Esmeralda West moves into the Shire with her uncle, a few houses down from the Bagginses. As years pass, young Frodo tries to break her out of her shell. Then, Gandalf the Grey tells him about the One Ring. Esmeralda joins the quest with her friend...
~ Chapter Forty Nine: Hobbits Don't Belong in War ~
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Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli continue to ride through a barren canyon.
"What kind of army would linger in such a place?" Gimli asks.
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"One that is cursed." Legolas replies. "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."
Finally, the they approach the entrance to the cave. They get off their horses, and lead them by their reins.
"The very warmth of my blood seems stolen away." Gimli says.
They reach the doors, and Legolas reads the inscription above them.
"The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead, and the dead keep it. The way is shut."
"The dead?" Sam asks.
Suddenly, a gust of air rushes out of the door, scaring the horses. They pull on the reins, then run off.
"Brego!" Aragorn shouts.
Gimli and Sam look scared, as Aragorn turns back to the cave.
"I do not fear death!" He storms through the entrance, followed by Legolas.
"Well this is a thing unheard of!" Gimli exclaims. "An Elf will go underground, where a Dwarf dare not!"
"I would stick with Strider if I were you." Sam says, quickly running inside.
Gimli's eyes trail after the Hobbit, then groans. "Oh, I'd never hear the end of it." He runs after them.
Meanwhile, Théoden emerges from his tent, followed by Éomer.
"We must ride light and swift." He says. "It is a long road ahead, and man and beast must reach the end with the strength to fight."
They mount their horses, and begin to move through camp. Then, Théoden sees Merry.
"Little Hobbits do not belong in war, Master Meriadoc."
Merry looks up in surprise. "All my friends have gone to battle. I would be ashamed to be left behind!"
"It is a three-day gallop to Minas Tirith, and none of my riders can bear you as a burdon."
