Then the rains came….
There was a torrent upon the roads, the water streamed down, and all bowed beneath it. "Am I the only one to notice," Came a drowned dwarfs grumble, "That every time we have anything to do with them," motions to the Ringwraiths, We get wet!" Faramir chuckled. Gandalf watched the skies, his eyes dark, "…And so the rains have come…" Aragorn rode silently at the groups head, his eyes focused unwavering on the horizon. On either side rode the wraiths, their eyes hidden from mortal sight. The horses bellow them snorted, their eyes wild, and even the kings steed was sweating profusely. Not far behind the hobbits rode two to a horse, their normal cheer diminished into silence. Gimli walked, in his normal stubbornness he lead his horse beside him. Legolas was not on his steed, Gandalf held his beast's reigns. High in the sky the Elvin prince watched the unnatural storm as it moved, "We must turn left! Left, or we walk to its heart!"
Gandalf looked up, "What?!" Legolas leaned into the icy wind. "Mithrandir!! We must turn left!! The storm approaches!!" Faramir turned, "Gandalf, What does he say?" Gandalf shook his head, "I cannot hear him…" Khamul hissed, his head rose …we must turn, the elements… are upon us… the rain came harder, and the wind sent manes and cloaks flying. "Where did this gale come from!!! Aragorn!! We must turn!!!" The king paid no heed, he spurred pushing his beast into a run, and the horse shrieked as it tore ahead. The king's form vanished into the wall of water, swallowed by the storm. Khamul and Indur followed, their shrieks blending with the storm. Faramir halted. "We cannot go in!!! Aragorn!!! Come back Aragorn!!!" High above Legolas closed his eyes, the blinding rain stinging as it hit, and even the dragon roared out its displeasure.
Frodo blinked, "Everyone keep moving!!! Trust them!! Go forward!!" Samwise stared in shock as Frodo and Pippin vanished into the storm. "Mr. Frodo!" He and Merry disappeared after them. Gandalf threw up his hands, "Very well! Go in! Trust the Nazgul, the storm may be terrible, but they do not fear it! And I see nor can we!
The water crashed about them, the horses seemed to freeze, their shrieks echoing in the silence…
Faramir drew a breath, his eyes wide. Aragorn continued forward, the rain flowing in streams about his impassive form. He whirled suddenly, the horse rearing beneath him, one hand he raised, and called out in a tongue that drew shudders down their spines…
Part for us… break your punishment…. I command… I command…
-ûr izishu Kraash… latu danghum lag-…. -izg gashn-… -izg gashn-…
Aragorn shuddered, the rain whipped about him, and dancing within the droplets thousands of small forms screeched out in retaliation as they were pushed aside, tossed to the winds. And beside him the wraith lord pushed harder, curling his fingers into almost a claw murmuring further abhorrence's under his tongue. (Enough!! Enough!! The storm is passing!!!) The beast reared up as if to throw them, spittle flying from bloodied maw. (We will be thrown you fool!! Your accursed tongue is lashing the beast bellow us! I COMAND YOU TO STOP!!!) Khamul pushed his beast forward and grabbed onto the kings arm, his grip like a vice. Enough Murazor… you have forced your will into the winds… now send the storm from us… I will assist…The witch king surged forward and Aragorn crumpled with a cry bellow the assault as the two Ringwraiths wove their wills into the storms heart. (Those words… in that tongue… it burns, it burns…) a chuckle in the back of his mind, (You know nothing of spell casting… spawn of Isiludur…)
Gandalf moved forward as the storm passed, reaching out in a different tongue to calm the raging Nazgul. Khamul hissed and drew away, eyes aflame with the power of the winds. Indur moved to intercept him, feeling the intense hatred in the others mind. It is passed Khamul… release it… let it pass… the other wraith screamed, drawing his blade, I bow to none now!!! Not Sauron!! Not his master or even Murazor!!! This is what I want! This is why I surrendered my soul!! To feel this free!!! The two fell upon each other with drawn blades, shrieking a fell cry to the very stars. Aragorn fell silent, his eyes like embers, spurring his beast backward from the advancing wizard. "Enough of this, you must stop them Murazor. They will destroy each other, and then there will be no way to save," Gandalf ducked away as the beast bore down upon him, one hand drawing forth a blade. In an instant the wraith rolled from the saddle to avoid being skewered, his own blade flashing as Narsil struck Glamdring.
And suddenly Faramir was beside them, his blade meeting theirs. The witch King froze, (Wait… that one… I know that one…I fought him…at the gates…)
The horse screamed, rearing on its haunches, the cry echoing into the still air. Blades flashed, gauntlets tore the air into shreds, and as The Road guard watched in silent horror the pounding hooves drew closer, closer… the scream began… like a sliver of death within the dark cowls. "To the gates!! Flee to the gates!! Faramir spurred hard, he and the others retreating into the walls of the destroyed port. (We cannot lose position here… if this falls then the road to Minas Tirith, Oh no…) The Black horse whirled before him, the wraiths shriek echoed and the black charger drew closer, red eyes burning in a midnight cowl froze his horse though it reared in terror. An Ork fell between them, and the Nazgul's steed cleared the carcass, one hove cleaving into the dead monsters shoulder and spraying blood onto its flank.
Faramir shouted and pulled the horses head around, kicking and sending the terrified creature into a gallop. Through the battle the way seemed to part for the black rider, the meager distance between the two drew ever smaller. A blade slashed just barely above his shoulder. The steward's son cried out as if he had been struck, for there was fire upon the blade and it had caught his cloak. He tumbled from his steed, rolling to safety from the murderous hooves. The wraith whirled, the charger drew near, its head lowered and bloodied foam dripping to the stones. On foot Faramir drew his blade and braced himself. Unable to turn aside there was a pained scream, the horse shuddered, muscles convulsing as they tried to clench around the blade. Now the wraith was forced to roll to avoid being thrown.
(No matter how far I've come, if I fight him like this I will lose… we have to pull back; I need to call a retreat!) "Draw Back!!! Everyone draw back!!" The wraith rose as silent as a shadow, black cloak rippling over proud shoulders as the cowled head rose to regard him. …I know you… son of Denethor… shall you as well… leave your father without an heir? Your brother… already slain…
"You lie!!" Sense forgotten he lunged upon the creature; the wraith drew back with laughter like shattered glass….
Aragorn pushed forward as he felt the wraith draw back, and the king of Gondor collapsed. "Gandalf… I never meant…" The wizard was upon him, placing another cloak around his shoulders. "The fault is not yours, he is unstable without a stronger will to guide his own, what to do with those two however…" Both wraiths glared at each other, leaning heavily on their steeds with exhaustion. Gimli startled the entire group with a chuckle. "If no one has a better idea, I say we move on before the rains come back. May haps we can go threw a cave?
The fellowship groaned.