The Lord Of The Rings: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Nazgûl
5. Legolas Shot A Fellbeast In The Fellowship Of The Ring
After the Ringwraiths are swept away at the Fords of Bruinen, they are forced to slink back to Mordor without the aid of their horses. In the films we don't see their new steeds until the Two Towers, but Tolkien hinted at them much sooner in his books.
Whilst the Fellowship are journeying down the River Anduin, they are dismayed when they feel the presence of evil. By this time they are already aware that orcs are tracking them, but fear something much darker is also on their trail...
One night they are assaulted by orcs who force them to beach their boats and seek cover. Legolas is the first to land, using his bow to cover the others. The company is filled with fear as a huge dark shape swoops out of the night, forcing Legolas to act. The thing lets out a terrible scream and plunges out of the sky.
Later the company speculate what the dark creature might have been, Frodo reflects that his wound from Weathertop began to hurt in its presence, but does not mention the Nazgûl. When Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli are reunited with Gandalf, he confirms it was indeed a Ringwraith, mounted on a winged steed.