Hope walked alone along the edge of the woods, her hands rammed into the pockets of her jacket and her hood pulled up to make the breeze stop blowing her hair in her face. As she wandered around, she watched the sun sink down slowly beyond the horizon and hobbits scurried around, lighting candles in their houses and their fireplaces. She smiled at them, but felt something she hadn't for a while. Homesickness. True, she had been very upset when she had left and had convinced herself at one point that she never wanted to see her parents again, but time had passed since then, and she began to wonder how her parents were doing without her. She also wondered how long she would be able to go without them.
As she walked, a group of male hobbits sat around, talking and drinking
bottles of ale. One of them looked up at her and noticed her, nudging his
companions so they would notice her as well. Hope began to raise her hand
to wave at them, but then remembered what Deagol had told her about them
earlier, and hastily rammed her hand in her pocket and turned her face away,
trying to ignore them. They weren't worth the time of day.
Soon if became almost too dark, and she knew she would have to head back
to the house soon, but she still wanted to wander around and see what was
left to be seen, even in the poor lighting. She hadn't gotten far though when
she had a sneaking suspicion that she was being followed. She stopped,
turning briefly to see who was there, but when she saw no one she felt
nervous rather than relieved. Turning slowly, she continued to walk but
soon heard footsteps on the soft grass. This time she jumped around, hoping
to catch the person by surprise, but when she looked there was no one there.
At least, no one she could see.
Adrenaline kicked in and her nervousness turned to fear. If it were a friend
pulling a joke they would have made themselves known by now. And
Deagol's words were still ringing in her ears. Why had she gone out alone at
night? Glancing to the side she tried to think of the easiest way to cut across
yards to get back to the house. Whoever it was, they were behind her so
turning around and going back the way she came was no longer an option.
Perhaps if she were to cut to the left and then run through the next two
yards, then cut to the right again to try and throw him off...
She quickly devised a plan in her head, and started to walk again, trying not to seem as if she'd forgotten who ever it was that had been pursuing her. She took five steps, and then broke out into a run. There came a shout behind her, and the sounds of running footsteps followed. Running over her plan in her mind, she quickly made a sharp turn for the first yard. The footsteps followed, and she jumped over a bush, landing badly on her ankle and nearly falling. But she continued to run, though the pain made her doubt she would make it much farther.
She took another right turn, this time being a little more careful in her
footwork, and worked her way, zig-zagging around in hopes of losing her
stalker. Soon she could see the house coming closer. It wouldn't be long
now. Running as fast as her swollen ankle would allow her, she charged
through the gate and ran to the door, turning the knob as fast as she could.
But the door was locked. Banging on it frantically, wondering why on earth
Tabby wasn't at least home, she opened her mouth to scream for help, when
the door opened, and she tumbled in, landing on top of whoever had opened
it.
She lay still for a moment, then, scrambling to her knees, she reached for the door and pushed it shut, locking it and sinking to the floor to catch her breath. "Hope?" groaned a voice. Hope screamed in surprise, having completely forgotten about whoever it was she had knocked over, and spun around to the body on the floor. "Whoa!" he shouted in response to her scream and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Calm down, Hope! It's me!" She looked at him for a moment and blinked.
"Deagol?" she asked, still breathing heavily. "What are you doing here?"
"I live here," he said, and she looked around. In all her haste she had barralled in at the wrong house, nearly cracking his head open with the force she had hit him with. She closed her eyes and put her head in her hands.
"Oh my gosh... I'm so sorry," she breathed, her body still shaking. "I was being chased and I thought this was Smeagol's house and I nearly killed you and this is really embarassing..." Deagol cracked a grin.
"You didn't nearly kill me," he assured her, helping her to her feet. "And what was that about being chased?"
"I was walking," she explained, placing a hand on her chest. Her heart was
still beating up a rucous. "And someone was following me around, so I ran,
and they ran after me, and I guess I got a little... panicked."
"A little? I'll daresay I've never seen a horse run as fast!" he laughed. "I'll take you home." She thanked him and started to walk when her ankle refused to be ignored any longer.
"Ow! Dammit!" she grunted.
"What?" he asked, looking down at her feet.
"I fell and my ankle bent in a direction I'm almost positive it was not meant to go," she said, talking very rapidly.
"Well then here," he said, slinging her arm over his shoulders and he
supported her with his. "Lean on me then." It took great restraint for Hope
not to break out into the song 'Lean On Me', knowing she looked foolish
enough all ready, but she managed to behave herself and they headed out
the door.
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