Black Wings[1], also referred to as Nazgûl-birds[2] and hell-hawks[3], were winged "fell beasts"[4] that were ridden by the Nazgûl after their black horses were lost in the Ford of Bruinen in October of the year 3018.
Description[]
Fellbeasts imagined by Spiros Gelekas
Black Wings were huge winged creatures with a beak and claws and were described as similar to carrion[1] birds but much greater and more monstrous[5] than any kind of bird. Their hue was pitch-dark and they appeared shadow-like even at night.[6] Their body was plain and naked, lacking any quills or feathers. They had a long neck as well as vast pinions consisting of a web-like "hide between horned fingers". They possessed a "fell speed" which allowed them to fly faster than the wind.[7] Furthermore, Black Wings also gave off a stench. In battle they swooped upon prey with their feet to drop foes from the sky;[3] they crushed enemies under their sheer weight;[3] or they used their wide wingspan to blow foul gusts of wind.[4]
History[]
While their origins are unspecified, it was believed that Black Wings were creatures "of an older world" that may have been survivors of earlier geological eras[8]. While most of their kind presumably fell in those eras,[8] some "outstayed their day" and lingered on, breeding within hideous eyries in forgotten mountains that were "cold beneath the Moon". The Black Wings dwindled over time until, eventually, all that remained was a single "untimely brood" with an instinct for evil. Sometime later, this brood was taken by one of the two Dark Lords, who "nursed it with fell meats" until they grew larger than every other winged creature.[4]
In the year 3018 of the late Third Age, the Nazgûl rode coal-black horses in their pursuit of Frodo Baggins. These steeds were killed when they, along with their riders, were consumed at the Ford of Bruinen by a flood caused by Elrond's intercession.[9]
The Nazgûl survived and, in the next few months, made their way unseen to Mordor where Sauron gave them Black Wings to be their new steeds.[4]
The Witch-king on his steed (left) after killing Snowmane and Théoden, by Roger Garland
When the Fellowship of the Ring had left Lothlórien and were camped on the western shore of the Anduin near the Rapids of Sarn Gebir, a Black Wing tried to approach them at night. However, it vanished "into the gloom of the eastern shore" with "a harsh croaking scream" after Legolas shot it with an arrow from the great bow of Lórien.[6]
Éowyn and the Nazgul, by John Howe
On Thursday March 1,[10] a Nazgûl was sent from Mordor to the Dead Marshes. As Frodo, Samwise Gamgee, and Gollum traveled through the marshes, the Nazgûl passed overhead on a Black Wing at midnight[10] at "the speed of the wrath of Sauron" back to Mordor.[7]
In the evening of Sunday March 4,[11] Frodo, Sam, and Gollum witness another Nazgûl, possibly "on some swift errand from Barad-dûr", pass overhead on a Black Wing. On Monday March 5,[11] a third Black Wing flew overhead towards Mordor "an hour after midnight" which Gollum claimed was a very bad omen.[7]
In the dawn of Tuesday[12] March 6, a Black Wing flew over Edoras in Rohan and stooped just over Meduseld. They described it as being a darkness in the shape of a monstrous bird. After this, Gandalf told the Rohirrim to assemble at Dunharrow rather than outside Edoras to prevent any attack. Three days later in the evening of March 9, Dúnhere, the lord of Harrowdale, reported the incident to King Théoden, who had just returned from the Hornburg.[5]
When Faramir, captain of Gondor, was fleeing from the besieged city of Osgiliath on his way to Minas Tirith, he and his men were beset many times by five Black Wings until Gandalf rode out and drove them away with a shaft of white light from his raised hand.[3]
A Nazgûl above Minas Tirith, by Donato Giancola
During the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, the Witch-king of Angmar rode his Black Wing in battle against King Théoden and shot a dart which killed Snowmane who fell on Théoden, crushing him. Éowyn removed her guise as Dernhelm and defended the dying Théoden, challenging and decapitating the Black Wing. She then confronted and slew the Nazgûl, with the aid of Meriadoc Brandybuck.[4]
A number of Black Wings would later join the Battle of the Morannon[13] and be engaged by the Great Eagles, only to flee at the command of Sauron once he sensed Frodo donning the One Ring within Mount Doom. These Black Wings were destroyed in the ensuing eruption.[14]
Interpretations[]
There is a common misconception that Black Wings are the Nazgûl themselves.
Depiction by Robert Zigo
J.R.R. Tolkien once stated in a reply to a letter regarding the nature of the "steed of the Witch-king" that the Nazgûl-bird was not intended to be pterodactylic, though he hesitantly acknowledged that they were similar in appearance.[8] For the most part, while Black Wings vaguely resemble outdated pterosaur depictions, they are vastly different from the modern scientific interpretation of these animals, as endothermic, hairy quadrupedes instead of "featherless birds".
The term "fell beasts" is not used solely for the winged steeds of the Nazgûl: it was also used as a descriptor for various evil creatures of Mirkwood,[15] and also a descriptor of a type of creature hunted by Oromë in addition to monsters.[16]
In adaptations[]
In The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)[]
In Ralph Bakshi's 1978 The Lord of the Rings, one of the Nazgûl (possibly the Witch-king, for he carries a mace), is shown riding on a Black Wing. However, Bakshi's film only covers events up to the Battle of the Hornburg, so that is the only appearance of a Black Wing.
The Witch-king and his Black Wing in the 1980 cartoon
In The Return of the King (1980 film)[]
In the Rankin-Bass 1980 The Return of the King animation, the Nazgûl ride winged horses. In the confrontation between Éowyn and the Witch-King, the latter is seen riding a plump black-gray dragon-like animal. Gandalf had called it a Carrion-fowl.
A Nazgûl on his Black Wing in The Two Towers film (2002)
In The Lord of the Rings film trilogy[]
In Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, Black Wings are depicted as "wyverns", a two-legged, flying serpentine creature which is often regarded as a kin of dragons. As opposed to having beaks, they have lipless mouths full of jagged teeth, fins running along their spine, long whip-like tails and dark gray scales. This depiction is heavily influenced by John Howe, who was one of the concept artists for the films.
A Ringwraith is first seen riding a Black Wing in the Dead Marshes in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. In the films, the Black Wings are used for attack much more often than in the books, with the Nazgûl usually swooping down and screeching, making the defenders at the gate of Minas Tirith run away, leaving Gandalf alone to face the Witch-king as he enters.
Although on screen, the film characters never make this mistake, sometimes cast or crew members (Lawrence Makoare and Richard Taylor most notably) on the commentary tracks and the documentaries refer to the Black Wings as a Nazgûl; this is incorrect. The Black Wings are the creatures that the nine Nazgûl ride, and the mistake probably arose because Black Wings are always seen with a Nazgûl atop them.
In Middle-earth: Shadow of War[]
Hell-hawks in Middle-earth: Shadow of War
While Drakes appear instead of Black Wings, Hell-hawks, which was what Beregond called "Black Wings", appear as the name of a different creature in Middle-earth: Shadow of War, the sequel to Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor.
Offensive abilities[]
The Witch-king of Angmar riding his Black wing
Clearly (at least in the movies and video games), Black Wings were powerful creatures and were deadly offensive predators, especially with the Nazgûl on them. They could choose either to bite their prey (less attacking radius but increased damage) or swoop down on them (larger attacking radius), scattering enemies apart or outright crushing them. If a Black Wing snatched a soldier, it could easily fly high into the air and drop its helpless victim to his death far below. Black Wings were feared for their ferocity and speed, and were known as the second fastest creatures in Middle-earth (only the Eagles are faster).
In The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age[]
In The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age, Black Wings could also breathe foul air on their foes, weakening them significantly.
In The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth[]
A Nazgûl on his Black Wing in BFME II
Three Black Wings are available (at a time) as heroes in The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth and its sequel; mounted by Ringwraiths.
In Middle-earth Role Playing[]
In the 1982-1997 Middle-earth Role Playing game, the Fell Beasts are said to likely be "distant relatives of ancient Cold-drakes", and "grow to lengths of 30 feet (with 30-35-foot wingspans)". In the middle Third Age, they live in Mountains of Mirkwood, presumably because of the Necromancer's presence at Dol Guldur. They are used as steeds by both the Nazgûl and a few Olog-hai warlords.[17] In the second edition of the supplement, Creatures of Middle-earth, the Fell beasts are said to be "presumably bred from Winged-drakes" and to have a body between 15-25 feet and a wingspan between 30-40 feet.
In Middle-earth Collectible Card Game[]
In the 1995-1998 Middle-earth Collectible Card Game, the Fell Beast card increases the number of strikes of one Nazgûl hazard-creature. The Wild Fell Beast card depicts a Drake which attacks with three strikes. With the card 'Fell Rider' the Ringwraith may move to a non-Darkhaven site, but without allies and followers.
In The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game[]
In the 2001 game, The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game, the Black Wings are portrayed without beaks, reminiscent of their visual depiction in The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy.[18]
In The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)[]
In the 2002 video game, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, a Nazgûl mounted on a Black Wing (depicted as a dragon-like creature) appears in the Amon Hen stage of the PC and console versions of the game, where it serves as the final boss. In the first phase of the battle, the beast crawls on the ground and fights Aragorn (armed with his sword). During the second and final phase, it flies into the sky and shoots green fireballs from its mouth down at Aragorn (who shoots back at it with his bow), until it is weakened and finally shot down by Legolas in the game's ending cutscene.
In The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game[]
In the The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Adventure Game from 2002-2005, hell-hawks, employed as mounts by the Ringwraiths and found wild in southern Mirkwood and (after the War of the Ring) in Gondor, resemble a "cross between lizards and featherless birds". They were bred by Sauron in mockery of the Great Eagles.[19]
In The Lord of the Rings: War in the North[]
In the 2011 video game, The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, Agandaûr has several Fell beasts under his control. At the end of Chapter 1, Agandaûr flees on the back of one of them.[20]
Translations[]
| Foreign Language | Translated name |
| Danish | Vingede uhyrer |
| Dutch | Vreselijke Beeste |
| Finnish | Siivekäs peto |
| French | Coursier ailés |
| German | Geflügelte Untiere |
| Italian | Bestie Alate |
| Polish | Skrzydlate bestie |
| Portuguese | Bestas Caídas |
| Russian | Крылатые твари |
| Spanish | Bestia alada |
| Swedish | Vingbestar |
| Thai | เฟลบีสต์ |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Lord of the Rings, vol. II: The Two Towers, Book Four, ch. IV: "The Black Gate is Closed", pgs. 253-4
- ↑ The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien, Letter 100
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 The Lord of the Rings, vol. III: The Return of the King, Book Five, ch. IV: "The Siege of Gondor"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 The Lord of the Rings, vol. III: The Return of the King, Book Five, ch. VI: "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 The Lord of the Rings, vol. III: The Return of the King, Book Five, ch. III: "The Muster of Rohan"
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The Lord of the Rings, vol. I: The Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, ch. IX: "The Great River", pg. 403
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 The Lord of the Rings, vol. II: The Two Towers, Book Four, ch. II: "The Passage of the Marshes", pgs. 237-8, 242
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien, Letter 211
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, vol. I: The Fellowship of the Ring, Book One, ch. XII: "Flight to the Ford"
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 The Chronology of The Lord of the Rings, pg. 60
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 The Chronology of The Lord of the Rings, pg. 62
- ↑ The Chronology of The Lord of the Rings, pg. 64
- ↑ The Chronology of The Lord of the Rings, V. A Published Chronology: Appendix B, 1. "Here at the end of all things", pg. 149 (entry for March 25 in Table 14 continued)
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, vol. III: The Return of the King, Book Five, ch. X: "The Black Gate Opens"
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, vol. I: The Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, ch. X: "The Breaking of the Fellowship"
- ↑ The Silmarillion, "Valaquenta: Of the Valar"
- ↑ John David Ruemmler, Susan Tyler Hitchcock, Peter C. Fenlon Jr. (1995), Mirkwood (2nd edition) (#2019)
- ↑ Winged Nazgûl at Games-workshop.com
- ↑ Scott Bennie, Mike Mearls, Steve Miller, Aaron Rosenberg, Chris Seeman, Owen Seyler, and George Strayton (2003), Fell Beasts and Wondrous Magic, pgs. 30-1
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, Chapter 1: Fornost, Citadel Tower