Disclaimer: (sighs) do I really need to write one?

Claimer: I only own Katalia, Baragon, Aunt Sevein, Telperion, Laurelin,
Helluin, and Baranon.

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Chapter 7

Katalia was sprawled on the ground. All thought of Baragon's wedding had
long since left her mind. Instead, they were replaced with fear. Fear
for others and herself. Her back hurt so much and she had a headache.
No use trying to escape right now. I wouldn't make it. maybe once I
go to sleep and have a meal. I can sneak away. with that she drifted
off to sleep. Plans of her escape running through her mind.

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When she woke up she was given her meal. Her back still ached but her
head wasn't pounding any more. When can I get away? I should
probably sneak out tonight. I can sneak into one of the drunken
soldier's tent and cut a hole. That way the guards wouldn't see me.
But how to get rid of the guard? Katalia thought for a while then she
had an idea. That will work. Hopefully. In the middle of the
night, she put her plan into action. All the soldiers, as she
predicted, had all gotten drunk(Katie, give reason why they are drunk,
or did I miss something in the last chapter?).... except for the
guards. Though she noticed her own looked slightly woozy. As the
evening wore on, she pretended to go to sleep. For a few hours she just
lay there, barely allowing herself to breathe. Then she said, "I'm not
going to tell you!" The guard, intrigued, came over to her as she
thought he would. He knelt and looked at her.

The guard saw she was talking in her sleep. Katalia started mumbling
something (for added affect). The guard couldn't hear so he picked
Katalia up and put his ear to her mouth. So far so good. thought
Katalia. She started saying stupid stuff while her head moved she also
moved her hand... to his sword. Slowly she pulled it from its sheath.
Then as quick as a flash she bunked the flat side of the sword over
his head. He fell to the ground unconscious. Stealthily she crept her
was to where the horses stood tied, all were dozing, swishing their
tails lazily about their legs. She lifted up the flap to the nearest
tent, finding a solder lying on a blanket, snoring. Katalia crept
over to him, he reeked of wine. He won't be up for a while. She
smiled with pleasure then cut a small piece of the tent off and crawled
thought. The horses were right there, one looked up at her approach,
flicking an ear in her direction as if to ask 'who are you?'.( I thought
that part was cute, keep it if you like, if you don't just delete it.)
He was small, darkly colored with large intelligent brown eyes.
Deciding he was her best bet, She quickly untied it while whispering,
"ner din." (be silent) nimbly and silently She mounted. "Noro."
(ride) She sped away into the night, the horses's light footfalls the
only sound among the ranks of snoring soldiers. But one of the guards
heard, it seems not all were off guard, and he quickly got the whole
camp up and pursued after her. Stupid men! They were all drunk! The
didn't know where to go or what to do! But they managed to all get on
horses. Some men were slamming their horses sides with sharp spurs,
some drawing blood, because they were rough with the horses.
Resulting in other horses not
listening to their riders and bolting off in the wrong direction.
However some did came after Katalia, and they were the guards. Katalia
looked back nervously. Go figure. They didn't drink. At least if I
don't make it I caused confusion. Not to mention many men got hurt
trying to follow me. And now many men are lost. made the fight
significantly easier for Ithilien. She thought smugly, and was suddenly
interrupted however when on horse came right out in front of her.

Her horse reared to ful height in surprise, striking the other. Both
rider and mount fell to the ground and Katalia said, "Noro lim, noro
lim." (ride fast, ride fast) The horse sped away again. The other
gaurds who were following quickly lost sight of her. Yes! I did it!
When morning came she slowed her horse down. He was tired. She
needed to stop and let it rest. She found a stream and stopped there.
Her horse drank while she washed her cuts. They ached like crazy a
whole night's ride really has and effect on a wounded back. I
should get going. I need
to get to Ithilien fast! just then she heard her horse neigh and a
hand cover her mouth while the other on was around her waist. She
swirmed and was finally able to get away. When she stumped on his
floor she started to run to her horse, another man had its reins. But
the other guy came and hurled her to the ground. Then she was other
men. I was the army that had set out the day before! Just great!
Katalia thought as they bound her hands and feet. When they reached
the camp the leader came out. Life can't get much worse. Katalia
thought grimly. And for the first time in the past couple of days she
thought about Baragon's wedding. the she thought about the battle
coming up.

"So you tried to escape. Hey? Thought you did. Did you?" he laughed
evilly and gave the crooked horrible grin of his, "You'll never escape
from me again!" the took out his whip and whipped her. Again and
again. Her back was racking with pain. I wish Baragon was here, He
always made things better. More bearable I mean. I didn't feel the
pain as much. Always... A picture of Baragon's face passed through
her mind. Will I ever see him again?

"Now beast, you will be escorted back to camp by a hundred men. Don't
you try to escape again. Someone roughly grabbed her and pulled her
on his horse in front of him. The journey back was horrible. He back
hurt unbearably. And all she thought about was how she failed to get
to Ithlien to tell them everything, failed, and now the army was in
full force, ready for the oncoming battle. Failed.

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I'm really so happy people are reading my story! Thanks. And how
could I ever do without Elessarlover. Thanks for beta reading!

Namarie,

katalia