Jinxed

Chapter Ten - The Road to Dimholt

By the end of making the stew Gina is fed up with the women trying to get on her good side, she doesn't know what makes her stew taste so good, perhaps it is just due to the fact that she only makes it when the men are tired and hungry, making it taste that much better. She takes a serving for herself and one for Aragorn and goes off to find the crownless king.

She does find him eventually and sits down for a few seconds before handing him his stew. He looks at it and then takes the wooden bowl, looking at it but making no move to taste it. He had no idea who had made it and with Eowyn here he wasn't taking any chances. "Eat up" Gina calls gently "I made it, so I'm sure it's not poisoned" Aragorn looks up at her astounded. He never expected Gina to be able to cook, he takes a spoonful and hesitantly tastes it. Gina, satisfied with him leans against the log Aragorn sits on and eats her stew. To her it tasted like the stew her mother used to make, nothing more.

Aragorn sets his bowl down drawing Gina's attention, she looks up, "Would you like some bread?" She asks rummaging around in her pockets, and drawing out a roll.

"Thank you" Aragorn replies taking the bread, they lapse into silence.

"I don't want you in the battle" Are the first words out of Aragorn's mouth. Gina looks up and lets out a breath.

"I don't want to be in the battle either, but I must. I can protect myself Aragorn" Gina tells him "I cannot die unless y-my Cordë dies." Aragorn shakes his head.

"You stayed in the caves during the battle of Helms deep with no argument. Why do you insist to fight now?" Aragorn asks.

"Because now I am needed" Gina explains "Now I must fight for my people, for everyone who has died, for those who are to live in the world after this battle. One person may not make a difference, but we will never know if I don't try" Aragorn goes to speak but Gina refuses to let him have his say. "I have not been entirely honest with you" She admits "I can handle myself in battle better than I care to admit" she pulls out a round, brown object "And I have picked up various tricks throughout my travels" She puts the dung bomb back into the brown bag it came from and stands. "Goodnight Aragorn" She then walks off.

~

Aragorn sits up suddenly a short blade in his hand, the dream he had awoken from was of Arwen.

"Sir?" Aragorn looks to the tent flaps to see a guard peering in "King Théoden awaits you" Aragorn lowers his curved dagger breathing heavily, slowly he gets out of his cot and makes his way to the door of the tent, quickly he strides over to Théoden's tent and through the flap that the guard help open.

"I take my leave" Théoden says as Aragorn looks curiously at the being seated in a chair before the king.

Théoden walks past Aragorn, pausing momentarily as if to say something before thinking better of it and walking out. Aragorn watches the king leave and then looks back to the stranger dressed in a deep blue cloak. The being stands and lowers his hood. Aragorn bows.

"My Lord Elrond"

"I come on behalf of one whom I love" The Elven Lord explains "Arwen is dying, she will not long survive the evil that now spreads from Mordor. The light of the Evenstar is fading. As Sauron's power grows her strengths wanes, Arwen's life is now tied to the fate of the ring. A shadow is upon us Aragorn. The end has come"

"It will not be our end but his" Aragorn replies hotly.

Lord Elrond looks on sadly "You ride to war, but not to victory. Sauron's armies march in Minas Tirith this you know but in secret he sends another force that will attack from the river, a fleet of Corsair ships sails from the south. They'll be in the city in two days." Elrond takes a step towards Aragorn "You are outnumbered Aragorn, you need more men"

Aragorn shakes his head "There are none" He is beginning to see why Gina wants to fight.

Elrond swallows "There are those who dwell in the mountain" He explains as a big gust of wind blows through the encampment.

Gina looks up from washing the pots as the unnatural wind blows over the camp, spooking the horses further. Gina stands and goes to calm the band closest to her. The horses however want to only get as far from the Dimholt road as possible, and have no interest in calming down until they are away from the accursed mountain.

Eomer appears at her side. "Aragorn is to go to Dimholt" He explains, "Consider my debt paid" Gina whirls around and gives him a quick hug.

"I'll consider it" She runs off

"Good luck Gina" He calls after her as she runs to the Dimholt road.

She reaches the road just as Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli approach it. She skids to a stop, only to topple over on the gravel. She lets out a wine of frustration as Aragorn dismount Brego to help her up.

Gina has other ideas though and a he approaches Gina she springs up, ignoring the graze on her elbow and launches herself onto Brego's back guiding him forward to Aragorn. "No arguments" She demands "Let's go and catch some Ghosties" Aragorn mounts as Gina shuffles back to give him room. The other soldiers muttered amongst themselves as Aragorn eases Brego into a walk.

~

"What kind of army would linger in such a place?" Is Gimli's question as the four travellers rode slowly along a dusty road.

"One that is cursed" Legolas's reply is quick and solemn. "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."