Light of the Unexpected Adventure

Chapter 17 Sneaking

Gabriella's POV

I sit in the tree for a moment, just waiting to hear the people pass from below it, so I hopefully won't be seen when entering back into the village. I am silent as I hear something on the outside of the wall, but below me. I look down and see some of the guard's armor as he passes while looking around for me. "Gabriella.. Come with me, and I won't hurt you.. But if you go out there alone, then they will hurt you. I can make sure you're not hurt when with me.. Just come with me before it is too late." he says this, just hoping I can hear him and I do, but I won't be going with him.

I watch as he looks around for me. I can only see some of his armor again, nothing more. So luckily, he has no idea that I am right above him. He looks all around before continuing on. I let out my deep breath that I never realized I was holding in. I strain my ears for anything around on either side of the wall, but there is nothing. I slowly sneak out of the tree on the inside of the wall, trying to do everything within my abilities to not be seen. Luckily for me, it is getting darker by the second, making my sneaking through the village easier.

I am weaving between the trees and behind multiple huts, but no one is looking my way, let alone worrying about what I am doing right now. By the time I get halfway through the town, it is completely covered in a blanket of darkness. So, I use this darkness to my advantage. I sneak behind huts and through the trees, freezing only when I see the guards searching the town for me. It takes me longer than I had hoped to get to the hut, but as I get there, I can see that people are walking around inside of it.

I pressed myself up against the hut wall to hear the Mothers talking back and forth as I wait for an opportunity to enter the hut. So while I wait, I decide to also listen in. "We need to make sure to keep an eye out for anything suspicious.. Apparently, the King is searching for a woman with magical powers. Or at least that's what the guards just warned me about." Mother Ann says to the others as I hear them grunting before replying. "I thought that's what I heard, but I was too busy cleaning up to be able to find out."

One Mother states that comment with annoyance as another responds. "Do they know who she is? It's hard to keep an eye out for a particular woman when this village is filled with them. I don't think there is any way we will automatically know if they have magic or not either." another says as they groan out as if they are all frustrated with this. "No, I haven't heard who or what age.. Or anything.. It makes me think that they might not know that either. I figured they would tell us if they knew because they wanted to get rid of that magical beast as fast as possible." Mother Ann declares as they hum out in response.

"Speaking of missing women.. Has anyone heard from that waste of space, Gabriella? She was supposed to clean the rooms and the clothing. But since she never showed up, I had to do some of it. I am frustrated because it was so incredibly disrespectful that she didn't come, so I had to do it! I will make her pay for leaving her work for me. She will rue this day, I can promise you that. Ugh.. What's even the point of having her around if she is not going to do everything that we don't want to." The Mother states, making it sound as if her irritation is at an all-time high.

I roll my eyes. To say that I am annoyed with them is a complete understatement. There is a part of me that wants to say something right here, right now, especially since I know I am leaving. But I think that would give them all the reason in the world to call the guards and turn me in for one reason or another. I clenched my jaw standing up, before hearing some guards coming in this direction. I don't want to be seen by them, so without a moment to lose, I ducked down behind the trees and bushes, just hoping I wasn't heard and definitely not seen.

They walk past searching around, letting me know I don't have much time at all to get out of sight and inside the hut before I am found. I patiently wait for them to leave before I look back into the hut, seeing that I missed the rest of their conversation about me and that they are now out of the room. I wanted to hear what else they had to say, so I am a little disappointed that I missed it, but I have bigger fish to fry at the moment. I slowly stand up, staying glued to the wall and darkness as my arm is grabbed and used for pulling me over.

I yelp out before my mouth is covered by a gloved hand. I struggle for a moment, hitting the person's chest until I look up at the only exposed bit of human under all that armor. I look to see those all too familiar light blue eyes staring back at me. I try to yell again, but he just leans into me and muffling my yells more. "You think you're so smart don't you?" He asks as I shake my head, trying to say something in response and he hears this. So he takes his hand off of my mouth, giving me a chance to talk since he knows I won't be screaming for help because of wanting to not be seen.

"I never once claimed to be smart." I retort, causing him to huff out, looking around as he turns back to me, leaning over me, making me feel as if I am caged into his armor, but for some strange reason I don't feel threatened. "You know that you can't hide this magic from everyone for long.. I don't know how you were completely capable of hiding your power yesterday in front of me and everyone else in the main square. Then, now having no control over it, it makes no sense... but you can't keep hiding it because people are going to find out that the being we are searching for is you. Don't you understand that? You are going to be in danger." he whispers this serious comment to me with so much concern in his tone.

I take in his concern, but I am not for him to worry about. If he would just let me leave, I could be out of his hair, and it would be like I never existed because I could leave and never be seen again. "Yes, I understand that.. But I hid it so well yesterday because I never had it yesterday." I snap this back in a whisper as I watch his eyes widen while he is comprehending my words. "How do you... what? Wait.. How is that possible?" he asks as I shake my head, not wanting him to know anymore than he already does.. He already knows way too much for my safety and probably his.

"The entire town is looking for you.. So, you need to tell me what you know, and I will do what I can to help you.. But there is only so much I can do for you... and your stubborness is not helping, just irritating me." he spats at me as I rip my arms out of his grip. "I am not here to help you, just like you are not here to help me. So don't give me your false hope of safety. I can take care of myself." I snap right back as I hear him huff out while watching his eyes roll. "You're so stubborn." he states this right before we hear some guards coming our way.

"Don't move.. I'll take care of this." he spats at me as I watch him turn his body so he is covering me from view and stopping the men from coming any further. He is talking with the guards as I take this distracted opportunity to sneak away. I hold my dress so it doesn't catch on anything to make any sounds as I go across the wall and away from them, then around the corner. I can still hear the men talking, but it sounds as if the conversation will be ending any moment now.

So, I start scooting across the side of the hut and slipping into the side door as quietly as I can while the men are distracted. I tip toe through the house, not making a sound as I hear the guards walking away. I smirked to myself as I then hear the guard I was talking to groaning out. "You can't be serious.. I just want to help all." he spats out loud. I think, wanting me to know his intentions, but I couldn't care less right now, especially since he voiced how he is just trying to give me to the King just to get into the castle.. That doesn't sound like he is trying to help all, just himself.

Besides, I have more important things to worry about. So I get through the hut pretty quickly just to instantly sneak into my room, seeing that my friends are still awake. They jump up giving me hugs, since they were apparently incredibly worried about my safety. "I never thought we would see you again." Grace states as I huff out, nodding because I almost didn't, so they were right to think such things. "You almost didn't." I whisper this back as they have a seat while I do the same.

I am mentally preparing myself, knowing the mirage of questions will be thrown my way whether I like it or not, but I do think it is best that they hear things from my point of view before anything else happens. Besides, I know that they won't be able to sleep, let alone leave me be until they find out what had happened out there. "Well, if you almost didn't make it out, then what happened that you are here right now?" Merida asks as I huff out, leaning forward just to run my hands through my hair as I hold my head up with my hands that are propped up on my legs.

"All of you have to swear to me that you will not tell another soul.. My life depends on your silence." I demand this from all of them. I know that will be hard, but I need their silence if I am going to tell them this. I watched as they all vigorously nod their heads so I nod with them in understanding before I start. "Alright.. So long story short.. I went in and found an old frail woman who was dying.. She helped defend me against a bunch of ogres and then gave me a stone to take to some witch.. She also.. As she was dying.. Gave me her powers so they wouldn't die out." I say as their eyes widened in complete and utter shock.

"Powers... Are you the woman that the guards have been searching the town for?" I am asked as I huff out, nodding my head before hanging it low. "I am just here to get my things and leave before I am even noticed... or killed off.. Apparently, the King is asking for me even though I don't know how that is possible.. Maybe he was after the other woman before she gave me her powers, but either way, they are after me, and I have things to take care of outside this village. I have to get this stone to the witch." I declare as they start shaking their heads again, looking back and forth between one another.