"I'm not tense, just terribly, terribly alert..."
((Hm. Sorry about all of these kinds of posts of late... especially since they are so badly written. Major writers' block. And, um, if I quoted anyone, and they didn't want me to, just say so.))
-At last, Goldie reined in the little pony at the front gate of Gamgee Hall, sliding off with a weary sigh and almost failing to notice the broken-down fortifications built around it. She was so tired that it really didn't matter to her. Mechanically, she led the pony to the stables, untacking him before graining him and filling a bucket of fresh water. Once that was taken care of, she wearily stumbled through the doorframe, closing the door behind her.
A voice made her freeze in her tracks, tensing, reaching for something to use as a weapon, having left her bow in the stables, hidden from the younger children. Her breath came short, her eyes grew wide. She waited.
"Meli! I'm so glad you're safe!"
"Elly-nor!"
She let out her breath, closing her eyes. It was only Melilot and Elanor... nothing to be afraid of. She slipped through the hallway, past the room where they were, but did not go in. She didn't want anyone to see her like this: so nervous, jumping at shadows. Once she settled back in her room, she'd be fine. She'd be safe.
... Or not. She came to a certain place in the hallway, halting dead in her tracks. And suddenly, she was there all over again. Come out, come out, wherever you are... she recognized the voice, saw the shadow on the wall.
This was not happening. She closed her eyes, backing away until her palms met the wall. Dear, sweet Eru eating cheez whiz on a stick... she heard. No... no. It wasn't real... it couldn't be. She forced herself to open her eyes, and ran down the hallway in a mad dash. She fumbled with the doorknob, let herself in, and slammed it tightly behind her. The lock clicked. She slid down the wall into a corner, drawing a shuddering breath, and sat, knees drawn to her chest, head down. Soon, she reasoned, she would go out and face everyone, but not yet...-
-At last, Goldie reined in the little pony at the front gate of Gamgee Hall, sliding off with a weary sigh and almost failing to notice the broken-down fortifications built around it. She was so tired that it really didn't matter to her. Mechanically, she led the pony to the stables, untacking him before graining him and filling a bucket of fresh water. Once that was taken care of, she wearily stumbled through the doorframe, closing the door behind her.
A voice made her freeze in her tracks, tensing, reaching for something to use as a weapon, having left her bow in the stables, hidden from the younger children. Her breath came short, her eyes grew wide. She waited.
"Meli! I'm so glad you're safe!"
"Elly-nor!"
She let out her breath, closing her eyes. It was only Melilot and Elanor... nothing to be afraid of. She slipped through the hallway, past the room where they were, but did not go in. She didn't want anyone to see her like this: so nervous, jumping at shadows. Once she settled back in her room, she'd be fine. She'd be safe.
... Or not. She came to a certain place in the hallway, halting dead in her tracks. And suddenly, she was there all over again. Come out, come out, wherever you are... she recognized the voice, saw the shadow on the wall.
This was not happening. She closed her eyes, backing away until her palms met the wall. Dear, sweet Eru eating cheez whiz on a stick... she heard. No... no. It wasn't real... it couldn't be. She forced herself to open her eyes, and ran down the hallway in a mad dash. She fumbled with the doorknob, let herself in, and slammed it tightly behind her. The lock clicked. She slid down the wall into a corner, drawing a shuddering breath, and sat, knees drawn to her chest, head down. Soon, she reasoned, she would go out and face everyone, but not yet...-