Chapter 6
Ziya

She glanced once more to the Hobbits. Shelob would get them. And then they could retrieve the ring. She landed on one of the structures within Osgiliath. A sole horse was riding forth, ahead of their armies, a man dragging from the saddle. It was the same man whom she had hit in the head with a rock the day before.

Ziya saw the Witch-king take a place in the mountains behind the white city. She then turned her attention back to the troops on the ground. The battle had begun with the releasing of the 'prisoners'. Their orders were to attack once the others arrived. They all flew over the mountains not long after and Ziya took flight, heading towards the city as the others did. She avoided arrows and was forced at one point to send a spell in front of her to shatter some of the debris that was launched at her. She heard a frightened yell from a Hobbit not far below her.

"Gandalf! Denathors gone mad! He's going to burn Faramir alive." She looked down to see the same Hobbit who had stabbed her. She angled the beast down and before the claws could catch the Hobbit, he was knocked aside. Instead the beast grabbed a stone and dropped it over a group of soldiers. Ziya turned back and saw the Hobbit staring at her before his face paled. Ziya turned away as she heard a horn over the hill. She froze as she saw the riders of Rohan. She leaned against the beast and flew towards the other Nazgul as they stopped on the mountains.
Theodin, king of Rohan, ran back and forth in front of them, mentally preparing them for the battle. As soon as they charged the Nazgul took flight once more. Ziya drew her sword and as she flew low, swung at a group of the Rohirrim. Some of them were lucky enough to duck. Others weren't as lucky. She pulled up as one of them swung at her. He was brave, that she'd give him. But he held a Hobbit in the seat ahead of him.

Ziya doved once more and missed the man, instead nearly hitting the Hobbit. She was flying up once more when she felt something hit the side of her beast. An arrow hit her in the shoulder and then she was falling towards the ground. She had nothing to break her fall, nothing to land on but the cold unfeeling ground.

She was ready for the impact when a hand grabbed her by her arm and she opened her eyes. Remnant had caught her and pulled her up behind him. With careful movements she looked around, spotting her beast regaining his flight and looking around for his rider. She slid down to the tail of Remnants creature and hers spotted her. He flew swiftly and she jumped, landing on his back as she heard another horn. Many of the Orc had fallen and some were running away. Ziya looked to where the horn had sounded from and grinned at the Oliphants that approached. And if she was correct those ships down the river held enough troops to turn the battle in their favor. The Rohirrim regrouped and Ziya watched them from where she flew.

"Attack!" She heard them yell. Following with the other nine Nazgul she dove down and attacked many of the riders. It was there that she was hit in the shoulder with another arrow. She yelled and many of the Rohirrim looked at her. Her hood never fell back thankfully but she still saw confusion across their faces. She turned to the ships, to see what had taken so long, and her face paled. Ghosts were pouring from the ships and slaying anything that opposed Strider. She felt another arrow in her shoulder and then turned to see the With-king on the ground, his headless beast beside him. A Hobbit was sneaking up behind him as he swung towards the man ahead of him.
Ziya was close enough to the ground by the the time the Hobbit sunk a dagger into the Witch-king leg, that she leapt down and landed beside him. The man removed his- erm, her helmet and raised her sword.

"I am no man." Ziya ran forwards in time to feel the blade plunge into her shoulder, right beside the arrows. She gasped and looked at the blade. As it was pulled free she fell to the ground, her hood falling back. The woman nearly dropped the sword in shock as the Witch-king reached forwards, ignoring the wound in his leg, and lifted Ziya from the ground.

"Ziya?" He removed the three arrows from her shoulder and she smiled lightly.

"It's just a scratch." She joked and winced as she tried to sit up. She yelled, her fangs visible in the light as the woman who had stabbed her fell back beside her dying king. She froze there, fear filling her eyes as the Witch-king stood. The Hobbit was frozen in place as well. Ziya looked over in time to see her own beast slain at the hands of Strider. Yet still, even besides the eight remaining Nazgul in the sky, she heard wingbeats. And then heard someone whisper about an eagle.

She saw the eagle land and everyone around her freeze for a moment. She saw Strider running towards them, sword in hand. Freesoul flared out his wings and let out a challenging shriek. Strider stopped beside the woman and together they moved the horse from Theodin and the woman pulled him away as Strider looked to Ziya.

She struggled to free herself and stand on her own. The Witch-king set her down but made sure she wouldn't fall. She saw something in Striders eyes and narrowed her gaze.

"Do not say-Ah!" She yelled as she fell to the ground, Strider stepping away as the Witch-king moved forwards and helped her stand. Strider looked to Freesoul.

"Fly Freesoul. Her wounds are to much. She would never make it back to Mordor alive." She knew these words were true and opened her mouth to protest against them. But Freesoul had already taken flight.

"Why did you do that Strider?" At that she slipped into unconsciousness.

Ziya opened her eyes and found herself on a bed in a white room. 'I must have died on the battlefield. For surely this is not Mordor.' She stood and walked out and through the halls. She ended up in a courtyard outside. The first thing she noticed was the tree. 'The white tree of Gondor.' Immediatly she ran into the main hall and saw Strider.

"Where is he?" She growled. Everyone turned to look at her.

"Where is who?" She looked at each persons face, seeing enemies in all of them.

"The Witch-king of Angamar." Strider looked shocked.

"He managed to escape. Why do you ask?" She narrowed her gaze at them.

"Why do I not believe you?" She nearly growled. And then she noticed how much her throat hurt. Strider grabbed a goblet and brought it to her. When he tried to hand it to her she knocked it aside, the blood spilling on the floor. "I do not need to drink. I need to return to where I belong!" She growled. Everyone was still shocked at the sight of blood in the goblet.

"You belong with people who'll take care of you Ziya. People like the elves." She stepped back, noticing now that she was still in her black robes.

"No! They treated me like freaks! The inhabitants of Mordor saw past that! I actually belonged there!" She was on the verge of tears. 'Not here. Not now. Please don't cry.' She thought to herself.

"What do you mean?" She lowered her head.

"I joined them of my own free will. They promised answers as to what I was." Striders face changed slightly to sorrow. "Please Strider. Let me go home."

"You have never refered to any place as home before." She blinked slowly. "Very well. Take a horse and get out of here before I come to my senses." She smiled and ran out, grabbing a black horse and saddling it. She pulled her hood up and rode through the city, pushing the horse to it's limits as she ran towards Mordor. As she reached the black gates they opened. She ran slower this time but still at a brisk walk. She dismounted the second she was within a short distance of the door of the tower. She ran inside and up to her room, swiftly closing the door and grabbing the recently filled goblet. She drank it down and the burning subsided.

A knock sounded at the door. "Come in." She spoke before filling the goblet again and taking a drink. She turned and saw Remnant.

"Did you come back alone?" She nodded.

"Why?"

"The Witch-king has yet to return." Her face paled as she sat down. "Did you see him?"

"He lied." Her voice was strained and cracking. "Strider lied."

"What do you mean?" She opened her mouth to speak but something unseen and unheard caused her to stop. She stood and ran, grabbing her horse and following troops that were heading to the gates. Behind her were eight Nazgul heading to their mounts. She rode up to front of the battle and looked down at the Orc in charge.

"What is going on?"

"A small war party from Gondor stands at the gates. They will be crushed easily." She nodded.

"But Aragorn is mine. Understood?" The Orc nodded as she pulled her hood back around her face. The gates swung open and Aragorn turned, joining the rest of his battle group. They froze when Ziya threw her hood back and produced her sword. Aragorn watched her closely and noticed the angered look in her eyes. He threw forth a helmet and Ziya's eyes filled with rage. The Witch-king was dead. Aragorn had slain him.

A/N: O.O Uh-oh. Ziya's pissed. And that's never good. Oh well. You won't have to wait long for the next chappie. ^.^ I am uploading it right after this! ~ Kitteh 01