Morgul-blade

A Morgul-blade is a magical poisoned dagger.

At Weathertop, during his journey to Rivendell with the One Ring, the Hobbit Frodo Baggins was stabbed with a Morgul-blade by the leader of the Nazg&ucirc;l. A fragment of the blade remained within the wound, working its way toward his heart and threatening to turn Frodo into a wraith. Elrond was able to remove the shard and heal the wound, but each year on the anniversary of his stabbing Frodo became seriously ill. Only his eventual departure to Eldamar offered a permanent cure.

Athelas (or kingsfoil) is known to slow the poisonous effect of the Morgul-blade. This remedy is also known to heal other Mordor-asociated illnesses, like the Black Breath of the Ringwraiths.

Another victim of a Morgul-blade was Boromir, the eleventh Steward of Gondor (not the Boromir of Frodo's company). He eventually died of his wound but did not become a wraith.