⊱ ──── {⋆ 🌌 ⋆} ──── ⊰

Aragorn readies his horse to depart as Éowyn approaches, "Why are you doing this? The war lies to the East. You cannot leave on the eve of battle!" Èowyn struggles for her next words, "You cannot abandon the men." Aragorn breathed out her name but she was quick to speak, "We need you here." Aragorn looked down remembering Maristela's words, he knew she was right and he had to handle it. "Why have you come?" Aragorn asked her. "Do you not know?" Èowyn questioned him in reply. "It is but a shadow and a thought that you love. I cannot give you what you seek," Aragorn says as he looks into her eyes, "I have wished you joy since first I saw you."

He touches her face then turns away and Éowyn is shocked and saddened as Aragorn walks away from her. Aragorn approaches the Dimholt road alone. "Just where do you think you're off to?" Gimli questioned him from where he was seated. "Not this time. This time you must stay, Gimli," Aragorn told the Erebor Dwarf as Legolas and Maristela approached. "Have you learned nothing of the stubbornness of dwarves?" Legolas asked with a smirk, Maristela smiled as she looked up at her son. "Might as well accept it. We're going with you, laddie," Gimli spoke up with a smug smile. 

The four set off on the Dimholt road, as soldiers looked on and disappeared into the darkness. "Why does he leave on the eve of battle?" A soldier questioned Gamling. "He leaves because there is no hope," Gamling replied with a defeated look on his face. "He leaves because he must," Théoden spoke up as he walked towards his men. "Too few have come.  We cannot defeat the armies of Mordor," Gamling told his Lord with a fearful look. "No, we cannot," Théoden told them truthfully with his head high, "But we will meet them in battle nonetheless." The men nod in agreement.

⊱ ──── {⋆ 🌌 ⋆} ──── ⊰

Aragorn, Maristela, Gimli, and Legolas ride along a barren mountain path. "What kind of army would linger in such a place?" Gimli questioned the others, he was seated behind Aragorn for a change while Maristela was seated behind Legolas. "One that is cursed," Maristela answered him with a sad sigh, she had heard the tales from Lord Elrond when she was growing up and she remembered hearing him tell them to his sons once they were old enough. She had been forewarned to never approach the army of dead but here she was, tempting fate.

"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," Legolas told Gimli the story he knew, "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 Dimholt door but it is adorned with skulls. 

"The very warmth of my blood seems stole away," Gimli muttered with a fearful gaze before they dismount their horses, Legolas helping Maristela. Legolas reads the hieroglyphs above the door, "'The way is shut. It was made by those who were dead, and the dead keep it. The way is shut.'" Wind and noise come out of the door. The horses rear and flee leaving the four alone. "Brego!" Aragorn called but the horse was long gone and so he turned back towards the entrance, "I do not fear death!" Aragorn enters the mountain with Maristela following. Legolas soon follows, but Gimli hesitates, "Well this is something unheard of! An elf will go underground where a dwarf dare not! Ah, I'd never hear the end of it!" Gimli runs into the tunnel.

⊱ ──── {⋆ 🌌 ⋆} ──── ⊰

Aragorn's party moves inside the Paths of the Dead, past piles of skulls. "What is it? What do you see?" Gimli questioned them. "I see shapes of men and of horses," Legolas answers him as Maristela twisted her Ring on her finger. "Where?" Gimli asked but Legolas' answer was not a direct response, "Pale banners like shreds of cloud. Spears rise like winter-thickets through a shroud of mist. The dead are following. They have been summoned." Gimli nods before looking up at Legolas who walks ahead, "The Dead? Summoned? I knew that. Very good. Very good. Legolas!" 

Gimli runs to catch up. Shapes of arms are surround Legolas and Aragorn, who brush them aside. Gimli puffs at the ghosts around him while Maristela is avoided by their presence, she glares harshly. "Do not look down," Aragorn instructed them. Gimli stops at a snapping sound under his feet. He looks down and sees hundreds of skulls. Every step he takes lets a crackling out. Maristela, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli run into a great underground hall with a large doorway. "Who enters my domain?" The King of the Dead demands as he slowly appears before the company of four.

"One who will have your allegiance," Aragorn answers him confidently. "The dead do not suffer the living to pass," The King of the Dead replied to him. "You will suffer me!" Aragorn warned him making the King laugh as a dead city appears. Dead soldiers walk out of the city and encircle the living. "The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead. And the dead keep it," The King of the Dead informed them before smirking, "The way is shut. Now you must die." The King approaches Aragorn. Legolas shoots at King, but the arrow passes right through the ghost's head. Maristela places her hand on Legolas' arm and lowers it with her eyes on Aragorn.

"I summon you to fulfil your oath," Aragorn ordered the King of the Dead who scoffed before he replied, "None but the King of Gondor may command me!" Aragorn draws the sword of the King. The ghosts swings at Aragorn. Aragorn parries the blow with the Sword of Elendil, much to the ghost's surprise. "That line was broken," The King of the Dead said before Aragorn grabbed the King's throat and held the sword against it. "It has been remade," Aragorn responded as Maristela smiled with pride. Aragorn shoves back the ghost, "Fight for us, and regain your honour. What say you?" 

Aragorn surveys the dead soldiers, "What say you?" Gimli shakes his head, "You waste your time, Aragorn! They had no honour in life, they have none now in death." Aragorn looks to the blade before looking to the ghosts, "I am Isildur's heir. Fight for me and I will hold your oaths fulfilled! What say you!" The King of the Dead smirks, he laughs as his army begins to fade. "You have my word! Fight, and I will release you from this living death! What say you?" Aragorn demanded in question again making Maristela sigh, even in death the arrogance of men can be frustrating. "Stand, you traitors!" Gimli ordered.

The ground shakes. Skulls roll on the floor. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli turn to the breaking doorway to see thousands of skulls flowing out of it. "Out!" Aragorn instructs his companion. They run, but are nearly swept away by the skulls. "Legolas! Run!" Aragorn called out as the Woodland Elf grabbed Maristela's hand and pulled her along with him. The party fights their way through the sea of skulls and escapes to the outdoors. Emerging from the doorway in the mountainside, Aragorn sees the black ships and the cities they have sacked.

Aragorn falls to his knees in despair and Maristela turns back to the doorway, "Cowards! All of you, to not see the purity in Aragorn, the rightful King of Gondor!" Legolas rested his hand on her shoulder before motioning towards Aragorn, she placed her hand on his shoulder in hopes to comfort her son. Aragorn hears a sound behind him and turns around. The King of the Dead appears before the heir to the Gondorian throne. "We fight!" The King of the Dead spoke before looking at Maristela, "Along the stars once again." She bowed her head with a slight smirk.

⊱ ──── {⋆ 🌌 ⋆} ──── ⊰

⊱ ──── {⋆ 🌌 ⋆} ──── ⊰

Rosemary Speaks

What an interesting chapter...
I've decided that I want to try and complete this book before 2023 ends and considering its the 31st of December in Australia, it will be an interesting challenge for me.

Thoughts?

See you in the next chapter!