The Witch King Attacks

This is a mixed image. The incident is the attack at Weathertop, the Witch King's appearance is taken from the attack on Eowyn

Over the lip of the little dell, on the side away from the hill, they felt, rather than saw, a shadow rise, one shadow or more than one. They strained their eyes, and the shadows seemed to grow. Soon there could be no doubt: three or four tall black figures were standing there on the slope, looking sown on them. So black were they that they seemed like black holes in the deep shade behind them. Frodo though that he heard a faint hiss as of venomous breath and felt a thin piercing chill. The the shapes slowly advanced.

Terror overcam Pippin and Merry, and they threw themselves flat on the ground. Sam shrank to Frodo's side. Frodo was hardly less terrified than his companions; he was quaking as if he was bitter cold, but his terror was swallowed up in a sudden temptation to put on the Ring. The desire to do this laid hold of him, and he could think of nothing else. He did not forget the Barrow, nor the message of Gandalf; but something seemed to be compelling him to disregard all warnings, either good or bad: he simply felt that he must take the Ring and put it on his finger. He could not speak. He felt Sam looking at him, as if he knew that his master was in some great trouble, but he could not turn towards him. He shut his eyes and struggled for a while; but resistance became unbearable, and at last he slowly drewout the chain, and slipped the Ring on the forefinger of his left hand.

Immediately, though everthing else remained as before, dim and dark, the shapes became terribly clear. He was able to see beneath their black wrappings. There were five tall figures: two standing on the lip of the dell, three advancing. In their white faces burned keen and merciless eyes; under their mantles were long grey robes; upon their grey hairs were helms of silver; in their haggard hands were swords of steel. Their eyes fell on him and pierced him, as they rushed towards him. Desperate, he drew his own sword, and it seemed to him that it flickered red, as if it was a firebrand. Two of the figures halted. The third was taller than the others: his hair was long and gleaming and on his helm was a crown. In one hand he held a long sword, and in the other a knife; both the knife and the hand that held it glowed with a pale light. He sprang forward and bore down on Frodo.

The Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring, Revised Ed, Allen & Unwin, 1966, p168

Upon it sat a shape, black-mantled, huge and threatening. A crown of steel he bore, but between rim an robe naught was there to see, save only a deadly gleam of eyes: the Lord of the Nazgûl.

The Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King, 1st Ed, Allen & Unwin, 1966, p115

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Last update 11/12/02
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