I don't own Lord of the Rings.
A/N: Last weird Author's Note! I was on tumblr the other day and I made this super weird post about the CGI orcs and why I didn't like them (my argument started with them being too clean and then it just went wacky from there) and this guy responded yelling at me for wanting orcs to be ugly and then another guy responded to HIM saying that LOTR orcs are supposed to be ugly and not hot (cuz they knew each other and the first guy likes hot orcs?) and it was the weirdest thing that has ever happened to me on the internet. Also, if anyone has a tumblr, I mostly reblog LOTR, Supernatural, Sherlock, Doctor Who, Harry Potter and random stuff, but I am whyyouackinsocray-cray. In case anyone wants to check it out. Also it may become my author name. Haven't made up my mind about it yet.
Epilogue: The Last Nazgûl
It would be three years before Azruphel saw Aragorn again. In the meantime, she and Nightfall had explored much of the northern areas, but she avoided the Shire. She went as far west as the Grey Havens and wandered the wild lands before turning south again. She visited many cities of Gondor before she decided to return to Rohan and find her brother and sister.
It took some time, but Azruphel eventually revealed to Éomer and Éowyn her suspicions that she was their missing sister, Éoryn. After explaining her entire story to her brother and sister, they agreed that Azruphel had to be Éoryn. The story, however, was met with mixed responses and confusing emotions. Their sister had been raised as a Nazgûl, and would not be met with the same acceptance amongst the people of Rohan. Added to this, Azruphel confessed that she couldn't go back to being Éoryn. Her name, to her, had always been Azruphel, and that would never change. It took some time, but Éomer and Éowyn accepted their new sister as Azruphel, and did not reveal her true identity to anyone. To the Rohirrim, the girl who cut her hair above the shoulders and dressed like a soldier was nothing more than a strange friend of the King's niece and nephew.
It wasn't long before Azruphel became bored with the day to day life of the Rohirrim, so she begged Éomer to let her into his company, as he was the Third Marshall of the Riddermark. Éomer was unsure, as no women were soldiers and the other men would likely not respect her, but Azruphel challenged him to a duel in front of his men. After thoroughly defeating him, Azruphel was welcomed by the others riders. She quickly became, according to Éomer, a bad influence on Éowyn, especially when he discovered Azruphel teaching Éowyn to fight.
Then Théoden banished the riders and Azruphel and Éomer killed a pack of orcs crossing Rohan. Soon after, they encountered an elf, man, and a dwarf, two of which looked familiar to Azruphel.
"Éomer, stop. I know them!" Azruphel said as her brother began to question the three strangers. She quickly jumped off her horse and ran to meet her friends. After introducing Éomer to Aragorn (who he vaguely remembered) and Legolas, as well as meeting Gimli, Azruphel learned their purpose in chasing the orcs. She suggested, with Éomer's approval, that they take two of their horses.
With that, they separated again, and would not have a chance to exchange tales until after the Battle of Helm's Deep. Azruphel learned of the original quest, and what had occurred. Azruphel also told of her adventures throughout Middle Earth, which ended with her finally reuniting with her true family.
"I needed to do something," she explained to Aragorn. "I had travelled to many places and seen many things, but at the end I really wanted to see them again."
Azruphel enjoyed the company of Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli (with whom she was quickly becoming friends) as they went first to Isengard then back to Edoras. She met Merry and Pippin, and quickly taught Merry different fighting styles. However, she had to part with Aragorn again when he, Legolas, and Gimli travelled the Paths of the Dead. Instead, Azruphel helped Éowyn and Merry ride to battle at Pelennor Fields.
And while Éowyn fought and killed the Witch-King, who Azruphel had always known as Er-Murazor, Azruphel found herself against a different opponent, the Nazgûl she once called Father. The battle between Khamûl and Azruphel was fierce, as Azruphel had improved much in the three years of separation between them. In the end, Azruphel killed Khamûl, and none of the other Nazgûl dared approach her.
Later, Azruphel watched gladly as Barad-dûr collapse, Sauron finally defeated. She met Frodo and Sam, watched as Aragorn was crowned King. Éomer became King of Rohan. Éowyn married Faramir (Azruphel was able to introduce herself properly when meeting him this time). The part of her life controlled by others was over.
And yet it was not.
Azruphel had pressure from both her brother and sister. Éomer asked her to return to Rohan, where she would take his place as Marshall of the Riddermark. And Éowyn wished Azruphel would remain in Gondor with her and Faramir. Both options sounded good, but Azruphel didn't truly want either of them.
"I just do not know where to go," Azruphel complained to Aragorn, on a day he wasn't too busy with his new duties.
"You rode with Éomer. Why not return with him?" Aragorn asked.
"I joined the Rohirrim because I wanted to help them. I never felt entirely as one of them." This was a problem Azruphel had long tried to come to terms with, even after revealing herself to Éomer and Éowyn. "I may be Rohirrim, but I was raised to be a Nazgûl. I do not believe if I will ever be Rohirrim," she said, and then added with a laugh, "I am the last of my people."
She and Aragorn remained silent for a moment. Azruphel remembered her childhood, particularly Uvatha. He was dead now, finally no longer a slave. Of all the Nazgûl, he had been the most human. He had cared, spent his days training and raising the horses and fell beasts of Minas Morgul. Azruphel's eyes drifted to the city in the distance, no doubt emptied of orcs.
"What do you plan to do to Minas Morgul?" Azruphel asked Aragorn.
"I was to have it destroyed," Aragorn responded. "The area has long been poisoned, and only evil resides there. Time may make it clean again, but not for a long time."
"I lived there," Azruphel said in a quiet voice. "There should be no orcs."
"But there will be wargs and beasts! The city is full of evil, Azruphel."
"Wargs are not evil! Nor are fell beasts!" Azruphel said. "You call them dangerous, ugly, and evil, but they are not. Sauron used them, just as I was used."
"People will not wish to enter the city," Aragorn said.
"No, but I will. Give me Minas Morgul," Azruphel insisted. "Please, Aragorn."
Aragorn agreed, and so Azruphel spent several years cleaning out Minas Morgul. Inside, she found the warg packs that she knew existed, as well as a few younger horses that had been raised likely by Uvatha. The room she had once resided in was completely destroyed, but Azruphel cleared it out and set up a new bed for when she spent the night. Azruphel often rode between Minas Tirith and Minas Morgul, but as time went on she spent more and more time within Minas Morgul.
Sauron had enslaved many men during his reign in Mordor. Aragorn had freed those men, but as Azruphel became frustrated with the size of Minas Morgul, some of the men were hired to help her, particularly the ones who understood and could speak some black speech. Many of the animals understood only black speech commands. The men enjoyed working with Azruphel, and she eventually married one of them.
Slowly, Azruphel was able to stop the source of the poison, and life began to slowly return to the valley. Azruphel began letting the herd of horses out, and built an enclosure for the wargs to run in. But there were a few animals that Azruphel did not know what to do with: the fell beasts. There were only five remaining, including Azruphel's old mount, Dushtala. Azruphel knew little about the fell beasts, and didn't know how she would contain them. Luckily, they were extremely intelligent, and Azruphel wondered if they were distantly related to dragons. It would take some time before they could be trained not to go after men or horses, but Azruphel made sure to give them exercise as often as possible until she could let them fly freely.
Azruphel had given Aragorn regular updates on her progress, even after she fully moved into Minas Morgul. However, it was a shock and fright to everyone when Azruphel showed up on Dushtala, a smile on her face and an invitation to their King to join her in a tour. He did, of course, and Azruphel was able to show Aragorn around. While working, Azruphel had found many of the secret areas of the city, and reorganized the books and artifacts into an incredible library. Many of the recovered heirlooms she offered to Aragorn. He took a few, but many remained inside Minas Morgul.
Azruphel was later named the Lady of Minas Morgul (after hearing what she had done, many of the people decreed it had to be sorcery). The city gained a reputation as a place for outcasts and misfits. Those that didn't belong anywhere else found a place in Minas Morgul, and that was fine by the people of Gondor.
But for those beasts and misfits, Minas Morgul was a sanctuary. Particularly for Azruphel, the last Nazgûl. And it was there that Azruphel felt like she belonged.
A/N: Finally complete! Again, thank you everyone who has read this story! I know I suck at updates, but for those of you who stuck with it, you now have an ending :D