The Eye of the Ice Dragon

by Elarin

To the Readers: has anyone read into the Histories of Middle Earth to know the name of the Numenorean Lord who became the Witch King/Nazgul (I don't think it was Tar-Pharazon… or was it)? If so mention it on the reviews for I will be very thankful since I need it for my stories.

*Silme= "starlight" in Quenya

*

Chapter 6 | Where the Road Leads…

Two great ice blue eyes set in a frightful face of glittering white silver scales opened…

*

It rained the next morning.

But it was not common rain, and in the springs of Mirkwood the rain came down almost as winter slush, cold and frozen water to the touch. Both Glorfindel and Legolas found this weather odd and had went to Elrond to speak to him about it. But just as before Elrond had no answers to this at all.

Elrond walked into Telperiel's room to see her sitting up in her bed staring off to nowhere. "Good morning, little nimloth," He said affectionately, "How are you?" She did not smile at him, it seemed as if she had not heard his entrance at all; Elrond knitted his brow in concern. "Telperiel?" He asked nearing her bed.

"He is coming." She whispered and finally tears broke from her glassy gaze, "I see his face in my dreams he shall not leave me." Elrond sat by her and embraced her tightly.

"Who?"

"The shadowed one whose face you cannot see." she told him. The thought of the Nazgul came into Elrond's mind, "But I can see his face, and when he nears the song of the world turns to shudder and there is a terrible silence from where he comes and where he steps."

"He shall not enter here." Elrond said, "This forest is guarded to closely by those who watch." He sincerely wanted Mithrandir to return soon though because his guest was beginning to earn curious and suspicious gazes from other elves that were about and Thranduil was slowly beginning to believe the talk that she was a bad omen and ill luck was about her. Elrond promptly ignored the gossip and chose instead to care for her as best he could.

He had already spoke with Glorfindel the night before. They had already planned they were taking her to Imladris with them in three days, and if Mithrandir did not arrive within those three days they would be off because at the looks of it the wood elves were not fond of the strange mortal they had brought with them.

"Someone else watches as well," she whispered quietly closing her eyes and lulling herself upon Elrond's chest, "And I know he won't let the shadow touch me."

"Who?" Elrond asked quietly.

She shook her head.

"You would not like him much, for he is not a friend of elves, nor dwarves, nor men." She told him, "But neither is he a friend of shadows." She managed a slight smile, "But he is my friend."

Elrond decided not to press on the subject perhaps figuring he didn't want to know what was not a friend of elves…

*

They had donned heavy cloaks and took their bows and repertoire of arrows with them.

Legolas and Glorfindel went out in the harsh frozen rain trailing the borders of Mirkwood on foot deciding it was best to leave the horses behind. Legolas looked wistfully at the branches above on the trees that had practically been glazed with ice and the flowers that died beneath them. "Some fell thing brings this storm." He said. Glorfindel said nothing in reply but looked about. They knew that they could not climb the trees for safety if they needed to since the ice would not allow them to do so.

"You know what I find strange." said Glorfindel finally, "There has not been one stray orc out here since the attack a fortnight ago."

"I have noticed that also. You don't suppose the Nazgul that came here ordered them off?" Legolas asked him. Glorfindel looked at the frozen bows puzzled.

"If so, why?" he wondered aloud, "He seemed to make it obvious that he was on a rampage to kill all the guards on the western border and make his way in and I know, as you have told me before hand, you were having trouble with orcs and goblins about your western borders as well as some occasional wargs. Those attacks have since ceased."

"It is a riddle to me as well, friend, and I too have no answers."

Glorfindel sighed deeply at Legolas's reply.

"It seems we are all lacking answers." said the other dryly but managed a smile, "Come, let us go about a little past the border and see if we can find some clues."

Legolas drew and notched one of his arrows, "One cannot be to cautious." He replied to Glorfindel's raised eyebrow and then the elder elf mimicked his action.

"That is true."

*

The sound cracking twig under horses hooves startled Glorfindel.

Both elves stopped hearing the noise. It had been two hours since they passed from the central border to the northeast of the wood and it had been the first noise they heard amid the silence for the exception of the frozen rain continuing to beat down of the trees and the dead leaves of the forest floor.

"Tiro!" hissed Glorfindel as they neared a clearing with their silent steps.

Before them stood a Nazgul upon his black horse that still carried the scars from the elves who had before tried to stop them. The faceless shadow hissed and its horse stomped upon the frozen leaves impatiently.

Put down your weapons… hissed the black rider in a voiceless sound that seemed like the frozen winds within a nightmare.

"Not likely." spat Glorfindel narrowing his eyes toward the thing of Mordor as he stepped out from behind a great elm tree.

"You are not welcome here." added Legolas nimbly stepping by his side.

The Nazgul merely hissed with laughter causing both elves to shiver. But Glorfindel stood firm and a terrible light shone in his eyes.

"What is your business here?" Glorfindel demanded. The Nazgul hissed.

Bring me the girl…The mortal girl who is of no concern of yours…

"Why do you seek her?" He continued but did not put down his weapon nor loosened his grip upon the bow one bit.

… she is of no concern of yours… he hissed again and his invisible gaze turned to Legolas whose own senses began to falter. Glorfindel stepped in front of his friend in order to be a barrier between him and the Nazgul's enchantment. But the Nazgul began to back away from the two elves seeing the power that lied in Glorfindel for he had come from the West long ago and a light shone in his eyes to be reckoned with. … bring me the girl in three nights here, to this place, bring her to me and Mirkwood shall not fall under my hand…

At hearing this Legolas let fly one of his arrows at the enemy. But the Nazgul moved faster unsheathing his black sword and in one swift movement split the arrow and charged for Legolas letting out a terrible scream that shocked both elves for a moment, but more so Legolas than Glorfindel, for he was young yet and a child of the race of elves that never saw the light of the Two Trees.

The Nazgul took his opportunity and flew between them kicking down Glorfindel then slashing violently at the Legolas.

After he finished his business he turned to Glorfindel who was unsure and dizzied by the Nazgul's scream though he had already drawn his own sword.

…Let this be a warning to Thranduil, that his house shall fall son by son until my wish is done… and it fled away, Glorfindel ignored him and turned to Legolas who had taken a hard blow to the side and was bleeding profusely.

"Ai!" he cried out coming to his friend's side. Glorfindel ignored the cold of the rain and ripped off a shred of his cloak and bound Legolas's wound with it. "Legolas! Can you hear me?" Glorfindel called to his friend. "Henye galad, Legolas! Henye i hu-galad!" Glorfindel said in prayer.

"Elbereth…" muttered Legolas opening his eyes slowly, "By Elbereth…" He gasped clutching his side his face turning pale. Glorfindel collected the other's bow and sword then picked him up.

"I will get you to Elrond, stay with me Legolas, stay with the light…" he said the younger elf quietly.

"Glorfindel," Legolas whispered his eyes growing heavy with poison, "Glorfindel, I am cold…"

*

From far away the high pitched scream made Telperiel's gaze turn sullen and she clutched to Elrond more tightly. "He is here…" she whispered. Elrond looked out immediately concerned. Glorfindel and Legolas were out there among the guards of the forest and so was the Nazgul.

"Why does he want you?" Elrond voiced his thoughts in a whisper. She merely shook her head and said nothing and Elrond felt her skin grow like ice beneath him as she shivered terror overtaking her. Elrond hugged her more tightly laying his lips on her soft hair and silently whispering to her words of comfort in Quenya:

…Nai hiruvalye ore urenen, Telperiel, ar nai hiruvalye i-tie nuin elenya…*

Telperiel weeped silently in fear.

Elrond felt helpless, but he gave her the only reassurance he could.

"Do not fear." Elrond whispered to her, "You are coming home with me, Glorfindel and I will bring you to the safety of Imladris, for there no darkness will fall upon it as long as we abide there."

"Thank you." She whispered blinking away the tears, but her fear had not left her, and her blind silver eyes seemed distant as if she herself were searching for an answer.

*

"Ai!" cried out one of the elvish archers seeing Glorfindel carry Legolas in. Legolas was a bloody mess and Glorfindel was iced over from the frozen rain.

"Find me a room and get me Elrond!" Glorfindel ordered. One of the guards quickly led Glorfindel to the nearest empty room in the soldiers quarters, "Water!" Glorfindel said, "A bowl of water, quickly!" he bid him. No one asked questions, they simply obeyed not wanting to see their prince die.

Elrond came in soon after Thranduil following him for news traveled fast in his halls.

"Varda!" Thranduil whispered his gaze becoming forlorn as he looked at his badly injured son.

"It was the Nazgul." Glorfindel told Elrond.

"And what was the poison?" asked Elrond quickly as the servant placed the bowl of water, and cloths, on a nearby table, "Did you catch a glimpse of the hilt of his sword?"

"Indeed, it was the first thing I did," said Glorfindel, "It was a mixture of Nightshade though I do not know the identities of the other poisons. Though it was writ: Azelkhuz, and Burzumlik in the black tongue, and those poisons I know not." He said as Elrond untied his dressing and looked at the wound and rolled up his sleeves.

"Get me athelas, and some elyloth." He told the servant who stood by the doorway ready, "and a balm of nimloth." He added seeing Legolas's eyes dilating.

He began to cough out blood and his wound had turned into a foul dark violet color.

"Will he live?" asked Thranduil his voice deep with anger and concern. The two servants brought in the herbs that were needed and Elrond got to work.

"It's too soon to tell, but his chances are good seeing that you have one of the greatest healers in Middle Earth here." Glorfindel told him soberly.

"Legolas," said Elrond softly, "Legolas, can you hear me?"

"Alas… the world is dimming…" said the elf darkly and coughed violently once more. Elrond wiped the blood away from his mouth and began cleaning the wound.

"Not yet." He said resolved and began spreading the white flower balm upon the palms of Legolas's hands and upon his brow, its sweet fragrance filled the room. "Help me get his tunic off," but Glorfindel was already ahead of him cutting it off with his dagger and throwing the bloody rags aside.

Legolas's breathing was becoming labored.

"Legolas stay with me." whispered Elrond under his breath and rubbed the dry athelas between his hands until it dusted into a fine powder and he mixed it into the bowl of water.

"I see… shadows…" Legolas said between coughs. Glorfindel sat byt him on the bed and gripped his shoulders firmly looking into Legolas's eyes.

"Do not leave yet. You are needed here still."

*

Later that night…

Elrond sighed deeply and stepped outside of the room where Thranduil was pacing. "He will live." He told the king. "And I am beginning to think it is best if we leave." He added.

"If that thing could strike down one of the best archers in Mirkwood," said Thranduil sullenly, "I would dare not let you head back to Imladris alone."

"It wants Telperiel, Thranduil." Elrond told him recalling Glorfindel's account of what happened, "It will go where she goes, and if she goes away from here so will the black rider."

"And you will lead it to Imladris?" Thranduil asked his dubiously. Imladris had been hidden for many years now and Sauron knew not where the haven for many of the elves lied west of the Misty Mountains.

"Nonsense," came a familiar voice, both elven lords turned to see Mithrandir, "They shall go upon the backs of the great eagles who bore me here, like Turgon and his city of Gondolin, for Sauron's eyes shall not see them."

"Where in the Valar have you been, Mithrandir?" demanded Thranduil.

"Peace! I am aware of what happened and I am sorry for it!" Gandalf told them and sighed deeply. "Indeed the Nazgul wants Telperiel, but you shall not let him claim her if it be for her sake alone. For that Nazgul, the Witch King of Angmar, to her grave misfortune, is her father."

Elrond looked at the istari perplexed as if the news had hit him like a slap across the face. The Nazgul was her father? Elrond shivered at the thought.

"What?" Elrond asked in a whisper. He could not see a Nazgul having a daughter, especially so fair and lighthearted a daughter, but then again there were so many broken pieces to this puzzle that Elrond was becoming unsure of the entire tale. Thranduil was only further confused with everything.

"That was the Witch King?" He asked knowing that the Witch King, former lord of Angmar, was the chief of the Nine Black Riders.

"Indeed." said Gandalf with a sigh and he took out a pouch from his pocket. "Take this," he said handing it to Thranduil, "Mix it with some of your wine and have Legolas drink it, it should make the wound fade away and bring back his strength bit by bit."

"Thank you." said the Elven King, "You have a habit of appearing when you are needed." He added.

"Old habits die hard," Gandalf said with some good humor but his expression became serious once more, "You and Glorfindel will have to pack tonight, bring Telperiel with you, Gwaihir and his companion shall bear us to Imladris." He told them.

"In this storm?" asked Thranduil, "I suppose the eagles had to fly over it."

"They did, and its clouds served as ample covering for no one knew from whence they came and no one will know then where they go." said Gandalf, "But the Witch King will sense that his daughter is no longer here and he will fly to search elsewhere, though I doubt he will find Imladris for the rivers guard its secret well."

Thranduil sighed deeply,

"Then you have my leave to go, and I pray the Valar guide your way." Elrond and Thranduil clasped each others forearms in good will.

"I promised you I would send you archers," Elrond told Thranduil, "You have my vow as soon as I enter into Imladris I will dispatch a force to aid you."

"My deepest thanks, Lord Elrond," Thranduil said, "May the light of Elbereth bless your road as well as Telperiel's. I wish you the best."

Elrond's expression turned to a grim mask as he thought about Telperiel.

"And you also my friend."

*

As soon as they left those hallways and Glorfindel had split up to find his own rooms Elrond turned to Gandalf more confused than ever.

"The Witch King is her father?" Elrond asked again as if he was unsure that the wizard had told his correctly. Gandalf nodded.

"Yes, he is." He said bleakly.

"But… how?" Elrond asked as if seeing no other question appropriate for the matter. Gandalf shook his head.

"How is he her father or how could she live that long and remain unchanged?" asked Gandalf glancing at the other.

"Both." said Elrond.

"Have you ever heard that old myth…? The one just about as old from the times when the elves at the Meres of Awakening were dealing with the shadows about them? The one of the Ice Dragon?" asked Gandalf.

In reply, Elrond recited a verse from a fragment of an old lay without a title:

"Beyond the frozed lands of the north, beneath the shadows of the darkness, when the world still lay asleep in twilight there rose from the deep the cold pits of Angband a dire thing in winter's glare. Its raiment was snow white as Varda's glistening sight, and its wings glimmered with mithril sheen and its eyes the frozen cast of ice that stopped time within its gaze… so beautiful it was that the Dark One locked it in a northern maze, for his envy had grown against his mold, and forever would it sleep beneath the icy earth in cold and silent slumber…"

"But what does that have to do with anything?" asked Elrond. Gandalf stopped in the middle of the hall way and stared at him

"…its eyes the frozen cast of ice that stopped time within its gaze…" Gandalf told him. "Glaurung was not the first of dragons." Gandalf told him as they began walking again, "Long ago when the world was yet young the first Dark Lord, whose name I dare not utter, experimented with the formation of dragons. His first whelp was a white one, borne of the snow and of the ice and he is named Aiglos in your tongue, the Ice Dragon, in the legend of men.

"Aiglos was so fair in raiment and form that his maker scoffed it for he was looking for a thing of terror, not beauty. So he created vaults in the north, a labyrinth of mazes which you found the entrance to in Ered Mithrin, in which the dwarves would not enter for Aiglos is not a thing they speak of, and there he locked up Aiglos never to be found again.

"But the dragon had a strange bane to it, that one who looked into his eyes would be caught in a spell where time would not affect him and his memory would slowly fade. So it was with Telperiel, for the Witch King abandoned her there, so possessive was he of his daughter, whose true name is Silme." Gandalf finished.

"Silme." Elrond whispered, "So fair a name for a daughter who came out of darkness."

*

AN:  so does anyone know who the Witch King was before in his mortal days, before he was Witch King??? anyone??

*translation for Elrond's blessing to Telperiel: "…May you find warmth within your heart, Telperiel, and may you find the road beneath the stars…"