"Don't step there!"
Estella froze mid-step as Diamond hurried to her side. Diamond pulled her back, and pointed up. "See? A rope—it's one of the Big Folk's traps."
Estella looked at Diamond gratefully. "Thank you Diamond."
"We have to kept an eye out for them—the Big Folk hide a bunch of nasty ones all over the place. Me and my brothers can recognize them all."
Diamond had led them through the woods for the last half hour, and they were less than two miles away from Hobbiton. Diamond had kept them far from the road, and considering the size of the group, they were making good time.
"We should be in Hobbiton soon," she addressed the group. "Well before elevenses even," she added, trying to raise the somber and fearful spirits of the others.
Truth was that already they had had two close calls with the Big Folk. Their paths had crossed twice, and the last time had been the worst—they had to run through the forest until the Big folk lost their path. A part of Diamond wished one of her brothers were here—it was rather terrifying, being responsible for the others. She had led them deep into a part of the woods they didn't know, and they followed like sheep. Diamond—being the youngest in her family—wasn't used to being looked up to. In fact, it down right unnerved her. Diamond gave them a forced smile, and motioned for them to continue.
The entire group moved—except for May.
"Something's not right…" she said, looking around. Diamond froze, and turned—May was staring at the group, her lips moving silently, deep in thought.
Her eyes flew open.
"Primrose and Ollie! Where are they?"
All the hobbit women looked around frantically as an icy fear drowned Diamond. After the last run in with the Big Folk, Diamond had been to much in a rush to think of doing a head count.
"They're not here!"
"Where can they be?!"
"Ollie!" one hobbit-lass shouted into the forest.
"You fool!" Diamond hissed at the woman. "Don't forget where you are and what else might be out there!"
"What should we do?" Estella asked, eyes wide. "They're somewhere out there…"
Diamond broke from the group, and searched the forest with her eyes. There were so many dangers to the West—the Big Folk were drawing nearer.
"I'm going back for them," she finally said. "Hobbiton is two miles to the Northeast—try to follow the Bywater Road—"
"Lass you can't just leave us!"
Diamond turned back, and looked into the face of May Chubb.
"There are two children out there that are lost!" Diamond frantically replied.
"And so are we, lass! You've led us into the middle of the forest, and we don't know the way out. How can we follow the Bywater when we don't know where it is?"
She was right, of course. Diamond stared at the forest floor, with its' layer of dead leaves and sticks. She slumped to the ground, her head in her hands.
"Lass—"
"Quiet! I'm thinking!" she snapped. The thought of leaving two children in the woods alone turned her stomach. If anything happened to them, she would never be able to face herself again—she would have failed, broken her oath.
And yet, to leave the rest of the group to find them was folly—they too, would be lost a path only the Long Cleeve's knew. All but Estella and May were blind in they're fear, and even they followed Diamond without question. They were baggage, and nothing could be done until they were safe.
The memory of Primrose's happy face made Diamond groan—nothing for them could be done, but if harm came to them—it would kill her.
"We go for Hobbiton, but travel closer to the Bywater Road and hasten our speed. Once there, I'll gather what of my kin is there, and set back west with them to find Primrose and Ollie." Diamond looked back up at May and Estella, and the pain of her decision could be felt through her hazel eyes.
"Come—you keep my pace. There is no time to spare!" came Diamond's last order and she stood. And with that, she pushed her way through the others, and hurried towards the road. As she did, Diamond hoped her choice might be forgiven.
~*~
"What are they doing?" Estella whispered to Diamond. "They've barricaded Bywater on one side, and there are hobbits behind the hedges."
Diamond gave no answer, but motioned for the group to stay back. She then left the shelter of the woods and boldly walked up the high bank.
Hobbits were scurrying about with weapons, faces grim, walk determined. Diamond searched the lot of them, looking for over them all for Meriadoc.
"You! Lad! We need more archers on the other back. Could you go?"
Diamond whirled around, and came face to chest with another hobbit dressed in fine clothes and even finer mail. She looked up. This hobbit was as tall as Meriadoc, but his hair was less flaxen, and his face was thinner, more pointed. He also looked much younger, no more than a few years older than Diamond. He was ready for the battle to come, yet his demeanor was not grim, but prepared…even a bit jovial.
"Pardon sir—but I can't, I need—"
"We have plenty of weapons, if a bow and arrow are what you need," he interrupted. "A group of hobbits just rode in with a cartfuls of weapons—"
"Were they from Long Cleeve?"
"I believe North-tooks, yes, but I can't remember if they were from Long Cleeve exactly—"
"Where are they?" she asked, breathlessly. "I need to speak to them and Mister Meriadoc—there isn't a moment to spare!"
The tall hobbit raised his eyebrow, and stepped back. "Why so urgent, lad?" he asked. He then grinned at Diamond. "And to let you know, I'm the one that's suppose to give orders."
"Please sir, I need to meet with them," she begged. This tall easygoing hobbit was standing in her way, wasting precious time, and it annoyed her greatly.
The hobbit's smile disappeared, and he placed his hand on her back. "Come then—you're quite serious. Merry is right this way."
The tall hobbit led Diamond over to a cart that was being used as a makeshift table. There Merry stood, calmly but efficiently giving orders.
"Mister Meriadoc!" Diamond yelled.
Merry turned to the sound of her voice, and his face showed great relief. "You've returned!" he exclaimed.
"Oh, so you were looking for this lad too!" the hobbit next to Diamond replied, chuckling.
Diamond had been letting his misperception slid so far—it happened quite a bit to Diamond. But the bemused look on Merry's face annoyed her even more.
"I'm not a lad you silly ass!" she cried in exasperation.
The tall hobbit's jaw dropped, and Merry could no longer hold his laughter back.
Diamond continued. "I know I'm dressed like a lad, and I'm not the prettiest of lasses, but if you took just one good look you'd see I'm quite female!"
The hobbit took that good look, and had the decency to blush. "My deepest apologizes, Miss…"
"Diamond of Long Cleeve."
"I'm terribly sorry, Miss Diamond…I thought…i…er…" The hobbit kept mumbling, but his words were lost in an incoherent babble of embarrassment.
"You must forgive my cousin Peregrin, Miss Diamond," Merry cheerfully said. "But both of us are preoccupied with the upcoming battle." Merry quickly got down to business. "Miss Diamond, are the others safe?"
"Sir, I brought them here, but—"
"Diamond!"
The cheerful call from far off made all three turn their heads. A hobbit ran over, large grin on his face. "So, you've managed to show up just in time for the battle, eh Diamond?"
"Milo, is Tolman here?" she blurted out.
Milo's face showed concern as he stood next to Diamond. Pippin could see a resemblance between the two—the same reddish hair, same hazel eyes, and the same thin figure that make it seem that they had missed a meal too many. "What's wrong, Diamond?"
Diamond swallowed, and confessed. "Two of the children are lost. They were separated when some Big Folk can across us. We all split, but I didn't notice they were missing until it was too late to turn back."
They all looked at Diamond in alarm, and her heart hung with guilt. "We split up at the second mark—I need you and Tolman to help me, Milo. They HAVE to be found!"
"Wait up, Diamond…at the second mark you say?" Milo repeated. Diamond nodded. Milo was quick to jump to action. "Right then! Diamond, you retrace your steps towards the west, I'll search north, and Tolman will go south…da's here as well, he might be able to help, and the Greenfields will be able to cover our backs. We'll all head out there now—"
"You can't."
Milo and Diamond stared at Merry. He sighed, his face grim.
"You can't leave yet."
"But there are two young'uns out there, Mister Meriadoc—"
"And if you leave now, you'll run right into an army of Men! It's too dangerous to head west right now."
"But they might be in trouble, Mister Meriadoc!" Diamond argued.
"And if you're captured, then that isn't going to help them any." Merry looked at Diamond, regret in his face. "Diamond, believe me, the thought of leaving those children out there alone haunts me, but it is folly to run blindly into an Army of Men in the attempt to save them."
Diamond wanted to argue more, convince him otherwise, but he held his hand up to silence her. "Stay here—help us fight, and when the battle is over, we'll send a search party out to find them. But for now, we can do nothing."
Diamond bite her lip, but nodded her head. "Yes, Mister Meriadoc."
Merry put his hand on her shoulder. "We'll just have to make do, Diamond, and tighten our belts."
"I've been tightening my belt so much, that I've run out of notches, Mister Meriadoc," Diamond, replied, her tone expressionless.
Pippin gave a short laugh, but stopped when he saw that indeed her belt was fastened on the last notch, and that it was rather lose on her.
"Where shall the others go for now?" Diamond asked.
"Bring them up here—we'll send them to Hobbiton."
"Yessir," Diamond muttered, and she turned on her heels.
"Diamond, you're to come back here—that's an order." She looked back at Merry--she could see that he knew she was struggling with his command. Maybe he hoped that an order was an order, and that she would listen, no matter what. But as Diamond nodded, she could feel the anger and hopelessness boil up inside her. Milo followed her back down the bank, and towards the trees.
"Diamond?"
Milo looked at Diamond, but she only stared at the ground. Milo was the second youngest in the family, and knew Diamond better than bees knew their honey. They were only two years apart, and were always looked down on as the babes of the family. They were close, as close as two siblings could be, and Diamond's stony silence spoke more than one would think.
"You're not going to listen, are you?"
He looked at her—and her silence gave him his answer. He sighed. "Stay put."
Milo snuck back up the bank, and returned quickly with a staff, taken from their very own carts. "I figure this will be useful," he said as he handed it to her.
"Milo—"
"Don't start! You were going to sneak away without a word despite what Mister Meriadoc says. Don't think I don't know you, Diamond!"
"Then why'd you give me this?" she asked, confused by the staff she held.
"Cause I figure you're right, in heading out. Those young'uns need to be found, simple as that. Besides—we're from North-tooks! We've never stayed put if we could help it."
Diamond looked at her brother, and gave a small smile. "You know," she began, "If you had told me yesterday that I would be running away from a fight with the Big Folk, I would have called you stark mad. Funny how things turn out."
"Me and Tolman will search the north and south once the battle is done. Tomorrow at dusk we'll all meet at the second mark, if they've been found or not."
"The rest of the group I traveled with are over there," Diamond said, as she pointed to the right towards the trees. "Will you take care of them?"
Milo nodded, and looked at his sister one last time. "You'll be long gone before anyone figures out you've left." He gave a half-smile. "Try not to get killed—or worse. Now get going, or someone will stop you before you've started!"
As Diamond ran to the tree-line, Milo walked over to the spot she had pointed too. Some oaths had to be kept to the end, he realized, even if it meant breaking orders. It was a fine line, between loyalty and obedience—he didn't know if Diamond was doing what was proper—but he knew she was doing what was right.
And it wouldn't make it any easier.
