Disclaimer: I own nothing, unfortunately!
Chapter 1: The Jewel from Long Cleeve
True love endures forever. It overcomes all odds, and faces down all obstacles. Nothing can hinder it, though evil may. Nothing can defeat it, not even death. It is the most wonderful feeling, when one loves, and you love them back.
When Daisy awoke that morning she could not have imagined the tests that love had in store for her. Her adventures would lead her far and wide, facing wolves and dragons, but for today Daisy was content with her own simple life.
Diamond laid down her book and quill and rested her back against a tree, her auburn locks falling lightly around her face. Her life in Long Cleeve was dull, not filled with adventure as in her writing. Diamond had heard the many tales of Bandobras the Bullroarer, the greatest of all Tooks, and she dreamed of the day when her own adventures would begin. She was a Took herself, of the Tooks of Long Cleeve who lived in the North Farthing.
Diamond was frowned upon my many of her elders because she was so fascinated by adventure. It was most uncommon in a Hobbit, and Diamond had quickly learned to keep her love of the outside world to herself. She had two sisters, both older than she, and already being courted. Daisy, her eldest sister, was 34. She had just passed her coming of age, and had been proposed to by almost every suitor for miles. This, however, was not much of an accomplishment as most of the decent suitors lived in the West Farthing. Maggie was only 27, but she already had many suitors of her own.
The whole process sickened Diamond, for she did not see the point in having Hobbit men fight for her lover, offering money and false security. Diamond knew there was one person for her, and only one. Her stories often reflected this point of view, like the one she was working on now for instance. She was using her sister as the heroine, although she did not know why, as Daisy was neither adventurous nor brave.
Diamond's heroines were always great adventurers who traveled far and wide in search of true love, only to realize that true love had been waiting for them where they least expected it. The realization that true love was not found in money or power was a constant theme in Diamond's books.
The sun was almost completely out of sight, and Diamond could no longer see to write. She closed her book and stood up, stretching her arms towards the evening sky. Diamond began to walk back to her house. It was not far, and soon she could see the light of the fire from her hearth blinking in the distance. She liked being outdoors, alone with her thoughts and stories. When she was not reading or writing, she was daydreaming, often of adventures that would have impressed even the greatest elven warriors.
Diamond reached her home shortly, and stepped inside the door. She heard her sister's and mother's voices from the kitchen, and went to see what was going on.
"Mother please! I have run out of respectable suitors here. I am told they are quite rich in Buckland," said Daisy as Diamond walked in.
"Daisy, not alone. You cannot go live there by yourself," replied their mother. "I forbid it, and so would your father."
"Father would be happy if I found a rich suitor to marry in Buckland. It seems all he cares about is his business anyway. Diamond and Maggie will go with me. Maggie has already agreed. Will come as well sister?" Daisy asked, turning towards Diamond.
"Nay, I do not want to go," said Diamond. "I do not wish to be part of some scheme to find you more groveling suitors. You know the whole process sickens me."
"There is plenty of mischief and adventure to get yourself into in Buckland, Di. I think you would like it," her sister defended. "Adventure disgusts me as much as courting disgusts you, but if it will convince you to come it is worth it."
"I do not wish to find adventure in the Shire. I wish to travel to some far off land, battle evil, and perhaps even visit the elves," Diamond replied in a far off tone, apparent she had begun to daydream again.
"The elves? Now there is a childish dream. Why would the elves ever want anything to do with a immature Hobbit such as yourself?" Daisy asked laughing.
"I shant come to Buckland if you make fun of my dreams, no matter how foolish they," said Diamond angrily.
"My apologies, dear sister," said Daisy, still chuckling.
Diamond simply walked away, which sent Daisy into another fit of hysterics. "So you are coming then?" she managed to call out between giggles.
"Oh you know I am sister. Alas why do I ever agree to these schemes of yours?" said Diamond as she walked into her room. Her sister knew her all too well. From the hallway Diamond could hear her mother reluctantly agree to the move. She secretly rejoiced in her heart, and wondered what adventure awaited her, if any. If nothing else, new scenery would give her new inspiration for her writing. With one last addition to her book Diamond fell asleep, dreaming of adventure and love.
The next morning Diamond found out how quickly they were to leave. Daisy, it seems, had already picked out a house on a previous visit to Buckland. Their mother was not happy that Daisy had committed to buying the house without her consent, but nonetheless she was happy that her girls were getting along for the time being, and she therefore did not enforce any punishment.
Daisy spoke with Maggie, and they decided to leave as soon as was possible. Three days later they were ready. It was a long journey to Buckland, as it was in the East Farthing, but the sisters were so overjoyed to finally be leaving home that they did not mind. With good-byes said, they left their own house in Long Cleeve each in search of a new life.
Pippin and Merry walked along the road towards Brandy Hall. They had not gone far when a cart came along the path behind them. They moved to the side of the road to let the cart pass by when suddenly it stopped. Merry and Pippin could hear arguing from within the cart.
"It must be a little farther up the road," said a voice.
"We should have at least reached Brandy Hall by now. I am sure of it," said another.
"I knew I should not have trusted you two with the directions. You are too fascinated by your precious suitors to try and concentrate on anything else!" cried a third, quite annoyed voice.
"I would keep silent before me force you to walk the rest of the way Diamond!" said the first voice.
"I would most likely get there faster walking anyway," replied the one called Diamond.
"Fine, then walk. We shall see who gets there quicker."
There was a loud crash, and then the cart rolled away up the road. A Hobbit girl was sitting in the road close to where the cart had been. She got up, and brushed herself off, all the while muttering under her breath.
"Mother shall hear of this," said the girl, looking around. Pippin and Merry walked up beside her.
"Do you need help?" asked Merry.
Diamond looked around started, and saw the two Hobbits next to her. "I do not suppose you could help me find my new house?" she asked indignantly.
"That depends," replied Merry. "Where is it?"
"I have not the slightest idea," admitted Diamond. Pippin laughed, while Diamond simply scowled at him.
"It is somewhere beyond Brandy Hall, I know that much at least."
"We are headed to Brandy Hall ourselves. You should come with us and have a meal. Then we can help you find your new home," said Pippin, trying to sound friendly, not just eager to have a meal.
"Thank you. I am Diamond of Long Cleeve, and who might you two be?"
"I am Meriadoc Brandybuck, but please call me Merry, and this is Peregrin Took."
"Pippin!"
"Oh yes, you may call him Pippin," added Merry with a chuckle. Now it was Diamond's turn to laugh.
"We should set out, for the sun has already begun to set for the day," said Pippin. The three walked along the road towards Merry's home, talking as they went. "So why did your friends leave you on the road?" asked Pippin.
"Oh, they were not my friends. My two sisters, Daisy and Maggie, do not always agree with me," said Diamond.
"I fear I can relate to that," replied Pippin. "I have three sisters of my own. They all think that Merry and I are simply troublemakers, but we are brave and adventurous as well."
"Brave and adventurous? You have left the Shire then?" asked Diamond, suddenly very interested.
"I have been into the Old Forest a few times, but no farther than that. There is plenty of adventure to be found in the Shire as well," replied Merry. Diamond nodded, but wondered what he meant.
Pippin smiled, and then pulled out a carrot and began to nibble at it. "I planned on returning this, but I seem to have found a better use for it," he said cheerfully.
They reached Brandy Hall, and entered, shutting the large doors behind them. Super was already on the table, and they all ate eagerly, Pippin especially.
"How old are you?" asked Merry suddenly.
"I am twenty-one, and yourselves?" replied Diamond.
"I am twenty-six, and Merry is thirty-two," Pippin said.
They ate the rest of their supper, talking of Long Cleeve and Diamond's family. Pippin was especially intent to hear of Long Cleeve, being a Took himself. After supper they set out to find Diamond's house, which turned out to be just north of Brandy Hall. As Diamond did not know her way around Buckland, Merry and Pippin offered to show her around the next day. As soon as Diamond walked inside her sisters walked up snickering.
"I thought you were not interested in suitors Diamond?" Daisy said tauntingly. Diamond gave her a cold stare, and withdrew to her room in the back of the house. The new house was not as terrible as Diamond had expected. In fact, it was very similar to their old home in Long Cleeve. She would later find that Buckland would become more of a home to her than Long Cleeve ever was, for it would bring about the realization that her future would turn out differently than she ever could have imagined.