"Through the Old Forest, why that road? Why didn't they wait for us? One more day wouldn't have been too much a delay would it?" said Diamond frantically, now sitting inside Crickhollow with Fatty.
"They were pursued by Black Riders on the way here. They had no other choice but to leave. That, and the fact that you would have most likely not agreed to stay behind if you arrived," replied Fatty.
Estella was sitting with a dazed look on her face, looking at her ring. "Now I will never get to wear this ring on the right hand," she muttered to herself. "And if they don't make it, he will never know I would have married him in an instant."
"Yes he will," said Diamond suddenly, surprising everyone in the room. "Do what I did. Write him a letter, explaining how you accepted the proposal, and then even if they don't return your thoughts and intentions will be written down."
"It's not the same," said Estella sadly.
"Just do it!" said Diamond sharply. She looked rather worried, and did quite confused.
"Alright, calm yourself I will write it. Get me some parchment," said Estella, a bit taken back. Chrysie walked into the other room and came back with several rolls of parchment.
"Here," she said, handing it to Estella with a quill pen.
Estella moved away from the others and wrote her letter, occasionally stopping to think. Diamond was pacing the floor, thinking and muttering to herself. When Estella finished the letter she folded it up saying, "I will keep this under my pillow until their return."
The three left Fatty to himself, and set out for Estella's house. Diamond, however, departed saying she needed to do something at home. She ran along the path running over her plan in her mind. "I will find them," she said. "And I will give Merry Estella's letter.and find Pippin." She added as an afterthought.
She walked through her door, looking over her house so that she would remember it. She went to her room and packed spare clothes and other things that she would need on her journey through the Old Forest. Then she went to her sisters, telling them that she was going on a trip with Merry and Pippin to the West Farthing. By the time she was finished with her packing night had fallen and she crept silently to Estella's house. She came silently in through the back door and stole into Estella's room. Lifting up the pillow ever so gently Diamond took Estella's letter and replaced it with one she had written explaining where she had gone.
"Goodbye my friend," she whispered silently, as she ran back to her own house. She dared not risk the Old Forest alone in the dark, and decided to wait for morning.
When dawn broke Diamond went out to the stables and packed up her favorite pony, Perry. And so she departed that morn to face the perils of the Old Forest alone.
When Pippin awoke the next morning he was quite unnerved. That day they were to leave Tom Bombadil's and travel through the Barrow-downs. Of all the places they had been so far, the Barrow-downs was the one place that Pippin feared most of all. On top of everything he missed Diamond terribly. Just then Merry entered the room.
"It is about time to go, Pippin," he said.
"I am coming," Pippin responded lifelessly. Merry eyed him suspiciously.
"You are thinking about her again, are you not?"
"Alas yes. I fear I cannot simply forget. With each step I take farther from the Shire the pain grows stronger. I wish she were not going to marry Horro, but I fear it is too late. I cannot help but feel that it was my fault she accepted his proposal."
"It is alright Pippin. All hope is not yet lost. We are traveling only to Rivendell, and should be back in a two fortnights at most. There will be time to win her back." Merry looked compassionately at Pippin, for he hated to see his friend suffer so.
"There must be something I can do," thought Merry to himself. Just then Frodo beckoned for them to come out, and so he put the thought out of his head for the time. Merry and Pippin got up and joined the others outside the house. The road through the Barrow-downs was both long and perilous. Fear was displayed on all of their faces as they prepared to leave the house of Tom Bombadil.
Diamond had been lost for some time now. The paths had simply disappeared before her, and the trees constantly barred her way. She was not fully confident in which paths to take, for Merry was the only one of them who had ever entered the Old Forest more than once.
The day wore on and still Diamond saw no signs of a path. She could not return to the Shire, for she did not know how to go back. Her only choice was to continue and attempt to find some type of path.
"Perhaps I was foolish to follow alone," said Diamond sadly, turning the pony in all directions. As she looked up to see the position of the sun, she saw a most alarming sight. Smoke was floating above the tops of the trees. With new hope Diamond turned and began to follow the trail of smoke.
After a short time Diamond came to a clearing, and in the clearing was a small house. There was smoke rising from the chimney, and light shone out the windows. The house did not look unfriendly at all, so she slowly approached. Dismounting from her pony Diamond walked up to the door and knocked sharply. When the door opened, there stood a beautiful elf-maiden. She wore a green gown, with a beautiful golden belt shaped as if it were a chain of flag-lilies. A crown of beautifully woven lilies sat upon her head.
"Another Halfling," said the maiden. "What business have you in these parts young one?"
"I am searching for friends of mine, whom I believe may have passed here. By chance have you seen them?" Diamond replied eagerly.
"Four Hobbits departed from here just this morning. Bound for Bree I believe. Are the ones you speak of Shire-folk as yourself?"
"Yes, my friends are from the Shire. It lightens my heart to hear that my search is fruitful at last."
"I wish them well, for their quest is mighty and noble."
"How would you know of their quest?" Diamond asked, quite surprised.
"The elf Gildor has come and brought us the news of Frodo's flight. We were expecting him long before he arrived. When the company finally arrived, they informed us of the things we had not yet heard."
"How odd it is to find one who also knows of the quest to Rivendell, and in the middle of the Old Forest nonetheless," said Diamond.
"Tom Bombadil and I know of the quest. Have you not met Tom yet in your wanderings in the forest?"
Diamond shook her head. "I have not seen anyone, or any path for that matter. I only came across your house when I caught sight of the smoke from your chimney."
The elf-maiden then said, "That is quite a surprise to be sure. You are truly strong, young one, for not even your friends would have made it through the forest if it were not for Tom."
"I thank you. I am Diamond of Long Cleeve. Who are you?"
"I am Goldberry, River-daughter. Come, you shall stay here the night, for you seem weary. I shall prepare a nice supper, and that should replenish your strength."
"I do not know if I should stay. If my friends depart from Bree before I reach it, then I fear I shall have no way of following them."
"They intend to remain in Bree for some time, I believe. One night would not hinder you; in fact you would be well rested, and could cover much more distance tomorrow. If you would like I can have Tom to show you to the North-gate of the Barrow-downs in the morn, for you should not like to travel the Barrow-downs alone. The Barrow-wights dwell there, and they are not to be trifled with. Your friends fell victim to a Barrow-wight themselves." Diamond gasped audibly. "Do not fear for them child, for they are safe. Frodo was awake enough to call for help, and Tom, hearing the calls, drove away the wight. The company should reach Bree by tomorrow, and I hope that they will be safe from the Black Riders there."
Diamond said, "You have been so kind to me, yet you did not know, nor expect me. Why is this so?"
"I did indeed know that one other might come, though I did not know for sure."
"How is this possible? By some elf-magic?" Diamond questioned.
"Nay, no elf-magic is at work here," replied Goldberry lightly.
"Then what?" Diamond asked, quite vexed, and confused.
"Do not let it trouble you. If you are meant to know, than all shall be revealed to you in time."
Before Diamond could question this statement, Goldberry's voice was lifted in song. Shortly thereafter a man walked up the path. He was clad in a bright blue jacket, and yellow boots. He seemed quite cheerful, for he sang as he approached. Diamond assumed that this was Tom Bombadil, of whom Goldberry had spoken. He approached, skipping merrily along, voice raised in song. He sang a funny sort of song, that had almost a childish air to it.
"More Shire-folk!" exclaimed Tom suddenly. "What is happening lately? All the Hobbits are leaving home!"
"She is to be our guest tonight, and tomorrow you shall lead her through the Barrow-downs. Now is not the time for questioning, for we shall have a talk at dinner. Come now and eat," said Goldberry promptly.
Diamond went and washed up before dinner. She was quite surprised to find that her friends had stayed in this very house just the night before. "I certainly would rather sleep here than amongst the trees," thought Diamond.
After washing, Diamond came into the kitchen and sat at the table. Goldberry had prepared a nice dinner, and Diamond had soon eaten her fill, which was a good amount as far as Hobbit standards are concerned. After they had finished eating, they began to discuss the matters at hand.
"Why do you seek Frodo and his friends?" Tom asked Diamond.
"It is a long tale, and I fear it must be told in entirety. Do you still wish to hear?"
"Yes indeed, I should like to hear a good tale. Your friends told many a tale in the two days they dwelt here," Tom replied. Diamond explained all that she knew. She told of how her sisters and her moved to Buckland, and of how she met Merry and Pippin. She told them of Horro and her father's agreement, and of how the conspiracy was formed. After this she painfully told them of how she had been fooled, and that the true reason she followed was so that she could find them so they may know the truth. Then Diamond fell silent, thinking of her whole tale and how it was quite painfully filled with too much heartbreak. She longed for adventure and hoped that she would find more of it on her journey.
"That was some tale!" cried Bombadil. "It has become quite late, and we must depart early if we are to catch up to your friends. Let us take rest now."
Goldberry departed in a very thoughtful mood. Merry had warned her of another Hobbit who may follow, but she had not expected the other to actually show up. Times were certainly changing.
Diamond went into her room, and lay down on the bed. She fell asleep quite easily, for she felt safe, for now.