Daisy was in her home, unaware that she would be called upon. The time was nearing noon. Hobbits everywhere were preparing lunch like that always had done.
A pan had been lain over the cooker. A rasher of bacon was crisping in the pan. With a spatula in hand, she flipped over the cooking bacon.
The redness in the meat had started to whiten. The sizzling grew louder and louder. A small bit of water vapour snaked it's way up and into the air around the kitchen.
The window was covered in water vapour. But only a small bit had come from the bacon. The rest had come from Daisy herself.
The kitchen was warm, warm enough for a hobbit to feel cosy. For hobbits liked living in peace and quiet. Food and ale was on their minds near enough all of the time.
The chimney smoked, sending a grey pillar into the sky. It was carried away in the wind like all the other pillars of smoke.
A knock echoed though the quiet house. The noise met Daisy's ears. The hobbit looked around, the bacon was still in the pan. Daisy took the pan off of the heat and walked away. she had a white apron on.
The hobbit walked to the door and opened it. standing there, was Pearl.
"Hello Pearl, I wasn't expecting you" Daisy said happily.
Pearl smiled.
"I cant stay, we need help clearing Pimpernel's house" she told her friend.
Daisy looked surprised.
"Sure, I'll help" she answered.
"But I have just made lunch. So, could I meet you up there?" she asked.
Pearl nodded.
"Sure, your sisters will be up there along with me and a few others" she explained.
"Well, I don't want to be left out, so I'll see you there"
Pearl smiled and walked away. She went back to her friends who were waiting there.
"Daisy will meet us up there" Pearl told them.
The cold wind blew across them, lifting some of their curly hair over their faces. The clouds were slowly starting to build up again. The level of light was slowly dimming. Not only because of the clouds, but because the sun was doing down.
Midday in winter was not like midday in summer. The sun had less power over the land at this time. Colder winds blew across the lands and the leaves of trees fell to the floor.
The nights got longer at the days got shorter. Hobbits spent more time in doors then outside. The bitterness of the wind drove them into the comfort of their homes.
But for one hobbit, Yule would not be fun. Sadness would overpower the happiness that would have been present at that time of year.
Pimpernel had lost a lot of her belongings. Books that had been past down generations and ones that she had been copying up for generations to come.
Presents for Yule had been lost. They had been stored in a spare room. Cloths had been burnt away. Furniture that she had brought had been engulfed in flames.
Bottles of wine and barrels of ale had been destroyed. The bottles of wine over heated and exploded. It send glass flying everywhere. The liquid would seep to the floor. But the fire would slowly eat up the wine.
The wooden barrels that held the ale would slowly be eaten away. Small leaks would immerge and turn to small torrents until they had no more to give.
The fire continued to eat up the whole house. Pimpernel's memories were running back to the time when she had her friends over. She could remember them leaving her to go home.
Cleaning came into her mind. She could see the sink before her with a large bowl of warm water. She could remember placing the dirty dishes into the water.
The cleaning took a few minutes. She knew remembered. The plates had then been cleaned and placed on the side. Her hand reached into the water and picked out the plug. The water slowly started to drain. The level lowering by the second.
The plates were dripping with water. Their surfaces were clean and shiny. The candles flickered merrily. The house was in perfect condition. There were two wicker baskets sat on the table. They were to be given back to their rightful owners the next morning.
Pimpernel hummed merrily to herself as she made a pile of dishes to be put away. the last one was placed on the pile. Pimpernel put the washing cloth on the back of the seat like she always did.
The hobbit picked up the plates and walked to over to the cupboard. There, she opened the wooden door with the metal handle that was attached.
Inside, plates that had not been used were still stacked there. Pimpernel lifted the plates in careful and then shut the door again.
The pans were still standing there, waiting to be cleaning along with the bowls that held the food. Night had fallen outside.
The coldness was even sharper then the night before. But no clouds were in the sky. The twinkling stars were looking down on the earth like small all seeing spies.
When Pimpernel had been younger, she thought that they were fireflies that had got stuck on the surface of the sky and couldn't get back down again.
Pimpernel started to run a clean bowl of water for the rest of the crockery she had to clean.
In reality, Pimpernel was now very worried. She had just remembered what had caused the fire that lead to her house being burnt down.
It was the towel on the back of the seat.
"But how did it catch on fire?" she asked herself.
Her memory went back to the fireplace again. it had been happy crackling away when she had left the kitchen. But that was the last time she had seen the kitchen intact.
A piece of wood must have fallen just a few inches sending embers into the air. One, she thought, must have made it's way to the towel which had been drying on the back of the chair.
There, it must have caught the threads of woollen towel. The small flames must have started to eat the strands of wool.
It was like a chain reaction. The towel was now on fire, the wooden chair started to burn as well. Smoke filled the room. The fire still continued to grew. The chair caught fire, the table was next in line.
The fire grew and grew and grew. Soon, the whole room was now on fire. The copper sink was getting hotter and hotter. The cupboards started to get hotter and hotter.
Pimpernel had now gone out of the room and into her room. To her, the kitchen was not any different. But she would soon find that out.
A loud crash came from the kitchen. This met Pimpernel's ears.
"That's strange" she thought.
She slowly walked to the closed bedroom door and put her hand on the handle. The door slowly opened. She looked down the corridor. A think sheet of black smoke was making its way towards her. But Pimpernel could not see it.
Curiosity got the better of her. Pimpernel left the safety of the room and walked towards the kitchen. She was only feet away from the door when she stopped. A red glow could be seen around the door frame.
Pimpernel could hear cracking that she couldn't hear when going out. A crash of crockery came from inside the kitchen.
Pimpernel looked at the handle. She wondered what was going on behind the door. The girl reached out her hand and touched the metal handle. It was scolding hot.
She quickly took her hand away to save her from more pain. The smoke was coming though nearly every crack it could find.
The kitchen was now a mess. The fire threatened the rest of the house. The roof was on fire too. The chimney that came out of the ground where the kitchen had been was sinking into the ground. The roof would soon give way, spreading the fire all around the house.
Pimpernel started to cough, her hand went over her face. She quickly made up her mind to go back to her bed room.
"Maybe the fire will burn itself out" she thought.
Panic came as a louder crash echoed around the home. Pictures on the walls were left, Pimpernel had no time to save them. they would be lost forever in the angriness of the fire.
Pimpernel got into her room and closed the room. The fire outside past from room to room. Books, sheets of writing, crockery, flowers, ale, wine and priceless artefacts that had been past down for many generations were all lost.
The quietness of reality deafened Pimpernel. She hated the fact that she had lost everything. She had been proud of her house. She had made it her own. But now, it had been taken away from her and she didn't knew why.
She knew that her friends and family had gone up to the house. The clean up effort had begun. Samwise Gamgee was ordering people to make piles of wood on the field nearby. Many hobbits were now helping. Many wheelbarrows were being pushed to the field.
The hill was busy with hobbits pushing large loads of wood down the hill and pushing empty barrows back up the hill.
Pearl and Pervinca were looking though the rubble before they would take it away. a few times, they would find a metal stand that once belonged to a candle that had been lit.
Pages of hundred year old books were scattered around the area. Their pages had been burnt and their writing lost. Broken plates that had been stored away were now laying in groups on the floor. The kitchen was not recognisable any more.
The chimney that had been made of brick was now resting on the brunt wooden table. The chairs lay in a heap where they stood. Wood scattered the area. Large sleepers of wood were laying on the ground. They once held up the ceiling above.
"There's so much damage" Pearl said, throwing a piece of wood back to the ground.
It was instantly lost in the sea of wood. Plates had been smashed as they impacted on the floor.
"There's nothing here to save" she told her sister.
Else where in the house, a wheel barrow was being filled with wood and other material. Samwise and Hamson were throwing wood into the barrow.
The wood piled up quite quickly as they put it in. Patches of tiled floor started to emerge from under the pile. Sam picked up a sheet of burnt paper and looked at it. He took a deep breath as he screwed it up and threw it in along with all of the other wood and burnt material.
Paladin was walking around the house. He had not done any work to help. More hobbits had come with brooms and wheel barrows. His hands were hurting as the coldness touched them. His skin had started to turn read. His wife, Eglantine, had gone back to the house to get their lunch ready.
No one was talking to him, they were all busy with clearing up the house. In the field near by, a large pile of wood had been made in the middle. It was getting bigger and bigger by the house.
Sam put the last bit of wood in a wheel barrow and wiped his forehead. Sweat had gathered in small beads. The air around him was cold, yet he was hot.
"Alright, I think that would be enough for now" he said.
He sniffed and looked around. Hamson had picked up a pile of wood and looked at his brother.
"What? We need to get this all cleaned up by night fall" he told him.
Hunger was not a problem for Hamson. Most unusual for a hobbit not to be hungry at lunch. But Hamson wasn't hungry.
"We need food and strength, why don't you get out of the cold?" asked Sam.
Hamson took a deep breath.
"I'm not hungry" he answered.
But Sam wasn't taking anything that he said.
"But you need…"
"I'm not hungry!" Hamson said, throwing the wood on the ground.
Samwise's eyebrows narrowed as he looked at his brother.
"Fine" he said, not wanting to argue.
Sam took the wheel barrow away as he went. Hamson stood there, looking at his brother walk away. He still had one piece of wood in his hands.
He looked down at it and took a deep and threw it in the air. It continued to rotate as it reached its highest point. The gravity took control and sending the wood back to the ground.
The wood impacted on the floor. Small chards broke off and flew in the air. Hamson walked out of the broken room and out of the house.
Pearl was struggling with a wheel barrow on the hill. The wheel barrow tipped over, Pearl groaned as she took her hands off of the handles.
Hamson was walking towards her. Pearl smiled.
"Ah, Hamson, would you mind helping me?" she asked.
But Hamson didn't help her. He walked right past her. Pearl continued to watch him walk past, not understanding what was going on.
Pearl shook her head and started to pick up the wood.
At the house, the door was open. Pervinca, Sam and Paladin had come in. The coldness was then shut out by the door.
"Lunch is just about ready" Eglantine told them.
Vinnie took off her coat and scarf. Her eyes ran over to the closed door of the room Pimpernel was staying in. Vinnie still felt sorry for her sister for she had seen the damage caused by the flames.
The others had made their way to the kitchen. A large lunch had been made. Chicken that had been cooked a few days before had been set out in a bowl. Most things had been prepared before the day had begun. Rolls of bread from the markets had been put out.
Plates had been set out for them. A single one lay on the work surface. It had already been filled with food from the table. It was for Pimpernel.
"Is that for Nelly?" asked Vinnie coming into the hot kitchen.
Eglantine looked up and nodded.
"Yes, it is. She didn't eat her dinner or lunch. She's never gone this long without food" she told her daughter.
Pervinca looked around at the door.
"I could try and get her to eat" she said.
Eglantine was now in her seat.
"By all means, please try" she said.
There was sound of worry in her voice. She cared very much for her family. She loved them all very much. Pervinca then picked up the plate belonging to Pimpernel and walked out of the room.
Pimpernel was still sitting on the bed. She had been crying for most of the day and no one had come to see her. Just then, there was a knock at the door. The door slowly opened up.
The room was dark and cold. Pimpernel's feet were cold and she had goose bumps on her arm. Pervinca walked in and shut the door.
She walked over to the bed and placed the plate on the bed.
"Pimpernel, you have to eat" Pervinca said.
There was no answer from her sister. Pervinca moved the plate down the bed and sat on the edge. Pimpernel took a deep breath. Pervinca sat next to her.
"Why wont you eat?" she asked.
Again, Nelly didn't answer. Pervinca wrapped her arms around her sister. A tear ran down her face. She gave a small mumble which her sister did not catch.
"Excuse me?" she asked gently.
Pimpernel took yet another breath, trying to fight back the tears.
"It's my fault" she said.
This time, it was clear. Pervinca knew that her sister was taking it harder on herself then she had thought.
"Look, Pimpernel, it was not you fault. It never was you fault. Things like this happen" she told her.
Pimpernel was slowly shaking her head.
"I must have done something bad to deserve this" she said, more to herself then to her sister.
Pervinca could not believe what she was saying.
"You have to get that thought out of your head, it's madness!"
Pimpernel's eyes looked over at her sister. There was a hint of anger in them.
"I did not see in the house at the time of the fire" she said angrily.
It was not like Pimpernel to get angry. She didn't like anger or hatred. There was silence for a couple of seconds before Pervinca got up.
"I just want to help, but if you choose not do so, it up to you" Pervinca walked away and stopped at the door.
"I was only trying to comfort you Pimpernel. We are all worried"
The door then opened and she walked out. Without another word, the door was closed again. Pimpernel was now alone again.
Hamson meanwhile was looking in cupboard. His eyes fell on what he wanted. A bag. He picked it out and stood up again. he then placed it on his bed.
The hobbit then walked back to the wardrobe. There, his cloths were hanging up. different coloured shirts and coats and trousers. He picked them off of their hangers and folded them.
He already knew where he was going to go. He had an uncle in Tighfield. It was a few days walk away. Hamson knew that it was best that he did not tell anyone.
It took him a few minutes to pack all of his cloths. He lifted the bag onto his shoulders and walked though his home. Candles burned on the walls. There were black marks where the flames had blackened the wall.
The hobbit placed his bag on the table. He knew that he needed food for the journey. He opened the cellar door and walked inside.
Hamson picked up a few rolls. He placed them in his pocket and looked around. There were a few apples in a basket on the other side. Hamson picked those out as a well.
"Maybe I would need more food" he told himself, looking back at the rolls of bread.
A minute later, he walked out. In his hands were the apples and the rolls of bread. He placed them on the table. The bag was then opened again and he placed the apples in.
The bread rolls came after. He closed the bag by a string that had been weaved around the neck. There was a small clip that slid down to close.
Hamson did this and threw it on his back. He started to walk towards the door, but stopped just before he opened it. The hobbit looked around at the cellar door.
"Maybe one for the road" he told himself.
So, Hamson walked over to the cupboard and opened it. inside was a mug. He picked it out and shut the door again with a bang.
The hobbit turned around and looked at the still cellar door. The house seemed quieter then normal. Everything was still. Even the candles seem to risk moving.
As the hobbit walked in, his feet slapping on the cold tilted floor. The air was colder in this room. There were no candles here. Only the light from outside lit up one side of everything in the cellar.
Hamson walked to the back and spotted the barrel of ale. It was laying on it's side on a shelf neat the floor. A tap had been hammered into the wood.
There was just enough space to fit the mug under. Hamson did so and turned on the tap for the last time. The ale started to fill up the mug. Hamson stood there, waiting for the mug to fill up.
When there was enough for him, the tap was turned off. The drips rippled the surface of the bubbling ale. Hamson then picked it up and walked out.
The bag was still on the table along with some tables mats that had been left out. A chair was then pulled out and the hobbit sat in it.
He carefully not to spill any. Hamson took a deep breath and looked at his bag. A whole new life away from Hobbiton was in there and waiting to be explored.
But was it the right time to go?
The future he had once had come back into play. He could see Pimpernel at the wedding. She looked more beautiful then ever.
But now all that had been taken away from him. Pimpernel had been in an accident. It was the event that lead to their partings. Hamson knew that he couldn't do anything about it. Pimpernel had stopped talking and eating, it had effected her the most.
Everyone was coming to terms with what had happened. Pimpernel's house had been totally destroyed. Hamson saw the fire engulf the house. He could still feel the heat.
The hobbit's hands were still black from picking up the charcoaled remains. Barrow loads had been taken away from the empty shell. Nothing saveable was left. The fire had eaten it all.
Hamson then picked up the mug and started to drink. He did not stop until the end. When there was no ale left, he placed the empty mug down.
He took a deep breath and got up. He closed his bag and put it on his back. There were small pots were dangling on the back of his pack. Strapped to the top was a blanket, but it would not be much help in the coldness of night.
Hamson picked out a walking stick and walked towards the door. But he stopped before he opened it. He took one last look at his house before opening the door and walking out.
The door closed and the band echoed around the now empty house. There was a wave of coldness that entered the house was quickly fought off by the warmth.
Hamson had one more thing he needed to do before going on his journey. He was heading for Paladin's home. Hamson knew that Pimpernel would still be there.
It took him a minute or two to get there, the road was very icy as the sun set on the west horizon. When he was nearing the home, the door opened and out came Sam, Vinnie and Pearl.
Sam was the first one to spot him coming down. He then noticed the straps around each shoulder.
"Where are you going?" he asked his brother.
"I need to talk to Pimpernel" Hamson answered.
Pearl stood next to Sam.
"Why have you got that bag?" she asked.
Hamson took a deep breath. There was a hint of annoyance present.
"Please, I'll only be a few minutes" Hamson said.
Without another word, he walked past them. Sam watched him. His brother opened the door and walked in. The door then closed, blocking out the events inside.
Pimpernel was still in her bed room. The bang of the door had echoed and faded. A few seconds after, the door to the room she was staying in opened.
Hamson came in. The pots jingled as he walked in and closed the door. an empty plate lay near Nelly's feet.
"Pimpernel?" asked Hamson.
"Are you alright?"
There was no sound from the girl. Hamson walked slowly to the seat, took off his pack and sat down. There were no other sounds in the house.
Pimpernel took a quick glance at the bag now laying on the floor.
"What is the bag for?" she asked.
Hamson looked down at it.
"That's what I was here to tell you, I'm leaving Hobbiton" he told her.
Pimpernel then raised her head and looked over at him.
"Leaving? Why?" she asked.
Hamson took a deep breath. But he didn't answer. There was still a ring on his finger. Not a magic ring, an engagement ring. Pimpernel had one as well. They were both gold. On the inner side of the ring, it had both of their names engraved.
"Because there's no love any more" Hamson told her.
He was fiddling with his ring. But did not take it off. Pimpernel couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her fiancé was leaving her.
"But…" she said.
Hamson slowly took off his ring. He held it in his hand. The two of them looked at each other.
"Why are you doing this?" asked Pimpernel.
Hamson looked away.
"I don't know, maybe we could work it out in years to come. But… But at the moment, I cant…"
Pimpernel was now speechless. A feeling came over her. She turned her head away.
"You don't… love me anymore" she said.
Hamson lowered his head and took a deep breath.
"Maybe if we could take a break from each other, we could get our spark back" he said.
Tears ran down her face. They dripped off and fell on her cloths. Hamson slowly got up and walked over to Pimpernel. He sat on the end of the bed and looked at her.
"Pimpernel" he said, taking her hand.
"Please take the ring and keep it safe. I know that it may seem now, but it will get easier. I promise that I will never stop loving you"
He placed the ring into Pimpernel's hand and closed it. The two of them looked into each other's eyes. For a split second, Hamson was going to change his mind. But that feeling went as quickly as it came.
Pimpernel suddenly through her arms around him. the two of the hugged for what seemed hours.
"Where… where will you go?" asked Pimpernel.
Tears were running down her face.
"I have an uncle in Tighfield, I'm going to see if he has a job for me there" answered Hamson.
Pimpernel had never heard of Tighfield before.
"Where is that?" she asked.
She whipped away some of her tears and looked at Hamson.
"It's a few days away from here, near the Sarn Ford" he explained.
Pimpernel knew where the ford was.
"Will you come back?" she asked.
Hamson looked down.
"We will just have to see what the future holds" he answered.
There seemed to be silence. Pimpernel was slowly starting to accept what was happening.
"I'll wait for your return" she said.
A small smile came over her lips. Hamson hugged her again.
"I have to go" he said weakly.
He slowly got off of the bed. The two of them held hands for as long as they can. But their grip was finally prised apart. Pimpernel watched Hamson put his pack on again.
Hamson looked back at Pimpernel. There was a moment of silence between them. They both knew that this had to be done.
Without another word, he walked to the door and opened it. He walked though and slowly started to close it. The two hobbits looked at each other, the door continued to shut.
Hamson went out of view and the door clicked shut. Hamson took a deep breath and took his hand off of the handle.
He stood there for a few seconds before walking off. Pimpernel was looking at the ring that was once on the hand of her fiancé. She somehow felt lighter and had more hope.
Hamson opened the front door. As he opened it, a small puppy ran past his feet. His eyes followed the pup in, but didn't question why it was going in.
Origo was sleeping on a warm blanket. His little eyes were closed as the cart rolled on. Faramir had been asleep for a few hours. But that was all about to change.
The coldness was making Faramir whine again. Diamond was sleeping as well. But she was woken up. Her eyes opened to the ever darkening surroundings.
Her feet were bare and the hair was waving in the wind. Faramir was crying in his cot. Diamond groaned and kneeled up. he was on the other side of the cart.
"It's alright Faramir" she said.
She carefully picked the baby up and sat back down. She wrapped him up again and tried to quieten him.
"Shh shh" she said, rocking him.
Origo, who had been sleeping, woke up again. His eyes looked over at Diamond. he yawned widely, his eyes closed as he opened his mouth.
Diamond looked over him.
"He woke you up again too?" she asked.
Origo nodded, a few times his little eyes started to close. But he caught himself. Faramir was now getting quieter again. Diamond was looked down at him. She was fighting back a yawn.
Faramir's eyes were brown and large. The hair on his head was golden brown, just like Pippin's. Diamond still couldn't believe that Faramir was hers.
She had loved children ever since she was a child herself. It was in her nature to care for growing things. Faramir was now falling back to sleep. The warmth of the blanket was making him sleepy again. Origo slowly made his way to his Diamond.
She looked down at Origo.
"You OK?" she asked.
Origo gave a small whine and looked towards the basket. Diamond knew exactly what he was trying to tell her.
"I'll get you some in a minute" she told him.
Origo looked down and sniffed the floor again. There were a pair of feet sticking out from a blanket. Diamond continued to watch him, knowing what was going to happen next.
Origo stopped as he came across the pair of feet. His eyes surveyed the dirty feet. His little nose sniffed the feet and moved away quickly. Diamond giggled quietly.
Pippin's foot moved, but he didn't wake up. Origo then looked around at his Diamond and whined. He looked back at the two feet sticking out.
"I know, they do need a wash" Diamond said.
Faramir was now asleep. Diamond looked back down at him. she then placed him back in his cot and wrapped him up nice and warm.
Origo was now sitting near the basket, waiting for his turkey. Diamond looked over at him.
"Your not very patient" whispered Diamond.
The pup tilted his head at her. Diamond reached over him and picked up the basket. Origo watched the basket fly over him and down in front of him.
Diamond picked out a packet of turkey. Origo was now looking very excited. His little tongue was sticking out of him mouth.
The ripping of paper met his ears. Diamond picked a bit out and looked down at the pup.
"Not all of it, OK?" she asked.
Origo whined sadly and put on cute little puppy eyes. But did this not work on Diamond.
"Those don't work on me" she said, handing Ori the meat.
Origo took it and started to eat. He chewed and chewed. After half a minute, he had eaten the bit of turkey and was now looking for more.
Diamond smiled and did the same. She did this with another five pieces. But each time, the puppy wanted more.
"Alright, there will be none left for dinner later on"
Origo whined and looked down. He was still very hungry. Diamond folded the end of the paper up and placing it back in the basket.
The pup had now walked over to her and jumped on her lap. Diamond's hand stroked her puppy. She then lifted him up.
"Your so cute" she said, kissing him on the nose.
Origo stuck his tongue out and whined happily. He loved his cuddles from his Diamond. The hobbit then started to feel tired again. She looked to her right and saw the empty blanket. She reached over and grabbed it. With one hand, she unfolded it.
Origo was watching her. Diamond yawned as she pulled the sheet over both of them. Diamond laid down on the hard wooden planks that made up the door.
The pup poked his head out and rested it on his paws. Diamond smiled as she fell more and more tied. Her eyes started to drop as the warmth heated her.
The coldness was deepening. The sun was on the horizon. The level of light was dropping quicker and quicker. But the cart rolled ever onwards.
The hours rolled on.
Midnight rolled around. Diamond and Origo were still asleep. Everything was calm around the three hobbits. Faramir had been asleep for a couple of hours.
Origo slept with his Diamond. both of them snuggled up to each other. They shared each other's warmth. The night was now full on. The coldness was creating a thin sheet of ice. The ground crunched as the wheels ran over them.
Spider's webs had crystals dotted around the web. The grass that made up the fields were still like fossilized bones. Foxes roamed the land, looking for that unlucky mouse or rat that crossed their path.