Jinxed

Chapter Eleven - Mean Ghosties

"Well that's morbid" Is Gina's reply to Legolas's tale. Aragorn merely looks to his left to try to find the road they were to turn onto. He had been silent since Gina had jumped onto Brego's back, before that even. The truth was he dreaded the task he was about to complete. He knew Rohan and Gondor's fate lay heavily on his shoulders. Added to the fact Gina was adamant on joining them to perhaps die in the grim hold of the Mountain men.

When they reached a grove of trees, the horses began to shy away and Aragorn gave the order to dismount, helping Gina down with a hand around her waist. They entered the grove of trees. "The very warmth of my blood seems stolen away" Gimli whispers from his position slightly behind Legolas. A position he had adopted quickly for situations that he felt unsafe in, due to Legolas's height and ability to see things from a distance the Dwarf figured it was the safest place to be if they were to be ambushed.

They came to a stop in front of a door of carven stone. "The way is shut, it was made by those who are dead and the dead keep it. The way is shut" Legolas reads the hieroglyphics above the door. Gina shudders, she hoped that this wasn't anything like the Egyptian pyramids. She had read all too much of those types of books. And in a world where magic was possible, she didn't like to think of all the possible booby traps.

A breath of cold air comes from the door way and the horse rear up in fear. Pulling their reins from their riders and galloping as far from the cave as they can get. Aragorn watches the two animals run in fear calling after his horse to try to get the faithful beast to calm down but the two horses are gone from sight within seconds.

Aragorn turns back to the cave opening "I do not fear death" he growls and strides into the cave. Gina quickly scrambles after him drawing her jewelled dagger.

~

Gina pants heavily as she runs after Aragorn who holds a torch that she had no idea where it came from, she assumed from one of the wall. They enter a cavern and Aragorn slows, circling around to examine the cave. It is silent for a while until a ghostly voice echoes through the giant caver.

"Who enters my domain" All four of the travellers whip around to the grimy stair case. And a ghostly figure materialises, it is a skeleton dressed in tattered red robes and a metal crown.

"One who would have your allegiance" Aragorn says his grip tightening on Andúril's hilt.

"The dead do not suffer the living to pass" Is the ghost king's reply

"You will suffer me" Aragorn demands.

The ghost king lets out a chilling laugh. "I can do a better scary laugh than that" Gina calls out "Mwah ha ha ha ha" She cries out making Legolas and Gimli jump. The ghost king's robes flared out making Gina take a step back. "Nope, you totally have the scariest laugh. My apologies your-" Gina chokes "-Majesty"

Spectral buildings appear behind the four adventurers and they are alerted to the ghosts coming out of the building by a frozen gust of wind. "Shitake fried mushrooms" Gina whimpers as growling fills the cave.

"The way is shut, it was made by those who are dead and the dead keep it." Spectral figures emerge from the stone behind the ghost king and soon the fellowship was surrounded by ghosts "They way is shut, now you must die"

Legolas draws an arrow and fires at the king. It just goes through his forehead and Gina whimpers clutching her knife. "I summon you to fulfil your oath"

"None but the king of Gondor may command me" The ghost king replies raising his sword. Aragon raises his in retaliation and holds it in front of his face. Gina relaxes her fingers one at a time before tightening her grip over the blue and red jewelled hilt.

The king brings his blade down onto Aragorn who twists his blade around and blocks the ghost sword. "The blade was broken" the king hisses. Aragorn grabs the kings collar and puts the sword against the neck of the ghost.

"It has been remade" Aragorn growls and pushes the king back to his people. Aragorn looks around and then straightens his back "Fight for us and regain your honour" Suddenly they were corralled in by ghosts "What say you?" Aragorn walks through the ghosts, Andúril held high. "What say you?" He repeats.

"Ah" Gimli exclaims "This is a waste of time Aragorn, they had no honour in life and they have none now in death"

Aragorn ignores him "I am Isildur's heir, fight for me and I will hold your oaths fulfilled" Gina grins, watching Aragorn step into his role as king and embracing his destiny. "What say you?"

The ghosts moved back and slowly vanished into the walls "Stand you traitors" Gimli calls out to the long-gone ghosts. Suddenly the ground begins to shudder and rocks begin to fall from the ceiling and skulls fall though the gaps.

"Booby traps" Gina cries "Why is it always booby traps?" The wall begins to crumble and from behind the rock wall skulls poured out. Gina whimpers.

"Out!" Aragorn yells. They all run to the exit, but the skulls beat them down. Gina slips and Aragorn's hand shoots out to grab her arms and haul her back up "Legolas!" Aragorn points to an exit and Legolas pulls Gimli into the hall, they run out, Aragorn still has Gina's hand in his grip and they both still hold their weapons.

Aragorn sees the ships and his eyes mist over and he falls to his knees. Now Gondor had no hope of surviving Mordor's wrath. Gina crouches beside him and grabs his hand while Legolas pats his shoulder. Aragorn lowers his head, he had failed his kingdom. This was why he became a Ranger.

A cold gust of wind blows their hair forward and Aragorn looks behind him. He stands and cocks his head, and suddenly the ghost king materializes in front of them. The ghost approaches Aragorn. "We fight"

~

"You will go no further" Aragorn calls to the ships. The quartet stand on the stone river banks casually. "You will not enter Gondor" Aragorn's calm, steely voice carries over the water. However, he is met by laughs.