It was 3000 years after the defeat of Sauron that an unbelievable story began to unfold. Having been lost for so long the one ring of power began to awaken. It had heard its masters call. Having been passed on from one person to another the ring was determined to find its way back to its master. Its plan, however, had been stopped when a hobbit from the shire had picked up the ring and taken it with him through his adventure. Along that time another story was unfolding that was to be the strangest yet romantic story to ever be heard in all of Middle Earth.
The story of a half-elven maiden who had been changed by powerful wizard into a beautiful black horse. The maidens same was Anastasia and she wondered through her life in the single form she'd been cursed with only to find herself in Mordor as the new steed of a Nâzgul. For many unwanted years she was forced to work for her master until she was sent to find the ring of power. Her chance to escape had come and with all her strength she threw the wraith from her back and galloped towards freedom.
As she galloped across Middle Earth she heard word that the great ring of power had been found. The stars had always told her a great destiny that had awaited her. Anastasia or Ana used to live with a fortune teller who had warned her that when a band of gold which speaks through flame appears, Ana's destiny laid within the brave knights that seeked to destroy it forever. Ana made her way to the peaceful lands of the shire not knowing that in fact The Shire was where her journey would begin.
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Ana had now spent 4 months in The Shire living as she pleased though with some discomforts. Since her escape she still had the saddle and bridle among other tacks that had been placed upon her. She was careful when she ate the grass that her equine form had come to know. Careful of two things, one was not to be choke on the food she ate because of the bit and two, never to be enslaved again against her own will especially not for the Nâzgul. Many times she had heard people talk about the black horse who ran through the night looking for the next Nâzgul rider for Mordor.
If you could you would laugh at those ridiculous rumours and stories. Though it was amusing to listen to what kind of stories people would invent. As you ate the grass at your hooves you started to hear strange singing coming from a voice you recognized to some extent.
'Gandalf?' Ana thought as she started to trot in the direction of the voice.
She stopped at the top of a hill and saw a cart being pulled by a bay horse and in the passenger seat was a short figure you recognized as a hobbit and a tall figure wearing a grey garb and pointy hat.
'Gandalf! It really is him.' Ana thought excited and was about to run over but the thought of what he might do to you because of your appearance was another question entirely.
'I can't ask that he lift this curse from me. It's best that I try and break it myself. Though I wonder what he's doing in The Shire.' Ana thought curiously and decided to follow him from a distance.
Ana followed using the trees as cover and circling round the homes of the hobbits. The hobbit that had been with Gandalf leapt off the cart and went on his merry way while Gandalf continued to a hobbit hole that was at the end of the road near the forest. As Ana got closer she could feel a presence of evil coming from the house.
It was an evil she had wished never to feel again. Her nostrils flared and she pawed the ground. Finally she neighed rearing and galloping into the forest. Ana stopped at the heart of the forest near a stream drinking and listening to the birds sing. Once she had her fill of water she noticed that the sun had gone down. Suddenly rockets went off in the distance and curiosity getting the better of her she followed the sound. She neared the house that Gandalf had stopped at but further down she saw lights and hobbits singing and dancing.
As she continued to watch a tent shot into the air and burst into sparkles as a dragon emerged and flew into the sky. It flew towards the hobbits flying over them and then spinning into the distance exploding with more splendour. The hobbits cheered at the fireworks soon continuing to eat. Then cheering for a speech was heard as a cake was being brought forth. After rhythmic cheering there was a silence but Ana could make out that a hobbit was giving a speech.
It soon ended with the hobbits searching around and Ana could hear the pitter patter of small footsteps but couldn't see anything. The sounding of a door opening and closing got Ana curious even more so with a sniff around she approached the house silently. Ana walked to one of the windows and listened to what was happening inside.
"There are many magic rings in this world Bilbo Baggins and none of them should be used like that." Ana heard Gandalf scold.
"Oh come now Gandalf it was just a bit of fun. Did you see their faces? Oh you're probably right… as usual." Ana heard the hobbit Bilbo say.
"So you've decided to go through with your plans then?" Gandalf asked.
"Yes yes. You will keep an keep an eye on Frodo wont you?" Bilbo asked.
"Two eyes as often as I can spare them." Gandalf answered.
"Good good, I'm leaving everything to him." Bilbo said again.
"And what of that magic ring of yours is it staying too?" Gandalf asked.
"Yes yes it's in an envelope on the shelf…oh…wait… its right here in my… pocket." Bilbo said slowly. "Silly isn't it? On the other hand why shouldn't I keep it?"
"I think you should leave the ring behind Bilbo. Is it that difficult to part with it?" Gandalf asked.
"Well no… and yes… I found it… my own… my precious." Ana heard Bilbo say and could feel the ring calling to him.
"Precious? It's been called that before… but not by you." Gandalf stated.
"What business is it of yours what I do with my things!?" Bilbo shouted.
"There's no need to get angry." Gandalf said in defence. "I think you've had that ring long enough." Gandalf continued firmly.
"You want it for yourself!" Bilbo countered.
Ana reared and neighed loudly. Gandalf and Bilbo stared at the window having the spell of hatred broken from Bilbo. Gandalf dashed for the door opening it holding his staff. He gazed at the black horse before him as it neighed tossing its mane. The black horse pranced in front of him but still kept its distance from the wizard.
"The black horse of Mordor." Bilbo gasped in fright.
"Horse of Mordor?" Gandalf inquired still keeping his guard.
"The black horse said to be looking for a new rider to join the forces of Mordor. It has come for me oh Gandalf!" Bilbo cried out to Gandalf.
Ana stopped her rearing and settled in front of the wizard. Her silver eyes pierced the blue ones of Gandalf deeply. Her nostril flared and her head was raised high. Calmly, Ana turned and trotted away from Bagg End into the forest.
For the next few days Ana stayed in the forest coming to see what was happening at Bagg End since Bilbo's leave. Frodo seemed to get on well on his own and Gandalf had left that same night Bilbo had on horseback. One night though, while Frodo was at a pub Gandalf returned to Bagg End. He stopped outside the door and looked around his eyes stopping on Ana. Ana stood there and stared back acting as if any horse that was waiting for someone to come and get them.
Gandalf stared at Ana for a while longer before approaching her slowly. As he came closer Ana backed away with every step he took.
"I see you are back once again. You are the steed of a wraith yet you have no rider." Gandalf said calmly.
Ana perked her ears forward and took a slow step forward. Gandalf gave Ana a curious look as she came closer wearily sniffing the air for danger and her ears turning in every direction. Soon there was only an arm's length between them and Gandalf couldn't help but begin to wonder.
"No horse of the Nâzgul comes this close to the good people of Middle Earth." Gandalf said out loud raising his hand to Ana.
Ana took a step back but sniffing the hand came a few steps forward. As Gandalf managed to place a hand on Ana's muzzle his hand slowly made its way to her neck as she stood still. Running a hand down her coat Gandalf noticed the scars and other injuries Ana had sustained during her breaking as it was called.
"Nâzgul steeds are usually obedient to their masters so why do you have these?" Gandalf pondered.
Ana turned her head to him her eyes trying to tell him that she wasn't one from Mordor but the little half elf he had met as a young woman. Gandalf furrowed his brow and placed a hand on Ana's face staring into her eyes deeply.
"I've seen these eyes before." Gandalf whispered but then Ana jerked her head out of his hands and stared forward her ears perked and alert.
She smelt the hobbit approaching and she started backing away finally turning and cantering into the forest. Ana turned to glance at Gandalf once more before running deeper into the dark forest. The next morning Ana went back to Bagg End and saw that there was no life in the house. She was about to leave when a familiar shriek was heard in the distance.
'Nazgûl!' She thought in panic and bolted to get out of The Shire.
As Ana ran near a road through the trees she suddenly halted hearing some tumbling. She looked to her left and saw four little hobbits tumbling down a hill. Ana quickly hid among the trees and bushes just listening to what was being said.
"Oh that was close." Said one of the hobbits.
"I think I've broken something." Another said pulling out from behind him a broken carrot.
"Get off!" Another shouted pulling the other hobbits off the one Ana recognized as Frodo before helping him up. "Trust a Brandybuk and a Took." the hobbit continued.
"That was a short cut, a detour." The hobbit who broke the carrot said dusting himself off.
"A shortcut to where?" Asked the one who helped Frodo.
"Mushrooms!" Exclaimed the hobbit that had been on the bottom of the pile.
The three hobbits dashed for the mushrooms and began to pick them. Frodo looked down and noticed that they were on a road.
"I think we should get off the road." He said calmly as to not alarm the three of them.
An evil presence neared them and Ana knew what it was.
"Get off the road!" Frodo said more alarmed and the four hobbits quickly leapt off the road and hid under some roots.
Ana saw the approaching Nâzgul and his mount. Smelling around the wraith dismounted the horse and grabbed hold of the edge of the hobbits hiding place. Ana could see Frodo twirling the ring in his fingers and his eyes role back. His left hands pointer finger was pointed towards the rings and Ana could tell the ring was tempting him to put it on.
One of the other hobbits stopped him and the wraiths head jerked up. Ana decided for the hobbits sake she had to do something. She neighed and bolted running past the wraiths line of sight. The wraith shrieked and mounted following Ana along the road. Ana ran with all the strength she had eventually she ran off road and the wraith followed her. Ana weaved between the trees with ease but the wraith was still hot on her trail. The wraith caught up to Ana and made a grab for her reins.
"Return to Mordor!" The wraith hissed and took hold of Ana's reins.
Ana pushed the wraiths horse with her right side and pulled away so that the wraiths clutching hand was outstretched. A tree made contact with the wraiths arm pulling at Ana's reins but then it slacked as the wraith let go. Now Ana's mouth hurt even more along with the leather bridle digging into her skin.
Leaping over logs and streams, Ana lead the wraith towards a deeper stream. If there was one thing Ana knew about wraith horses, was that they couldn't make sharp turns without throwing their riders off. When Ana had escaped from Mordor she had trained herself to become agile in case she needed get away from Sauron's followers. They had proved useful in the past so she had faith in them. As Ana came to a deeper river, she made a quick turn to the left while the wraith kept going and his steed jumped into the river. The wraiths horse sank to its head. In panic the horse threw its head and the wraith shrieked in anger.