𝐄𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐘━︎━︎L. Greenleaf ✓︎

❝CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX❞

▌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."