- Chapter 5; I know what I want for my birthday - (Belinda P.O.V)

Belinda squealed and hid behind a chair as the heavy body of the stranger fell limply on the ground, clutching her frying pan in her small pants. She had seen him enter by the window and had reacted without thinking. Crawling closer to the person, she looked at him with fear mixed with awe. He was the first other being she had ever seen, beside her father. She gently removed the hair from his face and stared at him. He had a strong jaw and high features, and a thicker beard than her father. "Man with pointy teeth" her father's words ran in her head. She carefully opened his lips with the handle of her frying pan and sighed in relief when she saw his teeth were perfectly normal. Looking back at his face, she found herself unable to look away and she didn't know why, but she... liked looking at him. His eyes suddenly shot open and the young woman squealed again before hitting him a second time. Once she was sure he wouldn't wake up, she dragged him towards her closet and tried to shove him inside. Keyword: Tried. She pushed him up, pulled him, tried everything to get him in but he kept falling back out or on her. After a good while of struggling, she finally managed to get him to fit inside and blocked the door with a chair.

-Okay... Let's not panic... There's just a stranger in my closet. She said, looking at her reflection and smirking. There's a stranger in my closet! Ha! Too weak to deal with tha world outside, huh, daddy? Talk to my frying pan!

She twirled her pan in her hand and yelped when she hit herself over the head with it. She groaned, when something caught her eye. In the stachel the man had had with him, something was glowing. She bent down to pick it up and opened the satchel. Belinda let out a gasp when she saw the beautiful crown. Taking it carefully in her hands, she turned to the mirror and placed it upon her head. Gandalf climbed up a table nearby and stared at her in awe. Her long golden hair seemed to glow along the stones that adorned the crown and her eyes shined with a new light. Belinda almost couldn't recognize herself.

-Belinda! Let down your hair! Her father's call shook her out of her thought and she quickly hid the crown and satchel under a loose piece of stair. Belinda!

-Coming, father! She replied, throwing down her hair.

-I've got a surprise for you, darling! Saruman said as she dragged him up.

-Uh, so do I... She replied nervously.

-I'm certain mine is better!

-I seriously doubt it... She mumbled.

-I've found your favorite ingredients for the soup tonight! Her father said as he entered.

-That's great, but I want to talk about what we said earlier today...

-Oh, Belinda, I hope you're not asking me about the stars.

-Colorful lights... And yes, I do want to talk about them.

-Belinda, we've been over this. You're not ready to deal with the outside world. Saruman said, unhappy she brought the subject up again.

-Now, see, that's the thing! The young woman insisted, nearing the closet where she held her captive. You think I'm not ready to go out, but...

-Belinda, I know you're not ready! Her father cut her off.

-But father, you're not listening...

-There's nothing to listen to! YOU ARE NOT EVER LEAVING THIS TOWER! He shouted on top of his lungs and Belinda backed away from the closet. Great... I'm the villain, now...

Belinda hugged herself as her father slumped into a chair. This wasn't going to work. Her father would never let her out. Something clicked inside her mind as a plan formed in her head. It was risky, but it could be her only chance.

-I just wanted to say that... I know what I want for my birthday.

-And what is it? He asked irritably.

-Painting. From the seashells you brought for me when I turned 22. She said.

-But it's a terribly long trip, Belinda. I would be gone for easily a week.

-I just thought it was a better idea than the... Stars... She argued.

-Are you sure you'll be alright if I leave you alone for that long? He asked.

-Yes, father.

-Alright then. I love you, dear.

-I love you more.

-I love you most.

Saruman then packed enough food for the trip and, after his daughter sung him a song, he left the tower to go to the ocean. Belinda watched him leave the canyon and turned to Gandalf. Time to put her plan in action.