I pulled out some of the elvish way-bread and offered it to her. She gave a small smile and took it from my hand before tearing off a small piece and placing it in her mouth. She then handed the bread back to me and I mimicked her movements.
"Ah, Lembas. When will we ever be free of you?" I commented dryly, but I had eaten my bread nonetheless and would be full until the afternoon.
"I take it Lembas is for breakfast again?" Legolas' voice came from behind us as he approached the fire.
"Yep, enjoy." I responded while handing the bread over to him.
"I see Aragorn left you to tend to the fire." He remarked with a smile.
"Kings," I huffed in a joking tone, "he finally accepts responsibility and his birth-right and leaves us commoners to tend to menial tasks like taking care of the fire."
"There is nothing common about you, Melwain." Dearest. Nimiwen said softly before nuzzling into the sensitive side of my neck, earning her a squeak.
"Maybe I should go find something princely to do." Legolas jokingly commented as he rose to leave us alone.
"Don't even think about it, Elf." I warned causing him to turn back as though asking what I was going to do if he did. "I will tell Di on you."
He smiled for a second showing a hint of fear about Di's wrath before his smile fell and he sat down heavily. It must have still be bothering him that he had left her behind with the army of Rohan and that she would be going into battle without him.
"Sorry," I apologized for bringing up what must have been a sore subject for him. "But you know she will be fine. It's not like you did anything wrong."
"But I left her behind, I didn't take into consideration that she wouldn't want to be away from us and go into battle as a group." He admitted, feeling sad.
"Seriously, don't worry so much. Besides, it was her choice to stay. She knew that we would be leaving the army and walking the paths of the dead but she wanted to stay behind and watch over Merry and the like." I comforted, moving so that I could lay my hand on his forearm.
"Still, she will be going into battle without any of us to watch out for her. What if she gets injured again?" he replied.
"Legolas, you worry too much." I assured him, looking him in the eye as I said this.
He nodded his head and we stopped talking about such sad thoughts that perhaps Deirdre would not be alright and would be killed before we could bring aid. Instead we finished up breakfast when Aragorn and Gimli returned and put out the fire so we could continue walking and wait for the ships to come.
Most of that day, I spent walking hand in hand with Nimiwen. Our party talked about what we all would do when we survived the war and defeated Sauron. No one voiced the thought that some of us may not survive; instead we focused on the possibility of a beautiful future, free from evil. The sun was sunk low on the horizon when we reached where we could look over the river and watch out for the ships. In the distance, there were black sails sailing down the river in what seemed to be the direction of Osgiliath.
By the time that the ships were passing past the cliff face, we were waiting for them, standing on the ledge at the base of the cliff with weapons drawn. Aragorn moved forward so that he was standing atop one of the large boulders so that he could be seen by the ships easily and called out to them.
"You can go no further!" Aragorn's voice rang out to the black ships swarming with mercenaries.
The men aboard the ships were dark-haired dirty men, looking as though they were pirates. The boson on the lead ship stood up in response to Aragorn's call.
"You will not enter Gondor." He shouted out once more, earning him laughter coming from the men, apparently they did not think that we had the man power to stop them.
"Who are you to deny us passage?" the boson called out, eyeing our group skeptically in a mocking way.
"Legolas, fire an arrow past the boson's ear." Aragorn instructed quietly so that only we could hear it.
Glancing over at Legolas, I saw that he nodded his head before notching his arrow and aiming it so that it would fly past the boson's head without doing any harm. But just as he released the arrow, Gimli moved his axe knocking the arrow off-course. So that instead of being a warning shot, the arrow flew into the chest of the man walking next to the boson and he fell to the deck of the ship. Legolas sent a glare at Gimli for throwing his aim off, while Aragorn looked at Legolas shocked. Seriously, watching the three of them was kind of hilarious, even though Legolas just shot a guy dead.
"Oh! That's right, we warned you!" Gimli called out to the mercenaries with a smile on his lips. "Prepare to be boarded."
"I pray that you are not in charge of negotiations when you are at home." I commented, staring at him in shock and surprise.
This earned me a single laugh from Nimiwen, while Aragorn rolled his eyes before turning back to the mercenaries. Surprisingly, they were laughing at us. Well, not surprising that they laughed that the five of us would board them, but surprising considering that they laughed right after a member of their lot dropped down dead on the deck.
"Boarded?" the boson called out in a laughing voice. "By you and whose army?"
"This army," Aragorn informed them as he raised his sword in the signal for the attack.
From behind us, the King of the dead and his army appeared from within the darkness of the rock and crossed the water to swarm the ships. Several of the mercenaries, fearing the green ghosts that were attacking them, jumped off of the ship into the water. Only to have a couple of the ghosts disappear under the water after them. The screams of death echoed out from the ships as we stood there waiting for the ghost army to bring the lead ship over toward the rock that we stood upon.
After the last of the cries died down, a few of the bodies still falling out of the rigging and into the water below, the ship that we had addressed previously was sailing toward us. Standing at the helm was the King of the dead with a grim smile upon his face. A plank lowered from the ship to the ledge and we filed onto the ship that was crewed by green mist. Once we were aboard the ship pulled away from where we stood and continued down on the course that it had been going before we commandeered it from the mercenaries.
"Get some rest." Aragorn instructed us all once he had finished talking to the dead king. "We will be landing in Osgiliath midday tomorrow."
"Have a good night, Aragorn. And try to get some rest yourself." I told him before I walked away hand in hand with Nimiwen as we found our way to one of the cabins below deck.
**End Chapter 31**
Thankfully I got this chapter finished up fairly quickly, at least compared to the fact that I haven't been able to finish them in less than a couple weeks lately. I apologize if the time seems a little skewed on how far each group is progressing, but I tried to map it out as best as I could.
On another note, LOLL brought up that maybe I should write a story about what would have happened if Deirdre had been taken to Mordor and married Sauron. So, if that is something that you would like to see let me know and I can probably do something like that. Let me know.
Read and Review, please :D