A/N: Hey, mellon nins, how's everything going? Sorry for not updating yesterday, but "SPOILER* *SPOILER* I'm planning to write a sequel of 'Light in the Dark'. Since, in this story, we're already in the middle of 'The Return of the King', I decided to write the first chapter of the sequel yesterday, so that I'll be able to publish it the day after I finish this story. Anyway, I hope you'll enjoy this chapter.
CabtinAdaHook- Hahaha, yeah, Pippin is the clumsiest of them, but also the funniest as well :D
Gotta Dance 88- Yep, here comes the scene in the Path of the Dead. I love the scene between Aragorn and Elrond too, I think Elrond acts like a father in this scene.
kawaiiyuma312- Thank you for you so kind words, I'm really honored :D I hope you will like the following chapters as well.
Disclaimer: I don't own 'Lord of the Rings', I only own Sunglee and the other characters I create.
Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Sunglee were riding through a barren canyon, not talking to each other. They were looking around, afraid of the danger that was obvious in the atmosphere.
'What kind of army would linger in such a place?' Gimli mumbled nervously.
'One that is cursed' Legolas explained, remembering what he had heard about this place from his father and what he had read in books. 'Long ago the men of the mountains 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 had fulfilled their pledge. 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'
Legolas smiled at Aragorn and his eyes moved to the sheath of Anduril, feeling still impressed that the powerful weapon was in the hands of its rightful owner. Aragorn, understanding his friend's thoughts, smiled softly, but did not react.
They continued their journey. Finally, they approached the entrance to the Paths of the Dead. They dismounted and led their horses from the reins. Aliyana starting snorting and Sunglee stroke her nose.
'Stay calm, my girl' she whispered. 'Stay calm. Everything is alright'
'The very warmth of my blood seems stolen away' Gimli admitted.
They were all feeling the same way. Knowing what was behind this path, cold chills were running down their spines, but they knew there was no other way. After some minutes, they reached the doors.
'The way is shut' Legolas read the inscription above the door for them, trying to sound as calm as he could. 'It was made by those who are dead and the dead keep it. The way is shut'
Suddenly, something like a cold breeze came out of the door towards them at a rush. Whatever it was, it scared the horses so much, that they pulled on the reins and ran away from them, despite the fact that Aragorn and Sunglee called them back. Gimli looked very alarmed after this, but Aragorn packed all his courage and made a few steps further.
'I do not fear death' he said and walked through the entrance, with Legolas and Sunglee following him.
'This is a thing unheard of!' Gimli exclaimed. 'Elves will go underground, where a Dwarf dares not. Oh, I would never hear the end of it!'
And with these words he ran after his companions. Aragorn lit a torch to lead them into the path. The light was giving them courage, for it was a dark and dank cave, with many human skulls on the floor. Sunglee started breathing heavily and grabbed Legolas's arm. The Elf, worried, covered her hand with his to give her comfort.
'What is wrong, lass?' Gimli asked her.
'It is the sense of death…' Sunglee uttered. 'I can feel it deep in my soul…I can even smell it'
'My love, you are not bound to follow us' Legolas reassured her. 'If it is unbearable for you, we will understand it if you go back'
But Sunglee shook her head and took a few deep breaths. Soon, her grip on Legolas's arm loosened a little, although she did not let completely go.
'Hannon le, melamin' she answered 'but I will come with you. I must endure'
Aragorn gave her a consoling smile and they moved on, but Legolas was looking at the walls with confusion and fear.
'What is it? What do you see?' the Dwarf wanted to know.
'I see shapes of men and of horses' Legolas's voice was so calm, as if he was narrating something pleasant. Sunglee knew, of course, that this could change the next moment, if something evil would attack them.
'Where? Where?' stuttered Gimli, looking around as well.
'Pale banners like shades of cloud' the Mirkwood prince responded. 'Spears rise like winter thickets through a shroud of mist. The dead are following. They have been summoned'
'The dead? Summoned?' Gimli repeated. 'I knew that! Very good. Very good'
He turned again, only to realize the others had continued. Terrified, he ran after them, calling for Legolas, but soon he realized they had problems. Ghostly, ethereal hand were writhing around the four friends. Gimli tried to blow them away, while the other three were turning around. Aragorn looked down, but he looked away immediately.
'Do not look down' he advised them.
Sunglee's curiosity defeated her. She glanced at the floor and saw more human skulls. A wave of disgust packed her and she turned her gaze at once. Aragorn led them forward to an open space, which contained a large building.
'What do we do now?' the young she-elf wondered.
The answer to her question was a deep voice, marked by rage of years and years and they understood that it belonged to the King of the Dead.
'Who enters my domain?'
Aragorn turned to the direction the voice came from and the King of the Dead, with an eerie, green mist around him, appeared some steps before the future king of Gondor.
'One who will have your allegiance' Aragorn replied.
'The dead do not suffer the living to pass' the ghost answered.
'You will suffer me!' the Ranger said intensively, but this made the king only laugh. In a sudden, a whole kingdom of buildings appeared around them and ghostly soldiers emerged from them. Soon, a deadly army was surrounding them, chanting. Sunglee remembered her father and had to admit that this army could easily kill all the armies of Mordor. But to do that, they had to convince them, which was almost impossible. And things became even worse when the ghostly army closed around them.
'The way is shut! It was made by those who are dead. And the dead keep it' the King of the Dead mumbled the words that were engraved on the door outside. 'The way is shut. Now you must die!'
Legolas bravely fired an arrow, which passed straight through the king and clattered on the ground. But Aragorn, instead of losing his courage, walked towards the ghosts.
'I summon you to fulfill your oath!' he announced.
'None but the king of Gondor may command me!' the King of the Dead said angrily and approached Aragorn to attack him. Aragorn retaliated and blocked his sword with Anduril, making the ghost gasp at its sight.
'That blade was broken'
'It has been remade' Aragorn told him. 'Fight for us and regain your honor. What say you?'
'You waste your time, Aragorn' Gimli yelled. 'They had no honor in life and they have none now in death'
'Gimli, please, do not lose your hope' hissed Sunglee, although, with any minute that was passing, she was doubting as well about their task.
'I am Isildur's heir' Aragorn had not heard the conversation between the Dwarf and the Rivendell princess. 'Fight for me and I will hold your oaths fulfilled!'
The king laughed again and the army began to disappear. Everybody gasped at this, for this was something they did not expect.
'You have my word!' Aragorn made another attempt. 'Fight and I will release you from this living death!'
'Stand, you traitors!' Gimli shouted as they disappeared completely.
The Dead Army was gone and for a few seconds there was death silence. Suddenly, there was a cracking sound and the walls of the building in front of them started to collapse, with hundreds of skulls falling down towards them.
'Out!' Aragorn screamed.
They climbed up the thousands of skulls trying to climb over them, but the only thing they succeeded was sliding down. In the end, they managed to move across towards the exit and leave the place running out of the cave, as the skulls continued to rain down behind them. Finally, they got outside into the sunlight and Aragorn looked down from the high place. He saw ships on the river approaching a burning town. Desperate, thinking that everything was over, he sank on his knees with tears in his eyes. Legolas put a hand on his shoulder, while with his other arm he hugged Sunglee, who was very upset as well, as was Gimli.
A sound behind them made them turn and they saw the King of the Dead coming out of the rocks.
'We fight!' he informed them and the four companions sighed with relief.
Ships with mercenaries on them were sailing up the river. Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Sunglee were awaiting them on shore, with new hope and determination.
'You may go no further!' Aragorn started.
The ships boson stood up to look at them with curiosity. He was dirty, with long, black hair and did not look very smart.
'You will not enter Gondor' Aragorn went on and the corsairs laughed ironically.
'Who are you to deny us passage?' the boson wanted to know.
'Legolas' the son of Arathorn told the Elf 'fire a warning shot past the boson's ear.
Legolas took an arrow determined and put it on his bowstring. Gimli, seeing this, smiled mischievously.
'Mind your aim' he mumbled and Sunglee's eyes widened, for she had realized his intention. But before she could stop him, Legolas took aim and Gimli deliberately knocked the bottom of the bow, sending his aim off, which had as a result that the arrow killed a mercenary standing next to the boson. Sunglee sighed deeply, while Legolas was looking angrily at the Dwarf and Aragorn looked across at Legolas, with an expression as if he was not annoyed of what Gimli had done. Gimli, on the other hand, pretended to be surprised and placed a hand over his mouth.
'Oh!' he exclaimed. 'That is it, right! We warned you. Prepare to be boarded!'
More laughter from the mercenaries' side followed his words.
'Boarded? By you and whose army?' a corsair asked.
'This army' Aragorn responded calmly.
As he had spoken, the King of the Dead and his army emerged through Aragorn and attacked the ships, killing all the pirates within seconds. With triumphant yells, Aragorn and his companions jumped on a ship and sailed towards Gondor, praying that they were not too late.
Elvish words/phrases used:
Hannon le- Thank you
Melamin- My love
A/N: Alright, everyone, that was it for now, hope you enjoyed it. Tomorrow I will post, but late, because I'll go to a friend and we will watch 'The Two Towers' while eating Lembas bread, MUAHAHA!