A/N: Hello, hello! I'm going to keep this short and just say thank you to everyone who continues to review this story! Now...let us begin...

Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings.

Chapter 16

Aragorn sat on the steps of Edoras smoking his pipe. His eyes remained trained on where the beacon would be. He'd stayed watching for the signal for what was now four days. The people had stared at him, but they had soon realized that he wasn't going to move.

Sometimes Anariel or Legolas would come and sit with him, but eventually they would leave. In the back of Aragorn's mind he wondered when Anariel and Legolas would marry. If he knew Legolas, the elf would wait until everything was peaceful once more. Aragorn smiled at the thought. Peace.

Suddenly, a light caught his eye. A grin pulled at the corners of his mouth as he quickly shot up from his seat on the steps and ran into the hall, "The beacons of Minas Tirith! The beacons are lit! Gondor calls for aid!"

Anariel looked at Aragorn startled, but hope began to rise in her veins. She looked over at a startled Théoden and waited for the King's answer, "Then Rohan will answer. Muster the Rohirrim!"

Anariel let out a breath of relief when she heard the King's answer. She turned and looked at Legolas, "It appears like we shall see Pippin and Gandalf soon."

Legolas smiled slightly, but his eyes remained wary, "It would appear so."

"Legolas?" Anariel questioned. "What is it?"

Legolas didn't answer. He had a bad feeling about Minas Tirith. It was almost as if somehow he knew something would happen. He didn't want to worry Anariel though. It was probably just him being paranoid…probably.

"It is nothing," Legolas soothed smiling.

Anariel looked at him suspiciously before she gave him a quick kiss and left to saddle her horse. On her way out to the stables she saw Eowyn leading her horse towards the men. "Eowyn?" Anariel questioned. "You are coming with us?"

"Only to the encampment," Eowyn replied. "It is tradition."

Anariel smiled, but a glimmer of light caught something metal tucked away beneath a blanket. Anariel pretended not to notice, "I've never been under the impression that you keep much to tradition."

Eowyn smiled faintly, "You would be correct, but this is one that I will keep to."

Anariel nodded, "Eowyn," she said softly. "Just remember what I said. I will not ask you not to go, because I myself know what I would do. But do not let your feelings blind you to the reality which you face."

Eowyn looked at Anariel curiously, but there was suspicion hidden in her eyes. Anariel said no more, and continued into the stables. Legolas was there already with Gimli upon Arod. Anariel smiled before mounting Hasufel. Aragorn would only ride Brego since they had returned from their little tumble off the cliff. Anariel understood. She would be forever grateful to that horse.

They rode over the plains to Dunharrow in the mountains, amidst a great number of the Rohirrim. Anariel, Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn, and Théoden all rode in front. By nightfall, she could see the camp. They quickly rode up the mountain, passing soldiers who were setting up camp.

Anariel slid off her horse and unsaddled him before tying him off by a rather dead looking tree. Legolas tied off Arod too and they and Gimli walked back through the camp. Anariel heard some horse's distressed cries and she and Legolas both looked towards the sound. Anariel frowned as she watched the Rohan soldiers try and calm the beasts.

Legolas looked towards Eomer who was unsaddling his horse, "The horses are restless…and the men are quiet," he observed warily.

Eomer looked from Legolas to the mountain, "They grow nervous in the shadow of the mountain."

Anariel's eyes traveled towards the mountain as she took in the row of ancient standing stones that marked the entrance into the mountain pass.

"That road there," Gimli asked noticing the same thing that Anariel had. "Where does it lead?"

"It is the road to the Dimholt…the door under the mountain," Legolas answered and Anariel's head snapped up to look at him curiously.

"None who venture there ever return," Eomer said before adding under his breath, "That mountain is evil."

Anariel stood gazing into the night, looking back over the way they had come. In the distance, she saw a moving figure…it was a rider. She watched the rider as he neared, and soon she was able to see who the rider was.

"Ada!" she exclaimed softly as Elrond dismounted.

Immediately, Anariel hugged him tightly and Elrond returned the embrace. "I have missed you!" Anariel whispered. "How are you?"

"As well as I can be," Elrond answered and Anariel noticed the pain in her father's eyes.

"What has happened?" Anariel inquired before realization shone on her face. "Arwen did not sail," she said quietly. "Did she?"

Elrond shook his head, "Her fate now lies with the fate of the ring."

"You must have faith Ada," Anariel said softly.

"You are outnumbered," Elrond answered shaking his head. "You have only one chance, and I must speak with Aragorn."

Anariel nodded and Elrond kissed her forehead. "You will want to saddle your horses. The journey I will ask Aragorn to take, he will try to take alone. You must follow him."

Anariel looked from the mountain to Elrond and nodded. "I love you Ada."

"As I love you, my child," Elrond answered before moving to Théoden's tent.

Anariel watched her father disappear into the tent before she went to find Legolas. She found him soon enough. He was sitting by the fire that was now no more than glowing embers. Gimli's snores rang in the air, and Anariel giggled.

Legolas looked up and smiled at the sound. "We must saddle the horses," Anariel said quietly.

"Why?" Legolas questioned confused.

"Because Aragorn is going to do something stupid," Anariel answered before she nudged Gimli with her foot. The dwarf jumped up and grabbed his axe in the same second. Anariel laughed lightly, and Legolas fought a grin.

Gimli turned on the elf, "You should know better than to wake a dwarf lassie!" he scolded.

"Come Gimli," Anariel smiled. "We have a journey to prepare for."

Anariel, Legolas, and Gimli waited in the shadows as they watched Aragorn approach.

"And just where do you think you're off to?" Gimli asked smoking his pipe.

Aragorn looked at Gimli gratefully, but answered, "Not this time…this time you must stay my friend."

"Have you learnt nothing of the stubbornness of Dwarves?" Legolas asked smiling as he stepped out of the shadows.

"Or Elves for that matter," Anariel said as she too stepped out of the shadows.

"You might as well accept it—we're going with you laddie," Gimli said grinning.

Aragorn just shook his head, smiling in acceptance. They all mounted their horses and disappeared into the mountain mist.

They rode on into the day, surrounded by black fir trees and a mist that had yet to dissipate. "What kind of army would linger in such a place?" Gimli asked quietly.

"One that is cursed," Legolas answered. "Long ago the Men of the Mountain swore an oath to the last King of Gondor—to come to his aid, to fight, but when that time came, when Gondor's need was dire, they fled…vanishing into the darkness of the mountain. And so Isildur cursed them—never to rest until their oath was fulfilled," Legolas finished quietly.

Anariel shuddered. The pass was grating on her nerves. It was total silence except for their horse's hooves. No birds. No wind. Nothing. It reminded her of Moria, and she didn't like that comparison at all.

However, they soon reached a wall of stone that made Anariel shiver. "The very warmth of my blood seems stolen away," Gimli whispered.

Anariel slowly dismounted and looked at the door that seemed like a mouth of night. Anariel looked up above the door and read the inscription, "The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead, and the Dead keep it. The way is shut."

A chill, unearthly wind blew from the door, causing hers and Aragorn's hair to fly wildly. The horses reared in fright and galloped away.

"Brego!" Aragorn called, but the horse was far too terrified to answer its master's call. Aragorn sighed before he faced the door. "I do not fear death," he said with a steely resolve as he disappeared into the blackness.

Legolas took Anariel's hand and Anariel winked before leading them into the darkness. Once they were in the tunnel she heard Gimli mumbling to himself, "Well, this is a thing unheard of…Elves will go underground when a dwarf dare not. Oh, I'd never hear the end of it!" he muttered and Anariel bit back a laugh as she heard the heavy footsteps of the dwarf behind them.

Anariel held Legolas' hand tightly as she tried to avoid thinking about what she was walking on…bones. It was beyond creepy, and she was glad that she was an elf. Her steps were so light, that she did not break the bones. Unfortunately, Gimli's and Aragorn's steps were not so light…so all Anariel heard was the steady crunching of bones.

Finally, they emerged into what appeared to be a cavern, as it was illuminated a little by Aragorn's torch. Then, there was a ghastly cracking noise and out of the rock wall appeared a ghostly figure. Anariel flinched and Legolas subtly took a step in front of her…and for once Anariel didn't mind.

Anariel peaked from behind Legolas' shoulder to stare at the ghost. It was a pale, sickly yellow. It had eyeless sockets, and rotten teeth. The figure was the King of the Dead.

"Who enters my domain?" the ghost asked outraged.

"One who will have your allegiance," Aragorn answered unflinchingly.

"The Dead do not suffer the living to pass…," the ghost snarled.

"You will suffer me!" Aragorn argued which caused the King of the Dead to laugh malevolently.

Anariel watched horrified as the fog suddenly rolled back, forming a wall of grey. Ranks and ranks of ghostly soldiers appeared, rusted and tattered banners in their hands. Anariel looked around the cavern to see that they were surrounded by thousands of undead soldiers.

"The way is shut…," the King of the Dead repeated before stepping threateningly towards Aragorn. "It is made by those who are dead, and the Dead keep it. The way is shut, and now you must die."

Legolas tensed and in a second he drew and arrow and fired it…it passed right through the King's head. Anariel watched as Aragorn continued to move towards the spectre.

"I summon you to fulfill your oath!" he said desperately.

The King of the Dead snarled and raised his sword, "None but the King of Gondor can command me!" he snarled before swinging his sword at Aragorn's head.

Aragorn raised his own sword, and Anariel noticed that it was Anduril. Elrond had re-forged the sword. The clang of metal on metal rang through the silent cavern as the King of the Dead stared at the blades in disbelief.

"It cannot be! That line was broken!" the King of the Dead said in disbelief.

Aragorn held the sharp blade against the ghost's throat. "It has been remade," he answered before removing his sword and looking at the ghostly spectators. "Fight for us and regain your honor!"

No response.

"What say you?"

Again…nothing.

"What say you?" Aragorn repeated.

"Aghh!" Gimli grumbled. "You're wasting your time Aragorn. They had no honor in life, and they have no honor in death!"

Aragorn ignored the dwarf. "I am Isildur's heir! Fight for me and I will hold your oaths fulfilled! What say you?"

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ArthursCamelot