Author's note: I own nothing yet again… sigh…

They sat on the shore, dripping and chilled. Faramir stood beside Legolas, his hand on the elf's shoulder. Bilbo and Frodo stood at the front, the other hobbits behind them and the dwarf, silently watching the water. The trees swayed above them, the sunlight died, obscured by the massive black clouds that had gathered above. It began to rain. Bilbo shivered and looked at Frodo. The ring bearer did not turn his eyes from the door. It loomed, stretching an encroaching blackness upon the still pool. Lightning flashed above them, the rain turned into a torrent. There came a great crack from the gate, then a shriek of twisting metal. The gate wrenched to its side, bent backwards, the iron curled and misted, the reek of death filled the air. Then a scent like dying flowers… the gate contorted again, it was crumbling now, falling away into the water as those on the shore hardly dared to breath. Great chunks shattered the surface, the rain roared all the harder, and the gate of iron fell to pieces, and slowly… very slowly… vanished from their sight.

Merry gave a cry and started forward, "Gandalf! Aragorn! Come back! Come back!"

Pippin grabbed him and held him still, whispering feverently the best comfort he could give. Gimli took a step forward, he seemed about to take another, but fell still. His eyes teared, but the tears would not fall. Legolas buried his head in his hand, Faramir did not look at him, he gazed lost across the water, and murmured, "No… Aragorn, Gandalf…" Bilbo turned his head away, walked back to the rest and sat with his back to the water. Sam reached for Frodo, but the other would not move. His eyes continued to scan the water, the fading rain splattering upon his shoulders, shading his intent gaze.

"…Mr. Frodo, we should… I think we should… I don't know what I think… Mr. Frodo? They stopped him, didn't they, they stopped him?"

"Yes Sam, yes they did."

Faramir rose to his feet, he choked a little, but his tone did not bode argument. "We must return to Minas Tirith, they… they will be honored in all ceremony and respect, but it does my heart ill, to linger here." No one answered him, but slowly, one by one, they rose and walked away. Frodo was the last, he let Sam take his hand, but he looked back before the pool vanished from sight behind the trees.

… … ..?

The water rippled, it spread across the surface, lapping the banks. It rippled again, and again, bubbles rose to the surface, they grew larger, the ripples turned into waves. With a deafening splash white wings breached the surface. They thrashed madly for a moment, the rest of the great beast followed. Anantaboga reared on his hind legs and roared, eyes bright and proud. Half drowned upon his back Gandalf gasped and began sputtering, "I was not ready! I was…(cough) Aragorn! Are you drowned Aragorn!"

Sputtering answered him, then coughing, then laughing.

"I am not drowned! I am wet, and will probably never take a bath again, but I am not drowned!"

"I think Arwen may insist."

"I think that may occur, yes, she will."

"Then what will you do?"

"…I will probably forsake that hastily uttered vow."

"Good man."

The fellowship froze, hearing the mighty roar. They turned and ran back to the pond, Faramir began to yell instantly.

They saw them, Murazor leaning heavily on Aragorn, Gandalf trailing not far behind them. The rest of the nine followed, squinting, and dripping wet, and the largest of all swam tiredly behind them, white scales stained red, but whole. Khamul shook the water from his robes in the shallows, hissing disgustedly. The other Nazgul followed his example quickly, still disliking water. With a clap like thunder the clouds dispersed, the lake shone like glass, the smell passed away. And above them, high and unchallenged in the sky, the sun shone upon them, bathing them in brilliance. Gandalf turned his head skyward, lifted his staff. It shone, the two lights met and embraced.

There was a sense of victory in this, sublime as any had ever been, Aragorn raised the war shout, Faramir and Gimli followed, Legolas and Gandalf, the hobbits like a small army, and finally the nine lifted their cry. The woods trembled, the birds spooked ant fluttered, it was complete, the wheel had rolled full circle, victory had come.

Frodo stood before Murazor, his eyes bright, playful. The Witch king looked silently back upon him. They stood that way a while, alone with each other even as all about them the rest rejoiced. "…I am free, now, from the moment you touched me I have hurt from your wound, I have ached from the blade, and now it is gone, as is the madness of the ring." The Nazgul did not reply. "But are you free, Murazor? Has the pain left you as well, slave no more, and no more a king?" a soft chuckle, the wraith looked away.

No. the pain is there. It will not fade for me; I hold it too close to my spirit. Perhaps, when this form is forever and always scattered to the winds, then perhaps... But never while I stand, I am a shadow, and a vengeful one. Annatar, picked me well.

Frodo was still, then he reached out and grabbed for the iron helm. Murazor moved away. "I want to see what they see. I would see your face, if you would show it."

Ah, but fool, you have seen it before.

"Yes, and I did not look very hard. Show me, if you will." Frodo reached out again, lay his palm bear. The Witch king placed his hands upon the sides of the helm, and pulled it free. Frodo stared hard, Murazor returned his gaze. "…Thank you. I know you don't know what for, but thank you." The wraiths eyes glowed a dusky red,

No, I do know. It is already done.

Frodo nodded, "Yes, it is done. Our time on middle earth has long since waned thin. Soon we will kiss the sunrise goodbye for the last time. But, I think… this was the way to end it. It had to be this way; this was the only end that could have come." Murazor looked at him for a moment.

My time is long done, and yours. But you are a fool if you think this is how it was to end.

"And why is that?"

…Because in the end… nothing ever ends. And the tale cannot ever finish in the middle, the ending is always beyond our grasp.

Faramir grabbed Gandalf by the shoulders. "What happened in there? After we left! Where did the sword come from? And did you know about the light? What is all this!"Gandalf laughed,

"Peace Faramir! Let us warm ourselves with a fire first, then I will tell you all I can!