This, That and the Other Thing

Everything is Illuminated

Ithilien, 3003 TA

There was something in the cave with him. A bat! He had never seen one before, except in books. He watched it in fascination for a moment, his curiosity overcoming his fear of the unknown creature. But bats are bad, they spread disease.

He picked up a stone, and readied to throw it, knowing his aim would be true and deadly. That was when he truly saw it. The bat was looking straight at him, gazing at him curiously, as if it had never seen a creature like him before.

He dropped the stone. In the dark, a light dawned on him. I will not kill any creature needlessly.

This was written for Cressida's birthday last year, and was inspired by one of Faramir's lines in The Two Towers.