5. Sneaking Out Again

As I crept out of my room late in the evening, I had no idea what I would be getting myself into. I believe it was all some sort of a game to me, and it didn't ever end when I got caught. Instead, it just got postponed until you could resume play, which usually would occur the following week. As I went quietly down the stairs, I realized I had no idea what I was looking for.

And it just so happened I was right (for a change). I had no information to go off of, so it was a hopeless case from the moment I started out. I was, however, in a reading mood, so I went in search of my book. I only assumed that Gwen would have put the book back into the library. To my horror, I was wrong. The book was nowhere to be found.

"WHAT?" I asked myself aloud, but put a hand over my mouth. I did not want to be caught. I ran my fingers through my hair and sighed. Now what?

I sat down in a chair and thought, trying to clear my head of all the thoughts to narrow it down to one main focus: where is the book?

I wanted to sneak out and actually be able to stay out this time. There was a very detailed map of all of Rivendell and then some in there, and I needed it. I came to the conclusion that Gwen still had it, and that I had to get it back.

As I got up, I noted that the area seemed as though someone had been there moments before. I saw some parchment out, a candle had been left burning, and the seat was still warm even... Then it hit me; they could be coming back.

I heard voices in the hall, I jumped up out of the chair and ran behind some bookshelves. As the people came into the library, I left, though rather precariously, through the window. I dangled there for only a moment.

The breeze blew the window shut on my fingers.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!" I cried as I fell two stories into the pond we have below. I jumped out immediately; the water was freezing.

"L-Lovely," I stammered as I came out of the water, shivering. I looked up. There were no faces in the library window as far as I could tell. Miraculously, no one appeared to have heard me. I ran across the yard to where Gwen's room was. I expect I looked like an overgrown penguin in my wet clothes. I looked up into Gwen's window. There was no light on.

"Good," I mumbled as I started to climb up the wall. The stone were smooth and slick, and I fell on my bum twice. Finally, summoning all the strength I could muster, I nearly ran up the wall, jumped onto the ledge, through open the window, and shattered Gwen's favorite orb. I had no idea why she had placed the stupid thing on the ledge in the first place and I cursed it, but then I doubted the fact that she had expected me to come bustling through her window, either. I grabbed a piece of parchment, scribbled my apology, and started looking for the book. I found it after hardly any effort at all. I became clear that she hadn't expected this, because the book wasn't hidden at all. As I turned to the window, I saw the remnants of the orb. The guilty part of me kicked in and I picked up all the pieces and put them into a pile for her. Maybe she could fix it later, but I didn't know (I didn't even know what the thing was used for). I heard Gwen coming down the hallway. I made a mad dash for the window and leapt out of it.

I covered my mouth as not to scream, and landed on the pile of leaves I'd put there for cushioning (this time I was a little more cautious in case it would happen again, and I was right).

I grabbed the book (which had just fallen on my head) and ran for dear life to the gates. I burst threw them, not even bothering to close them. I didn't start running until I ran into a tree. I sunk down next to it, gasping for breath. I had, however, done it. Though Grandfather would probably kill me, he'd have to dig me up first because I had a feeling that Gwen would do it first.

I opened up the book on my lap, "Light," I muttered and a small orb hung midair in front of me. That was one I'd learned on my own, and I found it twice as useful as some of the magic I was trying to learn from those difficult books. I smiled and looked down at my book to see the map. I wanted to know how far I'd run. I flipped through the book, and didn't find it. I must have missed it, I thought, and flipped back through it again. I must have down it a 100 times when I officially freaked out; I'd lost my map.

"No NO NO!" I said jumping up, looking on the ground around me. The page was no where to be found. I panicked. Without the map, I was lost, and I had a pretty bad sense of direction, too. I noticed the tall tree I was next to, and the stream in the distance.

"So, a stream and a tree, that was on there... with about a billion other streams and trees. Great..."

I sat back down. This was not good. I closed my eyes to think, and began to fall asleep, when I heard voices.

I decided I must be closer to Rivendell than I thought, and followed the voices, until I saw something that nearly made me run screaming.

Orcs, lots, and lots of them. Them being so close to Rivendell could only mean one thing: invasion.

I turned heal and ran, but cracked a stick in doing so. The talking stopped. I ran faster than ever before, for fear that they would see and shoot me. Twice I thought I heard someone behind me, but when I turned, no one was there. I finally saw the gates of Rivendell, and ran in to them, scarred and shaken. It was dawn, and I could see almost clearly now. I thought I heard someone, and turned to look again. Two orcs were heading into the forest again. They'd followed me! I gasped, and one ran into the forest, the other turned and pulled out a bow and arrow. I was paralyzed with fear. The orc pulled back his bowstring, ready to fire, and... Someone pushed me behind a tree.

"Oooof," I said as I landed with a thud. I looked up and saw Gwen, low to the ground next to me.

"Why did you sneak out again?"

"That's none off your business, is it?" I heard a scream from the orc. I looked out from behind the tree. It lie dead on the ground, and a man stood there with his bow out, pointed at it, "Who's that?" I asked.

"A man."

"Well, yeah, I think I have enough sense to know-"

"How many were there?" called out the man.

"Um, two followed me, around 100 in the woods, I think," I said.

"Then I might be able to kill the second one before it gets to far into the wood. Go tell your grandfather!" he said and ran off.

Without another look at Gwen, I ran into the castle.