Meanwhile, Pimpernel was getting more and more full up every bite she took. All of the hobbits in the Green Dragon were still eating. Pearl seemed to be more distracted then usual. She was looking at a point over by one of the fire places.
"Pearl?" asked her sister.
The hobbit snapped out of her gaze and smiled.
"You alright?" Pimpernel asked.
Pearl was confused.
"Yes, of course I am" she answered.
But Pimpernel knew something was up. She looked to where her sister was looking and saw Folco Boffin sitting facing their way. Pimpernel knew exactly what her sister was now thinking.
"Do you fancy him?" she asked.
Pearl became even more confused.
"No, of course I don't" she said.
But the lie was now very convincing. Pimpernel could see right though it. The talking died down at their tummies became full of food. The eating slowly started to trail off into small bites here and there.
Ale was still being consumed at a higher rate then normal. The windows still had a thin sheet of condensation on them. A few drips snaked their way down. The darkness outside was now deep.
Snow continued to fall, harder and faster then before. The clouds up above made the sky a black abyss. Stars were unseen tonight and the moon was hidden.
The wind whistled though leafless tress and ancient forests. Logs with green moss were covered in the large flakes. Shells of buildings that had been erected many centuries before were now being battered where they stood. Owls had taken residence in side the sheltered parts. Their feathers ruffled feathers as they cuddled up to each other.
Small specks of light were dotted around Hobbiton. All that could be seen of life from afar. Today would have been a happy time for hobbits. Food was common in all households as well as pints of ale.
But for one household, this time of the year would never been the same again. Fredegar was standing at the end of the bed. His mother, Rosamunda, was sitting on a wooden chair. There was a bowl of warm water sitting on the bed.
A very ill looking hobbit lay there. This was Odovacar. He was very old and very ill.
"Is he going to be alright?" Fredegar asked, looking worried.
He had never seen his father in the state he was right now. Life was trickling away from him as the night wore on. The clocked showed the time. It had been a few hours since the start of the Green Dragon feast.
Estella had been out for nearly three hours now. A small bit of cold air rushed though the house. There was an awkward silence all around the house.
What once was a happy, welcoming place was now dark and cold. The ticking of clocks seemed to be louder then normal.
"I don't know" his mother answered.
Rosamunda knew that her husbands time was almost up. All that Rosamunda could do now was make him as comfortable as possible.
"Could I get you anything?" asked Fredegar.
He did not know what to do. His father looked more ill then he had ever been. Rosamunda took a deep breath and looked around at him.
"No, Fredegar, he's going to be alright" his mother answered.
Deep down, Fredegar knew that his mother was lying to him.
Outside in the coldness, hobbits started to emerge from the green dragon. Some were very drunk, others yawned as they came out into the coldness. All had large coats on.
Inside, the dishes and bowls and plates had all been cleared away by the dwarves. Pimpernel and Pearl were one of the last to leave. But also was Folco. He had stayed behind deliberately.
Pimpernel could see him approaching them. A smug smile on his face.
"Hello Pimpernel" he said.
Pimpernel's darted away from him for a split second and then back.
"Hello Folco" she replied.
"Good meal tonight, wasn't it?"
Pearl was getting her coat on.
"It was more the good, it was the best" Nelly answered.
"Of course"
Pearl buttoned up her coat, six in all. She pushed her chair so that it was now under the table.
"Hello there Pearl, I didn't know you were here" Folco said.
Pearl gave an embarrassed smile.
"I guess we'll be getting back home" said Pimpernel, hinting to leave.
Pearl nodded.
"we'll see you later" Pearl told Folco.
He smiled and nodded.
"Have a good night"
At that, the two girls made their way around tables and out. Pimpernel looked back to see that Folco had forgotten his coat. He was now at the chair. His balance left him a bit before he regained it.
The two girls walked away.
"He likes you" Pimpernel told her sister.
Pearl looked at her.
"No he doesn't" she answered.
"And you like him!"
Pearl shook her head.
"No I don't"
But there was no denying it. Pearl had started to fancy him and she couldn't hid it. The wind was battering them as they made their way home. Invisible foxes rushed just meters from them.
Their eyes glinted in the low level of light. Their fur blew in the wind and their ears pointed to where ever they heard a noise.
Gates rattled and trees blew in the wind. Pearl and Pimpernel now reached home. The snow was now getting very deep. Pearls hands were now freezing cold. The large front door was opened and the girls went into the house as quickly as possible.
A small puppy scurried up to them. It was Abira. Pimpernel smiled as she hung her coat up on the pegs.
"Hello girl" she said, scooping her up.
Abira started to lick her owners face lots of times.
"Alright, alright, I know you love me" Pimpernel said, moving the puppy's head away.
Pearl smiled as she walked past.
"I'll go and make us some tea, we need to warm up" she said.
Pimpernel nodded and walked down the corridor after her. The house was much warmer then outside. There was a happy atmosphere here.
Estella had just walked into a quiet house. Her spirits were high. But they were about to be crushed. Rosamunda had heard her come in.
"Good evening" Estella said, hanging up her coat.
"It's very cold…"
But Estella was stopped in the middle of her sentence.
"Your father is ill" Rosamunda told her.
Estella suddenly stopped in her tracks. The two of them looked at each other. The effect of the ale had all but gone.
"Ill?" Estella asked.
Rosamunda slowly nodded her head.
"He may not see day light" she told her daughter.
Disbelief was now running though her heart. Many questions surfaced.
"This cant be happening" Estella thought.
She did not know what to do. Fredegar came slowly out of the room. He looked as lost as Estella was.
"Can I see him?" Estella asked.
Rosamunda smiled.
"Of course you can" she answered.
So, Estella and her mother walked towards the room. Fredegar's face made no smile when Estella approached. The mood of the room was very dark.
On the bed was Estella's father. Estella's heart was racing. Odovacar was laying motionless on the bed. His eyes closed, but still breathing. There was a small bowl of warm water that Rosamunda had been using to dab his head with.
Estella knew that his time was nearly over. But she still didn't want it to happen. She loved her father more then anything.
His face was pale and cold as she got closer.
"Father?" she asked.
But there was no sign that he could hear her. Fredegar and Rosamunda had stayed back and let Estella say her goodbyes.
The clock chimed eight times. It was four hours until the midnight hour was upon them. All around Hobbiton, hobbits were settling down from an early night.
Tiredness had now replaced the hunger from before. The smell of roast chicken lingered long after the food had gone. Crackling fire were restocked with fresh logs. Smoke rose out of the chimneys and into the snowy sky.
Their blackness was unseen in the night. The shadows of trees had melted into the never ending blackness that made up the night.
The carpet of snow was getting deeper by the minute. Yet animals still roamed the lands. Foxes mostly. They were silent and invisible, even to the most weary of hobbits.
A fox slowly walked along the path. Its nose smelt something new. Something that it had never smelt before. The empty and abandoned fox hole came into view. The smell grew stronger and stronger.
The fox stopped dead in his tracks. He looked at the hole with his big eyes and listened with his large red ears. The snow flakes continued to streak down. Some hit him, but did not bother him.
The fox creped closer and closer. The smell was stronger here then the other parts. But this was no fox, nor rabbit. The fox sniffed closer and closer.
Inside, Ivy looked to the entrance. There was something out there other then wind and snow.
Ivy stood up suddenly, Origo's eyes moved over to his Ivy. He lifted his little head up. Ivy was walking away from him slowly.
The puppy gave a small whine.
"Shush, there's something out there" Ivy told him.
Origo stood, his eyes looked up to the entrance of the den. The wind blew around them as a small hint of what was out there met Origo's eyes.
It was a fox.
"Origo, stay here, I'll scare him off" Ivy said.
But Origo didn't want her to leave. A bark came from him. What happened next happened fast and furious. The fox instantly started to attack. A large paw swooped down inside the den. Origo was now very scared.
He knew that if the fox got him, then he would be killed. Luckily, Ivy thought ahead. She only had a small bit of magic in her. But it was enough.
She touched the fox. It instantly yelped and drew back. But it did not draw back for long. The shock made it even more aggressive. The fox then came back for a second wave of attack.
The soil started to collapse as the foxes paws strapped along them.
Origo started to whimper. He wasn't strong enough to fight back. And even if he did, he would get hurt. Ivy shocked the fox again. She saw her chance to escape and fluttered into the night.
The wind that blew was too strong for her. She struggled to keep herself in the same place. She could see the fox trying to get to Origo.
But she wouldn't let him. The fairy flew, with all her might, and landed on the fur of the fox. The fox could not feel it. The next second, the fox was shocked. He yelped and turned around.
But there was nothing there. Shock after shock came. The fox was too busy with the pain to try and get Origo. The small puppy inside was now backed up against the far side of the den.
The movement of the fox had gone away from him. Without a second to think, Origo bounded out into the snow. To the side, he could see Ivy holding on for dear life as the fox tried to shake her off.
"Run Origo!" Ivy shouted over the wind.
The fox was still being shocked. Origo remained for a few seconds, then scurried off. The darkness soon devoured the small puppy. The fox twirled around, trying to get Ivy off.
The next second, the fairy let go and flew out of the way. The fox seemed really angry. He too ran off, in the same direction as the puppy. Ivy was now very worried for Origo's safety. But the wind was too strong for her to fly into. She would waste energy trying to chase the fox.
"Origo?" she shouted, looking around.
She hoped that her puppy had not gone too far. Worry and fear were strong in her as she looked around. Her green glow was now bright enough to see past the curtain of darkness.
Meanwhile, back in the Bolger's household, the clock continued to tick. Estella walked back into the room with two cups of tea. She smiled as she handed it to her mother.
"Thank you dear" Rosamunda said, taking it.
There was a very sombre mood in the house hold. The fire was now burning into white embers as Estella took her seat again. Fredegar was not present. He had gone back to his room and closed the door.
Estella took a deep breath and looked at her mother.
"Do you think he's in pain?" Estella asked.
Her mother looked over at her. There seemed to be no answers in her eyes.
"I don't know" she said.
There was definite sadness in her voice. She knew that this day would come for a long time. Memories were running though her head. Images flashed over her eyes.
It was of a summer, many years ago. The breeze was blowing in her face as she made her way down to the market place. There were a lot of different faces around. Some that she didn't know the name of and others she did.
Rosamunda was in her late twenties. She looked very much like Estella. The two of them had the same hair and look. Rosamunda had green eyes, it was common for hobbits to have green or blue eyes.
The wind was cool as she walked to the first stall. This had fish hanging down from hooks. They were swinging gently in the wind.
Rosamunda had a small basket in one hand and a piece of parchment in the other. She looked down at the list.
Eggs
Ham
Milk
Fish
Seasoning
Rosamunda gave a smile as she looked at the fish.
"Good morning dear" said the old lady sitting on a small seat.
She slowly got up, it looked like a lot of work for her to do so. She was a plump, motherly looking hobbit with a gentle face.
"Could I have that fish please?" she asked, pointing at one of the biggest ones.
The woman nodded and smiled. There was a small metal hook keeping the fish hanging there. The fish was then placed on the small wooden surface of the stall. A large sheet of thin paper was wrapped around it.
"There you go dear" said the old woman.
Rosamunda smiled.
"Thank you"
She then walked away. The fish was now sitting in her basket as she looked down at the list again.
"Eggs" she said and turned around.
There was a coop of chickens. A stall had been set up near by. A hobbit stood behind the stall. A smile on his face as he watched hobbit go about their business.
A number of hobbit children ran past. The Green Dragon stood where it had already been. A few of the hobbit elders were sitting on the chairs. They were talking merrily. Smoke rose into the air as they puffed on their pipes. Mugs of ale were being drunk.
Clouds sailed over the sky, but they did not hinder the light from the sun much. The weather seemed to be getting warmer by the minute as the sun continued to rise.
Birds and small insects continued to go about their daily doings. A few ants were crossing the area that was before the Green Dragon. Some small black ants had already made it to the shadows on the benches.
Rosamunda smiled as she looked at the chickens.
"Have you got any eggs today?" she asked, looking down at the chickens.
The man smiled.
"Of course I have, they've been very busy" he said as he took the wooden lid to the hut.
Inside, there were some chickens sitting on their eggs. But they did not break.
"How many do you want?" asked the man, looking up.
His hands were dirty. There was a bit of dry blood where he had killed one or two of his stock.
"Six if you have it" Rosamunda answered.
So, the man moved the chickens off of their perches. There were at least two light brown eggs laying under nearly each one of the birds.
Under the third one, there was only a single egg. He picked it up, having five already. The next few birds had no eggs under them.
"Seems to be no more eggs" he said to himself.
He smiled as he looked back up at Rosamunda.
"We seem to have run out of eggs, but I do have five here"
Rosamunda nodded in agreement.
"I suppose that it'll be enough" she answered.
So, the man placed them gently into a paper bag and handed it to the girl. She paid and went on her way. Rosamunda now had two of the five things on the list.
"I think I should get some ham" she said, her eyes scanning over the list.
The girl walked back over near to the Green Dragon. Lots of talking hobbits were both inside and outside of the building. Laughing and Merry making could be heard coming from the inside of the thatched building.
A few hobbits continued to walk in and out. The ones who were coming out had more ale in there systems. It was evident in the way they walked and looked.
Rosamunda smiled as she looked around again. Like the stall with the fish, the ham was swinging on metal hooks. The chunks of beef, lamb and stakes. Flies were buzzing and landing on some of the chunks. But none of the hobbits minded.
"Good after Rosamunda" said the woman.
Rosamunda smiled.
"How are you?" she asked.
The woman behind the stall was a close friend of the Took family. For at this time, Rosamunda was not a Bolger.
"I am alright, the sun is bright today, summer is on its way" she answered.
The woman smiled and nodded.
"Ah yes, the plants seem to be more alive then before. They know what the sun has in store for them"
The two of them laughed as a bee or wasp zoomed past.
"So, how is your mother?" the woman asked.
"She is doing well, she is in the garden at the moment" Rosamunda answered.
The woman smiled.
"Its good that she's getting outside, its nice weather for it now"
Rosamunda nodded, her eyes were scanning along the hooked meats. Her eyes fell on a large bit of beef. A smile came over her lips.
"Could I have that piece please?" she asked, pointing at it.
"Of course dear"
So, the meat was taken down and wrapped up.
"Thank you" Rosamunda said as she placed it in her basket.
"Give my love to your mother for me" the woman said as Rosamunda walked away.
She looked around and nodded. There were only two things left on her list. Seasoning and milk. The stall for the seasoning was closest, so she made her way to there.
It was then that she saw him. Odovacar came out of the Green Dragon. Rosamunda smiled instantly. For a moment, their eyes met. Odovacar was very attractive. Rosamunda knew that others were after him as well. She thought that there was no chance in getting to know him.
After a few more minutes, all five things were now in her basket. Eggs, ham, milk, fish and seasoning were all present and brought.
Odovacar and his friends walked off towards the fields that surrounded Hobbiton. Rosamunda walked a distance away behind. The path wound though the town. Round doors had been set into the side of rolling hills. The green grass was look weathered as she walked past.
Birds flew over head, some with twigs, others with worms and bugs. Different songs and verses met her ears. But now, they were all echoes in her mind now.
The clock chimed eleven times. The memories vanished as suddenly as they came. Estella was still sitting at her side. She seemed in deep though as well.
Her memories did not go as far back as her mothers. Estella was only a small girl at the time. It was the best memory she ever had. It took place at night.
The summer was high and the temperature was cool for this time of night. The midnight hour was close at hand. Nocturnal animals roamed under the ink carpet of night.
The door slowly opened and a younger Odovacar came in. He had a smile on his face,
"Estella?" he whispered.
The small girl was excited. She rose her head. Only a few candles had been left burning for her.
"Are you awake?" Odovacar asked.
"I am" Estella answered.
The duvet was then thrown off of herself. She was wearing a night gown.
"Are you ready?" Odovacar asked.
There was a smile on his face. Estella nodded. A yawn came over her.
"Well, get dressed and we can go and see it"
A few minutes later, the door to her room opened again. Estella came out, fully dressed and ready to go out. Her father smiled and held out his hand. Estella took it and the two of them walked down the corridor.
The large front door was opened. The sound of many crickets filled the air. The door was closed behind them. The night was cool and cloudless. The stars were twinkling as they looked down on them from above. The moon was just a slither in the sky. Owls hooted from miles away. A few foxes were roaming around as well.
"Come on" Odovacar said, walking past her.
The air seemed still, yet there was a still wind blowing around them. Estella was smiling. She had never been allowed to go outside this late. Only a few lights shone out on the surrounding area. But there was no movement to speak of.
The Green Dragon had its lights off as well. Everyone was at home and in bed. The two hobbits continued walking until the path bent around the hillside. There was a small style leading over to a big field. This was where Odovacar was leading his daughter.
"Come on, over you go" he said, letting his daughter go over first.
He closely followed.
"Where are we going?" Estella asked.
Her curiosity was strong in her heart. For her father had not told her where they were going.
"You'll see in a minute"
So, the two of them walked into a massive field. There was large tuffs of grass dotted everywhere. Odovacar walked right into the middle. The town of Hobbiton could not be seen any more. The land seemed to stretch into the never ending blackness.
The sounds of owls hooting came from afar.
"This will do" Odovacar said.
He suddenly sat down and laid on the floor. Estella was left standing there, she was confused.
"Come on, I want to show you something but your going to have to lie down"
So, Estella slowly sat down and laid down beside her father.
"What are we trying to see?" Estella asked, looking up.
There was a sudden flash of light across the sky. Estella caught it out of the corner of her eye.
"Did you see that?" she asked.
Odovacar smiled.
"Did you see one?" he asked, looking over at his daughter.
Estella nodded and turned her head.
"What was it?" she asked.
Odovacar looked back up at the stars.
"They are what we call shooting stars. Small grains of dust burning up in the atmosphere above us" he answered.
Estella took a deep breath and looked back up. There was silence between the two for a few seconds.
"Well, I cant see any more now. Maybe that was the only one" she told her father.
Odovacar gave a small chuckle.
"Oh, that isn't the only one there is out there. Comets the size of the Shire are floating around up there" he answered.
"As big as the Shire?" asked Estella, looking over at her father.
"Yes, all out there. And maybe even life"
"But why cant we see the big comets and other planets?" Estella asked.
"Well, because their so far away. We can not see them. Maybe every star out there had a planet going around it and maybe some other hobbit is looking up at the sky and saying the exact same thing"
The hoots of the owls echoed around them still as the two of them lay there. Another shooting star streaked across the sky.
"Did you see that one?" Estella asked, pointing up to the sky.
"Yes, that was most brilliant" Odovacar agreed.
What seemed like hours had past since they first got to the field. Yawning became more common for Estella. She rubbed her eyes, trying to stay awake.
"I think we should get back now" Odovacar said, sitting up.
Estella sat up as well. She took one lest yawn before slowly getting up. Their eyes were now used to the darkness of night. Estella and Odovacar walked back in silence.
The door to there house came into view. It was a welcome sight for the tired Estella. Odovacar opened the gate for his daughter.
Estella took a deep breath and looked up at her mother. The two of them smiled.
"I hate this" Estella said, looked over at her father.
He was still breathing. Rosamunda nodded. She had seen both her mother and father in this state before. But she could never forget what she felt like.
"As do I" she said glumly.
All of the pain and sadness were resurfacing. The midnight hour was now only ten minutes away. But at this time, the clock seemed to be slowing down.
Nine minutes.
Estella couldn't take it any more. She arose from her seat and walked out of the room, leaving Rosamunda on her own.
Eight minutes until midnight.
Outside, the snow was coming down thick and fast. Ivy was flying down the path. It was quite hard for her to do so. The wind was blowing her all over the place.
Her small heart was beating quicker then it ever had been. Origo was now out in the coldness by himself, in the dark and with a fox chasing him. The tracks that they made had now all but vanished under the fresh snow.
The trees created a sound louder then she could shout.
Seven minutes to midnight.
Diamond was standing before a sink. Water sloshed around inside a bowl. A flannel was rubbed over her face, getting all of the soap off.
In the back of her mind, something was bugging her. It had been for most of the day. She was missing something. Something important to her. But she didn't know what it was.
"Come on Diamond, think" she told herself.
But it was no use. Nothing came to her. The plug that kept the water sloshing around in the bowl was taken out. The warm, but dirty water, started to drain away. Diamond walked over to the towels and dried her face.
"Maybe its just nothing" she told herself.
She placed the towel back and walked out of the room. There bit of condensation lingered on the surface of the mirror
Six minutes until midnight.
Pimpernel was in bed. The candles had been put out, save for one or two. The duvet had been drawn over her. A small puppy lay curled up under the covers as well.
Abira had slowly fallen asleep. Her little eyes were closed. Pimpernel was looking up at the dark ceiling above. Unlike her puppy, she was not tired. Her mind was working. Hamson was on her mind again. And not for the first time that day.
Nearly everything reminded her of him. But she knew it was too do anything about it. He was living his own life. But there was still a small bit of hope there. Hope that he would come back.
Five minutes to midnight.
Rosie Gamgee got into bed, another night of Sam not being there. But she had gotten used to it. But she still missed him. She understood that he needed to take care of him. The fire continued to crackle as her ears were trained for any signs of him coming back.
Four minutes till midnight.
Diamond slowly got into bed. Faramir was sleeping in his cot and Pippin was snoring next to her. The candles had been blown out. A yawn came over her as she rested her head on the pillow.
The feeling of forgetting something came back stronger then ever before. Diamond turned in her bed and looked towards the window. There was deep darkness outside. Large snow flakes were being battered against the window pain.
Three minutes until midnight.
Fredegar stood up. His bed sprung back to it normal shape. He slowly walked out of the room. The calmness around the house screamed at him as he opened the door.
There were no sounds or movement, apart from the flickering candles. But even they seemed to stand guard, daring to move.
The hobbit slowly waddled to the room down the corridor. There, only his mother sat. Estella's chair was empty. The clock continued to tick as he waddled in. Rosamunda looked around. She gave him a smile.
"Is he…?" Fredegar asked.
Apart of him did not want to know. But there was no answer. There was a strange silence among them. Both of them knew it was his time to go. The two hands of the clock were now touching as the last minute of the day ticked up on them.
There was a sudden movement in Odovacar's arm. A mumble came from him. Rosamunda sat up. Her eyes narrowed to her husband.
The mug of tea was placed down as she got up.
"Odovacar?" she asked, holding his cold hand.
His dry lips moved. A few inaudible words came out. Rosamunda's eyes started to fill up with tears.
"Get Estella" Rosamunda said, looking back at her son.
But Fredegar could not move. He was looking at his father.
"Fredegar, please?" she asked.
The hobbit looked down at his mother. Without a word, he spun and waddled out of the room.
"Estella?" he asked, looking around.
It was very hard work for him. But there was no answer.
"Estella?" he called out again.
He stopped in the hall way. The hobbit was breathing heavily. His eyes darting around. Estella was no where to be seen.
Back in the room, tears ran down Rosamunda's face as she looked into the face of her husband. Chimes started to ring out as the midnight hour past. Odovacar seemed to take one last breath. A small smile came over his wrinkled lips and then. Nothing.
The last chime echoed around the house.
Odovacar had died.