PeachPawz: Thanks for the kind words. Enjoy!

Ch 4 Great Northern Tooks

"I would very much like to see where this took place, if possible. I realize it would be short notice, and I apologize. Would it be too much trouble to put us up? I hope you will come with me, Watson. I would appreciate your help. As to your question, Thain, I will certainly do my best to find your wand."

"You would be very welcome in my home, Holmes. My wife, Diamond, is always ready to welcome guests. We always have room for more," replied Pippin.

"I would be delighted to accompany you, Holmes. All my patients are doing very well, so I have the time. I am looking forward to seeing more of the Shire," I told Holmes.

"Splendid! Then it is settled. We will meet you in about three days, if that is acceptable with the two of you. Now, Pippin, is there any more information you can tell me?" said Holmes.

"Well, there are two things, but I'm certain they don't have anything to do with the wand. However, I'll tell you. About three days before the wand was missing, someone entered Great Smials. We checked, but nothing was missing. We could tell someone was inside because we could see faint footprints on the hall floor. The second thing was…different. I really don't know how to explain it. I'll try anyway. We have distant relations up North, about a fortnight's journey. We had been out on an outing with our children. When we returned, there were two hobbits I didn't recognize. They introduced themselves as being from the Great Northern Tooks.

"Naturally, I checked with my mother, and she knew of these relations, although she has never seen them personally. I learned they usually kept to themselves and, for some reason, known only to them, refused to have anything to do with the Tooks here in the Shire. When I mentioned the visitors to my mother, she didn't know why they decided to visit."

"Did the visitors give any reason for their visit?" asked Holmes. "All they said was that they had heard was that there was a new Thain, and that they wanted to meet me. It seemed rather odd, because I don't remember anyone coming down when my father became Thain. They only stayed for one night, then abruptly left," said Pippin.

"I think it may be better if you let no one know who I really am," said Holmes. "When we go to Tookland, just introduce me as a distant relation, Fredegar Underhill."

I see you are getting weary. Let us eat, and retire for the night. I will continue in the morning, if you so desire. Sleep well, my friend.