Chapter 28: Invasion of the Shire
Diamond traveled with Ferny through the wilderness towards Bree. All the while her thoughts betrayed her, and she had begun to become confused once more. The voice Saruman had implanted was back in her head, though it was faint and usually able to be easily defeated, but it was still there.
"You have been given a second chance to fulfill your destiny. I do not suggest that you throw it all away. You know you still have a strong hatred for the folk of the Shire running through your veins."
"Perhaps, but it doesn't matter anymore. I remember my love, and I know that it was not he that hurt me. My love for him can overpower any hatred that I may still harbor deep inside."
"Are you so sure? Are you so sure that he still loves you?"
"Yes, why wouldn't he?"
"He did leave you back at Isengard. He refused to help you when you were in need. And why is this do you think? Because you betrayed him. You sided with his enemy. You may have remembered him later but you still betrayed him in his eyes. Even if you still love him, he may no longer love you."
Diamond froze at this proposition that had arisen inside her head. She had never considered this possibility, but there it was true as could be staring her in the face. She had betrayed him, and he would no longer wish to associate with her. Why had she not thought of this before?
Newfound despair welled up inside of her, and she slowly began to sucuumb to the voice's will once more, although she continued to wear the scarf around her neck and the kept the ring safely in her pocket. The days passed slowly as she traveled for Bill Ferny was not much company. The only times he ever talked were to discuss battle plans or how they were to deal with certain problems. On the productive side they managed to draw up a set of laws and codes to keep the Hobbits in line once they gained control.
As Diamond was in charge of punishment she came up a simple solution to the lack of a prison in the Shire. After pouring over a map of the Shire she came up with a way to transform the storage cellars and basements of the Michel Delving into a series of Lockholes with which people could be sentenced to for different periods of time based on their offense. Speaking out against the new leaders would earn a year, where as stealing could earn as much as a life sentencing or even death by the sword.
Bill Ferny had come up with a system of "gatherers" and "sharers" as he called it. They would go around and collect the harvest from every citizen and then redistribute it evenly. He also decided to allow some Hobbits that wished to help them have some power over the others, but not much, and all would obey whatever the ruffians said.
After almost a fortnight of weary traveling they finally reached the village of Bree. Ferny called together his band of ruffians and bid them come to edge of the town when dusk came. There had to have been some two hundred of them all together, a rather peculiar bunch to be seen. Mostly consisting of half-orcs and Bree-landers they were led by a rather overweight man and a Hobbit-lass, but nevertheless they meant business. When all had come to hear Ferny speak that night he told Diamond to wait and watch, making sure no unsuspecting Hobbits stumbled upon their gathering and were able to warn the Shirefolk of the upcoming invasion. With Diamond on watch Ferny began to address the ruffians.
"This is most likely the easiest job that you will ever undertake, and perhaps the most rewarding as well. Think of it, men. An entire land filled with plentiful crops and a people unable to protect themselves in the least. You will be free to do what you will, under my command of course, but the job will pay off. We must establish our rule as one of terror and pain, driving fear into the hearts of every Hobbit that dares speak out against our name or our ways. We will make an example of those who do, and all shall cower beneath us. What do you say men? Are you ready? Will the Shire fall?"
There was a deafening roar of approval from the throngs and Ferny seemed most satisfied with himself. He liked being in control, and Diamond wondered what would happen when their master returned…if he returned.
The group packed provisions and armed themselves with swords, though they did not take any armor with them as they deemed it unnessecary. Within the next two days they had taken to the roads, some heading for the Southern Farthing, some for the Northern Farthing and some of the Western Farthing. Ferny and Diamond decided to lead the attack on the Eastern Farthing entering the Shire at the gates on the edge of the Brandywine River. From there they intended to draw the troops in a type of warpath until they all met up in Hobbiton which would be their central city as the headquarters were decided to become Bag End due to Lotho's cooperation.
Ferny knew that the Shire gates were tall, and he had instructed the other ruffians of alternate ways to enter, but he himself had a most excellent plan for the Buckland Gates. When the band of ruffians that they led finally reached their entry point he bid Diamond to smear mud upon her face and clothes, and rip her dress in several places. She did so and soon looked the part of a lost Hobbit-lass greatly in need of medical attention. Ferny hid the ruffians in the brush surrounding the gates, telling them to be as quiet as possible. That night, Diamond staggered up to the gates moaning in mock-pain. She collapsed in front of them, and no sooner had she done so when the gates swung open and two Hobbits with lanterns emerged. They left the gate unattended and bent down to help Diamond up. As soon as the oppurtunity arose Ferny gave the signal and the ruffians charged the open gate. Diamond stood up quickly and ran inside, but as she looked back she saw one of the ruffians strike dead the two gate guards.
"The first blood spilt tonight, but I doubt it shall be the last," she thought as she turned to follow the ruffians into the town.
They rampaged through Buckland, slowly diminishing in numbers as some stayed behind to begin to make examples of the people and begin to gather the food. Meanwhile the main forces moved ever closer to Hobbiton. Diamond watched as frightened Hobbit-lasses and children ran through the streets trying to find shelter. She thought she recognized one, but paid no heed to it. For the next three days the ruffian group moved ever onward pressing into the city from each side. When at last they reached Hobbiton, the word had already reached them and most of the citizens surrendered with little resistance, though what little resistance there was it was not enough to even kill more than two ruffians.
With the Shire now mostly under the control of the ruffians who had been left behind, Ferny and Diamond made their way up to Bag End with the pipe weed that they had so painstakenly managed to bring. They stopped at the door and knocked several times sharply. When Lotho opened the door to find them standing there with great bags of pipe weed in their hands he smiled and stepped aside to let them in. The inhabitants of Hobbiton looked on with fear in their eyes and amazement that Bag End had been so freely surrendered to these new intruders. Within a matter of a week the Shire had fallen.
Over the next few weeks many changes were made and the once green and luscious Shire was transformed into a place of fear. Bill Ferny ordered all of the pubs and inns to be shut down and all pipe weed to be brought in cart loads to Bag End. New houses were built that were dark and bleak. They were two-storeyed and served as homes for the ruffians that were spread throughout the four farthings keeping the order. Some Hobbits did indeed convert into helping the ruffians, while others simply did as they were told to avoid punishment.
Rules were posted everywhere and anyone who broke them was sentenced to the Lockholes. That was one of the first things that Diamond accomplished when she was sure they had power. She ordered the conversion of the cellars in the Michel Delving to be turned into prison cells for those who broke the rules.
Withing a matter of weeks the Lockholes were full of those who spoke out against the new rulers of the Shire. Among the frst to go were the Old Mayor Will Witfoot, Lobeila Sackville-Baggins, and Fredegar Bolger. Those in the Lockholes were treated horribly and given only enough food to survive. Shirriffing, which had once been a noble profession among the Hobbits had sunk to an all time low. New Shirriffs were enlisted that were for the ruffians, and those who were already Shirriffs were not allowed to quit under pain of death. With each new death or sentencing to the Lockholes Diamond's heart grew heavier, but she could not banish the words of the voice inside her head. "You betrayed him. He does not love you anymore…"
Soon she began to believe it herself, and eventually Diamond conceeded to the darkness admitting that, "If he considers me the enemy, then I should at least act the part."
She was still reluctant to sentence any Hobbits to death partly because she no longer bore such an unfaltering hatred for them, but she did not want to give Ferny the impression that she was unloyal to him and so she always did so but refused to carry out the sentences herself. It was a pointless comprimise she had made with herself, but nonetheless it made the guilt lessen, and with each new death or sentencing her conscience grew ever more lax.
"If they do not start allowing us more food we will surely not live to see the next harvest," said Estella exasperatedly to Chrysie. "I mean look at the children, your brothers and sisters included. They are weak, and malnourished. What kind of heartless person could do such a thing to children?"
"I do not know, but I wish that this were all a bad dream," Chrysie replied sadly, ruffling the hair of her youngest sister, Lilac.
"Aye, but it is not a dream. The suffering is real. You know, Chrysie, if Diamond and Merry and Pippin were here they would not endure this nor would they watch our people endure it. They would do something, as we must do something now. Don't you agree that we should at least try, in their memory?"
"They certainly would not stand by and watch our beautiful Shire be destroyed. All the inns have been closed, and all the trees cut down. There is not much left of our home. You are right, we must do something, but what? We cannot be dragged off to the Lockholes as well for my siblings would have no one to take care of them if we are gone," replied Chrysie sadly. "Not since my parents died last year. I am all they have."
"Well then you must look after them, and what do they need?" asked Estella. "Food! I suggest we steal some of the food from the storehouses for your siblings and the other children here that need it. At least we would be doing somehting and not just sitting by and watching the children die!"
Chrysie nodded, and the two made plans to steal crops from the Buckland storehouses that night when darkness fell upon the lands.
Horro Boffin, now a Shirriff and guard of the Buckland storehouses, stood outside during his watch. He had begun to drift off as he assumed no one would be stupid enough to try risk stealing from the storehouses as the penalty was death. He closed his eyes and began to fall into a deep sleep when he suddenly heard the cracking of a twig from somewhere near the front entrance of the storehouses. He looked up suddenly, but decided it was only a trick of the wind. Just when he was about to close his eyes once more, Horro saw a shadow move in the darkness and he heard the whispering of voices.
He stood up suddenly alert and lit his lantern. He silently approached the doors and held his lantern high. One shadow moved away from his light, but the other was caught in it. He looked down and saw the startled face of Chrysie Burrows, and was after her in a flash, but she was too fast for him. He saw he run off down the hill with a good deal of the crop, and the other shadow was gone too. Horro dreaded the next morning when he would have to inform the "Chief" that the storehouses had been robbed on his watch. He vowed to have his revenge on Chrysie no matter how long it took him.
Chrysie and Estella ran all the way back to Estella's house and didn't stop until they were sure that no one had followed them. They brought the food back down into the secret room in Estella's cellar and began to prepare some for the children. Chrysie sat down and ran her hands through her hair.
"He saw me, I know he did. You got away before he could see your face, but he know me, and he will be after me…what will the children do when I am taken away and killed? Promise me you'll take care of them Estella!" said Chrysie frustratedly.
"I promise, but it will not be nessecary. If you stay here, and live with your brothers and sisters in the secret room you will not be found. He cannot prove anything, and he will have to answer to the fact that he allowed a theft to take place. Think of the trouble we have caused that terrible Hobbit! He deserves it, don't you think?" said Estella happily, trying to cheer up her terrified friend.
Chrysie's heart lightened at her friend's suggestion, and she was no longer as afraid. She agreed to move into the cellar room that night, as news traveled fast in the Shire and she did not know how much longer her house would be safe.
The next day Horro Boffin had the unfortunate task of returning to Bag End to report the theft. He tried to think of a plausible excuse for not stopping a simple Hobbit-lass but he came up with nothing in the end. As he took the last long steps up the drive to Bag End he wondered what would become of him.
Horro knocked on the door, and it was answered by one of the ruffians. "What do you want?" the ruffian asked gruffly.
"I…I…am here to report…a…a robbery on one of the storehouses. It occurred last night on the borders of Buckland. I know the identity of the theft and—"
"Come with me," the ruffian interrupted.
Horro followed him through the many passages of Bag End towards a room in the back of the house. The ruffian knocked on the door, and what sounded to Horro like a familiar voice called, "Come in."
The doors swung open and the ruffian pushed Horro inside saying, "Keaira is in charge of punishment. Tell her about the robbery and pray that you are pardoned for your inabilility to prevent the robbery.
Horro stepped inside the room, but suddenly stopped his mouth dropping wide at the sight of Diamond. "You! But…how…not possible…you're dead!"
Diamond looked queerly at Horro and said, "I am most certainly not dead, Shirriff, if I am standing right in front of you. What reason have you come here?"
"Diamond…I…" he stuttered still unable to comprehend what he saw.
"So this is one who knew me before then," she thought to herself "I cannot seem to place him however."
"What reason have you come here?" said asked again, harsher this time. Horro seemed to snap out of whatever trance he had been in and said, "There was a theft at the storehouse I was guarding last night. I saw the thief's face. A Hobbit-lass named Chrysie Burrows. She lives in Buckland. With your leave I would like to apprehend her and kill her for stealing of the crops."
Diamond stared at him for a moment trying desperately to remember him, and the name he had just said but eventually she gave up unable to place either. Then she settled her mind on the event at hand and what he had just said. "You allowed a Hobbit-lass to steal from one of our storehouses while you were on guard?" she asked incredulously.
He nodded angrily. She stood up and went to fetch Ferny, curious as to how she should handle the situation. He came back and gave Horro quite a verbal beating of how unable Hobbits were to finish simple tasks. Then he told Diamond to set a triple watch on the storehouse and send someone to fetch and execute the girl immediately.
Diamond sent Horro to find Chrysie and bring her to Hobbiton to be publicly killed as an example to all the people not to steal. He went with three ruffians to her house and they threw down the doors upon arriving. They searched the place for nearly a half of an hour but found no trace of Chrysie nor anyone else for that matter. "She knows I saw her," thought Horro to himself. "Where would she hide?"
Then the answer came to him. Estella Bolger's house. He led the ruffians to Estella's house and they knocked loudly on the door. Estella opened it and in a casual tone she asked what the matter was. Horro didn't wait for her to shut the door again and he barged into her home searching the place thoroughly. The ruffians and Horro looked through Estella's home several times before finally giving up and leaving her to clean up the mess.
"I know you are hiding her, or you know where she is," Horro snarled at Estella as he reluctantly left her house. "And know this as well. I will have my revenge on her for embarassing my name. She cannot be hidden forever and when she is ready to emerge I will be waiting. Remember that!"