The journey to the Forsaken Road begins, and we get a POV from a character who isn't Gwin or Candaith. Read on to find out more!

Chapter 71

Halbarad had sent a messenger to Harndirion to enquire about volunteers, and they arrived early in the morning. Their names were Hodhon, Calithil, Linnor, and Himeldir. Elladan also insisted on going, despite Halbarad's protests, but would stay outside the Forsaken Road in case healing was required. I was glad of it, for it was both another 'soldier' and one more person to keep Candaith safe. Not that I would ever say such a thing out loud, for my husband would probably take offense to me believing he needed protection. Elrohir felt uneasy about being separated from his twin, but felt he should be here to support me. It made me feel a little guilty, but he was quick to assure me I was no burden to him.

Once everyone was gathered, Candaith turned reluctantly toward me. I knew he was loathe to say farewell, but it was necessary. Not caring that everyone was watching, I threw myself into his arms and hugged him as tightly as I could. Despite my best efforts, I felt a few tears on my cheeks, and I was trembling. Something felt so…wrong about this. I had no evidence to support these feelings, but my instincts were rarely misplaced.

After what only felt like a heartbeat, Candaith pulled away slightly. His brow furrowed at the wetness on my face, and he brushed the tears away. "Meleth, we are a strong, experienced group of Dunedain. Try not to worry for me." But there was no guarantee of safety.

"Be that as it may," I began, sucking in a shuddering breath. "Until you return to us…to me, I will worry." He put his forehead against mine, and I whispered, "I will pray to the Valar to watch over you…over all of you." I prayed even harder that Námo wouldn't come calling.

"Le melin," he murmured softly, and kissed me gently. Unable to help myself, I deepened it, as I worried it might be the last time we would do so. Again, I asked myself, what about this mission was so much more dire than some of the things I myself had done in the past? I had weathered some of the darkest, most vile places in Middle Earth, and survived against all odds. Why would a journey onto this Forsaken Road, which would not necessarily even come to violence, cause me such distress?

Normally such public displays of affection would embarrass me, but in this moment, those concerns flew out the proverbial window. He looked into my eyes, a little startled, but his gaze was warm and full of love. "Le melin," I whispered in reply, memorizing all of his features. He kissed me on the forehead, and slowly pulled away from me before walking to join the others.

I started as I felt Elrohir's arm come around my shoulders, and he pulled me gently against him. "Muinthel, I am unsure what is causing you such distress, but I can tell you that Candaith is strong and skilled. He is also smart, and along with the others, I believe they will return to us safely." He turned me toward him and gave me a tiny smile. "Elladan is there also, in case he needs to drag them out of trouble."

I huffed a laugh, but it felt forced. "That is true. I just have to pray that all will be well." Willing myself to believe this, I let Elrohir lead me back toward the fire. I felt unusually chilled, and ate lembas mechanically as I stared into the flames and huddled in my cloak.

Over the next couple of days, Elrohir tried to keep me distracted with stories and fond memories of his childhood, and I found it helped some. The others rallied around me also; I appreciated Saeradan's ever-constant quiet humor, and Calenglad took to humming tunes I recognized from my time spent in the Ranger camp of Tinnudir. Lothrandir, who always liked to find ways to cheer me up, gathered a plethora of flowers and presented a bouquet to me with a flourish and a wink; it actually made me laugh, and the sound made his eyes light up with relief. Even Ergothorn did his part, showing me some of his poetry at my insistence, and he valiantly attempted to teach me more Dunlendish, despite my distracted state.

My emotional state was strange. I was feeling many things, but wondered how much of it was me, or if Candaith's emotions were also present. I felt the occasional wave of comfort from him, and I appreciated it. Yet, I wondered if some of the anxiety I had was also his.

I was told it would take a couple of days to journey there by Nona, who had stopped by briefly to see how we were doing. I found it touching that she seemed to care about what we were up to, and she even made a point to check in with me personally. She distracted me by asking for tips on swordplay, and I spent some time sharing my knowledge and sparring with her. Lothrandir had managed to find and prepare venison stew, and it reminded me of some happy memories with Candaith and Saeradan on the road.

After dinner one night, Ergothorn pulled me aside. "I…I wanted to thank you for what you said to the others, when you were deciding what path to take," he said softly. "I know I have made my share of mistakes, and it would only be expected that some of your group is suspicious of me."

I shrugged, "Even I was unsure what kind of person you were and if you were trustworthy, but you have proven yourself to be a good man, and despite some of your…missteps, lives were saved because of your letters."

"I spoke with Candaith," he admitted, and I raised an eyebrow. "He apologized to me for his words, and he thanked me for saving and helping you." An almost cheeky grin formed on his face, "He even said he would like to be friends, although I am not sure how much of it was his wish or yours."

I laughed, "Well I am glad of it!" Even if they didn't become more than acquaintances, it was better than if they didn't get along at all.

When I fell into reverie the second night after they departed, it was dark and confusing. There were shadows, and flashes of green light. People were shouting, and unearthly voices echoing words I could not make out. It eerily reminded me of my horrific dream back in the cave, and I half-expected who I decided had been Námo to show up again with some message for me…although one from him would not likely bear good tidings. At some point, Elrohir must have come across me, for I heard his soothing voice singing in the background; it chased away the darkness so I was able to rest peacefully until morning.

It was during breakfast that something strange happened.

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Halbarad's POV

The journey to the Forsaken Road was uneventful. The Uch Luth guide led us there carefully, and we came across no enemies on the road. After we arrived, he left without a word, and all of us gathered around the entrance. It was shadowed, and a door of stone stood between us and the inside of what was clearly a barrow.

Candaith looked at me uneasily. "How shall we open it?" he asked.

Squaring my shoulders, I walked straight up to the door. When my fingertips touched the stone, it immediately began to move; the rock slid gratingly down into the ground, leaving a dark hole in its wake.

Radanir moved closer. "Is...is that smoke coming out of it?" Sure enough, some kind of fog or smoke was slowly emanating from the doorway. I barely prevented myself from shuddering when I heard a faint echo of a laugh coming distantly from inside.

I frowned as Calithil roughly bumped into my shoulder and pushed me aside. "Why do we stand out here, Halbarad? Let us enter and get this over with." His arrogant demeanor rankled me, but I tried to ignore it for now. Candaith and I gave each other a look, and he rolled his eyes.

The others followed Calithil as he went inside, and I turned to Elladan. "Will you be fine out here alone? One of us can stay with you-"

"There is no need," the Elf interrupted with a smile. He gestured to the cloak he was wearing. "This is from Lothlorien, where my grandparents reside. It can disguise me from unfriendly eyes. Do not worry for me."

I nodded in acceptance, "Very well." I clasped his shoulder and said, "Farewell. May we return swiftly and with good news."

Steeling myself, I stepped in behind Candaith into the darkness.

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Candaith's POV

I heard Halbarad enter behind me, and jumped as the stone door slid shut. Looking around, I noted torches were lit with a strange, blue light, casting shadows around the cavern. There was a large open chasm in the center, and a road wound around it. Hence the name The Forsaken Road.

Radanir seemed his young twenty years when I looked into his anxious eyes. "This is an evil place Candaith, and the dread of it lies like a cloud upon my limbs! And so cold...I should think I would never be warm again." He pulled his cloak tighter about himself, and I took the torch from him as it seemed he may drop it.

"This is a place of the Dead, kept by them throughout the long years. Will they rally to Aragorn's cause? We must learn if it be so," I said firmly. "This is our mission."

Radanir nodded quickly, and took a few deep breaths before I noticed him settle somewhat. "Then we will see it done."

I tried not to let my anxiety overwhelm me, or influence Gwin in any way. We both were still new to this "sharing of souls" phenomenon, and I was unsure how to prevent my emotions from impacting her too much. I made a point to take some deep breaths and imagine sending reassuring feelings her direction. I had been attempting to do so throughout our journey, and I hoped it was working. I wondered if some of my unease was also coming from Gwin herself. I sighed, wishing we'd had more time to explore this bond before our separation.

We crept forward slowly through the swirling mists. Nothing had revealed itself as of yet, but I could sense the presence of…something, in the air around us. "Stay alert. We do not know what we will find along the Forsaken Road."

"Hopefully the ones we seek," Calithil muttered. "They must still be under Isildur's Curse."

"What if these spirits are not the Oath-breakers at all?" Himeldir asked doubtfully. "Could this not be a trap from that sneaky Rohirrim?" His tone was derogatory, and it annoyed me.

"We have decided to trust Ergothorn's words; we cannot doubt him now," I replied shortly. Himeldir pursed his lips but did not respond.

"Who would wish to continue living in this ceaseless toil?" Linnor wondered out loud. "They should jump at the chance to escape it and find rest, don't you think?"

I agreed, but who could know the desires of traitors? Before I could think on this further, I felt we were no longer alone, "Hold…there is a presence here." I stood tall and hoped I looked as confident and strong as I intended. "Show yourself!"

A figure melted out of thin air. It was ghostly, and I could make out the features of a Dunlending soldier. He was covered with what could have been armor, but it was now shredded and faded in places. "Who dares disturb this place?" his voice echoed, and it made me shiver. "The living may not pass. Turn back while you still have the power to do so."

Radanir shifted uneasily next to me, and I wondered what Halbarad was up to. It was he who had agreed to speak in our stead, but he had remained silent.

When none of us deigned to reply, the Oath-breaker continued, "Only the dead may walk the Forsaken Road." He gestured around himself, his tattered clothes fluttering in the unnatural breeze. "Come, my brothers, come see these wayward children."

We instinctively clustered together as more Dunlendings materialized into the air around us. Some were carrying banners, and others clutching swords and bows. Our backs were still open to us, as apparently the Oath-breakers were yet willing to let us leave instead of bother them.

I wondered how much longer the offer would be available.

The Dunlending we had first interacted with floated forward. "I am called Maonir." His eyes, which were sunken in but still visible in some sense, hardened. "Again, I ask, who dares disturb the dead?"

I saw movement out of the corner of my eye, and suddenly Halbarad was right in front of Maonir. "I dare!" He looked stern, and I sensed an echo of authority I had not noticed before. Maonir seemed to sense the same, for he stepped back, a little startled.

After a few moments, Maonir gathered himself together, "What is that to us? Why should the Dead care who you are, Duvodiad?"

"Why?" Halbarad growled. "Because my chieftain is the heir of him to whom you took your oath."

A gasp rippled through the surrounding Oathbreakers. "No!" Maonir shouted, clearly dismayed. "It cannot be!"

There were a few minutes of tense silence while both groups stared at each other, wondering who would make the first move. Halbarad had moved a little closer to me, and whispered, "Stay on your guard, These Men are without honor. We are here to listen to their words, but we must remain cautious." The others looked to have heard also, and we stood tall, trying to be brave.

"Now," Halbarad began. "Do you acknowledge the right of Isildur's Heir to hold you to your oath?"

Maonir, who seemed to have settled back into his arrogance, replied, "You have not been judged worthy of speaking, weak Duvodiad." He paused, appraising Halbarad. "Perhaps if you can defeat me, I will deem you worthy of speaking to Britou, our Brenin." Then, without warning, Maonir drew his sword and fell upon Halbarad.

Uh oh, looks like this little parley isn't off to a great start. Sorry for the cliff-hanger! Hope you liked it, and leave a review if you'd be so kind!