Forty Nine - The King of the Dead

“What kind of army would linger in such a place?” Gimli asked as we rode through the canyon. “One that is cursed,” Legolas answered. 

“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,” Legolas retold the cursed prophecy.

“Well, lassie, you know where we are, right?” Gimli asked. “In all my years, this is the one place I haven’t travelled to, Master Dwarf,” I answered. “Oh… well… it’ll be fine,” He said, more to himself than to us. 

After a while, we got off the horses and walked through the narrow paths. We finally approached the entrance to the path and I looked up, reading 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,” A gust of wind and whispers of ghosts rushed out of the doorway, spooking the horses. 

Aragorn, Legolas and I lost grip of Brego, Arod, and Penrose. “Penrose!” “Brego!” Aragorn and I shouted. 

“In the years I’ve known that horse, she has never feared anything,” I huffed.

“I do not fear death,” At that, Aragorn walked through the path. Legolas followed him and I lit my sword to use as a torch. 

“Well, this is a thing unheard of. An Elf will go underground, where a Dwarf dare not? I'd never hear the end of it,” Gimli said. “Come along, Master Dwarf. You don’t want to be left behind,” I called and he quickly ran to catch up.

~~~

“Ver,” Aragorn said, holding out a torch for me to light. My hand sparked and flames lit up and I casted it to the torch as we continued. He held it down a narrow hall that was full of skulls. Aragorn and I continued but Legolas lingered. 

“What is it?” I asked. “I see shapes of men and of horses,” He answered. “Where?” Gimli looked around with fear.

“They have been summoned,” Le led us through a dark tunnel, following the spirits. “The dead? Summoned? I knew that! Very good, Legolas!” Gimli shouted as he ran to catch up again. 

Ghostly hands writhed around Legolas and Aragorn, reaching and grasping at them but moved from me, giving me a perfect circle of space. 

“What is this?” Aragorn asked, gesturing to me. “The story Legolas told earlier was missing a single piece. It did not stop at unfulfilled oaths. The King of the Dead captured my grandmother, Queen Hazel. My grandfather never found his wife again. Only her body after they left her on Ezeria’s front gate,” I said, coldly. The hate we had for him is the only hate we’ve ever had.

“Edrick Tempest was the one who set the curse upon these Men. He cursed them to never leave this place unless called upon by the true king of Gondor and that they shall never touch a Tempest again,” I finished.

We ran through the narrow tunnel, and onto a large platform that looked like the entrance to a castle and the edge was missing. “Who enters my domain?” A foul voice asked. A ghostly spirit wearing a crown appeared in front of the steps. The King of the Dead. “One who will have your allegiance,” Aragorn answered.

“The dead do not suffer the living to pass,” He stated. “You will suffer me,” The ghost laughed evilly, the kingdom of this army building and the soldiers marched to us. “The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead. And the dead keep it,” The army close around us. 

“It was made by the ones who exiled you. You are nothing but dogs in your kennels!” I shouted at him and he approached. He stopped in front of me. 

“You are a Tempest,” He said in fear. 

“And your king is calling upon you,” I replied. 

“You will end like those those of your blood!” He raised his sword to strike me. A blinding light shone through the cavern and he flew backwards. 

“Tempest spells are not easily broken,” I announced. He stood, marching toward me again. 

Aragorn stood in front of me as he tried to swing again, letting the sword of Anduril connect with the ghost’s. 

“That line was broken,” The ghost king said. “It has been remade,” Aragorn held the ghost by the neck, pushing him back then looked at the soldiers. 

“Fight for us and regain your honour. What say you?” He walked through the crowds. “What say you?” He repeated. 

“You waste your time, Aragorn. They had no honour in life and they have none now in death,” Gimli said. “I am Isildur's heir. Fight for me and I will hold your oaths fulfilled. What say you?” He continued.

The King laughed again as the army began to fade away. “You have my word! Fight and I will release you from this living death!” Aragorn shouted as the manic laugh turned into thunder. 

“Stand, you traitors!” Gimli shouted.

The Dead Army had gone and wind blew through, sweeping the fog away. Cracking sounds came from the walls as human skulls began falling, breaking the walls of the mountain. “Out!” Aragorn shouted.

The skulls cascaded around us, burying us as we made for the exit. I ran behind last, blowing the skulls away from us as they tumbled over the edge. 

“Verena!” Le grabbed my arm and pulled me along quicker as we ran through another tunnel. I kept my hand on the walls to keep the top from caving in on us all the way until we made it out to daylight.

We looked down at the ships in the river as villages on either side of the waterway burned. 

Aragorn dropped to his knees with tears in his eyes and Le placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

A strange whisper echoed behind us and we turned, Aragorn stood as the King of the Dead appeared from the rocks. 

“We fight,”