A/N: This is an AU of yourlocalbirb and lightningstarborn's Last of the Nine series on AO3; not really required reading, but HIGHLY recommended none the less. It's slated to be 22 chapters long and I've got 15 chapters done, so maybe posting this will force me to actually finish it. *laughs my way off into the distance*

Prologue: Defied Destiny

The lava had finally cooled enough for him to leave the fortress on his search. The pretty - and pretty scary - Elf lady had said that there was no hope before she left, but he wasn't so sure. He hadn't ever been bonded to the Boss through the Ring like the others, but he did know that the Boss was tough, a survivor; he had to have been to survive decades in Mordor.

Even if he did die a time or two.

Ratbag hurried through what was left of Gorgoroth, keeping his eyes peeled for absolutely anything that didn't belong and scrambling up on top of boulder piles in an attempt to see further. That shrakh Muzu had told Ranger that he saw them go down in this direction, but exactly how far away they were was anyone's guess-

Wingbeats made him look up - right before he scrambled out of the way. A massive fire drake came down nearly on top of him, landing with a thud that made the ground shake under him. When he saw the black harness, he hurried to prostrate himself before the creature. "F-Fëanor," he said with a shaky grin, "Long time no see, hey? H-how ya been? How're the mate and the hatchlings?"

She bared her teeth at him and growled in clear demand, a hint of flames glowing in her throat.

"Th-they're supposed to be this way, but I ain't found any of 'em yet!" he nearly yelped, scrambling backwards again to put some distance between them. Wouldn't do a thing if she spit fire at him, but at least she couldn't eat him right away.

The fire drake huffed and stretched out her neck, lifted her head as high as it would go and peered around. Then she took off with a shriek, and Ratbag raced after her - as much as he could, anyway. The ground was uneven and unstable, but he tried his best.

He felt the vibration when she landed a little ways off and slowed his pace, squinting through the ash and dust she kicked up, coughing and waving his arms in an attempt to clear the air.

And there he was, his fire drake looming protectively over him where he lay face down in the ash.

Talion was as he had been before his fall, before he disappeared into Sauron's dark hold, armored in black steel and darkened gold, his cloak a little singed, his blades scattered around him, some of the dust starting to settle on him. Ratbag quickly scooped the blades up and put them to rights - he knew how much the short one meant to the Boss, even if he himself had forgotten - then warily approached, setting them down at Talion's side.

The Man was so still.

"Ranger?" Ratbag whispered, reaching out a hand but letting it hover hesitantly over the Ringwraith's back without touching. "Ranger? Are you…?"

No response. He still wasn't moving.

Ratbag bit his lip, and for only the second time in his life, he felt the sting of tears in his eyes. "Ranger?" he tried again, a little louder, an edge of panic in his voice.

Fëanor whined softly and nudged the Man's shoulder, and that finally got a response: a low grunt, almost a groan, and a flex of armored fingers, claws scoring lines in the ash.

Ratbag's shoulders slumped in relief so strong that for a moment he felt faint. He quickly wiped his eyes even as Talion stirred further, then helped the Man roll onto his back. His eyes were still closed, his skin still blitzed with darkness, and his front was stained with dry black blood that seemed to have come from the scar on his throat. But whatever wound it may have been, it was sealed now - although all the blood made him look even more ghastly than usual.

The orc briefly held a hand in front of the Man's mouth and felt slow, ice-cold breaths against his skin. Then he sat back and nodded. "Right then," he said, looking up at the fire drake, "I'm gonna go get help. You stay here and keep an eye on him."

Fëanor snarled at him, and Ratbag yelped and raced away into the ruins of Sauron's empire.