22. Daimon
Warning for violent misuse of religious iconography.
Water the guest rejects – vomits it forth, breaks the hand with the towel. Afternoon rain, drumming on Nottamun's rectory roof, sends him to the corner, rocking, cursing.
"Get out!" he screams at tear-blurred shapes, then claws his eyes. "OUT!"
"Pity inoffensive eyes!" Father Jeremiah rushes to restrain the madman. "Stop this, friend!"
A demon's cry rises; outside, men cower, then run to look. Father Jeremiah lies neck acrook, and the stranger...
"Jesu!" they murmur, staring at the priestly crucifix in one mutilated orb.
~0~
... as a hundred leagues hence, he opens new eyes – again – and wails...
1. Day 13: When Archetypes Fight: Hierophant and Fool.
This is a work of fan fiction, written because the author has an abiding love for the works of J R R Tolkien. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema, except for certain original characters who belong to the author of the said work. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for presenting the work on this archive site. The work is the intellectual property of the author, is available solely for the enjoyment of Henneth Annûn Story Archive readers, and may not be copied or redistributed by any means without the explicit written consent of the author.
