(A/N: RubyEyedSorceress, I tried to e-mail you like you asked...but I
couldn't find your e-mail address for the life of me! Sorry about that!)
{Chapter One}
-----
"Where are we going?" Diamond demanded as she trailed obediently behind Rose, face impressed with a curious expression as she gazed anxiously at her friend. She was to move away the following morning, and Rose seemed intent upon filling up every minute of her final day here with the plans she had made.
"You'll see," Rose said with a sly smile. She shifted the basket upon her arm impatiently; Diamond had offered to carry it, but Rose had refused. After pestering Rose for a few minutes more, it became apparent to Diamond that she wasn't about to get any information out of her. Instead, she contented herself with walking along absentmindedly.
Although the thick gray clouds hadn't cleared up, the rain had diminished greatly. The temperature was fairly pleasant, and the bird songs had gradually begun again once the disappearance of the rainfall was evident. Extra clothing for warmth wasn't needed for the most part, and although it wasn't exactly the weather most hobbits looked forward to, they all had to agree it was better than the weather they had been receiving. It was midmorning, and most of the Shire was up and about successively running their errands or, in the case of the younger hobbits, eagerly spending their day outside in the rain-free sky, running here and there and causing mischief.
Diamond smiled fleetingly as sudden realization dawned upon her as her feet hit the familiar path. Homes grew scarce here and trees grew thicker, signaling the start of the forest. "I know where we are going," Diamond said in a teasing tone, wide smile overtaking her face. Rose said nothing, but Diamond caught the smile upon her face before she turned away.
It wasn't long before their destination was reached; the path they had taken widened into a large clearing amongst the trees and shrubbery, which were all overgrown and unattended for. Gently sloping land ran from the path at their feet up to the trunk of a particularly old looking tree, which stood gnarled and knotted with worn-looking bark and tired, sagging branches. It supported tiny green buds nonetheless, which looked promising enough to soon be full, rich-green leaves. The two hobbits paused before it, both with thoughtful airs.
"This is where we shall have our picnic," Rose announced. "The ground beneath the tree should be reasonably dry." Diamond didn't question, but merely followed her friend to the base of the tree, where they sat with their backs against the rough trunk.
"Do you know why I selected this place for our picnic?" Rose asked Diamond as she handed her friend a few choice pieces of bread, rich with nuts and flavor.
"Of course," Diamond responded, smiling, and taking a bite of her bread. "This tree has important memories."
"Very important," Rose agreed at once. "It was sixteen years ago, I believe..."
"I was upset with my older brother Marroc and his friends," Diamond picked up on the tale at once. Both of them knew it well. "They were teasing me again. I don't even remember what about any longer; I only know I was upset. I ran away from them, and somehow ended up here."
"It was by chance that I stumbled upon this place," Rose chimed in. "I was picking wildflowers for my mother, and my quest led me into the trees, deeper and deeper." She paused, nibbling pensively on a corner of her slice of bread.
"I didn't even hear you approach!" Diamond added to their growing tale, both of which was pointless to tell and yet entertaining all at once. "I was too busy feeling sorry for myself."
"When I saw you, a young lass about my age, crying beneath a tree, I had to ask what was wrong," Rose took up her turn now. "It was all too odd a sight to encounter - especially when I believed myself to be alone with my thoughts!"
"I was angry and upset when bothered," Diamond said. "And even more so when I realized that I must look a fool to you; eyes red and puffy, tears coursing down my cheeks."
"You did look quite interesting," Rose said with a grin at her friend. "And you forgot the part about the dirt smeared across your face. Anyway," she went on, ignoring the dirty look Diamond awarded her. "It took some coaxing, but I soon got out of you that it was sibling problems." Rose raised her eyebrows here. "Having two of my own, I knew what it was like!"
Diamond laughed. "Remember all the plans we made that day to get back at my brother? Things we never even thought twice about doing - but it was fun to think them up."
"I easily forgot about my flower hunt," Rose said, smiling. "I was too thrilled to meet someone my own age, I suppose." She paused, and then said with a laugh, "We are too easily amused, if we are now telling stories of our pasts to each other!"
"I suppose," Diamond said with a smile, and for a moment the only sounds that could be heard was the chirping of the birds and the shouts and laughter of children in the distance.
"When shall we do things like this after I move?" Diamond asked then with a sigh; in truth, she had not been the one to comment on things like this until this moment. To her, moving away had been a sort of unrealistic tale; something far in the future to be pushed aside and not thought of. It was mostly because of how busy she had kept in preparing for the move, and the truth had had yet to sink in. However, the day before she was to leave had come, and she was spending her last day in Long Cleeve with Rose - the veracity had hit her quite painfully.
"Don't say things like that!" Rose commanded sharply at once. "Not now; not today. Today is going to be a lovely day - not one for thinking of such misery!" Diamond smiled weakly.
"Push it from your mind, at least for now," Rose pleaded. "We can't have your last day here ending up like that!"
"I shall try," Diamond promised. And she did - Rose and her were soon laughing merrily as they finished their picnic, talking idly about this and that.
"Did you know my cousin is to be wed during the summer?" Rose inquired of Diamond after a while. "It is all she can talk of."
"Is she?" Diamond asked, only mildly curious. Weddings were common throughout the Shire. "I keep telling Marroc he needs to settle down with a lass of his own - but he never listens. 'In my own time,' he tells me."
"I for one am looking forward to the day I am married," Rose said wistfully. Diamond placed her last bite of food into her mouth, raising her eyebrows at her friend.
"You are thinking of that already?"
"It is never too early," Rose said in response. "I would want a large wedding, I think - anyone who wants to come will be welcomed."
"I've thought nothing of it," Diamond admitted. "But I suppose I would want it to be small; close friends and family only."
"Any potential hobbits in mind?" Rose asked with a grin, to which Diamond only scowled.
"I am too young," she said in reply. "As are you," she added as an afterthought with a wry smile.
"I get older which each passing day," Rose said. She stood, brushing her dress clean and patting it back into place. "Come now, Diamond. We have a lot more to do before the day is done."
Diamond thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the morning and the afternoon; Rose and she visited all places of Long Cleeve that held especially important memories. They went back to Rose's for their meals, and after that, Rose took her to say farewell to her friends. This was upsetting for Diamond, but she promised to come and visit and got the same promises returned. For the very last meal of the day, Rose again took Diamond to her own house, where she had had an elaborate dinner planned. Diamond ate with Rose and her family, laughing all the way through, although in the back of her head she thought dejectedly of the morning to follow. Rose walked her home afterwards, and assured her she would come and see Diamond and her family off in the morning.
Although, indeed, it was late when Diamond got home, the rest of the family was awake; every last cranny and corner of the house was being checked over to make sure nothing was forgotten. Little Seredic was given to Diamond, and by the time bed drew near, Diamond was utterly annoyed with the little hobbit, who had spent the past hours trying to get his hands on anything and everything. Willingly handing him over to their mother when she asked, Diamond retreated to her room.
As much as she hated to admit it, she would be glad when this move was made and the stress of it all relieved.
-----
"Don't look so distressed, dear sister!" Marroc said cheerfully to Diamond the next morning. It was early; too early in Diamond's opinion. The only thing that kept her from slipping off into slumber once more was the constant jolts the cart she rode upon awarded her when it went over even the slightest bump.
"I will look however I like," Diamond retorted gloomily.
"Come now, Di, it's not so bad!" Marroc said in earnest. When Diamond remained silent, he took it as his cue to go on. "Think of it as an adventure. Remember how you and I used to pretend to have adventures when we were younger? Imagine it is like that, and cheer up."
"That is easier said than done," Diamond said blatantly.
Marroc sighed, and shifted closer to his younger sister. "You will see Rose again, and often I'm sure. I don't think you two can stand to be far from each other for long."
"It isn't just Rose, Marroc!" Diamond exclaimed, perhaps louder than she meant to. "I have lived my whole life in Long Cleeve, and everything I know is there."
"Diamond," Marroc began, and then stopped. He was silent for a moment. "There is a party in a few days." Diamond was quiet, waiting for him to go on. When he didn't, she sighed.
"Who is the party for?" she asked.
"Pervinca Took...the Thain's daughter. It is her coming of age party." Marroc regarded Diamond curiously for a moment. "Mother and Father are going; so am I. Even little Seredic is going. I know Mother and Father have yet to tell you about it - but you will come, won't you? It shall be good for you."
"I suppose," Diamond said after a slight bit of hesitation.
"Good! I am sure Estella will be there as well - didn't you say Rose said she is a friend? This way, perhaps you can get to know her."
"O yes," Diamond said without much enthusiasm.
"You'll have fun," Marroc assured her, before moving away and letting silent wash over the two of them.
"Marroc?" Diamond asked then. "Have you been to Tuckborough before?"
"Yes, Di, I have been there many times."
Diamond paused. "Is it...is it nice there?"
"Very nice. Just like Long Cleeve in more ways than one. The hobbits are just as friendly, and the surroundings just as nice."
Diamond thought about this a minute, then drew a breath. "I suppose I shall try harder to like this move, then," she said reluctantly. "I may have left Long Cleeve behind...but not for good."
"There you go," Marroc said with an encouraging smile. "That's just the way you will have to look at things."
{Chapter One}
-----
"Where are we going?" Diamond demanded as she trailed obediently behind Rose, face impressed with a curious expression as she gazed anxiously at her friend. She was to move away the following morning, and Rose seemed intent upon filling up every minute of her final day here with the plans she had made.
"You'll see," Rose said with a sly smile. She shifted the basket upon her arm impatiently; Diamond had offered to carry it, but Rose had refused. After pestering Rose for a few minutes more, it became apparent to Diamond that she wasn't about to get any information out of her. Instead, she contented herself with walking along absentmindedly.
Although the thick gray clouds hadn't cleared up, the rain had diminished greatly. The temperature was fairly pleasant, and the bird songs had gradually begun again once the disappearance of the rainfall was evident. Extra clothing for warmth wasn't needed for the most part, and although it wasn't exactly the weather most hobbits looked forward to, they all had to agree it was better than the weather they had been receiving. It was midmorning, and most of the Shire was up and about successively running their errands or, in the case of the younger hobbits, eagerly spending their day outside in the rain-free sky, running here and there and causing mischief.
Diamond smiled fleetingly as sudden realization dawned upon her as her feet hit the familiar path. Homes grew scarce here and trees grew thicker, signaling the start of the forest. "I know where we are going," Diamond said in a teasing tone, wide smile overtaking her face. Rose said nothing, but Diamond caught the smile upon her face before she turned away.
It wasn't long before their destination was reached; the path they had taken widened into a large clearing amongst the trees and shrubbery, which were all overgrown and unattended for. Gently sloping land ran from the path at their feet up to the trunk of a particularly old looking tree, which stood gnarled and knotted with worn-looking bark and tired, sagging branches. It supported tiny green buds nonetheless, which looked promising enough to soon be full, rich-green leaves. The two hobbits paused before it, both with thoughtful airs.
"This is where we shall have our picnic," Rose announced. "The ground beneath the tree should be reasonably dry." Diamond didn't question, but merely followed her friend to the base of the tree, where they sat with their backs against the rough trunk.
"Do you know why I selected this place for our picnic?" Rose asked Diamond as she handed her friend a few choice pieces of bread, rich with nuts and flavor.
"Of course," Diamond responded, smiling, and taking a bite of her bread. "This tree has important memories."
"Very important," Rose agreed at once. "It was sixteen years ago, I believe..."
"I was upset with my older brother Marroc and his friends," Diamond picked up on the tale at once. Both of them knew it well. "They were teasing me again. I don't even remember what about any longer; I only know I was upset. I ran away from them, and somehow ended up here."
"It was by chance that I stumbled upon this place," Rose chimed in. "I was picking wildflowers for my mother, and my quest led me into the trees, deeper and deeper." She paused, nibbling pensively on a corner of her slice of bread.
"I didn't even hear you approach!" Diamond added to their growing tale, both of which was pointless to tell and yet entertaining all at once. "I was too busy feeling sorry for myself."
"When I saw you, a young lass about my age, crying beneath a tree, I had to ask what was wrong," Rose took up her turn now. "It was all too odd a sight to encounter - especially when I believed myself to be alone with my thoughts!"
"I was angry and upset when bothered," Diamond said. "And even more so when I realized that I must look a fool to you; eyes red and puffy, tears coursing down my cheeks."
"You did look quite interesting," Rose said with a grin at her friend. "And you forgot the part about the dirt smeared across your face. Anyway," she went on, ignoring the dirty look Diamond awarded her. "It took some coaxing, but I soon got out of you that it was sibling problems." Rose raised her eyebrows here. "Having two of my own, I knew what it was like!"
Diamond laughed. "Remember all the plans we made that day to get back at my brother? Things we never even thought twice about doing - but it was fun to think them up."
"I easily forgot about my flower hunt," Rose said, smiling. "I was too thrilled to meet someone my own age, I suppose." She paused, and then said with a laugh, "We are too easily amused, if we are now telling stories of our pasts to each other!"
"I suppose," Diamond said with a smile, and for a moment the only sounds that could be heard was the chirping of the birds and the shouts and laughter of children in the distance.
"When shall we do things like this after I move?" Diamond asked then with a sigh; in truth, she had not been the one to comment on things like this until this moment. To her, moving away had been a sort of unrealistic tale; something far in the future to be pushed aside and not thought of. It was mostly because of how busy she had kept in preparing for the move, and the truth had had yet to sink in. However, the day before she was to leave had come, and she was spending her last day in Long Cleeve with Rose - the veracity had hit her quite painfully.
"Don't say things like that!" Rose commanded sharply at once. "Not now; not today. Today is going to be a lovely day - not one for thinking of such misery!" Diamond smiled weakly.
"Push it from your mind, at least for now," Rose pleaded. "We can't have your last day here ending up like that!"
"I shall try," Diamond promised. And she did - Rose and her were soon laughing merrily as they finished their picnic, talking idly about this and that.
"Did you know my cousin is to be wed during the summer?" Rose inquired of Diamond after a while. "It is all she can talk of."
"Is she?" Diamond asked, only mildly curious. Weddings were common throughout the Shire. "I keep telling Marroc he needs to settle down with a lass of his own - but he never listens. 'In my own time,' he tells me."
"I for one am looking forward to the day I am married," Rose said wistfully. Diamond placed her last bite of food into her mouth, raising her eyebrows at her friend.
"You are thinking of that already?"
"It is never too early," Rose said in response. "I would want a large wedding, I think - anyone who wants to come will be welcomed."
"I've thought nothing of it," Diamond admitted. "But I suppose I would want it to be small; close friends and family only."
"Any potential hobbits in mind?" Rose asked with a grin, to which Diamond only scowled.
"I am too young," she said in reply. "As are you," she added as an afterthought with a wry smile.
"I get older which each passing day," Rose said. She stood, brushing her dress clean and patting it back into place. "Come now, Diamond. We have a lot more to do before the day is done."
Diamond thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the morning and the afternoon; Rose and she visited all places of Long Cleeve that held especially important memories. They went back to Rose's for their meals, and after that, Rose took her to say farewell to her friends. This was upsetting for Diamond, but she promised to come and visit and got the same promises returned. For the very last meal of the day, Rose again took Diamond to her own house, where she had had an elaborate dinner planned. Diamond ate with Rose and her family, laughing all the way through, although in the back of her head she thought dejectedly of the morning to follow. Rose walked her home afterwards, and assured her she would come and see Diamond and her family off in the morning.
Although, indeed, it was late when Diamond got home, the rest of the family was awake; every last cranny and corner of the house was being checked over to make sure nothing was forgotten. Little Seredic was given to Diamond, and by the time bed drew near, Diamond was utterly annoyed with the little hobbit, who had spent the past hours trying to get his hands on anything and everything. Willingly handing him over to their mother when she asked, Diamond retreated to her room.
As much as she hated to admit it, she would be glad when this move was made and the stress of it all relieved.
-----
"Don't look so distressed, dear sister!" Marroc said cheerfully to Diamond the next morning. It was early; too early in Diamond's opinion. The only thing that kept her from slipping off into slumber once more was the constant jolts the cart she rode upon awarded her when it went over even the slightest bump.
"I will look however I like," Diamond retorted gloomily.
"Come now, Di, it's not so bad!" Marroc said in earnest. When Diamond remained silent, he took it as his cue to go on. "Think of it as an adventure. Remember how you and I used to pretend to have adventures when we were younger? Imagine it is like that, and cheer up."
"That is easier said than done," Diamond said blatantly.
Marroc sighed, and shifted closer to his younger sister. "You will see Rose again, and often I'm sure. I don't think you two can stand to be far from each other for long."
"It isn't just Rose, Marroc!" Diamond exclaimed, perhaps louder than she meant to. "I have lived my whole life in Long Cleeve, and everything I know is there."
"Diamond," Marroc began, and then stopped. He was silent for a moment. "There is a party in a few days." Diamond was quiet, waiting for him to go on. When he didn't, she sighed.
"Who is the party for?" she asked.
"Pervinca Took...the Thain's daughter. It is her coming of age party." Marroc regarded Diamond curiously for a moment. "Mother and Father are going; so am I. Even little Seredic is going. I know Mother and Father have yet to tell you about it - but you will come, won't you? It shall be good for you."
"I suppose," Diamond said after a slight bit of hesitation.
"Good! I am sure Estella will be there as well - didn't you say Rose said she is a friend? This way, perhaps you can get to know her."
"O yes," Diamond said without much enthusiasm.
"You'll have fun," Marroc assured her, before moving away and letting silent wash over the two of them.
"Marroc?" Diamond asked then. "Have you been to Tuckborough before?"
"Yes, Di, I have been there many times."
Diamond paused. "Is it...is it nice there?"
"Very nice. Just like Long Cleeve in more ways than one. The hobbits are just as friendly, and the surroundings just as nice."
Diamond thought about this a minute, then drew a breath. "I suppose I shall try harder to like this move, then," she said reluctantly. "I may have left Long Cleeve behind...but not for good."
"There you go," Marroc said with an encouraging smile. "That's just the way you will have to look at things."