The Paths of the Dead

In the early hours of morning Aragorn and his company made ready to depart for the Paths of the Dead. Eowyn came to see them off (only she for all the other Rohirrim were afraid of these reckless strangers) girt with sword and battle gear. Aragorn and Eowyn drank a cup of farewell and he left her with a message for her brother, Eomer, to hold out hope they may yet meet again. As he turned to leave she begged him, once again, to let her ride out with his company. Aragorn refused, saying she could not go without leave from Theoden and Eomer. He kissed her hand in parting and as he rode away those who knew him well saw his anguish. She stood still as stone watching him ride away to Dwimorberg, the Haunted Mountains.

Riding on while the morning was still grey they reached the Door of the Dead. All, save Legolas, were fearful. Yet all drew upon the courage of Aragorn who was resolute about entering. Their horses refused to enter unless led by hand. Legolas' horse, the only one from Rohan, refused to enter. "Then Legolas laid his hands on his eyes and sang some words that went soft in the gloom, until he suffered himself to be led, and Legolas passed in" (p. 60, The Return of the King). This left Gimi alone outside thr Door. "'This is a thing unheard of!' he said. "An Elf will go underground and a Dwarf dare not!'" (p. 60, The Return of the King). With great effort, at last, Gimli plunged into the darkness.

On into the darkness the company went. Gimli could hear endless whispers all about him and he felt an unseen host, growing in number, following them. Fear grew in them all. At last Aragorn stopped, his torch had caught the gleam of some reflective object. It was the gear of a mighty man whose bones lay near a door. After many long years his fingers rested still on it as if clawing endlessly at the door. Aragorn wondered aloud where this man was going and was hidden behind the door but he knew his path was different. He turned and spoke to the unseen followers: "'Keep your hoards and your secrets hidden in the Accursed Years! Speed only we ask. Let us pass, and then come! I summon you to the Stone of Erech!'" (p. 61, The Return of the King).

Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3019, March 8th
Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 58-61