Khamul the Black Easterling
is the Second-in-Command of the Nazgul. After Sauron left Dol
Goldur in Mirkwood, the stronghold was given to him. Khamul stayed
there with two other Nazgul, one of which was his messenger. Khamul's
powers are most confused by water and light, but next to Angmar,
he is the most eager to sense the Ring's presence.
The hobbit Peter Bracegirdle was a friend of Frodo Baggins and Fatty Bolger. He often went to Fatty's home in Crickhollow. Fatty had been impersonating Frodo, wearing some of his old clothes, so everyone would think Frodo was living at Crickhollow. Peter borrowed some of the clothes that were too small for Fatty. In late September or early October, while walking on the road, Peter was mistaken for Frodo Baggins by Khamul and two other Nazgul. He tried to defy Khamul, but Khamul got angry and stabbed him with the Morgul blade. Peter became a wraith and was left to find his own way back to Mordor. The Nazgul had business elsewhere.
After the flood of
the Bruien on October 20, 3018, the Nazgul began their journey
back to Mordor, horseless and unclad. They went back to Minas
Morgul. Madurz, a woman who had always struggled between good
and evil, was drawn to the power of Mordor and the Nazgul, for
she had been Zimanbalak in a past life. She journeyed to Mordor
in mid-late November. Angmar allowed her safe passage into Minas
Morgul, for he had some vague recollection of her. However, being
too busy with matters of war to speak with her, his Second-in-Command,
Khamul the Black Easterling, became her protector.
Elrond Halfelven did not approve of Madurz journeying into Mordor and tried to convince her to come back. One day, she journeyed into Shelob's Lair and was almost killed by the spider. Khamul wanted to take her to Lugburz for healing, but Elrond wanted to take her to Rivendell. Elrond shot down Khamul's fell beast and took Madurz to Rivendell. Khamul followed them to the borders of Rivendell but could not enter. There Madurz was healed by Elrond and Gandalf. Gandalf sensed that her love for Angmar and seeing him fade in a past life brought her much pain, so he erased her feelings for him, leaving her only the pleasant memories.
She soon left Rivendell and went back to
Minas Morgul, where she began to have feelings for Khamul. They
would spend many pleasant evenings talking. One day, she was attacked
by three orcs outside the city and stabbed in the side. Khamul
came to her rescue, disemboweling two of the orcs. He let one
of the orcs go after cutting off his ear as a warning to any who
bothered the lady of Minas Morgul. Khamul then took her back to
the city and healed her through powers of sorcery and magic.
Khamul became attached to Madurz, and they shared many glasses of wine and tortured many prisoners in brutal, bloody ways. Peter Bracegirdle, the hobbit whom Khamul stabbed with the Morgul blade, found his way back to Mordor. He was given a new name, Ashgaz (Little One), and became Khamul's page.