Disclaimer: The names of the Fell Beasts are mine! And everything else is Tolkien's of course. I'm not stealing his work, just doing justice to the Nazgûl and making my muses (them) happy by telling their story.

The water of the Bruinen receded when Lord Eldrond's spell dissipated. No signs of the Nazgûl were found, save for the torn remnant of a black robe. But even that was washed away in the flowing water. In a matter of minutes, the river went back to its normal level and there was no visible sign that the Nazgûl were ever there.

Their invisible forms floated in the murky parts of the river. They acclimated to the shadows, even though they were prone. The water had ill effects on the Nazgûl. It was not that they feared it. . .no, they were fear. It repelled them. This particular river's magic did naught to improve their chances of escaping the watery prison. Luck was with them when the Bruinen joined the Mitheithel at Tharbad to form the Gwathlo. Its name was shadow and that was what the Nazgûl required.

As memories of darkness permeated the water a damp hand reached out from its depths. The Witch King was not pleased at this moist turn of events. He crawled to the bank of the river and turned his head, calling for the other Nazgûl.

The shrill call of the Witch King caused ripples in the river and forms arose from the watery disturbance. They regrouped around their leader.

"How dare that halfling stand up to us!" Gothmog said practically seething with rage.

"The impudence of that elf that aided him!" Khamûl said shaking water from his form.

A ray of sunlight peeked out from the trees and they huddled in the shadows.

"We will gain our vengeance," the Witch-King stated. "For the moment we must heal in Minas Morgul. We must also see about getting new steeds."

"Lord Sauron will not be pleased," Dakian said as they crept in the shadows.

"He will punish us," Herumor whispered.

Fuinur ran his form into him. "Do not speak such ill thoughts or they will come to pass."

Adierel said thoughtfully, "Mayhap Lord Sauron will be pleased."

Melkan muttered, "Pleased that we lost the steeds that took years to breed in darkness? We have not the time to breed them again."

"No," Adierel said. "Pleased that now he has fueled more hatred from the Elven race."

Seykin chuckled. "Lord Sauron will enjoy the evil thoughts."

The Witch-King silenced them. "We will all find out in due time what Lord Sauron's will shall be. In the meantime, place your thoughts in darkness and plot revenge."

"Yes Captain," the Nazgûl chorused in unison.

The Nine arrived in Minas Morgul after hours of traversing the shadows on foot. The orcs that amassed there quickly parted as a cold wind swept into the mountain fortress. They had learned early on not to be in its deadly path. The Nazgûl drew strength from their mountain dwelling. It's evil permeated their being and they breathed in its aroma of death and torture.

They had dwelt in Minas Morgul for years; they were the ones who changed its name from Minas Ithil to Minas Morgul. When Sauron 'fell' because of Isildur they took the once fair place and devoured it with shadow. As their forms fell to darkness, so too did the valley. The living ghosts were the cause of the decay, along with the battalion of orcs they sought to train. They reveled in their citadel of evil, in their Ephel Dùath, their Mountains of Shadow.

New robes rested on their corporal forms. They became more like wraiths around beings and places of light, but in darkness and in the height of their power their bodies were able to make themselves known. Their seeming invisibility unclad was not a weakness; instead it was a strength when they were together, for they would use terror as an ally.

Putting on their armor and swords they made their way to an ornate throne room. An adamantine throne stood out among the other thrones, which formed a semi-circle about an elaborate structure. A large claw extended from the stone floor, outstretched and holding a dark crystal sphere. A ring of fire surrounded its base and rumor had it, among the orcs, that the fire had never gone out, for the Nazgûl's fueled it with evil and their servitude to Sauron.

The Witch-King sat in the middle of the semi-circle and the other Nazgûl took their respective thrones. They chanted softly in Black Speech:

"Goth Sauron. Hu-na Goth Sauron. Urdanog lab sharbtur."

The chant became faster and louder until it fell silent. The flames about the claw rose to the height of the Witch-King and subsided beneath the outstretched talons of the claw. The Nazgûl stood as the flames decreased and knelt before the crystal. A flaming eye appeared in its black depths and the smoky figure of Lord Sauron stood above them.

Rrau.

The Nazgûl arose and bowed their heads as they took their seats.

Much has transpired since I last spoke to all of you together.

"Indeed Lord Sauron," the Witch-King said. "We made chase after the Ring-bearer but he crossed into Elven lands and a spell prevented us from pursuing."

The Elves. . .they always get in the way. Suffering will be had for their interference, their hatred and battle rage will be used to my advantage.

"Our steeds were drowned my Lord," the Witch-King said. "The spell swept us down river and the mortality of the horses were not able to withstand the water's fury."

I see. . .it is fortunate that I was planning on bestowing a gift to you, my most loyal servants.

"A gift my Lord?"

Indeed. . .there are creatures from the abyss I have captured for expressly your purposes. They will aid you in your hunt for the Ring and in battle. They are Fell Beasts and reside in the dungeons of your citadel; they have been incubating for many centuries. Hatch them with fire, feed them with flesh, and train them for your purposes.

"Yes my Lord," the Witch-King bowed his head. "Many thanks for your generosity."

Thank me by wreaking havoc and terror across the land in my name. Thank me by retrieving my Ring.

The rest of the Nazgûl bowed their heads and Sauron's figure faded. The black crystal went dark once more and the flames descended.

The Witch-King stood and turned to the others. "Let us hatch darkness and nurture it for evil."

The Nazgûl extended their senses as they traversed the crumbling stairs to the dungeons. Orcs steered clear of their paths, which showed that even orcs possessed a level of intelligence that bordered on rationality. The Witch-King kicked open a barred door and ducked his head as he entered. The room was practically a cave. The air was dank and water dripped from stalactites. This was not surprising since the city was built into the mountain. Sauron must have anticipated his servant's desires and sealed the entrance to this room. Back in the times of Minas Ithil none dared venture to this particular dungeon, for there was talk of a sleepless malice.

"Illska," the Witch-King whispered, trembling in delight. He extended his hand, motioning for the others to do the same, and fire emanated from their outstretched palms. In the beginning they were repelled by fire and its light. But now, they had learned to harness it and feed off of its destructive tendencies.

The room started to shake and the Nazgûl stood still, continuing to bathe the walls with fire. Stalactites buckled under the shaking and those just coming into their length fell to the ground. The Nazgûl watched the walls of the cave glow red and saw oval forms bulge through the stone. The ovals started to shift and writhing figures came forth from them.

The Witch-King lowered his hand and the others did the same. "A baptism by fire," he stated.

They each walked toward their respective beast. The Witch-King chose the largest one and it blinked its eyes at him, eyes that were still filled with the fire of birth, so close to resembling its true home in the abyss. It seemed to be a debased form of a dragon and had an acrid smell. He looked to it and slowly said, "zo." Ignoring the steam rising from its form he stroked its flank and named it, "Kiloshui."

Khamûl knelt beside another. Placing a hand on its nose he called it, "Baurukola."

Gothmog took his hand away from the hilt of his sword when the fell beast nudged it and nodded calling it, "Kordatarsi."

Dakian placed a hand on the fell beast's head and reached into its mind learning its name. "Odavathar."

Adierel nodded to his fell beast calling it, "Namatringa."

Herumor stood before his fell beast and whispered, "Mirundume."

Fuinur regarded his fell beast, which regarded him back and spoke, "Hakheru."

Seykin motioned his fell beast over and called it, "Druvorima."

Melkan let the fell beast sniff his hand and dubbed it, "Motshamoore."

The Witch-King looked to the other Nazgûl and nodded. "We shall have to start training them immediately. Time is of the utmost importance and we must make sure it is on the side of evil. So. . .let us find our Fell Beasts some flesh."

The Nazgûl walked into the dungeons and ordered the torturemaster to flay some prisoners that they didn't require anymore. They seemed pleased when the Fell Beasts engulfed the flesh and lapped up the blood. The orcs quickly learned about the Fell Beasts and made the proper arrangements to acquire meats for the Nazgûl's dark creatures.

As the Fell Beasts grew, so to did the Nazgûl's ability to command and control them. They mounted the creatures and were able to fly them about the mountains. They quickly became known as the Winged Shadows.

Translations:

"Goth Sauron. Hu-na Goth Sauron. Urdanog lab sharbtur."- Lord Sauron. Enter Lord Sauron. Command your servants

Rrau-Sit

Illska-Evil

Zo-Mine

Author's Note: Took me a couple years, with lots of research but I finally updated! With even more research I plan on writing more chapters with flashbacks and backgrounds of the Nazgûl. Yes, I even plan on writing about Dol Guldur, the attack on Thranduil's realm and the attack on Osgiliath when Boromir held it (flashbacks will be my friend), I just haven't mentioned these events yet. So basically, this chapter sets up things to come, lol. In this chapter figured that I may as well give the Fell Beasts names, they're each combinations of Black Speech and Quenya, if you really want to know what they mean, just let me know and I'll post them in the next chapter. Anyway, please review! Lures fell beast away from the review button with some meat