Chapter 1

In the year 1395, in Shire reckoning, on a beautiful sunny day in June, a baby was born to the North-took family of Long Cleeve in North Farthing of the Shire. A girl, rather larger than most, joined this already large family. But it was not a joyful welcome. There was little joy in Long Cleeve clan in those days. The family's fortunes had turned rather sour of late and an air of discontent filled the rooms of that home, as well as the hearts. Perhaps being born into such misery cast a melancholic shadow on her young soul. For she had little delight in life even from those early days.

But while she may have had no joy inside, she was possessed of other, more outward gifts. Her hair was curly, as was the hair of almost every hobbit. But unlike most, hers shone like a field of wheat whitened in September sunshine. Slightly less rare, but no less fair, were the light eyes. Only the Tooks and their far-flung descendants could claim these light eyes. Some blamed the Old Took and his wandering ways. Had he introduced elf blood into the line on one of his adventures? Or perhaps he had caught the eye of an amorous fairie. Likely neither was true, but since nothing could be proven or disproven, it amused the populace to ponder these peculiarities. Whatever the cause, this girl was the beneficiary of both these singular and beautiful gifts. Those who were privileged with the sight of her in those first few precious days felt sure she had some greater lineage than that of a mere hobbit.

Her mother, distracted by minor tragedies, thought little of what to name the girl, so other family members took on the responsibility. They thought for days about what to name this otherworldly creature which had been bestowed upon them. Hobbit lasses were generally named after beautiful flowers. However, it became clear to all who saw her that this was no ordinary child and could not be given an ordinary name. No sunny Daisy, or playful Pansy was this child. And so, in honor of her serious and ethereal qualities, her aunts bestowed upon her the most beautiful and suitable name they could imagine. (Perhaps they secretly hoped that she would improve the family's fortunes with such a valuable name). And so the race of hobbits were blessed with a most precious jewel that day in June, when Diamond of Long Cleeve entered the world.

She grew more comely with each passing day. Gammers and gaffers marveled at her beauty, but seldom felt compelled to hold her; it seemed inappropriate to touch such a perfect thing. Her own siblings were in awe of her or, more likely, jealous. She was a quiet, thoughtful babe. She cried little and made few demands. All who visited took pleasure at the sight of her well-fed figure. Well-fed she was but not well loved. She was not often held or cuddled even in the arms of her own parents (save for those times when they thought it was absolutely necessary). They always had what they felt to be more pressing matters before them.

Years passed and she grew not only in stature, but also in beauty. Her hair coiled in perfect yellow-white rings. Her eyes shone like blue crystal. But her eyes were not the only part of her that resembled her name. Sadly, in personality she was also like a diamond. She was cool and, according to some, even hard. When she fell and skinned her knee, she never cried. When she came upon a fallen bird or beast, her heart was unmoved. She was never affectionate or open with her emotions as hobbits had a tendency to be. And so she continued to live and grow in this way, unyielding and untouched.

This tendency towards coldness was not lost on her parents. It saddened her father especially that such great beauty was not accompanied by a warm heart. Had he known it, he himself had been the one to cool it with his distance and his coldness. Always Diamond's parents were focused on other, more tangible things. In a most un-hobbit-like fashion they denied her the love and attention so necessary to a young one. So Diamond remained as cold as stone. Soon enough she took no joy in anything or anyone. She spoke when spoken to and was polite, but there was no hobbit-ish delight in talk for the sake of talk. Thoughts turned again to the oddness of the girl. Rumours swirled again about her true lineage, "More elven she grows day by day," they said.

In Diamond's tenth year things quickly changed from bad to worse, as they often do. A weak marriage, already in ruins from the loss of their once great fortune, grew weaker still until, too dispirited by the loss of his wife's fortune, Diamond's father abandoned the family for some other destiny. He vanished from Long Cleeve with what little gold he could scrape together. The tale of what became of him after he left will not be told here. It is enough to say that his departure doomed the Long Cleeve family to a worse life than they, or their ancestors, had ever known.

* * *

Since, in hobbit fashion, it was not uncommon for young hobbits to live for some time with their relations, Diamond's mother took advantage of this custom and sent her off to stay for some time with cousins in Bywater. She claimed to some, it was to increase her daughter's experience in the world. To others, those closer to her, she said it was in order to see if she could increase Diamond's love for her family by sending her away from them. Perhaps, they thought, her mother was hoping the old saw about absence and the heart's fondness was true. But the real truth, which she would not admit to anyone, not even to herself, was that she was unable to feel affection for the girl she believed to be the cause of her recent misfortunes. Perhaps the stars had been misaligned at Diamond's birth, Calla Lily thought, which could explain the hasty and costly retreat of her husband. Whatever the reason, she could not stand to spend one more day under the cool, distant stare of her eyes. So it was in April of her 12th year, Diamond of Long Cleeve went to stay with her distant cousins on a farm near Bywater in the heart of the Shire.