Disclaimer in chapter 1
Chapter 16: The beginning of the Paths of the Dead
I awoke to find Lord Elrond in my tent not long after I fell asleep that night. "Lord Elrond!"
"Aranel, you must go with Aragorn. He cannot do this alone." "What? Where is he going?" I asked confused, "What will the men do without him?" While he answered, I stood up and quickly strapped my sword and quiver to my person after lacing up my boots.
"The Path of the Dead." I froze, looking at him shocked then nodded, knowing that Aragorn had to do this for the Free People to win the war. "I will tell you the same thing I told Aragorn. Another force will attack Minas Tirith from the river. A fleet of Corsair ships sail from the south. They will arrive in two days time. You must stop this along with the other three and for that you need the ghosts of Dwimorburg."
I nodded once more and turned to leave but was stopped when Lord Elrond hugged me, kissing me on the forehead as he did so. "I have loved you like my own for all these years. Be safe and help guide Estel to his birthright, for you are one of the few people he will listen to. Now go, he is leaving."
I smiled at him and ran out of my tent, searching for Gimli the Dwarf or my brother to tell them to quickly pack. It had been a long time since Elrond had treated me like his own daughter, like my father never did. Father had eyes for only Legolas and our mother sailed over the seas years before Lady Celebrian was attacked so the Rivendell Lord and Lady were more of parents to me than my own.
I grabbed a spare horse and quickly packed before leading it to where Legolas stood then walked up behind Aragorn to hear his and the dwarf's conversation. "Just where do you think you're off to?" Gimli asked.
"Not this time," Aragorn replied, holding on to Brego's reins. "This time you must stay, Gimli."
"Have you learned nothing of the stubbornness of Dwarves?" Legolas asked Aragorn, coming up behind him with me on his other side. "Or of Elves," I ask with a smirk? Legolas slightly frowned before continuing to ignore me. I mentally face-palmed, cursing myself for once again bringing up my near Mortality.
"You might as well accept it. We're going with you, laddie," Gimli said sternly, not noticing the awkward tension in the air. Aragorn smiled and rolled his eyes, glancing at me, before getting on Brego and leading us out of the encampment when we were ready.
"What kind of army would linger in such a place?" Gimli questioned from behind Legolas after we'd been riding for a while.
"Oh, I don't know. A morbid one? A depressing, queer {strange}, different one? Ooh, ooh, I know this one; a DEAD one!" I answered, heavy on the sarcasm. Yeah, I'm not Miss Nice when we're planning on going into a ghost filled lair.
Gimli growled and Legolas shot me a warning look while Aragorn looked like he was trying not to snicker as Gimli.
"One that is cursed," Legolas answered the question that I did not. I perked up instantly, feeling a horror story coming along. "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 the 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 they have fulfilled their pledge."
I glanced at Aragorn's expression throughout the telling of the story. I could tell that Legolas was making him worry as well as doubt himself and his abilities. I made my horse walk faster until I was right beside him. I grabbed his hand and smiled encouragingly, watching as Aragorn's smile grew only for me.
"Who shall call them from the grey twilight?
The forgotten people.
The heir of him to whom the oath they swore.
From the north he shall come.
Need shall drive him.
He shall pass the door to the Paths of the Dead."
I glared at my brother, noticing that Aragorn was now more nervous than he was before, even if he didn't show it. I already knew everything he had said though, as did the rightful King. Many things have been foretold about the true King of Gondor.
We finally arrived at Dwimorburg in the evening. Haunting whispers surrounded us as I gripped my sword hilt tighter as if to give me comfort. We decided to walk on foot the rest of the way, walking beside our horses and keeping our weapons out, avoiding tree branches the best we could.
The air was eerily silent with the exception of the echoing of our horses' footsteps as we stopped at the entrance to the mountain. "The very warmth of my blood seems stolen away," Gimli whispered, not daring to get any louder.
"The air is close together, making it feel harder to breathe as well as colder." I reply softly before placing my hand on one of the dead trees. "It cries out for us not to go inside for it believes we will never return. It has seen much death at it's feet and it is sad that it couldn't stop them either."
Aragorn wrapped his free arm around my shoulder, knowing how connected I was to nature.
"The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead. And the Dead keep it. The way is shut." Legolas read off the door. A ghostly moan came out of the darkness of the tunnel and we raised our swords, even though it would do us no good.
"The horses freaked and yanked their reins out of our grips before racing off, ignoring our calls. Aragorn looked back at the door and said bravely, "I do not fear death," before walking into the misty cave.
"I go wherever my King goes, even to death," I said with a smirk, following Aragorn inside without hesitation, not waiting to see what the other two did as we went to see what could be the saving of Gondor.
A/N: Yeah, so you didn't review 5 times, you reviewed 3 so I was lenient. I remembered that I promised to update this weekend so I did.
Please review! Thanks for reading. Happy Sunday!