The night was cold. Hobbits were sleeping in their beds.
All apart from two.
Merry Brandybuck and Peregrin Took.
Both had beer and tobacco.
"Shush, shush, she'll hear us" giggled Pippin.
He was a little red in the face. The beer was taking effect. Merry giggled quietly as well. The smoke from Pippin's pipe swirled up and away. A small fire burned in the fire place.
But something was about to happen. A door opened. A young woman came out. The candles on the wall of their hobbit hole were still burning. She could smell a bit of tobacco.
"What is he doing?" she asked herself as she walked towards the kitchen.
There was a large door leading to the kitchen, it had been left ajar. She walked around the corner and pushed it open. But she did not walk in. Instead, she just stood there stood there. She could see Merry and Pippin smoking and drinking.
"Peregrin Took!" said Diamond.
Her voice was loud and angry. Merry jumped, knocking his beer over. The glass smashed on the table. The beer started to run off of the table.
Diamond walked over to Pippin.
"Clean that up!" she said.
But Pippin smiled.
"Make me you wee hobbit" he said.
Diamond looked angrily at her husband.
"You are drunk and I am having a baby, I need my sleep, why can't you just for once think about me?" she asked.
Pippin looked up at her.
"Oh, you having a baby?" he asked.
He looked shocked.
"How did that happen?"
Merry snorted as he took a drink from Pippin's glass. Pippin looked around.
"Ah!" he shouted.
"That's my drink!"
He then snatched it away from Merry. Merry continued to giggle.
"I think it is time for bed" Diamond said.
She snatched the beer away from him. She hated Pippin when he was drunk.
"Whoa…?" Pippin said.
"Look Merry, it's floating again" Pippin said.
He tried to grab it, but missed.
"Merry, go home" Diamond said.
But Merry remained seated. Diamond took a deep breath.
"Now, Merry!"
Merry smiled and got up. Pippin yawned and mumbled a good-bye to his friend. Merry walked towards the kitchen door and out onto the passage.
"Right, mister, you need to go to bed" Diamond said.
Pippin shook his head.
"I ain't tired" he said.
Diamond looked down.
"Listen, you've been drinking all night, please come to bed" Diamond said.
Pippin yawned again.
"Alright, alright, keep your hair on"
The hobbit's speech was splurged. It always was when he was drunk. The hobbit walked past Diamond. She could smell the beer on him.
"Why do I let him drink?" she asked herself.
She then felt tired again. So, she turned around, leaving the fire crackling happily in the fireplace.
Merry, who had gone a few minutes before, had left the door open. The night outside was calm. Stars could be seen among the clouds. They twinkled since time had started. Trees blew in the cool wind. Winter was now upon them. The cold blew across the land. Small animals hibernated in their burrows.
But, there was one creature that was not asleep. This was a small, four legged creature. The creature sniffed around. He could hear crickets singing. But he couldn't see them. The creature trotted along the road. He then came to a hobbit hole. He could see the window with light coming out of it.
A figure came out. It was Merry. The four legged creature stopped. He could hear Merry come down the path. Merry slowly opened the gate. He could be heard Merry still laughing by himself. The creature, who was quite small, slipped into the shadows. Merry walked pasted right back the creature. The animal watched him walking away. Merry stumbled a few times and went out of view.
The animal slipped though the open gate. Careful it was not to be seen. He could hear Diamond and Pippin talking. The light poured out of the house.
"Should I?" he asked himself.
The creature looked back. He only had one chance to get in. So, the creature ran inside the hole. He stopped at the door. He could hear talking. He then slipped in and walked away.
The creature heard someone coming.
"Left the door opened again!" said a voice.
To the creature, it was all babble. He hid around the corner and watched. There was a big person coming towards him. This person looked friendly.
But should he take the chance?
Not yet.
Diamond, who was going back to bed, didn't notice the small creature looking at her. She opened the door and went to her side of the bed. Pippin came around the corner as well. He had his hands over his eyes.
Pippin too didn't notice the creature. He went into the bedroom. The hobbit left the door open. Pippin was so tired that he didn't change or wash.
Diamond pulled the covers over. Pippin did the same a minute later. The room was dark and warm. Just right for the creature.
He came to the door and poked his head around the corner. He sniffed the floor. He could smell both of their senses.
He wondered if it would be safe to go to them. Pippin shuffled in his bed. Diamond had closed her eyes already.
The creature came slowly into the room. Stopping for a few seconds. There was no sound in the house. Pippin had fallen asleep quite quickly. So, the small creature walked and stopped besides Diamond's half of the bed.
He looked up, then to the sides. He then stood up and walked down to the end of the bed. There, there was a lower storage box there. The creature then jumped onto it. He looked back down, then back at the bed. In front of him was a big duvet.
So, he leaped over the end of the bed onto the soft duvet. Neither of the two hobbits woke up. So, the creature started to walk towards them.
The creature knew which hobbit looked the friendliest. So, he walked up on top of Diamond. She was laying on her side. He got to the top. And then he realised. He was stuck there. He couldn't see the other side.
"Oh no" he thought.
The creature looked back. He needed to get back down. And then it happened. Diamond started to turn over. The creature was stuck on top of her. But he didn't fall off. Diamond then stopped rolling over and continued to sleep. The creature yawned as well. He was sleepy too.
"This is nice" he thought.
The creature then snuggled down and closed his eyes.
The creature wasn't asleep long when he was woken up. Diamond had woken up.
"Oh my!" Diamond said as she sat up.
She was shocked to see a small puppy on her. The puppy whined and jumped back. Diamond instantly stood up. The puppy started to shake. Diamond tilted her head.
"How did you get in here?" she asked.
The puppy whimpered. Pippin was still asleep. Diamond looked at him. She then raised her hand out.
"I won't hurt you" she said as she walked closer.
She could see the puppy shaking. But he didn't run away. He started to sniff her hand.
"She seems nice. But what if it's a trap?" the puppy thought.
"Do you have an owner?" Diamond asked.
The puppy shook his head, making his ears flop. Diamond looked confused.
"Are you lost?" she asked.
The puppy shook his head again.
"Hmmm"
"Then where did you come from?" she asked.
The puppy then started to whimper. Diamond suddenly realised what that meant.
"Awwww, come here" she said, picking him up.
His fur was nice and soft and warm. The puppy continued to whimper.
"Are you hungry?" Diamond asked.
The day was steadily lighter as the sun rose. The puppy nodded and rested his head on Diamond.
The two of them felt a connection between one another. Neither of them knew why, but it happened. Diamond realised the she now had a new puppy to look after.
"I hope your not as much trouble as Pip is" she said.
The puppy looked around the hole. It was a nice place, bright and airy with lots of rooms. The puppy sniffed the air. He couldn't smell anyone else in the house.
He looked up at Diamond. He then gave her a small lick. Her hands were warm and gentle. The puppy took a deep breath as they reached the kitchen.
"Right, so what do you want?" she asked.
The puppy looked around. Diamond opened up the cupboard. The pup looked around. He shook his head.
"No?" Diamond asked.
She smiled and stood up.
"What if I go into the cellar?" she asked.
The puppy nodded.
"Maybe there's some in there" he thought.
So, Diamond placed him on the floor and walked over to a door that led off of the kitchen. This door led to the cellar. The puppy watched her open the door. He sat down on the floor and waited.
Diamond came back a few minutes later. She was holding a few packets of meats.
"Right then, we have…"
Diamond sat down on the floor and placed three packets down.
"Bacon" she said, pointing to the first one.
"Chicken" she said.
"And turkey"
The puppy looked at each one. He sniffed the bacon. He whined and then sniffed the chicken.
"Hmmm" he thought.
And then, he sniffed the turkey.
"Ah ha!"
The puppy started barking and trying to get at him.
"Whoa!" said Diamond.
Pippin, who had been sleeping, was woken up by the barks.
"Argh, it's too early" he said to himself.
He turned over and smiled.
"Morning hon…"
But Diamond wasn't there. Pippin lifted his head.
"Diamond?" he asked.
The hobbit then got out of bed and into his dressing gown. Pippin yawned and walked out of the room. He yawned again. Pippin then walked into the kitchen. He suddenly stopped.
Diamond was standing there, smiling as a puppy ran around her feet.
"Oh Pippin, isn't he just the cutest?" asked Diamond.
Pippin didn't know what to say.
Should he be angry?
Should he be happy?
It was then that he saw it.
"Diamond!" he said, running towards the empty packet.
"Diamond that was my turkey!" he said.
He exhaled loudly.
"Now what am I going to have to eat?" he asked.
Diamond scowled at him.
"Pippin, we don't know where he came from, he was hungry"
"But that doesn't mean he can eat my turkey!" argued Pippin.
Diamond shook her head in disbelief.
"You always think about yourself don't you? Why, for once in your life Peregrin Took, why cant you think of someone else?" asked Diamond.
The puppy had stopped and looked at Pippin.
"It's a dog, Diamond, a mutt!" answered Pippin.
Diamond didn't understand.
"Is this about farmer maggot's dogs?" she asked.
"Is that why you won't let us get one?"
Pippin looked down. He knew that Diamond knew he was scared of dogs.
"Aye" Pippin answered.
He took a deep breath. The puppy was looking from Diamond to Pippin. The puppy then yawned and laid down, but continued watching.
"Oh, Pip, please can we keep him?" Diamond asked.
She had wanted a puppy ever since she was little. She knew Pippin was afraid of dogs.
"I don't know" he answered.
Diamond looked down.
"Can we at least try to like him?" asked Diamond.
Pippin looked at the dog looking at him. The hobbits mind was working.
Saying "Yes" would please Diamond, which is what he wanted.
Saying "No" would mean upsetting Diamond.
"Pippin?" Diamond asked.
Pippin took a deep breath.
"Alright, alright we can keep him for a few days. But if he misbehaves or wakes me up, he's out of here" he said.
Diamond smiled. She now had a new puppy.
"Now, what's for lunch?" Pippin asked.
Diamond smiled.
"Bacon sandwich alright?" she asked.
Pippin smiled.
"Sure" he said.
Diamond smiled and walked over to the cellar. She opened the door. She could feel the coldness of the cellar around her.
Back in the kitchen, Pippin was looking at the puppy now sitting in front of him.
"Now listen here, pup, if you wake me up or rip up my papers, you're out of here. Do you understand?" Pippin asked.
The puppy stuck out his tongue and barked. Pippin took a deep breath. Diamond then came back with a paper bag full of bacon in one hand and a fresh loaf of bread in the other.
"Could you set the table, Pip?" Diamond asked.
Pippin nodded and walked towards the draws. He opened one up and took out the knives and forks. The puppy watched. He started to get hungry again.
"Hey, I'm hungry!" he barked.
Diamond looked around.
"Awwww, are you hungry again. Mummy will get you some food in a minute" she said.
Diamond hummed happily. She started to cut the bread. The puppy sat patiently. He looked around. Pippin was setting places. He looked down at the dog a few times.
"Maybe he won't hurt us" he thought.
He placed the two knives and folks down and went for some table mats. The puppy then laid down again, waiting for his food. Diamond placed the slices of bread onto a plate and went to the table. She saw that there were no table mats.
"There you are" she said.
The puppy came up besides her. She looked down.
"Are you hungry again?" Diamond asked.
The puppy nodded. Diamond smiled.
"You're not feeding him any more of my turkey" said Pippin.
Diamond, who had been walking to the cellar, stopped.
"Oh Pippin, we don't how long he's been hungry, it will only be for today" Diamond said.
Pippin couldn't argue with that. He knew what it felt like to be hungry.
"But why turkey? Feed him something else"
Diamond looked down at the puppy, he had followed her there.
"Fine, I'll get him something else" she answered.
She took a deep breath. It was too early in the morning to argue. The hobbit walked into the cellar and looked around.
"Now, what should I get a puppy to eat?" she asked.
Chilli, pickles, tomatoes, potatoes, apples. But nothing for a puppy. The puppy had come to the cellar door. He sat down and waited for Diamond to come back. Pippin was watching the dog sitting there.
There was a block of soft butter on the table. A jar of jam was also resting on the table. The butter soaked into fresh bread. Pippin then got a large dollop onto the white bread.
Diamond then came back.
"Diamond, have you even given him a name yet?" Pippin asked.
The woman, who was coming back with a large turkey, placed it on the clean worktop.
"No, I haven't yet" she answered, looking down at the pup.
She bent down and picked him up.
"Well now, what name shall we give you?" she asked the puppy.
The puppy licked Diamond. She smiled.
"What about, Bingo?" she asked.
The puppy shook his head.
"Umm, Sammy?"
Yet again, the puppy didn't like it.
"Origo?" she asked.
She knew it was a silly name. But the puppy didn't think so. He nodded. Pippin was looking as well.
"I think he likes it" he said.
Diamond smiled.
"I think so too" she said.
So, she placed Origo on the floor. Pippin went back to eating. Origo shook himself and then panted. The puppy turned and looked up at the worktop.
He could see it. It was there.
Turkey.
But how to get to it?
Origo started whimpering. He knew exactly how to get it. Diamond, who had been busy getting the turkey ready, looked around.
"Oh, Origo, I know you're hungry" she said.
Pippin rolled his eyes. He ate the last bit of his bread and drank his water.
"Well, I'm off out to Merry's. I'll be back for lunch" he said.
The hobbit walked up to Diamond and pecked her on the cheek.
"Love you" he said.
Diamond laughed.
"Love you too, Pip" she said.
They smiled and Pippin walked out. Origo watched him. The puppy had sat down again. Diamond began to hum to herself as she unwrapped the turkey
"We need to get you nice and fed, then we can go and explore the market" she said.
Origo barked. Diamond took this as an agreement.
"It should be ready soon, all I have to do it reheat it" she said.
Origo tilted his head, wondering what she had said to him.
He could see the woman doing something. But she was in the way. So, Origo got up and walked over to see what she was doing. The pup suddenly stopped. The heat was too much for him. Diamond placed the turkey in the warm oven and closed the door. She turned around and saw that Origo had come closer.
"This is not for puppies" she said.
Origo looked from Diamond, to the oven.
"You want to explore the hole?" Diamond asked.
Origo tilted his head and then nodded. Diamond then picked him up and walked out of the kitchen. There were lots of rooms in the hole. Most of them were facing the outside of the hill. These were the ones with windows.
"As you know, this is my room. Pippin shares the bed most of the time"
She smiled, letting Origo look around. He then looked back up at Diamond. So, she turned around and walked out. The next room looked different.
"This is the study; I don't think you'll spend much time in here. Pippin always does. He likes maps" Diamond told the puppy.
The hobbit took a deep breath and walked out again. Origo looked around as Diamond walked to the next room. Diamond opened the door and took a deep breath.
"This is Pippin's" she said at the mess.
There were cloths on the floor. The woman shook her head.
"I hope he doesn't get too drunk. I need him to clean this us" she said.
Origo looked at them.
"They look warm" he barked.
"I know, he never cleans up"
Diamond closed the door and took a deep breath. She then walked towards the next door. Origo was resting his head on Diamond as she came to the next door. This was the same as the last door. Wooden with a handle. There was a candle giving off light and a small bit heat.
The hobbit opened up the cupboard.
"And this is mine, much cleaner and how it should be" she said.
Origo didn't understand why he had to see it. He wanted to explore. So, he looked down at the ground. Diamond smiled and looked at the puppy.
"Do you want to go and play?" Diamond asked.
Origo looked at her and barked.
"Alright, alright"
The hobbit put the puppy on the floor.
"I'll go and get your turkey cut" said Diamond.
She smiled and walked away towards the kitchen. Origo now had the house to explore. There were a few rooms left to see.
The lounge, the large dining room only made for parties and a spare room for long lost cousins and friends.
Origo came to an open door. It was round, just like all other doors in the hole. He stuck his head around the door. Origo sniffed the air. There was a different smell in the air. One that he didn't know and didn't like.
This was the spare room.
Pippin and Diamond had many friends and family over. But lately, Diamond had got a nanny. The hobbit couldn't do as much work as she would have liked. She hated not working. Working was her way of life.
Origo looked around and sniffed the floor. He went further into the hole. Another, unknown room to him. So, the puppy walked towards it. The door, like the last, was open. Origo pushed it with his head; it was a bit heavy, but not too heavy.
The room was dark and cold. There was a small window there, letting in some light. Candles were hanging from the wall, but they were not lit. Origo walked in and looked up at the chairs.
He went under the table.
"What is this for?" he wondered.
There was a cabinet full of bottles of old beer and wine.
Wineyard.
Bilbo had given him two of them before he left.
"Pippin my lad, take care of these. But one thing"
Bilbo started to whisper.
"Do not drink them"
And from that day on, he had never touched them. Sometimes, he forgot about them being there. And sometimes, he would get one of them out and look at it. All the memories came flooding back.
At times, he would just sit there over night and replayed what had happened to him and his friends. Pippin, deep down, wished he could have been there with Frodo.
Origo pawed the cupboard door. But it didn't open. He looked around; he knew that he shouldn't be in here. So, being a good puppy, he walked out. Origo could hear Diamond working in the kitchen.
Diamond was just about to get the turkey out of the oven. Origo slowly walked back to the kitchen. He got to the door and sat down in the thresh hold. Diamond was humming again. She heaved the turkey onto the work top and poked it. She smiled.
"Perfect" she said.
The turkey was now brown and warm. The smell spread though out the whole room. Origo continued to sit there. He sniffed the air and wags his small tail. But he didn't move. He waited.
"Origo?" asked Diamond without looking back.
She got out a small bowl and started to slice the meat. She continued to hum. She had two cutting knives in her hands. Diamond placed a few slices into the bowl and turned around.
"Oh, there you are" she said happily.
She placed the bowl on the ground. Origo stuck his tongue out and walked forward. He walked up to the bowl and sniffed it. After a second, he began to eat. Diamond watched him. She couldn't believe how fast he was eating.
"You seem to be one hungry puppy" she said.
Less then a minute later, Origo had finished. The bowl was empty. Even the small bits of turkey had been taken. Diamond shook her head.
"Would you like some more?" she asked.
Origo nodded his head.
"You'll get fat you know" Diamond said.
Origo shook his head as Diamond turned around.
"I suppose one more slice wont hurt" she said.
She picked up the two knives and started to cut another piece off. She placed the two knives down and took the slice. She turned around and walked over to him bowl.
"There you go" she said, placing it in the bowl.
Origo started to eat the last bit.
"That's your lot for now, OK?" Diamond asked.
Origo whined, but it didn't work on Diamond.
"I'm going down the market in an hour, do you want to come?" Diamond asked.
The puppy nodded. He wanted to see what the rest of the town. The puppy stood there for a minute. Diamond had gone back to clearing up. Origo had begun to feel sleepy. He yawned and looked around.
"I'm sleepy" he whined.
But Diamond didn't look around. He then started to walk out of the room.
"I know where to sleep" he thought.
The puppy made his way back to Diamond and Pippin's bed room. The puppy walked in and looked back. Diamond was still busy. So, Origo continued on.
The room was bright and airy. The window was open a crack, the breeze from outside made the curtain flutter. Origo looked at the bed. He jumped onto the small box at the end of the bed like he did the night before. He looked back. Origo couldn't hear what Diamond was doing.
The duvet was bigger then he remembered. The puppy jumped over the small wooden plank and onto the soft bed. He sniffed it, and then walked over the bed. The bed was still unmade. Diamond still hadn't gotten around to making it yet.
The puppy was black with only a few brown patches above his eyes and on his paws. His ears were long and fluffy. He was just the right size for a hobbit to carry.
Origo yawned and looked down.
"This one" he thought.
He then yawned again and lied down. The duvet was nice and warm. The puppy nestled himself into the duvet. Origo took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes. The puppy was snuggled down in a semi-circle.
Diamond took a deep breath and walked back to the cellar. She was getting more tired each day. The baby was getting bigger and it was harder to lift things up off of the ground.
She had just come back from the cellar.
"Oh, I need to go to the market" she said.
The hobbit was still in her dressing gown. So, she started to walk back to her room. The door was still open. The bed was still unmade, but that didn't bother her. There was a small black dot on the bed.
Diamond knew what it was. She smiled as she quietly went out of the room. She went to her cupboard full of hobbit cloths. She picked out a dress and a coat.
Winter was only a month away. Snow had already fallen on the horizon. But it hadn't reached then to the disappointment of the hobbit children.
Diamond walked back to her room and got changed. She smiled as she looked at the snoozing pup.
"I'll be back soon" she whispered, kissing him on the head.
Origo whined, but didn't wake up. Diamond could see his little chest rising and dropping as he slept.
The hobbit then walked out. She went back to the kitchen and picked up her basket. Her coat was still draped over her arm. She walked towards the front door. She opened it and smiled.
The cool wind blew her curly. She placed the basket down and threw her coat on. She put the hood up and looked down. Diamond picked up the basket and closed the door quietly. She then walked down the small path to the road.
There was a small wooden gate at the bottom; it was swinging in the wind. Diamond closed it and walked away from her house. There were green fields as far as the eye can see. Hobbit children were playing down by the lake.
Older hobbits were smoking in their gardens. They had a few friends around. There were mugs of beer.
The market came into view. There were a few stores there. The market place had not changed for hundreds of years. A pig grazed. Diamond could see hobbit children teasing it. But she didn't say anything.
A few of the older hobbit children were walking towards the lake. They were going to the river that was not too far away. They had packs on full of worms and maggots.
"Diamond!" shouted a voice.
It was the voice of one of Diamond's closet friends.
Estella Brandybuck, wife of Merry. She was walking towards Diamond.
"How are you?" Estella asked, hugging Diamond.
"I'm good, thank you" Diamond replied happily.
Estella looked at Diamond's stomach.
"Not long now" she said.
Estella was more excited then Diamond was.
"I know" Diamond answered.
She then thought about Origo who was still sleeping.
"Oh, Estella, will you come around later, I have something I need to show you" Diamond said.
Estella didn't understand.
"Show me something?" she asked.
Diamond smiled and nodded.
"You'll like it" she said.
Estella smiled.
"Will I?" she asked.
"I'll be around for lunch" she told her.
Diamond nodded.
"Well, I have to go and get some food" Diamond said.
The two hugged and Estella walked away.
Diamond was in a very good mood. She walked up to one of the stalls that were placed in the market place. It was full of fish in a sea of salt. Diamond poked one of them and thought. She then looked around the rest of the fish. But she took nothing. She looked at the next stall.
This one had meat hanging down from hooks on the wood that it was made out of. There was a young looking hobbit there. He had an apron on. He looked at Diamond.
"Afternoon" he said.
Diamond nodded and smiled. But didn't say a thing. The hobbit had a butcher's knife in his hand. He was cutting fresh meat. Diamond knew that Pippin and Estella would like pork chops. Diamond knew that Origo had enough to eat.
"Excuse me, could I take a few chops please?" Diamond asked.
The male hobbit nodded.
"Of course, how many?" he asked.
Diamond thought for a second.
"Twelve please" she said.
She knew that Pippin liked his pork chops. So, the hobbit butcher started to cut the meat.
One, two, three, four, all the way to twelve.
He smiled and piled them up on a piece of paper. He sprinkled salt on it and wrapped it up. He used a few sheets of paper.
"There you go" he said, handing it to Diamond.
Diamond smiled and took it.
"Thank you" she said.
The hobbit put the meat into her wicker basket and took out a small purse.
"Three coins" said the butcher.
Diamond picked out three coins and handed it to the other hobbit. She then placed it back and walked away.
"Now, what else do I need?" she asked herself.
She stopped for a minute. The clouds that had gathered on the horizon were now only a mile away. Snow was still falling to earth in vast waves. The flakes hit the ground. The first few flakes melted instantly. But there were trillions up on trillions of flakes heading for the forested ground.
Deer were roaming the forest in small groups. They looked up as the first flakes hit. They could feel a change in the weather. Their ancestors who lived thousands of years before felt the change as well.
In Hobbiton, the wind was getting colder. The lake, which was once calm, was now stirring.
"I should get in" thought Diamond.
She pulled her coat on and walked away. The hobbit had spices and meat in her basket. A few flakes started to fall from the sky. Diamond was heading home. A few of the hobbit children were heading home as well. They had come from the small lake in the middle of the town.
Diamond got her gate and walked up to the hole. She opened the door. The house was quiet. There was a cluttering coming from the kitchen.
It was Pippin.
He was cutting a bit of Origo's turkey and eating it. Diamond walked to the kitchen and closed the door. She stood at the door. Pippin was busy cutting some more of the meat from the cooked bird.
"Pippin Took, what did I tell you?" Diamond asked.
Her voice was stern and to the point. Pippin turned around. He let go of the knives which were stuck deep into the turkey.
"I'm hungry!" he said.
Diamond was angry at him. Her emotions were running wild.
"Eat something else, lunch is in a minute!"
Pippin looked back at the Turkey. He couldn't understand why Diamond was keeping the turkey for a puppy.
"Diamond, he's a puppy. He doesn't care what you give him!" Pippin argued.
Diamond walked over to the table and placed the basket on the table. She didn't want to argue with him. Pippin stood there, looking at her.
He was taller then Diamond. Ever since he had come back with Frodo, Sam and Merry, Pippin had changed. Diamond knew Pippin before he had gone, but she never thought to get to know him.
Life went on normally in the Shire. Yet there were words. Evil words that hobbits did not like to speak of.
But now, everything was the same as it had been. Deer and animals roamed the lands instead of orcs and trolls.
"Pippin, I don't want to argue with you. Just leave it, please?"
Pippin looked down. He knew that Diamond wanted a puppy. To be honest, Pippin was jealous. He liked Origo too, but, he was too embarrassed to admit it.
"Alright" he said.
"Alright"
He smiled at Diamond, knowing that he upset her.
"Is that lunch?" Pippin asked, coming over to table and peering into basket.
Diamond nodded.
"Yes, I thought pork chops with my special recipe. What do you think?" she asked.
Pippin smiled and hugged Diamond with one arm.
"You always know what I like" he answered.
He pecked her on the forehead.
"And Estella is coming around and well" Diamond said after Pippin walked away.
"Alright" Pippin said.
So, Diamond took out the meat that was wrapped in paper. She walked over to the work top and placed it down. She then walked back to her basket. There were a few small glass jars. Spices. She took them and placed them on the work top.
The hobbit then opened up a cupboard. She looked in and took out a metal tray for the meat. She put it on the work top and went to the meat. She unwrapped it and took out the first peace. She placed it onto the tray.
Diamond placed the rest of them on the tray. She then got a bowl out.
"Now, where is it?" she asked.
There were books and books full of recipes. Diamond took one out. She opened up the first page.
"Ah ha" she said.
She then turned to the right page. On top of the page was the title of the recipe: Pork Cops with Sage. Diamond read the first couple of lines.
"2 tbsp flour, 1 tbsp chopped fresh sage or 1 tsp dried" she said.
So, Diamond got out a small bowl and placed it on the work top.
At the same time, Origo was waking up. The puppy shuffled and tried to get comfortable again. But he couldn't get back to sleep. He whined and yawned. But the puppy was well awake. The puppy was hungry again.
So, he slowly got up. Origo yawned as he made his way to the end of the bed. He jumped over that small plank that he did before and off of the small chest. He walked out of the room and stopped.
He could hear Diamond in the kitchen. His ears were sharp. So, he made his way to the kitchen. He could hear Diamond talking to herself.
He got to the door and walked in. Diamond was busy getting the stakes ready. Origo took a deep breath and sniffed the floor. He knew that only Pippin and Diamond had been in the house.
Origo looked at Diamond. He tilted his head and barked. Diamond looked around.
"Hey Origo" she said.
Origo came closer and looked up. His puppy eyes looked deep into Diamond. Diamond looked back and saw the puppy looking back.
"I'll get your turkey in a minute" Diamond said.
Origo whined. He was hungry. But Diamond wasn't listening. She was now humming to herself. Origo looked down.
"Really hungry" he thought.
The puppy then walked away. He was going back to Diamond's bed.
Just then, Pippin arrived back home. He had been drinking again. But he didn't have too much.
"Hello Diamond" he said as he walked in.
Diamond smiled, but she smelt the bear and tobacco on him.
"Hello sweetie" she said back.
Pippin kissed Diamond.
"Wow, they look fantastic" Pippin said looking down at the cuts of meat.
Diamond had her hands in the bowl. She had added salt, pepper, a bit of sugar, a squeeze of lemon juice and a dash of oil.
"How long will it be?" asked Pippin.
"About an hour, the stove if still warming up" Diamond answered.
Pippin smiled.
"Alright, I'll be in the study" he said.
So, Pippin walked out. Diamond knew why he was going there. He was going to read Bilbo's book again. Diamond sighed.
"I need to get Origo" she said.
She then left the meat and walked out of the kitchen. Origo, who had woken up a few minutes before, was now snuggled up again. Diamond knew that he was hungry.
"Origo?" she asked as she walked around the house.
She came across her room. In the middle of the bed was a small fluffy puppy snoozing. Diamond stopped. She knew that Origo was tired.
But then, he had woken up.
The hobbit walked up to the bed and slowly scooped the puppy up. Origo whined and opened his eyes. He yawned.
"Shush, shush" Diamond said.
She held Origo close to her and walked out of the room. The two of them went into the kitchen. Origo whined again.
"Oh, I know you're hungry" she said.
Origo yawned and snuggled down. He liked the warmness radiating off of her. Diamond then placed him down of the ground.
"I just have to get the chops on and then we'll get you something to eat" Diamond said happily.
Origo started to whimper. Diamond, who had turned around, was now placing the chops into the mixture. She placed them on the tray.
She was going to cook them in a bit. She then looked around at Origo. The puppy was sitting down.
"Right, now lets get you something to eat" Diamond said happily.
Origo looked up and started to wag. Diamond then went over to the turkey that had been sitting there. The two cutting knives were still embedded into the turkey. She held them and started cutting. Origo came up to her feet and looked up. Diamond felt his fur on her foot.
She looked down and smiled.
"It'll be ready in a minute" she said.
She could hear him whining. Diamond cut a few pieces off of the turkey and picked it up. Origo tilted his head as she walked over to a cupboard and got out a bowl.
"There you go" she said, putting the turkey in and placing it on the floor.
She had barely taken her hand away when Origo started to eat as fast as he can. Diamond looked at him in shock.
"Origo, why do you eat so fast?" she asked.
But Origo didn't look up. There were small bits of turkey flying everywhere. The bowl was being attack so hard that it started to move. Origo moved with the bowl. Less then a minute later, the puppy had finished. He had cleaned the bowl of any turkey that he could see.
Diamond stood there.
"I guess you want more" Diamond sighed.
Origo nodded and looked around. Diamond was getting tired. Just then, there were three knocks at the front door.
Knock, Knock, Knock.
Diamond and Origo looked around.
"That must be Estella" Diamond said.
Origo looked at Diamond. The hobbit come up to Origo and picked him up. The puppy whined. He was propped up to her shoulder. He looked forward as she started to walk. Then, he looked up Diamond. But she didn't look at him. The two of them went though the hall to the front door.
Diamond opened the door with her free hand. On the other side was Estella. She instantly saw Origo. She took a deep breath in shock.
"Diamond!" she said, looking at Origo.
"Is that what you wanted to show me?" she asked.
Estella was excited. She loved animals more then Diamond did. Estella was wearing a green and yellow dress. She instantly took Origo off of Diamond. Estella lifted the pup to her face.
"Oh, he's so warm, when and where did you get him?" she asked.
Diamond smiled.
"Well, I don't exactly know when he got into the house. Probably when Merry left last night" she answered.
Estella looked at Diamond with her green eyes.
"Merry was here?" she asked.
A small smile came over Estella's lips. Origo looked up at her.
"Who is she?" he asked himself.
The puppy then started to whine, directing the attention back to him. Estella smiled and looked down at him.
"Has he got a name yet?" Estella asked.
Diamond smiled.
"His name is Origo" she answered.
Estella came in and Diamond shut the door. Pippin came into the hall way.
"Hey Estie" he said happily.
Estella smiled.
"Hello Pipsqueak" Estella said.
The two of them smiled.
"I have lunch waiting to be cooked, it should be done in an hour" Diamond said.