Chapter Six. Mt. Doom's Shadow, continued
Khamul drew reign at the foot of the great lava flow, they wanted to go to the top, to the chamber that lay within... the others shrieked their impatience, the fellbeasts cried out in fear. "...We go no further... until he is risen to us..." a hiss arose, but none questioned. Ji Indur was silent as well; his gaze did not leave the ring on his finger. They dismounted the beasts, but the creatures did not fly away, consumed they were with terror, but to leave unbidden was death.
The king offered no sound as a cloak was laid out and he was placed upon it, save when Khamul brushed his gauntleted fingers across his throat. a cry rose and Ji Indur sprang, eyes usually so cold burning with hellfire! The wraith drew his sword to block the attack, and both blinked as a long blade came between theirs. "Enough... we stand together, or not at all..." The Witch Kings blade shone with a thin layer of frost, the air became colder, and his eyes... Khamul drew back with a snarl; Indur looked for a moment at the wraith lord, then lowered his blade. "...Forgive... the change, it is the change..." the wraiths cried out, if the change was now this strong among them, then they were running out of time... Ji Indur threw back his hood, gazing silently at his brethren.
They wailed, lo! His form has faded! He is nearly gone from us!! "...You should not have removed your ring..." The Nazgul offered no response, one hand running gently over the object. "...Had the worst happened...I could not doom our cause..." The Witch King had turned away from them, his eyes fixed to the fire that was Mt. Doom. "Time is short..." the Nazgul stood silent, their gazes fixed upon the fire, a hiss came from the dark assembly. "When night falls... we will perform the summoning... should all go well," The cold blade slashed a circle into the drying lava, and the ring burned red...
Gandalf watched the sky in silence, the shriek had come again, and the wizard welcomed it. "Soon now, very soon..." The others were gazing as well, for the cry of the eagle had brought them comfort in the dark lands shadow.
Samwise looked down, his eyes wide. "I hope you were right about this!! Mr. Frodo! For if they do not need help, they will not be pleased to see us!!" Frodo laughed, secure in the mighty eagles talons. "They will welcome the food at least! And if the eagles said we were needed I trust them! It feels right Sam, we should be with them, as close to one fellowship as we were before." Sam nodded, it raised his spirits to get Frodo away from the tree... but to go to Mordor to do so... it seemed like bad to worse! "As said, I hope you are right! Look! I see them now!!"
The great birds screamed their greeting as they spread their wings and dropped hobbits and provisions at the top of the crevice. One by one mighty wings carried the rest of the fellowship to the surface. Merry and Pippen ran forward with a cry, glad to see them. Legolas looked at Gandalf, who merely smiled and shrugged. Faramir was distraught to think that there were now two more members of the company, until Frodo explained the eagle's message.
"The Windlord came to us, as we sat in the White Tree's shadow. And he told us that you were in need of assistance, here we are! We bring provisions, and Sam has some new weaponry, for the eagles heard the fall of the dragon. And they knew it caused trouble." Legolas looked at the bow and quiver, they were not his own... but would surely suffice. Daggers from the dragon's den there were, old magic woven in the hilts. And two swords of ancient forge. "We knew not what you would need... so we grabbed what was closest; I hope it suits well..." Gandalf laughed, "Well you have come, with many blessings; worry not hobbits, all is well."
The fellowship stood before the fallen gates and made camp, they would rest until nightfall, and then...
...Then they would enter the shadow of Mt. Doom.
Khamul drew reign at the foot of the great lava flow, they wanted to go to the top, to the chamber that lay within... the others shrieked their impatience, the fellbeasts cried out in fear. "...We go no further... until he is risen to us..." a hiss arose, but none questioned. Ji Indur was silent as well; his gaze did not leave the ring on his finger. They dismounted the beasts, but the creatures did not fly away, consumed they were with terror, but to leave unbidden was death.
The king offered no sound as a cloak was laid out and he was placed upon it, save when Khamul brushed his gauntleted fingers across his throat. a cry rose and Ji Indur sprang, eyes usually so cold burning with hellfire! The wraith drew his sword to block the attack, and both blinked as a long blade came between theirs. "Enough... we stand together, or not at all..." The Witch Kings blade shone with a thin layer of frost, the air became colder, and his eyes... Khamul drew back with a snarl; Indur looked for a moment at the wraith lord, then lowered his blade. "...Forgive... the change, it is the change..." the wraiths cried out, if the change was now this strong among them, then they were running out of time... Ji Indur threw back his hood, gazing silently at his brethren.
They wailed, lo! His form has faded! He is nearly gone from us!! "...You should not have removed your ring..." The Nazgul offered no response, one hand running gently over the object. "...Had the worst happened...I could not doom our cause..." The Witch King had turned away from them, his eyes fixed to the fire that was Mt. Doom. "Time is short..." the Nazgul stood silent, their gazes fixed upon the fire, a hiss came from the dark assembly. "When night falls... we will perform the summoning... should all go well," The cold blade slashed a circle into the drying lava, and the ring burned red...
Gandalf watched the sky in silence, the shriek had come again, and the wizard welcomed it. "Soon now, very soon..." The others were gazing as well, for the cry of the eagle had brought them comfort in the dark lands shadow.
Samwise looked down, his eyes wide. "I hope you were right about this!! Mr. Frodo! For if they do not need help, they will not be pleased to see us!!" Frodo laughed, secure in the mighty eagles talons. "They will welcome the food at least! And if the eagles said we were needed I trust them! It feels right Sam, we should be with them, as close to one fellowship as we were before." Sam nodded, it raised his spirits to get Frodo away from the tree... but to go to Mordor to do so... it seemed like bad to worse! "As said, I hope you are right! Look! I see them now!!"
The great birds screamed their greeting as they spread their wings and dropped hobbits and provisions at the top of the crevice. One by one mighty wings carried the rest of the fellowship to the surface. Merry and Pippen ran forward with a cry, glad to see them. Legolas looked at Gandalf, who merely smiled and shrugged. Faramir was distraught to think that there were now two more members of the company, until Frodo explained the eagle's message.
"The Windlord came to us, as we sat in the White Tree's shadow. And he told us that you were in need of assistance, here we are! We bring provisions, and Sam has some new weaponry, for the eagles heard the fall of the dragon. And they knew it caused trouble." Legolas looked at the bow and quiver, they were not his own... but would surely suffice. Daggers from the dragon's den there were, old magic woven in the hilts. And two swords of ancient forge. "We knew not what you would need... so we grabbed what was closest; I hope it suits well..." Gandalf laughed, "Well you have come, with many blessings; worry not hobbits, all is well."
The fellowship stood before the fallen gates and made camp, they would rest until nightfall, and then...
...Then they would enter the shadow of Mt. Doom.