Hope ↠ LOTR

VI. Mist

The two of them had prepared themselves to enter the mountain and now they were preparing their horses. Athena was ensuring the saddle on Hasufel was secure and ready for use, he still seemed unnerved where he was but he was a brave steed and she had wholehearted faith in him.

"Why are you doing this? The war lies in the east. You cannot leave on the eve of battle. You cannot abandon the men." Éowyn's voice came from behind her.

She turned her head to glance over her shoulder and spotted the woman of Rohan addressing Aragorn. She didn't mean to eavesdrop but it was hard to not do so with the two of them right behind her, but she did pry her eyes back to the saddle to allow them some privacy at least.

"Éowyn..."

"We need you here."

"Why have you come?"

"Do you not know?"

"It is but a shadow and a thought that you love. I cannot give you what you seek." There was a prolonged silence until she heard Aragorn's voice again. "I have wished you joy since first I saw you."

When she heard his footsteps she turned to see Éowyn standing still, her eyes wide and brimming with unshed tears. Athena knew all too well the pain of unrequited love and how much it hurt to not be loved back by somebody. But she also knew that there was still hope for the future and for finding love again—though in her case it broke her heart just as much, if not more so.

"I'm sorry," Athena whispered sincerely to her, "I know that my words will not ease your current pain until it is ready to leave you, but you will find somebody better suited for you. I promise you that."

She turned and followed after Aragorn. It hurt her to leave her close friend in such a state but there were matters of life and death that needed her attention at the moment, if that were not the case she would have been more than happy to stay with her all night and keep her mind from the pain that was in her heart at the rejection.

They made their way through the encampment side by side but yet again they were interrupted by somebody, though this time it was a certain red-headed Dwarf.

"Just where do you think you're off to?" He asked them, pushing himself to stand from where he was previously sitting smoking his pipe.

"Not this time. This time you must stay, Gimli," Aragorn firmly responded.

Legolas then made himself known, coming to stand beside them both with Arod already with him. "Have you learned nothing of the stubbornness of Dwarves?"

"And of Elves too apparently," Athena responded, but unlike Aragorn she was smiling at knowing they weren't alone, and Legolas found her smile contagious.

"You might as well accept it. We're going with you laddie," Gimli stated sternly, causing Aragorn to smile as well.

They then mounted their respective horses and they began to trot on the path between the tents, heading straight to the mountain and leaving behind confused soldiers.

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They rode along the greyed passage, sharp and jagged rocks towering over them from either side. Though the morning's light was shining down on them their hearts were heavy and filled with dread.

"What kind of an army would linger in such a place?" Gimli asked.

"One that is cursed. 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. Who shall call them from the great 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 explained in great length.