Faramir Took sat atop the eaves of his father's fine horse barn, perched like an owl, reading a map that was spread across his knees. Hearing scrabbling below him, he leaned over until he was almost upside down. Climbing up a notched beam with her skirts hitched up to her knees, Goldilocks made her way up without the least sign of struggle. Seeing his grinning face, she got a free hand and pushed his head.
"Move over, you big bullock. Do you want me to fall to my death?"
Laughing, Faramir scooted over enough for Goldilocks to a comfortable spot on the wide eave. He said teasingly,
"You know, Golds, I don't think it's very ladylike for a Hobbit lass to be climbing up barns."
"Ugh, I'm sick to death of hearing how unladylike I am! I do believe I'll combust if I hear it one more time!"
"Rose and your mum giving you trouble?" he asked sympathetically, folding the map and putting it away. Goldilocks snatched it from his pack before he could snap it up and squinted at it carefully. She said absently,
"Oh, Rosie and Mother aren't being any worse than normal. So what is this, Far?"
"Oh, it's a map of an unknown region that once existed deep inside Mirkwood. They say it was a place of great magic where all three races lived in harmony and great wealth. They say that when the alliance broke hundreds of years ago, that the elves hid it and kept it to themselves. But no one really knows if it still exists, you see. This is a map I found deep inside of a leaflet in my gaffer's library."
Goldilocks' eyes brightened to a cerulean blue that Faramir pretended not to be affected by. He knew she didn't see him that way and probably never would. She grabbed at his hand excitedly and it sent a thrill through him.
"Faramir, let's go! I know it sounds crazy but let's go!"
"Golds, you've lost your mind. This wind must be making you go loony. We can't go anywhere, much less some place that doesn't even exist!"
"Ah, but you just said that it used to exist! Why hasn't anyone ever tried to find it before? It sounds like a marvelous idea!"
Faramir shook his head and snapped playfully,
"Because no one's been as addled as you are. Come on, Golds, you're being ridiculous. You know your gaffer will never let you go anywhere-old Sam's the most protective parent in the Shire."
"Don't I know it," she grumbled, chewing absently on a piece of straw. "But at least he doesn't expect me to be all wifely like Mother does. My whole options in life are to marry or cook at the pub. What glorious prospects!"
At this exclamation she flung her arms out wide, her face twisted dramatically and nearly losing her balance. Faramir yelped and snatched her shoulder, righting her on the eave again. She rubbed her with a furrowed brow and gave him a look.
"Ow, you big bully, what was that for?"
"Goldi, you were about to fall off!" he said, gaping at the fact she hadn't noticed. She scoffed and proceeded to stand and walk daringly, one tiptoe after another. She chattered along as Faramir watched with wide eyes.
"Please, have a little faith. Why, I'm Samwise Gamgee's daughter, one of the fellowship that saved the entire world. I've got blueblood in me and I can certainly handle this. Why, I'm not even shaking a bit, knowing that at any moment I could fall to the earth into the gaping jaws of the dragon!"
With a horrified gasp, she pointed down at one of Faramir's orneriest stallions. Both burst into loud, raucous laughter that was quickly stunted by another voice.
"Faramir Took and Goldilocks Gamgee, get your foolish selves off my barn!"
Below them, trying to look as stern as possible, stood Thain Peregrin Took, better known Pippin-Faramir's father. He smothered a laugh behind his hand as the two scrambled quickly down. He relied to their downcast faces,
"Well, just be glad. Diamond didn't come out looking for you two. Faramir, you'll be the death of your mother someday. And you, Miss Goldilocks, does your gaffer know you're gallivanting at the top of my barn in such weather as this?"
"A bit," she shrugged. "He knows I'm with Far and that very likely means trouble. He's used to that by now, Thain Took."
"Now, now, none of that," he scoffed disdainfully. "You'll call me Uncle Pip, just as you did when you were wee. But tell me how goes my old friend-the mayor?"
"Oh, he's in rare form," she smiled, thinking fondly of her father snuggled in their burrow with the rest of the family. "As long as he's got listening ears and a fresh pipe, he's happy."
Pippin nodded happily to himself, wishing he had more time to visit his old friends. He saw Merry even less than he did Sam and the thought just saddened him even more since Frodo had crossed over years ago. Goldilocks watched Faramir slip a comforting hand through his father's arm as if having read his thoughts. Since the fateful day Pippin had drunk an ent draft, he had grown to a spectacular height for a Hobbit and somehow the trait had been passed down to his only son. Faramir could almost pass as a human, so tall and good-looking he was. She herself was like her sisters Elanor the Fair and Daisy; they were uniquely blond haired- a trait rarely found in the Shire and their beauty was well-renowned for they looked more like elf-maidens than Hobbits. Goldilocks tried especially hard to ignore the townspeople's whispers and compliments for adventurers and warriors weren't beheld for their looks. And she so desperately wanted to be that.
"Well, come along, young ones, come inside and have a spot of tea and middle breakfast," Pippin encouraged, gesturing to the grand burrow he and his wife Diamond of Long Cleeve lived in. Their thoughts diverted by the mention of food like any self-respecting Hobbit, they followed happily.
"You know, Father, I never understood why people say a spot of tea," Faramir mused. "I mean, you always have a cupful, not a spot. Who would want to have a spot anyway-that can't fill a body up?"
"You know, son, I've often wondered the same thing," the Thain agreed, leaving Goldilocks trying to disguise her giggles. Walking into the large home of the Tooks, she was filled with the same warmth she got when she entered her own house. It was always cozy and smelled of cooking food; although Faramir's burrow lacked the seven younger siblings that occupied hers. Books lined the shelves and framed maps hung on the walls. Also akin to her home, there was a special section devoted to mementos from Pippin's travels as a young Hobbit. On display were the leaves of Lothlorien, the daggers given to him by the elves and various other artifacts that deserved to be in a museum.
"So," Pippin sighed, sinking into a chair, holding a steaming cup of tea between both hands. "How's all the other midgets in your father's brood? Frodo doing all right?"
"I suppose," she shrugged. "Frodo's always stuck more to himself; he really just travels around aimlessly, I think."
"No, I don't think that's the case. I'd say he's just got a bit of his namesake's spirit in him. Good old Baggins-how I miss the dear old Hobbit on days like this. Makes a gaffer like me feel at least a hundred."
"My poppa's the same way when the wind blows like this," Goldilocks shivered, staring out one of the picture windows at the gray weather. "I wish I could have met Uncle Frodo; he sounds like an extraordinary Hobbit."
"That he was that he was. The best among us, I'd say-though Strider, ahem, King Elessar's done all right for himself," he chuckled at his own personal joke. "I say, Golds, you must know the king fairly well, given how often he visits old Sam."
Goldilocks thought tenderly of the wise, graying king she had known her whole life. He was every bit the regal, just ruler known as Elessar; but to her, he was a lovely man who had pretended to be her pony when she was young. She nodded,
"Yes but not any better than I know Uncle Merry or you, Uncle Pip. Besides I enjoy Faramir's company much better than Eldarion's"
At this Faramir both brightened and bristled when she mentioned the prince, son of King Elessar and Queen Arwen Undomiel. He jumped to his feet quickly and pointed out the window at the brewing storm.
"Well, Golds, I better walk you home. This storm doesn't look like its getting friendlier. I'll be home shortly, Father."
"Since when did I need your assistance getting to Bag End?" she screwed up her face, surveying him suspiciously. "I believe I can manage."
"No, no, Faramir's right," Pippin agreed, flashing his son a wink behind the Gamgee lass' back. "It's only proper and gentlemanly to walk a lady home."
Shrugging hopelessly into her cloak, she wondered briefly what the secret the two Tooks were grinning about was. Walking outside, their clothes whipping in the wind, Goldilocks asked from beneath her large hood,
"Now what was all that about, Faramir Took? What are you and your father grinning like a bunch of jesters for?"
"Aw, Golds, you wouldn't understand. It was male Hobbit matters."
Goldilocks' retort started, her lips curling when suddenly a strong gust of wind tore down the countryside, snatching the two young Hobbits off their feet.
They never hit the ground.