Paths of the Dead

The entrance is at the head of the Firienfeld at Dunharrow, past the standing stones and through the dark fir wood called the Dimholt, in the face of the Dwimorberg, the Haunted Mountain. The road runs south under the White Mountains and comes out above the Morthond vale in Gondor, near Erech.

The dead are the reason nobody uses it. In the Second Age the king of the mountain people swore allegiance to Isildur at the Stone of Erech, then refused to fight against Sauron because he had worshipped him. Isildur cursed him and his people to have no rest until the oath was fulfilled. They faded but did not leave.

Rohan knew the road only as a place of horror. Baldor son of Brego took a drunken vow to pass the Door in TA 2570 and never returned. His bones were found by Aragorn's company, lying before a closed inner door he had failed to open.

On 8 March TA 3019 Aragorn entered with Halbarad, the Grey Company, Legolas and Gimli. Gimli found the passage the hardest thing he ever did. Aragorn called the Dead out at the Stone of Erech, and they followed him down the Morthond, took the ships of the Corsairs at Pelargir, and were released from the oath. Their captured fleet carried Aragorn's men up Anduin to the Pelennor.

Events at this place

1. SA 3429 · The Lord of the Rings

   Isildur curses the oathbreakers

   The mountain king swore at the Stone of Erech and then withheld his men from the war. Isildur cursed them to no rest until the oath was kept.

2. TA 3019, March 8 · The Lord of the Rings

   Aragorn passes the Dark Door

   On 8 March Aragorn led the Grey Company through the mountain, claimed the Dead as Isildur's heir, and rode for Erech.

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