35. The Paths of the Dead
[Aragorn's party moves inside the Paths of the Dead, past piles of skulls.]
Gimli: "What is it? What do you see?"
Legolas: "I see shapes of men and of horses."
Gimli: "Where?"
Legolas: "Pale banners like shreds of cloud. Spears rise like winter-thickets through a shroud of mist. The dead are following. They have been summoned."
Gimli: "The Dead? Summoned? I knew that. Very good. Very good. Legolas!"
[Gimli runs to catch up. Shapes of arms are surround Legolas and Aragorn, who brush them aside. Gimli puffs at the ghosts around him.]
Aragorn: "Do not look down."
[Gimli stops at a snapping sound under his feet. He looks down and sees hundreds of skulls. Every step he takes lets a crackling out.]
[Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli run into a great underground hall with a large doorway.]
The King of the Dead: "Who enters my domain?"
[A ghost appears.]
Aragorn: "One who will have your allegiance."
The King of the Dead: "The dead do not suffer the living to pass."
Aragorn: "You will suffer me!"
[The King laughs. A dead city appears.]
[Dead soldiers walk out of the city and encircle the living.]
The King of the Dead: "The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead. And the dead keep it."
The King of the Dead: "The way is shut. Now you must die."
[The King approaches Aragorn. Legolas shoots at King, but the arrow passes right through the ghost's head.]
Aragorn: "I summon you to fulfill your oath."
The King of the Dead: "None but the King of Gondor may command me!"
[Aragorn draws the sword of the King.]
[The ghosts swings at Aragorn. Aragorn parries the blow with the Sword of Elendil, much to the ghost's surprise.]
The King of the Dead: "That bind was broken!"
Aragorn: "It has been remade."
[Aragorn shoves back the ghost.]
Aragorn: "Fight for us, and regain your honor. What say you?"
[Aragorn surveys the dead soldiers.]
Aragorn: "What say you?"
Gimli: "You waste your time, Aragorn! They had no honor in life, they have none now in death."
Aragorn: "I am Isildur's heir. Fight for me and I will hold your oaths fulfilled! What say you!"
[The King of the Dead smirks.]
[The Dead King laughs as his army begins to fade.]
Aragorn: "You have my word! Fight, and I will release you from this living death! What say you?"
Gimli: "Stand, you traitors!"
[The ground shakes. Skulls roll on the floor. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli turn to the breaking doorway to see thousands of skulls flowing out of it.]
Aragorn: "Out!"
[They run, but are nearly swept away by the skulls.]
Aragorn: "Legolas! Run!"
[The party fights their way through the sea of skulls and escapes to the outdoors.]
[Emerging from the doorway in the mountainside, Aragorn sees the black ships and the cities they have sacked.]
[Aragorn falls to his knees in despair.]
[Aragorn hears a sound behind him and turns around. The King of the Dead appears before the heir to the Gondorian throne.]
The King of the Dead: "We fight!"
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