Diamond awoke wrapped up in a blanket that wasn't hers, in a bed that wasn't hers, in a room that wasn't hers, and in a hobbit hole that was...you guessed it....not hers. It felt probably around time for elevensies, judging upon her growling stomach, but it was really much later in the afternoon. Diamond lay flat on her back in a state of blank confusion when a kindly voice interrupted her trance.
"I've never known anyone who can sleepwalk that far."
Diamond sat up in bed and turned to the owner of the voice.
"Huh?"
Eglatine Took smiled warmly at Diamond from her chair near the bedside.
"Apparently, you're a sleepwalker, Diamond. I was out on my walk this morning and I came across you in the glade, standing up...but dead asleep!"
"Oh..."
Diamond rested her head onto the pillow. Now, she was starting to recognize the room. It was one of many in the great smial in which the Tooks, including Pippin, lived. Diamond closed her eyes momentarily. She had never sleepwalked in her entire life, why should she do so now?
Eglatine gave a concerned look.
"Diamond? Is everything alright, child?"
Diamond halfheartedly nodded.
"Yes....it's just...funny that I ended up in the glade. You see, I had a dream....." Diamond trailed off.
Eglatine gave a knowing nod and smiled a little.
"My own dear Peregrin had the same problem."
Diamond gaped a little bit.
"Really?"
Eglatine nodded again.
"Yes. You don't know how many times I've found him huddled up in the pantry, stretched out in the garden, even curled up in the fireplace, covered with soot! And every single time, he would tell me about some farfetched dream that he had that somehow would lead him to all these strange places. Anyways, you should be more careful, young Diamond. It's not safe to be wandering about nowadays, what with these awful ruffians and brutes running about. I'm surprised I could even smuggle you half ways into Tookland."
Diamond nodded her head. It was true, ever since the seeming "invasion" of the Shire by this so called Sharkey, there had been quite a tight watch on Tookland. No one could go in, and no one could go out, unless by a more crafty, sneaky way.
Eglatine obliged Diamond to join her for tea...a late one at that. As Diamond sipped her hot tea carefully, she listened to stories that Eglatine told, mostly about Pippin. Diamond learned more about Pippin that afternoon than she would hope to learn over the course of a lifetime spent solely with him. She could tell that Eglatine was lonely, and needed someone to talk to. All of her children had moved out already, so Diamond felt sort of like a daughter to Eglatine that day. She could also tell that Eglatine missed her son achingly. Diamond could only imagine how it would feel to have your own child missing somewhere, not to hear of their welfare, or even whether or not they were still alive. At this thought, Diamond gave a start in her mind. Might Pippin be dead? An awful gnawing ache grew in her stomach, but she quickly shoved it away. He had to be alive. She could feel it. She turned her attention back to Eglatine.
"Ah, yes. My Peregrin. You probably won't believe me, but, he was my favorite. Yes, I loved all of my daughters just the same, but with Pippin, there was a favor. I suppose it's because he was my only son....most mothers can't resist favoring the only son in a group of daughters sometimes."
Diamond could hardly believe her ears. Eglatine was quite unknowingly echoing Sorrel's very own words to Diamond. But then, her hearing was distracted. Faintly outside, she thought she could hear the clattering of hooves, and voices speaking. Her heart feared the worst, thinking that there might be some ruffians looking for someone to bully. She was about to warn Eglatine, when she heard a loud knock. Did ruffians knock? Diamond didn't think so.
Outside, Pippin waited impatiently. There was no time to spare; the hobbits were now in a war protecting the Shire and Hobbiton. He glanced around the increasing group. He had started off to Tuckborough with 6 other hobbits. Now, after having gained the aid of other Tooks, relatives, and friends, he had more than a hundred fold. Now, he only needed to fetch his father, who would most definitely want to be involved in the action. He sighed and knocked again. When he had been on the quest with Frodo, he would dream of coming home in peace, to his mother's loving embrace, and to the joy of his sisters and father. But his dreams were now shattered, since he was now knocking madly at the door of his childhood home, more than a hundred others behind him on ponies and wielding pitchforks, clubs, knives, and other forms of weaponry. He could almost see it now.
Hullo, Mum. I'm back. No, these aren't our dinner guests.....
More loud knocking ensued, as Eglatine and Diamond looked at each other, not sure whether to open the door to friend or foe. More impatient knocks and rings of the doorbell.
"Don't worry, Mrs. Took, I'll answer the door."
Diamond slowly moved to get up and walked into the large foyer. The sounds of stamping hooves and muted conversation became louder. They didn't sound like Big People voices, but instead that of hobbits. Relieved, she opened the door wide.
Pippin rang the doorbell, almost breaking the clapper inside the bell. Come on...come on...not much time....
"Ay! Pippin! We 'avn't got all day now!" cried Everard Took, a distant cousin of Pippin's. Pippin turned his head towards him, his hand continuing to knock on the door.
"I don't know what's taking so long!" And, as if to reestablish his sense of responsibility, "It's not my faul-"
He felt the door open and whipped his head back. His hand froze mid-knock.
Diamond opened the door to see a balled up hand in the process of insane knocking. The owner's head whipped around towards the door and the hand froze. Diamond and Pippin stared at each other, neither moving an inch or batting an eye. Pippin couldn't believe his eyes. After a while, he blinked really hard, half expecting her to vanish, as she had in so many of his dreams. Diamond wanted to pinch herself to test reality too, but her hand wouldn't obey. Both hobbit's opened their mouths and closed them many times, not able to say a word. Pippin swallowed; or, he would have, if his mouth wasn't like a desert. Diamond felt dizzy; she was sure she was going to faint. She would have, if Paladin hadn't rushed out the door at that moment, Eglatine shortly behind him. Pippin was distracted momentarily from Diamond as he briefed his father. Diamond was also distracted momentarily from Pippin as Eglatine tried to lead her back inside. But Diamond refused to be led. She put her hand on the doorframe stubbornly. Pippin only knew that he needed to get away from Diamond before he forgot his entire cause and simply stayed. Hopping on a pony at the head of the group, he called out a sort of war cry and led the entire group off to the battle of the Shire.
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Yes! Finally, a chapter! *dances* I love it! More should be coming!
Love ya all!
