Jinxed

Chapter Twelve - Ghost Men to Gondor's Rescue

"Who are you to deny us passage?" a bedraggled man calls back. Instead of calling over his title Aragorn leans towards Legolas.

"Legolas, fire a warning shot past the bosuns ear" Gina watches in anticipation. She loved show downs. They were even better when she wasn't involved. Legolas pulls and arrow from his quiver and aims.

"Mind your aim" Gimli cautions. Gina looks down as he hits the bottom of Legolas's bow with the butt of his axe. Legolas fires and the man beside the bosun is shot in the chest. Gimli winks at Gina. "Oh!" he exclaims in 'shock' "Right" He calls to the ship "That's it we warned ya" Legolas looks bewildered down at the dwarf. He never missed and he knew that.

The ships drew closer "Prepare to be boarded" Gimli tells the pirates.

"Boarded?" The bosun laughs "By you and who's army?"

Aragorn smirks "This army" he whispers and the ghost king runs through him letting out a battle cry, his subjects appearing soon after. And all too quickly the boats are theirs.

They soon board the pirate ships and with the boats manned by the dead they head into Gondor to turn the tide of the battle. Legolas argues with Gimli about interfering with is aim and Gimli blatantly ignoring the irate Elf. Aragorn sits on the bow of the boat while Gina begins to armour up.

After Gina is ready for battle she sits next to Aragorn, trying to work up the courage to tell him what she needs to hear. "I think I found the One" She starts "My Cordë, he's here" Aragorn fiddles with his sword. "I had a dream of the witch who cursed me-" Legolas interrupts them by telling them to hide. Aragorn gestures Gina to go with Legolas while he stays and watches from the bow.

"Late as usual Pirate scum" Gina hears the nasally voice, presumably from an Orc "There's enough work here that needs doing, come on you Sea Rats. Get off your ships"

In a swift movement, Aragorn leaps over the ships railing and lands on the stone ground. He is quickly followed by Legolas, Gimli and Gina. The latter getting ground shock and rolling on the ground in pain. The Orc's look surprised and ready their weapons. Aragorn begins to stride forward, Gimli and Legolas on his flanks. Gina pulling herself up and trying to walk smoothly after the trio.

"There's plenty for the both of us" Gimli calls to Legolas "May the best Dwarf win" The ghost army materialises behind the four. And Gina winces as the cold ghosts pass though her.

Gina takes on a single Orc and by the time she has felled the beast the ghosts are pouring into Gondor and the battle fields are filed with dead Mordor mercenaries. She finds her way to Legolas's side and then is forced to run after him as the Elf catches a glimpse of Aragorn before the ghost king.

"Release us" The king demands, while Gina lies on the ground eyes closed as she regains her breath and rests her tired limbs.

"Bad idea" Gimli speaks up "Very handy in a tight spot these lads, despite the fact their dead" Gina hits his leg weakly to shut him up. Gina hauls herself up into a sitting position.

"You gave us your word" The king growls.

"I hold your oath fulfilled, go, be at peace" The ghosts smile and their king's eyes shut as he and his army are swept away by the wind. Gimli grunts in disappointment. Gina sees Gandalf bow his head and Pippin spot something. He runs to a fallen Elephant like creature and pushes an Orc corpse aside to find Merry.

~

Gina sat on the white stairs leading up to the throne, she was tired, the trip to Gondor had been long and draining. Her Cordë was tired adding to her fatigue, yet she could only imagine how Frodo felt. Gandalf paced the white hall. As he tried to find Frodo.

"Frodo has passed beyond my sight" Gandalf says pausing for a second "The darkness is deepening. Gina watches Aragorn as he stands, his back to the group. Gimli had stolen Pippin's pipe and weed and was puffing away while sitting on the steward's chair.

"If Sauron had the ring we would know it" Aragorn contributes, his back still turned on the men and Gina behind him.

"It's only a matter of time" he looks to Gina "He has suffered a defeat, yes. But behind the walls of Mordor an enemy is regrouping"

"Let them stay there" Gimli interrupts "Let them rot, why should we care?" Gina shakes her head before covering her head with her hands. Gandalf turns to the Dwarf.

"Because ten thousand Orcs now stand between Frodo and Mount Doom" Gimli removes the pipe from his mouth and lets out some smoke. Gandalf shakes his head "I've sent him to his death" Gina stands.

"I may not have met Frodo. But you chose him for a reason, yes there may be Orcs blocking his way but have you forgotten the journey you took to get here? Have you forgotten the oaths you took?" Gina shakes her head "No? Come and find me when you are seeing sense" And with that she walks away.

Aragorn turns, Gina's words hitting home "There is still hope for Frodo, he needs time and safe passage across the plains of Gorgoroth, we can give him that"

"How?"

"Draw out Sauron's armies, empty his lands. Then we gather out full strength and march upon the Black Gate" Gimli chokes on the smoke from his pipe. Eomer steps forward.

"We cannot achieve victory though strength of arms" Eomer exclaims.

"Not for us, but we can give Frodo his chance if we keep Sauron's eye fixed upon us, keep him blind to all else that moves"

~

Gina finds the stables of Gondor and discovers Brego and Indigo stabled next to each other. She sighs and sits down in-between the two horses. "It's only a matter of time before they come to their senses, eh Indie?"

And sure enough, a bell tolls calls in rich tones to the soldiers of Gondor gathering them to the stables. Gina begins to join the bustle of the stable.