Disclaimer: I don't own any of this.
Author's note: How does one become a Nazgul? That question has bothered me for quite some time. Of course, Tolkien only gives us tantalizing clues to the Ring Wraiths and nothing really solid. He leaves much to our imaginations and for this I am thankful.
What would make one accept one of the Rings of Power? Greed? Fear? The hope that you could do some good? I don't know. But that didn't stop me from speculating.
***** Setting: The year is circa 1950 in the Second Age. The Elves have made the Rings of Power and Sauron has forged the Ruling Ring. The War between Sauron and the Elves has ended and the Elves have hidden the three rings.
******
I was in my 30th year and still quite young for a Numenorean when Master Sorcerer Kendruin chose me for his apprentice.
It was quite startling for me to find the old sorcerer at my door one summer afternoon. I had been out early that morning gathering herbs and returned to find him patiently waiting for me outside the door of my workshop. He hardly ever ventured out of his tower in the castle and for a moment I was paralyzed with fear. He had a frightening reputation as a seer of the future the reader of men's hearts and rumor was he could stop time. What could he possibly want with me? If he were in need of herbs or potions, he would usually send one of the King's young charges to procure them from me. This was highly unusual.
"Greetings, Master Kendriun, what can I do for you this fine day?" I asked him, trying to keep my voice casual and friendly.
He peered at me through intense blue eyes and I felt my knees shake. I felt that my heart was laid naked under his gaze.
"For quite some time I have been watching you," he said levelly. I swallowed hard. I had nothing to hide so why was my heart pounding in my chest like thunder?
"Why?" I asked and opened the door to my workshop, beckoning him to follow me inside.
"It has been many years since I took an apprentice. There has been no one who I have deemed worthy of passing my knowledge to," he ducked into the building following me.
I turned and looked at him curiously. He waited patiently for me to speak. Being the ever-gracious host, I asked him to take a seat and if he would take some refreshment. He smiled and accepted as he easily lowered himself into the chair by the now empty fireplace. I noticed that he was quite lithe despite his advanced years.
I could feel his piercing eyes on me as I moved about the shop gathering a pitcher of water, cups and some fruit for the two of us. I handed him the fruit and a cup of water, pulling a bench over so I could sit facing him.
For several minutes we sat there in the cool dimness of my workshop, enjoying the cold water and the opportunity to be out of the hot sun. Finally, he continued his thought.
"Mikal, I have lived many long years and I fear that I have not many more left. Before my days draw to a close, I need to pass on all that I have learned to someone who could and will appreciate that knowledge. Someone who will expand on the knowledge that I have gained and use it to better the condition of our kingdom," the intense blue eyes studied me again.
"Would you like my opinion on someone?" I asked innocently.
He gave a deep rumble of laughter. "No, my child, I would like to pass my knowledge on to you," he smiled and stroked his lengthy silver beard. I was stunned. "Me?" I asked incredulously. "I don't understand. I thought you had your choice of apprentices from the nobles of the land? I am just a simple man, not a noble. I have had no formal training of any kind."
"I am well aware of your qualities," he nodded. "And that is precisely why I have chosen you. You are eager to learn from any source whether elf, noble or a child on the street. I need to have someone like that to help me and to take my place beside the King when I am gone."
My thoughts whirled and I stared into my water cup thoughtfully. Certainly this was an opportunity that I had never dreamed possible. I looked back at him intently, trying to weigh his words. True, I had never turned down the opportunity to learn from any source, no matter how odd. But surely there had to be some noble or elf-friend that would gladly trade their young years to become an apprentice to the most well known sorcerer in two kingdoms.
As if reading my thoughts, he gently laid a gnarly hand on my wrist. "I know this must come as a shock to you. Please think my offer over. I will send a page for your answer in three days," he said and stood up to leave.
I rose to my feet and took his cup. "What about my mother?" I asked anxiously. I did not want to leave her. My brothers had departed to seek their fortunes elsewhere and I had no other relatives. Although she was quite capable of taking care of herself, I could not consider leaving her without a companion.
He smiled, "Fear not, there is plenty of room for both you and your mother should you chose to accept my offer."
I opened the door for him and bright sunlight flooded into the room. "Three days," he reminded me as he walked out the door and headed down the garden path.
****
Author's note: How does one become a Nazgul? That question has bothered me for quite some time. Of course, Tolkien only gives us tantalizing clues to the Ring Wraiths and nothing really solid. He leaves much to our imaginations and for this I am thankful.
What would make one accept one of the Rings of Power? Greed? Fear? The hope that you could do some good? I don't know. But that didn't stop me from speculating.
***** Setting: The year is circa 1950 in the Second Age. The Elves have made the Rings of Power and Sauron has forged the Ruling Ring. The War between Sauron and the Elves has ended and the Elves have hidden the three rings.
******
I was in my 30th year and still quite young for a Numenorean when Master Sorcerer Kendruin chose me for his apprentice.
It was quite startling for me to find the old sorcerer at my door one summer afternoon. I had been out early that morning gathering herbs and returned to find him patiently waiting for me outside the door of my workshop. He hardly ever ventured out of his tower in the castle and for a moment I was paralyzed with fear. He had a frightening reputation as a seer of the future the reader of men's hearts and rumor was he could stop time. What could he possibly want with me? If he were in need of herbs or potions, he would usually send one of the King's young charges to procure them from me. This was highly unusual.
"Greetings, Master Kendriun, what can I do for you this fine day?" I asked him, trying to keep my voice casual and friendly.
He peered at me through intense blue eyes and I felt my knees shake. I felt that my heart was laid naked under his gaze.
"For quite some time I have been watching you," he said levelly. I swallowed hard. I had nothing to hide so why was my heart pounding in my chest like thunder?
"Why?" I asked and opened the door to my workshop, beckoning him to follow me inside.
"It has been many years since I took an apprentice. There has been no one who I have deemed worthy of passing my knowledge to," he ducked into the building following me.
I turned and looked at him curiously. He waited patiently for me to speak. Being the ever-gracious host, I asked him to take a seat and if he would take some refreshment. He smiled and accepted as he easily lowered himself into the chair by the now empty fireplace. I noticed that he was quite lithe despite his advanced years.
I could feel his piercing eyes on me as I moved about the shop gathering a pitcher of water, cups and some fruit for the two of us. I handed him the fruit and a cup of water, pulling a bench over so I could sit facing him.
For several minutes we sat there in the cool dimness of my workshop, enjoying the cold water and the opportunity to be out of the hot sun. Finally, he continued his thought.
"Mikal, I have lived many long years and I fear that I have not many more left. Before my days draw to a close, I need to pass on all that I have learned to someone who could and will appreciate that knowledge. Someone who will expand on the knowledge that I have gained and use it to better the condition of our kingdom," the intense blue eyes studied me again.
"Would you like my opinion on someone?" I asked innocently.
He gave a deep rumble of laughter. "No, my child, I would like to pass my knowledge on to you," he smiled and stroked his lengthy silver beard. I was stunned. "Me?" I asked incredulously. "I don't understand. I thought you had your choice of apprentices from the nobles of the land? I am just a simple man, not a noble. I have had no formal training of any kind."
"I am well aware of your qualities," he nodded. "And that is precisely why I have chosen you. You are eager to learn from any source whether elf, noble or a child on the street. I need to have someone like that to help me and to take my place beside the King when I am gone."
My thoughts whirled and I stared into my water cup thoughtfully. Certainly this was an opportunity that I had never dreamed possible. I looked back at him intently, trying to weigh his words. True, I had never turned down the opportunity to learn from any source, no matter how odd. But surely there had to be some noble or elf-friend that would gladly trade their young years to become an apprentice to the most well known sorcerer in two kingdoms.
As if reading my thoughts, he gently laid a gnarly hand on my wrist. "I know this must come as a shock to you. Please think my offer over. I will send a page for your answer in three days," he said and stood up to leave.
I rose to my feet and took his cup. "What about my mother?" I asked anxiously. I did not want to leave her. My brothers had departed to seek their fortunes elsewhere and I had no other relatives. Although she was quite capable of taking care of herself, I could not consider leaving her without a companion.
He smiled, "Fear not, there is plenty of room for both you and your mother should you chose to accept my offer."
I opened the door for him and bright sunlight flooded into the room. "Three days," he reminded me as he walked out the door and headed down the garden path.
****