Author's note: I own nothing, I make nothing.
Chapter Three. The Fellowship Reforged
Walking with Ji Indur
The wraith led the king a distance from the others, and they traveled quickly in the falling darkness.
Around them all living things grew silent; Aragorn shivered, as the air around him became chilled from the creature's foul presence. (This one is different,) Aragorn watched his guide carefully, mind racing. (The others give off a feeling of such malice, it could drive one mad... but he gives of nothing... and that worries me all the more.) Finally, the wraith stopped. He turned to the man, the cold wind caught his cloak, ruffling it.
Then he lowered his hood. Aragorn cried out as the Witch King inside him opened his eyes, and reached out…
Minas Morgul: Before the Battle of Pelennor Fields
"Do not go... send, Khamul... he will lead them..."
The Witch King's eyes flashed. No Orc or Uruk-hai, no easterner hungry for blood, none under Sauron's thrall dared to speak as this Nazgul did. Even the Wizard Saruman held his tongue in the Witch Kings presence; the other wraiths would never question him, save this one. "Be silent... I heed our lord's wishes... not yours." The ice in his voice, so much sharper than the others, forced Ji Indur into silence.
"You will not return as you left..." it was a hiss of warning, but also one of assurance. "...I go." Ji Indur bowed his head; his authority was not near enough to push the matter further. He left the tower and mounted his fellbeast. It cried out as it plummeted toward the broken ground before spreading its wings and vanishing over the mountains.
.
..Alone the Witch King stood, his ridged form silent. Ji Indur had never spoke without reason... but he did not have the power to prophesize. And to presume such a thing...
The ring upon his finger glowed as the Eye sent new strength into his mind and spirit.
"Break them!" It shrieked, "Tear the flesh from the bones of the White City! Crush them! For Me, my Witch king! Destroy Them! Destroy all!"
A scream rent the air, such a cry even his brethren would flee; the Witch King's shriek of pleasure and pain, of bloodlust, pulling into himself the power of the One for the battle on the fields. With his Lord's will he called the Nazgul to him, and sent them forth to bring despair and fear to the hearts of men.
Walking with Ji Indur
"You... you knew... how you could... when I... I did not..."
The rider pulled his cowl back over his face. His eyes, like dying embers in the shadow of his hood were empty. "I failed... it was... his will..."
Aragorn closed his eyes, a feeling, a feeling the likes of which he had never felt before engulfed him. Such grief... such despair... and loss, what loss could be so deep? (I failed! I failed him! My lord… Where are you!? Where are you when your servant cries for you?!) The will of the Witch King pulled like a noose, drowning him in the wraiths pain, but above it all came a horror that choked him all the more. (This creature, He feels! He feels as if he still was flesh! But not for anything save the Eye!)
The world swayed, Aragorn was stunned to see the ground rushing up to meet him.
"Where are you... we cry out... return... do not leave us... we were loyal... yet we failed you... come to us... Lord?"
Minas Tirith
As the last rays of the sun faded, the fellowship left the great city. Faramir and Legolas at the head, Gimli and two hobbits behind them. Gandalf watched them as they disappeared over the fields.
The fellowship had changed, old members were gone, new members had taken their place. The leader had changed, the purpose had changed. But still... the spirit was the same. The Fellowship lived. And as long as that was so, he would not lose hope.
Behind him Frodo and Samwise watched their comrades leave, torn still by staying behind. In the White Tower Eowyn stood by Arwen as she slept, her pillow wet from tears. Standing alone in the courtyard, the White Tree grew darker still, but the bud that Gandalf had placed with such care lay unaffected.
So the fellowship Rode forth from Minas Tirith, and onto Mordor.