I can't believe how long it's been so long since I last updated, I'm so sorry! It's been, wow, three months! Well, I'm hoping to finish this story over the next few weeks, so updates should be more frequent from now on. Hopefully.

Thank you so much to Lyrical Ballads and Tilly for reviewing! I do really appreciate it!

Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings *sigh*

Jarred beheld Pervinca, keen interest in his eyes. "So." he said. "You want to go to Brandywine. Why?"

"We're all tired of the Ruffians," Pervinca replied. "That's why we were sent out. If we don't rise up now, we may never again get the chance. Besides, why wait?"

Jarred waved a hand. "That isn't what I asked. Why Brandywine, and not Hobbiton? The mayor's in the lockholes, so you won't be able discuss with him, but I hear things are beginning to stir down there."

News of the outside world was a rarity for Jarred and his daughter. Ever since the invasion of the ruffians, very few people came by that way. They had to be perceptive, sorting through the Ruffian's comments in order to determine the lies and the truths.

"You're probably right," agreed Pevinca, "but now that Frodo Baggins has left, I don't know anyone in Hobbiton who I trust. I'd rather take counsel with my uncle before doing anything. Besides, isn't it better to raise the Shire behind the Ruffians' backs before we go charging into action?"

"And you don't want to go charging into Hobbiton upon false hope." Jarred and Pervinca spun round, to see Diamond in the doorway. "This way, you'll have a whole army of Brandybucks at your back. When do you leave, Vinca?"

Pervinca groaned. The temptation to stay another few days was enormous, but she knew that days would become weeks, and weeks, months. No, she'd have to leave fairly soon."We should really be going as soon as possible," she sighed, reluctance evident in her voice. "It's to late to leave today, but if we leave early tomorrow, we should make it by nightfall.

"Your poor pony," Diamond laughed bitterly. "But it's achievable."

Jarred nodded towards his daughter. "We hear very little, nowadays," he said. "No-one comes by here except Ruffians, and I would not happily believe anything they said."

Diamond shrugged. "It is true that much of what they say are lies, Father. But in every lie there is a grain of truth. We need only to find it."

Jarred nodded. 'True, he agreed, getting to his feet. "Well, as much I'm sure they'd like to, the pigs aren't going to feed themselves. I'll see you later."

Diamond turned to Pervinca. "It's a good plan," she added abruptly. "It's definitely better to stir the Shire behind Old Lotho's back. But what do you plan to do after Buckland?"

"Then we attack," replied Pervinca, determination flashing in her eyes. Diamond nodded, admiring the steel in Pervinca's voice, but she couldn't help cracking a smile at how much the older girl had overlooked. She raised one eyebrow.

"Talking about overthrowing already? My, my, Vinca, I like your ambition. But what about the Tooks? You're not just going to leave them, are you? They'd be quite a formidable force, and unless you release them, they could be used as bait. Besides, I doubt you could win without them."

Pervinca nodded. "I'll send Everard back with some Bucklanders." She figured Everard would be far more widely recognized throughout Tuckborough than Negrinard, and Everard's return would spark more hope. For a second, her heart went out to her parents and sisters, wondering what they would think when Everard came charging in alone. They had already lost Pippin… she noticed Diamond was beginning to look impatient. "The Ruffians' force isn't nearly as big as we thought," she continued, "so that shouldn't be a problem. Everard'll call by here before and after the attack, so you'll know what's going on. Meanwhile, Negrinard and I will rouse the rest of the Shire, excluding Hobbiton. Then we'll attack." Being the Thain's daughter, Pervinca knew that the people would listen to her.

Diamond stepped back, impressed. Apparently Pervinca had done quite a lot of thinking since they had talked about this last night. "What were you thinking of doing in terms of battle strategy?" she asked.

Pervinca shrugged. "Meh. We'll work that out in Buckland."

Diamond nodded. It made sense to wait on the advice of the Brandybucks. Suddenly a thought crossed her mind, a thought that made her cringe with amusement. "Have you told Everard and Negrinard your plan yet?" she asked.

Pervinca chewed her bottom lip. "Well, no, but..."

"You might want to do that," Diamond insisted. "You know, run the plan past them."

"What plan?" As if in cue, Everard and Negrinard appeared in the doorway.

Diamond grinned evilly. "Vinca will explain," she said, playfully pushing the older girl in the direction of Everard and Negrinard. "By the way, I'd like to come with you to Buckland."

Pervinca shook her head. "No, don't. There's three of us, that's more than enough. We want to stay inconspicuous. Besides, we need you here in case we need to send an urgent message to Great Smials or something."

Diamond shrugged. "My Father can take care of that," she said, rather unconvincingly, for she herself knew that Pervinca was right. She was far more needed here. If something happened in Tookland, she would be the first to know. She sighed. As much as she longed for some excitement in her dull, repetitive life, she knew she'd be more of a burden then a help if she was to accompany them. She could not use a weapon and was a poor rider. "You're right," she conceded. "But if there's anything I can do to help, in any way, let me know."

"Thanks, Diamond," replied Pervinca. "You've already done plenty. Nevertheless, we may take you up on that."

"Please do," replied Diamond. "I'd like something to do."

Pervinca hurriedly told the boys her plan. To her relief, they both nodded approvingly, and the five of them briefly discussed the plan, improving it where they could. Upon finishing the intense discussion, they broke apart, with an unspoken agreement not to speak of the plan again, until it was time for Pervinca, Everard and Negrinard to leave.

Negrinard burst outside, deeply inhaling the cool, fresh air. He smiled. For the first time, he was able to fully appreciate his surroundings. He had spent much of his childhood here, running and shouting with Diamond in the rolling, green pastures. As he scanned the beautiful farm around him, he caught sight of a figure, slouching on a sack of hay just outside the stable. It was Diamond, he was sure of it. He'd know that wispy black hair anywhere.

He ran towards the stable, stopping about five meters from where Diamond sat, staring out into the distance. He approached her in silence, than sidled in beside his old friend, calmly waiting for her to speak.

"You can see so much from here," Diamond said at last.

Negrinard nodded.

"I haven't actually been to most of it," said Diamond. "I've only left Long Cleeve three times in my life, and I've never been further than Tookland."

Suddenly, Negrinard understood what was troubling his old friend. "You're going to have to leave, one day, and you don't know what's ahead of you." He stated. "You long to leave but you're afraid."

Diamond sighed. "Yes. That's partly why I wanted to come with you," she replied. "I wanted to get out, once and for all."

"But only partly?" asked Negrinard.

Diamond looked at him, her vivid green eyes full of wistful tears. "I want an adventure, Neggy," she told him. "I know barely being affected by the Ruffians is a blessing. But my life feels so meaningless at the moment."

For once Negrinard didn't mind the nickname. "It won't always be that way," he assured her. "I can't say my situation quite matches yours, but when I agreed to accompany Vinca, I had no idea what the outside world had become. So I understand what you're feeling. He thudded his old friend on the shoulder. "Cheer up, Diamond. Mark my words, you'll have your adventure by the time this is through."

"Do you really believe we can win?" she asked him.

"I have to," he replied. "We have to. Otherwise, we have no hope, and our efforts will be all for nothing."

Diamond nodded. The prospect of a revolution terrified her, but it had to happen. And she was not simply going to sit by and watch when it did.

Merry crouched in the bushes, shocked at the Ruffian's jeering and what he was seeing. A grown hobbit not going to bed when told, a crime worthy of whipping?

As the party of Ruffians approached, Farmer Cotton patted him on the shoulder, than stepped out to meet them. Merry admired the hobbit's courage. Although his brain knew full well that there was an army of hobbits at his back, it took courage to stand in front of one's oppressors, and to simply tell them the skedaddle, as Farmer Cotton was.

"'Who are you and what d'you think you're doing?' said the ruffian-leader.

Farmer Cotton looked at him slowly. 'I was just going to ask you that,' he said. 'This isn't your country, and you're not wanted.'

'Well, you're wanted, anyhow,' said the leader. 'We want you. Take him, lads! Lockholes for him, and give him something to keep him quiet!'

The men took one step forward and stopped short. There rose a roar of voices all round them, and suddenly, they were aware that Farmer Cotton was not all alone. They were surrounded. In the dark on the edge of the firelight stood a ring of hobbits that had crept up out of the shadows. There was nearly two hundred of them, all holding some weapon.

Merry stepped forward. 'We have met before,' he said to the leader, 'and I warned you not to come back here. I warn you again: you are standing in the light and you are covered by archers. If you lay a finger on this farmer, or on anyone else, you will be shot at once. Lay down any weapons that you have!'

The leader looked round. He was trapped. But he was not scared, not now with a score of his fellows to back him. He knew too little of hobbits to understand his peril. Foolishly, he decided to fight. It would be easy to break out.

'At 'em, lads!' he cried. 'Let 'em have it!'

With a long knife in his left hand and a club in the other he made a rush at the ring, trying to burst out back towards Hobbiton. He aimed a savage blow at Merry who stood in his way. He fell dead, with four arrows in him."

-Return of the King, pgs 352-353, Grafton Paperback Edition

Merry smiled with grim satisfaction as he watched the battle, or lack thereof, unfold around him. The loss of their leader had caused the Ruffians to give in fairly quickly. Farmer Cotton sidled up beside him. "That was easy," he said.

"It's going to get harder," replied Merry. "I wish Pippin would hurry up with those Tooks.

"Be patient," said Farmer Cotton. "Tuckborough is quite a way away, and Tooks can take quite a lot of convincing."

"I know, but they are needed here," sghed Merry. "And he's been a while." Merry knew it was irrational to think that any harm could possibly have come to his friend and partner in crime. Pippin was more than capable of looking after himself. Nevertheless, there was Ruffians everywhere, and Pippin had only six companions.

Seeing the worry creased upon the younger hobbit's brow, the Farmer thudded Merry on the back. "Pippin'll be right," he assured him. "Even if the Ruffian's did capture him, he could probably talk himself out of it."

Merry grinned. "I know," he said. "Now let's go and find Frodo and Sam, shall we?"

A smile played upon Farmer Cotton's lips. "Yes, we should do that. Although I suspect that wherever Rosie is, Sam won't be too far away…"

Calling farewell, Pervinca, Everard and Negrinard once again mounted their ponies and shot out into the light.

Diamond watched them go, inhaling the cool, early morning air. She gazed over the rolling hills and pastures, a yearning within her. Her father had taught her more then she'd ever have learnt in a school. She was bright and intelligent, but she didn't truly know what it was like to live in the real world. She wanted to travel, to adventure, to discover the world for herself.

She wanted to live.

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