A/N: Sorry this took forever to upload! It took me a really long time to write.. I was going to post Part II notes but decided I didn't need to. Which is a good thing, I guess. ::grins:: I had to write a huge literary analysis on LOTR before I could even think about working on this thing, and then when I got to work on it I faced a bit of writer's block... but I'm through it, and from here it's all easy. I know exactly what happens and when. Yippee! There's another note at the end, so.. yeah. Read! Enjoy! REVIEW! The review button is your friiiiiend. It enjoyyyys to be uuuused ;)






Forgotten Roads
by Ani Ledger




[Chapter Nine]

I reached Long Cleeve the next day by luncheon. I barely stopped for the night--I rested for perhaps two hours at the most. I couldn't sleep. I wanted to get home, and it was rather scary in the middle of the night, all alone. I wondered why it hadn't occured to me to bring Pippin along. I wished I had. My family wouldn't mind--they would love him. And I wouldn't have had to stay all alone...

I called, reaching our house.

Our brother, Tom, came to the door. He hugged me. I hadn't seen him in over a year, because he lived out in Nobottle with his wife and children. How are you, Dima? he asked me, calling me by his baby name for me. Tom was ten years older than me, and when I was a baby he started calling me Dima. Rosemary had called me Dima also, before she could pronounce Diamond, but she'd grown out of it. Tom had always called me Dima, though. He was my favorite brother... our oldest brother was fifteen years older than me and had moved out by the time he turned thirty-three.

I'm okay. Kind of shocked by the news... how's Mum? I asked, following him into the kitchen.

She's sleeping now, he said. She will be glad you're here. You can go in and see her if you'd like, or you can wait until she wakes up.

I'll wait, I said, sitting down. Is Rosemary around?

She came into the room, running to me. You're back! she cried. I was worried you wouldn't come.

Of course I came back, I said. I just got your letter yesterday... Lily called me in, and she was crying, so I knew something had to be terribly wrong. I sighed.

Tom nodded, and asked, How is Lily?

She is well... Living with her in Buckland has been wonderful. I love Buckland so much. The river, and the people...

And Pippin... Rosemary grinned.

Who's Pippin? Tom asked.

He's--a friend, I replied, blushing.

Rosemary giggled and whispered something to Tom. I turned even brighter red when Tom laughed and said, My little sister is growing up!

I glared at Rosemary, and then laughed. He's wonderful, Tom. I should've brought him here to meet you all--I don't know why I didn't think to.

Next time, Rosemary suggested. I want to meet him!

Where is Father? I asked, changing the subject.

He's in with Mum, Rosemary said. And Daisy is outside with a friend. I'm sure she'll be excited to see you.

We talked for several more minutes, and Father came into the kitchen. She is awake, he said, and saw me at the table. You're back. He didn't sound surprised, or happy to see me. He sounded tired, old. I rose from my seat and hugged him. It was awkward, stiff. He didn't seem to want to see me.

I glanced back at Rosemary and Tom. Tom nodded to me, and I made my way back to Mum's bedroom.

I said softly. The sunlight streamed in through her bedroom window. Patterns of light danced on her bedcovers as she turned to look at me. She looked pale, and older as Father had seemed. Her eyes shone and she smiled weakly.

she replied, and I came to sit beside her on the edge of the bed. I missed you, Diamond.



Of course. She managed a weak chuckle, and I took her hand.

When--when did you--get sick? I stuttered.

About a month ago... we saw doctors, but they couldn't do anything. She continued to smile, and I couldn't understand why. She had tears in her eyes. It's my time, dear Diamond, she said in her soft voice. There's nothing they can do, because it's just time. I'm just glad you were able to return home again... I am so happy you are here.

Tears filled my eyes and I leaned over to hug my mother's tiny, frail body. She hugged me back as best as she could. You will stay here, for a while?

Of course. I won't leave until--until-- I didn't know how to end my sentence. The tears spilled over and onto Mum's shoulder.

she said, touching my hair. Don't cry, Diamond. Please. Don't cry for me. I missed you, and you are here now. I don't want this time to be filled with grief.

I sat up and looked my mother in the eye. She still had the the same firm look, the same conviction in her eyes. Do not grieve, Diamond, because I am still here, and I am happy. She wasn't lying. I could see the joy in her face. The smile on her lips was not a front. It was real. What happened to the smiling girl who left for Buckland months ago?

I managed to smile, and she touched my chin. That's my girl. Now, tell me everything about Buckland, and about this Pippin Rosemary has told me about.

I turned bright red again. I squeaked. I sighed and began my story. I told her about Lily, and Merry, and about Pippin. I told her about the night on the hill in the summer before I returned home to Long Cleeve, and about our snow fight. I told her everything up to when Pippin returned from Hobbiton and I left him.

You certainly do seem to like this lad, Mum said, chuckling. You are in love.

I am, Mum. I really do love him.

Do you suppose you'll marry him?

It was a thought that had never crossed my mind. I--I don't know, Mum. I think I still have a while to worry about getting married.

Yes, but I don't. She paused, and sighed. I always hoped to live to see my oldest girl marry... but I will not. She looked sad for a moment. Are you hungry? she asked, changing the subject. Because I am, for a change. Help me to the kitchen, and we'll find have luncheon.

--

I sat in my room at Merry's house, feeling absolutely miserable. Diamond had gone a week and a half ago. Her mother was dying. There was nothing I could do for her. I should've gone with her. She left at sunset--who knows how long she was on the road. I hoped she'd gotten some rest, and some food, and back home in one piece.

Merry came into my room and leaned in the doorway. Lily told me about Diamond's mum, he said. You didn't tell Diamond about leaving, did you?

I shook my head. I wanted to, but I couldn't. For obvious reasons.

Maybe she'll be back before we leave, he said.

I hope so. I'll write her a letter or something if not... I sighed. I wanted to see her again before we left. I hoped we wouldn't leave for a long time, in order to give her time to return.

Speaking of letters, one arrived for you. It's from Long Cleeve, but it doesn't look like Diamond's handwriting. He handed me an envelope. The writing was hard to read, and somewhat messy. Merry left the room to let me read it.

Dear Peregrin,
or Pippin, as I understand you prefer to be called. My daughter has told me much about you. I can tell she has enjoyed her time with you and her cousin in Buckland. You are her favorite topic of coversation around our house now, and when your name is mentioned she positively glows. She loves you, Pippin, and I do hope you know that. Diamond is my oldest daughter. Part of me, as a mother, wants her to remain my precious baby girl for ever. But I know she is growing up, and that she wants independence. She will want to start a family of her own some day. I know that that time seems quite far off. It is not. I remember being young and in love. Diamond's father was the first lad I loved, and I married him. We had five children, and we have seen two of them marry and move out. Allowing Diamond to leave Long Cleeve to live in Buckland has been a very hard decision but I know it was the right one. You seem to be everything Diamond has ever wished for, and for that I am grateful. I hope that you care about Diamond as much as she cares about you. I always hoped to see my oldest daughter marry, but to see her growing up and happy has been enough for me. Please take care of her for me, Pippin. She needs you more than either of you realize, and I have a feeling you need her too.

The letter was unsigned. I had tears on my face by the time I was finished with it. To receive such kind words from a woman who I'd never really met--well, it was something completely amazing to me. It made me miss Diamond even more.

---

Late in June, I was sitting outside the house with Mum. She was no better, and perhaps even weaker than ever. It was a miracle she was still alive. Rosemary came around the house. Rosemary came around to the back of the house holding a letter. This came for you, Diamond, she said, smiling. It's from Buckland.

I grinned and jumped up to take the letter from her. It's from Pippin, I told Mum, opening the envalope.

She smiled and closed her eyes, turning her face up to the warm summer sun. It has been some time since you heard from him, hasn't it? she asked.

It has. Pippin isn't the biggest letter writer there ever was, I said, unfolding the letter. Dear Diamond, I read aloud to Mum. It's been a year since you first came to Buckland. I was going to try to come up to Long Cleeve to see you sometime this summer, but there's a lot going on here. And besides, you know me, I'd probably get lost on the way. So I am writing to you instead. I'm in Hobbiton right now, visiting with Frodo again. We've been out here a lot lately as Merry has business with Sam Gamgee. How is your mum? She sent me a very nice letter and I wanted to write her back but I couldn't find the words. Mum smiled, and I stopped reading. Mum, I didn't know you wrote to Pippin. What did you say?

I told him that you talk about him nonstop, she said. And that it was difficult to let you move out to Buckland, but I'm glad it was so you could spend more time with him. I told him he'd better be good to you, because-- she started coughing, and I poured her a glass of water from the pitcher that was on the picnictable. She sighed.

I'm glad you wrote to him, Mum, I smiled. And I'm glad he wrote back. Here, I'll finish reading the letter. So please tell your Mum that I very much appreciated her letter, and that I promise to do all that she told me. At this, Mum opened her eyes and smiled widely at me at some secret. What did you tell him, Mum?

To take good care of you, she said simply. Go on.

I gave her a look, and finished reading. The summer has been fairly boring, aside from our now common trips to Hobbiton. I wish you were here with us. I'll try to write again soon, if I can find anything more to write about. I think that this is the longest letter I've ever written. I laughed. Please write back to me, and perhaps I'll write sooner. I love you, Diamond, and I can't wait to see you again.

Mum was still smiling.

I do miss him, so much, I said softly.

Do you want to go back? she asked.

Yes--but I can't leave you now. I can't. I took her hand. This past month has been wonderful for me, Mum, because I did miss you while I was in Buckland. And if I go back now--I may never see you again.

Mum nodded. I am glad for that. I am so glad you came back home. I love you, my daughter, and I know you love Pippin also but I'm glad you still care about your old Mum. She squeezed my hand. I don't want to see you leave.

Neither do I, I replied in a whisper.



A/N: I really like Diamond's mum. I like it when I create a character like her. She's cool. Rosemary's cool too, I want to write a ficlet about her! And Lily.. Lily's my next project, so stay tuned for that. Ummm.. yes, again, please review, because it really boosts my self esteem ^_^ I love getting praise for my writing, haha. And then I blush and get all embarassed, dance around the kitchen, and yell to my mom: I GOT A NEW REVIEW! Often, if it's good, I read it aloud, so you can feel special too, if you review!! =D I am such a dork XP oh well. I'll have chapter ten up as soon as it's written!

-Ani