The day started out cold and crisp. The sky was almost clear, save a few thin clouds. Birds sang as they awoke from another cold night.
Chimneys poured smoke into the air. The hill tops were akin to large balls of cotton. The snow on their roves were untouched. Only a few tracks were made in the snow. They were made by foxes that had come to visit or birds trying to find some worms deep under the snow.
But birds were not the only thing that had risen from the cold night. Underneath one of the white hills, an old woman had risen.
She smiled as she walked down the corridor to the kitchen. Only the sound of the ticking clock and the random pops from the fire met her.
A kettle gently swung on the metallic hook hanging from the front of the heath. The kettle was then taken off and filled with cool water.
A few seconds later, it was placed back. The woman took a deep breath as she started to stock up the fire. She smiled as she started to put small chips of wood into the fire.
The flames slowly grew until they couldn't grow any more. The water in the kettle slowly started to bubble. As it did, the woman took some more wood and opened up the cold oven.
The wood was placed onto of the ash that had accumulated at the bottom. Thin sticks were placed in the oven as well. Inkless parchment was crumpled up and placed in the oven as well.
A long, thin stick was then set on fire. The woman smiled as she lit the paper. The fire steadily grew as the paper started to catch.
Soon, the oven, and the hobs on the top, were now hot enough to start cooking. The cellar was stocked with all kinds food. A packet of sausages, bacon, a bag of potatoes that would be made into chips, baked beans in rich homemade tomato sauce and a fresh loaf of bread and a stick of creamy butter.
As the sausages and bacon cooked, the woman walked out of the room. She smiled as she opened a door to a room down the corridor. Inside, two little girls slept.
One had golden hair, the other had brown. Both were cuddled up under a large duvet.
"Gloria?" asked the woman.
The girl with brown hair gave a little snort, but did not wake up. The woman gave a small smile and tried her luck with the second little girl.
"Elanor, breakfast will be ready in ten minutes" Gloria's mother told her.
Elanor smiled, telling the woman that she had been heard.
Those ten minutes past quite quickly. For the second time, the woman entered the room.
"Come on, you two" she said.
Elanor smiled as she got a nose full of cooked bacon. She drew back her duvet and felt the air tingle the hairs on her feet. Elanor was too hungry to wait for her friend. Gloria was too tired to get up.
Elanor smiled as she entered the kitchen. Gloria's mother and father were already seated.
"Good morning, Elanor" said the woman.
Elanor smiled.
"Good morning" she answered.
Gloria's father took a deep breath as he rose from his seat yet again. Elanor smiled as she started to pile food on her plate.
"Come on, sweetheart or you'll miss breakfast"
The little girl groaned and finally opened her eyes. Her father smiled as his daughter finally rose from her bed. Gloria yawned as she slowly made her way to the kitchen.
Elanor was smiling as her sleepy friend trotted in.
"Good morning" she said, smiling.
Gloria grumbled as she took her seat. Gloria took a deep breath, just willing the clock to tick faster so she could get some proper sleep.
The four of them ate. Elanor was the first one to finish.
"Would you like some more dear?" asked Gloria's mother.
Elanor smiled.
"No, thank you" she answered.
In a different area of Hobbiton, a hobbit arose that had a better nights sleep then little Elanor. Diamond Took yawned as she lay with her head against the pillow.
Her duvet was so warm that even her baby's cries could not prise her from its warmth. But a little whimper did. A very adorable puppy poked his head out of the duvet.
"Good morning" she said, kissing his fluffy head.
Origo gave a little whimper and looked over at the cot. He gave another small whimper and looked back at his Diamond.
"I guess I should get little Faramir up" she said.
The duvet was drawn from her. Origo gave a small whimper as he was left on the bed. Diamond took a deep breath as she walked to the cot.
"Good morning, precious" she said, picking him up.
Origo was now standing on his four little paws. A large yawn came over the pup as he looked around. Hunger had risen in the puppy over night.
"Come on, Ori" Diamond said.
Her little puppy bounded down to the end bed, jumped onto the small box and then down to the floor. Diamond smiled as she watched her little puppy trot before her.
The kitchen had a strange smell to it. The smell was from meals past. Diamond took a deep breath as she carefully bent down.
There was a small metal bucket by the heath.
"I need more wood" she thought.
Just outside her door stood a pile of chopped wood. But the snow had covered them.
"Looks like I'll have to put you back in your cot, Fara" she said, taking a deep breath.
Faramir started to whimper again as his mother left him. Origo gave a small whimper as Diamond walked away from the kitchen.
Diamond smiled as she opened the door. Origo stopped a short distance away from the door. He could feel the warmth of the house being replaced with coldness.
As Diamond collected the small shards of wood, something strange caught her eye. A large figure, dressed in black, was slowly making its way towards her.
Diamond stood there, watching it. As it got nearer, she realised that it was no hobbit, for it was too large.
"Good day" said the figure as it got closer.
Diamond moved back a bit, but did not retreat into her house.
"I am looking for Peregrin Took" he said.
"Do you know where I can find him?" he asked.
Diamond's head was now filled with questions and worry.
"Why?" she asked, having more courage then she thought she had.
The man did not dismount from his stallion.
"I have need of him"
Diamond looked away, thinking.
"Should I trust him?" she asked herself.
"Is he going to hurt my Pippin?"
For the first time in a while, she felt that small spark that she felt when they were first married. Diamond needed to make a choice soon.
"What ever you need him for, you can tell me, for he is my husband" she said.
Elnan looked at her for a few seconds.
"I need his answer" he said.
Diamond knew that she could not leave her home, for she had her Faramir crying in his cot. But then, she wanted to go with the man, just to make sure that her Pippin was not going to get himself into trouble.
"He is with his parents, just down the way there" Diamond told him, looking down the road.
"But you best watch yourself, most of us don't trust your kind" she told him.
Pippin was snoring in his bed. But he would soon wake up.
"Pippin?" asked a voice.
It was Eglantine. She sounded very worried.
"Peregrin, wake up!" she said.
Pippin groaned and turned over.
"Wake up, there is a man at the door!" Eglantine said.
Paladin was standing at the large round door.
"And I asked why you wanted him!"
Elnan took a deep breath. He knew that hobbits were horrible creatures and now he knew why.
"Because I need his message for the King of Gondor" Elnan answered.
A minute later, two sets of feet could be heard coming down the corridor behind him.
"Be careful" Eglantine said, holding Pippin's arm.
"I need to see who it is"
Paladin felt his son's presence as he walked up behind him. Elnan saw a second, taller hobbit appear. Peregrin and the man looked at each other. A small smile came over his face. There was only one place where this man could come from.
"Peregrin, stay here" Paladin said.
Paladin had encountered Elnan a few days before. He watched as Pippin and the horseman spoke for a few seconds. Pippin the nodded and walked away.
Paladin's heart was beating, he knew that Pippin was his only son and the only one that can carry on his name. Paladin did not know what to do as his son walked to his room.
"Peregrin?" Eglantine asked, following him.
Pippin was standing at his bedside table. He held a piece of folded parchment in his hand. It was his reply.
"Why is that man outside?" Eglantine asked, walking to her tall son.
"You know what the others think of you, with your unnatural height" she said.
But Pippin did not care. All he cared about was getting his letter to the horseman outside. Eglantine took a deep breath as her son walked past her.
Paladin looked around, he was ignored too as his son walked out into the crunching snow again.
"Here" Pippin said, holding out the letter.
Elnan took the letter and put it in his bag.
"Thank you" Pippin said, smiling.
Elnan gave a small nod. Pippin smiled as he watched the horseman trot away. He had not realised that other hobbits had been watching what had happened.
Paladin walked back into the house and closed the door. His feet left wet marks behind him. Peregrin had returned to his bed. But he could not get back to sleep. For his father entered the room.
Pippin took a deep breath as he heard the door close. There was a few seconds of silence before Paladin started to talk.
"And who was that?" he asked.
Pimpernel smiled as she watched her little puppy started to eat her breakfast. Ten crisp rashers of bacon had been placed in Abira's bowl.
Pearl smiled as she cooked even more rashers of bacon. But they were not for the puppy, they were for her and her sister.
Soon, the two girls were eating as well. Abira had finished by the time they started. She trotted to her Pimpernel and gave a small whimper.
Nelly looked down. She seemed to know exactly what her little puppy wanted. A few seconds later, Abira was lifted off of her fluffy paws and placed on her Pimpernel's lap.
Abira's little tail wagged as she curled up on Nelly's lap. Pimpernel continued to eat breakfast. It was as she cut up the bacon that she heard a little whimper from her puppy.
Abira's little brown eyes were looking up at her. Pimpernel took a deep breath.
"But, you've had your bacon" she told her.
This did not stop Abira from begging. In fact, her whimpering seemed to melt Pimpernel's heart to the point that she couldn't resist it.
In lake-town, Thorin and the rest of the fifty or so dwarves had been given houses to stay in. The population of the small town had swelled by a couple of hundred.
The streets were full of homeless people from Dale. Thror had stood before the Master of Lake-town and asked for shelter.
"We will not stay for long" Thror told him.
The master too a deep breath.
"Do I have your word?" he asked.
Thror gave a small nod.
"We plan to travel through Mirkwood, there is a mountain range on the other side that we could live in peacefully" he told him.
The master made sure that the dwarves were comfortable. Food was in abundance as Thror, Thrain, Thorin and Frerin left the grand hall and went back to the home that they had been given for the week.
Dis had stayed behind. She had made friends with another dwarf, just a few years older then she was.
Dis yawned as she sat on the floor. The door opened and four dwarves entered. Dis smiled as she listened to what her grandfather had to say.
"So, get some rest" Thror told them.
"I expect it will not be an easy journey to the other side of Mirkwood"
Days past. Dis was finding lake-town a very friendly place. For most of the people here had seen the destruction that Smaug had caused just a few days before. No one said any words to each other.
The day came where the fifty dwarves would set out on their long journey through Mirkwood.
"The Master has given us a fine load of food for our journey" said Thrain, looking in his pack.
Thorin knew that it would be a long and difficult road.
But what road would they take?
"There is a path, one that the elves have made, that runs right through the forest"
But that was not the only road.
"There is another way, an old road built long ago, I think that is our best option" he explained.
"And how is this road?" Thror asked.
Thrain did not know the exact distance.
"Some eighty miles or so, to the south" he explained.
Thror looked at his people. There was evil in the forest that not even dwarves could think of.
"I guess, if that is the only way to get to Dunland, then we have no other option"
An hour past before the dwarves were ready. Dis smiled as she placed her pack on.
"Are you ready?" asked Thorin.
Thorin knew that it would be a long, hard journey for his sister. In fact, it would turn out to be a long and difficult journey for both of them. Some of the dwarves would not even make it to the other side of Mirkwood.
"Yes" Dis answered, making sure her pack was comfortable.
Thorin smiled.
"Lets get going then" he said.
Dis, Thorin, Frerin, Thrain, Thror and the rest of the dwarves gathered in the street. Their spirits soared as they walked out of Lake-town and headed south.
Thorin lead the group. On his left ran a gentle looking river. Its source laid deep within the caves of the Grey Mountains. The dwarves went back to singing and telling stories of old to past the time.
Their feet grew weary as the sun lowered in the sky.
"I think we should stop for the night" Thrain told him.
Thror agreed.
"Gather some wood, we need to get a fire going before its too late" Thror told them.
Thror's beard was now getting very grey. It colour used to be deep brown, similar to that of his children. The dwarves spread out and gathered some wood.
Dis smiled as she bent down and picked up a large log. The party had settled near to the boarder of Mirkwood. The trees were wild. Rotting logs and fallen trees lined the route.
Soon, more then enough wood had been gathered to keep the fire going all night. The sun lengthened the shadows. Soon, no sunlight reached the ground where the dwarves were sitting.
Slowly, the stars started seep through the deepening blueness. Bird song became few and far between. Animals of the night started to emerge.
Dis could make out large flying object against the blackening sky. The stars above twinkled. Every so often, one would race towards the horizon.
Dis had never seen this kind of light before.
"Papa?" she asked, prising her eyes away from the spot where the flash of light had disappeared.
Thrain looked around at her. He was sitting on the ground, eating some of the food had been packed for him.
"Yes?" he asked, looking around.
"I say a flash of light in the sky, do you think its Smaug?" she asked.
Thrain smiled.
"I'm sure Smaug will not trouble anyone for a while" he told her.
Dis breathed heavily and rested her head on her father's shoulders. Thrain smiled.
"Get some sleep, we have a long way to go tomorrow"
Dis took a deep breath and closed her eyes. The fire gave off gentle pops and crackles every so often. Thrain watched as red hot embers fluttered into the air and vanished.
Soon, Thrain had fallen asleep too.
Thorin was left to guard the group as they slept. Tiredness was slowly making him lose concentration.
"Frerin?" he asked, shaking his brother until he woke.
Frerin gave a grunt and instantly woke up.
"Is it my turn?" he asked, rubbing his eyes.
Thorin smiled and nodded.
"Well" Frerin said, slowly standing up.
"You best get to sleep" he told Thorin.
It did not take long for Thorin to fall asleep. But it did not take long for him to wake up again. Frerin had been sitting down, watching the surroundings until the sun came up.
Thorin smiled as he looked in his pack. His mouth was dry and his thirst strong.
But that was soon sorted out with a few large swigs of water. Dis yawned as she sat with her back to a large boulder.
"We should get moving" Thror said as he looked at the land that lay before them.
On the far Eastern horizon stood a mountain range capped with snow. Soon, all of the dwarves had packed up and ready to go.
Thror took a deep breath as he took the helm of the group. He was closely followed by the others. The party of dwarves continued to walk down along side the river.
Sometimes, they would have to venture within the boarders of Mirkwood. Their going slowed as they tried to forge a path through the maze of fallen trees, roots and logs.
Soon, the party emerged from the forest again. Thrain smiled as he helped his dwarves out of the forest.
"Careful now" he said, holding Dis' hand as she climbed over the last of the logs that lay in their path.
Thorin and Frerin were now leading the rabble of dwarves. Their packs were beginning to weigh them down. The sun continued to heat up the party of dwarves. They had now stretched over a few hundred meters.
The older dwarves were struggling. One of the older, grey bearded took a deep breath as he got to the top of a small hill.
Before him, he could see the other dwarves. The youngest ones seemed to have walked half a kilometre or so.
"Come on, you can do it" he told himself.
He took a deep breath as he sat down. His old heart was beating more then it should.
But none of the other dwarves noticed he was struggling. The old dwarf took a deep breath as he saw the last of his kind vanish around the shallow bend in the river.
"You'll be lucky to catch them before night fall" he told himself.
The dwarf took a deep breath and started up again. His large boots were no help at all. But the terrain was too hard and rocky to walk without them.
Thorin stopped for a minute or two. Beads of sweat ran down his forehead. Frerin had walked ahead, knowing that his brother would soon catch up to him.
Origo whimpered as he stood next to the door. He could already feel the coldness of the outside world seeping through the gaps in the door.
"Oh, don't give me that look" Diamond said, seeing Origo's sad puppy eyes.
Origo wanted nothing but to stay inside and cuddle up on Diamond's warm duvet. But she had woken him up.
"Puppy, come on, wake up now" she said, tickling his ear.
Origo curled into an even tighter ball and gave a small whimper. Diamond knew that she could not leave Origo alone.
"Come on, lets go see Pippin" she said.
Origo yawned and opened his little eyes. They glinted in the flickering candle light. Diamond gave a small smile as she lifted him up.
Origo gave a small whimper, one that Diamond had heard many times before.
"You can have your turkey when we return" she told him.
There was convincing her otherwise. But Origo had to try. But he failed to melt his Diamond heart, even after acting as innocent as he could.
Origo hung his head as he was placed on the cold tilted floor. A small rug had been placed under the bed to stop its legs from scratching the tilted floor it stood on.
Diamond had left the room and returned. Her large coat had been put on and buttoned up. She took a deep breath as she walked over to the small cot standing on her side of the bed.
"Right, lets go and see if daddy knows who that evil man was" she said.
After the Battle of Bywater, men were not welcomed into the Shire, especially Hobbiton. A rally of armed hobbits confronted a gang of ruffians.
But the men did not count on the fact that hobbits, despite their size, would give the men a run for their money.
Origo hung his head as he walked after his Diamond. It was a short trip to where Eglantine and Paladin lived, but it seemed much longer.
"This way, puppy" Diamond said, opening up a gate.
Origo looked around and saw that his Diamond had stopped. Origo did not look happy about having to come with his Diamond. His paws were now soaking and the coldness dug into his fur, making him shiver.
Diamond closed the gate behind her pup and walked to the door. Little Faramir had been wrapped up nice and warm, he could not take the coldness as well as the puppy or his mother could.
Three knocks echoed around the home. Pippin had resided back to his room, he was not in a good mood at all.
"Telling me who I should make friends with" he muttered as he sat there.
"They don't know what really happened!"
Eglantine took a deep breath as she walked down towards the door. A few seconds later and a cold blast of air hit her.
"Diamond?" she asked.
The door was then opened even wider.
"Hello" Diamond said.
Eglantine smiled.
"Well, do come in, you must be cold!"
Origo scampered inside before his Diamond could. Eglantine looked down to see a little puppy running in. The door closed a few seconds later.
"What brings you here?" she asked.
Diamond took a deep breath.
"I need to talk to Pippin" she said.
A few seconds later, a door clicked open. Pippin, who was tall for a hobbit, walked down towards him.
"Ah, Peregrin, look who has come to visit" Eglantine said.
Origo was standing close by to his Diamond. The house had a funny smell. Diamond gave a little smiled and looked down.
There was an awkward moment of silence that was broken by Eglantine.
"Would you like some tea?" she asked Diamond.
Diamond smiled.
"Yes, please" she said.
Pippin watched his mother walk away before starting to talk.
"Why are you here?" he asked.
But Diamond quickly you take Faramir for me?" she asked.
Pippin could not decline. So, he held out his arms and took his son. Diamond unbuttoned her coat and quickly took the baby back.
Diamond seemed to be hiding something.
"But what?" Pippin asked as they made their way down to the kitchen.
Eglantine had just placed the heavy, water filled kettle on the metal hook above the fire. Eglantine smiled as she saw her daughter-in-law and son walk in.
"So, how are you Diamond?" she asked.
Diamond smiled.
"I'm fine" she answered, her blue eyes flicked over to Pippin.
Pippin took a seat. He took a deep breath, thinking that the events of the morning were forgotten.
"Did you see that horseman earlier?" Eglantine asked.
Diamond took a deep breath and looked over at Pippin.
"Yes" she answered.
Eglantine was surprised.
"Apparently, he wanted Pippin" Eglantine told her.
Pippin took a deep breath, knowing that a barrage of questions were coming.
"What I want to know is, why after all those poor hobbits were killed, would he go and mix with men" Eglantine said.
Paladin walked in, he took a deep breath as he saw his son. But smiled a few seconds later as he spotted Diamond.
"Why, hello Diamond" he said.
Diamond smiled as she rose from her seat. Paladin and Diamond gently hugged.
"My, my!" he said, looking down at his first grandchild.
Diamond smiled and looked down at her son.
"He's getting bigger by the day" she told him.
"He has Pippin's hair" Paladin told her.
Pippin and Paladin shared likenesses. It was now apparent that Faramir would inherit his father's looks.
"And your eyes"
Diamond smiled and sat back down again.
"Will you stay for lunch?" Eglantine asked, finally placing Diamond's tea before her.
A small bit of milk was poured into Diamond's tea. Seven large teaspoons of sugar were then stirred into it.
"Oh, if you wouldn't mind" she answered.
Eglantine gave a large smiled.
"Not at all dear, the more the merrier" she answered.
Diamond smiled as she picked it up with her free hand. But her mind quickly turned to the two smallest members of the Took clan.
Origo and Faramir.
"Well, Origo will need his turkey" Diamond said.
Diamond took a deep breath. In fact, as she looked around, she had not seen her puppy since they arrived. In fact, her little puppy had found the lounge. The heath was flickering, sending warmth around.
Origo's fur had dried and fluffed up again. His little eyes were closed. He was asleep before its flickering flames. But, he would soon get woken up for the second time that day. For Diamond had left the kitchen and her tea to find him.
Diamond took a deep breath as she peaked into the lounge. Curled up in the light of the fire was Origo. Diamond did not want to wake him.
"Maybe a little later" she told herself.
Eglantine had started to prepare lunch. Diamond took a deep breath as she entered the room again.
"Did you find him?" Eglantine asked.
Diamond nodded.
"He's have a little snooze in the lounge" she said.
Eglantine gave a small smile.
"I can keep a bit of turkey when he feels like it" she told her.
Diamond knew that Origo could sleep for an age. Soon, after an hour of cooking, chopping, boiling and frying, lunch was ready.
Diamond smiled as she was handed a plate. But she would have a difficult time in eating.
"Oh my, I almost forgot" Eglantine said as she placed the last bowl on the table.
A few seconds later and she scurried out. Diamond wondered what on earth she was getting. But, after a few minutes, she returned. Diamond was surprised when Eglantine brought back a cot.
"I thought you could use this while you're around here" she said.
This would help Diamond a lot. For she had grown used to eating her meals with one hand.
"Oh, thank you" said Diamond.
Eglantine, being a mother herself, knew how hard it was to eat meals with a baby. Diamond got up. Faramir was now asleep in her arms.
Like Origo, he had fallen asleep due to the warmth of the house. Diamond placed him in his cot. She stood there for a couple of seconds making sure that he did not wake up.
Pippin was shovelling food quicker then ever. Diamond continued to fill her plate up before she ate. She smiled as she lifted up the boat of gravy that had placed out.
The hot, brown liquid was poured over everything on her plate. Diamond smiled as she started to cup into one of the roasted potatoes. It crunches as it was cut in two.
Diamond scooped a bit of the gravy onto her potato and ate. She smiled as she continued to consume everything on her plate.
"Would you like some more, dear?" Eglantine asked.
Pippin gave a small hiccup as he finished his ale. Without a second thought, he took to his feet. Diamond watched him as he opened up the door to the cellar. A minute past before he came out. He smiled as he walked back to his seat and placed the mug back where it originally stood on the table.
Eglantine smiled as she, along with Paladin, finally finished her lunch.
"More dear?" she asked Diamond.
Diamond smiled.
"Yes, please" she answered.
Eglantine did not have to ask Pippin, for he always had as many helping as he could, as long as there was food. So, after a few minutes, Diamond's plate was filled with food again.
Thorin took a deep breath as the party of dwarves walked towards an opening in the forest. Now was the time to start their long, very dangerous, journey to the other side of Mirkwood. Dis smiled as she walked and stood next to her brother.
"Are we going soon?" she asked.
Thorin nodded.
"Yes" he answered.
The dwarves had a very satisfying breakfast. But they needed to preserve as much food as they could for the journey.
As the sun rose, the dwarves all packed up their things. The fire was left to burn itself out. Frerin had already put his pack on and was at the edge of the forest. He could not more then thirty meters into it.
Soon, the party of dwarves were ready.
"Right, lets moving" Thror said.
The tired dwarves slowly started to make their way towards the edge of the forest. Thorin knew that some of them, maybe even all of them, would not survive the journey.
The had become over grown, making the journey harder. Large trees, moss covered and rotting, lay over the already difficult path.
Dis and the older dwarves needed help. At the back the old dwarf that had been left behind. He had caught up with the rest of the group an hour after they had settled down.
The going was slow as they wanted through the darkening forest. Dis took a deep breath as she walked along. She could feel the coldness of the forest dig into her.
Thorin and Frerin had agreed it was best if they go on ahead and see what other surprises the path through the forest held. Thrain and Thror were now in charge of the pace.
"One of us should go and walk at the back, there might be a few that can not keep up this pace" Thrain said.
Thror nodded and agreed that he should be the one to keep the older, slower dwarf company. Dis watched as her bearded grandfather stopped.
Rotting leaves scattered the ground underfoot. Thror smiled as he let the rest of the dwarves pass him. After fifteen long minutes, everyone had past him.
He looked down the dark, tree infected road to make sure no one else was lagging behind before movie off. As he did so, a strange sound came from the canopy above.
A sudden rush of birds and alarm calls echoed around him. For a moment, he thought that Smaug had found them and would stop any attempts of escape.
Thror took a deep breath as he continued to walk. As he did, Thorin and Frerin walked down the path towards him.
"Thorin, is there any danger ahead?" Thror asked.