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.·:*¨༺ 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 3 ༻¨*:·.
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FLAME OF THE WEST

Aragorn spots the beacon alight and runs into the Great Hall. He bursts through the door shouting. "The beacons of Minas Tirith!" he yells, "the beacons are lit!" Theoden and his generals turn to him. "Gondor calls for aid," he breathes. Theoden stands silent for a small moment, before answering. "And Rohan will answer! Muster the Rohirrim."
     Eomer bows to him and leaves. The bell rings out to gather the Rohirrim together.  Theoden leaves the hall hurriedly in full armour. "Assemble the army at Dunharrow,  as many men as can be found. You have two days," Theoden speaks to Eomer as he walks at his side. He gets a hold of his shoulder to bring him face to face. "On the third, we ride for Gondor, and war." "Forward!" Eomer calls. "Very good, sir." "Gamling," Theoden calls. "My lord!" Gamling salutes. Theoden walks over to him. "Make haste across the Riddermark.  Summon every able-bodied man to Dunharrow," he commands. "I will," he says and leaves.
     Theoden watches over the mustering of the men.

"Do you ride with us?" Aragorn asks, tending his horse as he sees Eowyn tending her horse as well. "Just to the encampment," she replies, "it's tradition for the women of the court to farewell the men." Aragorn moves a blanket to reveal Eowyn's sword. She snatched it down back over it and looks at him. "I want to follow lady Iladya into battle," she mutters, "the only female in battle. I would follow her to victory. To death."
     "Lady Iladya is not here, my lady," Aragorn says, which seems to catch her off guard. "Where is she off to?" she asks. "She rode with Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith." With that said, he leaves Eowyn stunned behind.

Merry holds his sword out in both hands. "Excuse me!" Merry asks, "I have a sword. Please accept it!" He kneels before Theoden King, "I offer you my service Theoden King." Theoden moves over to him and raises him up. "And gladly, I accept it — He smiles at Merry — You shall be Meriadoc, esquire of Rohan." Merry smiles gleefully and turns away.
     "Horsemen," Gimli grunts, "I could muster an army of Dwarves, fully armed and filthy." "Your kinsmen may have no need to ride to war. I fear war already marches on their own lands," Legolas breathes.

Theoden looks at the standard flying in the breeze. "So, it is before the walls of Minas Tirith the doom of our time will be decided." Aragorn mounts his horse, spending a small moment missing the presence in front of him. "Now is the hour, Riders of Rohan. Oaths you have taken. Now fulfil them all, to Lord and Land! Hah!" Eomer shouts. The Riders gallop from Edoras. Merry gallops along with them too.

It had become dusk when they arrived at Dunharrow. Aragorn was fast asleep as he was dreaming. He sees Iladya in a dark place, chained. She had her head hang, as if she'd given up. An Orc walked up to her, with a whip in his hand. Aragorn wakes and draws his sword. A soldier stands in the doorway to his tent. "Sir? King Theoden awaits you, my lord," he says and takes his leave.
     Aragorn follows him to Theoden's tent.  Theoden looks at the hooded figure, then at Aragorn. "I take my leave," Theoden says and leaves the tent. The figure turns and removes the hood. It is Thranduil. "King Thranduil," Aragorn bows. "I come on behalf of one whom I love. Iladya will be dying. I have seen her futures. Her life is now tied to the fate of the Ring," he speaks. "It will not be our end, but his," Aragorn assures. Thranduil looks at him in mockery. "You ride to war but not to victory. Sauron's armies ride on Minas Tirith, this you know. But in secret he sends another force, which will attack, from the river. This what lord Elrond has told me. A fleet of Corsair ships sails from the South. They will be in the city in two days. You're outnumbered Aragorn. You need more men." "There are none." "There are those that dwell in the mountain," he smirks. Aragorn sees a vision of the King of the Dead. "Murderers, traitors. You would call upon them to fight? They believe in nothing. They answer to no one," he answers. "They will answer to the King of Gondor!" Thranduil claims, pulling out a sword from inside his cloak and holds it out in his hands to him. "Andúril, the Flame of the West, forged from the shards of Narsil." Aragorn takes the blade from him.
     "Sauron will not have forgotten the sword of Elendil," he breathes. He draws it from the scabbard. "The blade that was broken shall return to Minas Tirith," Aragorn says. "The man who can wield the power of this sword can summon to him an army more deadly than any that walks this earth. Put aside the Ranger. Become who you were born to be. Ónen i-Estel Edain. Elrond gave hope to the Dunedain." "Ú-chebin Estel anim," Aragorn whispers, feeling the void inside of him. He sheaths the sword.

Aragorn is preparing his horse to leave. Eowyn approaches him. "Why are you doing this? The war lies to the East. You cannot leave on the eve of battle. You cannot abandon the men." "Eowyn." "We need you here," she urges. "Why have you come?" he asks. "Do you not know?" she asks. Aragorn sighs as he shows the pendant from Iladya. "It is but a shadow and a thought that you love. She cannot give you what you seek," he whispers. She backs off upset. "I know she wished you joy since first she saw you." He touches her face and a tear springs into her eye. He walks away. She stands alone crying. 
     "Just where do you think you're off to?" Gimli asks sitting beside a tent. "Not this time," Aragorn sighs, "this time you must stay, Gimli." "Hmm." "Have you learnt nothing of the stubbornness of Dwarves?" Legolas asks, walking up with his horse. "You might as well accept it. We're going with you laddie," Gimli confirms. The three of them ride from the camp along the Dimholt road. Theoden and the soldiers see them leaving. "What's happening, where is he going? I don't understand." They disappear into the cleft between the rocks. "Lord Aragorn! Why does he leave on the eve of battle?" "He leaves because there is no hope," Gamling fills. "He leaves because he must," Theoden raises his voice. "Too few have come, we cannot defeat the armies of Mordor," Gamling says. Theoden shakes his head. "No, we cannot. But we will meet them in battle nonetheless." They nod in agreement.

Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli move through a barren canyon. "What kind of army would linger in such a place?" Gimli asks. "One that is cursed. 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."
     They approach the entrance to the Paths of the Dead. They are walking, leading their horses by the reins. "The very warmth of my blood seems stolen away." They reach the doors. Legolas reads the inscription above the door. "The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead and the dead keep it. The way is shut." Something comes out of the door towards them at a rush. It spooks the horses, which pull on the reins and run away from them. "Hasufel!"
     Gimli looks alarmed. "I do not fear death!" Aragorn says as he walks through the entrance, Gimli looks scared. Legolas follows after Aragorn. "Well this is a thing unheard of. An elf will go underground, where a dwarf dare not. Oh. Oh, I'd never hear the end of it," Gimli says as he runs after them.

Aragorn leads them with a torch. It shows many human skulls on the floor. Aragorn moves on but Legolas remains looking at them. "What is it? What do you see?" Gimli asks. "I see shapes of men and of horses." Ghostly hands writhe around Legolas and then Aragorn and finally Gimli. They are ethereal. Gimli tries to blow them away. He blows and wafts them away. Aragorn and Legolas turn looking at the hands. Aragorn glances down.

"Do not look down," Aragorn mentions. Gimli pauses and then looks down and sees human skulls on the floor. He steps forward gingerly and the skulls crunch beneath his feet. They emerge running from around a corner. Aragorn leads them forward into an open space which contains a large building. He turns looking around with his torch.

"Who enters my domain?" The voice of the King of the Dead booms through the cave. Aragorn turns and the King of the Dead appears before some steps in front of him. "One who will have your allegiance," Aragorn speaks. "The dead do not suffer the living to pass." "You will suffer me!" The King of the Dead laughs menacingly. As he does a whole Kingdom of buildings appear around them. Soldiers emerge from them. A deadly army surrounds them chanting. "The way is shut! It was made by those who are dead. And the dead keep it — The Ghostly army closes around them — The way is shut! Now you must die!" Legolas fires an arrow which passes straight through the King and clatters to the ground.

"I summon you to fulfil your oath!" Aragorn walks towards the King of the Dead. "None but the King of Gondor may command me!" He approaches Aragorn to attack him. Aragorn retaliates and blocks his sword with Anduril. "That blade was broken!" it bellows. "It has been remade" He catches the King by the throat and pushes him back. The ghostly army stand looking at him. "Fight for us and regain your honour. What say you? — He looks at the dead army, walking through them — What say you?"

"I am Isildur's heir. Fight for me and I will hold your oaths fulfilled — He brandishes his sword at them — What say you?" The King laughs again and the army begin to disappear. "You have my word! Fight and I will release you from this living death! — They disappear — What say you?" The Dead Army is gone. There is a cracking sound and the walls of the building in front of them begins to collapse. Hundreds of human skulls fall down towards them. "Out!" They climb up the thousands of skulls trying to climb over them. They begin to slide down with them. They manage to move across towards the exit as the skulls continue to fall. "Legolas! Run!" They manage to leave the place running out of the cave as the skulls continue to rain down behind them. They emerge into the sunlight. Aragorn looks down from the high place to see ships on the river and a burning town. It looks like he thinks he is too late. He sinks down on his knees in despair, tears in his eyes. Legolas approaches him and puts his hand on his shoulder. Aragorn bows his head. Legolas and Gimli also look upset. There is a sound behind and Aragorn looks around to see the King of the Dead come out of the rocks and approach him.

"We fight!"