Gossip took to the fields of the Shire like a bright spark of flame

A/N: Lily has undergone major changes, my dear readers, and is now better than ever. Seriously. It's so much better. I read through the whole thing and fixed typos and stuff, but I also fixed weird, melodramatic, stupid stuff. Blech. How did I even post some of that? Oh well. It's been a year and I've progressed. Anyways, the main changes of substance have taken place in chapters 15-34. That's a broad range, I know, but I made a lot of changes. Thanks to all of those who have read in the past and to all of those who are just now beginning. You will notice as you go along, I love reviews. So post them! And to all of those who have been waiting a year for me to post a new chapter: Thanks for your patience. The time if finally here! (24 June 08)

A/N: This story will be very book-friendly. In case you're wondering, I'd call it Tolkien-nouveau mixed with a bit of Jane Austen (Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, etc.) and just a touch of Louisa May Alcott (Little Women). . . And then some completely different stuff. But don't let me tell you what it's like. Find out for yourself.

Gossip took to the fields of the Shire like a bright spark of flame. Within a few hours of their return, every hobbit West of the Old Forest knew half the tale of Frodo and his companions, though most of what they thought they knew was invented by the gossipers. Life was not to be simple for the adventurers, though the only things they wished for were a hot bath, a warm fire, and a comfortable bed. No, one more battle was left to be fought.

While the former Fellowship had been busy celebrating their defeat of Sauron, the lesser of two evils had taken up residence in the Shire. The downfallen wizard had taken to calling himself Sharkey, clearly quite an ironic name since a true shark never would have been thick enough to imprison the people of the Ringbearer. For when the four traveling hobbits finally returned from their great quest, they were forever changed. Sam was braver; Frodo was wiser; Merry and Pippin were actually physically taller. They'd come through great evils to save their beloved Shire and were not about to be deterred now.

Frodo and his friends tore down the rules and raised the Shire against their captors. Yet when the ruffians were thrown out and Saruman's rule ended, there was still much work to be done. There were more things than houses that needed rebuilding. There were lives.

There was much praise given to Merry and Pippin as this rebuilding was going on since they had, by all accounts, led the hobbits in the Battle of Bywater, and even to Sam. Frodo, however, faded into the background. He did not mind it and was content to live simply in Bag End. Yet there was one person who saw through the smoke, as it were, and this was Lily Boffin.