A/N: I have an extensive notes section written already.. so this is basically an author's note saying that I have author's notes, that I'll probably post at the end. Because they're long and boring, and mostly rambly stuff that no one cares about anyway. Hehe.

Forgotten Roads
by Ani Ledger

[Chapter Two]

I ran through the forest of corn. I knew I shouldn't have come, I knew I'd be caught. And I'm not even the one wreaking havoc! I didn't even know what I was doing... I'd seen someone, who I'd assumed was Peregrin, but I lost his trail soon after I entered the cornfield. And now I was being chased down, and of course I hadn't even found him yet.

I ran as fast as my feet would carry me, trying to remember which way I'd come from. Where was the road? I was hopelessly lost, and was going to be eaten alive by the farmer's dogs--all of which sounded huge.

Before I could stop myself, I ran straight into someone--a someone with his arms full of vegetables.

Who are you? he cried, his brown curls falling in his eyes.

Who am I?! Who are you?! I replied. The dogs were going to catch up. It was only a matter of seconds now, I was sure of it.

I'm Pippin Took, he said angrily, and you've just caused me to lose my dinner. He pointed to the vegetables he'd dropped when I ran into him. Come on. He grabs my hand and we ran off. We ran about twenty feet before we reached the road.

---

I ran--dragging the girl behind me--until we reached the edge of the farm, and into the woods. We ducked behind a fallen tree.

You're Peregrin Took? she asked, breathlessly.

I corrected her. No one calls me Peregrin. And who are you?

My name is Diamond. Lily--my cousin--sent me to find you while she and Merry and Pervinca prepared afternoon tea. It's not dinnertime, yet, so I didn't cause you to lose your dinner, just--

I quieted her, putting my hand over her mouth. The dogs were to the edge of the farm, and I could hear Farmer Maggot talking to them. We should probably hide out here for a little while, I suggested. Maggot's going to be on the lookout for either me or Merry for a while.

Diamond nodded. I turned to face her, and was taken aback for a moment at how pretty she was. Her dark reddish blonde hair was pulled back from her face, and she had dark brown eyes that were cheerful and smiling, even though she was out of breath and probably terrified. She was shorter than me, I noticed when we were running, and thin, for a hobbit. She was probably several years younger than me... How old are you? I asked.

she replied, more shyly than she'd sounded moments ago. She looked up at me for a moment, and I smiled. I realized I was still holding her hand, from when we were running. She obviously noticed too, and, biting her lip, she removed her hand from mine and looked away from me.

I covered up the awkward moment. Are you hungry? I managed to save some carrots and... I smiled, realizing what else I'd stuffed into my bag at the last moment. ...and some mushrooms.

She looked back up. I am hungry, actually, she said, helping herself to a mushroom. She smiled again, and we ate in silence.

---

The sun was beginning to go down by the time we decided to make our way back to town. We had sat and talked, and eaten Pippin's stolen vegetables for a while, sitting behind the fallen tree; I'd lost track of time. We waited until the dogs were surely gone, and could've left then but decided against it.

While we were talking, I couldn't help but find that I really liked Pippin. He was funny, he was nice, and he was very easy to talk to. We shared stories, his more amusing and entertaining than mine, but he seemed to be interested in what I had to say. More than once our eyes had met, and one of us always quickly looked away. Usually when I was alone with a lad I'd feel uneasy and not know what to say, but I found that with Pippin, I didn't have any of that nervousness, aside from when we first met. I was comfortable, and he seemed to be too.

I could just imagine what Lily would say. She'd smile and tease me, and ruffle my hair and threaten to say something to Pippin, or to Merry. She'd say Diamond fancies Pippin! just as I'd tease her for fancying Merry. I decided not to tell her right away.

I wonder if Lily's worried yet, I mused. I told her I wouldn't get lost, but...

Well, we should probably make our way back. Even if your cousin isn't worried, my sister definitely is. He smiled, and I could tell he probably loved driving his older sisters crazy. He stood, and reached his hand down to help me up. I smiled up at him for a moment, noticing for the first time how much taller than me he was. I took his hand and he pulled me to my feet. We stood facing each other for a moment, my hand still in his. The moment was threatening to become weird again and my heart was pounding. Before I knew what was happening, Pippin had taken a step closer to me, and was leaning down to kiss me.

I was scared out of my mind--I'd never been kissed before. His lips barely brushed mine when I heard, Diamond! Diamond, where are you?

I whirled around, hearing Lily's voice. She appeared up the road a moment later, and ran toward Pippin and me. Where have you two been? Pervinca and I were worried sick! she cried.

I held my breath, knowing that I was blushing furiously. Pippin and I... we were just talking. We...

It's my fault, Lily, Pippin said, much more calmly than I had stuttered. Diamond came to look for me, and Farmer Maggot heard us and we got chased away. We stayed here and hid for a while, and I didn't feel like going back into town so we stayed here for a while. We completely lost track of time--

It's all right, Pippin, Lily said, sounding less frantic. I was just worried that Diamond got lost, is all. But since everything is fine, why don't we head back home and get some supper? You missed afternoon tea, and we were preparing supper when I came out to find you. Lily looked at me for a moment, and seeing that my face was probably still bright red, smiled widely. I'm going to head back now... hurry along, supper will be ready soon and we all know how much Pippin hates missing meals. She winked, and hurried back up the road, leaving us behind to follow at our own pace.

I stood trembling for a moment, letting out the breath that I'd been holding. I smiled nervously, saying, I knew she'd get worried.

It's all right, Pippin said. She's not angry, after all.

I was grateful for that. No, she isn't. I sighed and started to walk up out to the road. I wished Lily hadn't appeared at that very moment, right when I was about to get my first kiss. I'd really wanted Pippin to kiss me, too. I was really starting to like him, and I'd only known him a few hours.

Hey, wait up, he said, and I heard him hurrying after me. I bit my lip and stared at the ground while we walked. Are you okay? he asked. After Lily left, you got all shy again. What's wrong?

I said, trying to sound convincing. Trying to sound not disappointed.

It must be something, Pippin said, trying to pry and answer out of me. Come on, what is it?

It's nothing, I insisted again. I didn't look at him. I didn't want to sound desperate or anything. I sighed again, and we continued walking, again in an awkward silence.



A/N #2: Awww. Poor Diamond. I'm not done with chapter three as of yet (yet=now=April 15th) but it will be up soon. Leave me reviews, I THRIVE off of them. Bwahaha.