A/N: I AM REALLY REALLY SORRY FOR THE LONG DELAY!!! I really am!! Sigh… idiots never learn, I'm telling you…

A/N: First, I'd like to thank all of you who have reviewed, not forgetting Starlit Niphredil who gave me the nudge for me to continue this… thanks, girl! Badly needed it!

Summary: Lily-Rose looks back on the matters at hand… her sister is now ill, and a dispute had broken off with Merry and Pippin. How will things go from hereon? CHAPTER 8 FINALLY UP! YEAH! R&R please!

Disclaimer: No matter how many times I click my ruby shoes, I still don't own any of Tolkien's works.

Chapter 8 – A New Journey

Lily-Rose plants a kiss her sister's forehead, tucking her frail body beneath the soft sheets. A weary smile crossed her face as she reminisced the times when Poppy used to tuck her into bed. Lily-Rose knew her sister's wellbeing depended on her now, and she embraced the responsibilities that weighed down on her too willingly. It was her turn to take care of her sister.

Poppy lay still in her bed, dazed in a somewhat prolonged dream, like ones in those stories of men where a princess would be in a deep, spellbound sleep and a knight of kings would come and rescue her; deeming her free and returned to his country bearing his proud conquest.

Their current situation hadn't revered much from those old stories, only this time, the sleeping princess had two knights by her side – None other than the hazy blue-eyed lad and his cousin. Merry lay slumped in a chair on the left of her bed, and Pippin,- who was kneeling on the floor with his elbows propped up on her bed – was now fast asleep, head rested in his arms. All three are now dormant after the tiring incident that happened earlier that night – which consequently earned the three either a wounded arm, a pained limb or a mangled forehead.

When Lily-Rose saw that all was quiet, softly she blew out the lighted wick and left them at peace. She gave a last look of endearment at Merry, (who looked too adorable sleeping) and, tiptoeing out of the room, she went and held sanctuary her own little place; a small uninhabited room where she would ponder on things; and occasionally, write in her journal entries. And this, she thought, was very much the occasion.

Lighting a candle and placing it on the corner of her desk, she picked up a quill, lightly dipping it in ink before it dribbled into swift words of sentences.

September the 21st, 1418

It's been so long since anything big had happened in this little place. That was until today, one that almost everybody noted queer - the sudden heavy downpour that hailed in during the evening. I had just cooked dinner when I realized Poppy wasn't in. Of course I got a little worried, so I went off searching for her through every home I knew, but nobody knew where she was. I had a feeling things weren't right somehow, and I was getting more nervous after each failing attempt at finding her. Not even Frodo nor Sam knew her whereabouts! Oddly enough, even Merry and Pippin were gone, too. By my aunt's name, if this isn't the most worrying situation I don't know what is.

So I went off to try my luck around the outskirts of the town, and that's when I found her! She was soaking wet in the rain (as I was, too) and was apparently chasing after something, or someone. I tried calling out to her but my voice came out muffled through the growling thunder and rain. What else could I have done but to chase after her? The mental image would seem quite amusing right now; with her chasing after something, and me chasing after her. But at the time I only wanted to get Poppy back home safe, sound and dry.

The rain poured on mercilessly, and the chase went on until we reached a slope down the path. It was then that I saw Poppy trip over and fell sprawling to the gravel grounds. I was emotionless. My limbs froze, the blood in my veins chilling my entire body. When I finally got to her, I found she lay pale and unmoving, and I noticed a trace of blood on the side of her forehead. I took her shoulders in my hands and shook her hard, screaming out to her, calling out her name but she didn't answer me. I slumped over her still body, tears creeping down my cheeks amongst the droplets of rain.

Just as I felt I had lost all hope; I saw someone running in the distance. And bless me, it was Sam! He had offered to help me look for Poppy earlier then, but I declined. I could search for her myself. But knowing Sam, he would've flipped the Shire right side up to find Poppy for me. And thank my lucky stars he did.

He took Poppy home while I went off to search the other two. I was still in a crying stupor when I had finally found them. Though, something queer worth noting was that the two were actually fighting when I arrived! But during the moment I couldn't care less. I immediately informed them of what happened to Poppy.

We're all at home now, safe and sound, with Poppy fast asleep in bed. Sam got me some help in using some herbal remedies to help Poppy in healing, but he told me there's no knowing when she'll wake up. We'd have to see what will happen in the morning, he said.

Merry and Pippin were by her side the whole time since we got home, trying their best to relieve her. After tonight the two never seemed to fight again, and I didn't dare bring the subject up. It would be far too much to handle in one day. I left them alone with her for now.

To make matters even more peculiar, there's Gandalf who came by to visit a few days ago, probably just bringing some mischief to the Shire. Frodo was quite fond of him, but I was quite doubtful of this wizard… I'll not delve into the matter as much. I've been quite shaken up, too, and I think I shall take a rest. Poppy's got two hobbits safeguarding her tonight.

- - -

It's September the 23rd today. And Poppy only knew of one that mattered above all else in this one instant. She stood stoic in her sister's room, a piece of parchment clutched in one hand. Her hair in a godforsaken mess, her misty grey eyes searched the floor as if to find some sort of hope, maybe a miracle to take shape in that one spot in the ground. To say the least, she had bore a hole in the wooden flooring. Her emotions were one of those of a dire combination: shock, worry, and hopelessness.

Merry, Pippin, and Frodo and Samwise were gone.

And the letter in her hand had just been substantial support

A/N: more to come! review please!!!

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