The day had been bright and cool. But now, the sun had now set and the coldness was deepening. Snow was expected in the next few hours. Hobbiton, which was normally lay quiet at this time, was in a hive of activity. Hobbits of nearly every age were running about. But, it was not because of pleasure, it was in fear. The top of the hill was on fire, it bellowed out black smoke.
Hobbits with buckets ran towards the burning hill side. Water spilled over the top of the wooden buckets. The buckets had two metal rims, one at the top and one at the top. There were bolts keeping it all in place. Two holes had been made at the top of bucket. But, this was not to let water out. A rope had been put though each hole and knotted.
A hobbit ran up to the house and threw the water on the door.
"Get some more water!" the hobbits shouted.
"But she's still in there!"
Pearl and Pervinca were watching the house burn. The fire crackles as the grass was set alight. Pearl had a tear running down her face. Flames were reflecting in her eyes. Her sister, Vinnie, had an arm around her.
"She'll be alright, Hamson is going in there to save her" she said.
Pearl looked away from the fire. There were hobbits running up and down the hill with buckets. There were about ten of them running from the lake at the bottom of the hill. They would fill up their buckets and run all the way back up.
Hobbits from the holes had evacuated the holes next to the one of fire.
"We have to stop it from spreading"
There was a small group quickly talking about what to do. The fire was spreading quickly. The small hill would be in flames in a matter of minutes.
Inside the burning hobbit hole, bottles of liquor were exploding. It sent glass flying everywhere, hitting the wall and bounding off. The fire had spread to nearly every room.
The door to the bed room had smoke pouring though the gap in the door. On the bed, a girl lay. Her hair was clean and tied back. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was slowing down.
Pimpernel only had minutes to live. But, her fiancé was on his way. Outside, the fire was raging. The heat from it drove some hobbits to stand back. Hamson was looking at flames.
"I'm going in" he said.
Pearl and Pervinca were standing by him.
"I don't think… I don't think it's a good idea"
Hamson Gamgee was looking around. He looked a bit lost and worried.
"Pearl, there is nothing that you can say that will stop me from going in" he said.
Adrenalin was running though his veins. The cloud of smoke sailed away from the chaotic scene below. Further away from the burning, the world ticked away like nothing was happening.
The sun was going down, the darkness was deep. Yet, there was a small bit of light away towards the west. The day had been calm and tranquil up until then.
Hamson, a hobbit of Hobbiton, was at the door. The heat was intense.
"If I don't came out, don't come and get me" he said.
His sister, Marigold rushed up to him. Marigold had tears in her eyes.
"Hammy, please don't do this" she said.
A small hanky was held in her hand.
"Mari, please go and wait with Sam"
There were beads of sweat running down the side of Hamson's face. He was ready for anything that was going to happen.
Hamson Gamgee was the eldest of the Gamgee children. Hamson had five younger siblings. Halfred, Daisy, May, Samwise, and Marigold.
All of the Gamgee siblings looked very much alike.
Hamson was the oldest of the six. He was born in the year 2965.
Halfred Gamgee was born four years later in 2969.
Daisy was next. She was the eldest daughter of Hamfast and Bell Gamgee. She was three years younger then Halfred.
May Gamgee was the fourth child of the Gamgee family. She was born in the year 2976.
Samwise came next. He was four years younger then May.
Marigold was the last of the Gamgee children to be born.
Each were very close to each other. They would spend at least two night a week in each others company. Dinner was a time the time to catch up on all the day's happenings.
The sun light was weakening as the day past over the land. Yet, the night would be long. Pimpernel was still trapped in the house. She was laying on her bed, face down. Bangs echoed though the fiery house. But, it was not due to exploding bottles, it was coming from the front door.
Hamson was breaking the door down. The wooden panels were weak due to the flames on the other side. One of the panels started to break.
After a couple of seconds, Hamson prised the door open. He pushed it away from him. The heat started to get to him. Hamson's skin started to feel like it was drying out.
Just then, a hand tapped him on the shoulder. Hamson looked around, standing there was a hobbit. He was holding a bit of cloth.
"It's for the heat" he said.
There were a few drips falling off of it. Hamson took it and nodded. He placed the wet cloth over his mouth and nose. The fire licked the frames of the door.
The flames were getting very intense. The heat drove some of the hobbits back. Buckets of water were now being thrown at door way. But the flames fought back.
A beam started to creak. It started to fall a few millimetres, then stopped. Below it, Hamson was walking in. He held the cloth over his face.
The fire was very disorientating. The house looked like one, big black home. Nothing was recognisable. The hooks on the side of the wall just inside the door had melted. The pictures that Pimpernel had drawn had all but gone. The wooden panels that made up half of wall were all burnt black.
Pimpernel's bed room was two doors down. The side of the hill ran with the rooms. Each of the best rooms had windows.
Hamson reached the first room. His eyes darted around. Hamson slowly reached out and touched the handle. The handle was very hot. So hot that it hurt his hand.
The hobbit had to think quickly. He took the cloth off of his mouth. The hobbit instantly started to cough. He quickly folded the small cloth and looked at the handle.
The water would cool down the handle enough to open it. Hamson placed his hand on the metal. The cloth did it's work, the handle was not hurting his hand any more.
He put pressure on it and the door opened. Inside, the room was burning. Everything was on fire. The ceiling was being burnt, the blackness was deepening as the flames licked it.
Hamson could not see Nelly there. It was the study that he had gone into. All of the old books had been incinerated. Their words and pictures lost forever.
Ash and embers floated in the air. It was making it very difficult to breath. Hamson was coughing every few seconds. His eyes were stinging as he made his way to the next room.
A few crashes and bangs could be heard though the house. The ceiling was creaking. A crash happened right next to Hamson.
Outside, Pearl and the rest of her family were waiting. More and more water was being thrown on the fire. But it was no use.
Pearl was facing away from the fire. More and more of the hobbit lads were helping in the fire. Pimpernel's father had come up the hill. He was standing at the gate to her house. He was directing the water carriers on where to go.
"He's been two minutes" said Pervinca.
The day was turning to night. The light of the fire was brightening the area.
Inside the flaming home, Hamson was at the bedroom door. The handle was less hot then the one he had touched before. The hobbit quickly opened the door.
It was the room that he had wanted.
His eyes quickly darted around, a few small fires were growing. On the bed, laying face down, was a hobbit. Hamson stopped in the door way.
A beam cracked behind him, forcing him to come back into reality. The hobbit quickly rushed over to the bed. Nelly still had her dress on. Her hair was still tied back and clean looking.
Hamson breathed quickly.
"Pimpernel?" he asked.
Talking only made his coughing worse. So, in a split second, he picked her up. the fire was raging all around them now. The heat was hurting every bit of Hamson's body.
But he didn't give up. He needed to save Nelly's life. But now, his own life needed to be saved as well. The smoke was getting to him. the hobbit could hardly breath.
Outside, the seconds ticked over. Pervinca's eyes were fixed on the dancing flames. The heat could be felt from where she was standing.
All hope of her ever seeing her sister again were sinking. Every second that past felt like a dagger cutting into her heart. A small tear ran down her face. Her eyes glinted in the light of the fire.
Hamson and Pimpernel were now a few meters from the door. Hamson was standing there. The fire was making him weaker and weaker. His once clean clothes were now stained them.
His foot took a step forward. He wanted to give up, but the fact that he was so close to getting out made all the difference.
Pimpernel was now resting on his shoulders. Energy was seeping away from him. Hamson's teeth were gritted as he mustered the last of his strength.
Pearl was just about to look away when a black figure started to emerge out of the fire. Pearl's eyes were now fixed on the figure.
"He's here!" she said, rushing forward.
Pervinca and Pearl rushed over. But, they were stopped.
"I don't think you should see this" said Paladin.
Pearl was looking at her sister who had now been laid on the ground.
"But…"
"No buts Pearl, go and get the spare room ready" he said.
Paladin was a powerful hobbit. But, in this moment of chaos, he was helpless. Pearl took a quick glance at her sister and then turned around. Paladin walked over to the two hobbits. Hamson was coughing.
"Get him some water" said Paladin, kneeling down.
Hamson's face was black and his cloths had burn marks on it. He looked at flames.
The light flickered the surrounding area. The shadows danced around the ground.
That very morning had started out bright, but cold. The clouds gathered over head. The blueness of the sky could be seen though the patches on white and grey.
Birds flew over the pristine land below. A small village lay in the middle of the country side. Woods and forests below had shed their leaves, making a natural carpet on the floor below.
Most of the summer animals had either migrated or hibernated. There was a lake in the middle of some hills. Paths and small roads led up to it. A few figures walking below.
These were hobbits. Hobbits had a gentle nature about them. Their cloths were bright and flowery. Most of the hobbits farmed off of the land. They had small patches in a near by field.
The patches of ground had been farmed for generations. Fathers of fathers had grown all their food there. Food was important for hobbits. They would have seven or eight square meals a day. A whole day could be planned around their meals.
Market stools had been set up. The stools sold all sorts of things. Glass bowls and jars of home made jam and marmalade. Loaves of bread were put on display. A few had gone already, yet there were ten left.
A hobbit was walking towards the centre. She had a basket in one hand. The hobbit looked up at the sky. She took a deep breath and smiled.
"I think it's going to snow" she told herself.
It took Pimpernel a minute to get down to the market. The market place was not as busy as usual. Pimpernel spotted what she was there for.
A pen of ten chickens were running about. Four wooden posts were connected by a metal sheet. A hobbit sprinkled a bit of grain into the pen. The chickens were scurrying to it. They pecked the ground, eating up the grain.
Pimpernel walked over to the pen and looked at them.
"You want a chicken then?" asked an old hobbit.
Nelly's eyes were prised away from the babbling birds. She smiled.
"Yes please" she said.
The hobbit man had a hat on. The sun was not as strong as it could have been. The man looked down at the chickens and tried to pick one up. But the chicken was too fast for him. The bird wriggled out of the man's grasp. The man grumbled as he went for the chicken again.
This time, he caught it. But the bird put up quiet of a fight. The hobbit tucked the chicken under one hand. This was the part that Nelly hated. She turned her head away as a small snap met her ears.
She slowly turned her head back.
"There you go" said the hobbit.
He held out the dead chicken out. Pimpernel smiled and took it.
"Thank you" she said.
Pimpernel then handed the man two gold pennies. The chickens eyes were still open, they were small and brown. The chicken's head flopped about as Pimpernel put it the basket.
Pimpernel smiled and walked away, leaving the nine chickens in the pen. Pimpernel was going to buy some bread next. So, she walked over to the other side of the small market square.
There was a big thatched building before her, it was The Green Dragon. The pub built and used by hobbits of the Shire.
The Green Dragon had many chimneys. Four to be exact. In winter, each one of the would be bellowing black smoke. But, today was different. The fires were only lit at night or when it was snowing.
Pimpernel was now at a stall that sold bread. The bread had been made in loaves. A small cross had been made on the top when it had still be dough.
The girl picked one up and placed it in her basket. She picked up another and placed that in her basket as well. There was a woman standing behind the wooden stall. Pimpernel reached into to a small pouch and took out two gold coins like the ones before.
"Thank you, dear" said the woman.
Nelly smiled and walked away. She looked down at the basket. Two loaves of bread and a chicken lay in there. The hobbit took a deep breath and looked at the sky. Her feet carried her home. But, on the way, she nearly tripped over something. Her eyes were taken away from the clam, slow clouds sailing over head.
A small black creature ran across the road. Nelly's eyes followed it. For a few seconds, she watched it before realising that it was a small puppy. The hobbit smiled. She hoped that one day she would get a puppy of her own.
The small pup ran though a gate and stopped. The pup tilted it's head and looked around. The light breeze ran over the pup's fur. The animal slowly turned around.
The pup poked her head around the corner. Her eyes fell on the hobbit that was walking away from her. The puppy started to think.
Pimpernel, on the other had, was getting ready to bake. The path that she was walking on led her to her house.
She opened a small gate. Like most hobbit houses, they had a small front garden.
In summer, there would be little dots of colour running all along the hill side.
The small puppy sneaked along the wall. The pup was quiet, luckily there was no other hobbits coming in either direction.
Pimpernel got to her gate and opened it. The hinges squeaked as it was pushed open. Nelly walked though and shut the gate. The puppy had stopped at the gate.
It watched the gate close. The gate had small gaps in it. the puppy rested it's head on one of the planks of wood. It was Pimpernel that the pup was watching. The large door opened and shut a few seconds later.
Inside the house, Pimpernel was walking to her kitchen. She placed the basket on the table. Her mind was now on cooking. She took the two loaves of bread out of the basket and placed them on the table.
Nelly then picked up the dead chicken. She then placed it on the table, away from the bread. Pimpernel then got a thick chopping board. She placed it down and got a large knife. Pimpernel moved the head of the chicken onto the chopping board.
The hobbit was just about to cut the head of when a knock at the front door came. Pimpernel was just about to cut the head off of the chicken. The knife had been lifted above her head.
"Now, who could this be?" she asked her self.
The hobbit looked down at the chicken. She then sighed and put the knife down. Pimpernel walked out of the room, down the corridor to the front door.
The large door swung open. Standing before her were two of her friends. Marigold and May Gamgee.
"Hello" said May.
Pimpernel started to smile.
"What are you doing here so early?" she asked, standing out of the way.
Both of the Gamgee girls walked in.
"We're here to help you" said Marigold happily.
Pimpernel continued to smile as she looked away.
"You know you don't have to" she told them.
May and Marigold took off their coats. A basket with a white cloth over it.
"What's in that?" Pimpernel asked.
May smiled.
"Chocolate muffins" she answered happily.
Marigold picked the basket up.
"Shall we go though to the kitchen?" Mari asked.
Pimpernel nodded and followed her three friends. May was the first into the kitchen. Her eyes saw the dead chicken laying with it's head on the chopping board.
"Mmm, chicken" she said, looking at it.
Marigold was next. She placed the basket on the table.
"I see you haven't started yet" she said.
The knife lay a few inches from the head of the chicken.
"I was just about to when you knocked" Pimpernel told them.
She took a deep breath and walked around to the other side of the table. She picked up the knife again and looked at the head of the chicken. Her eyes looked at the blade. She hated that she had to cut the head off. It was her one weakness in cooking.
May caught a glimpse of Pimpernel.
"Nelly?" she asked, looking at the girl.
Pimpernel took a deep breath and looked at her friend.
"It's my one weakness in cooking" she said, her eyes darting down to the dead bird.
May, on the other hand, had no worried about killing or cutting off the head of a bird.
"Give it here" she said, holding out her hand.
Nelly held the handle and May took it.
"I'm going to get the vegetables" she said.
May nodded as Marigold sat down. Pimpernel walked over to the cellar and opened the door. The cellar was cooler then the kitchen she had come from.
As the hobbit looked for her vegetables, a chop came from the kitchen. Pimpernel picked out some potatoes and carrots. It took her a minute or two to get all of the packets. She walked out of the cellar and closed the door.
Marigold had placed her head in her hands. She was looking at the two girls in front of her. Her flicker her head to the side. Marigold's hair was very blonde. All of the Gamgee family had blonde hair. But none of them were as blonde as Marigold's.
Even her name suggested that her hair was her best feature.
"I think I'm going to get a drink" she said, getting up.
May was still holding the knife, it had a bit of blood on it.
"Oh, I would mind an ale if you have it"
Marigold looked over at her friend.
"Want an ale Nel?" she asked.
"Yes please" Pimpernel answered.
So, Marigold got up and walked towards the cellar.
Meanwhile, Origo was walking towards Rivendell. His little paws were making him nearer and nearer to Rivendell. The puppy was now walking though some woods. The road was wet and muddy. There was a big puddle coming up, which took up most of the road.
Origo stopped as he got to the puddle. His little eyes were looking at the large body of water. His head moved as he looked around. His ears flopped as he looked back.
A crow called over head.
Ehh Ehh Ehh.
Origo watched as it flew away, beating it's wings. The wind rippled the puddle. A few leaves were floating in the muddy water.
Origo had no idea how deep the water was. But he had to get to his Diamond. So, he took a few steps forwards. The water line was at his paws. He looked down to see his reflection looking right back up at him. The small ripples distorted his reflection. But he could still make out the leafless trees.
In the muddy water, the pup could see small bits of mud, leaves and twigs. It gave nothing away about how deep it was. Origo's eyes then focused on the other side. He was scared of going though it.
His eyes then darted to the long that was laying on the road. Origo then scurried over to it. The log was much bigger then he had thought.
The surface was wet and slippery. Moss had grown on the surface of the wood. Leaves were rotting on the top. Origo then put his front two paws on the log. He was just high enough to see over the other side. The road continued to run off, sweeping around a large bend.
But that had to wait. Origo got down again, he looked at the lower part of the log. The log ran into the water, but it was shorter then going over. Yet, there was a risk. The risk was falling in.
Origo had to make up his mind soon. A crow had landed on a branch way above the small pup. It's eyes watching him. But Origo did not notice it.
He had made up his mind. He would jump onto the log, then off onto the other side. The pup walked back a few feet, then turned around. He stood looking at the area where he was going to jump onto.
Without a seconds thought on what could happen, the pup started to run. He bounded towards the log, then jumped.
He sailed though the air. His front two paws landed on the log. His back two landed soon after. After a split second, Origo jumped again. his front two paws leaving first.
But his back two started to slip. There was nothing that Origo could do. His was going into the freezing water.
His back legs were first to go under, quickly followed by the rest of his body.
It all happened in slow motion. The water splashed, creating ripples that ran right along the surface of the water. Origo instantly tried to run. Water was soaked into his fur. It splashed, making smaller ripples. The pup then got to the other side, the crow still eyeing him.
The mud had been stirred up from the bottom of the puddle. Clouds of lighter mud swirled though the water. Twigs and leaves had been brought to the surface.
Origo got to a dry patch on the other side of the large puddle. The puppy shook himself all over. Water flew out everywhere in small droplets.
The pup started to shiver, looking around. His fur was more fluffy. But that didn't help him. The coldness was now getting to him more then ever. Origo whimpered and looked around.
No one knew where he was or what he was going though.
Meanwhile, Pimpernel was sitting down. Her hands were busy as the bundle of feathers lay on the table to the side. A jug of ale was standing to the other side. Two girls sat in the other seats. Opposite was Marigold and to the left was May, her sister.
Both were sisters of Samwise Gamgee.
"So, who else is coming to this little party of ours?" asked Marigold.
Pimpernel pulled out a feather. Half of them had now gone, making the chicken look very strange.
"Estella, Daisy, Pearl and Vinnie" Nelly answered.
Marigold took a swig of her ale and smiled.
"What about Diamond?" asked May.
Pimpernel looked over.
"I don't know where she is. Diamond and Pip haven't been seen for a few days now"
Marigold took a deep breath. It was true, she hadn't seen either of them for days now.
"Well, I hope their alright" she said, taking another swig.
Marigold looked into her cup. There was only a small bit swirling around the bottom. Her brown eyes looked away.
"I think" she said, getting up.
"I think I need more ale"
Pimpernel continued to pull out all of the feathers. She smiled.
"Help yourself" she said.
Pimpernel couldn't help noticing that Marigold was getting a bit drunk. The cellar door was opened. Nelly looked over at May.
"I think Mari might be getting drunk"
May smiled and nodded.
"Me too"
The two of them smiled as Marigold knelt down at a large barrel. There was a small tap that had been attached to the barrel. Marigold turned the tap on and ale poured out.
The liquid hit the bottom of the mug. The small cup filled up quickly. Marigold then turned the tap off and took away the mug. A drip fell and hit the tiled floor.
Marigold then got up. She swayed a bit, holding onto one of the shelves. She shook her head and carried on. The hobbit remerged and closed the door.
The ale sloshed around the mug as she sat back down. Pimpernel had gotten most of the feathers out of the chicken.
Marigold sat down and smiled at her friends. May then stood up. she walked towards the cupboards and opened them. Nelly smiled. The chicken was looking more and more ready.
May bend down and got out metal pans with wooden handles. The inside of the pans were small stains. But that didn't both any of them.
"May, could you get the tray please?" asked Pimpernel.
May looked around and smiled. Her eyes then looked into the cupboard. She moved some of the pots and pans. May then saw what she was looking for. a grey tray leaning on the back wall. May smiled as she reached for it. she made sure that none of the other pots and pans fell out.
May then stood up and handed the trey to Pimpernel. Nelly put it on the table. But she wasn't going to use it yet. She picked the large chicken up and walked over to the sink.