Indeed a whole city seemed to spring up from the green ectoplasm. The army of shades marched forth, footsteps like the battering of weapons.
"The way is shut" The Dead King hissed. The four whirled round to face him. "It was made by those who are dead. And the dead keep it" Still more foul visions sprang up behind him, swarming in the place like roaches. The Dead King stepped forward, his army advancing with him. "The way is shut. Now you must die."
Bee set two arrows in her bow and fired them quickly. She knew it was stupid but still her stomach dropped when they passed through him harmlessly and clattered to the ground, impotent. Aragorn however was unshaken.
"I summon you to fulfil your oath"
The Dead king was riled by his apparent insolence "None but the king of Gondor may command me"
His advance intensified. The company laid hand on their weapons but still Aragorn was calm. He brought his sword up to his eyes and moving as if his sword was just an extension of his arm, brought it up to parry the Dead King's strike. The Dead king stumbled. "That line was broken!"
Seizing the moment Aragorn took hold of the Dead King's throat "It has been remade."
The Dead King groaned in what seemed to be pain, a look of disbelief upon his face. Seeing his point was made Aragorn released his hold with a powerful shove sending the Dead King stumbling back.
Legolas and Gimli shared a nervous glance, not knowing what the consequences of Aragorn's actions would be.
Bee however looked slightly impressed, wanting to see if she could imitate his actions she turned to the nearest of the dead army and thrust her hand into the chest of the dead solider. The she-elf frowned seeing that her touch had no effect of the dead, other than the cursed dead to growl in anger. Seeing no change Bee pulled back her hand and looked at it in disgust to find that it was slightly damp. Leaning forward Bee whipped her damp hand across Gimli's back, hoping he would not notice.
Trying to ignore the dead soldier's glare she turned back to Aragorn. "Fight for us, and regain your honour." He was answered by silence.
"What say you?" Nothing. "What say you?" he asked again looking throughout the ranks of the dead expectantly. Still nothing.
"Ah! You waste your time, Aragorn" The dwarf spoke "They had no had no honour in life. They have none now in death." Aragorn took no notice of his smallest companion, knowing that he had to convince this army of the dead if they had any chance in surviving the coming battles.
"I am Isildur's heir…fight for me…and I will hold your oaths fulfilled" at his words the army before them started to slowly disappear.
"What say you?" he asked for the final time facing the Dead King. There was a moment of silence before the Dead King opened his decayed mouth and cackled, before disappearing with the rest of his ghost army.
"You have my word!" Aragorn yelled "Fight for me and I will release you from this living death!" The sound of the Dead King's cackling turned into a rumbling that echoed around the cave. Bee watched on, glad when the glaring ghost had finally disappeared with the rest of them.
The dwarf growled in irritation "Stand you traitors!" he yelled. The cave floor once again became fully visible as all the mist cleared out. The company stood in silence each looking around for any sign of trouble.
Legolas and Bee stood back to back, eyes scanning the cave with worry. As if they had predicted it, the cave suddenly began to shake and a cracking sound started to echo around them. The ceiling began to crumble, sending small pieces of stone upon the heads of the company. To add to the panic of the moment skulls began to roll across the floor making Gimli hop around trying to avoid them.
The rumbling intensified sending more rocks plummeting to the cave floor, turning the company turned just in time to see the stone city crumble releasing what appeared to be thousands upon thousands of skulls.
Aragorn looked exasperated, to see the avalanche of skulls began coming to towards them.
"Oh muk!" Bee cursed. Legolas turned to admonish her but was drowned out.
"OUT!" Aragorn yelled, lunging forward. Skulls poured from the cracks like blood for a severed artery. Fairly soon they were completely swamped, wading through the remnants of long decayed corpses. Drowning in death. Bee had never been so terrified in all her years. Somehow they made it out alive and emerged into the daylight. But there was no time for relief as Aragorn sighted the ships inching along the water. The hope left him taking his strength with it. He fell to his knees dejected.
The company stood in silence watching the ships sale past the burning villages below.
Moments later the Dead King stepped through the rock face, stopping in front of Aragorn.
"We Fight."