Diamond hardly ever cried. It was one of the things she was proud of.
"I'm not a wimp," she constantly told people, a smirk on her face. "I hardly ever cry. I'm too strong for that." But stumbling through the forest, looking for Bree, Diamond cried. It had all happened so fast. Now Pippin's life was in danger. Who WAS Sauron?
iBree…. /iShe thought. iI have to get to Bree and give the ring to one of Sauron's servants. Was that what he said? Or did he say himself? No, it was servants. And I have fifty hours. Fifty hours to do it! Where IS Bree?/i
Diamond stumbled through the woods for half an hour, trying to find a road or something. What she didn't know was that Merry, Pippin, Frodo and Estella were trying to find her. They, too, were wandering through the forest.
"Diamond of Long Cleeves, stop if you value your life," a hooded creature grabbed Diamond by the arm. For a second Diamond froze. Then she whirled around quickly to look at the 'thing' that had her. Unfortunately, it had a hood and she couldn't see what it was.
"I.. I..." Diamond was scared spitless, but she tried to yank free of the creature's grasp anyway. Then she stopped and glared at the creature. "Wait. How can you see me?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"How can you see me? You know I'm invisible. I know I'm invisible. I am. Pippin can't see me. Neither can Frodo and... what was that other Hobbit?… Estella. No one. How... How can you?"
Diamond swore she saw the thing smile. "Welcome to invisibility, Diamond of Long Cleeves."
"How do you know who I am?" Diamond demanded. "What is going on here?"
"I know many things, Diamond of Long Cleaves."
"You can just call me-"
"-Sassy," the creature interrupted. "I know."
Diamond stared up at the creature cloaked in black. "Who are you?"
So very slowly, the creature drew back its hood. Diamond braced herself for something terrible and ugly. But the creature that emerged from the velvet hood was not hideous at all. Actually, it was a she. And she was beautiful.
"Oh…" Diamond gave a gasp when she saw who it was before her. The golden lady was not an Elf (too short), nor was she a Hobbit or Dwarf (too tall). She couldn't be from the race of men (too exotic). Actually, Diamond didn't know WHAT the flaxen lady was. Just that she was beautiful. They lady was literally all in gold. Even her skin was a touch of pale yellow. Long, wavy hair spilled down her shoulders like a golden waterfall and eyes with yellow irises glistened.
"What are you?" Sassy whispered.
The golden creature gave a sad smile. "I'm sorry, Sassy. But I cannot tell you what I am."
"What about a name?" Diamond mumbled sarcastically. "Can you give me that?"
"My name is too difficult for someone from this world to say. It is too long and complicated. Your tongue couldn't mutter a syllable. My name in Elvish is Maegnovwen. You may call me that, if you so desire."
"I can't even pronounce that. How about Mae for short?"
Maegnovwen (or Mae) gave a laugh. "I suppose so."
"What is going on here?" Diamond asked Mae softly.
"You are invisible, Diamond."
"I know that," Diamond snapped. "But if I'm so invisible, how can you see me?"
"Because no one can see me either. Believe it or not, invisible people CAN see other invisible people."
"That sounds odd," muttered Diamond.
"But it is true. Do you know what invisibility is, Diamond of Long Cleeves?"
"When people can't see you?"
"That's part of it. Did you know that Middle Earth isn't the only world in this universe?"
"What?"
"Middle Earth is only one world among many. Some people call these other worlds 'Dimensions', but to me, they are just different worlds. There is the earth of only men, there is this place, and there is the dimension/world I come from. That's only to name a few."
"Are you kidding me?"
"Why would I do that to you, Diamond of Long Cleeves?" Mae smiled. Diamond noticed that she had a ring on one of her fingers.
"You can drop the 'Long Cleeves' thing."
"Being invisible is when you are between two worlds. I guess you could say it is sort of….. a bridge between the two dimension. It is where you are so much in the other world that nobody can see you…. Yet, you are not COMPLETELY in that other world. You are still in your home world. It's just nobody can see you there."
Diamond frowned. "I'm confused."
"Understandable. When you are invisible you are borderline between two dimensions/worlds. Stuck in the middle. Understand now?"
"I think," Diamond said slowly. "Yes, I think I do. But wouldn't it hurt? To be between two worlds?"
"Not necessarily. You're between right now."
"I didn't even know there were different dimensions, or worlds, or whatever."
"Dimensions, worlds, they're the same thing," Mae smiled.
"How do you actually cross over to that different world?"
"If you know in your heart that the world you want to go to is there and you think about it very, very hard, then your ring will transport you there. When the ring transports you to the desired dimension it will fall off your finger automatically. End up in a pocket or your hand. If you take the ring off YOURSELF, then you will be returned to your home dimension."
"Is that how everyone gets to different worlds? By rings?"
"Not normal rings. Magic rings. Like the one you have. Creatures in your dimension might call it the one ring, but it's really not. There are others like it," Mae winked. "Just not in this world."
"Amazing…"
"Some people, like me, just wander on this bridge. Enjoying the fact of being invisible," Mae smiled. Then she frowned. "Just beware."
"Beware? Of what?"
"You do know what will happen if you take the ring off your finger, right?"
"No."
"You'll get transported back to your home dimension. Middle Earth, in your case."
"Yes, so?"
"It is dangerous to wander on this bridge of invisibility, on the borderline of two different dimensions," warned Mae. "I do it, I'll admit. But it's still very dangerous."
"Why?"
"If you leave the ring on for more than 24 hours at a time you will get stuck."
"Stuck?"
"Yes. These kinds of rings exist just to let you transport between dimensions. Nothing more. At least, not a lot more. The rings don't like it if you use them to play around on the bridge of invisibility."
"Rings can't think," scoffed Diamond.
"Magic ones can. Like yours. Anyway, if the ring is on your finger for more than twenty-four hours you will become invisible permanently. The ring will grow onto your finger."
"Permanently?" gasped Diamond.
"Yes, dear. That's what I said. You will be forever stuck between two dimensions. No one will be able to see you …. Well, almost no one…."
"What do you mean 'almost'?"
"There are some rare and extraordinary people in this universe. One out of every half a million creatures can see everyone stuck on the bridge of invisibility."
"Not the people who AREN'T stuck? Just the people who ARE?"
Mae nodded. "Yes, don't ask me why. I don't know. These gifted people can only see the creatures that are STUCK in invisibility. No one else. Unfortunately, everyone thinks these gifted people are hallucinating and they are thought of as crazy. Although they really aren't."
"That's terrible."
"Although these gifted creatures cannot see the people merely VISITING invisibility (like you and I), sometimes they can hear our conversations."
"Strange…"
All of a sudden Mae fell very, very silent. The golden lady placed her hood back on her head, then said, "There's someone here. Looks like your friends. They are looking for you. Estella is a very gifted Hobbit…."
"You mean?" Diamond asked, mouth open wide. "Estella is-"
"Shush," interrupted Maegnovwen. "I must go back to my other world now. Good-bye, Diamond of Long Cleeves. We shall meet again someday. Oh, but one last thing."
"What?"
"Whatever you do, do NOT give the ring to Sauron."
"He'll kill Pippin, though!" exclaimed Diamond. "He'll kill Pippin if I don't!"
"He will try to kill Peregrin Took, that is true. But do not give him the ring, Sassy. Don't give it to him. Don't give it to him. If you do he'll take over this dimension, the dimension of men, and others…. Just like… never mind. Don't do it, Diamond of Long Cleeves," the golden lady pleaded as she ever so slowly took off her ring. "Don't do it," with that she disappeared. For a few seconds, Diamond just stood there, staring where Mae had been five seconds earlier.
That was when Pippin, Estella, Frodo and Merry burst through the brush. Diamond almost ran to hide, but then she remembered that she still had the ring on and they couldn't see her.
IIt's quite funny/I she mused as she watched her Hobbit friends run around, looking for her. She was right next to them and they couldn't see her.
Estella's head was swimming with conversation. Someone called Maegnovwen had just been talking with Diamond….. She had heard the whole conversation.
"We have to find Diamond," Estella mumbled quietly.
"Of course!" Pippin was frantic.
IDon't give it to him/I Mae's words echoed in Diamond's head. Inside, she knew she shouldn't…. But Pippin… she had to think about him… Pippin…. Pippin….
"I love you, Pip," Diamond whispered, then headed towards Bree.
"Well, hello."
The voice came from behind Estella. She whirled around, then let out with a surprised gasp. A Dwarf stood in front of a pine tree. He grinned at her with yellow teeth."Why… who.. how'd you get there?" Estella stuttered, her green eyes displaying terror.
"Estella?" Frodo glanced at his friend. It looked like Estella was staring at something in front of that Pine tree. He shifted his gaze to the spot where Estella was staring. Frodo frowned. He saw nothing amazing or extraordinary. What was Estella doing? "Are you all right?" He groped for her hand. Estella's hand was so cold it startled him.
"There's a… a…" Estella stammered to Frodo, keeping her eyes locked on the Dwarf.
"I'm not going to hurt you," purred the Dwarf. "My name is Loin."
"Loin?" Estella's mouth was wide.
"There's a Loin?" frowned Frodo. "What's going on?"
"It looks like she's talking to someone not there," Pippin stared at Estella.
"Yes," smirked Merry. "She's talking to invisible people."
"Invisible people is right, isn't it, Estella?" Loin's eyes glittered with malicious delight.
"I don't know!" cried Estella as she covered her face with her hands.
"You don't know what?" Frodo asked her. He was getting worried. What was going on? Gently, he peeled Estella's hands from her face. The confusion and fright etched on her face scared him. Her usually young looks seemed old in the fading, evening light.
A tear streamed down her cheek. "I don't know what the Dwarf is talking about!"
"What Dwarf?!" shrilled Frodo, practically shaking the sobbing Estrella.
"That Dwarf!" sobbed Estella, pointing to Loin in front of the Pine tree. "That Dwarf!"
For a minute Frodo stared long and hard at the Pine tree. He saw no Dwarf. All he saw was a Pine tree. "What Dwarf are you talking about?"
"Loin!" Estella pointed at Loin. "Him!"
"Yes, me," Loin sighed, fingering his red beard.
"I see nothing! Pippin?" Frodo turned to his friend. "Do you see anything?"
Pippin shook his head. "Nothing. Just a Pine tree."
"I don't see a Dwarf, either," Merry commented. "I think Estella's flipped her lid."
Frodo shot Merry a death glare.
All Merry did was shrug. "I mean, she's obviously seeing things."
Frodo enveloped his arms around the sobbing Estella. I'm so confused Estella thought. More creatures that I see, but no on else can. Why me?
"Shhh…" comforted Frodo. "Shhh…."
"Yes, comfort her," Loin said. "She needs it. After all, she is one of the gifted creatures in the world that can actually see everybody stuck on the bridge of invisibility. She can see creatures like me. I am one of those stuck on the bridge."
Although Estella continued to cry in Frodo's arms, she listened to Loin's voice. The Bridge of Invisibility… Mae mentioned that in the conversation between her and Diamond….. Mae also mentioned the "gifted creatures"…. She could see everyone stuck on the bridge of invisibility? Things were growing clearer….
"Let's find Diamond," she whispered hoarsely.
"Estella?" Frodo looked at her, his eyes worried.
"We have to find her. Let's go."
Diamond coughed into her hand.
"I'm doing it again," she said to no one in particular. "I've got to stop these coughing habits."
But she knew she couldn't help them. Leaning against a tree, she spent five minutes coughing. When she was done, a trickle of blood dribbled from her mouth.
"Oh, yuck," she mumbled, wiping the blood away. "This has got to stop."
Still invisible, Diamond traipsed through the woods. If only she knew the way to Bree.
IHow long have I been out here? /IDiamond thought.i Four hours at least./I
She had forty-six hours left.
II'm so tired/I Diamond thought as she coughed into her hand again.
IYou can't stop /IAnother one of her thoughts argued. IYou have to find someone who can tell you where Bree is.
Where am I now?
I don't know. I can't stop, though.
I'm so tired…
Think about Pippin.
So tired, though…
Pippin…/I
For a second Diamond stopped and wiped her tired eyes. Her lips, usually in a smirk, drooped wearily on her face and for once her usually bright blue eyes were dull.
"Maybe a tiny nap wouldn't hurt. I HAVE been walking for four hours."
Diamond gathered some leaves and made a little bed. The Hobbit snuggled amongst the leaves and immediately fell asleep.
Her last thought was 'forty-six hours'…..
Sauron had always been impatient. He wanted his ring. And he wanted it NOW.
The Nazgul screamed as they galloped out of Mordor. They had Sauron's strict instructions to find the Hobbit and make sure she arrived at Bree with the ring.
Their screams echoed as the sun melted into the horizon.
"It's getting late and I'm tired," Merry complained.
"Be quiet, Merry," snapped Pippin. He was in no mood for Merry's complaints. They still hadn't found Diamond and it had been five hours. Everyone in their little party was tired and depressed.
"Oh, Diamond…" whispered Pippin.
"Let's go back to the Shire," urged Merry.
"No!" Pippin screamed. "We can't leave her! I know you don't care about her, Merry, but I do!"
IPippin thinks I don't care for Diamond? /IMerry thought. He rolled his eyes, but Estella noticed a streak of pain in his gray eyes. Merry announced, "Yeah, well, Sassy is annoying."
"No, she's not! Be quiet! She's a-"
"Stop it, both of you," Frodo interjected. "You guys hardly ever fight! Don't start now!"
With a yawn, Diamond opened her eyes. Then she realized that Pippin was standing right in front of her.
Pippin! She thought. They found me!
Diamond fingered the ring on her finger. They found her, but they couldn't see her. The ring kept her invisible.
"Let's go back to the Shire," repeated Merry.
"We have to find Sassy," sighed Pippin, sitting down next to the invisible Diamond. She longed to reach out and give him a hug, since he looked so sad and lonely sitting there. But she couldn't. Somehow she had to get to Bree. And she wanted to go by herself.
"I don't know," Frodo shrugged. "Estella? You have anything to say?"
Estella shook her head, "Whatever you say, Frodo."
"I think we should keep looking."
Diamond smiled at Frodo.
"I agree!" Pippin leaped up. "Let's find her!"
"If we don't find her in a few hours," Frodo's eyes squinted as he looked at the setting sun. "Then we'll pick up the search tomorrow morning."
All of the Hobbits agreed to that and went back to looking through the woods for Diamond.
The invisible Sassy watched them go. Then she gave a sigh and headed back towards the Shire. Maybe someone there could tell her the way to Bree.
"I'm not a wimp," she constantly told people, a smirk on her face. "I hardly ever cry. I'm too strong for that." But stumbling through the forest, looking for Bree, Diamond cried. It had all happened so fast. Now Pippin's life was in danger. Who WAS Sauron?
iBree…. /iShe thought. iI have to get to Bree and give the ring to one of Sauron's servants. Was that what he said? Or did he say himself? No, it was servants. And I have fifty hours. Fifty hours to do it! Where IS Bree?/i
Diamond stumbled through the woods for half an hour, trying to find a road or something. What she didn't know was that Merry, Pippin, Frodo and Estella were trying to find her. They, too, were wandering through the forest.
"Diamond of Long Cleeves, stop if you value your life," a hooded creature grabbed Diamond by the arm. For a second Diamond froze. Then she whirled around quickly to look at the 'thing' that had her. Unfortunately, it had a hood and she couldn't see what it was.
"I.. I..." Diamond was scared spitless, but she tried to yank free of the creature's grasp anyway. Then she stopped and glared at the creature. "Wait. How can you see me?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"How can you see me? You know I'm invisible. I know I'm invisible. I am. Pippin can't see me. Neither can Frodo and... what was that other Hobbit?… Estella. No one. How... How can you?"
Diamond swore she saw the thing smile. "Welcome to invisibility, Diamond of Long Cleeves."
"How do you know who I am?" Diamond demanded. "What is going on here?"
"I know many things, Diamond of Long Cleaves."
"You can just call me-"
"-Sassy," the creature interrupted. "I know."
Diamond stared up at the creature cloaked in black. "Who are you?"
So very slowly, the creature drew back its hood. Diamond braced herself for something terrible and ugly. But the creature that emerged from the velvet hood was not hideous at all. Actually, it was a she. And she was beautiful.
"Oh…" Diamond gave a gasp when she saw who it was before her. The golden lady was not an Elf (too short), nor was she a Hobbit or Dwarf (too tall). She couldn't be from the race of men (too exotic). Actually, Diamond didn't know WHAT the flaxen lady was. Just that she was beautiful. They lady was literally all in gold. Even her skin was a touch of pale yellow. Long, wavy hair spilled down her shoulders like a golden waterfall and eyes with yellow irises glistened.
"What are you?" Sassy whispered.
The golden creature gave a sad smile. "I'm sorry, Sassy. But I cannot tell you what I am."
"What about a name?" Diamond mumbled sarcastically. "Can you give me that?"
"My name is too difficult for someone from this world to say. It is too long and complicated. Your tongue couldn't mutter a syllable. My name in Elvish is Maegnovwen. You may call me that, if you so desire."
"I can't even pronounce that. How about Mae for short?"
Maegnovwen (or Mae) gave a laugh. "I suppose so."
"What is going on here?" Diamond asked Mae softly.
"You are invisible, Diamond."
"I know that," Diamond snapped. "But if I'm so invisible, how can you see me?"
"Because no one can see me either. Believe it or not, invisible people CAN see other invisible people."
"That sounds odd," muttered Diamond.
"But it is true. Do you know what invisibility is, Diamond of Long Cleeves?"
"When people can't see you?"
"That's part of it. Did you know that Middle Earth isn't the only world in this universe?"
"What?"
"Middle Earth is only one world among many. Some people call these other worlds 'Dimensions', but to me, they are just different worlds. There is the earth of only men, there is this place, and there is the dimension/world I come from. That's only to name a few."
"Are you kidding me?"
"Why would I do that to you, Diamond of Long Cleeves?" Mae smiled. Diamond noticed that she had a ring on one of her fingers.
"You can drop the 'Long Cleeves' thing."
"Being invisible is when you are between two worlds. I guess you could say it is sort of….. a bridge between the two dimension. It is where you are so much in the other world that nobody can see you…. Yet, you are not COMPLETELY in that other world. You are still in your home world. It's just nobody can see you there."
Diamond frowned. "I'm confused."
"Understandable. When you are invisible you are borderline between two dimensions/worlds. Stuck in the middle. Understand now?"
"I think," Diamond said slowly. "Yes, I think I do. But wouldn't it hurt? To be between two worlds?"
"Not necessarily. You're between right now."
"I didn't even know there were different dimensions, or worlds, or whatever."
"Dimensions, worlds, they're the same thing," Mae smiled.
"How do you actually cross over to that different world?"
"If you know in your heart that the world you want to go to is there and you think about it very, very hard, then your ring will transport you there. When the ring transports you to the desired dimension it will fall off your finger automatically. End up in a pocket or your hand. If you take the ring off YOURSELF, then you will be returned to your home dimension."
"Is that how everyone gets to different worlds? By rings?"
"Not normal rings. Magic rings. Like the one you have. Creatures in your dimension might call it the one ring, but it's really not. There are others like it," Mae winked. "Just not in this world."
"Amazing…"
"Some people, like me, just wander on this bridge. Enjoying the fact of being invisible," Mae smiled. Then she frowned. "Just beware."
"Beware? Of what?"
"You do know what will happen if you take the ring off your finger, right?"
"No."
"You'll get transported back to your home dimension. Middle Earth, in your case."
"Yes, so?"
"It is dangerous to wander on this bridge of invisibility, on the borderline of two different dimensions," warned Mae. "I do it, I'll admit. But it's still very dangerous."
"Why?"
"If you leave the ring on for more than 24 hours at a time you will get stuck."
"Stuck?"
"Yes. These kinds of rings exist just to let you transport between dimensions. Nothing more. At least, not a lot more. The rings don't like it if you use them to play around on the bridge of invisibility."
"Rings can't think," scoffed Diamond.
"Magic ones can. Like yours. Anyway, if the ring is on your finger for more than twenty-four hours you will become invisible permanently. The ring will grow onto your finger."
"Permanently?" gasped Diamond.
"Yes, dear. That's what I said. You will be forever stuck between two dimensions. No one will be able to see you …. Well, almost no one…."
"What do you mean 'almost'?"
"There are some rare and extraordinary people in this universe. One out of every half a million creatures can see everyone stuck on the bridge of invisibility."
"Not the people who AREN'T stuck? Just the people who ARE?"
Mae nodded. "Yes, don't ask me why. I don't know. These gifted people can only see the creatures that are STUCK in invisibility. No one else. Unfortunately, everyone thinks these gifted people are hallucinating and they are thought of as crazy. Although they really aren't."
"That's terrible."
"Although these gifted creatures cannot see the people merely VISITING invisibility (like you and I), sometimes they can hear our conversations."
"Strange…"
All of a sudden Mae fell very, very silent. The golden lady placed her hood back on her head, then said, "There's someone here. Looks like your friends. They are looking for you. Estella is a very gifted Hobbit…."
"You mean?" Diamond asked, mouth open wide. "Estella is-"
"Shush," interrupted Maegnovwen. "I must go back to my other world now. Good-bye, Diamond of Long Cleeves. We shall meet again someday. Oh, but one last thing."
"What?"
"Whatever you do, do NOT give the ring to Sauron."
"He'll kill Pippin, though!" exclaimed Diamond. "He'll kill Pippin if I don't!"
"He will try to kill Peregrin Took, that is true. But do not give him the ring, Sassy. Don't give it to him. Don't give it to him. If you do he'll take over this dimension, the dimension of men, and others…. Just like… never mind. Don't do it, Diamond of Long Cleeves," the golden lady pleaded as she ever so slowly took off her ring. "Don't do it," with that she disappeared. For a few seconds, Diamond just stood there, staring where Mae had been five seconds earlier.
That was when Pippin, Estella, Frodo and Merry burst through the brush. Diamond almost ran to hide, but then she remembered that she still had the ring on and they couldn't see her.
IIt's quite funny/I she mused as she watched her Hobbit friends run around, looking for her. She was right next to them and they couldn't see her.
Estella's head was swimming with conversation. Someone called Maegnovwen had just been talking with Diamond….. She had heard the whole conversation.
"We have to find Diamond," Estella mumbled quietly.
"Of course!" Pippin was frantic.
IDon't give it to him/I Mae's words echoed in Diamond's head. Inside, she knew she shouldn't…. But Pippin… she had to think about him… Pippin…. Pippin….
"I love you, Pip," Diamond whispered, then headed towards Bree.
"Well, hello."
The voice came from behind Estella. She whirled around, then let out with a surprised gasp. A Dwarf stood in front of a pine tree. He grinned at her with yellow teeth."Why… who.. how'd you get there?" Estella stuttered, her green eyes displaying terror.
"Estella?" Frodo glanced at his friend. It looked like Estella was staring at something in front of that Pine tree. He shifted his gaze to the spot where Estella was staring. Frodo frowned. He saw nothing amazing or extraordinary. What was Estella doing? "Are you all right?" He groped for her hand. Estella's hand was so cold it startled him.
"There's a… a…" Estella stammered to Frodo, keeping her eyes locked on the Dwarf.
"I'm not going to hurt you," purred the Dwarf. "My name is Loin."
"Loin?" Estella's mouth was wide.
"There's a Loin?" frowned Frodo. "What's going on?"
"It looks like she's talking to someone not there," Pippin stared at Estella.
"Yes," smirked Merry. "She's talking to invisible people."
"Invisible people is right, isn't it, Estella?" Loin's eyes glittered with malicious delight.
"I don't know!" cried Estella as she covered her face with her hands.
"You don't know what?" Frodo asked her. He was getting worried. What was going on? Gently, he peeled Estella's hands from her face. The confusion and fright etched on her face scared him. Her usually young looks seemed old in the fading, evening light.
A tear streamed down her cheek. "I don't know what the Dwarf is talking about!"
"What Dwarf?!" shrilled Frodo, practically shaking the sobbing Estrella.
"That Dwarf!" sobbed Estella, pointing to Loin in front of the Pine tree. "That Dwarf!"
For a minute Frodo stared long and hard at the Pine tree. He saw no Dwarf. All he saw was a Pine tree. "What Dwarf are you talking about?"
"Loin!" Estella pointed at Loin. "Him!"
"Yes, me," Loin sighed, fingering his red beard.
"I see nothing! Pippin?" Frodo turned to his friend. "Do you see anything?"
Pippin shook his head. "Nothing. Just a Pine tree."
"I don't see a Dwarf, either," Merry commented. "I think Estella's flipped her lid."
Frodo shot Merry a death glare.
All Merry did was shrug. "I mean, she's obviously seeing things."
Frodo enveloped his arms around the sobbing Estella. I'm so confused Estella thought. More creatures that I see, but no on else can. Why me?
"Shhh…" comforted Frodo. "Shhh…."
"Yes, comfort her," Loin said. "She needs it. After all, she is one of the gifted creatures in the world that can actually see everybody stuck on the bridge of invisibility. She can see creatures like me. I am one of those stuck on the bridge."
Although Estella continued to cry in Frodo's arms, she listened to Loin's voice. The Bridge of Invisibility… Mae mentioned that in the conversation between her and Diamond….. Mae also mentioned the "gifted creatures"…. She could see everyone stuck on the bridge of invisibility? Things were growing clearer….
"Let's find Diamond," she whispered hoarsely.
"Estella?" Frodo looked at her, his eyes worried.
"We have to find her. Let's go."
Diamond coughed into her hand.
"I'm doing it again," she said to no one in particular. "I've got to stop these coughing habits."
But she knew she couldn't help them. Leaning against a tree, she spent five minutes coughing. When she was done, a trickle of blood dribbled from her mouth.
"Oh, yuck," she mumbled, wiping the blood away. "This has got to stop."
Still invisible, Diamond traipsed through the woods. If only she knew the way to Bree.
IHow long have I been out here? /IDiamond thought.i Four hours at least./I
She had forty-six hours left.
II'm so tired/I Diamond thought as she coughed into her hand again.
IYou can't stop /IAnother one of her thoughts argued. IYou have to find someone who can tell you where Bree is.
Where am I now?
I don't know. I can't stop, though.
I'm so tired…
Think about Pippin.
So tired, though…
Pippin…/I
For a second Diamond stopped and wiped her tired eyes. Her lips, usually in a smirk, drooped wearily on her face and for once her usually bright blue eyes were dull.
"Maybe a tiny nap wouldn't hurt. I HAVE been walking for four hours."
Diamond gathered some leaves and made a little bed. The Hobbit snuggled amongst the leaves and immediately fell asleep.
Her last thought was 'forty-six hours'…..
Sauron had always been impatient. He wanted his ring. And he wanted it NOW.
The Nazgul screamed as they galloped out of Mordor. They had Sauron's strict instructions to find the Hobbit and make sure she arrived at Bree with the ring.
Their screams echoed as the sun melted into the horizon.
"It's getting late and I'm tired," Merry complained.
"Be quiet, Merry," snapped Pippin. He was in no mood for Merry's complaints. They still hadn't found Diamond and it had been five hours. Everyone in their little party was tired and depressed.
"Oh, Diamond…" whispered Pippin.
"Let's go back to the Shire," urged Merry.
"No!" Pippin screamed. "We can't leave her! I know you don't care about her, Merry, but I do!"
IPippin thinks I don't care for Diamond? /IMerry thought. He rolled his eyes, but Estella noticed a streak of pain in his gray eyes. Merry announced, "Yeah, well, Sassy is annoying."
"No, she's not! Be quiet! She's a-"
"Stop it, both of you," Frodo interjected. "You guys hardly ever fight! Don't start now!"
With a yawn, Diamond opened her eyes. Then she realized that Pippin was standing right in front of her.
Pippin! She thought. They found me!
Diamond fingered the ring on her finger. They found her, but they couldn't see her. The ring kept her invisible.
"Let's go back to the Shire," repeated Merry.
"We have to find Sassy," sighed Pippin, sitting down next to the invisible Diamond. She longed to reach out and give him a hug, since he looked so sad and lonely sitting there. But she couldn't. Somehow she had to get to Bree. And she wanted to go by herself.
"I don't know," Frodo shrugged. "Estella? You have anything to say?"
Estella shook her head, "Whatever you say, Frodo."
"I think we should keep looking."
Diamond smiled at Frodo.
"I agree!" Pippin leaped up. "Let's find her!"
"If we don't find her in a few hours," Frodo's eyes squinted as he looked at the setting sun. "Then we'll pick up the search tomorrow morning."
All of the Hobbits agreed to that and went back to looking through the woods for Diamond.
The invisible Sassy watched them go. Then she gave a sigh and headed back towards the Shire. Maybe someone there could tell her the way to Bree.