Ringwraiths

[BlackCaptain]

Ahh here it is, finaly! Please excuse the long waitng, but it is finaly here! Don't be disieved from the begining, it really does become more scholarly like towards the second half of my report:



The Nazgûl
Also Known As:
Ring Wraiths
Úlairi
The Nine
Black Riders

Brief Summary
The Nazgûl are, in one’s opinion, the most interesting, and vague characters in Tolkien’s works. Without much back round, they still come off as some of the most defined characters in the Lord of the Rings and Unfinished Tales. They show up in the Lord of the Rings as mysterious robed demons of Sauron, in search of the One Ring. They could be described as the Arms of Sauron in a sense.

Appearances in The Lord of the Rings
From: The Shadow of the Past
Nine he gave to Mortal Men, proud and great, and so ensnared them. Long ago they fell under the dominion of the One, and they became Ringwraiths, shadows under his great Shadow, his most terrible servants. Long ago. It is many a year since the Nine walked abroad. Yet who knows? As the Shadow grows once more, they too may walk again.

Pretty scary huh? This is the first we ever hear of the Nazgûl (or anything relating to them at least) in all of Tolkien’s works. It introduces them as somewhat mysterious shadowy figures, who are just Sauron’s handymen. A wonderful introduction it is. These ‘Nine’ are nine Rings of Power given to Men of some High Blood. But who? We never do know; Tolkien never really tells us. Their identity is as hidden as their faces… This passage really hints at the weakness that men have to temptation and power, which helps the development of all the race of Men further into the War of the Ring. Even seems like Boromir has a couple of the same problems as the Nazgûl. The Nine Rings of Men were taken by Sauron, and since the men were already enslaved to them (being enslaved the same way Gollum was enslaved to the one; always needing it) they would do anything and submit completely to Sauron's will to attain the powers that the Rings gave them. And then since Sauron controls the Nine Rings, he controls the Nine Riders, rendering them without a will (apart from Sauron's).

From: The Council of Elrond
‘ “I have an urgent errand,” he [Radagast] said. “My news is evil” Then he looked about him, as if the hedges might have ears. “Nazgûl,” he whispered. “The Nine are abroad again. They have crossed the River secretly and are moving westward. They have taken the guise of riders in black.”
‘I knew then that what I had dreaded without knowing it.
‘ “The Enemy must have some great need or purpose,” said Radagast; “but what it is that makes him look to these distant and desolate parts, I cannot guess.”
‘ “What do you mean?” said I.
‘ “I have been told that wherever they go the Riders ask for news of a land called the Shire.”
’ “The Shire,” I said; but my heart sank. For even the Wise might fear to withstand the Nine, when they are gathered together under their fell chieftain [ME!!!!]. A great king and sorcerer he was of old, and now he wields a deadly fear.

Wow I love this quote… Very powerful. …
Even Radagast, a member of the Istari fears the bushes when he mentions the name of the Nazgûl. That’s gotta say something. Moving Westward from Mordor that is, just for your info. This is where Gandalf really starts to fear for the well-being of Frodo, and Middle Earth for that matter I believe. And all because me and my chum are out and about. ‘Even the Wise might fear to withstand the Nine when they are gathered together under their fell chieftain.’ How powerful does that make the Nazgûl and the Witch King? I would say the most pivitol tools in Sauron’s tool box. Along with my buddies here, we’re quite a force. I think this passage over all is used to really bring out what the Nazgûl are capable of, and the fear that goes along with them. The first passage showed probably as much lineage as we’ll get from the Nazgûl. The first passage showed the backround, and this passage shows the sheer amount of fear that we come with. NOW we have a good idea as to what these Nazgûl characters are like…

[BlackCaptain]

THE TWO TOWERS

The Nazgûl make other appearances here and there in the Lord of the Rings. And it’s not until The Two Towers that things start to get good. From The Stairs of the Cirith Ungol


But it was too late. At that moment the rock quivered and trembled beneath them. The great rumbling noise, louder than ever before, rolled in the ground and echoed in the mountains. Then with searing suddenness there came a great red flash. Far beyond the eastern mountains it leapt into the sky and splashed the lowering clouds with crimson. In that valley of shadow and cold deathly light it seemed unbearably violent and fierce. Peaks of stone and ridges like notched knives sprang out in staring black against the uprushing flame in Gorgoroth. Then came a great crack of thunder.
And Minas Morgul answered. There was a flare of livid lightnings: forks of blue flame springing up from the tower and from the encircling hills into the sullen clouds. The earth groaned and out of the city there came a cry. Mingled with harsh voices as birds of prey, and the shrill neighing of horses wild with rage and fear, there came a rending screech, shivering, rising swiftly to a piercing pitch beyond the range of hearing. The hobbits wheeled round towards it and cast themselves down, holding their hands upon their ears.
As the terrible cry ended, falling back through a long sickening wail to silence, Frodo slowly raised his head. Across the narrow valley, now almost on a level with his eyes, the walls of the evil city stood, and its cavernous gate, shaped like an open mouth with gleaming teeth, was gaping wide. And out of the gate an army came.
All that host was clad in sable, darks as the night. Against the wan walls and the luminous pavement of the road Frodo could see them, small black figures in rank upon rank, marching swiftly and silently, passing outwards in an endless stream. Before them went a great cavalry of horsemen moving like ordered shadows, and at their head was one greater than the rest: a Rider, all black, save that on his hooded head he had a helm like a crown that flickered with a perilous light. Now he was drawing near the bridge below, and Frodo’s staring eyes followed him, unable to wink or to withdraw. Surely there was the Lord of the Nine Riders returned to earth to lead his ghastly host to battle? Here, yes here indeed was the haggard king whose cold hand had smitten down the Ring-bearer with his deadly knife. The old wound throbbed and with pain and a great chill spread towards Frodo’s heart.
Even as these thoughts pierced him with dread and held him bound as with a spell, the Rider halted suddenly, right before the entrance of the bridge, and behind him all the host stood still. There was a pause, a dead silence. Maybe it was the Ring that called to the Wraith-lord, and for a moment he was troubled, sensing some other power within his valley. This way and that turned the dark head helmed and crowned with fear, sweeping the shadows with its unseen eyes. Frodo waited, like a bird at the approach of a snake, unable to move. And as he waited, he felt, more urgent than ever before, the command that he should put on the Ring. But great as the pressure was, he felt no inclination now to yield to it. He knew that the Ring would only betray him, and that he had not, even if he put it on, the power to face the Morgul-King---not yet. There was no longer any answer to that command in his own will, dismayed by terror though it was, and he felt only the beating upon him of a great power from outside. It took his hand and as Frodo watched with is mind, not willing it but in suspense (as if he looked on some old story far away), it moved the hand inch by inch towards the chain upon his neck. Then his own will stirred; slowly it forced the hand back and set it to find another thing, a thing lying hidden near his breast. Cold and hard it seemed as his grip closed on it: the phial of Galadriel, so long treasured, and almost forgotten till that hour. As he touched it, for a while all the thought of the Ring was banished from his mind. He sighed and bent his head. At that moment the Wraith-king turned and spurred his horse and rode across the bridge, and all his dark host followed him. Maybe the elven-hoods defied his unseen eyes, and the mind of his small enemy, being strengthened, had turned aside his thought. But he was in haste. Already the hour had struck, and at his great Master’s bidding he must march with war into the West.
Soon he passed, like a shadow into shadow, down the winding road, and behind him still the black ranks crossed the bridge. So great an army had never issued from that vale since the days of Isildur’s might; no host so fell and strong in arms had yet assailed the fords of Anduin; and yet it was but one and not the greatest of the hosts of Mordor that now set forth

Whew! BEST. SCENE. EVER. The power and might of Minas Morgul and Mordor falling down on one Hobbit with the greatest prize of all. The second paragraph I assume is the work of the Witch King of Morgul, telling Sauron “Alright, I’m going.”. The Nazgûl, as we see now, have very interesting (for lack of a better term) ways of communicating. Here we see the horror and sorcery of the Nine Servants exploding upon the world of Middle Earth. A terrible frightening scene of witch-craft. Here the potential of the Nazgûl is hinted at. Yes, Just hinted.
As can be seen, Frodo struggles with the Witch-King. A pure power of wills. The Black Captain sensed something at work other than his own sorcery, and beckoned to it. Almost as if Frodo’s soul was being torn apart, he declined the call of death. This scene really makes Frodo look strong if you read it slowly and surely. Tolkien does this so well… The power and potential of the Witch King fully wrought now, as he rides into the West to destroy the light in a sea of Sable and Black.

I realize that there are other appearances by the Nazgûl in The Two Towers, but I find them not to be as character building or as significant to the report as I would like them. This scene is the next big step in the development for the Nazgûl

[BlackCaptain]

THE RETURN OF THE KING

The Return of the King. The Witch-king rather than the Nazgûl makes most of the appearances here. Let’s start with the Siege of Gondor:

So now Lord Faramir had gone forth again, and had taken with him such strength of men as were willing to go or could be spared. On the walls some gazed through the gloom towards the ruined city[Osgiliath], and they wondered what chance was there, for nothing could be seen. And others, as ever, looked north and counted the leagues to Theoden in Rohan. ‘Will he come? Will he remember our old Alliance?’ they said.
It was night again ere news came. A man rode in haste from the fords, saying that a host had issued from Minas Morgul, and was already drawing nigh to Osgiliath; and it had been joined by regiments from the South, Haradrim, cruel and tall. 'And we have learned,’ said the messenger, ‘that the Black Captain leads them once again, and the fear of him has passed before him over the River.’
With those ill-boding words the third day closed since Pippin came to Minas Tirith. Few went to rest, for small hope had any now that even Faramir could hold the fords for long.

Here is the beginning of the War of the Ring. The Nazgûl of course (or at least one of them) draw first blood. Surprised? I’m not. :D As we are about to see soon the Captain is to be victorious.

The passage of the Anduin was won by the Enemy. Faramir was retreating to the wall of the Pelenor, rallying his men to the Causeway Forts; but he was ten times outnumbered.
‘If he wins back at all across the Pelennor, his enemies will be on his heels,’ said the messenger. ‘They have paid dear for the crossing, but less dearly than we hoped. The plan has been well laid. It is now seen that in secret they have long been building floats and barges in great number in East Osgiliath. They swarmed across like beetles. But it is the Black Captain that defeats us. Few will stand and abide even the rumour of his coming. His own folk quail at him, and they would slay themselves at his bidding.’

This is one of the reason’s I chose the Witch King as my User Name preference. His character embodies so much power and fear, which is shown through the wonderful writing of one JRR Tolkien. Powerful passages…


Now later during the Siege of Gondor:

The Nazgûl came again, and as their Dark Lord now grew and put forth his strength, so their voices, which uttered only his will and his malice, were filled with evil and horror. Ever they circled above the City, like vultures that expect their fill of doomed men’s flesh. Out of sight and shot they flew, and yet were ever present, and their deadly voices rent the air. More unbearable they became, not less, at each new cry. At length even the stout-hearted would fling themselves to the ground as the hidden menace passed over them, or they would stand, letting their weapons fall from nerveless hands while into their minds a blackness came, and they thought no more of war, but only of hiding and of crawling, and of death.

Think of what the UN-stout hearted would have done.;) Once again, the Nazgûl don’t stop surprising the reader with fear and terror. Not even with any weapons, they are throwing the greatest city of Men into mayhem. Very dark sorcery and power they all posses… A very black day for Gondor and Minas Tirith. What else is there to say?

Grond crawled on. The drums rolled wildly. Over the hills of slain a hideous shape appeared: a horseman, tall, hooded, cloaked in black. Slowly, trampling the fallen, he rode forth, heeding no longer any dart. He halted and held up a long pale sword. And as he did so great fear fell on all, defender and foe alike; and the hands of men drooped to their sides, and no bow sang. For a moment all was still.
The drums rolled and rattled. With a vast rush Grond was hurled forward by huge hands. It reached the Gate. It swung. A deep boom rumbled through the City like thunder running in the clouds. But the doors of iron and posts of steel withstood the stroke.
Then the Black Captain rose in his stirrups and cried aloud in a dreadful voice, speaking in some forgotten tongue words of power and terror to rend both heart and stone.
Thrice he cried. Thrice the great ram boomed. And suddenly upon the last stroke the Gate of Gondor broke. As if stricken by some blasting spell it burst asunder: there was a flash of searing lightning, and the doors tumbled in riven fragments to the ground.

In rode the Lord of the Nazgûl. A great black shape against the fires beyond he loomed up, grown to a vast menace of despair. In rode the Lord of the Nazgûl, under the archway that no enemy ever yet had passed, and all fled before his face

All save one. There waiting, silent and still in the space before the Gate, sat Gandalf upon Shadowfax: Shadowfax who alone among the free horses of the earth endured the terror, unmoving, steadfast as a graven image in Rath Dinen.
‘You cannot enter here,’ said Gandalf, and the huge shadow halted. ‘Go back to the abyss prepared for you! Go back! Fall into the nothingness that awaits you and your Master. Go!’
The Black Rider flung back his hood, and behold! He had a kingly crown; yet upon no head visible was it set. The red fires shown between it and the mantled shoulders vast and dark. From a mouth unseen there came a deadly laughter.
‘Old fool!’ he said. ‘Old fool! This is my hour. Do you not know death when you see it? Die now and curse in vain!’ and with that he lifted high his sword and flames ran down the blade.
Gandalf did not move. And in that very moment, away behind in some courtyard of the City, a **** crowed. Shrill and clear he crowed, recking nothing of wizardry or war, welcoming only the morning that in the sky far above the shadows of death was coming with the dawn.

Here we see the only force of evil in Middle Earth powerful enough to set foot in Minas Tirith of Middle Earth is one of the Nazgûl. Doesn’t surprise me… We see the sorcery and effect of fear the Lord of the Nazgûl has against his enemies, and allies. The War that will decide the fate of Middle Earth, amid the greatest offensive press in the most pivitol moments of all time in Arda, all time ceases to exist and everything stops… Because of the Lord of the Nazgûl. Powerful, moving, wonderful

[BlackCaptain]

RETURN OF THE KING (CONTINUED)



‘To me! To me!’ cried Theoden. ‘Up Eorlingas! Fear no darkness!’ But Snowmane wild with terror stood up on high, fighting with the air, and then with a great scream he crashed upon his side: a black dart had pierced him. The king fell beneath him.
The great shadow descended like a falling cloud. And behold! It was a winged creature: if bird then greater than all other birds, and it was naked, and neither quill nor feather did it bear, and its vast pinions were as webs of hide between horned fingers’ and it stank. A creature of an older world maybe it was, whose kind, lingering forgotten mountains cold beneath the Moon, outstayed their day, and in hideous eyrie bred this last untimely brood, apt to evil. And the Dark Lord took it, and nursed it with fell meats, until it grew beyond the measure of all other things that fly; and he gave it to his servant to be his steed. Down, down it came, and then, folding its fingered webs, it gave a croaking cry, and settled upon the body of Snowmane, digging in its claws, stooping its long naked neck.
Upon it sat a shape, black-mantled, huge and threatening. A crown of steel he bore, but between rim and robe naught else was there to see, save only a deadly gleam of eyes: the Lord of the Nazgûl. To the air he had returned, summoning his steed ere the darkness failed, and now he was come again, bringing ruin, turning hope to despair, and victory to death. A great black mace he wielded.
…..
‘Begone, foul dwimmerlaik, lord of carrion! Leave the dead in peace!’
A cold voice answered: ‘Come not between the Nazgûl and his prey! Or he will not slay thee in thy turn. He will bear three away to the houses of lamentation, beyond all darkness, where thy flesh shall be devoured, and thy shriveled mind be left naked to the Lidless Eye.’
A sword rang as it was drawn. ‘Do what you will; but I will hinder it, if I may.’
‘Hinder me? Thou fool. No living man may hinder me!’
Then Merry heard of all sounds in that hour the strangest. It seemed that Dernhelm laughed, and the clear voice was like the ring of steel. ‘But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Eowyn I am, Eomund’s daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you not be deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.’
The winged creature screamed at her, but the Ringwraith made no answer, and all was silent, as if in sudden doubt. Very amazement for a moment conquered Merry’s fear. He opened his eyes and the blackness was lifted from them. There some paces from him sat the great beast, and all seemed dark about it, and above it loomed the Nazgûl Lord like a shadow of despair. A little to the left facing them stood she whom he had called Dernhelm. But the helm of her secrecy had fallen from her, and her bright hair, released from its bonds, gleamed with pale gold upon her shoulders. Her eyes grey as the Sea were hard and fell, and yet tears were on her cheek. A sword was in her hand, and she raised her shield against the horror of the enemy’s eyes.
…
The face of their enemy was not turned towards him [Merry], but still he hardly dared to move, dreading lest the deadly eyes should fall on him. Slowly, slowly he began to crawl aside; but the Black Captain, in doubt and malice intent upon the woman before him, heeded him no more than a worm in the mud.
Suddenly the great beast beat its hideous wings, and the wind of them was foul. Again it leaped into the air, and the swiftly fell down upon Eowyn, shrieking, striking with beak and claw.
Still she did not blench: the maiden of the Rohirrim, child of kings, slender but as a steel-blade, fair yet terrible. A swift stroke she dealt, skilled and deadly. The outstretched neck she clove asunder, and the hewn head fell like a stone. Backward she sprang as the huge shape crashed to ruin, vast wings outspread, crumpled on the earth; and with its fall the shadow passed away. A light fell about her, and her hair shone in the sunrise.
Out of the wreck rose the Black Rider, tall and threatening, towering above her. With a cry of hatred that stung the very ears like venom he let fall his mace. Her shield was shivered in many pieces, and her arm was broken; she stumbled to her knees. He bent over her like a cloud, and his eyes glittered; he raised his mace to kill.
But suddenly he too stumbled forward with a cry of bitter pain, and his stroke went wide, drivingn into the ground. Merry’s sword had stabbed him from behind shearing through the black mantle, and passing up beneath the hauberk had pierced the sinew behind his mighty knee.
‘Eowyn! Eowyn!’ cried Merry. Then tottering, struggling up, with her last strength she drover her sword between the crown and mantle, as the great shoulders bowed before her. The sword broke sparkling into many shards. The crown rolled away with a clang. Eowyn fell forward upon her fallen foe. But lo! The mantle and hauberk were empty. Shapeless they lay now on the ground, torn and tumbled; and a cry went up into the shuddering air, and faded to a shrill wailing, passing with the wind, a voice bodiless and thin that died, and was swallowed up and was never heard again in that age of this world

Agh the infamous death scene. We see the death of Theoden, or at least the cause of his death, the valiance of Eowyn, the cowardice of Merry, and the folly of the Witch King in under-estimating Merry. Yes, I will admit, I made a mistake:D but as did Sauron in his under-estimation of Frodo. I don’t know what there is to say about this scene…. It’s an ongoing debate between Rhiannon and myself as to whether it was a fair fight… or something like that. You have the evedince right there… Merry stabbed the Witch King in the back while he was dueling with Eowyn. But I’m sure that’s another topic we can debate about later. I find it hard to ‘reflect’ on this passage, but I’m trying to as best as I can. I think the 2nd sentence of mine summed it up nicely. As the crown of the Witch King is lifted up, we see that the second most powerful force of evil in middle earth is not but a wraith, and a gaseous shadow under Sauron. Unembodied and unclad they are their most fearsome (as we’ll see in Unfinished Tales), and the Witch King assumes both physical and unphysical form in a sense…

Also, I would like to add that I am positive that you must be a MALE to destroy the Witch-King, not of the race of Men. Note the capitalization in Tolkien's works. Whenever he refferes to the race of Men, he capitalizes that 'M'. When he is reffering to Males he doesn't capitalize the 'm' in men. So an Elven male could not destroy the Black Captain permanantely, but could greatly damage him, which is why the Witch-King fled from Glorfindel in the Appendixes.

-----

The only other times in Lord of the Rings we see or hear of the Nazgûl is the scene at the Moranon when they are encircling the skies above the Black Gate, and when the Ring is destroyed, they all fly at full speed towards Orodruin. The destruction of the Nazgûl is as follows:

[From the Field of Cormallen]
But the Nazgûl turned and fled, and vanished into Mordor’s shadows, hearing a sudden terrible call out of the Dark Tower; and even at that moment all the hosts of Mordor trembled, doubt clutched their hearts, their laughter failed, their hands shook and their limbs were loosed. The Power that drove them on and filled them with hate and fury was wavering, its will was removed from them; and now looking in the eyes of their enemies they saw a deadlyl light and were afraid.
……
[From Mount Doom]
And into the heart of the storm, with a cry that pierced all other sounds, tearing the clouds asunder, the Nazgûl came, shooting like flaming bolts, as caught in the fiery ruin of hill and sky they crackled, withered, and went out.

Here comes an end to the greatest servants of Evil in the Third Age of the Sun of Arda. The folly of their master is what drove them, and it was the folly of their master that destroyed them in the bitter end. One can not help but wonder what would have happened if Sauron had not been greedy, and granted the Nazgûl their own will? Perhaps 10 great minds and powers as opposed to the One. But that is a big question that unfortunately was never explored in possibly the greatest Novel of all time.

[BlackCaptain]

UNFINISHED TALES

Appearances in Unfinished Tales
All of the appearances of the Nazgûl in Unfinished Tales are from the chapter The Hunt for the Ring
So it was that Sauron pressed with two strokes – in which many saw the beginnings of the War of the Ring. They were made together. The Orcs assailed the realm of Thranduil, with orders to recapture Gollum; and the Lord of Morgul was sent forth openly to battle against Gondor. These things were done towards the end of June 3018. Thus Sauron tested the strength and preparedness of Denethor, and found them more than he had hoped. But that troubled him little, since he had used little force in the assault, and his chief purpose was that the coming forth of the Nazgûl should appear only as part of his policy of war against Gondor.
Therefore when Osgiliath was taken and the bridge broken Sauron stayed the assault, and the Nazgûl were ordered to begin the search for the Ring. But Sauron did not underesteem the powers and vigilance of the Wise, and the Nazgûl were commanded to act as secretly as they could. Not at that time the Chieftain of the Ringwraiths dwelt in Minas Morgul with six companions, while the second to the Chief, Khamul the Shadow of the East, abode in Dol Guldur as Sauron’s lieutenant, with one other as his messenger.

Here the positions of the Nazgûl are established in U.T., and we learn of Khamul (Shadow of the East). This is the only name ever assigned to one of the Nine in Tolkien’s works, even though names have been established by some established on clues and assumptions. In the first assault upon Middle Earth by Sauron, the Nazgûl did not have such a role as in the War of the Ring. However the Morgul King was as crucial to the war effort (on Sauron’s part) as in the War of the Ring. His [Morgul King’s] strength however, was not fulfilled to it’s potential, as Sauron stayed the assault upon Gondor after taking Osgiliath. His goal was to make their presence known, then send them to hunt for the Ring.


The Lord of Morgul therefore led his companions over Anduin, unclad and unmounted, and invisible to eyes, and yet a terror to all living things that they passed near. It was, maybe, on the first day of July that they went forth. They passed slowly and in stealth, through Anorien, and over the Entwade, and so into the Wold, and rumour of darkness and a dread of men knew not what went before them. They reached the west-shores of Anduin a little north of Sarn Gebir, as they had trysted; and there received horses and raiment that were secretly ferried over the River. This was (as is thought) about the seventeenth of July. Then they passed northward seeking for the Shire, the Land of the Halflings.
About the twenty-second of July they met their companions, the Nazgûl of Dol Guldur, in the Field of Celebrant. There they learned that Gollum had eluded both the Orcs that recaptured him, and the Elves that pursued them, and had vanished. They were told also by Khamul that no dwelling of Halflings could be discovered in the Vales of Anduin, and that the villages of the Stoors by the Gladden had long been deserted. But the Lord of Morgul, seeing no better counsel, determined still to seek northward, hoping maybe to come upon Gollum as well as to discover the Shire. That this would prove to be not far from the hated land of Lorien seemed to him unlikely, if it was not indeed within the fences of Galadriel. But the power of the White Ring he would not defy, nor enter into Lorien. Passing therefore between Lorien and the Mountains the Nine rode ever on into the North; and terror went before them and lingered behind them; but they did not find what they sought nor learn any news that availed them.

Here we see the first actions in the Hunt for the Ring as accounted by the Nazgûl. Prior to the search for the Ring, we know that Gollum had been in Mordor after venturing through the Kirith Ungol in avasion of Gandalf and Aragorn. Here, Sauron learned from Gollum that a Baggins of the Shire had the One Ring, and Sauron in folly released Gollum, seeing no need to hold him further. Gollum was then found by Gandalf and Aragorn, and brought to Mirkwood where he escaped in cunning ways of the trees, and the distraction of the Orcish assault sent by Sauron. When Gollum had escaped, he made his way back to the Misty Mountains and hid underneath them until the Fellowship of the Ring crossed thru Moria. The Nazgûl then hoped to overcome Gollum before he reached the mountains. They failed in doing this, and still did not find the Shire, against the hope of the Morgul Lord.

At length they returned; but the summer was now far waned, and the wrath and fear of Sauron was mounting. When they came back to the Wold September had come; and there they met messengers from Barad-Dur conveying threats from their Master that filled even the Morgul-Lord with dismay. For Sauron had now learned of the words of prophecy heard in Gondor, and the going forth of Boromir, of Saruman’s deeds, and the capture of Gandalf. From these things he concluded indeed that neither Saruman nor any other of the Wise had possession yet of the Ring, but that Saruman at least knew where it might be hidden. Speed alone would now serve, and secrecy must be abandoned. The Ringwraiths therefore were ordered to go straight to Isengard. They rode then through Rohan in haste, and the terror of their passing was so great that many folk fled from the land, and went wildly away north and west, believing that war out of the East was coming on the heels of black horses.
Two days after Gandalf had departed from Orthanc, the Lord of Morgul halted before the Gate of Isengard. Then Saruman already filled with wrath and fear by the escape of Gandalf, perceived the peril of standing between enemies, a known traitor to both. His dread was great, for his hope of deceiving Sauron, or at least of receiving his favour in victory, was utterly lost. Now either he himself must gain the Ring or come to ruin and torment. But he was wary and cunning still, and he had ordered Isengard against just such an evil chance. The Circle of Isengard was too strong for even the Lord of Morgul and his company to assail without great force of war. Therefore to his challenge and demands he received only the answer of the voice of Saruman, that spoke by some art as though it came from the Gate itself.
Now, we see what leads up to the interrogation of Saruman, by which roads flew some Rohirric peoples into dismay, and the importance of the Nazgûl in Sauron’s eyes. We also see Saruman’s (In a rather contradicting appearance from the movies) folly, and his being cornered by both the enemies (his enemies at least). Now, for him, the Ring is his only chance of success.

“It is not a land that you look for,” it said. “I know what you seek, though you do not name it. I have it not, as surely its servants perceive without telling; for if I had it, then you would bow before me and call me Lord. And if I knew where this thing was hid, I should not be here, but long gone before you take it. Theere is one only whom I guess to have this knowledge: Mithrandir, enemy of Sauron. And since it is but two days since he departed from Isengard, seek him nearby.”
Such was still the power of the voice of Saruman that not even the Lord of the Nazgûl questioned what it said, whether it was false or short of the full truth; but straightway he rode from that on the evening of the next day the Black Riders came upon Grima Wormtongue as he hastened to bring word to Saruman that Gandalf was come to Edoras, and had warned King Theoden of the treacherous designs of Isengard. In that hour the Wormtongue came near to death by terror; but being inured to treachery he would not have told all that he knew under less threat.
“Yea, yea, verily I can tell you, Lord,” he said. “I have over heard their speech together in Isengard. The land of the Halflings: it was thence that Gandalf came, and desires to return. He now only seeks a horse.
“Spare me! I speak as swiftly as I may. West through the Gap of Rohan yonder, and then north and a little west, until the next great river bars the way; the Greyflood it is called. Thence from the crossing at Tharbad the old road will lead you to the borders. ‘The Shire’ they call it
“Yea, verily, Saruman knows of it. Goods came to him from that land down the road. Spare me, Lord! Indeed I will say naught of our meeting to any that live.”
The Lord of the Nazgûl spared the life of the Wormtongue, not out of pity, but because he deemed that so great a terror was upon him that he would never dare to speak of their encounter (as proved true), and he saw that the creature was evil and was likely to do great harm yet to Saruman, if he lived. So he left him lying on the ground, and rode away, and did not trouble to go back to Isengard. Sauron’s vengeance could wait.
Vengeance against Saruman and his betrayal that is… We see now the cunning (and lies) of Saruman, the meeting and interrogation of Grima Wormtongue, and the Nazgûl’s coming at last to information concerning the location of the Land of the Halflings. The Hunt for the Ring was at last made clear, and the Nazgûl made haste to the land they call ‘The Shire’.

[BlackCaptain]

UNFINISHED TALES (CONTINUED)


Now he divided his company into four pairs, and they rode separately, but he himself went ahead with the swiftest pair. Thus they passed west out of Rohan, and explored the desolation of Enedwaith, and came at last to Tharbad. Thence they rode through Minhiriath, and even though they were not yet assembled a rumour of dread spread about them, and the creatures of the wild hid themselves, and lonely men fled away. But some fugitives on the road they captured; and to the delight of the Captain two proved to be spies and servants of Saruman. One of them had been used much in the traffic between Isengard and the Shire, and though he had not himself been beyond the Southfarthing he had charts prepared by Saruman which clearly depicted and described the Shire. These the Nazgûl took, and then sent him on to Bree to continue spying; but warned him that he was now in the service of Mordor, and that if ever he tried to return to Isengard they would slay him with torture.
Night was waning on the twenty-second day of September when drawing together again they came to Sarn Ford and the southernmost borders of the Shire. They found them guarded for the Rangers barred their way. But this was a task beyond the power of the Dunedain; and maybe it would still have proved so even if their captain, Aragorn, had been with them. But he was away to the north, upon the East Road near Bree; and the hearts even of the Dunedain misgave them. Some fled northward, hoping to bear news to Aragorn, but they were purued and slain or driven away into the wild. Some still dared to bar the ford, and held it while day lasted, but at night the Lord of Morgul swept them away, and the Black Riders passed into the Shire; and ere the cocks crowed in the small hours of the twenty third day of September some were riding north through the land, even as Gandalf upon Shadowfax was riding over Rohan far behind.

Here ends the account of the Nazgûl in Unfinished Tales (apart from Other Versions of the Story. The tale in full continues in The Fellowship of the Ring as I’m sure we’ve all read. We see now the Nazgûl flying northward from the Gap of Rohan (Gandalf still being in Edoras) and them coming upon Bill Ferny’s southern friend (A conclusion I’ve drawn). We see the Nazgûl tearing through the Ranks of the Rangers, and an account of Aragorn and his being near Bree. Just in time for the Hobbit’s arrival.

[BlackCaptain]

Chronology of the Nazgûl

From Lord of the Rings: Tale of years:

2nd Age:
c.1600 - Sauron forges the One Ring in Orodruin. He completes Barad-Dur.
2251 – About this time the Nazgûl or Ringwraiths, slaves of the Nine Rings, first appear.
3441 – Saruon overthrown by Elendil and Gil-galad, who perish. Isildur takes the One Ring. Sauron passes away and the Ringwraiths go into the shadows. The second age ends

3rd Age
c.1100 – The Wise (the Istari and the chief Eldar) discover that an evil power has made a stronghold at Dol Guldur. It is thought to be one of the Nazgûl
c.1300 – The Nazgûl reappear. The chief of these comes north to Angmar.
1409 – The Witch King of Angmar invades Arnor. King Arveleg I is slain. Fornost and Tyrn Gorthad are defended. The Tower of Amon Sul destroyed
1974 – The North Kingdom ends. The Witch King overruns Arthedain and takes Fornost.
1975 – The Witch King defeated at the Battle of Fornost, and pursued to the Ettenmoors. He vanishes from the North
1980 - The Witch King comes to Mordor and there gathers the Nazgûl.
2000 – The Nazgûl issue from Mordor and besiege Minas Ithil.
2002 – Fall of Minas Ithil, afterwards known as Minas Morgul.
2043 – Earnur becomes King of Gondor. He is challenged by the Witch King.
2050 – The Challenge is renewed. Earnur rides to Minas Morgul and is lost.
2063 – The watchful peace begins. The Nazgûl stay quiet in Minas Morgul
2951 – Sauron sends three of the Nazgûl to reoccupy Dol Guldur after he begins the rebuilding of Barad-Dur

[BlackCaptain]

APPENDIXES AND SUMMARY

All after this can be read in the passages given from Unfinished Tales and The Lord of the Rings. One more appearance is made by the Witch King of Angmar in the Appendixes of Lord of the Rings:


But it is said that when all was lost suddenly the Witch King himself appeared, black robed and black masked upon a black horse. Fear fell upon all who beheld him; but he singled out the Captain of Gondor for the fullness of his hatre, and with a terrible cry he rode straight upon him. Earnur would have withstood him; but his horse could not endure that onset, and it swerved and bore him far away before he could master it.
Then the Witch King laughed, and none that heard it ever forgot the horror of that cry. But Glorfindel rode up then on his white horse, and in the midst of his laughter the Witch King turned to flight and passed into the shadows. For night camedown on the battlefield, and he was lost, and none saw wither he went.
Earnur now rode back, but Glorfindel, looking into the gathering dark, said : ‘Do not pursue him! He will not return to this land. Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of man will he fall.’ These words many remembered; but Earnur was angry, desiring only to be avenged for his disgrace.
So ended the evil realml of Angmar; and so did Earnur Captain of Gondor, earn the chief hatred of the Witch King; but many years were still to pass before that was revealed.

There are other small reffrences to Angmar in the Appendixes, mostly referring to the wars with Arnor, and the battles fought. But here we see the Doom of the Witch King finaly revealed, and the mystery behind Eowyn’s destruction of him revealed. We also see cowardice in the Witch King in his fleeing from Glorfindell.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


Here ends the Accounts of the Nazgûl in both Unfinished Tales and The Lord of the Rings. There aren’t many reffrences to them, as much as one should want anyway, but from what we hear in Tolkien’s works, they are the most horrendous beings to walk Middle-earth in the third age. They embody fear, and personify terror. They are walking sorcery, and living death. Everyone in Middle-earth who have even heard tales of encountering them know this; do you now?

[BlackCaptain]

Wow . . .

After having aged two-and-a-half years, I'd like to apologize for the childishness of this biography!:o

My writing ability, it seems, was very un-acceptable for a project this big. I was but a young freshman though, so you've got to cut me some slack:D :D