When the company reached Dunharrow, it was midday. They were halted by a rider of Rohan.

"Who goes there?" he shouted.

"Aragorn, son of Arathorn and his kin."

A woman appeared, her hair golden blonde and skin pale like a white rose. She had a sword in her hand but she lowered it upon seeing Aragorn.

"Lords, you are welcome here! Come!" Eowyn nodded and gestured for them to head into the camp of Rohirrim.

Eowyn's eyes passed over all the riders and looked on them in amazement. Truly they were magnificent. Battle hardened, worn by the wilds of the North, the Dunedain were certainly a sight to behold. They dismounted and walked their horses into the ancient fastness of Dunharrow.

"Let us rest here the night, lady, if you will," Aragorn asked Eowyn as they ate lunch together.

"Of course my Lord! But will you not stay for the muster?" she asked in confusion. "Surely that is why you have come."

"Nay," Aragorn shook his head. "I have come here for my path lies here."

"But no paths lead out of the mountains save the one you came on," Eowyn pointed out.

"There is another." Aragorn sighed. "We are to take the Paths of the Dead."

Eowyn's face was filled with dread. She dropped the spoon she had been holding. She looked around at the others, at Miril, Halbarad, Legolas, Gimli, and the Twins. But they all nodded their heads.

Eowyn wiped her hands on her cloth napkin. "Then surely you seek death!"

"No." Aragorn shook his head. "We shall pass through. We leave in the morning."

With the meal finished, the table dispersed. Dinner went similarly several hours later, and night came. The company had a restless sleep as everyone ancipated and feared for the next day. Legolas alone was unafraid, for he had no concept of mortality to compare the dead to. Death was not a fear for him save in battle.

In the morning, Eowyn again tried to sway them from leaving but each was adamant. She gave Aragorn a knowing look, as if they had talked the previous night alone. No other Rider was to be seen as they passed, leading their horses behind them.

Aragorn's will was so strong as they approached the evil entrance that even the horses felt courage enough to go on. Indeed, the horses ridden by the Dunedain feel great love for their masters. The entrance of the cavern system was dark, foreboding. Aragorn went in first, followed by the Sons of Elrond and Halbarad.

Miril was next. She felt the evil of that place like it was tangible. She inched forward, holding the reins of Daeroch in her left hand and in her right she gripped the sheathed hilt of Galmegil, her sword. But she moved forward. The others followed her hesitantly.

The cave system smelled of dust and dirt and death. It was very dark, almost pitch black. Miril could barely make out what was around her. She felt rather than saw that Elrohir walked beside her. They went two by two with Aragorn leading them, his sword Anduril out. Suddenly a torch was lit by Aragorn and he handed another to Elladan.

"Take the rear guard," he told the twin. "Give a torch to Althea in the middle and Calenglad too."

Elladan nodded and took the flaming torch to the back. Now that there was some light, Miril jumped. The wall beside her was lined with skulls. It was as if a whisper of words was around her, but if she concentrated on trying to decipher them, they faded from hearing.

The company continued on for an indeterminate amount of time. The path had been wide, but suddenly the entered into a very large, open chamber. In the torch light, something glittered far in the middle. Aragorn handed his torch to Halbarad and strode forward. Miril wanted to call out to him, for him to halt. She felt so overwhelmed by fear she even considered bolting. Miril jumped when Elrohir laid a hand on her shoulder to comfort her, sensing her fear that he too shared to a certain extent.

Aragorn knelt beside the glittering object that she now identified as a skeleton wearing ancient armor. Aragorn whispered something before suddenly he shouted.

"Keep your hoards and your secrets hidden in the Accursed Years! Speed only we ask. Let us pass, and then come! I summon you to the Stone of Erech!'

Silence followed. A wind whistled through the chamber, putting out the torches. Miril felt gripped with such a palpable fear that she stumbled slightly when she started to walk forward again. An hour, perhaps, or more they walked on. No torch would kindle, so they had no light. They relied on their senses for direction. Elrohir continued to hold Miril's left arm to comfort her. But despite her fear she walked on, following Halbarad, leading both his and his leader's horse, who followed Aragorn.

Eventually they heard the trickle of water, and saw light coming from up ahead. Miril felt warmed by the sight and grew slightly bolder. She walked more confidently until she had passed out of the Path completely.

They mounted up and she hugged Daeroch's neck. She whispered some elvish words in his ear, words of thanks and comfort. She followed the company forward.

"The dead are following," she faintly heard Legolas say as he, Gimli, and Elladan rode up to the front. "I can see them behind us. They are following!"

"Comforting," muttered Miril.

"Yes they are," Elladan nodded. "They have been summoned."

"We must ride with all haste," Aragorn shouted to the company. "We must reach the Stone of Erech 'ere this day ends!"

So they rode like hunters on a scent. They drove their horses hard, so that they were stumbling wth weariness by the end. Whenever they passed houses and towns, women and men cried out and shut their doors and windows in fear.

But at last they came upon it. They came to the Stone of Erech. Round like a globe, though the bottom was hidden in the ground, the stone had been brought out of Numenor by Elendil.

"Oathbreakers!" Aragorn shouted. "Why have you come?"

A whisper was heard on the wind. "To fulfill our oath and have peace."

"I will free you from your oath when all this land is free of the Servants of Sauron! You will follow me, as once you were sworn to do for my ancestors!"

Aragorn turned to Halbarad and nodded. He unfurled the standard he had borne from Rivendell and the lady Arwen. No one could see what was on it because of the darkness.

"Let us rest now," said Aragorn. "We must ride hard again tomorrow."

And so they pitched their tents and tried to rest, but few slept for the unease of having the spirits around them.