The rain stopped. Dawn broke weakly over the forests treetops, still, though for how long that would last none could tell. Gandalf walked quietly around the trees, watching them to see if they would stir. From under the dragons wings the others had begun to wake. In the distance came the cries of eagles.
Legolas rose, stretched, and shook Faramir awake. "Steward, where is Gimli? Wake Faramir, we've lost a comrade." Faramir moaned, "At this hour he may remain lost!" Legolas smiled, but doubled his assault. The hobbits were following Gandalf about now. It seemed someone had decided this was a good place to look for mushrooms. Anantaboga raised his head, and growled low in his throat as the dwarf crawled out from under his paw. "Some nights sleep! I dreamt a great serpent had grabbed me and…" The dwarf looked to where he had emerged from. "…Oh." Gandalf paused, looking down at the sprawled form of Khamul on the ground. "…Hm… are you with us grey one?" The wraith raised his head irritably. Who are you… to call me grey one… white one…
Not far off Indur stirred weakly, rolling to his side and vanished deep into his robes.
Bilbo checked the horses, eyes alight and eager to be off.
So when dawn had fully come into its place the group moved deep into the woods, he horses resisted as they pushed further on. "They don't like it, I know! But we are nearly there!" Faramir shook his head, "Where are you leading us! I have rode this steed against nazgul and orc! Simple woods oughtn't be frightening to him!" Bilbo shook his head, "Just a little further and we'll be there! You can start to smell it now!" Gandalf's eyes narrowed, "Indeed one can… stay close all! And let the wraiths be your outer sides!" The group changed positions, moving inward and allowing the wraiths to take the sides. The trees had begun to thin, and there it lay. Gandalf pulled up sharp. "Hold your places. And move no further till I give a/Khamul! Hold back!" The wraith had advanced, dismounting and moving to the waters side. He bent, to look over into the pool… Indur seized him, dragging him back. Fool! Are you senceless! Have you faded! No! look not there!
Khamul whirled on him, snarling as he forced the other to the ground, They crashed into a tree, loosing their hold on each other.
Khamul rolled a foot, and lunged back upon the other, tearing at him. Indur pulled back with a cry, black stained the ground as he pulled away. Khamul rose above him, and locking his hands slammed down upon the other, a crack like thunder split the air. Indur rolled stunned, landing at the waters edge. Gandalf rushed forward, but a blast of Arctic air froze his steps. The ponds ice was cracking, starting to split, and the smell had grown from unpleasant to overpowering. From the center a pointed arch had begun to rise, sharp as knives and glowing black like the darkness in a pit. It moved slowly upward until the water poured free from it, and the ice hardened again…
A door. A black, iron, door.
There was not a sound, Khamul panted softly, eyes glowing like embers. Gandalf knelt beside Indur, turned his head, looked deep into his eyes. "…Khamul, what have you done…" The wraith tore away from them, vanishing into the trees, the air behind him frosted and dark. The others came forward, looking at the fallen wraith, and at the great door. "Gandalf, is he dead?" The wizard shook his head. "Dead? No, not dead, but his spirit, much like Aragorn's, has fled its body. He is dead to us for now." Legolas swore softly. "pointless, and unprovoked, what seized him so?" Gandalf sighed. "…Khamul is…not stable, he is prone to quick wrath and madness. I fear Indurs history with him helped to cause this, but what troubles me is, why didn't Indur fight back?"
(All I have fought for gone.
All my efforts wasted.
Pointless!
Pointless!
Always third!
Always showed up by that,
That!
Showed him, the fool,
Showed him that I…
That I am no ones solider now.)
I am no ones fool! I am my own master now! Panting, eyes flashing as he swept the branches away. (Did he think I'd go back! Back to the darkness on a quest never to be completed! They're dead! They're all dead to me now!) There was a storm brewing in the distance, the clouds rolled over the sky. (All I want now… is to be alone.)
…hissssss…there was a snaping of trees, Bilbo pushed his way threw the underbrush, murmuring to himself about tree roots until he felt the chill and looked up. "Ah! There you are! We ought to head back you know, the others are rather fearful to go on unguided." Khamul drew back like a serpent, eyes glowing. Go…away… Bilbo smiled kindly, "I can't without you, do you think I can find my way back alone and unhorsed?"
Than die… Bilbo paused, seemed to consider it. "…no, I don't think I will. Not yet at any rate! T'would deny me the pleasure of your company!" Khamul laughed low, a sound like stepping on glass. I am no dragon you can flatter fool! And I can see you! Do not mock me! The hobbit took a step forward, "Mock you? Nay I do not mock you. And though I did butter Smaug up a tad, most of what I said to him was said in a measure of awe. It was not every day I saw a dragon in those days! I wanted to remember him well! …I had not known you were listening so closely to my old stories, I'm honored." In an instant Khamul loomed above him, nails like knives threateningly about his throat. …I said, Do not mock me! The tips dug slightly, drawing blood. I will slay you here and now if you dare, mock me!
Bilbo winced, but did not loose the wraiths eyes. "…why do you think, that everyone is trying to degrade you? Can't you see? The only one who is doing so, old king, …is you." Khamul hissed, but his claws released their hold, he drew back.
You were a fool to come here… Bilbo shook his head. "In my life I've seen a great deal of men, more than most hobbits at least. And I've learned something. None are the same, but they carry a tread of their character with them wherever they go." He thought for a moment. "Indur is a gentle person, a lover of life, and hard work. Aragorn is a leader of men, made to take charge, to serve as another's strength. Gandalf is… well, its hard to call him a man, it easier by far to call him a divine soul; …and the one you seek, for I know who you seek my boy, he is a spirit that is to wild to have ever been held. He should have been free from birth, able to wander as he chose rather than rule." Khamul watched him quietly, watched the old hobbit draw closer. "But to rule is your nature my friend, to watch, and guard from a distance, pleased if your name is ever uttered in a conversation not based on you. Your nature is to rule, and to guide." Bilbo gently took one of the wraiths hands.
"And now, we need you to guide us …what say you?"