The mountains of shadow grew larger and larger as the two beings walked and walked. Sometimes, the two of the would have to negotiate large crevasses that they could not jump down. They would have to climb down one side and up the other.
"Careful now" Pilith said as he reached the bottom of the large crack in terrain.
It was much colder down here then it had been for the past few hours. There was no bird song, no light and no wind. Mya shivered as she reached the floor.
"I can hardly see anything" Mya said, crossing her arms.
Pilith took a deep breath. He looked around. An equally big wall of rock faced him.
"We need to get climbing" Pilith said.
So, the two of them found an easy looking bit on the rock face and started to climb. It took longer to climb up then it did not climb down. Mya's arms were getting tired as she stopped and started.
After an hour, they reached the top. Pilith, who had reached the top before Mya did.
"Here" he said, extending his hand.
Mya smiled as she took it. The last few feet were made easier. In the distance, the mountains of shadow had grown larger. But, there was still many hours of walking to go.
Minutes of walking turned slowly into hours. The hours past as the two of them walked.
"I need a rest" said Mya.
She was breathing heavily, trying to take in as much air in as possible.
"We need water" said Pilith.
His wishes were about to come true as he scanned the horizon. His ears picked up on something strange. A sound that he would not have expected to hear.
"It looks…" Mya started, but she was hushed.
Pilith knew that sound. He knew exactly what it meant.
"Hurry" he said, running away.
Mya was confused. She, unlike Pilith, started to walk. The sound grew louder as Pilith ran over the rocks and ash that lay floor.
It was a few seconds before he stopped. The sound was now louder then it had bee. Pilith smiled. It was a small stream trickling over the edge of the gully that they had just climbed up.
"What is it?" Mya asked, reaching his side.
Pilith smiled.
"Water" he answered, looking at her and smiling.
The two rushed forward and knelt down. Pilith felt the cold water rush through his hands. The blackness that had been ingrained in his hands slowly washed off.
Mya smiled as she rubbed her hands together. A few seconds later, she scooped up a handful of water and took a sip. She smiled as she felt the water trickle down her dry throat. A bit tricked down her chin as well.
For what felt like hours the two of them drank. The only thing that they needed now was food.
"We best get moving" Pilith told his friend.
Mya smiled as she slowly stood up.
"I wish we could take this water with us" she said, sighing.
But they did not need to. For the stream flowed on for mile after mile. Pilith explained to Mya that flasks were not needed at the moment.
"We could just follow the stream, it looks like it starts are the mountains"
So, after agreeing to his idea, Mya and Pilith started to walk again.
Bilbo, Gandalf and the dwarves departed Rivendell, though none of them wanted to. The fifteen of them made their way up the many paths of the misty mountains.
Gandalf led the way, but vanished as some points.
"How does he do that?" Bilbo asked he had wrapped his large cloak around him.
Bombur, who's clothes were catching the small droplets of water. The wind was getting worse and worse, but they did not stop. Bilbo had never been so cold in his life.
"He's a wizard, if you ask me, you best just keep going" Bombur answered.
There was nothing much more that Bilbo could do. Though it was the last gasp of summer else where, the mountain pass was bitterly cold. And it just seemed to be getting colder as they walked ever onwards.
For days, they snaked their way upwards. Bilbo seemed to have lost all sense of time and coldness. His feet, toes, legs, arms and fingers were all very stiff and very numb.
Their ponies were faring no better. Their heads were bent down, making the wind a little bit more bearable. Thorin and company stopped on a narrow ledge. A cave had been spotted by the ever watchful Kili and Fili.
"We have found a cave, not far from here, the ponies and all could fit inside" Fili told them.
But Gandalf was not as trusting of the cave as his dwarven counterparts.
"Have you thoroughly explored it?" he asked.
Gandalf had more knowledge then most about these mountains.
"Yes, yes" Fili said, brushing off any attempt to keep on walking.
"It isn't all that big or goes that far back" he told them.
This satisfied the dwarves. So, the group moved on. A few minutes later, one by one, they were out of the rain and in the cave.
Every one of them, even Gandalf, had droplets of cold water falling off of them. Bilbo, who's hair had been curly, was now sticking to his face.
Loud claps of thunder echoed around the cave. The bolt of lightning would flash and light up cave. Bilbo, who was the nearest one to the dark abyss, thought he saw something move.
Gandalf's staff lit up, but it was not bright enough to light up the whole cave. Bilbo and the dwarves were very tired.
"Get some sleep" Gandalf said, moving his way towards him.
The thirteen dwarves started to make the cave look smaller then it actually was. Bilbo took a deep breath as he took off dripping wet cloak.
Bilbo drifted into an uneasy sleep. His dreams had changed. For the past few nights, Bilbo had been dreaming of large banquets and elves. But tonight, everything changed.
In his dream, a large crack had appeared in the very back of the cave. Bilbo, who was laying on his cloak, started to slip down.
"Help!" he tried shout, but nothing came out.
The little hobbit, who had been asleep for an unknown length, opened his eyes. His heartbeat rose as he saw the ponies, carrying all of the food that the elves had kindly given them.
Bilbo suddenly found his voice again and found it he did. His yell woke even Bombur, who was a very deep sleeper at the best of times.
Goblins jumped out of the crack that had magically at the back of the cave. Thorin, who had been sleeping at the mouth of the cave, woke. But he was quickly over come.
Even Bombur was over come. Six goblins to each dwarf it looked like. Bilbo felt a cracked, leathery hand grab his upper arm. Without wanting to, he was forced to walk down into the crack.
All apart from Gandalf had been seized and taken into the crack. With a flash of light, several of the goblins had been killed. But this did not stop the dwarves and Bilbo being taken in.
Gandalf was now on the wrong side as the cave shut. Gandalf could hear nothing but rain and thunder. The goblins, dwarves and Bilbo were gone.
Origo gave a small yawn as he stood in Pearl's warm kitchen. Lunch had been served and now, it was time for dinner. Faramir had now woken up.
For hours, Origo and Abira had played. They had a little invisible friend as well. Ivy had been fluttering with them.
"Ah!" Ivy said, fluttering out of reach.
Origo gave a playful growl and jumped again.
Ivy smiled as she zoomed around the puppy. Abira's little tail wagged as she sat there, watching her puppy friend run around and chase the fairy. Abira did not want to do it, she preferred watching her Origo do it.
Both Origo and Abira were getting hungry. Like before, they would get a meal just for them. Origo had his turkey and Abira had her bacon.
Like lunch, a large chicken had been placed in the hot oven. Pimpernel smiled as she heard a bark from outside the kitchen. She loved her little puppy so much. After all that had happened, she could finally have someone to love and keep her company.
But in reality Pimpernel was not sitting in the kitchen at all. Diamond had not visited in a while. Pimpernel's eyes were losing their blueness. Pearl had noticed that Pimpernel's eyes were greying.
"Nelly?" she asked, opening the door.
Nelly took a deep breath, but did not look up at her sister.
"Would you like to come and help me?" she asked.
Nelly looked down. A few moments later, she slid off of the bed and followed her sister. Pimpernel walked down the corridor after her sister. Pearl smiled as she continued on chopping.
Pimpernel had stopped. The sight of the flaming heath stopped her in her tracks. Pearl looked around at her sister. She knew that Nelly would not come an inch further, but she needed her help.
"Nelly?" she asked, her sister was still transfixed by the dancing flames.
"Pimpernel, come on, I'm here" she said.
Pearl had put the knife down again and walked to her sister. Pimpernel was a little bit shorter then herself.
"You have to get over your fear, Nelly" Pearl told her.
Pimpernel's eyes slid over from the fire and rested on her sister's. Neither of the girls said a word, but Pearl knew that, no matter what words of encouragement that could conjure up, Pimpernel would not go near the fire.
A few seconds later, Pearl took a deep breath. Nelly turned and quickly walked back to her room, leaving Pearl to do all of the work.
The door to Pimpernel's room clicked shut. She rushed back to her bed and dived onto it. Pimpernel started to cry as she buried her head on her pillow.
Pearl continued to prepare dinner. The house was very quiet as chopped the vegetables.
Another hour past before dinner was ready.
A knock echoed around Pimpernel's room. Pearl slowly opened the door.
"Dinner is ready, Pimpernel" she answered.
"I'll have it in here" whimpered Pimpernel.
Pearl took a deep breath. She knew that she could not force Pimpernel to eat in the kitchen. Pearl smiled and walked out again. She smiled as she dished up two plates.
Roasted potatoes, honeyed parsnips, carrots, shire sprouts, turnip, homemade gravy, honeyed chicken with an array of herbs, was caved and shared out.
Pearl smiled as she put a bigger portion then for her sister. Pearl poured the hot, brown gravy all over her and her sister's dinner.
A few moments later, after getting out a knife and fork, she walked back to Pimpernel's room. She held the plate with her left hand and knocked with her right.
A few moments later, the door creaked open. Pimpernel looked around. Her eyes were red and her cheeks glistened in the fading candle light.
Pimpernel gave a small smile and wiped away the tears from her eyes.
"Here you are" Pearl said, handing her the plate.
"Thank you" Pimpernel said taking the plate and then took the knife and fork.
"I'll be in the kitchen if you need anymore" Pearl told her.
"I'll be fine" Nelly explained, looking down.
Pearl nodded and smiled, then walked out. The kitchen was warmer then the room she had just been in. Pimpernel insisted that she did not have to have the fire lit.
"No, no, I'm fine" she told her.
Pearl knew that Pimpernel did not want the fire lit after what had happened to her. Pimpernel barely let her light the candles each day.
But, if Abira had still been with her, things would have been much different. For one, she would have the confidence to sit in the kitchen and have her meals.
Diamond, Pervinca and Faramir had came to visit for lunch and dinner. Pimpernel smiled as she felt a small tug on her flowery dress.
Pearl had served up her large dinner. Pimpernel had helped set the table and pour the mugs of ale. Faramir had been placed in a make shift cot out of a small wicker basket that was used for shopping.
Faramir was giggling as Origo looked inside the basket. Faramir's little hand reached out as he gabbed Origo's fluffy face.
Diamond looked around to see Origo looking into the little wicker basket. She smiled as Faramir giggled as he reached out to touch the pup.
Origo moved his head and let Faramir touch his right ear. Faramir grabbed it and gave it a tug.
"You're soft and tackily" Faramir thought.
"You're not like mummy at all"
Origo buried his face into Faramir. The puppy gave a little growl.
"You're not so scary" Origo thought, tilting his head as he stopped.
Diamond finished up her dinner and her ale. Pimpernel smiled as she rested Abira on her lap. One hand was tickling Abira's ears as she curled up on her Pimpernel's lap.
Soon, all four of the girls were finished.
"Well" said a very happy and very well fed Pervinca, leaning back.
"That was a fantastic meal"
Pearl smiled.
"Why, thank you" she said, giving a small smile.
Diamond and Pimpernel thanked Pearl as well. A few minutes past before Pearl rose from her seat. Pimpernel took a deep breath.
"I'm going to have to help Pearly now" Pimpernel told her puppy.
Abira gave a small whimper as she placed on the cold floor. Faramir started to whimper as well, for Origo had left him and was not more interested in his Abira.
Diamond took a deep breath as she rose from her seat.
"I think you're a little bit sleepy, baby" Diamond said picking him up from his makeshift cradle.
Faramir yawned as his mother held him.
"I guess you wont be staying for some tea" Pearl said, looking a bit disappointed.
But Pearl knew that Faramir was more important. Diamond was now torn. She knew that she would need a mug of tea before she went to bed, but then she needed to get Faramir off to bed and give Origo one more bowl of turkey before she settled down.
"Maybe tomorrow" she said.
Pearl gave a small smile. Pimpernel rose from her seat and walked around to the table. Origo and Abira had scooted off into the corridor.
They wrestled for a little while until their owners were ready. Diamond walked out, cuddling a her little baby. Origo and Abira instantly stopped wrestling. Pimpernel, Vinnie and Pearl walked out after them.
"Time to say goodbye, puppies" Nelly said, picking up Abira.
But Abira remained on the floor. Origo had been accidently picked up instead. Abira gave a small whimper.
"Good bye, Ori" Pimpernel said.
Even Diamond did not realise Pimpernel's mistake as she handed Faramir over to Pearl. Both Diamond and Vinnie put their coats on.
"Come on, Origo" Diamond said, looking down at the small pup on the floor.
Abira looked around, a little bit of confusion came over her as the door opened.
"Puppy, come on"
Abira looked back. After a few seconds, she started to follow Diamond. Origo gave a small whimper and tired to escape. But Pimpernel did not let him.
"Abi, what's the matter?" she asked, giving him a small kiss.
A minute later, after everyone had said their final fair wells, the door closed. Abira was now out in the cold and on her way to a house she did not want to go to.
"See you tomorrow" Vinnie said, hugging Diamond as they stood at the gate.
Vinnie looked down at Origo.
"Good night, puppy" she said.
The two girls parted ways. Abira slowly followed Diamond. She had her head bowed against the bitter wind. Abira and Diamond finally reached the large front door. Diamond smiled as she opened it.
"Come on" Diamond said.
Abira slowly walked in. she wanted to see her Pimpernel. But she could not. Ivy was still with Origo. She knew the difference between the two puppies.
"Maybe she'll come back and get you"
But time was running out. Pimpernel smiled as she walked to her room. Origo whimpered as he was placed on the bed.
"You can have your bacon in the morning" Nelly told what she thought was Abira.
Origo hung his head. Pimpernel's heart melted, but she knew that Pearl had already retired to bed. Pimpernel told Origo to stay, but she did not use his name.
"Where is my Diamond?" Origo whimpered at Ivy.
Ivy now had a problem. She knew that Origo would not stop asking until he was with his Diamond. But then, Abira was her. It would be a tricky task to get Abira back to her Pimpernel.
Meanwhile, Origo was looking down at the floor. Normally, he would have a little box at the end of the bed to jump onto. But in Pimpernel's room, he did not have that.
Pimpernel came back in, she had changed into her dressing gown.
"Come on pup" she said, picking him up.
Origo was now whimpering more then ever. This confused Nelly.
"Abira, what's the matter?" Pimpernel asked, never seeing her little puppy like that.
Nelly then placed the pup on the floor. Origo instantly ran towards the closed door.
"Pearl's asleep, I cant give you any bacon"
But this did not calm her puppy down.
"Hold your horses, puppy" Pimpernel said, opening the door.
She expected Abira to run towards the kitchen, but she did not. This made Pimpernel even more confused as she followed Abira to the large front door.
"It's too late to go out now" she said, looking at the little puppy as she pawed at the door.
Abira seemed to paw relentlessly. It was a few minutes before Pimpernel started to doubt that she had the right puppy.
"Hmm" she said, thinking of an idea to tell if her Abira was alright.
"Do you want something to eat?" she asked.
Origo turned around and gave a small whimper. Nelly smiled.
"Come on then" she said.
Origo bound over to her. Two large hands wrapped around his fluffy body. Pimpernel smiled as she walked back down the hall way.
The cellar, that led off of the kitchen, was opened. Pimpernel took a deep breath as she looked at the little flickering candle. She held the puppy with her right hand on her right shoulder and took the candle. The door, which had already been opened, creaked.
Pimpernel and the puppy went in. Nelly could feel the little puppy curl up as the coldness of the cellar sunk in. Pimpernel smiled as she stopped and put the candle on one of the empty shelves.
"Right, can you smell what you want?" she asked.
Pimpernel knew that her sister always stocked meat of every kind, so there must have some turkey. Origo sniffed the air. His nose was much better then Pimpernel's. A small whimper and a little struggled towards the back told her that she had indeed picked up Origo.
Nelly took a deep breath and picked up the candle again. Origo looked up at the girl, his little brown eyes glinting in the candle light.
"We're just going to visit someone" Pimpernel said.
Pearl, who was laying in her bed, the duvet drawn over her, heard Pimpernel's footsteps grow louder and then faded away.
"What is she up to?" she asked herself.
Pimpernel placed the puppy on the cold floor as she put on her coat and did the buttons up.
"Origo, come here" she whispered.
But she may well have not whispered. For, from down the corridor, a door opened. A few seconds later, Pearl came walking around the shallow bend in the tunnel.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
Bilbo and the dwarves were taken deeper and deeper into the mountain. Tunnels seemed to wind every which way. Bilbo, though disgusted by them, was amazed at their pace. The hobbit knew he would have got lost in the tunnels long ago.
The goblins had started sing an evil song.
Clap! Snap! The black crack!
Grip, grab! Pinch, nab!
And down down to Goblin-town
You go, my lad!
Clash, crash! Crush, smash!
Hammer and tongs! Knocker and gongs!
Pound, pound, far underground!
Ho, ho, my lad!
Swish, smack! Whip crack!
Batter and beat! Yammer and bleat!
Work, work! Nor dare to shirk,
While Goblins quaff, and Goblins laugh,
Round and round far underground
Below, my lad!
Bilbo's back stung with pain after the song. The goblins whipped him as they started every sentence. Bilbo's back became numb from all the whipping.
A small bit of blood seeped through his shirt, he could feel a droplet of it seeping down his back. But, before any of the dwarves knew where they were, an orange glow could be seen as they turned the corner.
It was then Bilbo felt the heat of an immense fire. Torches of flames lined the rock wall that the chamber was made out of.
The party of prisoners were stopped. Their hands were tied behind their back so that they could not escape. The noise grew louder as the fourteen captured beings entered the chamber.
"Who are these miserable people?" asked a large booming voice from the opposite end chamber.
The dwarves, including little frightened Bilbo at the back, were taken forward. It was then that Bilbo saw a very large goblin sitting at the other end.
This goblin was the ugliest thing that the poor hobbit had ever seen. He had a band of dwarf skulls wrapped around his arm. Two large horns grew out of its head. Two more dwarven skulls dangled from them.
His skin had deep cuts on his arms. A shroud of fur, maybe from a curious wolf that strayed to far to them. A large club with spikes at one end was laying on the floor.
"Dwarves" said one of the goblins that had helped capture them.
"And this"
Bilbo was thrust forward. The hobbit fell to his knees.
"We found them sheltering in our front porch"
The great goblin gave a menacing grin.
"And what do you mean by this?" he asked.
"Up to no good, spying on the privacy of my people is my guess. I shouldn't be surprised if you were thieves or even murderers and friends of Elves. What have you got to say about that?"
His voice rumbled around the chamber. There was a small wave of stony laughter from the other goblins as they stood there.
"Thorin the dwarf, at your service" Thorin told him.
"The things of which you suspect us of we do not wish to do. We sheltered from a storm and your porch seemed convenient for the numbers in our party. We were not looking for trouble, if that's what you are trying to say" Thorin told him.
The goblin gave a small huff that sounded more like an angry groan.
"So you say" he started.
"But may I ask what you are doing this far up the mountain and where your paths will lead you?" he asked.
The mood was turning bitter by the second. Tension rose between the two groups. Dwalin distrusted the goblins as much as he did the elves.
"I know much of your people, Thorin Oakenshield. I will give you the chance to speak truth or I will prepare something mightily uncomfortable for you"
His words echoed around. Thorin knew that he was treading on very thin ice now. He knew that he could not revile where was going or why.
"We are on a journey to visit relative. Nephews, nieces, first, second and third cousins and many other descendants. They live on the eastern side of these hospitable mountains"
The great goblin surveyed the dwarf as he stood there.
"He is a liar!" roared one of the goblins who had captured him.
"Several of us were struck by lightening in the cave when we invited them to come below. Now, they are all dead and lifeless. Why doesn't he explain it to you, your highness" said the goblin told him.
Thorin's sword had been taken off of him on the way down. The goblin held it out, its scabbard was thrown on the floor. The blade glinted in the fire.
Every single goblin who was present knew exactly what that sward was. None was more angry then the king. He howled with rage, his voice seemed to rumble the very floor Bilbo stood on.
This enraged his soldiers. The gnashed their teeth and clashed their shields. Fear rose in little Bilbo. But the dwarves had a different reaction. Dwalin gave a small smile. He knew a that a fight was soon to come.
The goblins knew what sword Thorin was holding. Orcrist had slayed many goblins in its long life. The elves had hunted the goblins in the mountains or would do battle before walls of stone.
"Murderers!" the king of goblins shouted, leaning menacingly forward.
"Elf-friend!"
There was a split second of silence before the great the king spoke again.
"Slash them!" he said, his voice echoing around the chamber.
"Beat them! Bite them! Gnash Them! Take them away into dark holes full of snakes and make sure they never see the light of the sun again!"
But, before any goblin or dwarf could swing a sword, the flames of the massive fire went out. But they did not go out fully. In fact, they turned blue, the flame rising even higher.
The goblins yelled, yammered, croaked, jabbed, howled, growled, cursed, shirked and skirled. It was akin to several hundred wild cats and wolves being thrown into a fierce flame.
The smoke that bellowed out from the blue flames shrouded the chamber in thick black smoke. Neither one of the many goblins could see anything in the fire.
Bilbo wondered what on earth had happened as he cowered on the floor. A flash of silver light erupted just a few meters from where he was. The sword was driven deep into the chest of the great goblin.
His loyal soldiers fled at the sight of it. The great goblin crashed to the floor, flattening some of the slower goblins that failed to flee.
The light of the sword quickly died down and the fire died down. There was no light in the chamber any more. The echoes of fleeing goblins running away echoed up from the many passages.
"Follow me, quickly!" said a voice from the darkness.
Bilbo could see, in the semidarkness, the white beard of Balin. This was the only point he could follow. All of the dwarves followed an unknown figure back through the maze of tunnels.
The yells of goblins that had survived the attack echoed down.
"Quicker, quicker!" said the man leading them away.
"The torches will soon be relit"
Bilbo could not run as fast as the mysterious man or even the dwarves.
"Half a minute" Dori said, hearing the slap Bilbo's feet fade.
"Jump on my back, we can get out of here faster if you do"
Bilbo was panting as he struggled to make himself comfortable. He looked back as the screams and growls from the goblins grew louder.
"Run!" he said, holding on for dear life.
For mile after mile they followed the mysterious man before he stopped. In his left hand, he held a wooden staff. It light grew as the dwarves piled into this small chamber.
"Are we all here?" the voice asked.
Bilbo knew exactly who it had been from the start. But he had not had the time to let it sink in. Gandalf smiled as he handed Thorin his sword back. For, while the flames had been extinguished, Gandalf had taken it from one of the goblins that stood by the great goblin.
"Let me see" he said, his eyes darting around.
One dwarf, two dwarves, all the way up to thirteen.
"And Mr. Baggins?" he asked.
Bilbo's chains jingled behind him.
"Ah yes" Gandalf said, his eyes glinting in the light of his staff.
"Well, well, it could have been worse, or then again it could have been a great deal better. We have no ponies, no food and not the slightest hint of which way we should go"
The screams of goblins bent of revenge echoed down from the many tunnels. There sounded more then there actually were.
"On we go!" Gandalf said, his voice echoed around.
A rumble of large boots echoed around as the dwarves started to run again. Gandalf's hair blew in the wind as they ran. Bombur now had the unpleasant task of carrying Bilbo.
"Why oh why did I leave my hobbit-hole?" Bilbo asked himself.
But that was not as bad as what Bombur was feeling.
"Why oh why did I ever bring this wretched hobbit on a treasure hunt?" Bombur asked.
He had beads of sweat dripping from his large forehead. Droplets formed on his nose and to the floor. The company turned a sharp corner.
Gandalf suddenly stopped. He knew that they could not escape.
"Draw your sword, Thorin" the wizard told him.
A minute later, the sound of clanging and jingling from the goblins grew louder. A roar echoed around them as the first goblin turned the corner.
He stopped dead where he stood. For his eyes had fallen on the two swords gleaming in the light from Gandalf's staff. One by one, as the goblins bowled around the corner, they jumped in fear.
It was quite a long time before any of the bloodthirsty gang of goblins had enough courage to round the corner again.
By that time that happened, Gandalf and his fourteen friends had vanished into the darkness. But they had not relived themselves of the goblins just yet.
The torches that the goblins lit were extinguished. They chose their quickest runner with the sharpest eyes to run after them. The rest would catch up when they had been caught.
Three knocks echoed down the hall way. The house was silent, apart from the odd pop and crackle of the fire. Diamond, who had put her son to bed and was just drifting off to sleep when she was woken. For a moment, she thought it was all in her imagination.
"Maybe I should check, just in case" she told herself.
Abira, who had been laying down in the warmth of the duvet, lifted her head up.
"I'll be back in a moment, puppy" Diamond said, slipping off of the bed.
The tiles were cold as Diamond opened the door. There was no sign of anything out of the ordinary. Abira knew that Diamond had heard the knocking as well. Abira stood up on all four paws and jumped off of the bed.
She landed on a soft carpet that the bed stood up. A few seconds later, she trotted off after her. A cold blast of air told Abira that the large front door was opened.
A few seconds later, Abira appeared around the shallow bend in Diamond home. Two figures stood near the door.
"You have Origo?" Diamond asked.
She was very tired. She had been up since the early hours of the morning.
"I think I accidently picked him up when you were leaving. I only found out when he wanted turkey and not bacon"
Abira bounded up, her little tail wagged.
"Well, thank you for bringing him back" Diamond said, tiredness hung on her voice as she took Origo from her.
A few seconds later, little Abira was picked up by her Pimpernel. Origo gave Diamond a big puppy kiss.
"Love you too" she said, kissing him on the head.
"I think we need to put collars on them, they look the same and maybe it'll help"
But Origo gave a little whimper that told Diamond that it was a bad idea. He whimpered and tried to struggle away.
"Ori, what's the matter?" she asked.
The puppy looked up at her. His eyes said it all. He did not want a collar on him. Abira too gave a little whimper.
"I wonder why" Diamond told her, having no idea where or how he had come to the Shire.
Pimpernel and Diamond said their goodbyes.
"Say goodbye to Auntie Diamond, Abi" Pimpernel said, waving Abira's little paw.
Diamond smiled and did the same with Origo. The door closed, shutting Abira and Nelly on the cold outside. Diamond took a deep breath. She knew that Origo would want some food.
"Come on, I think you deserve a bowl of turkey and then you can go to bed" she said.
Origo rested his fluffy head on his Diamond. He was feeling very sleepy, but had enough energy to eat a bowl of turkey, something that he would never turn down.
The kitchen was dark, the fire in the heath was dying down. But fire was not needed as Diamond placed the puppy down.
"Stay here" she said.
Origo gave a small whimper as Diamond lit one of the candles. She smiled as she opened the cold cellar. Origo wagged his tail and looked around. The sound of Diamond's foot prints grew louder.
Origo's little tail wagged as she came out. The candle was placed back on its mount and extinguished. Origo could smell the lovely turkey already. Diamond noticed a sudden burst of energy coming from the pup.
"Hold on, pup" she said.
A minute later, the packet of turkey had been emptied into his bowl and placed on the floor before him. Diamond watched as Origo ate and ate.
Soon, all of the turkey was gone.
"Good boy" she said and Origo started to lick the bowl.
The puppy gave a small whimper as two large hands picked him up.
"Time for bed" his Diamond told him.
The two of them made their way to the bed room. Diamond smile as she tickled sleepy Origo's ear. She got into bed and drew the covered over both of them.
A moment later, Origo popped his head out from the covers. He gave a small whimper and rested his head on his paws.
"Good night to you too" she said, giving his floppy ears a tickle.
Both Diamond and Origo fell asleep quiet quickly that night.