Fell beasts

Fell beasts are the winged steeds of the Nazgûl, introduced in the narrative after the Ringwraiths' original black horses are destroyed or lost. They are first glimpsed by the Fellowship during their journey down the Anduin, when a dark winged shape passes overhead, blotting out light and filling the Company with dread. Legolas shoots one down with the bow of Galadriel, but Gandalf later explains that only the steed was slain, not the Rider, who was soon horsed again. These creatures are described as ancient, naked, and bird-like, with vast pinions of hide stretched between horned fingers, and they emit a harsh, croaking scream. They are bred by Sauron in forgotten mountains, nursed with fell meats until they grow beyond the measure of all other flying things, and given to the Nazgûl as their mounts.

Appearance and Nature

The fell beasts are not birds but creatures of an older world, whose kind lingered in forgotten mountains cold beneath the Moon. They are naked, bearing neither quill nor feather, and their wings are webs of hide. Their bodies are huge and stinking, and they are capable of great speed and agility in flight. The Witch-king's personal steed is described as a winged creature that settles upon the body of Snowmane, digging in its claws and stooping its long naked neck. When the Nazgûl ride them, they appear as black shadows against the sky, and their cries are described as piercing, cruel, and cold, capable of freezing the blood and causing despair.

Role in the War of the Ring

The fell beasts become the primary mounts of the Nazgûl after the loss of their black horses. They are first used to scout and terrorize the lands, and later play a crucial role in the siege of Gondor. During the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, the Witch-king rides a fell beast, and it is this creature that Éowyn and Merry confront. The beast attacks Éowyn, but she decapitates it with a swift stroke, causing it to crash to the ground. The Witch-king then rises from its wreck, but is ultimately slain by Éowyn and Merry. The fell beasts are also used by the Nazgûl during the final march to the Black Gate, where they hover above the Towers of the Teeth, watching the army of the West. Their presence is a constant source of terror, and their cries are described as deadly voices that rend the air.

Origin and Breeding

The text suggests that the fell beasts are not native to Mordor but are bred by Sauron from ancient stock. They are described as a creature of an older world, whose kind lingered in forgotten mountains cold beneath the Moon, outstaying their day and breeding this last untimely brood, apt to evil. The Dark Lord took it and nursed it with fell meats, until it grew beyond the measure of all other things that fly. This implies that Sauron deliberately created or modified these creatures to serve as mounts for his most terrible servants, the Nazgûl.

Significance

The fell beasts represent a new and more terrifying phase of the Nazgûl's power. Unlike their black horses, which were real animals, the fell beasts are monstrous and unnatural, embodying the corruption and malice of Sauron. They are not merely mounts but extensions of the Nazgûl's will, capable of spreading fear and despair even from a distance. Their appearance marks a turning point in the war, as the Ringwraiths become airborne and can strike anywhere. Their eventual destruction, along with the fall of the Witch-king, signals the beginning of the end for Sauron's forces.