"Before I continue, I want you to know that I received all of this information in monthly reports.  They have been gone a year now, but have experienced much in that time."

            "We understand, Diamond.  Please, go on."

            "In Rivendell, it was decided that the ring should be destroyed.  None of the members of the council trusted the others with the task.  So, Mr. Frodo volunteered.  He agreed to take the ring into Mordor and throw it into Mount Doom.  Now, our three lads wouldn't hear of him going on his own, and a few of the other council members were touched by Frodo's decision and volunteered to assist him.  So, a fellowship was formed.  Nine companions with one cause – to destroy the ring."  Rosie's sobs started off again, but this time they were joyful.

            "Samwise the Brave.  I will forever call him that."

            "Di, who were the nine companions?"

            "Well, Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pip we already know, as well as Master Gandalf."

            "Really?"

            "Yes!  Then, the human – "

            "Strider?"

            "Yes, but his name is really Aragorn and he's the heir of Isildur – "

            "The king who cut the ring from Sauron."

            "Yes.  Also, another human, Boromir, a dwarf named Gimli, and one of my kin, Legolas Greenleaf, son of Thranduil."

            "Wasn't Thranduil the elf who locked up Mr. Bilbo and his dwarf companions?"

            "Yes, Rosie."  Diamond told all that she knew of the fellowship's journey, up until they had been split.  Rosie had turned a ghostly pale color when Gandalf fell, and even more ghostly when Boromir was killed.  Estella was hysterical over Merry's capture by the Uruk-hai.

            "Rosie, Estella, please calm down."

            "But, Diamond, people are dying.  Like Mr. Gandalf… I'll never see his pretty fireworks again."

            "And Merry has been taken by the enemy."  Diamond didn't like cutting ahead in her stories, but she knew she had to leak a little bit if she was ever going to finish.

            "If this will help in keeping you calm, I will tell you.  My latest news, delivered just yesterday, states that all four hobbits are alive and well.  Please note that this means as of two weeks ago, they are still alive.  But, I cannot explain how we know or where they are until I get to that part in the story… now, may I continue?"

            "Alive, Stella!  Sam is alive."

            "And so is Merry.  And Pip, Diamond, Pip is alive."

            "I know, Estella.  And that's all I have to hold onto right now."