▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲-𝐒𝐢𝐱 ━︎━︎ 𝐀𝐫𝐦𝐲 𝐎𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 dark cavern, the only source of light being the torch Aragorn was holding. He moved the torch, shining light on what must have been hundreds, if not thousands, of skulls. It was too quiet for Ellaria's liking. She turned her head, pausing upon seeing what looked to be the ghost of a man. She blinked and the figure disappeared. A frown pulled on her lips, the grip around the hilt of her sword tightening.

     "What is it? What do you see?" Gimli asked. Clearly she hadn't been the only one to see something.

     "I see shapes of men," Legolas answered. "And of horses."

     Gimli glanced around. "Where?"

     "Pale banners like shreds of cloud," Legolas continued. "Spears rise like winter-thickets through a shroud of mist. The Dead are following. They have been summoned."

     "The Dead?" Gimli cried as the other three continued forwards, leaving him behind. "Summoned?" He cleared his throat. "I knew that. Hah. Very good. Very good. Legolas!" He went running, quickly catching up with them.

     They stepped into a strange fog that covered the ground, hands of Men reaching up and trying to latch on to them. Ellaria brushed the hands away, keeping close to Legolas for comfort. Aragorn paused. "Do not look down," he warned. Ellaria did anyways. Her face shifted into one of horror when she saw what was beneath her feet. Bones were covering the ground, mostly skulls. She froze, wondering what the hell it was they had truly walked into. Legolas gently grasped her elbow, keeping her at his side and pulling her along. While she was able to step on them without them shattering beneath her feet, Gimli was not so lucky.

     Every time Gimli took a step, the sound of a skull cracking echoed. They all rushed forwards until their were no more skulls beneath them, coming to an open area that held steps to a building that had long since been buried. A voice echoed from all around them. "Who enters my domain?" They turned their heads, the king of the Dead's ghost appeared before them.

     "One who will have your allegiance." Aragorn answered.

     "The Dead do not suffer the living to pass." The king snarled.

     Aragorn's voice grew firm. "You will suffer me."

     The king only laughed, loudly and arrogantly. They turned, watching as the city that had once been here before formed before their eyes, hundreds of the Dead marching out to them. "The way is shut," the king said. "It was made by those who are dead. And the Dead keep it." They suddenly became surrounded by armed Dead, closing in on them as every second passed. "The way is shut. Now you must die."

     Legolas quickly shot an arrow at him, but it went right through. Ellaria swallowed. "Well, that's comforting."

     "I summon you to fulfill your oath," Aragorn said, not an ounce of fear on his face.

     The king stepped forwards. "None but the king of Gondor may command me." Aragorn held his sword in front of his face and the king let out a yell before swinging at them. Their weapons clashed. "That line was broken," the king snarled.

     Aragorn placed a hand around the kings throat, holding his sword up to the kings neck. "It has been remade." He shoved the king back and Aragorn looked at them all. "Fight for us, and regain your honor. What say you?" The Dead did not answer as he walked through them. "What say you?"

     "Ah! You waste your time, Aragorn!" Gimli called. "They had no honor in life, they have none now in death."

     Aragorn kept trying. "I am Isildur's heir. Fight for me. . . and I will hold your oaths fulfilled. What say you?!" The king only laughed as the Dead began to fade away. "You have my word! Fight, and I will release you from this living death! What say you?!" They completely vanished.

     "Stand, you traitors!" Gimli shouted.

     The cave began to shake, pieces of the ceiling beginning to fall down on them. They turned, watching the kingdom crumble and fall, a mountain of skulls coming out from behind it. "Out!" Aragorn shouted and they all ran. The skulls tried to swallow them and they had to fight their way through before spotting the exit and charging for it. The jumped through the exit, coming out a different way than they had come in. In front of them was a river, the second army Elrond had told Aragorn about sailing on their boats. Aragorn fell to his knees in defeat and Legolas walked up to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

     The whistling of the wind made Aragorn stand and turn, just as the king of the Dead came through the mountain side. He nodded slightly. "We fight."

     Ellaria released a breath. Maybe they had the chance to win after all. Ellaria, Legolas, Gimli and Aragorn walked down to the shore, stopping at the edge where the ships were about to pass by. "You may go no further!" Aragorn called. "You will not enter Gondor."

     The pirates on the boat all laughed, it's bosun stepping forwards. "Who are you to deny us passage?"

     "Legolas, fire a warning shot past the bosun's ear." Aragorn ordered.

     "Mind your aim," Gimli said. Legolas readied an arrow and just before he shot it, Gimli used the handle of his axe to tip the bow slightly, sending the arrow straight into the chest of one of the Men. "Oh!" Gimli covered his mouth with a hand. Legolas's eyes widened as he snapped his head to Gimli. "That's it. Right. We warned you."

     Ellaria softly sighed. "Oh, Gimli."

     "Prepare to be boarded," Aragorn said.

     "Boarded?" The pirates all laughed. "By you and whose army?"

     "This army," Aragorn answered and the Dead all went flying past them and straight onto the ships.

     Ellaria watched as the Dead killed the men on board. "Can we get people to fight for us more often? I quite enjoy standing here and not having to lift a finger."

     "Better watch out," Aragorn mused, glancing at her with a slightly raised brow. "You're starting to sound like a Princess."

     Ellaria stared at him in horror. "You're right. My apologies." She bowed her head slightly and Aragorn's lip quirked upwards in amusement. When the boats were emptied, the four of them climbed aboard. "Would anyone like to make this a faster trip?" Ellaria asked, glancing over her shoulder to look at them. She smirked when Legolas and Aragorn both held on to something while Gimli just stood there confused.

     "Might want to hold on, Gimli." Legolas warned.

     "Why? What's happening?"

     Ellaria started chanting in Elvish. "I can't say I didn't warn you," Legolas hummed. A wave began to grow, growing larger and faster with each word she spoke. The boat shook and Gimli stumbled, quickly grabbing onto something as the boat was shot forwards by the water. When they grew closer she stopped the chant, ducking down and letting the boat float to their entrance of Gondor.

     "Late as usual, pirate scum!" One of them shouted from the land. "There's knife-work here needs doing. Come on, you sea rats! Get off your ships!" The four of them listened, jumping off the ship and onto land, facing the group of Uruk-Hai before them.

     As they started towards them, Gimli said, "There's plenty for the both of us. May the best Dwarf win." The army of the Dead charged with them towards the creatures, easily wiping them out and continuing to the main battle field.

Gimli and Legolas could be heard counting and Ellaria just rolled her eyes, swinging her sword and killing off two Orcs in one swing. She spun around another, slicing its throat before ducking under the swing of one and quickly stabbing it in the torso. She quickly spotted the leader who was approaching Eowyn who was crawling across the ground. Ellaria didn't have time to question why the woman was there before she went charging forwards. She cut off one arm as Aragorn cut of the other and she sent her sword through his skull.

     "Legolas! Ellaria!" The two Elves turned at the sound of their names being called, their eyes widening when they saw Oliphaunts heading their way. Legolas went to the one closest to them and Ellaria ran to another. She grabbed it's trunk, holding onto it and waiting for it swing upwards and when it did she let go. For a moment she was soaring through the air before she landed on its back.

The men on the Oliphaunt turned and instantly pulled out their swords. Ellaria easily dodged them, killing them one by one. She slid beneath a swing, slicing one of the ropes that was keeping the men saddled on to it. She stood, elbowing one of them in the face, spinning and sliciing one's neck and then turning again to drive her sword through the man's stomach. She danced across the Oliphaunts back, dodging swings left and right before slicing the other rope that was keeping the saddle secure. She watched as the men all fell off it, a satisfied smirk pulling to her lips. She quickly ran to the Oliphaunts head, driving her sword into it's skull.

As the Oliphaunt fell, she quickly slid down it's tusk, landing safely on her feet. She turned her head to see Legolas had brought his down as well and a smile pulled to her lips. As another passed her, she sliced it's four legs, watching as it crumbled to the ground, the men screaming as they went flying off of it. Her head turned towards Gondor, watching as the army of the Dead quickly flooded it and killed any of the creatures they could find.

The fight was over sooner than she had expected, but they had won. Ellaria walked over to Aragorn who placed a hand on her shoulder, giving her nod. She nodded back, taking a step back as the Dead appeared before them. Gimli and Legolas walked over and Legolas slipped his hand into hers. She glanced at him, giving him a small smile which he returned.

     "Release us," the king demanded.

     Gimli shook his head. "Bad idea. Very handy in a tight spot, these lads, despite the fact they're dead."

     The king glared at Gimli, looking to Aragorn. "You gave us your word."

     "I hold your oath fulfilled," Aragorn finally said. "Go. Be at peace." A smile pulled on the kings lips, a sigh falling from his mouth as he was released from his debts as him and his army was whisked away by the wind.

     The men began to search for those that were alive and taking note of those who were dead. A loud yell echoed and Ellaria quickly turned her head, spotting Eomer fall to his knees as he pulled his sister to his arms. Her body was limp. He cried out in anguish, pulling her close to his chest. Ellaria walked over to him and he looked up at her, tears falling down his face. "Please," he begged.

     Ellaria kneeled down, grabbing Eowyn's hand. "She is alive," Ellaria whispered. "But she's beginning to fade. You need to take her back to the castle now." Eomer nodded, lifting his sister into his arms. Ellaria stood, watching as he rushed away. She turned her head, meeting Aragorn's eyes.

     They all went back to the castle and Ellaria found Eomer resting at his sisters side. She walked up to Eowyn, kneeling before her. Her hands hovered over Eowny's body, closing her eyes and whispering elvish words. She ran a hand over Eowyn's face, the elvish words continuing. When she was  done she stood. "There's not much I can do." Ellaria whispered. "But have faith she will awaken." Eomer solemnly nodded and she walked away. She turned her head, watching as Aragorn took her place. When there was nothing else she could do, Ellaria walked away.