Witch-King's Fellbeast

The Witch-King’s Fellbeast was an evil flying creature who was gigantic in size. The Witch-King of Angmar arrived at the battlefield riding his fellbeast during the War of the Ring in Middle-Earth.

Similar to what the expression “fell things” meant in the earlier Lord of the Rings, the word fell here comes from an old English word that means “terrible” or “dreadful”. It is also worth noticing that the term “fellbeast” was not limited to the winged creatures of the Nazguls. The expression was used to describe several evil creatures from Mirkwood. [1]

Fellbeasts were shown as massive creatures with wings that had no feathers. Their claws and beaks mirrored that of a bird but were much larger compared to other flying creatures. Their body was naked and gave off a stench. They had a long neck and between their horned fingers was a vast hide. Although their exact origins are not known, fellbeasts most likely came from “an older world”. Sauron was the one who discovered them and made them his servants. He fed them decayed meat. [2]

For the major part of the trilogy, the Witch-King of Angmar rode upon a horse. However, at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, he arrived riding the fellbeast against King Theoden from Rohan. Witch-King, the Lord of the Nazguls, shot an arrow that slays King Theoden’s horse Snowmane. Snowmane fell on King Theoden crushing him to the ground. At this point, Dernhelm uncovered her disguise and revealed herself as Eowyn tried to save the dying king. She challenged the fellbeast and slay him through beheading. Even without the head, the fellbeast survived a few seconds before taking his final breath. This enraged his master Witch-King who attacked Eowyn and nearly slain her but she survived. With the help of Merry, Eowyn eventually kills the Witch-King of Angmar.

The fellbeast first appeared in this movie as he swooped over Osgiliath when it was attacked by Mordor. He almost captures Frodo Baggins after Witch-King realizes that he had the One Ring. However, Samwise Gamgee saves Frodo before the fellbeast could attack him and Faramir from Gondor shoots the fellbeast’s neck with an arrow. This frightens the fellbeast and he flees away to Mordor.

The Witch-King’s fellbeast portrays a prominent role in the battle of the Pelennor fields where he joins other fellbeasts to capture Gondorian soldiers and their horses by their powerful claws. They lift them high into the air and release them to the ground, eventually slaying them. Unlike other fellbeasts, the Witch-King’s fellbeast wore a helmet to showcase his superiority over other winged creatures. When Gondor received help from the Rohan army, the Witch-King ordered his fellbeast to capture King Theoden and gorge on his meat. The fellbeast followed his command and attacked Theoden’s horse Snowmane. The horse falls on King Theoden which completely crushes his body. Eventually, he succumbs to his injuries but he survives enough to witness his niece, Eowyn kill the Witch-King. As mentioned in the book, when the fellbeast attacks Eowyn, she quickly steps aside and strikes his neck with two strokes. The fellbeast’s headless body fights for life, throwing down the Witch-King from his saddle.

1. ^What is the creature that the Nazgul ride called?
2. ^When did Sauron acquire fellbeasts?