As everyone else looted jewels and weapons and armor and clothes he studied the strange parchments taunting him on the ground. It had symbols covering the front that he didn't recognize, and a picture of a young hobbit girl on the front. Beside it was a book without a picture, but several more symbols and a dreary navy blue cover. Gathering up these foreign objects he scrambled away before anyone else. They were too busy breaking down walls and snatching any valuables to see him.
      He was first back in town, which he planned on. While it was abandoned he scavenged his house for a good hiding spot, and stuck the large blue navy book under a floor tile. Then he sat and studied the one with the girl standing on the front.
      Several hours after he heard the front door open, which startled him. Through the crack in his doorway he saw his father walk in. Immediately he sparked a fire in the center room, ignoring his young elfling. The flames stayed inside the protective layer of rocks without problem.
      "Leiko!" he called.
      Nervously, he slid the book behind him and brushed his hair around his ear. Still sitting with his legs crossed in front of him he was able to hide the book.
      "Over here." He answered. His father slid a dagger between his ear and a leather strap.
      "Well? What did you get?!" he towered over the little drow. Hesitantly, Blake played with his new golden earring, covering it with his long black hair. If his father got mad he might tear off the earring, so Blake carefully buried it out of sight.
      Reaching behind his back he slid the book out and held it up. His father took the book, glowering at it with an unsatisfied expression.
      "What kind of crap is this?" he tossed the book in the fire.
      "I..." Blake lowered his ears.
      "Next time we loot some hobbits grab something that's worth more then you are!" his father forced him up by his hair.
      "I will!" Blake squealed. His father shoved him back into the room, then went back to the fire. Blake stayed quietly in the corner until his mom arrived. She and his father had another argument, then his father left.
      Prying open the wooden board, he grabbed his second book. He'd seen his mother write similar symbols before, so she must understand them. Cautiously he peeked out the doorway to make sure his father was gone.
      His mother sat by the fire, watching the obscured book burn inside it.
      He took a few nervous steps toward her with the blue book, and held it up to her. She stared at it with distant eyes.
      "Blake..." she brushed her long raven hair behind her ears.
      "What's it mean?" he asked.
      "Blake, hide that and never show it to anyone, understand?" his mother replied. Nodding, he quietly stepped back and wrapped the small black cape over the top of his body.
      Swiftly he scurried back into his room when he heard his father's familiar ranting approaching the house. Tossing the book out his window, he climbed out after it and drudged over a few large rocks, all the while holding the book under his cloak.
      He left the town, sitting under the cover of a large boulder and opening the book.
      "I wonder what it means..." he sighed.