Chapter 20 Scouring of the Shire

"Look." Merry pointed over to some new houses.

"Those have to be the most unhobbity houses I have ever seen." Sam muttered.

"Go away! Can't you read? The notice says you can't come in after sunset or before sunrise." a sharp voice called back.

"We can't read in the dark and when I find you notice I will rip it down and tear it apart." Sam shouted back loudly.

Then we heard a slam and a few hobbits came out.

"Come now! I live here and I wish to come in! And Hob, what are you doing here you live near the Hay Gate!" Merry exclaimed recognizing one of the hobbits.

"Why if it isn't Master Meriadoc and Master Peregrin! And look Merry you're all dressed up in armor and Pippin is looking like an elf!" the hobbit grinned.

"Well then, stop staring at us and let us in." I snapped angry.

"Sorry, no can do." Hob said softly.

"WHY!" Merry and me shouted.

"We have orders from the chief." he mumbled.

"Do you mean Mr. Lotho?" Frodo asked

"I guess, but we just call him the chief now." he responded.

"Why that no good dirty little.." I rambled on and on. I was disgusted that any hobbit would ever do this.

"You best not talk like that the chief will hear of it." one of the halflings muttered.

"Then let us in!" Merry shouted.

The hobbits didn't answer but stepped back.

The other three started talking to them and tried to persuade the hobbits to let us in. I was thinking about what Legolas had said and tried to continue it. "A friend when you're lonely, a key when you're locked out." I smiled and nudged Elenril over to the gate.

"Speak as much elvish as you can." I could almost hear Legolas in my head. I pulled the stone off my neck and placed it near the lock.

"Edra!" I said softly and the stone suddenly began to glow with a soft blue light. It grew brighter and brighter until it lit the whole area. Then it dimmed quickly and a soft click announced that the gate had unlocked. I looked around and saw everyone staring at me.

"What?" I asked pushing open the gate. The hobbits fled and a loud horn blasted through the still air.

"Crud." Merry sighed. About eight tall strong men came to us.

"You are breaking the law of the chief, you are arrested.." one said.

"No." I shouted back.

"I gond dae tafnen gowest um." 'The stone can help block complete evil.' I heard Trin's voice speak gently. I spun around and saw the very faint figure of Trin. His outline was fuzzy and I could hardly see him.

The man was right in front of me. "No? Then you will have to feel the steel of my blade." he hissed yanking out his sword at the same time I pulled out the stone. I saw Merry step forward and put my hand on his shoulder to stop him. The sword came down hard on the stone.

A bright flash shot though the clearing and I was almost blinded. The blade broke into hundreds of pieces and laid around us. I pulled out my sword and slammed it into his chest. He gasped and fell back.

"Go away or your fate will be worse." I shouted as the rest ran away.

"Wow." Merry gasped and stared at me.

"They'll be back." I said putting my sword back and clasped the stone around my neck. "There's a small forest over there we can set up camp."

We got over there and set up a tent.

"You shouldn't be here!" Hob and the hobbits had followed them. It seemed like we had broken another rule and the hobbits seemed terrified.

"Join us Hob." I muttered putting some wood on the fire. "What happened here?" I asked.

"Well, there's no pipeweed now, well there is some for the chief's men but.." Hob started.

"Oh Hob shut up! You know you cant talk like that!" A frightened young hobbit whispered.

"Shut up both of you! I expected to come to a peaceful valley after fighting orcs and going to Mordor!" Sam shouted making us all get silent instantly.

"Just go to sleep!" Merry snapped and we fell into a uneasy slumber.

"Let's go straight to Hobbiton." Frodo said thoughtfully.

"Kay." I yawned.

We rode down the road and were met by some sheriffs.

"What now?" Merry shouted at the hobbits.

"You're arrested for gate-breaking, tearing up rules, assaulting gate keepers, trespassing, and camping on Shire land." The hobbit said quietly.

"Are you finished? We have to go." I growled. "And I can think of a few more, we called the chief names, we wished to punch him, and we think the sheriffs are a bunch of fools!"

"Now we are going to lead you to the lockholes and leave you there." another sheriff said.

We all laughed loudly.

"Don't be absurd! We can go anywhere we want! We were heading to Bag End on business." Frodo smiled.

We began to ride away and were stopped. Elenril let out a loud neigh and shot away. The ponies followed.

The sheriffs followed and Sam turned around. He began to talk to one of them. The hobbits all spoke to one another but I got a worried feeling. I turned Elenril over to Merry's side.

"Something's going to happen." I said softly.

"The elves finally gotten to ya?" he grinned.

"No! It just feels like it." I growled back and looking at Merry's face I knew he understood.

"We best get to Hobbiton." Frodo said motioning to the road.

We were on our way and soon the sun began to sink. I noticed that many homes were gone. Some had seemed to have been burnt. Most of the trees had been cut down. Then in the distance we saw a tall chimney shooting black smoke into the air.

"I'm going to find my gaffer!" Sam declared.

"Wait Sam, there might be ruffians about! We better go find out what's going on." I said putting my hand on his shoulder.

We headed to the Green Dragon. Was this the place that we had gotten drunk and sang at just a year ago? It seemed frightening. Tall, cold looking men glared at us from across the room as we chose some seats.

"Hey! Outa my seat." I felt a strong hand grip my arm and yank me back.

"I was sitting there." I told him flatly.

"Better fix that mouth of yours." he grinned darkly and pulled out his dagger as I pulled out mine. He kicked my hand with his booted foot, and my dagger became embedded in the ceiling. I pulled out my sword and attacked. We rolled on the floor for awhile before my sword was on his neck.

"Leave this inn or your blood will stain the floor." I hissed before he shot out of the room.

I couldn't help but smile slightly. I looked at my dagger sadly and sat back down. Everything continued like nothing had happened.

"Well well. You beat him up pretty well if I say so myself." a man said from behind me. "You'd better be careful Sharky's not going to like this!"

"Sharky forces that little rat to say whatever he wants!" the other man said.

"What are you two talking about because we're going to speak to Lotho and he might want to know!" I suddenly wished I hadn't said that, I have such a big mouth.

The two laughed. "Oh, Lotho knows, but it's our job to make sure no hobbits get out of line or they'll wish they'd never been born." the first man said.

"Yes, but the evil has gone! Your master is nothing but a beggar." Frodo said.

"A beggar? Maybe you see that you little idiot but we see a great ruler."

Idiot! No one calls my cousin a idiot! I yanked my blade out and at the same time it pulled back my cloak so my gold and silver armor shone brightly.

I glared at the man and yelled. "I am a soldier of the elves! You are speaking to a friend of the elven king. Get down on you knees and beg pardon or the wrath of the elves will come upon you!" I could hear Merry and Sam draw their swords but Frodo didn't move. The ruffians eyes widened. The had never met any hobbits that had fought back, their specialities were peasants and weak frightened hobbits. They looked horrified.

"Go! And if you trouble this village again you will regret it!" Merry shouted next to me. The men fled. I smiled but then heard the ruffians blow their horns while they ran.

"That was stupid Pip. Now more are going to come!" Merry glared at me and suddenly I felt like the little hobbit who had pushed the skeleton down the well.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't help it!" I snapped back.

"You never can!" Merry shouted sounding an awful lot like he did when I touched the Palantir.

"Stop!" Sam yelled making us shut up instantly.

"I pity Lotho. I hope we haven't come to late to save him." Frodo said softly.

"Save Lotho! I'd say kill him!" I said surprised.

"No Pippin. Lotho would have never wanted this to happen. He is a fool and is now caught. The ruffians are doing whatever they wish in his name. I bet he is frightened and a prisoner. We ought to rescue him." Frodo said thoughtfully.

"Here we are fighting men just to save Lotho!" I mumbled.

"Fight! I guess it would have come to that but remember there will be no slaying of hobbits! Even if they have gone to the other side."

We sat and began to talk but still heard the whispers around us.

"Let's go to Tom Cotton's farm." Sam suggested.

"No! That's just what the other hobbits have been doing! Hiding. We have to do it!" I hissed.

"Do what?" Merry asked.

"Raise the Shire! Wake the people, they hate this you can see it!" I said getting excited. "Sam you go run to Cotton's farm."

He nodded and shot out of the door. I then saw Merry pull out a silver horn.

"What's that!" I said surprised.

"The Horn of Rohan. The lady Eowyn gave it to me." Merry smiled.

"Let's go." I pointed to the door. We walked out and mounted our horses. Sam had already rode off on Bill. We galloped to the end of the road and Merry put the horn to his mouth and blew a loud clear note. He then changed the note so the horn sounded like it was speaking.

"Awake! Awake! Fear, Fire, Foes! Awake! Fire, Foes! Awake!" The horn shot clearly across the valley.

We roused the whole village while Sam was gone. He came back with a bunch of hobbits.

"What are we going to do next?" Farmer Cotton asked.

"I don't know. How many ruffians are there?" Frodo asked.

"It's hard to tell. In Hobbiton there's about fifty." Cotton said.

"And Hobbiton is not the only place." I said softly.

"No. There's a bunch south and some east and there's a good twenty at the lockholes, as they call 'em. The old storage tunnels at Michel Delving they made them into a prison for folk who stand up to them." Cotton sighed.

"Have they got weapons?" Merry asked.

"They have whips, knifes, and clubs. Enough for their dirty work. Some of them have bows and they've shot one or two of our folk!" Cotton said.

"There you are Frodo!" Merry cried. "They started the killing we have to fight!"

"Not really, the Tooks did." Cotton said. I had only been half listening until then. "Thain Paladin and several other Tooks attacked. Now there is a very close watch on Tookland, no one goes in, no one goes out."

"Good for the Tooks!" I cried happily glad my relatives had made a stand. "I'm off to get them again. They will fight gladly, anyone wish to come?" I asked.

"See you soon! It is only 14 miles or so across the fields I'll bring you a army in the morning." I shouted as the 12 lads on ponies followed me. When we were riding away we heard a loud clear note from the horn. We cheered and continued.

It had been at least and hour and a half before we got to the borders of Tookland.

"Quiet." I hissed and rode Elenril to see the guards. There were three there, leaning against the wall and drinking. I looked around for a way to get in. The land was completely surrounded by a fence.

"We have to jump the fence." I whispered pointing to a low part. Elenril leapt easily over but the ponies had some problems.

"Go get as many as you can!" I shouted as soon as we were out of earshot. The hobbits ran off in different directions and I rode to my own home.

I pushed open the gate and walked down the small path. The garden had been trampled and everything was dead. I looked at the door once painted a dark blue now it had been scratched off. I jumped off Elenril and knocked loudly. I turned around to see if the others had had any luck when I heard the door open. I spun around expecting my father instead I saw Diamond.

"Pippin!" she gasped.

I was unable to say anything. She was just as beautiful as ever, her long black hair falling over her shoulders, her black eyes wide in shock.

"Diamond." I whispered.

"They said you were dead!" she said still shocked.

"They were wrong. What are you doing here?" I asked.

"My home was attacked and your parents let me stay." she said gently.

"Diamond! Who's at the door?" I heard my mother ask.

"Come see." she said back.

I saw my mother come to the door and freeze.

"Peregrin?" she asked.

"Yeah." I said. "Is father home were going to attack the ruffians and he might want to help."

"He is." she turned around and went to get him.

"Where have you been?" Diamond asked her black eyes large.

"Everywhere." I smiled back. I felt myself leaning forward to kiss her when I saw my father come in. His grey eyes were still as cold as ice and he looked as cruel as ever. I looked down on him, being a good six inches taller then he was, thanks to the ent-draught.

"Where have you been boy?" he asked coldly.

"Long story, we have to go we don't have a lot of time." I walked out of the door and he stopped me.

"Wait I have to get my knife." I stood in the door and my mother went to make bandages for after the battle.

"Pip. Don't go and get yourself killed. I almost died when I thought you had died if you really die I don't know what I will do." Diamond looked at me through tear filled eyes.

"I'll see you again." I said gripping her hand and kissed it.

"Let's go." My father said coming into the room. I followed him out the door and turned to Diamond.

"Goodbye Miss Diamond." I bowed elvish style.

"I shall be here when you return." she whispered.

I mounted Elenril and nudged her to start moving.

"Where did you get the sword and the horse? Most hobbits don't ride horses." He glared at me.

"I'm a soldier of Mirkwood, they gave me Elenril and my weapons." I said avoiding his glance.

"Elenril? That's your horse right? Animals don't deserve names! They have no thoughts they just do what people tell them to." he muttered and I could feel Elenril stiffen and snort loudly.

We got to the clearing to see a army of Tooks.

"Send a messenger." I told someone and several hobbits went to kill the guards.

When the hobbits came back we started back to Hobbiton. It was almost dawn when we drew near. We rode up to the other hobbits. Merry started telling me his plans which made no sense but I just nodded and pretended to understand.

We heard the sound of trampling and spun around to look to the east.

"You have just walked into a trap! Your companions did the same now one is dead and the rest are prisoners!" Merry shouted, "Put down your weapons and walk back anyone who refuses will be shot!" he motioned to me where I had my bow ready. "Don't think you can outrun the arrow! He is trained by the elves!"

The men charged us and I shot six but didn't get all of them. They killed two hobbits and I shot two more. Merry blew a loud horn call and we soon heard the screams of the trapped men as hobbits shot and hewed them with axes.

Merry and me rushed in as I fired arrows off Elenril. The leader ran up. He was a very tall man with squinted eyes like an orc. I shot him but he didn't fall. I kept firing until he fell with five arrows in his chest.

Soon it was over. Almost seventy ruffians lay dead and a dozen were prisoners. Nineteen hobbits were dead and thirty were wounded. We buried the dead ruffians. We buried the dead hobbits in a great grave. We were silent as we worked.

What I didn't understand was that Frodo hadn't drawn his sword. He had only tried to stop the hobbits from killing the men who had put down their weapons. When we had finished helping we settled down for some food.

"We better deal with this 'Chief'." Frodo sighed.

"Don't be gentle, he is the cause for the ruffians." I said.

Farmer Cotton gathered twenty-four good hobbits and we hoped there were no ruffians at Bag End. Everyone set out on foot but me, I rode Elenril.

It was probably one of the saddest times in my life. A huge chimney rose above us. We looked at the new mill. It was black and ugly. I was so involved I didn't notice anything else.

"They cut it down! They cut down the party tree!" Sam burst into tears. We all spun around and saw the huge tree where Bilbo had said his speech and it was gone. I heard a cold laugh and turned around. There stood a hobbit grinning coldly leaning against the wall.

"Don't ya like it Sam?" he sneered. "But then again you were always soft. I thought you had gone off on one of those boats you always talked about. I wished you hadn't come back. Besides we have work to do in the Shire."

"I can see that. See here Mr Sandyman, I have a score to pay in this village, and don't make it any longer with your jeering, or you'll foot a bill to big for you purse." Sam's eyes glowed with anger.

Ted Sandyman spat and said, "You cant touch me. I'm a friend of the boss's. He can touch you though, if any more words come out of your mouth."

"Don't waste any more words on this fool!" Frodo growled. "I only hope other hobbits have not become like this."

"You are dirty and stupid Sandyman." I said glaring. "We were just on our way to deal with your precious boss. We have already killed most of his men." Ted then saw my armor and glowing stone. He spun around and shot back into the mill. He grabbed a horn and put it to his mouth and blew a loud note.

"Don't waste your breath." Merry grinned and blew his own horn. Suddenly cheers and cries sounded as all the hobbits ran out of their holes. The little group marched to Bag End. When we came up to it I sighed. The once colorful garden was covered in sheds and pieces of wood and metal. The door was scratched up and everything seemed broken. We knocked once and twice until I had to unlock it with the stone. We looked around the room. Books and papers lay scattered around the room. The furniture was torn or destroyed.

"Where is that miserable Lotho hiding?" Merry growled. We looked in every room but found nothing but rats and mice. "Shall we search the sheds?"

"This is worse than Mordor!" Sam exclaimed. "Much worse in a way. It comes home to you, as they say, because it was home, and you remember it before it was ruined."

"Yes, it is like Mordor." Frodo agreed. "This is Saruman's doing."

"Lets get out!" Merry cried out. "If I had known he would do this I would have killed him in Isengard!"

"No doubt. But you didn't, and I am able to welcome you home." I heard Saruman's cold voice behind me and spun around my long sword flashing. Saruman looked well fed and pleased.

"Sharky!" Frodo gasped.

"Yes! You may have head that name. It was given to me by the orcs." he said this almost cheerfully, "I don't think you expected me to be here?"

"I could have guessed. Gandalf warned that you might be able to cause more harm." Frodo spat.

He laughed and we glared at him. "You all made me laugh. All you silly halflings riding with great people. With Theoden King or Legolas Prince of the elves. So secure and so pleased with your little selves. You thought you were big heros and could walk in back home. It didn't matter that Saruman's home was wrecked because nothing could happen to yours Gandalf would take care of that." he laughed again. "But the fool never does that, when his tools have done their job he drops them. But you have to do everything he does, following him going twice as far as you have to! I thought that since you were such fools that you needed to be taught a lesson. That is why I came here. I am pleased to have destroyed your little village."

I glared at him my grip on my sword tightening. "Well if it pleases you so then have the pleasure of the memory only, leave now and never return." Frodo hissed.

"Do not let him go! Kill him he's a villain and a murderer! Kill him!" the hobbits shouted.

"Kill him" Saruman mocked. "Kill him, if you think you are strong enough brave hobbits." He looked at us darkly. "Do not think since I've lost all my goods I have lost all my power! Whoever strikes me shall be cursed. And if my blood stains the Shire it shall wither and never be healed."

The hobbits took a step back but Frodo shouted "Do not believe him! He has lost all power save his voice that can still daunt and deceive you even now! But I will not have him killed. It is useless to meet revenge with revenge. It will heal nothing. Go Saruman by the speediest way."

"Worm! Worm!" Saruman yelled. Then Wormtongue came crawling out like a dog. "To the road again Worm, these fine hobbits and lordlings are turning us out into the road." He turned to go and Wormtongue followed slowly. When he passed Frodo I saw a flash of silver and my hand shot to my quiver. The dagger was slammed into Frodo's chest but it hit his mithril shirt and shattered. Sam and several more hobbits tackled him and Sam pulled out his sword. I quickly raised my bow ready to fire.

"No Sam! Pippin. Do not kill him even now. He has not hurt me. I don't wish him slain in this evil mood. He was great once, of a noble kind that we should dare not raise out hands against. He is fallen and his cure is beyond us, but I would still spare him, in the hope that he shall find it." Frodo placed his hand on my bow lowering it. I just stared at him, he had finally cracked, Saruman was still evil.

Saruman rose to his feet and stared at Frodo. "You have grown Halfling. You have grown wise and cruel. I will go and wont return. Do not expect me to wish you long life and health, you will have neither I have foreseen it." he turned and walked away but I still had the arrow notched in my bow. I had a feeling something was going to happen. I saw Wormtongue hesitate and begin to follow his master.

"Wormtongue!" Frodo called. "You do not need to follow him. You have done no evil, you may stay here and have food and rest."

"No evil! Worm has indeed done evil. Where do you think you miserable boss went? Worm stabbed him in his sleep, berried him also." Saruman hissed.

"You made me do it!" Wormtongue whispered coldly. Saruman laughed. "You always do what Sharky says then! Follow." he kicked Wormtongue in the face. He turned and walked off. The Wormtongue lunged at him and slit his throat. Before Frodo could say anything I fired an elvish arrow and Wormtongue dropped dead. Around the body of Saruman a grey mist grew. The mist then dissolved into nothing. The body somewhat shrunk and I felt pity for this horrid person, which surprised me slightly.

"Well that's the end of that! Not a very pleasant end though." Sam said breaking the silence.

"I hope it is the end of the war as well." Merry mumbled.

"I hope so but the end is at Bag End! Right in front of my very door." Frodo seemed shocked.

"We can't call it the end until we clean up this mess, and that will take a very long time." Sam sighed.

Authors Notes- Sorry about the wait but I have had so much homework and things to do I had no time!!

Reviews:

littlesaiyangirl- Will do! Will do!

Ri0t-Gurl- CHOCOLATE!!! YES YES!! CHOCOLATE!!

Ice Ember- It's my favorite part but they cut it out! *sob sob* I was so mad!!!