Summary: I am one of The Nine; Úlairi; Nazgûl; Ringwraiths; Dark Riders. Whatever name you give me, it does not change what I am. This is the story of my greatest triumphs... and my greatest mistakes. The blood that has flowed from my fingers, the death that my life has spawned. This is my life, before I became this creature of fear and malice. Before I fell victum to my own greed...
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings. Nor do I own any names or related products. These all belong to Tolkien and a handful of other people/companies who managed to get the rights to make a movie/board game/RP game/etc. Asside from the name, Indur Dawndeath is my character. The events documented here are my own, and are completely fictional.
The land of my childhood was at the height of its glory. The salt waters of the Sea of Rhûn, on whose shores our capital city was built, were warm almost all year round. There were mountains to the southwest, across the sea, sitting like beautiful statues of nature on the distant horizon, often clouded by fog in the winter months. And to the north was a seemingly endless playground of trees – though I was never permitted to explore the forest thoroughly until I was well into my teenage years.
My home itself was fitting for a family with as much power as we. My father, Lien Indur, was one of four rulers of the land – which was divided into quadrants, southwest, northwest, southeast and northeast. Once a year, just as the snow began to melt, the four rulers would meet to discuss various issues that affected them all. I remember eavesdropping on the councils the few times they were held in our quadrant, but I didn't understand enough of the politics to realize what was going on. My only conclusion would have been that they argued a lot. More so than my parents did, and maybe even more than my siblings and I did.
But it was not my duty to worry about politics. At the age of eight, I was more than content to let Riel, my older brother, attend the lessons of court and waste away the summer learning of laws and manners while my little sister, Valien and I would play in the trees or sail the shallow inlet of the sea around which the city was built. I took care of my own studies, spending the nights reading texts that were far beyond my current level of understanding. I read of politics, in the hopes that I might one day beat my brother to the crown. I read of magic, both good and evil. I learned of the world, in a much broader sense than my brother could even imagine.
Time moves quickly, and often has a habit of stealing childhood away to be replaced with something alien. When I was but ten years old, and my brother scarcely sixteen, our father was murdered. I didn't understand – how could any child grasp a concept such as death?
Riel took up father's seat at the council, proudly, apathetically. He didn't speak to me for many months, ordering people to keep me away from him, saying he was busy, or in need of rest. It was very nearly a year before I next saw him. His dark features were hallow, though I couldn't understand why. At that age, despite my secret education, there were very few connections I could make. His pale face seemed yet paler than usual, and I feared he might be ill.
'Riel?' I asked, 'Are you in good health?'
And he looked up at me, his eyes seeming to scream something at me that my childish mind could not comprehend. 'I asked them not to let you in.' He said coldly, and I scowled. Then, quite suddenly, I knew. I knew why he refused to speak to me, why he had avoided me for this past year.
Riel Indur, my older brother, had arranged our father's murder. Our eyes met, and a simple brotherly understanding was established. He knew the truth was out. But, far from being disgusted by Riel's actions, I felt a certain amount of pride. My brother, he who I had always thought was week and pathetic, had had the courage to kill in order to step up in life. And, at that moment, I realized that I would one day be forced to kill him so that I might do the same.
I was one of the only ones who knew. Poor Valien, who was only seven, didn't even seem to realize what had happened. She could tell from our expressions that something was wrong, but her innocence was still her strength, and I refused to take it from her. And so it was that the truth was kept from her, and was until her dying day. She didn't need to know, anyway.