It was another warm, bright morning and the sun's light glistened through Elanor's curtains waking her from her slumber. As she sat up, she felt a lump under her pillow. It was Frodo's book she found; she almost forgot it was there. Hopping out of bed, Elanor had a quick wash and made her way to breakfast. Since she wasn't aloud out of the house, she decided to help Rosie do some chores to maybe gain her trust again. Sam was out doing some work as he was officially the mayor of the shire. He had been nominated after the ruffians came as he saved the shire.
Elanor hated being kept inside; even gardening seemed to bore her. She was used to riding Bill with Sam or playing with the other hobbit-boys and girls. After three weeks of August went by, Elanor was relieved to be able to finally leave the hobbit hole. To make sure she wasn't going to get up to no good, Rosie dumped Pippin and Merry, her two youngest brothers on her so she had to take them wherever she was going and Elanor was far to considerate to take her beloved brothers anywhere dangerous.
So, instead of going to explore, she decided to go and visit Merry and Pippin (the big ones) and although Rosie wasn't particularly fond of them as she thought they were slightly childish, Elanor managed to persuade her. So, it was then that Elanor dragged her little brothers along to meet their uncles. (Pippin and Merry where practically uncles to Elanor and all of Sam's kids as they had known them sense the day they were born) "I don't want to come!" complained Pippin.
"I thought you loved to see Merry and Pippin!" protested Elanor
"Nay, he meant he didn't want to come with you" said Merry
"Oh be quiet! It's not like I wanted to take you! Mother is making me drag you along so complain to her not me!" exclaimed Elanor getting rather frustrated. Merry rolled his eyes at her and said no more.
Elanor tapped on Merry's yellow round door. Merry and Pippin were both married and Merry and Pippin both had two boys. Pippins boys were called Faramir, who was five, and Peter, who was eleven, and Merry's sons were called Moro, aged 8, and Olo, aged five.
Merry and Pippin were always together so she didn't really need to bother about whose house she was going to. "Why hullo Elanor! Come in! Are you aloud out now?" asked Merry. "Well, as you can see, not exactly" Elanor said pointing at her brothers who were making themselves at home; playing with Olo, Moro and Peter. Merry chuckled to himself. "So, where's Pippin? Peter is here, wherever is Pippin?" Elanor asked. "Oh Pippin is sorting something out with your father, I'm baby sitting Peter for him." Unexpectedly, Merry's wife Estella came rushing into the room, red faced and with an apron on. "Hullo Elanor I was just about to made tea and cakes, would you like a cup?"
"Why, yes please that would be lovely….would you like some help?" Asked Elanor. "Oh no, you don't worry dear! I will be just a second!" exclaimed Estella. Turning her focus back to Merry, Elanor asked, "but why would Pippin be helping my father and not you? And does that mean that Diamond would be all by herself?" (Diamond is Pippin's wife)
Merry suddenly looked quite taken aback by this question and then asked, "Why...haven't you heard? Diamond is ill, and nobody knows why. Sam and Pippin are discussing it today."
"What kind of illness is it? How long has she been effected?"
"Well, if you really want to know, it's not very nice. It's a lot of vomiting and a headaches. She's got quite a fever. It was only
yesterday morning that it started. Pippin thinks that it could be some kind of food poisoning or something"
"Maybe, but that doesn't seem to make much sense since the shire isn't really a place you would get food poisoning. Nothing about the food we eat has changed over the years and nothing like this has occurred before…has it?" Before Merry could answer the question Estella came rushing in with a tray of tea and seedcakes. "Here you are" she said, placing the tray down. "Will I be able to visit Pippin anytime soon, or Diamond?" asked Elanor concerned. "I'm not sure. You can pop over here anytime but maybe its best if you don't visit Pippin's because you never know if it could be contagious."
They drank the rest of their tea in silence.
