[Lumiel]

In a small, lonely corner of the common room, a young girl slept a peaceful sleep. She had not felt so rested since...well, since she could remember. She awoke before dawn, when its first tentative touches of light barely illuminated the dark horizon. None had noticed her stolen stay at the Inn that night, through luck or coincidence she didn't know, and she didn't care either. The floor was cold, but it was warm by comparison of the outside world, had she had to spend the night on a forest floor and she was grateful for that.

After taking a good look at her surroundings, she decided that food was in order. There didn't seem to be anyone about, so she was relatively safe. At least until the servants came to prepare breakfast, which would be shortly she knew. With a light, silent step, the girl made her way to the door towards the kitchen. Carefully, quietly, she eased it open and it swung with only a small creak before she eased it back into place. With a smile on her face and her large brown eyes bright with excitement, she went on a search for breakfast.

She found a small barrel of apples, and helped herself to one. It was sweet and delicious, and she giggled softly as the juice tickled its way down her chin. She ate a second one, and after licking her fingers, dirty though they were, she went in search for more. But her exploring was brought to a halt.

She heard voices approaching and footsteps to accompany them. In a panic, she looked around quickly for a hiding place and saw a tall closet with the door slightly ajar. She ran to it quickly and squeezed her small, thin body between jars of preserves and other foodstuffs. It wasn't long before the servants got busy in the kitchen, and the young girl could feel heart pounding the whole time. Yet, they never went to the closet.

For a short time, it was empty, and the girl was about to try and escape when she heard the movements of someone in the kitchen. She couldn't see them, but they were somewhere nearby and she wouldn't take the chance of being caught. Suddenly, whoever was in the kitchen with her yelled, "Fire! Fire in the kitchen!" and dashed out.

The girl gasped suddenly. A fire? Here? She had to get out, and quick. She threw herself out of her rolled up position amongst the jars and heaved her body at the door, prepared to land feet first and running on the floor. With a loud thud and a painful impact, her body slammed against the door. It was jammed.

Confused the girl peered closely at the small crack between the doors and saw a shadow of a latch. She was locked in. Somehow when she had swung the door closed, it had locked, and she was trapped!

Desperate and in a panic, she raised her small hands to pound on the door for help, but stopped. She heard others in a panic outside the kitchen. If they rescued her, they would know the truth about her! Caught in her fear and the indecision of a child that she had no control over, she missed her chance for help. She could smell smoke now, and it was getting stronger. Before long, she couldn't breathe very well. Now more afraid of dying than of being caught, she pounded with all her might on the doors and yelled, "Help! Help! Please, someone help me!"

As she coughed, she began to shake in terror and tears streamed down her face. She didn't want to die! She could feel the heat of the fire as it began its consumption of the fire, but she seemed to be the farthest away from it she could be in the kitchen, but it gave her no reassurance. She pounded and screamed but none seemed to hear her, and her voice became hoarse and she could barely cough, let alone speak.

The smoke was everywhere now, and she could hear the crackle of flames closeby. Refusing to give up, she slammed her hands again and again on the doors until they were numb and red, with the promise of bruises, if she lived long enough. Her vision swam and her head seemed far too light as she moaned, "Please, oh please, help me!"