TITLE: Khamûl

TECHNICAL: OSA Drabble Challenge #5: Bad Guy.

DISCLAIMER: The rights to Lord of the Rings are the property of the Tolkien family and Estate, New Line Cinema, EA Games, and lots of other companies that I don’t know about. I intend no copyright infringement, I make no profit from this venture, and I mean no offence or insult to anyone.

He was a man once, potent and fallible as men are wont to be. Neither cruel nor particularly merciful, he learnt his craft well and offered wisdom when it was sought. But then came a gift of unimaginable power, to advance his knowledge and prestige beyond all others'.

Slowly it worked, and for a time he was grateful. The first flickers of doubt came too late. He was swallowed whole, lust for ever deeper wells of knowledge smothering sense and reason, until all he knew was the giver of the gift. In the end, he was a man no more.