The Last time we left off we had just seen the Nazgul defeated at the Ford of Bruinen as they were pursuing Frodo to Rivendell. Washed away and forced to flee we now regroup to see the fate that unfolds for the Nazgul and our final episode on them.
Fleeing to Mordor
Returning to Mordor in complete failure, the Nazgul were forced to abandon their hunt for the Ring. The Nine received Fell Beasts as their new mounts which replaced the horses they had lost at the Ford of Bruinen. Battle ready once again with their new mounts, the nine attacked the city of Osgiliath with an army of Orcs and swiftly held this location.
The Battle of Pelennor Fields
After this, they made way for the assault on Minas Tirith. Sauron once again unleashed his deadliest servant The Witch-king to lead his forces at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. During the battle, the Witch-king confronted Gandalf the White when attempting to enter the city. Before the Witch-King could engage the great wizard, the forces of Rohan arrived. The Witch-king fled attacking Gandalf immediately to deal with the new threat against his masters forces. The Witch-King turned his focus upon King Theoden on the battlefield. As Theoden was crushed by his horse, the Witch King prepared to finish him off but Eowyn and Meriadoc Brandybuck rode out on the battlefield before the Witch King and Theoden’s niece confronted Saurons deadly servant.
Death of the Witch-King
Engaging the Witch-King in battle, Eowyn killed the Fell beast. The Witch-King, however, was unaffected by this and attacked Eowyn with his mace. After breaking her arm, the Witch-King readied the killing blow, but Meriadoc stabbed him in the leg from behind with his Barrow-blade. Injured, and now off-guard the Witch-king screamed in pain. Eowyn standing with no fear stabbed her sword into the Witch King’s crown and body killing the lord of the Nazgul and fulfilling the prophecy of Glorfindel.
The Fate of the Remaining
During Battle of the Morannon the remaining eight Nazgul, mounted on Fell beasts, attacked the Army of the West. The Nazgul were confronted by the Eagles, led by Gwaihir. During this time Frodo claimed the Ring near the fires of Mount Doom. Sauron becoming immediately aware of Frodo, as well as his own folly. Enraged and frantic, Sauron ordered the Nazgul to capture the ring from Frodo. However, the Nazgul failed; the Ring was cast into the fires of Mount Doom when Gollum bit Frodo’s finger and fell into the Cracks of Doom, with the ring. Sauron was defeated by the loss of the Ring, and Mount Doom exploded with gigantic volcanic eruptions engulfing all eight of the remaining Nazgul destroying them, their form, and power dissipating forever.
Though this wraps up our series on the Nazgul and the lore behind them, it sets us up perfectly for our next episode. So stay tuned and until next time friends.
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Great series! I’m looking forward to the next!
Thanks Genny 🙂 This was a fun series to write, but I think the next one is going to be even better… lol
As an extra tidbit, in the book, Letters to Tolkien, a fan asks about the ringwraiths after Frodor claims the ring as his own. To paraphrase, Tolkien said that after Frodor claims the ring, the Nazgul could not take it away from him. But because he was not a person of power they would not exactly obey his commmands. He guessed that they would have probably tried to convince him to go to Baradur to claim his throne. And at the very least they would destroy the opening to Mt. Doom and try to stall him until Sauron himself could come and take it away.
Barnabras, I always found the Letters to Tolkien to be an interesting read. They had so many pieces that were just left to interpretation. I did love this part about the Nazgul not having power to actually take the ring from Frodo though.
Just finished these. Great series. I especially love the histories from the second age which are not as well known. In lotro, they refer to some of the nine by other names such as “the Reaver of Khand” which led me to believe that the lore had other references to the original kings and some of their subsequent deeds. Is that made up? Thanks again for the great articles.
Thanks Braag, glad you enjoyed the series. As far as the Reaver of Khand this is a made up portion of history from what I can tell. Their were only ever two Nazgul ever named and that was the Witchking and Khamul.
Hey Iogro. Have no idea how much of the below link is rooted in actual lore, but even if it is just detailed and convincing fan-fic it makes for interesting reading!
– Braag
https://m.facebook.com/notes/marg%C3%B6z-l%C3%B4ke-khan-of-rh%C3%BBn/the-history-of-the-nazg%C3%BBl-part-ix-%C3%BBvatha-the-black-horseman/496748100440095/
Ok,I am finding references that these descriptions are not Canon (apart from the Witch-King and Khamul)but were perhaps instead created as background for a Middle-Earth RPG game at one point. Still good reading. I especially like the idea of a female Nazgul! That’s a new one.
http://www.inmivoz.com/profiles-9-nazg%C3%BBl