To Duckweed: Thanks for reviewing! I'll keep the chapters coming!

This chapter is entitled Night. Enjoy!

Chapter Three

As the night wore on, Farid became more and more restless and impatient. Orpheus had threatened not to write a word about Dustfinger when Farid had first woke him up. But after hours of waiting, Farid's patience had worn thin. The whole barn was silent and asleep; only two sentries stood at the entrance.

Farid roughly shook Orpheus awake. The man muttered curses and slowly opened one eye. That stuck-up moonfaced man! Farid couldn't help but let his fist clench.

"Orpheus! It's been hours! Get up!" Farid hissed.

The moonfaced man's face darkened. "Who're you to order me around like that?" He picked at one of his neat, clean nails. "I need some breakfast before I can write anything."

Gritting his teeth, Farid reached into Dustfinger's old backpack and took out some bread and meat. He suddenly felt tears in his eyes. Farid angrily wiped them away with the back of his hand. Orpheus will write him back... He will!

But looking back at Orpheus, Farid felt a surge of doubt. Cheeseface was lounging in the prickly straw as if it were his couch. Farid shoved the bread and meat into his hands. And watched Orpheus devour the food.

"Please, write now!" Farid begged, having no strength left for yelling anymore. "Write Dustfinger back!"

Orpheus just casually looked over at the desperate boy. "Why, I need to think! And where's the paper and pen to write with?" Farid had to admit that he didn't have an answer to that, but he couldn't give in.

"You didn't think so much when you wrote Dustfinger here!" He let his voice rise. "You've been here for more than a week, now!"

"If you keep threatening me, I won't write a word." That was all Orpheus said. "I'll do so when I'm ready."

Farid gave a sigh of defeat. "Just... Promise me. Promise me that you'll write." Farid said hoarsely.

"Fine. I promise." Orpheus stuffed the last of the bread into his mouth.

Farid turned away and went off to find Meggie. She was still asleep by her parents, Silvertongue and Resa. Or should it be the Bluejay and Resa? Farid wasn't sure what to think about Silvertongue. Was he a bookbinder or a robber?

Sighing to himself, Farid went over and gently tapped Meggie on the shoulder. "Meggie!" He whispered.

The girl sleepily opened her eyes. "Farid! Is something wrong?"

Farid shook his head. "No... But..." he trailed off. Meggie slowly got up and went over to the boy. Farid put his arm around her; she leaned against him. Together they quietly walked outside the barn.

"Farid, I don't want to see this world any more," Meggie suddenly whispered.

Farid couldn't reply to that. He just carressed her fair hair. The pair leaned against a colossal tree that seemed to reach into the sky. Stars twinkled in the heavens. Crickets chirped.

Farid breathed deeply. It was just the kind of night he liked - quiet, peaceful, pleasant. And as a plus, Meggie was there, leaning on his shoulder... Farid wished this night would never end.

Unfortunately, it did end, and very abruptly.

Some voices were suddenly coming from among the tents; both Meggie and Farid turned. Both were surprised that it was Silvertongue and Resa. Farid first expected that they were just outside for some fresh air. But no, they weren't. They were arguing. Farid saw Meggie pale as she saw her parents. Resa had anger, frustration, desperation, and sorrow in her voice. Silvertongue was calm and cool. Farid noticed that his voice was now rougher, more hoarse. Farid instinctively moved behind a tree, pulling Meggie after him.

"Please, Mo, ask Fenoglio!" Resa was saying. Meggie suddenly tensed from beside Farid. Farid held her close.

"He won't write again, not for me, not for anyone." Silvertongue said, turning away from Resa.

"Then ask Orpheus! Tell him to write us back!" Farid realized what Resa meant - write them back home. Apparently Meggie understood, too - she held Farid's had so tightly that it hurt.

"I can't leave yet," Silvertongue said quietly. "Not yet."

"Why? Do you really have to right all of the wrongs in this world? You enjoy it, don't you, changing the path of the story?" Resa's voice shook.

"I made the Adderhead immortal, Resa. He's a vile and corrupt tyrant. I can't let him sit on his throne for all eternity, hanging robbers and strolling players to pass the time."

"What makes you think that's your responsibility? Look how this world changed you! You're more like the Bluejay than Mortimer Folchart! You wear a sword at the belt! You barely sleep and go away for nights on end! Do you konw how much it worries me? Don't you care about me, Meggie, or our baby? How could you behave like this? As a father, as a husband, can't you accept the fact that you don't belong here and come home?" Resa didn't care about keeping her voice lowered anymore; she was speaking more and more loudly with every word. Farid suddenly realized that Resa had said... Our baby. Baby? Farid frowned. Meggie didn't seem to have noticed; her lips were quivering and she was holding Farid tightly.

"I do belong here, Resa. For now. So for now I'm going to stay. I can't just leave - leave everyone, everything behind... I thought you, of all people, would understand..."

"Look how you've changed, Mo!" Resa was very close to crying, now. "You have a taste for danger! You can die here, you know that better than anyone else!"

Silvertongue's face hardened. "I haven't forgotten." His hand involuntarily went up to his chest. Just then Farid noticed that there were curious robbers and strolling players looking at Silvertongue and Resa from among the tents.

"Go away! Go away, all of you!" Silvertongue shouted when he caught sight of them. Farid had never heard Silvertongue shout at anyone before. Neither had Meggie. When all of those heads had hastily disappeared again, Silvertongue turned back to Resa, who was standing very still, not taking her eyes off of her husband. He gave her a kiss on her forehead. Then he turned and strolled away, disappearing among the trees. He didn't turn back.

Meggie didn't speak for a long time after she and Farid witnessed the argument between Mo and Resa. No matter how hard Farid tried to cheer her up, he was always greeted by a sad gaze or a sigh. In the end, he gave up - he just sat by Meggie, his arm around her, silently staring at everyone in the barn. It was a long day.

Meggie, meanwhile, had a hundred thoughts running through her mind. Mo, Resa... They never quarrelled. Never. But today, Resa had nearly shouted at Mo. Mo had walked away. Meggie felt so many things - fear, anxiety, amazement, incredulity... Fear, because her parents were acting so differently. Anxiety because they actually argued. Amazement at what both Mo and Resa had said to each other. Incredulity at such an event... Meggie wanted to scream, cry, run away... But she was simply to exhausted to do anything. She felt like an old woman, a lonely old woman. Now all she had was Farid...

Farid.

The boy who so miraculously came back from the dead, the boy she loved. He was sitting silently beside her; even that made Meggie feel a little better. Having Farid around was like seeing sunlight in a dark, dark cave... A dark and very hopeless cave.

As the day went on, Meggie didn't leave her spot in the barn. A girl brought her something to eat and drink; she took it without a word. She didn't see Mo or Resa through the entire day. Farid didn't leave her side. And all day long, Meggie thought about how hopeless her situation was.

Meggie wondered, with despair, what was happening to her family. Mo would never be the same again. Resa was distraught. And she, Meggie, was in love... and also distraught. It was literally falling apart... Because of what? One word came to mind-

You.

You went into the Inkworld, you made everything happen. It's all your fault, you!

Stop it! Another voice said from inside her. I didn't make Mortola and Basta come looking for me... I didn't -

Meggie put her face in her hands. She wanted to go home. She go to Elinor's mansion, read in her library, forget about Inkheart and the Inkworld... Meggie wanted nothing more than that.

Nothing more.

She barely heard Farid's soothing whispers or his hands holding hers. It was as if she was dreaming. Oh, please do let this be a dream, Meggie thought desperately. Please... Let everything turn back to normal...

The other voice replied to that with harsh laughter. Stop being stupid, Meggie. Stop being stupid.

At that moment, Meggie would have done anything for a ticket to go back home - to where she and her family belonged.