I do not own Lord of the Rings nor do I make any money from this story. All rights apply.
Author's Note: The creatures that the Nazgûl ride are referred to as Winged Beasts in my book (A Tolkein Bestiary by David Day), the movie however, refers to them as Fell Beasts.
DARK WINGS
THREE
Aragorn woke with a start, looking round he saw Èomer was up and keeping watch. The sun was also well up. Yetma and Hanm were asleep to his right. Èomer saw he was awake and made his way over.
"What time is it?" asked Aragorn.
"A hour after dawn," answered Èomer quietly.
"A hour," yelled Aragorn waking Yetma and Hanm. "Why did you not wake me earlier?"
"You needed sleep but we can go now. Besides I wanted to give Legolas a chance to find us but he has not so I think he is on the other side," answered Èomer calmly turning to leave the clearing, Yetma and Hanm followed Èomer's lead.
Aragorn pulled himself to his feet, he hated to admit it but he felt a lot better and Èomer was right about Legolas finding them. He caught up with Èomer.
"I want to thank you for all your help last night," said Èomer.
"How are you doing?" asked Aragorn.
"Sore," was the simple answer.
Aragorn was surprised when they cleared the trees so soon, they had not gone as far in as he thought. He was also surprised to see Legolas walking around the battle field, finding and then inspecting his arrows before he put them in his quiver. Gimli was smoking some pipe weed as he watched the Elf work.
"I was wrong," said Èomer.
"Then so was I," added Aragorn. "Legolas," he yelled and winced.
Legolas looked up, saw them and called to Gimli. Aragorn watched as the two of them made their way over. Apart from being dirty, Gimli had a slight limp and Legolas' hand often drifted to his head. He saw why when they came closer, he had a bruise on the side of his head.
"How is your head?" he asked,
Legolas shot a look at Gimli and said,
"Fine."
Aragorn turned to Gimli,
"And the leg?"
"Landed odd," he muttered giving Legolas a glare.
"Something I should know about?" asked Aragorn.
"No," they both answered at the same time.
Aragorn nodded.
"Your head?" asked Legolas changing the subject.
"Fine," answered Aragorn. "We must gather the horses and head on to Edoras quickly."
"One question," said Èomer. "If you have been out here for a while, why did you not come look for us?"
"I though it best to wait for you to come out of the forest lest we pass each other while looking and I wanted to retrieve my arrows without wasting any time," said Legolas.
"Apart from arrows did you find anything else?" asked Aragorn.
"Orc bodies. Quite a few that were killed by the winged beast, the same creature I killed when we were on the river Anduin and that Èowyn killed," said Legolas.
"At least it drove away the Orcs," said Èomer.
"I believe it was hunting the Orcs," said Legolas.
"I agree. It only attacked them," said Aragorn.
"But they appeared to be pleased and renewed their efforts when they heard it," said Èomer touching his side.
"They would. The last time they fought, it attacked with them but then it had a rider to control it," said Aragorn.
"That still does not answer what it is doing here," said Gimli.
"It is a creature so it would not have disappeared with Sauron," said Aragorn. "And to still be here, it must have been away from Mordor."
"Doing what, I wonder," said Èomer.
"That matters little now. We must get to Edoras. Legolas, where are our horses?" asked Aragorn.
Legolas gazed at the horizons and both sides of the forest.
"I can not see them," he said at last.
"The creature…" started Èomer.
"No, it was after the Orcs," said Legolas tugging at his blooded tunic. "They have just run far. We should start our walk to Edoras, mayhap we meet them on the way."
"Good idea, let us be going," said Èomer much to Aragorn's surprise but he said nothing for this was Rohan not Gondor.
"We must find some way of killing that creature," said Èomer as they started the walk to Edoras.
"We could send out search parties," suggested Gimli.
"It may take to long and then there is the risk of becoming its next meal," said Aragorn.
"If it eats Orcs, we could catch some and put them in a pen and wait for it to came and get them," said Gimli half-heartedly.
Legolas laughed.
"Even if you tried you couldn't catch an Orc alive, you would not be able, it is against your nature to let them live," he said.
"It would be just as hard to catch Orcs as it would be to track down the creature," said Èomer.
"Where does it go during the day, I wonder," said Aragorn.
"Where does it come from?" asked Èomer.
"Mordor," answered Gimli.
"I meant originally," corrected Èomer.
"It is said that they were bred by Melkor many ages ago, they are older than the dragons themselves but unlike their past riders they are living creatures. They are swift in the air and have agility that belies their size. They are Winged Beasts," said Legolas.
They fell silent as they walked, all contemplated what to do. Hours dragged by, Legolas walked a little way in front of the rest looking out for the horses or whatever else would come their way.
It was a little before dusk when they all heard the cry of the winged beast.
"Can you see it, Legolas?" asked Aragorn.
"Yes, it circles above the Orc bodies," answered Legolas.
"We should have stayed," sighed Gimli.
"We did not know it would come back," said Aragorn.
"It is landing," said Legolas.
"I have just had an idea," said Èomer, "if we go back now, it may come back tomorrow night. We could kill it then."
"If we leave now, we arrive during the day. The creature seems to like the night. We should stay here the night and continue tomorrow," said Aragorn.
"If we arrive during the day we can use what's there to set a trap thus ensuring success," explained Èomer.
Aragorn nodded,
"This is all if it comes back. We have no supplies at all, we are taking a big chance."
"It's a chance we have to take. Yetma, you carry on to Edoras as fast as you can, get men and horses. Hanm will stay with us," ordered Èomer.
"Yes, my Lord," said Yetma and started off at an easy jog.
"Supplies are on the way," said Èomer. "Shall we be off?"
"More walking," sighed Gimli.
"I thought you wanted to walk," said Legolas.
"Not all day and all night," answered Gimli.
"We can rest tomorrow afternoon once things are prepared," said Aragorn not wanting to have argument, his attempts failed.
"But Gimli, I thought you said two legs were better than four," said Legolas in mock confusion.
"They are but even those with four legs must rest," Gimli pointed out.
"Yes," said Legolas dismissively, "but a day and a night is nothing for a horse of Rohan, is that not right, Èomer?"
"That is true but it is also true that they must also rest. You are both right on this account," said Èomer.
There was silence for a moment and Aragorn though Èomer had succeeded where he had failed but he was wrong again.
"If we were not talking about horses of Rohan or for that matter the horses of men…" started Legolas.
"Legolas, do not even start with the mearas," warned Gimli.
"So you concede that I may be…"
"Concede," interrupted Gimli for a second time. "Never."
"May I complete a sentence," demanded Legolas.
"Your sentences are too long. It takes forever for you to say anything and by then everyone is waiting for you to finish so that they can know what you are talking about," explained Gimli.
"I think you lost there, Gimli," added Èomer thoughtfully.
Legolas laughed, even Aragorn smiled,
"Èomer, please do not encourage them by participating," pleaded Aragorn with a smile.
But even as Èomer was about to answer, Legolas suddenly raised his hand for silence. After a few seconds he said,
"We must head for the trees, the creature comes this way."
The five of them ran for the shelter of the trees.
"Can you shoot it now?" asked Èomer.
Legolas nodded and fell back as he notched an arrow and waited for the winged beast to come into range. The sun's last rays had began to fade but luckily there was a full moon that night by which to see. After a few minutes there was still no sign of it even though Legolas could hear it as it flew overhead.
"It is not flying over the road," he whispered to Aragorn, who stood next to him. Aragorn frowned, not liking the new development.
"Wait here," whispered Legolas as he moved out of the trees and on to the road. Aragorn's frown deepened but he stayed where he was, even though he could move quietly he would never move as quietly as an Elf. He watched as Legolas scanned the sky, he stopped and steadily raised his bow as he aimed at the creature. Aragorn hoped that was what he was doing for he could not see or hear the creature at all. After what seemed like hours, Legolas released the arrow. There was a screech of pain from over head, Aragorn saw Legolas loosen another arrow; this was followed by a howl of anger and Legolas running back into the trees.
"Did you hit it?" asked Aragorn.
"Of course," answered Legolas. "Twice, did you not hear?"
"Why is it still in the air?" asked Èomer, who had run up to them.
"It was on its way down as I ran for the trees," said Legolas.
Just as he finished there was a crash from the road.
"So much for our careful planning," said Gimli as he joined them on the forest edge.
"Careful planning?" questioned Legolas.
"Well, planning at least," corrected Gimli as they made their way over to the downed animal.
The winged beast lay across the road with one wing spread out flat.
"What do we do with it?" asked Èomer.
"I do not know, I had not anticipated getting it so quickly," answered Aragorn truthfully.
"Is it dead?" asked Èomer.
"Someone should check," said Gimli. "I vote Legolas."
"What?" exclaimed Legolas.
"You can see best in the dark. Besides it should be dead," finished Gimli.
Legolas notched an arrow and from his glare an outsider would have thought he was going to shoot the Dwarf. Instead he turned and walked cautiously toward the creature, arrow trained on it the whole time. The beast was very still and did not appear to be breathing. It was also larger than any other beast of its kind that Legolas had seen. Legolas made his way round to the creature's head, the others watching him. None saw the tail twitch. Just as Legolas came up to its head, it swung to his direction, Legolas jumped back as it snapped at him, he released his arrow. The arrow hit the creature in the neck, above the wing. It reared in pain letting out a loud screech. Aragorn and the rest rushed forward weapons drawn, Gimli's axe caught it on one of its hind legs. It twisted round trying to meet the new attack, at the same time it beat its massive wings forcing them all to duck and swirling dirt and leaves making it harder to see.
Aragorn slashed at its wing catching one of its claws. The winged beast suddenly leapt into the air with a cry. Legolas jump up and releases an arrow at it, which ripped through the membrane of its wing, its flight faulted slightly but it continued on out of sight. Legolas made as if to follow it but stopped.
"Which direction did it go?" asked Aragorn coming up to Legolas' side.
"North. It flies in the direction of the Misty Mountains," answered Legolas.
"Is everyone alright?" asked Aragorn looking at each of them.
"No worse than before," said Èomer. "I think we should head back to Edoras, gather supplies and men then start out again."
"I agree," said Aragorn, "I will send a messenger to Faramir alerting him about this and to take some precautionary measures should this beast decide to head over to Gondor."
"I do not think it will," said Legolas.
"Why not?" asked Èomer.
"I am sorry, Èomer but there is nothing in Gondor for it to eat," said Legolas sadly.
Èomer lowered his head in understanding.
"I think a search is best at this time for the creature seems to keep no routine." he said.
"It would seem to be our only option at the moment," agreed Aragorn.
"Let us make for Edoras," he said turning to leave, Hanm right behind him. Aragorn followed with Legolas and Gimli close behind.
"I think that this road will forever be imprinted in my mind," said Gimli.
"Forever is a long time," said Legolas.
"You would know," answered Gimli.
"Yes, Master Dwarf, I would," returned Legolas.
"What do you do with all your time?" asked Gimli.
"It was peaceful, then I met you," answered Legolas with a smile.
"And your life is better for it," stated Gimli.
"I would not use the word 'better'," said Legolas.
"Oh!" said Gimli. "And what word would you use?"
Legolas thought about it for a while.
"Surely it can not take so long to think of a word," accused Gimli.
"I am thinking of an appropriate word that you will understand," answered Legolas.
"Understand!" exclaimed Gimli indignantly.
"To grasp the meaning of something," explained Legolas.
"I know what it means," snapped Gimli.
"Oh," said Legolas surprised.
"Legolas, peace. Please," murmured Aragorn knowing they could hear him.
"Aragorn wishes us to be quiet," said Legolas to Gimli.
"Shall we?" asked Gimli.
"I could sing instead of talk," suggested Legolas.
"Yes but Aragorn asked you to be at peace." pointed out Gimli.
"Elves can be quiet in everything they do." said Legolas hauntingly.
"Really?" asked Gimli.
Legolas nodded. Gimli waited for him to say something else but Legolas continued to walk looking ahead. They walked for a few hours before Aragorn called a halt. Legolas walked up to him, pointed at himself then his eyes, held up a finger and pointed at the near by trees.
"First watch?" asked Aragorn
Legolas nodded and made his way over to the tree he had pointed out, glancing at Gimli as he went. Gimli watched as he went up to the tree, pulled himself up and settled down on one of the braches. Gimli rolled himself in his cloak, trying to imagine that he had had a great dinner and was in a warm bed.