The strange procession made its way to the citadel, the empty streets giving them easy passage. Aragorn sat silent on the stallion, his eyes distant, and deep in thought. Gandalf regarded him almost cautiously. He could feel Aragorn mentally and physically pulling away from them, deep into himself... (Odd that I should see this side of him with so little prompting,) He mused, (I have seen him this way before, more oft than I care to recall, but always in the heat of battle, when odds were at their worst.) Gandalf sighed to himself, fingers tightening around his staff. (I failed to see the impact this would have on him… the error in judgment is mine…)
Aragorn shook his head in silence, (Pity for them? no, I hadn't expected Gandalf to understand… after all… the dreams only started after he and the others went across the sea… And so much has changed since then…
I don't pity them… and that's what gnaws at me… rips away at me still… I think back, back to when I looked through his eyes… and I remember flying… most of all I remember flying…)
(Flashback)
A large blade hurled threw the air, missing him by inches. The beast he was on, a fell beast?! Reared and almost threw him. He slipped, barely grabbing hold before being flung to the ground. A hash laugh sounded, another beast swooped bellow him, the rider catching the sword and swooping above him, yet another beast flew between them, its rider shrieking out a taunt as it ducked just out of sight. They were flying, all of them... the nine flew as one... a shudder swept threw him, even as excitement filled him. Flying like this... could they even enjoy such a thing? Another wraith tossed his blade into the air, sharp enough to cut cloud. Khamul, that's who that is...
To his shock he felt the beast fly into the blades path, as if steered by... with horror he looked down, his hands held the reigns!! As hard as he pulled away, his hands turned the beast into its path! On hand, his hand, covered in metal, shot into the air and caught the blade, twirling it between his fingers before tossing it back to the other rider. I just... did I just... No! It's a memory! This is what the Witch King did! This is a memory... just a memory... the wraiths cried out, their eyes alight, diving and whirling in the air, in the air... did they feel free? Khamul saluted the toss, taking his place flying behind The Witch King, his eyes... not as simple as just fire, joy; fierce and free was in his eyes, joy... "...To Minas Tirith... to the war!!"
(Had I to describe a feeling, any feeling, that one would be my undoing. I flew with the nine those days, fought with them… was victorious and defeated, jubilant and tormented… and I do not pity them, for I fear…
…I fear had I been given the offer they received… that I would not be able to say no. Nay, more than that, would I have done anything but accepted with open arms? These thoughts are my own, I have been tainted by my folly and I know it. Let these fool desires and dreams haunt me till my last breath; they are my burden… I will bear them alone.)
The Guards opened the gates, watching in shock and awe as the wizard passed, and regarding with curiosity the one who walked behind them all, turning uncomfortably away from the glare of his eyes.
"Gandalf, you said you and the others wished to rest and refresh yourselves. I will have a cow pushed down the steps to the dragon, you and the hobbits are as always, welcome at my table." Arwen nodded, "It is good to see you again Mithrandir, even though your presence has come with other less favorable events." Gandalf smiled, "And it is good to see both of you, I trust, Faramir and Eowyn that you fare well?" Faramir still kept his steed between the wraith and his lady, but forced a grin for the Wizards sake. "We fare, everything has prospered since the wars end, we could hardly not." Eowyn nodded, he eyes focused beyond her husbands, locking with Ji Indur's as if to dare him to try anything she didn't approve of.
"And I ask once more, what is to be done with him?" Aragorn's voice held a trace of warning. Gandalf carefully drew near, sensing something amiss Indur whirled on him, but to late. The wraith fell still as the spell wrapped about him, it wavered, bent, threatening to snap… and held. Senseless the fallen king fell to the stones, eyes and ears closed to the world in a sleep deeper than any he had known for years…
…Where are you Indur…
…It is dark… so dark…
…return… you cannot leave us…
…are we not brethren? Indur…
…Indur…
Gently, the wizard bent and closed the eyes that were quickly frosting over. "He will sleep, for now. Which will give us time to discuss how things have been for all our friends here, I myself am curious for details." Faramir sighed, relieved. "Do not relax quite yet my friend. I have no doubt he will be rather unpleasant in the morning…"
"Well then, best to make the most of the night while we can."
"Yes, and perhaps you will tell us what all this madness is about?"
"Soon my friends, very soon now."
…. …. …. …
The sun had risen, and the present fellowship was gathered in the throne room.
The room was still, save the hisses of the angry wraith slowly regaining awareness. Aragorn sat upon the throne, Faramir in the steward's chair. The hobbits had made themselves properly comfortable, grouping together and watching quietly as Gandalf and Indur circled each other, Gandalf attempting to draw closer, but unable to with the Nazgul dodging his footsteps. The wraith had no intent to allow the wizard to seize the moment again, being subdued once was enough.
"Let it be Gandalf, it seems he was willing enough at first, but isn't very keen on letting you any closer today." The wizard sighed, trying unsuccessfully to back the wraith into a corner, "I do believe you are correct Aragorn. But I must keep trying I fear, his cooperation would be appreciated, but is not entirely necessary." Ji Indur let out a loud, grating hiss, frustrated by the wizard's antics, (corner me?! Corner the sky scourge?! No wizard, perhaps I should corner you!) Another shudder shook him, the spell uneager to release its hold, and the voices… bright eyes clouded in pain…
Darkness… all is darkness… no light… no light…
Khamul… Indur… where are you… where are you…
Broken… we are broken… my lord? Where are you?
Where are you when we cry… oh lord… do not turn… away…
…Indur… you are distant to us… I feel you still… where ever you dwell… stay there… do not… … … …
… Murazor… I heard Murazor…
…where is he? … Our lord is took him…
…Dark… further into the dark…
Indur! Khamul! How could you leave us?! Traitors! Traitors!
"We will get nothing done unless you let me approach you, it would be easiest to hold…" Gandalf fell back, a scream of pain, of such hatred, ripping from the Ringwraith! Instantly the temperature fell, the room nearly froze solid. Guards outside the door colapsed clutching their skulls, crying in wordless agony. Aragorn rose from the throne, his eyes blazing, and angry breaths frosting in the arctic air. Faramir moved to hold him "Enough Indur! ENOUGH!!!" The scream faded as suddenly as it had begun, another sound eased out in its place, low, deep in his throat, a sound shockingly human, even to his ears. A sob of pain, perhaps even fear…
-izub shakh ukhurk- izish kramp- nar, naan –ukkarnai brus- lat nar …-izgu hiuzil- lat… -izgu kauzan lat!! -izgu kauzan lat!! …The wraith grew very still, -izgu kauzan lat…
Carefully, gently, a hand reached out and touched Indurs shoulder. The wizards face was blank, but his eyes were slightly warmer. "You can help them Indur, you can save them! Are you are willing to fight for yourself, and not your fallen master? If you are willing to let us assist, than we will. We were sent back for this, sent to see if you and your brethren could be taken from the pit, brought into another place." A slight hesitation, the wizard hand wavered, and the Nazgul drew back, swiftly freed from the wizard's eyes. "I will not lie to you, there is no point, you would see the falsehood clinging to any lie I could utter." The wraith continued to retreat, forcing the wizard once more to pursue him. "I know not where you will go should we succeed or what will become of you… I only know this; wherever it is you may go to, it will be better than the place you leave behind."
…matûrz globûrz…
Gandalf paused, an amused smile creeping onto his face. "…Is there any particular reason you are using that tongue? I have just realized you were speaking a much softer one earlier to Frodo." The eyes grew cold, and silent. Gandalf winced; Feeling the wraith striking back at him, darker energies clashing against him. Why should you offer… what need have I… for your allegiance? …I need you not… I will free them… but I do it… alone.
… I need you not wizard… I fear you not…
… yet perhaps… you should still fear me.
Nêbâbîtham Magânanê
Nêtabdam dâurad
Nêpâm nêd abârat-aglar
îdô Nidir nênâkham
Bârî'n Katharâd
Lyrics from the "Revelations of the Ringwraiths"
Translations: The Black speech,
My lord do not forsake me: -izub shakh ukhurk- izish kramp- nar
But have you not already?: naan –ukkarnai brus- lat nar?
We followed you… we trusted you…: -izgu hiuzil- lat… -izgu kauzan lat…
Foolish Mortal: matûrz globûrz
We refused our creator: Nêbâbîtham Magânanê
We went towards darkness: Nêtabdam dâurad
We were handed strength and glory, Nêpâm nêd abârat-aglar
Now Sauron we approach: îdô Nidir nênâkham
Lords of All lands : Bârî'n Katharâd
(Will explain everything soon!)