Chapter Four. Gimli's Wager
The Nazgul turned their flight toward the mountains, confident that the fall had served its purpose, save one. Ji Indur gazed past the clouds and into the crevice, the beast had fallen... but what of its riders? Had they been destroyed as well? A great deal of cursing drew the wraiths attention. "Gandalf!! Faramir, Legolas... hobbits? Oh... there wasn't water down there before..." Indur cried out in a fell voice for the beast to let the dwarf drop, but the fellbeast was not responsive. It gazed into the pit in silence, with a cry of annoyance the Nazgul spurred its mount, down they went, until the rider could smell the fellowship below. So they had not perished...
The wizard turned to the wraith in silence, the light did not glow from him as strongly now as it had before. "Black rider, your captive is of no use to you now." He was answered by nothing, the Nazgul paid seemingly no heed. Legolas reached for his bow and stopped stunned, he checked himself thoroughly and turned despairing eyes toward the river. Faramir to, suffered the same problem. The fellbeast hissed, enjoying the rain on its dry skin, and the wind tugged despairingly at the dark rider's cloak. They landed on the bank where a great wing was spread. The wraith let out a wail that turned into a hiss, and the fellowship covered their ears, save Gandalf, who listened in silence. Gimli, still held in the fellbeasts foot, raised his ax and...
The fellbeast screamed and released its prey, allowing the dwarf to fall with a splash into the water, Gimli came up looking stunned. "This water tastes of Ork filth!! Phtwa!!" Faramir swan quickly over, unsure if the dwarf would need assistance. Still the rider did not move, even as his beast licked its bleeding foot. For the eyes like ice were fixated beyond them, and a shudder had taken him from within. Pain, deep and piercing, what... the ring!! my ring!! The rider cried out and spurred hard, but the beast refused to budge, to much in pain to feel the pulling at its mouth. Panic welled up within the Nazgul, he screamed again, pushing his boots into the beasts flesh. Now the fellbeast heeded, it sprang from the cavern and into the coming night.
The foul smell faded, and the rain seemed to fall more gently. Legolas watched the retreating form with a mixture of relief and anger. Pushing emotions aside he dove down to see if their weapons could be salvaged. "Are you all right Gimli?! Being carried around like that!" The dwarf smiled, and bent over slightly to whisper, "Truth be told, I will never fly again, nor would I repeat that experience for a mine full of unknown stones!" Pippin gaped, for a dwarf that was quite an oath. Merry continued to stare after the fellbeast and its rider, his mind obviously recalling another such imposing form. Legolas came up with a gasp, "Gone! The river has washed it all away! And no sign of your sword either Faramir." The steward swore bellow his breath, then sank down with a sigh. "Lost... we have lost them surely... and this canyon... how are we to escape it?! Though it matters little, they are at the summit by now."
Merry turned his eyes sharp. "Enough!!! Will you always give up hope?! I stood behind fear itself and stabbed it when all hope seemed lost!! You are a warrior! Instead of giving up hope, help us!! I will not give up on strider!!" The fellowship stared in silent shock at the hobbit; even Merry seemed surprised at his outburst. Then all eyes turned to Faramir, he stood tense, shaking lightly. "Faramir? I, I meant no harm... I'm just so..."
"Do not, say not one more word. Never double guess yourself... a person such as you has no need of it, I had forgotten..." The steward turned and shook his head, "I had forgotten what the presence of the Nazgul does to men, and I gave in to sorrow needlessly... for the odds have been worse! And even then we prevailed!" Gandalf smiled lightly, "Steward..." Faramir turned to the wizard, "Your king calls for you, it is time we depart from here." Faramir did not move, but then nodded, turning he regarded the cavernous wall.
"Gandalf!! Can you not hear me?! Send me a signal, a sign?! Send anything... Aragorn sat down, eyes dark. There would be no answer, that much he could tell. "The world changes, and then fades, or shatters... and always the lion resides, in his mind...
The lion within, he hunts to kill, here time stands still with his iron will. And the darkness spreads as does this world... only to shatter... And the memories pull within this world... my fight doesn't matter... The fire within, why does it chill? Here time stands still with his iron will.
I stand alone... ...but he's by my side.
The darkness within, my heart with would fill, here time stands still with his iron will. And the pain pushes me from his world... I will not forget! And the silence calls me to my world... I do not regret! My fight it shall be, to free myself, here time stands still with his iron will.
The lion is watching... ... ... those eyes...
My battle seems over, I stumble and fall, but deep in the darkness my spirit survives!
We Hunt to kill... he hunts to kill... to kill my will... time stands still...
And still I stand.
Aragorn turned, the great beast roared, eyes flashing, and once more leapt for him. Just an image! I will not fight an image! "You have no power here!! Leave fell creature, I yield not to thee!!" The lion seemed to pause, eyes flashing, but it barred its teeth and leapt. A flash of light pierced the darkness, and the lion faded with a cry. "Aragorn, do you hear?" The tears of joy threatened to come, but Aragorn brushed them away, "I hear Gandalf!! Tell me of what you spoke of before!!" the voice seemed fainter when it next came. "Discover the identity of the lion Aragorn... do not..." the light vanished, all was silent.
"Ga...Gandalf... ...the lion?"