Chapter One. Terror in the skies
Aragorn watched the White Lion as it stalked him silently; it's just an illusion... so should it spring at me I need not retreat... It roared, teeth flashing as black spittle leaked from its mouth. The two kings glared at each other, neither moving, Aragorn would not be pushed, no more memories! No more images that never needed to be seen! The lion sprang, crushing him against the floor, pain shot up his spine, so much for old logic! If it can touch me, "See how you like this then!!" with his free hand he grabbed the mane and pulled sharply. The creature cried out and snapped at the offending limb, he moved it just out of reach. Once again they regarded each other, as one great paw came hurling toward Aragorn's face...
The Nazgul flew in silence, it was easier that way. For even the Fellbeasts could not tolerate them well when they shrieked. Khamul looked over his shoulder, his fiery eyes focused on his fellow riders. He made a short gesture, no more than a jerk of the hand, they knew it well. Quickly all lowered their mounts to the ground and silenced them, taking cover behind the rocky outer walls of Mordor. There was a smell... something it the air that spoke of ancient power... and strong power they needed to avoid, for now... The king moaned, Ji Indur silenced him swiftly. For a short time there was silence, then an echo... distant and growing... In the past one would have flown forth, to lead the threat away, no longer... the change was certainly upon them now. none stirred, they were unwilling to risk themselves for the unit, such a thing could speed up the fade...
Ji Indur hissed, his eyes hard, with a stiff motion he placed the King in Khamul's care. "...I will return, though I give you this... wait for me..." Into Khamul's hand fell the Nazgul's ring, the Easterling shook slightly. With a cry Fellbeast and rider sprang into the air, vanishing from sight.
"There Gandalf!! I see one!!" The Dragon hissed deep in his throat, and bellowed a challenge. The fellbeast shrieked, as did its rider, and swooped above the line of vision, vanishing into the glare of the sun. Legolas notched an arrow, before the wizard stilled him. "Do not bother Legolas, unless you intend to shoot his mount. Arrows will still not harm them!" Legolas nodded, but the arrow stayed on the string. Gimli opened his eyes for a moment, and shut them quickly. "Can we not even meet in battle on the ground?!" Faramir drew his blade, "Gandalf! Will he take us higher?!" The wizard turned to the dragon, "So we meet them, it is done!!" the dragon sent them upwards with a powerfull flap of wings, into the glare of the sun, where the Nazgul waited. Only then was Gandalf close enough to identify the rider, and he grew pale. "Ji Indur, the sky scourge... be on your guard all! This is where his fight is strongest!"
The Nazgul let forth a shriek, the Fellbeast swept down upon them, tearing at their backs, but whirling away before arrow of sword could strike it. "He is swift! Can you hit them Legolas?" the elf shook his head, "Once more he is to far off! And the sun is blinding!!" Gandalf raised his staff, above them a cloud shifted, covering the suns glare. Instantly the Nazgul was exsposed, screaming with rage it swept bellow them, dragging its sword along the Dragons armored belly. A laugh tore forth from the great beast's throat, one scaled claw swiping out and tearing a gash in the winged serpent's side. the creature convulsed in agony, but the will of its master drove it on, and it flew upward, claws reaching out to tear into fellowship flesh.
Gimli had not once raised his head, too worried by the heights to worry about the beast, "Gimli!! It's upon you!!!" The dwarf raised his head for a brief moment, then cried out in pain and anger as the talons racked him and one great claw bore him aloft, even as an arrow pierced the sinew of the beast's thigh. The rider shrieked once more, and vanished underneath the close lying clouds.
The Dragon tilted its head back, and gave Gandalf a warning growl, "I was charged to find and protect the fellowship, and that I do!" Gandalf nodded, "A distraction it must have been, and time is now short, be swift my friend! We must retrieve him quickly!!" Gandalf turned to the others, "Hold tight!!" The dragon pulled in the great wings and plummeted after its prey, swift enough that the cries of shock and fear from his five passengers were snatched from their throats.
Aragorn watched the White Lion as it stalked him silently; it's just an illusion... so should it spring at me I need not retreat... It roared, teeth flashing as black spittle leaked from its mouth. The two kings glared at each other, neither moving, Aragorn would not be pushed, no more memories! No more images that never needed to be seen! The lion sprang, crushing him against the floor, pain shot up his spine, so much for old logic! If it can touch me, "See how you like this then!!" with his free hand he grabbed the mane and pulled sharply. The creature cried out and snapped at the offending limb, he moved it just out of reach. Once again they regarded each other, as one great paw came hurling toward Aragorn's face...
The Nazgul flew in silence, it was easier that way. For even the Fellbeasts could not tolerate them well when they shrieked. Khamul looked over his shoulder, his fiery eyes focused on his fellow riders. He made a short gesture, no more than a jerk of the hand, they knew it well. Quickly all lowered their mounts to the ground and silenced them, taking cover behind the rocky outer walls of Mordor. There was a smell... something it the air that spoke of ancient power... and strong power they needed to avoid, for now... The king moaned, Ji Indur silenced him swiftly. For a short time there was silence, then an echo... distant and growing... In the past one would have flown forth, to lead the threat away, no longer... the change was certainly upon them now. none stirred, they were unwilling to risk themselves for the unit, such a thing could speed up the fade...
Ji Indur hissed, his eyes hard, with a stiff motion he placed the King in Khamul's care. "...I will return, though I give you this... wait for me..." Into Khamul's hand fell the Nazgul's ring, the Easterling shook slightly. With a cry Fellbeast and rider sprang into the air, vanishing from sight.
"There Gandalf!! I see one!!" The Dragon hissed deep in his throat, and bellowed a challenge. The fellbeast shrieked, as did its rider, and swooped above the line of vision, vanishing into the glare of the sun. Legolas notched an arrow, before the wizard stilled him. "Do not bother Legolas, unless you intend to shoot his mount. Arrows will still not harm them!" Legolas nodded, but the arrow stayed on the string. Gimli opened his eyes for a moment, and shut them quickly. "Can we not even meet in battle on the ground?!" Faramir drew his blade, "Gandalf! Will he take us higher?!" The wizard turned to the dragon, "So we meet them, it is done!!" the dragon sent them upwards with a powerfull flap of wings, into the glare of the sun, where the Nazgul waited. Only then was Gandalf close enough to identify the rider, and he grew pale. "Ji Indur, the sky scourge... be on your guard all! This is where his fight is strongest!"
The Nazgul let forth a shriek, the Fellbeast swept down upon them, tearing at their backs, but whirling away before arrow of sword could strike it. "He is swift! Can you hit them Legolas?" the elf shook his head, "Once more he is to far off! And the sun is blinding!!" Gandalf raised his staff, above them a cloud shifted, covering the suns glare. Instantly the Nazgul was exsposed, screaming with rage it swept bellow them, dragging its sword along the Dragons armored belly. A laugh tore forth from the great beast's throat, one scaled claw swiping out and tearing a gash in the winged serpent's side. the creature convulsed in agony, but the will of its master drove it on, and it flew upward, claws reaching out to tear into fellowship flesh.
Gimli had not once raised his head, too worried by the heights to worry about the beast, "Gimli!! It's upon you!!!" The dwarf raised his head for a brief moment, then cried out in pain and anger as the talons racked him and one great claw bore him aloft, even as an arrow pierced the sinew of the beast's thigh. The rider shrieked once more, and vanished underneath the close lying clouds.
The Dragon tilted its head back, and gave Gandalf a warning growl, "I was charged to find and protect the fellowship, and that I do!" Gandalf nodded, "A distraction it must have been, and time is now short, be swift my friend! We must retrieve him quickly!!" Gandalf turned to the others, "Hold tight!!" The dragon pulled in the great wings and plummeted after its prey, swift enough that the cries of shock and fear from his five passengers were snatched from their throats.