Rosie was sitting at the kitchen table. There were no noises around her. All of her children were now in bed.
All of them, apart from one.
This was the reason why Rosie was up this late and was this worried. Her son had gone missing. She didn't know when, but it must have hours before.
The front door suddenly opened up. Rosie, who had been looking into a invisible spot before her, looked up.
Samwise was home. Rosie stood up and scurried out of the room.
Standing near the door was Sam. But there was no sign of Frodo anywhere.
"What happened?" Rosie asked.
Sam was shivering and wet. Drips were falling from his cloths and hair alike. A few flakes had not melted yet. But they were slowly seeping into the cloth.
Sam didn't answer his wife. He didn't want to talk about what happened. His coat was taken off. The brass buttons were undone. Six in all. Sam took it off and hung it up.
Sam's mind was on trying to find his son. But there was no start to his search. The snow outside was getting thicker and thicker. Tracks of hobbits that had walked there had been hours before had been nearly covered up. Rosie needed news.
"Sam, did you find him?" Rosie asked.
Sam shook his head slightly. He didn't want to speak or look at his wife. Rosie put her hand over her mouth and turned away. She feared the worst. But there was nothing she could do.
The snow outside was now as worse as last time. Flakes filled the sky. They hit the small windows. Sam was wet and cold. There was a whiskey bottle in his pocket and a flaming lantern in his hand.
The small flame flicked and was blown out. Sam walked though to the dark kitchen. The fire in the heath was now low. Rosie had slowly followed him in.
"What are we going to do?" she asked.
"We cant leave him out there all night, especially in the cold"
Sam was thinking, he placed his hands on the back of the chair. He took a deep breath and looked around.
"I don't know, we need to stay in the warmth for now" Sam told her.
Rosie now had to make the hard decision to either stay in or to help find her son. There were no sounds in the house. All of the children were now tucked up in their warm beds. The snow silently fell outside.
But there were still creatures awake. A small pack of wolves were getting ever closer to their target. The country side stretched on for mile upon mile. Snow was coming down thick and fast.
The wolves continued their pace all though the land. The sun would still be hours from coming up. The leader was at the helm of the pack. A small rumble went with them as they ran.
Owls that had nested or perched on the branches high above eyed them. The owl moved its head as the wolves continued on their journey.
The snow seemed to be coming down heavier then ever. The leafless trees failed to keep the barrage of snow at bay. It landed on everything below.
There were logs resting on the ground among the countless number of black and browning leaves. On the surface of the log was a layer of green moss.
The log had been laying there for the past few years. A few layers of bark had broken off of its surface. The summer, it would be home to hundreds, if not thousands of known and unknown species of bugs and insects. Some would fly and some would crawl.
But now there were no bugs or insects around. The weather was too cold for them. normally, slugs and snails would roam the wood. Small holes and crevasses were home to ants, wood lice and spiders.
This was happening all of the lands of Middle-earth and all of the time.
A cart had rolled past many logs and dead trees. Neither one of the travellers were awake to notice the forest was thinning on either side. A mile away was a river. It rushed under a small bridge.
The Brandywine had swollen almost to breaking point. But the banks kept it at bay.
Driving the cart was an elf. Snow battered him constantly as he say on the seat. But it bothered him none. For he could not feel coldness or fatigue. Yet could still feel hungry and thirst.
Elladan was his name.
The elf had been at the helm of the cart for many days now. A small pack with lambas bread in and a small flask of Elven water called Miruvor had been placed in the pack.
But his supplies were slowly running out. More then half had been used up on the journey already. The road was ever on going.
Out of the darkness came a small rise. The sound of water grew louder and louder. Large rough stones made up a small curb so that carts did not fall into the river.
Elladan looked over the side of the bridge. He could see the inky water below him. but he did not stop. Hobbiton was now only a few hours away.
The bridge came and went. The hobbits inside continued to sleep. Blankets were pulled over them. Four hobbits were sleeping on the floor of the cart.
Diamond was sleeping on her side. Her large blue eyes were closed. Her hair was gently waving with the wind.
Pippin was sleeping nearby. He was very uncomfortable. The coldness was getting to him more then ever tonight.
Dolly was the third sleeping hobbit. She had been forced on the cold and dangerous trip to Rivendell. She had a duty to do and that was to help Diamond. Sometimes, as she and Pippin travailed towards Rivendell, she had regretted her choice to come. But another part of her needed to go with Pippin.
The last hobbit had only been in the cart a day. He was well known to the other three. But they were not known to him.
Merry Brandybuck was his name. Atop his head lay almost golden hair. A green jacket lay on his back. His arms had been placed though. There were brown dots of mud stuck to the back on his jacket.
The party were slowly and surely made their way home.
The light of the sun started to rise above the clouds. The snow was now thick again. There seemed to be no end to the barrage of snow. The clouds above seemed to become grey as the sun rose higher.
The night had been long and cold for the small party in the cart. But now, they were ready for another day. Surprisingly, Pippin was the first to awake from his uncomfortable slumber. The hobbit sat up where he lay. The light had now come up around him. Out of the back of the cart, he could see the country side racing by.
A few times, he thought that he recognised it. But he past it off as being similar, but not the same. Pippin yawned and was just about to reach for the lambas bread when something happened.
The cart had started to decrease in speed. Yet it took a few more seconds to stop. The wind seemed to be stronger then they realised.
Pippin seemed not to be the only one who noticed the cart had stopped. A sleepy looking Diamond slowly sat up too.
"Pippin?" she asked.
Tiredness was clinging to her voice like mist over the green meadows.
"Why… Why have we stopped?" she asked.
At this moment in time, Pippin knew as much as his wife did. Pip then shuffled to the edge of the cart and moved the hanging cloth out of the way.
Standing on the other side was the elf, Elladan.
"I can go no further" he said.
Pippin was confused.
"What?" he asked.
"I can go no further" Elladan repeated.
Pippin got off of the cart. Diamond was confused as well.
"Are we home?" she asked.
"Not yet, Frogmorton is a mile or so down the road" Elladan told them.
There was a strange silence.
"And what will you do?" Pippin asked.
Elladan's eyes flashed towards him. a small smile came across his lips.
"If you want me to come with you Peregrin Took, I can not. You are safe in these areas" the elf answered.
Diamond slowly moved to the edge of the cart and looked down. A few seconds later, she jumped down. Faramir had been left sleeping in his cot.
The hobbit stood there, her large blue eyes looked up at the elf. Elladan knelt down so that he was the same height as her.
But Diamond did not know what to say.
"Thank you" she said quietly.
She seemed to be shy and more quiet then was normal.
"Thank you very much"
The hobbit and the elf looked into each others eyes. For a moment, Diamond was lost in his eyes.
"It was my pleasure Diamond Took" Elladan answered.
Pippin suddenly turned around and hopped back into the cart. for a moment, neither the elf nor the hobbit standing outside knew what he was doing.
Inside the cart, Pippin was looking though the baskets. There were a few more bits on uneaten lambas bread. Pip picked out a few packets and then got out of the cart again.
His feet touched the cold, crunchy snow. Pippin looked up at the elf.
"Here, take it" he said.
He held out the packets of lambas. Elladan nodded.
"Thank you, Peregrin" the elf said, taking the bread.
The green leaves had preserved the bread surprisingly well over the last few days. The elf placed them in the pack that had been put on his back. Elladan closed it and placed it back on his back.
"You'll be able to find you way home from here" Elladan said to them.
Pippin smiled.
"And what about you?" asked Diamond.
Elladan looked down at her.
"I see you have not as much knowledge as Peregrin" he said.
But Diamond still didn't get the answer she wanted.
"Us elves do not feel the same as mortal men, dwarves and Halflings. Never has an elf died due to old age. The coldness that you are feeling at present will no effect us"
Diamond had heard something that she did not understand.
"You said that no elf has ever died of old age" Diamond quizzed.
Elladan nodded.
"That is correct" he answered.
"If that is so, why are there so few of you?" Diamond asked.
"We are few in number for our time here is ending. My kin had sailed to Valinor, the Undying Lands in common speech. There, they will spend the rest of time" he explained.
The area around the cart was somewhat quiet. The wind whistled gently around them. The sounds of the two ponies that drove the cart could be heard every so often.
Birds sang around them like they had always done. The snow had yet again covered their food source. Yet they tried to do so. The birds swooped down and landed on the soft snow.
There was a lot of movement around them. other birds, big and small, were swooping down to the carpet of snow. songs rang out though out the lands. Foxes had gone back into their holes. They had settled down, eyes closed and large tail wrapped around his body. The warmth was much better then the coldness outside.
But foxes were not the only four legged animal that were asleep. A small pack of wolves were resting near the town of Hobbiton. Their presents were unknown to the hobbits. To the inhabitants of Hobbiton, it was just another day.
The sun had risen yet again, Yule was a few days away. Excitement rose among the youngest hobbits. But for one family, it was a time of worry.
Samwise was sleeping. But he was not in his bed. Instead, he had fallen asleep in the kitchen. His head was resting on the polished table he was sitting at.
There was a glass bottle laying on the table. There was a still a bit of amber liquid inside, but most of its contents had been spilled over the surface of the table. A puddle had gathered on the table. A bit of it had started to drip onto the floor below.
Rosie, Sam's wife, was now awake again. She had had a rough nights sleep. She felt as tired as she had done when she finally gone to bed.
Pippin Gamgee, Rosie's youngest son, was now awake and crying. Rosie picked him up out of his cot and hushed him.
"There, there" she said.
The baby seemed to calm down a little bit, then start up again.
"Are you hungry?" she asked.
She knew that he was.
"Come on then, lets get your breakfast"
So, Rosie, carrying her youngest child, walked out her their room. The hall way seemed much colder then the rest of the house. A vase of drying plants sat upon a small table.
Pictures of scenery and of hobbits hung from their hooks. Some had started to lose their colour. Some looked brand new. Candles flickered as a gently breeze as Rosie walked towards the kitchen.
No other sounds came from the house. A faint bird call could be heard from outside. Rosie continued to walk until she reached the kitchen. The door had been left ajar. With one hand, she opened the door.
On the other side was Sam. Rosie stopped in the door way. Her eyes fell on her husband. Pippin had stopped crying now.
Sam seemed to be more peaceful here then she had ever seen him. She then noticed the drips falling from the table surface. Rosie took a deep breath and slowly walked up to Sam.
"Sam?" she asked quietly.
But Sam failed to wake from his slumber. A hand slowly reached out and touched the hobbit. Sam snorted.
"I didn't do it!" Sam said as he woke up.
His hand lay on the bottle of whiskey that had spilt. Sam raised his head. His eyes looked around. He seemed not to know where he was.
"Sam?" asked Rosie.
Both of them were as tired as one another. Sam turned his head and looked up at her.
"Good morning" he said, sitting up.
Rosie gave him a small smile and walked around him. She headed for her seat. Sam rubbed his eyes as Rosie sat down.
There seemed to be a strange silence. The two of them both knew that Frodo had been out over night. But they had no idea where he was.
Sam gave a yawn as he looked over at his wife. He then noticed the bottle.
"I guess I'll have to clear that up" he said.
Rosie nodded. Her eyes were still drooping. Sam got up, the chair scrapped along the tiled surface of the floor. The hobbit walked over one of the many draws and cupboards that had been fitted into the kitchen.
The draw was opened and inside were cloths. Sam picked out a white folded cloth and closed the door. He walked back over to the table, unfolding the cloth as he went.
His mood was not a very good one. Sam felt as though he had left his family down. The whiskey was then wiped away and the cloth watched.
Rosie was attending to her son. She had now gotten up from her seat. With one hand, she opened the cupboard door. Stored inside were lots of bowls and plates. Rosie took out a bowl and placed it on the work top.
Pippin then started to cry again.
"Alright, alright" Rosie said, quickening a bit.
There was another large bowl on the work top. Rosie slid it towards her and took off the lid. Inside there was an orange puree. Rosie had done it herself.
The puree was made up from apples and oranges. Rosie got out a spoon and started to scoop the mix into the bowl. There was a lot of mixture in the bowl by the end of it.
The silver spoon was then left in the bowl. Rosie walked over to her chair and sat down. She placed the bowl before her. Rosie then noticed that she didn't get another spoon.
Just as she was about to get up, a sleepy looking Elanor came into the room.
"Morning mummy" she said happily.
Rosie gave a forced smile, not wanting her daughter to worry about her.
"Morning darling, could you get me a spoon from the draw?" she asked.
Elanor nodded and smiled.
"Sure" she said.
Elanor opened the draw. Inside were knives, forks, spoons of different sizes put into their own compartments. Elanor picked out a small spoon and closed the draw.
She handed it to her mother.
"Thank you, dear" Rosie said.
Pippin Gamgee had fallen asleep again. He whined as Rosie made his lay on his back in her arms. The baby then started to cry again.
"Oh I know your sleepy" Rosie said.
The baby continued to whine. Elanor sat upon the seat and watched her mother. The spoon was then picked up. on it was a small mound of orange puree. Rosie placed it at the lips of Pippin.
"What is for breakfast mummy?" Elanor asked.
Rosie looked up.
"Bacon dear, I'll get it on when I've fed Pip" she answered.
Meanwhile, Samwise was getting his coat on again. He was going to go outside again. The buttons were done up yet again. Sam then looked in the large cupboard that had been put in the room.
Inside were bags and spare coats. Sam took one of each. The cupboard was shut and he walked away. Sam placed the bag on the bed.
The duvet straightened when Rosie had made the bed. Sam folded and placed the coat into the bottom of the bag. Sam then picked the bag up and walked out of the room, closing the door as he went.
Sam entered the kitchen to see three members of his family there. Rosie looked up at him.
"Where are you going?" Rosie asked, eyeing Sam's pack.
Sam gave her a look that said it all. Rosie got the message straight away.
"I'm going back out, back out to find Frodo. I need food, I wont be back until I've found him" Samwise answered.
Rosie took a deep breath. Sam placed the bag on the back of the seat. Elanor watched him walk towards the cellar. The door opened and Sam went out of sight.
Elanor then turned to look at her mother. The child had never seen her mother so depressed and worried before. Elanor's tummy was now rumbling. She really needed some breakfast now.
Sam came out of the cellar holding two loaves of bread and a few apples. Sam placed them in his pack, then walked over to the cabinet. He opened it and took out another bottle of whiskey.
"Well" said Sam, placing the pack on his back.
"I'll see you when I am back"
The hobbit kissed his wife and daughter. He then took a deep breath and walked out of the room. Elanor watched him, but didn't ask any questions.
Sam walked though the house. He was ready for another few hours in the bitter coldness of the outside world. The front door was opened, sending a cold wave over him. it seemed even colder then he remembered.
Icicles hung from the small lip above. Sam stood there for a moment, admiring the beauty of the white landscape that lay before him.
He gave a small smile before turning around and gently closed the door. Sam did not know how long he would be away from home.
Abira was standing at her bowl. There was a sound of sizzling bacon around the kitchen. Abira's small tail wagged as Pearl turned the hot bacon over.
Pimpernel was sitting in her room. She was now very scared of going into the kitchen. Instead, she was sitting on her bed in a dark room. She could hear the sound of the bacon sizzling from where she was. The door had been left ajar. A small bit of light could be seen snaking in though the inch wide gap.
A wave came over Pimpernel. But it was not of water or coldness, but the smell of bacon. Nelly lifted her head and took a deep breath. Deep down, something was scratching at her soul.
Pimpernel loved her mother dearly. But Nelly felt like her mother had disowned her. Disowned her in Pimpernel's time of need.
And for what?
Abira was the reason for her mothers decision for Pimpernel to go. It had been a testing for days for Pimpernel. But now, she was settling down to Pearl's home.
Nelly looked up. The sound of the bowl being placed on the floor echoed down the hall way. Pimpernel got up and walked towards the door. The smell of bacon got stronger. A smile came over her lips as she started to walk down the corridor.
Pimpernel walked into the kitchen and saw her little puppy eating her bacon.
"Thank you" Nelly said to Pearl.
Pearl smiled.
"Your welcome" Pearl answered.
A sound of crumpling paper met Pimpernel's ears. Pearl was crunching up the paper that had been used to wrap up the bacon.
"Well, that's the last of the bacon" Pearl told her sister.
Pimpernel took a deep breath. Her hunger was strong after a nights sleep.
"What about bread? We could have some toast" she said hopefully.
Pearl smiled and walked towards the cellar. She opened the door, which creaked slightly and walked in. Like always, the cellar was colder then the other rooms in the house.
Pearl shook her head as her eyes fell on where the bread should be. She took a deep breath as she walked out.
"We need more bread, we haven't got any left" Pearl told her sister.
Abira had now finished her bacon and was now looking at the two girls.
"Well, I'll be back in a few minutes" Pearl said, walking out of the room.
Pimpernel smiled and picked up her small puppy. Abira started to lick her. Pimpernel smiled.
"Alright, stop it" Nelly said, moving her pup back a bit.
Abira seemed to be happy. She was looking around, wondering what to do. Her little eyes looked around. Her bowl was left empty on the floor.
"Come on" Nelly said.
Pearl had left the room. She was going outside to the market place to get more bread. Pimpernel walked out of the kitchen too.
As Nelly walked back to her room, she heard her sister go back into the kitchen. Abira was resting as Pimpernel walked towards her room.
Pearl came out of the kitchen. She was holding an empty basket.
"Well, I'll be back soon" she said as she walked past.
Pimpernel smiled.
"And get some more bacon for the pup" Nelly told her.
Pearl nodded as she opened the large front door. The coldness came rushing though the house. Pimpernel slowly closed the door to her cold room. Abira was gently placed on the bed.
Pimpernel sat down besides the small pup. The hobbit took a deep breath. She looked a bit down and Abira noticed it. A small wet nose touched Pimpernel's hand, making her look down.
A smile came over her lips as Pimpernel laid down on the bed. Abira was now at the side of her. The pup rested her read on Pimpernel arm.
A finger tickled her ears. The two of them looked at each other. Abira's eyes reflected some of the light coming in from the window.
"I'm sorry" Pimpernel said, continuing to tickle the puppy's ears.
Nelly took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry that I got Pearl to cook your breakfast. Its silly really"
There was sorrow in her voice. She could still feel the hurt of the many things that had happened to her. The house was quieter. Everything was calm. The puppy tilted her head.
"I happened a few days ago, I had an accident. An accident which cost me all of my home and nearly my life"
Pimpernel looked upwards towards the ceiling. She could see the fire flash before her eyes.
"I… I…"
But Pimpernel couldn't say it. She was trying ever so hard to find the words to the way she felt.
Outside, Pearl was making her way down to the market. The Green Dragon could be seen in the distance. Pearl suddenly stopped. Her eyes narrowed into the figure that was now walking away from the small bridge.
"Now where is he going?" Pearl asked herself.
A few seconds later, Pearl set off again. the coldness was now getting to her. Not many people were up and about. The warmth was much more comfortable then the bitter coldness of the outside.
Pearl continued to walk down to the stalls. Only one or two stalls had been set up. But neither of them were the ones that Pearl wanted.
Her plan had changed. She took a deep breath and started heading back up the shallow hill. Her sights were now set on her mother's home.
Meanwhile, Sam was still walking. His feet were wet and his hands cold. The pack his had on his back was full of bread and water. A blanket had been placed in the bottom. Sam would not return until his son was found.
But hope was seeping away from his heart. He knew not of where his son was. But he couldn't give up on him. For Sam knew these lands better then others did.
The trees grew larger as the hobbit continued to walk. Sam slowed down as reached the edge of the small woods. Sam's breath rose into the air as he looked though the trees.
He could see the sky on the other side of the woods. There was less snow under the trees. The light brown pines and hard pine cones littered the floor.
Sam raised as hand and touched the bark of the nearest tree. A few bird songs met Sam's ears.
"Where is he?" Sam asked himself.
Sam's eyes darted around. The hobbit then set off again. He shuffled his pack up his back. The woods were not thick. Instead, it was a thin band of pine trees. Some were large and some seemed to be smaller. The light from the sun hardly reached the floor of the forest.
Samwise reached the opposite side of the woods. Before him was a different hill. It was taller then the one he stood upon. Snow covered it. there was no green to be seen on the ground. The trees that were near by looked black against the bright sky.
Sam looked around, but could see no signs of Frodo anywhere.
"Frodo?" Sam called out.
His voice echoed around the area. But there was no response.
"Alright, lets go a little bit further" Sam told himself.
So, the hobbit set out again. The slope was more slippery then he had imagined. A few times, Sam lost his footing. But regained it as quickly. His footprints lined the side of the hill. A few trees grew on the side of the hill. But they were few in number.
Sam reached the bottom and looked around. The sun was weak in the sky, clouds threatened to gather yet again. But not for a few more hours. Sam could still see no sign of his son ever being there.
A cold wind blew at him. His jacket was tickled by the waves of coldness.
"Where would he have gone now?" Sam asked himself.
He sniffed, the cold was effecting him. Birds sung from the trees on the hill he had just descended. The hill before him was larger then the one had had come down.
The next part of his search came into his mind.
"Well, there's nothing for it" he said.
Once again, the hobbit set off. The snow crunched under his feet as he walked towards the hill. The sloped started out gently, the quickly rose to its full gradient.
Sam slowly ascended. The hill grew steeper and steeper.
Pearl knocked three times on the door. the sound echoed though the house. Pearl waited for a second or two. The door clicked and swung open.
Standing there was her mother. A smile came over Eglantine's face.
"Hello love, come in"
Pearl gave her mother a smile back and walked in. the coldness was replaced by warmth. Smells met Pearl's nose. Bacon was present in the air.
"I need some more bread, I've run out back home" Pearl told her mother.
Eglantine nodded and smiled.
"Of course, I've got plenty"
So, the two of them made their way towards the kitchen. The kitchen was like any other. The fire was dancing in the heath, sending its light and warmth into the room.
Pervinca was sitting at the table, holding a hot cup of tea. She looked up and smiled. All of the Took girls looked the same.
"Good morning" Vinnie said.
Pearl smiled.
"And good morning to you" she said.
Eglantine opened the door to their cellar. Pearl watched her mother go out of sight.
"How is she?" Vinnie asked.
Pearl took a deep breath.
"She could be better" she answered.
Eglantine had her hand on the bread. She could hear her daughters talking about Pimpernel.
"I think what you did was right" Vinnie said.
Eglantine was silent. She wanted to hear about what they were talking next. But her feelings were now over whelming her. Anger and despair were strong in her heart.
On one hand, she knew that she lost Pimpernel. Eglantine knew that she would never come back to her.
The anger was due to the fact that it happened in the first place. It was not her fault that the fire happened. Eglantine would not of wished that even on her most hated enemy.
There was silence around the house now. Eglantine had been standing there too long. Pearl was now standing in the door way.
"Mother?" she asked.
Eglantine slowly looked at her daughter. Pearl was given a strange look. It was anger mixed with sadness. The loaf of bread was slowly lifted off of the shelf.
Pearl knew that her mother had heard what they were talking about.
"There you go" Eglantine said, handing the loaf to her daughter.
The kitchen was now quiet, save from the fire crackling in the heath. Vinnie was looking at them both.
"Thank you" Pearl said, taking the loaf and placing it in her basket.
There was a moment of silence.
"Well, I better be heading back" Pearl said.
The hobbit smiled at her mother and sister, then walked out. Pearl's basket was heavier then it had been. A single loaf laid on the bottom.
The hours continued to click over. Pearl had arrived back in her own home on the hill. She closed the front door and took off her coat.
"Pimpernel?" she asked.
But there were no sounds coming from her room. The coat was then hung up. Pearl looked down the corridor, wondering why her sister was not answering her.
So, Pearl picked up the basket and placed it on the table in the kitchen. She then went to see if Pimpernel was alright.
Pearl reached the door, it had been left ajar. The hobbit slowly opened it wider.
Laying on the bed was Pimpernel. She had fallen as sleep. The puppy she owned was sleeping also. Pearl smiled. Her sister looked so peaceful.
"Maybe she'll wake up when she's hungry" Pearl thought.
She then walked away, leaving her sister sleeping on the bed.