"Origo, please puppy, your making things worse!" Ivy said.
But this seemed not to have an effect of Origo any more. For a few more seconds, the two puppies were at deadlock. Origo then eased off, allowing Abira to get up. But what happened next, made everything unbearable for the small puppy. Origo swiped and hit Abira around the head.
"Origo!" Ivy shouted, not wanting Abira to run off.
But Ivy's hope was ignored. Abira turned on the spot and ran off.
"Abira!" Ivy shouted after her, but her voice was not loud enough.
She fluttered after her, but suddenly remembered Origo standing there. He was in a more serious situation then Abira was. At least she knew where she was.
But in fact, Ivy was very wrong. Night had slowly turned to day. Abira had ran for what seemed an hour or two. But there was still no other signs of life. A cold wind seemed to eat away at her fur.
But slowly, she managed to fall asleep. But as soon as she had fallen asleep, she woke again. The cold wind seemed to blow even harder as she lay on the floor. Her a few seconds, she thought that she was back home. But the birds confirmed that she was still outside.
Abira's small eyes opened. The surroundings were blurry for a few seconds. But Abira's eyes quickly cleared up. The sun, it seemed, was still coming up. But the level of light was enough for the pup to see where she was.
Abi yawned as she got up. She had in fact nestled down near a large tree. Drips were falling from the high canopy as she looked around.
"Where am I?" she asked herself as she took the surroundings in.
There was no sign of any paths or hobbits. The night before seemed almost a blur. But all the emotions came flooding back as she hung her head again.
"Maybe I should go and look for them" she thought.
She knew that Origo did not want her being there.
But who else could explain to Radagast what happened?
Who else knew him as well as she did?
This gave her hope and strength to go after them. But the direction was unknown to her as she looked around. There seemed less snow here. The patches that were present had no signs of her paw prints.
She walked for a minute or two and stopped. Her eyes darted around. The forest seemed to stretch on for further then she could see.
The level of light rose and rose as the sun came up. The morning grew later and later. But still, Abira was searching for any signs of anything familiar.
Hunger was now very much etched in Abira's mind. But there were no houses to see. Abira's pace was slower then normal. Hunger was now getting to her more then ever. But, for hour after hour, Abira continued to walk. Breakfast in households came and went. But still, Abira had not had a bite to eat for what seemed a day.
Pimpernel was still trying figure out how her puppy and, of course, Diamond's puppy, had escaped and why they had done so.
"But what if they are hurt?" Pimpernel asked, looking worried.
She had hoped that Abira would have come back. But she did not. In fact, there was no sign of either puppies.
"I'm sure their fine, Nelly" Pearl said, facing her.
But this made no difference to Pimpernel's worry. In fact, images were circling her head quicker then ever. Pearl knew that Abira meant a lot to her sister. but then again, Pearl could not help thinking that Abira had survived without Pimpernel before.
Pimpernel was standing there in a state of helplessness.
"Maybe it's best if we do something to take your mind off of her" Pearl said.
Pimpernel's face changed from worried to confused.
"Take my mind off of her?" she asked, wondering what her sister had in mind.
Pearl smiled and got up from her seat. Pimpernel watched as her sister walked to a cupboard. A few seconds later, she stood up, holding a large, old-looking book.
"What say we make something nice to eat?" Pearl asked, placing the old book on the table.
Pimpernel gave a small smile. when all else fails, food was the answer. And a lot of it.
"You mean, we could make anything we choose?" Pimpernel asked, looking at the book.
Her sister nodded and smiled.
"Anything" she said, sliding the book over to her.
"That you want"
Pimpernel took a deep breath. It had been a long time since she had made anything by herself. The cover of the book was turned and revealed hand written words.
A table of condense page was the first of what seemed hundreds of pages that made up the old book. Stains seemed to cling to every page as Pimpernel flicked though.
Lots of different recipes.
Cheese cake, carrot cake, muffins, flapjacks, cookies and biscuits to name a few. It seemed a difficult choice to make.
A few titles caught her eye. But, as she got nearer to the middle, one stood out.
"What about this one?" she asked, pointing to it.
Pearl looked down and smiled.
"Chocolate cake sounds good" Pearl told her.
Pimpernel smiled as she picked the book up. Without losing the page, she placed it on the work top. Pearl was now looking at the cupboard for some mixing bowls.
She placed them on the work top. Pimpernel walked by and opened the large door of the cellar. The cellar was cooler in temperature then the kitchen was.
Lots of thin paper bags and things unknown to Pimpernel had been placed there. Pimpernel knew exactly where to find everything that she needed to make the cake.
Pimpernel walked out again, carrying a few different things. A bottle of very old and mature whiskey, just for a small kick as they ate it. A bar of strong chocolate was placed near by. Eggs in a separate paper bag. Seven or eight by the weight of it.
A jar of white sugar was placed on the work top as well. But there was one last thing that Pimpernel needed. She needed cream.
"It looks like we're out of it" Pimpernel said, coming out from the cellar.
The possibility of not being able to make the cake slipped away.
"Well, we could ask someone if we could have some" Pearl said.
Pimpernel nodded, agreeing with the idea.
"Do you think Pippin will have some?" she asked.
Pearl thought for a split second.
"Yes, I'm sure he will. He's staying at Merry's house, isn't he?" she asked.
Nelly nodded. Pearl took a deep breath and looked towards the door. The prospect of going outside in the coldness did not seem very attractive.
"Well, I'll see you in a few minutes" Pearl said, walking out of the room.
Pippin was in fact busy. A quill was held in his hand. A book full on more empty pages then full was laying before him. Pip took a deep breath as he came to the end of the sentence.
His eyes ran over the last words.
"Now, what happened next?" he asked himself.
Merry was still working in the other room as a chicken browned and cooked in the oven. The smell, although all around the house, Pippin could not smell it any more.
Just then, as he started to write again, three knocks came from the front door. Pippin's attention was broken. He took a deep breath, wondering who it was.
His seat scraped as he got up. His large feet felt the bitter wind coming from the outside. He walked down the hall way. The study door seemed not to open. Merry was still busy as Pippin walked down to the door.
The large door swung open. Cold air rushed in faster and stronger then ever.
"Pearl?" he asked, feeling his face tingle.
His older sister gave a smile.
"Hello, can I come in?" she asked.
Pippin nodded and smiled, moving out of the way. Pearl came in and felt the warm surround her. The smell of chicken hit her nose, making her hungry.
"I need some cream for the cake me and Pimpernel are making" she told him.
Pippin smiled.
"I'm sure Merry has some, let me just ask him" he answered.
So, Pearl and Pippin walked to the study. Pippin knocked and waited. The door opened and Merry stood there.
"Pippin, what do you want? I'm busy" Merry said.
But this was before he saw Pearl standing there as well.
"Oh" he said, finally spotting her.
"Hello Merry" Pearl said.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
Pearl smiled.
"I need some cream for a cake that me and Pimpernel are making" she explained.
Merry smiled.
"I'm sure that I have some in the cellar" he said, walking out and closing the door quickly behind him.
The three hobbits walked down the hall way to the kitchen. Pippin suddenly saw that he had left the book open on the table. but, before they could say anything, he closed it and held it in his hand.
Merry opened the cellar door and walked in, leaving Pearl and her brother waiting in the kitchen.
"What book are you reading then?" Pearl asked, noticing he was holding one.
Pippin looked down. It was a question that he did not want to answer.
"Oh, well, nothing. I've finished it now anyway" he said as Merry came out.
Merry was now holding what looked like a vase.
"Here you go" he said, holding it out.
"Thank you" Pearl said, taking the heavy jar.
Pippin smiled.
"Well, I better get going, Pimpernel is not in a good mood" she told them.
So, Pearl departed, closing the front door as she went. Pippin looked down at the book.
"I think lunch is ready" said Merry, taking a small towel to protect his hand as he opened the hot oven.
A blast of heat hit him as he looked. The chicken seemed to have browned nicely in the heat. Merry left the oven door open as he went to get another towel to wrap around his hand.
The chicken was then slid out and, with a small bit of difficulty, lifted and placed on the work top. Pippin had now gone out of the room.
He walked down to the room he was staying in. the door was opened to a darker room then the others. Only a few of the candles were alit. The fire was burning in small, red embers now. but still, a small bit of silver smoke snakes up into the brick chimney.
Pippin placed the book on the bed and walked out again, leaving the door ajar this time. The sound of metal on metal echoed down from the kitchen. Merry had not finished lunch yet. Vegetables and gravy needed to be prepared.
Pip smiled as he came in.
"I am very hungry" he said, eyeing the chicken.
"Me too. I've been sitting down in there for a while now" Merry said as he placed a pan on the hot hobs.
But Merry and Pippin were not the only ones eating.
Nearly every hobbit had prepared a large lunch. But there were some who were used to making more food, but couldn't.
Diamond took a deep breath as she sat at the table in the kitchen by herself. Normally, a small puppy would be eating in the same room. Origo was his name, but he had not been seen since the day before. this was because he was on a journey that could cost him and one other creature's life.
Origo was miles away from Hobbiton and the safety of his home. But he did not know it. He was blindly following the orders of a small fairy.
This small fairy was the reason he was there. Ivy was her name and she was fluttering near him.
"No puppy" she said, fluttering after him.
Origo scurried off into the woods. Ivy fluttered quickly after him. He had done this many times before.
"Puppy, come on stay on the path" she said, fluttering before him.
"But, I want to go over this way" he whined and looked to the forest.
Everything was more interesting then before. Ivy seemed to repeat herself every five minutes. But she could not complain. After all, it was her fault.
A small distance away, a creature was tracking the two wonders. This creature was old and wise. But also small and fluffy. It was another puppy. Unlike Origo, this was a girl. And, unlike Origo, she knew what direction they were going.
Abira had been following them for a few hours. But neither Origo or Ivy knew that they were being followed. Abira hid behind a tree as she came close to the two of them.
The small puppy peered around the side of the tree, fearing that Origo might see her again. Abira's choice was to stay back and follow them from a distance. She did not want to reveal that she had indeed intended to follow.
The sun was now lowering in the western half of the sky. Clouds seemed to gather as the wind picked up. Origo and Ivy had been travelling for many hours now. but they were still not at the Great East Road.
Ori gave a small yawn, looking very tired now. his paws were wet and his fur was not keeping in the heat as well as it should.
"I need a rest" he whimpered, hanging his head.
Ivy, on the other hand, needed no rest.
"Just a little further pup" she said, fluttering near him.
Her fragile wings had been working nearly all day. the wind had been a constant struggle for her, but she showed little sign of its power.
Abira ran from tree to tree, never keeping them out of her sight for more then a few seconds. It was then that Ivy stopped and fluttered in midair for a few seconds. Abira watched, very curious to know what they were talking about.
After what seemed a minute, Origo and Ivy went off of the small path. Abira watched them as they walked into the forest. The two of them were blocked out by every passing tree.
A few times, they stopped, obviously looking for something. But it wasn't long until they found what they were looking for. They were now out of view from Abira. She waited where she could see for a few minutes.
"Where are they?" she asked, looking around.
Abira did not know that the two of them had actually found a place to stay for a while. Origo seemed more trusting of Ivy. The green fairy fluttered into the empty chamber. Like before, Ivy had to check weather it was safe or not.
The fox den was smaller and full of roots from the tree just a few meters away. But the chamber was much warmer. The light from the fairy seemed to cover nearly every inch of the chamber.
The wind did not seem to penetrate this den like the other. In fact, both Ivy and Origo were happier here then in the other den.
Neither of them knew that another small pup was near by. But Abira was too scared to enter the den and make her presents known.
Abira yawned as she laid down on a dry patch of ground. She rested her head on her fluffy paws. All she could do now was wait until they re-emerge from the ground.
Tiredness had gotten the better of Origo as Ivy sat near by. She looked as the puppy's eyes slowly shut. She gave a small smile. but she couldn't help thinking of Abira. A few times, she wished that she had run after her. But Origo was more needy.
"And she's probably back at home already"
Hours past as Origo slept. Abira too managed to have some sleep. But not much. The sun was creeping down to the west. The sun did not travel high in the sky this time of year. The shortest day of the year had been a few weeks back.
This was a sign that winter had fully set on the people and creatures of the land. coldness was clinging to the ground. The wind was stronger and colder then ever before.
Pimpernel and her sister were sitting at a table.
"Well, I better see how the cake is getting on" Pearl said.
Pearl was the one that had to place the cake in the oven. Pimpernel was still not confident around fire. And she had a good reason.
Pearl got up from her seat and walked over to oven. She had been sitting facing the fire. Pimpernel was facing away. Even the slightest crackle would make her scared. But she did not show many signs of it coming though.
Pearl opened up the oven. Pimpernel did not even look back. Inside, a hot baking trey. A cake had been cooking for about an hour now and Pearl took it out.
The surface of the cake was now a lovely colour. Pearl smiled as she placed it on the side.
"It's looking fantastic" Pearl said, smiling broadly.
Pearl then remembered what she had seen a few hours before.
"Pimpernel" she said, trying to find the right words.
"When I went to get the cream, I noticed that Pippin was reading a book" she said.
Pimpernel did not seem to find this as strange as her sister did.
"So, he might just be reading" she said, taking a deep breath.
Pearl got out a large cutting knife.
"Pimpernel, we both know Pippin well, he hardly reads the books that he gets for Yule and his birthday!"
Pimpernel swayed in opinion. But did not change her mind.
"I still think he only wants to read" she said.
Pearl got out two plates out and placed them on the work top near by. The cake was cut into. Eight pieces altogether. Two of those eight were placed on the plates.
Pearl turned and smiled as placed the two plates down. The slices were bigger then normal. the cake was still very warm as two spoons were placed out as well.
Pimpernel smiled as she took her spoon.
"This looks great" she said, scooping a bit of the cake onto the spoon.
Pearl did the same and they both ate. The cake was at the right temperature and taste for the two girls as they ate. Pearl seemed to eat hers quicker then her sibling.
It took them a few minutes to eat. Pimpernel was still hungry as she eyed another piece. But she had to wait. Pearl finished a few minutes later. Her plate was cleaned of cake.
"I could have another piece of that" she said, a sitting back.
A smug smile came over her as she felt full. But that did not mean that the food would be wasted. In fact, a piece of cake was placed on each plate.
The two girls yet again started to eat. Pimpernel's mind, although she was full up and happier then normal, could not help thinking of her small puppy. Abira's whereabouts were still unknown.
Hours continued to pass as lunch did. Origo was sleeping gently in a dirty and abandoned fox den. A small fairy sat by him. the sun outside was slowly sinking to the western horizon.
But Origo's day had stopped. His small chest was rising and falling quite quickly as he slept. Ivy smiled as she watched him. his little eyes were closed. A few times, he gave a small whimper, but did not wake up.
Outside, Abira was shivering. Her fur was wet and the temperature did not make matters any better. She was whimpering. She was very tired indeed.
The level of light was now lowering, making long shadows of the trees. For some creatures, the night would be the worst time of year. Birds flew in all directions. Some fluttered and landed on branches near by.
Others had their own nests to get to. And some summer birds were not seen at all. Their songs unheard until the warmth of summer.
Lunch past away as the time wore on. Three o'clock was turned slowly into four as the sun continued to sink. There seemed only to be an hour of sun light left.
Abira continued to lay there, she couldn't move now. The coldness was effecting her the most. Her fur, although warm and fluffy, did not seem to help her much.
Four chimes turned into five as a few hobbits were preparing for a very special occasion.
"Fredegar, please will you come?" asked a hobbit standing there.
She was a little bit older then Fredegar was. For this was Estella Bolger. Estella was wearing a nice dress. Her hair was still curly, but it seemed to have been brushed.
But there was no answer from the large hobbit, laying on the bed. Estella stood there, hoping to get an answer.
"Fredegar?" she asked.
Her younger brother took a deep breath, but still did move or say a word. Sounds echoed out from the hall way as the door slowly opened.
"Estella?" a voice asked.
Estella looked around. her mother was standing there. The girl looked around.
"Coming" she said.
Estella took one last look at her brother and then left the room. the door was closed behind her.
"He's not coming" she said sadly.
Rosamunda placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder.
"He'll be fine" she said.
Estella gave a small smile.
"They'll be waiting, come on" Rosamunda said.
Nervous were getting to Estella now. She knew that this would be the final send off for her father. The two of them got their coats on and buttoned up.
The large front door was opened. A cold blast of air rushed in as the two of them walked out. Fredegar, who had been laying on his bed, had not gotten up.
He opened the door to hear the other door click shut. The house was usually quiet. A strange feeling of being watched from every angle. The large bedroom door was quickly shut. The feeling of being watched instantly went away.
The clock on the wall chimed six times as Pippin sat there, at the kitchen table. he was still writing in his book. Page after page had been filled with his hand writing.
"There" he said, lifting the quill off of the paper.
Pippin smiled as he placed the quill down on the table. Pip flicked though to the first pages. He had left them blank.
"Now" he said to himself, looking at the blank pages before him.
"What should I call it?" he asked himself.
Just then, sounds came from the corridor. Pippin looked over at the door and knew exactly who it was. The book was then closed and Pippin stood up.
Merry came in. he had a smile on his face.
"What would you like for dinner?" he asked.
Pippin took a deep breath.
"Just the normal roast chicken and roast potatoes" he answered.
Merry smiled and nodded. His eyes darted to the book that Pippin was holding.
"Are you writing a book as well?" Merry asked, looking from Pippin to the book.
Pippin looked down at the book he was holding.
"It's just a little thing I'm working on" he told Merry.
"Could I read it?" he asked.
"No" Pippin said rather sharply.
Merry was confused.
"Why not?" he asked, wondering why his friend was being so protective over it.
"Because its not for you" Pippin said.
There was an awkward silence between them. The matter of the book had instantly gone sour.
"I best be getting on with dinner then" Merry said after what seemed like a minute or two.
Pippin took a deep draw of air and, without saying another word, walked out of the room.
Rosamunda and Estella were now standing outside in the freezing cold. Both were shivering. A wooden coffin lay at the side of a small hole. Both girls were in thought as four other hobbits stood by.
"Are you ready?" asked one of them.
Rosamunda broke her eye contact with the coffin. She nodded and took a deep breath. A tear ran down Estella's face.
"He should be here" Estella said.
Rosamunda looked at her daughter.
"Of all the times that we needed him here, he's not"
"He'll come though it" Rosamunda said.
Estella's gaze was broken as she looked at her mother. The two of them stood there and looked at each other for a few seconds.
"He'll be himself, just give it time" she said.
The wind blew around them as the four hobbits lifted the coffin and slowly lowered the coffin into the whole. The sunlight was now going down as flaming torches were lit around them.
The four hobbits placed the coffin in the bottom. The two long pieces of rope were taken from underneath the coffin.
There were four spades standing in the wet dirt. The four hobbits stood there.
"It's time" Rosamunda said.
Estella took a deep breath. She knew what she had to do. So, the two of them, lit by the flickering candles, walked forward.
The two of them walked to the edge of the whole. The outline of the coffin could hardly be picked up by them now. the clouds above were taking on many different colours.
Birds had fallen increasingly quiet as the sun set. Rosamunda squatted down and grabbed a handful of sticky dirt. She looked down. Thoughts were running around her head. But they mostly consisted of the future.
There seemed to be a strange silence as Estella watched her mother stand up again. Estella took a deep breath. She copied her mother as she squatted down. Estella dug her hands deep into the soil.
She looked down at the coffin before standing up again. Her eyes were fixed on the dark abyss that lay before her. The sky above was turning from a pale blue in the west, to a dark, inky blue in the east.
The first few points of light in the sky started to appear. The stars twinkled as more and more revealed themselves from behind the cover of sunlight.
Rosamunda suddenly held out her hand and dropped the soil into the hole. The dirt hit the top of the coffin. Rosamunda stood there for a few seconds before lowering her hand.
Estella knew now what to do. She raised her hand and did the exact same as her mother had just done. There was a few seconds of silence between them.
The four hobbits that were standing on the other side seemed to spring into life. They picked up their spades. Estella watched as the four hobbits started to fill in the hole. Estella sniffed a few times due to the coldness of the air around her.
"Come on" Rosamunda said, placing a hand on her daughters shoulder.
"Lets go home"
Estella looked around and gave a small smile. The two of them then turned and walked away. Estella felt different somehow. She felt like her father knew how much she cared for him.
A smile came over her as the two of them walked back home. The large front door came into view. There seemed to be a flickering candle in one of the rooms. It was Fredegar's room.
The large door was then opened. Both girls made their way in without a word. The door was then shut again. Estella unbuttoned her coat. Her thoughts were still back to her father as she hung it up on the hook. Her mother did the same.
"I think an early night is best" Rosamunda said as she walked behind.
Estella did not seem to realise how tired she actually was until her mother said that. A yawn came over her as she made her way to the kitchen.
"But food will come first" she told herself.
Estella got out a loaf of bread. It would seem someone had helped themselves to a few slices already. But that did not matter. Estella got out a bread knife and closed the draw again.
The darkness and coldness were now locked in a dark and invisible battle over the land. the coldness tried harder then ever to claim victims for its own.
The coldness was nearly conquering the life of one small creature caught in the depth of night. Abira was still fighting off the cold. But she was not laying down in the snow any more. Her patients had paid off as she saw a green glow come from behind the tree.
For a moment, she did not realise what was going on. The coldness had slowed down both of the puppies. Abira made sure that she could see the green light of the fairy at all times.
A few times, Abira seemed to get too close to them for comfort. So, she stopped, hiding behind a near by tree to make sure that she was out of view.
Darkness had now swallowed up the landscape around them. Dark pillars of trees scattered the landscape. Light from any being was rare. Yet, there were one or two dots moving across the lands. They were attached to carts that had travelled mile after mile in the stinging coldness of winter.
But the stinging coldness had been replaced with warmth in the Gamgee household. Elanor was laying on her bed. Tiredness was now getting to her after her large dinner a few hours before.
Just then, a knock came at her door.
"Come in" she said, looking over at it.
The door then opened. It was her mother. For some reason, Elanor knew exactly what it was about.
"Elanor, did you give me your sheets this morning?" Rosie asked.
Elanor put on a confused expression.
"Of course I did, mummy" she answered.
Rosie now had the confused expression on her face as well.
"Oh, that's funny. I couldn't find it after I washed them" Rosie told her daughter.
Elanor gave a quick glance to the closet. Rosie seemed to become very interested in this quick glance. The truth that her daughter had just told her did not quiet seem truthful.
"Elanor, are you hiding something?" Rosie asked.
Elanor was now very worried. Her mother was on the verge of finding out what had happened. Elanor took a deep breath and looked away.
"Elanor, where is the sheet?" Rosie demanded.
Her daughter did not seem to want to talk anymore.
"Elanor, do you want to be grounded?" Rosie asked.
"No, please don't!" Elanor said, sitting up and getting off of the bed.
"Then get the sheet for me" Rosie told her.
Elanor looked over at closet again and took a deep breath. She then walked over to it and opened the door. Rosie waited where she was. The door to the closet opened. It took Elanor just a few seconds to grab the ripped sheet and come out again. she was holding a white sheet.
"Sorry" she said, standing in front of her mother.
Rosie took it and opened it up. A large rip could be seen going almost to the middle.
"How did this happen?" she asked.
Elanor knew what she was about to say would be believable.
"It was Merry's fault really, he was tugging on the other end and then it ripped" Elanor said.
Her voice had a hint of sorrow in it.
"Merry's fault?" asked Rosie.
She shook her head.
"I have not raised my children to lie" Rosie said.
"But its…"
Elanor was interrupted.
"No buts, your grounded starting tomorrow" Rosie said.
"But…!"
"No argument Elanor, I want you to get ready for bed now" her mother told her.
Without another word, Rosie turned, walked out of the room and shut the door. Elanor found it really unfair that she had been grounded.
"Just because I'm the oldest" she said, getting on the bed and laying on it.
Elanor laid there and mumbled to herself. She could hear her mother and father talking down in the kitchen.
"Talking about me" she said angrily under her breath.
A few minutes later, the door opened again. This time, it was her father.
"Elanor, get ready for bed now" he said.
Elanor took a deep breath and quickly got up from the bed. Sam left the door wide open. Elanor walked out and straight to the bathroom. The door was closed behind her.
A bowl of water was poured. Elanor rubbed the soap on her hands and face. She took the flannel and dunked it in the warm water. the flannel was then rinsed and wiped over her face.
After another minute or two, the plug was pulled and the water drained away. Elanor then dried her face on the warm towel.
The door was then opened again and she walked out. Her mother and father were in the kitchen. Sam was still washing dishes up that they had had for dinner and pudding.
A large bowl of water had been poured. Sam took out a plate. Drips fell back into the dirty water.
"Could I have drink of water please?" Elanor asked.
Rosie took a deep breath and walked towards the cupboards. She opened it and got out a glass cup out. she then walked over to the tap.
Sam moved out of the way so that Rosie could use the tap. The water was turned on and the glass was filled.
"There you go" Rosie said.
Elanor gave a small smile.
"Thank you" she said.
The young girl took a sip and smiled.
"Go to bed now, Elanor" said Sam, drying his hands.
The bowl of water was slowly draining.
"But, its still early" Elanor pointed out.
She looked over at the clock, then back at her mother and father.
"Go to bed now, Elanor" repeated Sam.
Elanor took a deep breath and turned around. She then walked out of the room and down the corridor. Elanor yawned as she walked over to her bed side table and placed the glass there. She gave a small smile and turned around.
"Bed time I think now, horsey" she said.
The door was closed with a gentle click. Elanor yawned yet again as she walked to her bed. The large duvet was lifted up and she slid inside.
The duvet was then drawn over the young girl as she rested her head on the large pillow. The door then opened and her father walked in. He was holding a small metal cone on what looked like a brass stick. Sam smiled and placed the cone on the first candle.
The flame was then killed. A gentle wisp of silver smoke snaked upwards and dissolved into the air. Sam did this a few more times. Only two candles, by the door, were left flickering.
Sam smiled at his oldest daughter.
"Have a good sleep now" he said and kissed her on the forehead.
"Tell mummy I'm sorry" she said.
Sam gave a sympathetic smile.
"Don't worry about it, your mother is just tired" he said.
There was a moment of silence.
"See you in the morning" Sam said and turned.
"Good night, daddy" Elanor called after.
Sam looked back and gave a small smile before shutting the door. Elanor smiled and looked towards the ceiling. She hoped that her mother would change her mind in the morning. But that was being hopeful.
Elanor fell quickly to sleep as she laid there. Her eyes slowly closed. The land of dreams projected on her eye lids as the hours past.
