A/N: Haha SURPRISE! I wrote last night spontaneously! I was pretty proud of myself actually aha!

So, things are slowly getting better. Prayers appreciated please. Life just gets ya down sometimes.

Thank you to all my reviewers! And I like the feedback I got on the thought of another fic! So, some like the whole giving Aragorn a sister thing, but some don't... I have plenty of time to decide though. But everyone seems to like the general idea of a Mary Sue (which I was surprised, and happy!), which is awesome!

Thank you so much guys, these reviews lift my spirits!(: No scores today, sorry!

Kind of a sad scene in here ): But an entire LegolasXLaura fluff scene! I like writing those now!

DC: I own anything you DON'T recognize.

Chapter 8:

Laura rode with Diamond behind the leaders of the Rohan army, Legolas, Aragorn, Gimli, and Theoden. Diamond had not spoken a word, making the journey there quite boring and awkward. In fact, she barely had any emotion at all. Sometimes Legolas or Aragorn would ride with them to talk and spare Laura the horrible silence. Laura felt bad for her friend, and desperately wanted to know why on earth she wouldn't talk!

"The camp is near," Legolas told Laura as they rode on.

She nodded, "Took awhile to get here!"

Legolas chuckled, "Yes. I sense something evil. Or perhaps a path long forgotten to men," the two elves paused, "Something along those lines."

"I feel it too." Laura said as she looked around. Diamond looked at the two in a sense of fear, and then back to the ground. Merry hadn't even talked to her much. He rode in the back with Eowyn, he seemed to like her a lot. What she had seen of him was quick, and she secretly wished to talk to him about Pippin and Gen. It was killing her.

Now the army came to the winding paths leading up to the camp. It was high upon a peak with tents and men already there.

"Make way for the king! Make way, the king is here!" A soldier amongst the crowd shouted. Many men stood and smiled at the king leading the army.

"Grimbold, how many?" Theoden asked a soldier.

"I bring five-hundred men from the Westfold, my lord."

"We have three-hundred more from Fenmarch, Theoden king." Another soldier added in as Theoden nodded. Doing the math in her head, Diamond came to a conclusion; they'd be dead in a second if they came face to face with the enemy. With a number that small that is.

"Where are the riders from Snowbourn?" Theoden asked.

The soldier's face frowned, "None have come, my lord."

Theoden nodded sadly and looked to Aragorn, who seemed to be examining the camp. Diamond sighed as she looked at the small Rohan army. It still wouldn't be enough.

Theoden turned to Aragorn as Laura hoped off her horse and helped Diamond, "Six thousand spears, less than half of what I had hoped for." Theoden grimly said.

"Six thousand will not be enough to break the lines of Mordor." Aragorn stated the plain and simple truth, Diamond nodded to herself.

Theoden looked at him, "More will come." Then, he began to walk away.

"Every hour lost hastens Gondor's defeat! We have until dawn, then we must ride!" Aragorn exclaimed as Theoden looked at him warily. Laura was glad that he cared for his people, and did not want them to die, but she really wanted him to just forget this for a moment. They followed him for a reason, to die for him, their people, families, and Middle Earth. They chose this.

Suddenly, the sound of a panicking horse caught their attention. It neighed and jumped, pulling away from the soldier pulling at it. Theoden and Aragorn looked at it, then Aragorn seemed to be caught in a trance. He heard dark whispers, and his eyes trailed to a dark and lonely path. It went into the mountain, a great line cut into the rock.

"The horses are restless and the men are quiet," Legolas said as Laura looked at him.

"They grow nervous in the shadow of the mountain." Eomer said as even he himself seemed uneasy.

"That road there," Gimli pointed as everyone now saw what Aragorn saw, "Where does that lead?"

"It is the road to the Dimholt, the door under the mountain."

Laura shivered as Diamond went wide eyed, the name gave them chills.

"None who venture there ever return. That mountain is evil." Eomer warned as they all looked at it again.

Laura chuckled, "Sounds like a horror story I could have told at a campfire!"

"It is a horror!" Eomer snapped as Laura glared at him now. He walked away and Legolas placed a hand on her shoulder, massaging it. Diamond walked away to a nearby tent and Theoden left as well. Aragorn looked into it again, and this time he saw a figure. Out of the mist, a green and ghostly figure appeared.

The King of The Dead.

"Aragorn!" Laura and Gimli called out as he turned to them slowly.

"Lets find some food." Gimli said as he began to walk away. Laura, Legolas, and Aragorn looked at each other in worry.

"You okay?" Laura asked concernedly as Aragorn nodded.

"Just, something in the wind," he whispered as she nodded. Legolas took her hand and the two continued forward. Aragorn watched after them in jealousy. Why couldn't Arwen have stayed?

"Hey!" Laura exclaimed as she brought in a plate of food to Diamond, who sat on the edge of her small bed. The wind beat against the side of the tent, causing it to be quite cool in it. Diamond smiled at her and Laura handed it to her. The girl scarfed down her food and set the plate aside.

"So, I think-" Laura paused abruptly and Diamond looked at her, "I think, I need to go."

Diamond's eyes went wide in fear and she began to shake her head.

"Diamond, I gotta. Okay? Aragorn is leaving to, I can feel it. Something is going to happen."

Diamond clung to her friend and began to cry, but made no noise.

Laura stroked the top of her head and instantly felt bad. Looking around, she saw no armor had been laid out for her. Were they not letting her fight? After Merry had told them Theoden would allow them? She wouldn't be surprised if he baled out on his promise. This worried her, where would she stay? Eowyn could take care of her, maybe?

"Diamond, I'm sorry. But Aragorn needs us. We have to protect him." Diamond shook her head and just about ripped Laura's dress sleeve.

"Listen, they're not going to let you fight, okay?" She pulled her away and Diamond nodded, seeming relieved, "I want you to stay with Eowyn at all times. Merry will probably be fighting. Okay?" She felt like she was talking to a child, who was in denial or pouting.

Laura hugged her again and this time, a tear fell into the curly hair of Diamond, which was actually much less curly now that she looked.

"I love ya, girly. You'll see me again, I promise." She whispered as Diamond now let out a sob. It was basically the first noise she had made! Laura smiled and the two hugged each other tighter.

"Talk to Merry, okay? It'll help," she said as Diamond sniffed and nodded. She smiled.

"Promise you'll see me again?" Diamond whispered now, barely audible.

Laura nodded with a grin, "Promise." She smiled, then it faded a little, though her friend did not pay attention much, "We'll all be together again, and Karolyn with us, and Ginger." She whispered as Diamond smiled.

"So, goodbye?" Diamond whispered as Laura tucked a piece of hair behind the girl's ear.

"Yeah," she said as the two hugged again. Standing up, Laura waved to Diamond from the entrance of the tent. "Bye," she said as Diamond cried a little and waved. Diamond watched as Laura wiped her eye and left, her shadow disappearing against the side of the tent.

Right away she went to Merry, who had just gotten back from the smithy.

"Diamond!" He said as she approached.

Flinging her arms around him, she began to cry again. Merry looked around in surprise and stumbled back a little. He then patted her on the back and led her to his tent.

"I can't take it anymore, I need Pippin and Gen back! Merry I can't stop thinking of them! It's eating my mind away! And Karolyn, I miss her so much! Not a day goes by that I don't wonder if she's dead, or Frodo or Sam! Merry, I don't know what to do!" She sobbed as he sat across from her on the floor. Looking around as she buried her face into her palms, he slowly took her hands and held them.

"Don't worry, Diamond. We'll see them again," he paused and seemed to be struggling, "Not a day goes by that I don't think about Pip, or Gen either." the two looked at each other, "You're not alone." Merry gave her a smile as she nodded.

"Laura made the same promise to me, that we'd all be together again someday soon." She paused as she looked up, "I can't help but wonder if she meant, meant..." She trailed off.

Merry nodded, "The place after life?" He asked as she nodded her head.

"Exactly,"

"That just comes to prove though, in the end, we'll all be together no matter what. We will find each other, wherever we go." Merry himself was surprised at the words that were coming from his mouth, they just felt right though. Diamond smiled weakly, he had a point.

"I hope that's true, Merry, because everything doesn't seem so bad now. When you look at it that way," she said as Merry smiled.

"Just here to help," he said with a smirk. Diamond chuckled and patted his head, then made her way to the tent.

"I'm not fighting, Merry. So this is probably the last time I will see you until this is all over, whatever that means for the both of us. Thanks, for everything. For bringing Karolyn and I into your home, when ours was gone, and for being a friend." She smiled at him as tears slid down her cheek.

Merry ran to her and hugged her again, and the two silently prayed that they would meet again.

"Good luck," she said as Merry nodded, and watched the girl leave and disappear into the darkness of the camp.

Laura ran into Legolas on the way back from Diamond's tent. She wasn't sad or happy, just okay. Legolas took her to the food tent and they sat in silence eating.

"Laura? What is troubling your mind?"

Laura cursed herself mentally, she should have known he would ask. Stupid elf magic.

Laura swallowed hard, "I guess, well..." She paused, "Boromir."

Legolas nodded and looked around, it was quiet. "What of him?" He asked.

"Everything. Legolas, I know things are different between us now, ever since he died. But, I still think about him. A lot. Sometimes, I wish he wouldn't have died."

Legolas felt hurt. He knew that Laura liked him a lot, loved him, but why did she still wish for Boromir?

Laura saw the pain in his eyes and she reached across the table and took his hands, "I'm sorry, I should have never said that. I didn't even finish-" She looked to the ground, as she saw him staring at her with sadness. She was unable to finish the sentence. Legolas made no sound and let her hands go.

"If you still think of Boromir like this, then I shall go." Legolas said as her head snapped up.

"No! No! Let me finish then! Because there is more. Sometimes I wish he was still here," she paused and ran to the other side of the table and wrapped her arms around his neck. Legolas breathed in her scent and sighed.

"But then, I'm thankful. Thankful that he died, and not in vain. He died fighting for my friends and Middle Earth. If he were still here, I wouldn't be doing this," she looked up and pulled his face to hers. For a moment, they sat there, kissing softly. It was passionate at the same time though, and Legolas didn't want to let go.

A couch and chuckle were heard from behind, and the two slowly turned to see two soldiers smiling and waving at them. Laura glared at them and they instantly left. Legolas laughed at her and she turned, he pecked her lips.

"And for that, I am grateful." Legolas said, referring to what she had told him.

"See?" Laura said as he played with her hair, "When I begin to wish for that, then I think of you and how happy you make me. The memories, thoughts, and wishes go away and I want to be with you forever. And it wasn't like Boromir and I could have had a good life together. He was mortal, I am immortal. I don't want to give that up," she said as he laughed and kissed her neck. The two stared at each other, and he brought their foreheads together.

"Hannon lei," he whispered.

Laura smiled, "You're welcome." The two held hands, "I love you," she whispered.

Legolas crushed his lips onto hers again, distracting them from the hooded figure passing their tent. A very precious item wrapped in cloth he held, and he made his way to Theoden's tent.

Lord Elrond.

Aragorn left Eowyn standing alone on the darkness, in tears and in pain. He himself felt pain and sadness. But Arwen was alive, barely. Her fate now bound to The Ring, he wished now more than ever that Frodo would arrive at Mount Doom quickly.

Elrond had just come, giving to Aragorn the sword of Elendil. The blade that was broken, now remade for the true heir of Gondor, Isildur's heir. Aragorn could feel it dangling at his side, and somewhat felt the presence of his father and mother. It was comforting.

Rounding a corner, he walked to his horse and stroked his mane. A good horse it had been, a friend. He began to prepare to leave, he was headed for the path in the mountain. The path all of the men avoided looking down.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the darkness, "Just where do you think you're off to?" The voice of Gimli questioned. Aragorn sighed.

"Not this time. This time you must stay, Gimli."

Gimli grunted as yet another figure appeared from the darkness, "Have you learnt nothing of the stubbornness of dwarves?" Legolas questioned with a playful smile. Aragorn chuckled and shook his head.

"You might as well accept it. We're goin' with ya, laddie." Gimli growled with excitement as he smiled at his friend, who returned it.

Then his smile dimmed a little, "And, there wouldn't happen to be yet another elf accompanying us?" He asked quietly.

"How'd you know?" Laura stepped out from the side of the tent, bow and arrow ready with a small dagger at her side, hair pulled back and in some pants.

Aragorn chuckled, then shook his head, "Laura, I cannot let you come. You must stay." He said in all seriousness.

Laura frowned, "And have you remembered nothing of my 'command'?" She asked.

Aragorn shot her a confused look, "Laura-"

"Don't ever, save my life, again." She snapped as he suddenly remembered. When he had gotten back to Helm's Deep, she had said that. It was from when he had cut her sleeve free from the saddle of the warg. He slid off the edge with the animal, as he was still caught on the saddle. Laura survived because of him.

Aragorn sighed, "I still do not want you to go."

"You don't want me to, but I have to. You won't save me by keeping me here, they will not let me fight, I assume. Theoden and me don't exactly have a good relationship." She said as Aragorn looked at his friends. Legolas shrugged his shoulders and Gimli laughed, "If all would be lost, I'd die anyways." she said as the truth hit Aragron, she was right in that sense.

"Laddie, all of us are goin' with ya." Gimli announced as Aragorn smiled and shook his head. Laura hugged him.

"I'll be okay," she whispered as he nodded. Gimli mounted the horse with Aragorn, and Laura with Legolas.

Laura looked back and saw a few men and Theoden watch them ride towards the path. Looks of hopelessness and despair came across their faces, and Laura felt guilty. They had the wrong idea.

The four rode on for hours. Now they trotted through a barren canyon, silent and cold. Laura was asleep against Legolas' chest, talking in her sleep from time to time. He smiled at the silly things she said, or the funny noises she made. It even seemed to lift the heavy, dark, evil, and foreboding air around the four.

"What kind of army would linger in such a place?" Gimli questioned in disgust. Legolas looked around.

"One that is cursed," he paused and looked ahead, "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 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."

His voice echoed in their heads, and in Laura's dreams even. They travelled on, and their path was growing darker. Finally the path ended, and a doorway stood before them. It was dark and had writing above it. Laura snapped awake as they approached, a look of fear upon her face.

"I had a nightmare." She whispered as they stopped.

"What was it?" Legolas whispered back as he kissed her cheek.

She paused and swallowed, "Sauron ruled again, and we were all dead, Frodo at his side, sickly and green. He killed him."

Legolas held her tight and then slid off his horse, then helped her.

"The very warmth of my blood seems stolen away." Gimli muttered as they all looked around.

Legolas and Laura approached the door, she began to read, "The way is shut, it was made by those who are, dead?" She squeaked, then continued, "And the dead keep it. The way is shut."

The words felt cold and slimy on her tongue, and sent chills down their spines. Suddenly, air rushed forward and something else seemed to rush out of the doorway. The horses whinnied and jumped from Aragorn's hold on the reins. With much struggling, Aragorn let go as they watched them run away.

"Brego!" He shouted after his horse. Tuning to his friends, they all looked at a loss. Suddenly, all fear left him. He did have the sword of Isildur, didn't he?

"I do not fear death." And with that, he charged forward and into the darkness. Soon, Laura and Legolas ran in their after him as Gimli stood there frozen.

"Well this is a thing unheard of! An elf will go underground, where a dwarf dare not! Oh," he paused, "Oh, I'd never hear the end of it!"

Diamond awoke the next morning to the sounds of men and horses buzzing around. She hasn't decided yet, but before she had gone to sleep the night before, she considered going to fight, secretly. It felt wrong to have Merry go and fight, for Frodo. She felt she should go and fight for her friend Karolyn, too.

Sitting up, she reached under her pillow and grabbed the small sword she had found the night before by the smithy tent. Slipping into a pair of pants and boots, she sheathed her sword and grabbed a helmet.

Running to the entrance, she stopped right before she walked out.

"Oh, help me." She said to herself as she sank to the ground. Reaching for her hair, she stopped when it wasn't their, tucked into her helmet so it wouldn't give her gender away.

"Little Hobbits do not belong on war, Master Meriadoc." Diamond suddenly heard Theoden's voice from inside the tent, "I even told myself that I would never let your little friend, the girl, fight."

Merry gasped, with frustration, "All my friends have gone to battle! I would be ashamed to be left behind!"

"It is a three-day gallop to Minas Tirith and none of my riders can bear you as a burden." Diamond frowned to herself, he should at least let Merry fight!

She heard the anger in his voice, "I want to fight!" Merry exclaimed.

"I will say no more."

As soon as Theoden's shadow disappeared, she ran out and took Merry's hand, "Merry!" She whispered, but suddenly, he was picked up by the collar of an unknown rider.

"MERRY!" She cried out as he looked back and stuck his hand out to her.

Growling to herself, she ran to the tent with ponies and mounted the strongest looking one. Galloping forward, she was one of the last to leave the camp.

"It is to death, we ride." A soldier beside her mumbled. She looked up at him and shook her head. This was not something she wanted to think of.

The four walked through the tunnel. It was dark, musty, and clouded. Laura and Legolas were especially having a hard time in the tunnel, and Legolas kept a constant watch on her. Occasionally, they held hands or kissed out of fear.

Now, Laura stopped suddenly, as if paralyzed. Legolas too felt this and stopped with her.

Gimli panicked, "What is it? What do you see?" He shouted, gripping his axe.

"I can't tell, something evil," Laura said as she gripped Legolas' arm.

"I see shapes of men, and horses." Legolas said looking around. Aragorn approached them with concern.

"Where?" Gimli shouted.

"Pale banners like shreds of cloud." Aragorn's eyes went wide as he watched them, Legolas began to walk again, Laura at his side.

"Spears rise like winter thickets through a shroud of mist. The dead are following, they have been summoned."

"They are coming." Laura finished off as Aragorn and Gimli looked at them.

"The dead? Summoned? Coming? I knew that!" Gimli bellowed a nervous laugh, "Very good. Very good."

The trio moved on, "Legolas!" Gimli shouted as he realized they had moved on.

As they continued, Laura looked over to her right. A hand, out of the mist, reached for her. It swiped at her and she moved her arm away. Another one reached for her and she swatted at it, and squeaked when one went right through her arm. Legolas and Aragorn now saw them, but did not move. Gimli attempted to blow them away, but to no avail. Legolas pulled Laura to him, and wrapped his arm around her.

"Legolas, lets get out." She suggested in fear. He shook his head.

Suddenly, a crunch was heard beneath Aragorn's feet, "Do not look down."

Legolas looked down, and immediately pulled Laura's face to his chest. They were walking on human skulls and bones. She accepted it and let him guide her through the tunnels, face buried to his chest so she could not see.

Suddenly, Gimli ran forward and the sounds of skulls falling behind them echoed through the tunnels. Legolas suddenly began to run forward and Laura followed him.

"Legolas!" Laura whispered in a panic. He hushed her and kissed the top of her head. Now he let her head go from his chest. She saw that they stood in a rather large room. Turning around, she saw it contained a large building, almost like a castle.

Then, a chilling voice rang out through the air, and it rattled the very bones of the four.

"Who enters my domain?" It called out, dark and evil.

The King of The Dead.

YES. Okay, so the scene with Merry and Diamond, I was pleased with it. Even Merry is surprised at how well he was speaking! Aha, when I was writing that, literally felt like someone else was writing and not me! Like the characters were speaking, not me.

I forget what that is called...

Anyways, who liked the LegolasxLaura scene?! It was cute :3

One of my better chapters I think. Is this getting boring to read?

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Thanks for the prayers and reviews, guys!

-Mrs. Frodo Baggins

Kendall

Mirabella Millstone of Bywater