"There is not, but the path become harder" he answered.
It was then agreed that some of them would have to go on ahead and remove any obstacles that would slow them down.
At the back, Thrain was talking with his fellow dwarves.
"But, there is no other way" Thrain told him.
The sun slowly sank westward. The forest quickly grew dark.
"We need some light" Frerin said, as he stopped.
Soon, after they had found suitable sticks, the forest path was alight with flames. Every so often, a dwarf would be holding a flickering torch that made the shadows dance.
Dis, who was near the front of the pack, was getting very tired now. Her eyes were getting heavier and her stomach was rumbling.
"Papa, I need a rest" she said, getting Thrain's attention.
Thrain knew that tiredness would not only get the younger dwarves, but the older ones as well.
"Thorin, Frerin" said Thrain, making them stop.
Each of them held a flickering torch.
"We need to stop for tonight, they are getting hungry and tired, we need all of the strength we can muster" Thrain told them.
The other dwarves, the ones who had been trailing behind, came to a stop. Thror kept on walking past his people until he reached the head of the line.
"What is going on?" he asked, coming into the circle of flickering light.
Thrain explained everything that had been happening so far.
"If my people want a rest and to start again tomorrow, so be it" Thror said.
The party of dwarves settled down. The light from the flickering flames was just enough to see what they were doing.
Thorin volunteered to keep a watch on the surrounds first. Frerin agreed and settled down. Food was their main priority now.
"Don't go eating too much" said Thrain to his daughter.
Dis ripped off a piece of bread. It was not the best quality, in fact, it was a few days old now. But, food was food and Dis was very hungry.
Dis knew that she could not beg for food for everyone was in the same situation. So, after a few bites of the piece of stale bread, she washed it down with a few sips of water.
The dwarfling yawned as she sat with her back to what she thought was a tree trunk. But, in Mirkwood, the trees had grown bigger then normal.
Strange noises echoed through the cold, damp forest. Thorin's eyes could see just outside of the circle of light. But there were strange creatures walking the forest.
Some were curious about the amount of light coming from this section of the woods. Thorin knew that they were there for he saw flashes of light down the path.
These could be nothing more then a pair of eyes watching them. But eyes were not the only things flashing.
Through the canopy, twinkling stars could be seen. But they were covered by the leaves when a cold wind blew through.
Dis settled down and placed a sheet over her. She smiled as she laid down, her head resting on the moss covered ground. The other dwarves settled down as well. Soon, the party of dwarves were all snoring.
Thorin sat down with his back to a tree. A small party of him wanted to walk off and see how far he could get. But Mirkwood was a very dangerous place to be alone, especially in the darkness.
The hours rolled over slowly for Thorin. His tiredness growing by the minute. He took a deep breath as he slowly got to his feet.
"Frerin?" he asked, tapping him on the shoulder.
A split second later, a blade was held as his neck. Frerin's eyes glinted in the flickering torches that were standing near by.
"Oh" Frerin said, finally coming to his senses a few seconds later.
"Sorry, Thorin"
The small sword was then put back on the floor.
"Is it my time to watch the surrounds?" Frerin asked.
Thorin nodded. A small part of him wondered why he had received such a hostile reaction when he had woken his brother up.
Frerin took a deep breath as he stood up. Thorin took a deep breath as he walked back to where he had been seated. A few minutes later, he had settled down to sleep. His eyes closed and he fell into a shallow sleep.
Thorin felt like he had had no sleep when he was woken up.
"Thorin, time to get up lad"
Thrain was standing over him as he opened his eyes. The forest seemed to be just a bit lighter then it had been that night. After a minute or two, thorin took to his weary feet. His boot stood side by side, he had taken them off the night before.
"We should have got moving an hour ago" Thror said as stood there, looking up at the high canopy.
Birds were just small back dots as they flew through its maze of branches. The canopy stretched on for mile after mile.
Only some of the birds had enough courage to stop and watch the dwarves set off. Alarm calls echoed around the forest, warning other birds that the dwarves were on the move.
Origo's sleep slowly ebbed away from him. Sounds were not coming back to him. There was a strange sound from his right hand side.
It was constant and soothing. But, to his left, he could hear a sound that made him both annoyed and jealous. He opened his eye and saw his little dancing shadow.
"So, how is my little grandson?" asked a voice.
Origo did not recognise this voice, though it sounded familiar. But the second voice was very familiar voice.
"Oh, he's just wonderful" it said.
On the other side of the table, Origo could see large feet. There were only three pairs of feet in the room. Two were sat hanging down from the sofa and the third was come from the large armchair in the corner.
Faramir started to cry louder for some reason, Origo could not see why. But it seemed to make Diamond and Eglantine react.
"Oh dear" said Eglantine.
"Doesn't wanted to be cuddled" she said, passing the baby back.
Faramir seemed to calm as Origo came around the edge of the table. His little tail wagged as he saw his Diamond.
"Oh, hello puppy" she said.
Origo's eyes darted towards the two other hobbits.
"Does puppy want a cuddle?" asked the strange woman.
Before Origo could answer, he was picked up. The woman had cold hands. Unlike his Diamond, this woman was very rough in tickling him.
In fact, Origo struggled to get away. But Eglantine did not understand him as much as his Diamond did.
"I think little Origo wants some food" Diamond said, looking at him.
A few seconds later, Origo bounded towards his Diamond, over her legs and hid behind her. She smiled as she felt his fluffy fur brush past her.
Origo gave a little tug and looked up. When his Diamond looked down, he gave a small whimper.
"Are you hungry?" she asked.
Origo gave a small nod and a whimper. Diamond then too a deep breath and stood up.
"I just have to get Origo his turkey" Diamond said, looking at Eglantine and Paladin.
Thorin and Frerin were heading deeper and deeper into Mirkwood. They had volunteered to go on ahead and move any of the large logs that would slow them down.
Frerin and Thorin cut into a large log that was laying across the path. Their axes would be used for many different things. Frerin took a deep breath as he took a quick break from chipping.
Thorin took a deep breath as he raised his small axe. With a large swoop, the branch snapped. The snap sounded like a gun shot which echoed around the forest.
Thorin and Frerin then moved the log to the side so that the path was clear.
"Come on, there will more down the path"
The two boys did this until they were sore and bleeding.
"Come on, lets find the others" Thorin said.
Both of them had had minimal sleep since they had left Lake-town. Frerin felt like he could sleep for the rest of the day and most of the night.
The bearded dwarves came across the group.
"Papa, Thorin and Frerin are coming back" said little Dis.
Thrain smiled as he saw his sons walk back. They looked tired and their clothes were dirty. A few minutes later, they started to eat.
"Thorin, Frerin, could I have a word?" Thrain asked.
Thorin and Frerin got to their feet after a small confrontation about getting up again. But they could not disobey their father. The three of them walked a small way down the path before Thrain stopped.
"I need you two to do a job for me" Thrain told them.
Two confused looking dwarves listened to Thrain's plan. Thorin took a deep breath as he looked at his brother.
"Do you think it is a good idea?" Thorin asked.
Frerin huffed and thought deeply.
"I guess, if it'll help out the others" he answered.
Dis had heard all of their conversation.
"I want to come" she said.
Thorin and Frerin looked around.
"No, Dis" Thorin said.
"You'll stay here with papa and the rest" he told her.
But Dis was stubborn.
"But, why can I not go with them?" she asked.
Thrain was too tired to argue.
"It's best if you stay here, Frerin and Thorin will be walking a very long way and they cant have you slowing them down"
Dis looked angry. She was always the one who got left behind. Dis accepted that her brothers could not take her with them. But this did not stop Dis. She had already formed an idea in her head.
She would wait for cover of darkness before she would set off after her brothers. But, for now, she had to stay with the group.
"We'll see you soon" Thorin said as he put his pack on.
The two boys said good bye and walked away. Dis watched as her two brothers walked into the wilderness.
"Don't worry" said a voice behind her.
"You'll see them again"
Thrain stood there.
"Why didn't you let me go?" Dis asked.
Thrain took a deep breath.
"I'm only protecting you, Mirkwood is a dangerous place and I don't want your wondering off" Thrain told her.
"But, I know it's a dangerous place, why cant your trust me?"
Thrain did not want to talk about this matter any more. He walked away and checked on the others. Dis was angry, but she knew that she only had to wait until the sun went down to start it.
But the dwarves had to do a lot of walking before they could rest again. Thror drove the dwarves ever deeper into the forest. They saw signs of Thorin and Frerin work lay on the side.
Broken logs and footprints lined the path they followed. Thrain, who had taken over the stern of the group. He took a deep breath as the path wound through the forest.
In Hobbiton, Origo had now settled back down. Faramir had already fallen asleep after his own lunch. Diamond, Eglantine and Paladin were talking about Pippin's little trip away from the Shire.
The hours past as Diamond talked. But, at the chime of the wooden clock showed her how much time she had sat there and talked.
"Why don't you stay for dinner?" Eglantine asked.
Diamond knew that Origo wouldn't mind if they stayed for a few more hours. But Pippin would.
"If you don't mind" Diamond said.
Eglantine took to her feet and walked out of the room. She walked down the corridor and knocked on a door. A few seconds later, she opened it and walked in.
"Peregrin?" she asked.
Pippin looked around. He had been looking out of the window into a darkening world.
"Diamond is staying for dinner"
Pippin gave a small nod and went back to looking out of the window. But Eglantine did not leave.
"Peregrin, I need a word with you"
Pippin hated talking to his mother. She always talked for too long.
"What about?" he asked.
His mother summoned him to his bed. The two of them sat down.
"Now" Eglantine said, looking at him.
"We need to talk about Diamond" she said.
Pippin took a deep breath. He knew that he had not been there for Diamond. he regretted every day that he had walked out.
But how could he not have walked out if Diamond did not want him there?
"But, I'm only doing what she wished" he answered.
Eglantine took on a confused look.
"What did she wish?" she asked.
Pippin then explained that Diamond had wanted him out and that he had to go.
"She didn't mean it, oh you are silly, Peregrin" she said.
Pippin did not understand what his mother was saying.
"I didn't know that she didn't mean it" Pippin said.
Thirty minutes past. Eglantine knew that Pippin would have to work even harder to win Diamond back. To Pippin, he was most scared about Diamond leaving him for good.
But this would never happened. For Diamond would have him back in a heartbeat if he would just say sorry for what he did.
But his apology had not come. Diamond was starting to believe that Pippin would never come back to her.
"Maybe if its best that I don't have him back" she thought as she sat in the lounge, staring at the flicking heath.
Just then, she heard a pair of feet slapping on the wooden tiles. A few seconds later and Pippin poked his head around the door.
"Diamond?" he asked.
Diamond look up at him. There was something different about Pippin.
"Could I have a word please?" he asked.
Diamond gave a small smile and rose from her seat. But she had forgotten about little Origo. He gave a small whimper as he was woken up.
"Oh, sorry puppy" she said.
Origo whimpered sadly as his Diamond walked away from him.
"Where are you going?" he barked.
But there was no answer. Origo looked around and saw another person sitting there, watching him. Origo suddenly jumped off of the couch. His little paws pitter-pattered down the hall way.
The small puppy suddenly stopped. He could not see his Diamond, though he could smell her in the air. A few seconds later, Diamond called him from down the hall way.
Origo scurried into the room and the door was closed. Diamond was standing there. She was talking to Pippin. But Origo seemed to be busy exploring the different smells in the room.
Like the other rooms, it had a flicking heath. Origo knew this because he became warmer the nearer he got to it. There was a bed in the middle of the room. This was where the strongest smell was coming from.
Origo did not dare go under there. He liked the safety of being near his Diamond. Origo withdrew from his little adventure. He wanted a cuddle.
But, upon walking around the side of the bed, he saw something that made his very jealous. His Diamond was cuddling Pippin.
Tears were running down Diamond's face. Origo's little brown eyes were darting between both of the tall figures.
Night had fallen in Mirkwood. Thorin and Frerin had walked many miles. But now, they were resting. There were two flickering torches with their ends stuck into the ground.
The wind made the red flames dance as the two of them sat on the ground. Thorin's large, heavy boots had been taken off and were now standing near by.
Frerin took a deep breath as he looked around.
"I think we should get a few hours of sleep, then start heading off again when it get light" Frerin said.
Thorin thought this was a much better idea. For they could rest more. And strength was what they needed. The two dwarves whispered, not daring to raise their voices.
Further down the road, the rest of the party had stopped for the night. Dis took a deep breath as she settled down. Thrain and Thror had settled themselves down a few meters away.
Dis' plan of escape would soon be put into action. Snores of the other dwarves could be heard as Dis lay there. After thirty minutes, Dis sat up.
It took her a few minutes to get ready. A few times she would stop. Her heart was in her throat as she listened to the odd large grumble from some of the sleeping dwarves.
There was no sign of anyone watching guard. If there had been, then Dis would not have went through with her plan.
The girl picked up a flaming torch. Dis gave a small smile as walked past the sleeping dwarves. But she suddenly stopped as one of her large boots came into contact with another.
Her heart raced as she waited for the dwarf to wake. But nothing happened, not even a grunt. Dis took a deep breath and carried on with her journey. She smiled as she started to walk away from the group. It would not be until the sun rose that her disappearance would be noticed.
Origo gave a small whimper as he was woken up. His little eyes blinked as he looked up. His Diamond was standing there, holding a small bundle.
"Dinner time, puppy" she said.
Origo gave a big yawn as Diamond ruffled Origo's fur. Origo slowly followed his Diamond to the kitchen. There, Origo encountered lots of familiar smells. But there was one smell that Origo could smell more then the others.
Turkey.
Eglantine smiled as she looked down at the little puppy.
"Now, you be a good puppy and eat all of it up" she said, placing it down on the floor.
Origo's little tail wagged as he started to eat. Eglantine shook her head.
"Eats just like Pippin, he does"
Diamond smiled as she placed little Faramir in the cot. Paladin had move it from the lounge, back to the kitchen again.
Faramir giggled as he was placed down in the cot. Origo had finished his little bowl of turkey. But it was not enough for him.
Only Diamond seemed to understand what the little puppy wanted.
"Oh, I don't think she has anymore" Diamond said, picking him.
Origo gave a small whimper. He was still hungry.
"Puppy, when we get home, I'll give you some more turkey" she said.
Origo hung his head as he stood on his Diamond lap. But her warm, soft hands soon calmed him down. Eglantine smiled as she dished out the dinner.
She was just about call Pippin when he walked in. Diamond smiled as Pippin sat down. Pippin smiled back at her and extended his hand. Diamond and Pippin held hands for a few seconds before breaking apart.
In reality, Diamond was missing one little piece of her family. There was no puppy on her lap. For her puppy had vanished one day.
But now, she had her Pippin back and that was good enough for her. Diamond's sprits had risen when Pippin had told her everything that she wanted to hear.
She could now go back to cooking her usual meals. Normally, she would have to cater for Faramir first. The size of her meals had decreased since Pippin had left.
Eglantine smiled as she dished out the food. A boat of gravy sat on the table. Pippin was the first to put gravy on his dinner. The peas on his plate began to swim as Pippin stopped pouring.
He smiled as he handed it gingerly over to Diamond.
"Thank you" she said.
Pippin smiled as he picked up his knife and fork. Soon, all four of them were eating. Diamond cut into the chicken and ate. There was a rich taste of honey woven into the meat.
The potatoes were roasted to perfection, just like they were at lunch. Diamond could not wait to go home and start cooking again.
In the perfect world, little Origo snoozed. His little fluffy head was resting on his paws. His little chest was rising and falling as he slept.
Not for the first time that day, Origo would be woken. For Diamond had finished both her large dinner and her large pudding.
"Ori, sweetie" she said, picking him up and placing him on her shoulder.
Origo gave a small whimper, but seemed too sleepy to wake up.
"Come on, we have to go back home now" said a voice.
Origo slowly woke as he was placed on the cold floor. Diamond rose from her seat. She walked down the corridor, slowly followed by her puppy. Pippin walked out of the kitchen too. But he was not going to get his coat on just yet.
Instead, he walked to his room and closed the door. A few minutes later, his clothes were packed and closed his pack.
Diamond had gone back to the kitchen and picked up Faramir.
"Oh, are you leaving?" Paladin asked.
Diamond smiled and nodded.
"Got to get Faramir off to bed" she told him.
Eglantine smiled.
"He's going to grow up to be just like his father" Eglantine said.
Diamond smiled and felt the warm puppy brush against her leg. She looked down to see Origo looking back up.
"Ready to go, puppy?" she asked.
Origo gave a small whimper. Diamond knew that Origo did not like the cold. But there was no other way of getting home.
Origo followed his Diamond down the hall way. Diamond put her coat on. Peregrin smiled as he waited to give his some back to Diamond.
"Be safe now" Eglantine said, delicately hugging her daughter-in-law.
Diamond smiled, her blue eyes glinting in the flickering flames. Paladin gave Diamond a big hug.
"You take care of yourself now" he told her.
He glanced at his son.
"Make sure he doesn't step out of line again" he told her.
Origo felt the coldness of the dark world outside. He wished that he was the one being cuddled. Diamond and Pippin said their final farewells and walked to the gate.
Diamond was just about open it when a hand blocked her from doing so. Pippin gave a small smile before he clicked the gate open.
Diamond knew that her Pippin had changed.
But for how long?
Dis continued to walk through the forest. She had yet to come across her brothers. The flickering torch was the only thing that gave her enough light to see where she was going.
But the light would soon go out. The flames were slowly getting smaller and smaller. Thorin and Frerin were just a mile away. Both were sleeping, but both still ready to wake if anything happened.
Thrain, Dis' father, had still not noticed that his daughter had vanished. That was due to his deep sleep. Not even the two dwarves that had been put on watch had seen her go.
After a couple of hours, with rests and bites to eat, Dis came across her brothers. She gave a small smile as she stuck her dying torch in the soft earth.
"Frerin?" she whispered.
But this did not wake her brother.
"Frerin?" she asked again, but a bit louder.
Again, nothing happened. Dis took a deep breath and tapped Frerin's foot. The next second, Frerin woke up with a start. Dis jumped back as Frerin woke. But he was not the only one that had woken.
Thorin woke too.
"What is it?" Thorin asked.
It took Frerin a few seconds to work out what had woken him.
"Dis?" he asked, rubbing his eyes.
Thorin looked over to see his younger sister standing there.
"Dis, what are you doing here?" Thorin asked, rising to his feet.
Dis knew that she was not allowed out of her father's sight. But she thought that she would be safer going with her brothers then with the big group.
"I thought I could help you" Dis answered.
Thorin was not happy. He knew that Thrain had told Dis to stay with the group.
"This will not go down well with him" Thorin told her.
Dis' eyes started to well up. She had not had time to think about what had happened her mama.
Thorin took a deep breath.
"Come here" he said.
Dis slowly walked to her brother. Frerin watched as her sister broke down.
"You'll be fine" Thorin said.
Tears rolled down Dis' cheek.
"But, I miss her" Dis whimpered.
Thorin knew that Dis would be even more upset if she would have return to the rest of the group.
"Does Thrain know you're gone?" Frerin asked.
Dis shook her head.
"No" she answered.
Frerin took a deep breath. They needed a way to get a message to Thrain and the others.
"We'll have to go back and sort this out"
So, after a short rest and something to eat, the three of set off back down the road. Nerves started to rise as Dis was escorted back.
In Hobbiton, Origo was once again warming up. His little paw prints could be traced all the way to the door. There, Diamond and Pippin were standing.
Diamond waited until Pippin had unbuttoned his coat. She then handed her precious baby over to him. Faramir started to cry as he was taken in his fathers arms.
Diamond gave a small smile.
"I think someone wants his mummy" she said.
Faramir was then gently handed back to his mother. Pippin took a deep breath as he walked down the hallway after Diamond. Diamond knew what Pippin was up to.
"Just one" she told him.
Their eyes met. Pippin felt that Diamond could read his mind. Pippin took a deep breath and opened up the cupboard. Everything was just as he remembered it.
"Could you get Faramir's food out as well?" Diamond asked.
Pippin looked around and nodded before he walked in. A minute or two later, Pippin came out again. Diamond smiled as she was handed Faramir's small bowl. The thin bit of paper that had been wrapped was then ripped off.
As it was placed on the table, a little giggle came from Faramir. It took a few seconds for Diamond to figure out that the paper was thing that made his laugh.
"Right, little mister" Diamond said, getting her son to a comfortable position.
A small spoon had been taken out of the draw. Diamond used her free hand to scoop the mixture onto the spoon. Faramir was being very well behaved as he ate.
The sun slowly rose in the East as Thorin, Frerin and Dis grew closer to the group of the dwarves that they had left.
Thrain took a deep breath as he looked around the group. Something was missing. The dwarf ate a small bit of stale bread. A small sip from his flask cleared his vision.
It took him a few more seconds of thought to realise what was missing.
"Thror!" he said, ager rising up within him.
Thror watched his son walk over to him.
"Dis is missing" he said.
Thror double checked to see if she was not there.
"She must have gone off to find Thorin and Frerin" he said.
It did not take long for Thorin to get ready.
"You're going after her?" Thror asked.
Thorin gave a small nod.
"She would not have gone far, maybe a few miles down the road"
At that, Thrain put his pack on and started to walk. He had gone all but a hundred yards before he saw three figures down the road.
Dis could see her father walking towards her.
"What did I tell you?" Thrain asked.
His voice echoed around the forest. Dis took a few steps backwards.
"Do you not know how dangerous this place is?" he asked.
Thorin's eyes met with his fathers. There was a moment of silence between them.
"She will come with us, we will keep her safe" Thorin told his father.
Thrain knew that his sons were good fighters. But Dis was still young.
"I promise not to get into trouble" Dis told her father.
But Thrain did not see it like that.
"I know you will not, but there are creatures out there that will not think twice about attacking"
Dis looked down. All she wanted to do was to go with her brothers.
"Please?" she asked.
Thorin took a deep huff. They were wasting valuable time standing here.
"We will look after her the best we can" Thorin told his father.
Thrain looked at his daughter for what seemed like an age.
"If she gets hurt in anyway, I am counting you and Frerin responsible" Thrain said.
Thorin nodded.
"I understand"
Dis took a deep breath and walked up to her father.
"I love you" she said, giving him a hug around the middle.
Thrain took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry, Dis" Thrain said, looking down.
Dis looked up.
"All I want to do is keep you safe" he told her.
"I know" his daughter answered.
After another minute, they said goodbye and walked off. Thrain watched the three of the walk out of sight before getting everyone ready to move.
Diamond smiled as she placed a sleeping Faramir down in his cot. Origo had already snuggled up on his Diamond's pillow.
A minute later, after Diamond had drawn the large duvet over her, Pippin walked him.
"Pippin?" she asked, looking over at him.
Pippin was just about sit on the bed when he stopped.
"What are you doing?" Diamond asked.
To Pippin, it was obvious.
"I'm getting into bed" he answered.
Diamond took a deep breath.
"I thought, maybe you could sleep in the other bed room for a few days" Diamond told him.
Pippin realised that Diamond would not let him back just like that. But he could not complain, that would lose any trust that Diamond had in him.
"Sorry" she said.
Pippin took a deep breath as he walked out again. But, as he did, Diamond had a large bout of guilt. She knew that she had been harsh on her Pippin, but he had learn.
A fluffy distraction then popped his head out of the duvet. Origo gave a small whimper.
"I know, shush, shush" Diamond said, finally settling down.
The candle that was standing on her bedside was then blown out. A sliver snake rose into the air from the chard wick.
Origo gave a big yawn as his fluffy eats was tickled, making his even more tired then he was. Soon, the combination of warmth and the constant cuddles sent Origo to sleep.
Diamond smiled as she closed her big blue eyes. She too seemed to fall into a deep sleep. But, down the corridor, Pippin was still awake.
The ticking clock seemed louder to him as he lay in a cold bed. He had lit the heath, but its warmth seemed to take a very long time to warm up the room.
By that time, Pippin was so tired that his eyes began to hurt. Pippin was deep in thought as he lay with his head on the pillow.
"Now, what can I do to make her happy?" he asked himself.
All that he could think of at the moment.
"Come on, Pippin, think!" he told himself.
More ideas flooded Pippin's head. He knew that a lot of these things would take time and he would have to prove himself.
But it was a start.