Chapter 1: Grudge Of Angmar

With day rising as bleak as the night, Isengard was greeted by a screeches far across the plain. Orcs and Goblins working beneath the tower of Orthanc raised their heads in jeopardy. After the massive slaughter the Living Wraith has caused upon their kind when it last visited the White Hand, they have stood out of its way in fear and anger of its tyranny. After all, this Wraith does not rule Isengard, the White Hand does.

The sun rises darkly, hidden by the smokes and fumes coming out of Isengard. Saruman's minions were not to be disturbed. They need not to make haste with their war coming upon Middle Earth.

Then they came. Nine riders adorned in black, carrying another one, binded and gagged, tied upon its own steed, dragged upon the wasteland. Goblins stood out of their way, as their steed brutally thundered their hooves into Isengard, nine thick metal-clamped boots thumping down the cursed rock ground of Isengard as they dismounted their steeds. Hardly do Saruman's minions notice their captive, slightly smaller than them, but also adorned and suited by the dark uniform they all have from cloak, to gauntlet, to boot. Its face was almost visible, but not visible enough to the naked eye.

This captive was never identified outside Orthanc… as it was dragged mercilessly into the dark tower.

Saruman was seated upon his throne, his face hidden by a large mirror. The Palantir crackled with fire inside it nearby, sitting on an elevated rock platform. Silence entombed the White Wizard's chamber, until angry screeches and clanking metal boots echoed throughout the entire tower, signaling their arrival. The Nine Wraiths have arrived. They haven't visited Orthanc since several months ago, when Sauron sent them there for Saruman to spank everyone them for losing the Ringbearer. Well… Saruman had worse punishment plans than spanking them all with his staff… (Bozo the clown, anyone?)

Annoyed, having been disturbed from brooding over his reflection, the evil Istari pulled down the mirror that was hiding his face… and alas, to each Nazgul's horror… there sat Saruman, with pink pigtails on his bleached perfect white hair. "How do you like my new look?"  

If only they weren't invisible, you could have seen each Nazgul wrinkle their noses in disgust and fear. "Is pink the 'in' thing today?" A small voice very familiar to Saruman sounded from behind the cluster of Wraiths. Each Nazgul's murmur subsiding, the Witch King identified as the tall Nazgul with his head topped off with a princely crown, stepped forward. It was back to business.

"Saruman." The Witchking started talking in screeches, as if his voice was taped and scratched. "Your little wench," He threw the smallest Nazgul on the floor in front of the wizard (still bizarre in his pigtails, each side of his head uneven), binded up and gagged. "Was found spying across the beach of Palen Garth, near Amon Hen…" To Saruman's surprise, and shock… the binded up Nazgul lost its invisibility.

In its place inside the hood, revealed the pale face of Ash. The last hope of Middle Earth.

She gritted her teeth in anger that she was caught spying over Cliffhanger and the Ringbearer getting mushy on the shore of Palen Garth… She was close to hobbit-napping Frodo Baggins and bringing him to Isengard as planned, when the Witchking appeared and became all wonky and possessive. This ended up in a disagreement, and to Ash's disappointment, the Ringbearer was left unharmed, and she was the one captive, brought to Orthanc.

"I thought you ordered this hopeless disaster to aid that other wench of yours in Rohan?" The Witchking mocked, pinching Ash's jaw painfully with his gauntleted hand, bruising her cheeks. Saruman couldn't answer… Ash couldn't look at him either. Maybe she was guilty, she didn't want to let the Ringbearer get to Mordor and destroy the One Ring… or she wanted to see her old friend Cleff again… But Ash still can't look at the wizard who turned her into a Nazgul. Saruman's pigtails would dismantle her immortality as a Nazgul, and make her vomit out her heart and guts on the floor, dying on the spot.

Saruman's eyes narrowed down at Ash. The girl couldn't look straight at him in the eye, and a few of the dratted Nazguls have burst out in silent laughter behind the cluster of Wraiths. Little do they know, that the Wizard has cast a spell on them, and their invisible heads inside their hoods have started to shrink.

"I have ordered her to go to Rohan," the angry wizard's voice rose, and rattled the tower. "But still she disobeys me." Ash tore her eyes away from Saruman angrily. It was too angry, too burning and too evil. She swore that she was in deep trouble.

"I wanted to capture the Ringbearer," she whispered, but the Witchking angrily placed the tip of the boot on her head, slamming her face down on the floor, trying to silence her. "And tried to make a fool out of yourself? You can't do anything, Living Wraith… you're a natural show-off." Ash glared upwards at the Witchking, hardly seeing his face, as her eyes turned from green to red. Her face was close to disappearing again, but she felt almost all her power leave her… she was slowly losing strength.

"She is incompetent, insubordinate, completely useless. What kind of Istari are you, Saruman? Can't you choose the best Wraith to transform for our Lord? This one has brought nothing but incompetence…" Ash hated the Witch King. He always seemed to be jealous, angry and evil to her. He begged Sauron not to add any more minions to his line of high-ranking Nazguls, save Ash who was disastrous enough.

"I didn't choose to be a Nazgul in the first pla-" Ash started, but the boot slammed her head down the cold floor again, her temples aching. "Do not underestimate my capabilities," Saruman thundered, his nostrils flaring. "Witch King of Angmar."

Ash could hardly see it, but the Nazgul smirked behind his hood. "May it be as you wish, Saruman," the voice beneath the hood screeched painfully in Ash's ears. "But don't let Lord Sauron consider you incompetent as well."

Fire rose in Saruman's eyes, as suddenly, something snapped. Saruman's pigtails fell to the ground, and his hair was billowing behind him, evilly. It was not a good sight to look at, especially when his nostrils were flaring and his eyes were ten times magnetized as Frodo's creepy bulging blue eyes. "Fine then," The wizard roared.

He stomped down the steps to his throne, and loomed over Ash. The girl cowered in fear, as the Nazgul Witch King removed his boot from her aching temples. Next thing Ash knew, Saruman's long sharp fingernails were hovering above Ash's head, about to kill her. Invisibly, the Witch King watched in satisfaction, licking his lips. The girl cowered, she was about to die…

Saruman growled, and snatched the hood off Ash's head, with the rest of her Nazgul cloak removed. (This cloak was the tool that transformed her into a Nazgul, if you could remember.) She was completely visible now, with only her nazgul armor and inner black cloak left to cover her body.

Saruman still loomed over her angrily, looking like a white ghost silouhetted against the black room of the chamber. "I banish you from Isengard, once and for all." The wizard spoke.

The Witchking stood aghast. Banished? Ash felt like screaming out loud. After all I've worked hard for as a Wraith, I am banished?!! Her fear subsided, but anger remained like a cradled small child in her heart. As for the Witch King, his anger for the Living Wraith wanted him to kill her. But he had Saruman to do that for him, since the Living Wraith isn't in his command. His disappointment was great, and his scream of terror echoed throughout Isengard, fearing the lives of many Goblins working beneath Orthanc.

Saruman felt as if a burden from his back was removed. His burning stare retreated from Ash, and onto the Witch King. "Do what you want with her," He started, as hope of death returned into the Nazgul's mind. "But she will not be killed."

Ash felt small hope lay in Saruman. But he was twisted as ever, having her left with these evil Wraiths.

The Witch King was disappointed. With another heart thundering screech, he had Ash dragged out of Isengard, the child not even hesitant to look back at her former master.

***

Screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeecccccccchhhhhh!!!

Ash had to cover her ears as the Witch King gave orders to the eight Wraiths in the Black Tounge, which she can hardly understand anymore, with her Nazgul powers diminishing slightly. She was dropped down the ground harshly, as they faced the bleak morning sky of Isengard. She felt the anger and disappointment of the Witch King, and her instincts warn her that he might take her down right here, right now.

Suddenly, just when she was done thinking, two black dragons appeared in the sky, screeching in the same way the Nazguls do, as both creatures settled down in front of the Wraith cluster. Two Nazguls approached her, and grabbed her by the arm, as they went towards the dragons. What, are they going to feed me to these?!! Ash thought madly.

"Hey Witchking!!!" Ash screamed against the grunting and screeching of the newcomers. "What 's with these filthy scales?!!" The crowned Nazgul looked in her direction blankly, feeling how much he despised her through that invisible hood. "Just a promotion from Sauron, little wench."

Ash felt her hopes tumble down past her metal boots. "As for you, you're expelled."