Paladin and Eglantine had already thought of a few names.
"Well, we were thinking about Peregrin if it was a boy" Eglantine started, looking down at her daughter.
"But Pearl is a nice name, after my great grandmother"
Dolly smiled.
"That is a perfect name for her"
Many years past before Eglantine and Paladin had another child. Like before, Dolly came to help. And, just like before, Paladin was pardoned while the most difficult part of the birth came up.
Pearl was now old enough to know what was going on.
"Is it here yet?" she asked her father as he entered the kitchen.
Paladin smiled.
"Not yet, it will be soon"
Pearl and Paladin sat in the kitchen as Eglantine went through child birth for the second time. Both Pearl and Paladin were feeling the exact same thing.
Both were excited at the new arrival. But both were equally as worried at the process. Pearl had been told about her mother expecting another baby.
"And maybe, you'll even have a little brother"
Pearl knew many boys her age and she was very put off by them.
"I hope it's a girl" she said, smiling.
After three hours, eglantine had given birth. She smiled as she looked down at her second child. She knew that Paladin would be a bit disappointed, but love the baby as much as he could.
"Should I get Paladin and Pearl?" Dolly asked.
Eglantine took a deep breath.
"In a minute" she said, not looking up.
Her second child was very small, but still very precious to her. After a minute or two, Eglantine looked up.
"I think its time for them to meet her" she said.
Dolly nodded and walked to the door. As she opened it, the little baby began to cry. Eglantine found this very adorable.
A minute later, Dolly, followed by a little Pearl and Paladin, came into the room. Eglantine's smile widened as her oldest daughter scurried in.
"Hello mummy" Pearl said, her eyes darting from her mother to the small bundle.
"Is that the baby?" she asked.
Eglantine nodded.
"Yes, it's your new little sister"
Her little sister was yet to have a name.
"She's small" Pearl said, looking at her little sister's face.
Eglantine smiled. Pearl always came out with small random observations.
"Well, she'll grow up to be your size one day" Eglantine told her.
Pearl smiled.
"Then we can play together!"
This made Pearl very happy.
"Now, I have something very special for you to do" Eglantine said, making Pearl listen.
"Now, your little sister needs a name and mummy and daddy can not think of a suitable one, what do you think we should your little sister?" she asked.
Pearl thought for a moment.
"Pearl?" she asked.
Eglantine knew that her daughter would choose that name.
"Do you remember what plant grows near the river?" Eglantine asked.
Pearl's mind worked for a few seconds.
"Daisy?" she asked.
Eglantine shook her head.
"Umm" Pearl said, thinking again.
"Buttercup?"
Eglantine took a deep breath.
"It starts with the letter P, dear" she hinted.
"Ah, Pimpernel!"
Paladin smiled.
"Do you think we should call your sister that?" he smiled.
Pearl smiled and nodded. And, from that day on, that small baby was known at Pimpernel Took.
Gimli and Legolas were just a few days away from entered the Realm of Rohan. They were no strangers to its wildness, nor to the people that lived there. For the two had fought along side the peoples of Rohan in a bid to save their lands from a spreading terror.
But the elf and dwarf were not the only beings heading towards the gap. A man, who sat on a steed, galloped towards an old, abandoned town. There, a would use a bridge to enter Enedwaith.
The plains of Enedwaith were harsh. In summer, the sun would beat down on the land, stealing any small puddles of water. There were no large trees growing, save for one or two who was hardy enough to do so.
In winter, the land became even harsher. Hundred mile an hour winds would sweep the plain. Anyone caught out in it would surely die of starvation or become disoriented.
Many had been lost and never found. Some turned up many years later. Most that survived became mad and would often wonder back onto the plain.
Elnan had stocked up on food for his return journey to Minas Tirith. Elnan took a deep breath as he continued to ride ever onwards. His hands were numb, so were his feet. His old coat was dirty and wet, useless for keeping him warm. His bag had spots of mud clinging onto it.
His horse continued on without complaint. Elnan was surprised. He seemed more tired then the horse was. But, both were equally as hungry and both needed to stop for food.
"Whoa, whoa" Elnan said, pulling up the reigns.
His horse slowed down to a trot, then to a complete stop. Elnan patted his horse on the side of its large, thick neck before jumping off.
Elnan could see nothing but grey and white stretching off into the horizon for mile upon mile. Yet, there were a few spots of black sliding through the sky. They were the only other signs of life that Elnan could see.
But, the snow laying on the ground caught his eye. There was a set of foot prints in the snow, trailing away from him.
"I have seen no man" he thought.
The foot prints seemed to trail off into the distance.
"Lets just hope he had enough sense to pack food and keep warm"
Elnan remained standing as he took off his pack. He did not place it on the floor. Instead, he held it and searched through it.
"Ah ha!" he said finding the packet of bread.
He smiled as he propped the bag over his shoulder. His horse was busy grazing on what grass he could find. Elnan opened the packet and ripped off a bit of stale bread.
His horse had found some blade of grass hidden under the snow. Elnan smiled as his empty stomach slowly became full. The large piece of bread that he had ripped off had been eaten.
Elnan was just about to get more out when he stopped.
"No" he told himself.
"I can not eat all of it right away, there may not be an inn for many more miles"
Soon, the horse was pulled away from his hunt for grass. Elnan smiled as he patted the horses neck and the beast started to move. After a few minutes, Elnan and his horse were back up to full speed.
Pippin and Paladin returned to their homes. Pippin took a deep breath and closed the door behind him. Diamond, who had been laying on her bed for most of the day, heard Pippin walk past her room. A few seconds later, Diamond rose from her bed.
Tiredness had come over her as she lay there. But she was not alone. A small sleeping puppy was picked up and placed on her shoulder as she stood up. Origo gave a very small whimper, but did not wake.
Diamond opened the door while one hand held her puppy safely on her shoulder. Pippin took a deep breath as he stood there.
"Pippin?" asked a voice.
Diamond stood at the threshold. Her eyes glinted in the flickering candle light. Pippin looked up and gave a small smile.
"Oh, Pippin!" Diamond said.
A fresh bout of sadness came over her. Pippin and Diamond gave each other a large hug. Origo gave a loud whimper, he did not like being crushed.
"Oh, oh dear" Diamond said, seeing the little puppy raise his sleepy head.
"Sorry, pup"
Pippin and Diamond agreed that the hour of lunch had now come upon them.
"Maybe we should go down to the Dragon" Pippin suggested.
But Diamond did not like this idea.
"Well, we'll have to take Faramir with us and I don't want him around smoke" she told him.
Pippin took a deep breath.
"Well, I'm sure my sisters would love to look after him for a while" Pippin told her.
Diamond did not like the fact of leaving her precious son behind, even if it was with her husbands sisters. After a few seconds of thinking, Diamond knew that neither of them would put her Faramir in any sort of peril.
"And Origo could stay there too" Pippin said.
Diamond looked down at the puppy. His eyes were now open and he was looking around.
"Puppy?" Diamond asked, looking down at him.
Origo gave a small whimper.
"Do you want to see Abira and Pimpernel?" she asked.
Origo raised his small head and gave a small nod. Diamond smiled.
"Well, it looks like we're going to dragon"
Diamond smiled as she walked down to her room. She smiled as she placed the puppy on the large duvet. Origo curled up again, he was too sleepy to notice that he had been put down.
Origo watched as Diamond walked out of the room again. He wondered where she was going. A few minutes later, she returned. A large coat had been buttoned up. A large smile came over Diamond as she walked to the cot. Origo was rudely woken as Diamond picked up a sleeping Faramir. Faramir did not like being woken up and he told his mother about it.
"Oh I know sweetie" Diamond said as her son cried.
"Do you want to see auntie Pearl and auntie Pimpernel?" she asked.
Pippin had put his coat on as well. He knocked on the door and peeped in.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
Diamond looked around and smiled.
"Yes, could you take Faramir for me?" she asked.
Pippin smiled and walked in. A few seconds later, Faramir left the arms of his mother and was now in the arms of his father. Diamond smiled as she looked back to the bed.
"Puppy, come on" she said.
Ori lazily stood up. The next second, he was picked up and wrapped in a warm blanket. Origo gave a happy whimper. Normally, he would have to suffer the coldness by walking.
"Lets get going" Diamond said.
She took a deep breath and led Pippin out of the room. The little family of four entered the coldness of the outside world.
The outside world was slowly being covered in a blanket of darkness as the sun fell behind the horizon. Pippin made sure that little Faramir was all wrapped up before setting off again. Diamond did the same with Origo.
Diamond did not see why Origo had to be wrapped up, if she had all that fur, she would have been nice and warm in this coldness.
A few minutes of walking later, the two of them reached Pearl's large round door. Pippin smiled as he raised his cold hand and knocked three times.
Pimpernel smiled as she opened her bedroom door and started to make her way down the corridor. Pimpernel reached the door and opened it. standing before her were two very precious people to her.
"Diamond, Pippin!" she said, a large smile coming over her.
"Do come in!"
Both entered the house as quickly as possible and the door was closed. Pearl, who had been secretly eating in the kitchen, walked down the hall way.
"Oh, I thought I heard some people down here"
A few minutes later and four hobbits walked down to the kitchen. The house had a different vibe coming from it. Diamond and Pippin's feeling seemed to transfer over to Pimpernel and Pearl.
"Nelly, Pearl" Pippin said, looking a bit glum.
"I have some bad news"
Pimpernel's eyes fixed on her younger brother.
"What is it?" Pearl asked.
Pippin took a deep breath and look at Diamond.
"Dolly"
Pippin took a split second to gather the words.
"Dolly past away last night" he said.
Pearl gasped and put her hand over her mouth.
"No!" she gasped, not believing her younger brother.
"It's true" Diamond said, her voice full of sadness.
Her eyes has started to fill up with tears.
"I… I walked in on her this morning"
Pippin had never found out why she had visited Dolly in the first place. But Pip dared to ask Diamond. For she was in a bad way at the moment and he didn't want to cause any more grief.
Thorin yawned as he sat in the long grass. The days walk had been a tough one. The sun had sank, but its warmth lingered in the air.
The dwarves had built a large fire in the middle of a grassless patch of land. There were many logs buried in the long, wild grass. But, even then, it did not take long for the dwarves to find enough wood for a fire.
Thorin and Frerin went searching for more food. Food was plentiful here. Small wild beasts roamed the land. Thorin, who was good at tracking, found out their paths.
The river they had crossed a few hours before was their main source of food for now. Thorin and Frerin spent an hour or two catching some fish.
Dis was one of the first to fall asleep. The sky above started to darken and show the stars that were hidden by the light of the sun.
Soon, the moon came into view over in the East. For now, it was juts a slither in the sky. But, over the coming weeks, the moon would become full in the sky. Its light, which is borrowed from the sun, would shine down on the land. Though the sun was much better at shedding light on the surroundings.
Thorin had taken his boots off and let his feet breath. For dwarven boots were not made for long and perilous journeys.
Thorin smiled as he laid back in the long grass. It was a much better bed then he had previously found. The hard bark of the tree seemed like rock compared to the grass he now lay in.
Crickets were the only annoyance that Thorin had to suffer. But soon, tiredness took a hold of the dwarf as lay there. The crickets were drowned out by a noiseless void. One only Thorin could see.
But the dark void turned into a fiery inferno. He could feel its heat. But the fire soon subsided. Smoke filled the large room he was in. A low rumble echoed around him.
"Where am I?" he asked himself.
Thorin suddenly knew what was in front of him and where he was.
"Smaug" he gasped.
The heat from the dragon was immense. But, out of the smokey darkness came a figure. It was a dwarf, like Thorin himself. She had lighter hair then he had. Thorin knew exactly who this was.
The two seemed to stand in the middle of an endless abyss.
"Your time is not done" she said, her voice echoing around the infant abyss.
Thorin did not know what this meant. He was too busy see his mother standing there.
"You have to retake the mountain, you have to take the throne"
Hours past in a blink of an eye for Thorin. The sun, which had set in the West, was now on the verge of rising in the East.
The blackness of night slowly slipped away. It was replaced by a sunrise that chased the night away. Birds could be heard singing out their morning song for miles around.
Thorin woke with sweat dripping from his forehead. The dream he had was fresh on his mind. For it had been so vivid and real to him.
Dis, his younger sister, was still asleep. Thorin lay in the long grass, his mind was racing with what he just saw.
"I can not let her down" he told himself.
He needed to keep is promise, even if it was just a dream, he did not want to fail. For hours, Thorin looked up at the sky. Clouds sailed over head, darkening the surrounds as they crossed over the sun.
soon, after what felt like many hours, the other dwarves started to wake. Many of them had had a better nights sleep then Thorin did.
Dis woke to a rumbling stomach. She had finally felt like she was alive for the first time in many days. Dis smiled as she looked over at her brother.
It was then that Thorin knew what he had to do.
"But, its too early for it"
Thorin knew that the time to retake the mountain needed come. For now, he needed to take care of his family. After all, he was first inline for the throne.
Hours past and the dwarves moved off. They, unlike elves, left a lot of mess. The fire that they had built over night was left to smoulder until it was dead. A small grey band of smoke rose gently into the wind.
Thorin was at the back of the small rabble of dwarves. The rest talked and laughed about the day that had risen around them. Their fears had been washed away with the good nights sleep.
Thrain was walking just a few meters in front of his son. His only daughter was talking with another one of the dwarves.
"Thorin?" asked Thrain as he dropped back a bit.
Thorin had been looking at the ground for a few minutes when he looked up. There was something different about his son. He was quieter and more held back.
"I saw her last night" Thorin said, his voice flat and unusually calm.
Thrain did not need an explanation. He had been holding back his true feelings.
"Did she say anything?" he asked.
Thorin took a deep breath and stopped. Thrain stopped as well. Thorin looked right into his father's eyes.
"She wants me to retake the mountain"
Diamond smiled as she looked down at the plate that had been set before her.
"Thank you" she said, sounding a bit stuffy.
The waitress felt a sadness radiating from this table.
"Something the matter?" asked the young girl.
Diamond looked up. Her eyes said more then she wanted to say. The young waitress instantly knew that look was.
"Oh my, I'm sorry"
Pippin watched as he scooped up some beans onto his fork.
"Would I know him?" the waitress asked.
Diamond took a deep breath.
"It's Dolly" Diamond simply said, looking away.
The waitress placed her hand over her mouth.
"Dolly?" she gasped.
On a table, near by, an elderly hobbit eavesdropped on their conversation.
"Did you hear that?" he asked another old hobbit.
The old hobbit listened.
"Don't be telling lies, you didn't hear anything!"
But it was the truth. Diamond and Pippin enjoyed their meal as news of Dolly's death circled around. Some of the hobbits retired back to their homes. There, the rumour spread deeper. But, the rumour changed with every person.
"Said that Dolly has been dead for weeks!" one said.
"I hear that Dolly was murdered!" said another.
"We should go to her home, just to see"
Many hobbits had that idea. A few of them were already waiting outside of Dolly's home. Some had come along because they saw the group standing at her gate.
"Maybe we should get Diamond and Pippin, they know what's going on"
A few other hobbits agreed and made their way down to the Green Dragon. Diamond and Pippin ate in silence. Diamond was feeling much better then she had been earlier.
But that was about to change with the opening of the door.
Pippin looked up, expecting to see one or two hobbits come in. but, a moment later, seven or eight had come in.
"Pippin?" one of the older hobbits asked.
His hair was greying and curly. Pippin looked up and saw his table had been crowded around.
"What's happening with Dolly?" asked a woman out of blue.
Pippin looked over at Diamond. She had stopped cutting through her sausage and looked down.
"Not now" Pippin said, looking up at them.
But this did not deter them.
"Is she dead?" a young hobbit girl asked.
Pippin took a deep breath.
"We are trying to eat dinner, would you please leave us alone for a few moments?" he asked.
The group of hobbit all agreed that they could wait for them outside. Pippin took a deep breath and look across at Diamond.
"News travels fast" Pippin told her.
Diamond suddenly lost her apatite.
"I think we should go home, we need to pick up Faramir and Origo"
Pippin took a deep breath. Pip had never left so much food. But, he needed to leave if Diamond did. Even before he had finished his sausages, Diamond rose from her seat.
Pippin placed his knife and fork down, his hunger had yet been touched.
Diamond buttoned up her coat and walked out. Pippin put his coat on and buttoned it up. But he did not leave empty handed as he picked up his last two sausages.
He smiled as he followed his wife out. The group of hobbits had been waiting outside. Diamond gave Pippin a look that he fully understood.
"What happened?" asked the hobbits again.
But Pippin did not want to explain. The group of hobbits followed them all the way up the shallow hill to Pearl's home.
Diamond did not like this attention. She knew that they had a right to know what had happened, but they did not want to revile it just yet.
Pippin smiled as he opened the gate. Diamond walked through and stopped at the large round door. Pippin clicked the gate shut and eyed the party of hobbits that had followed him.
The hobbits backed away.
"Maybe we can find out later" they said.
Pippin knew that they would not disrespect him. For he was first in line for the next Thain of the shire.
Inside, two little puppies were chasing an invisible fairy. Yet, this fairy wasn't fully invisible. She was only invisible to hobbits, humans and dwarves. Only elves and the animals that roamed the lands could see her.
"Almost" she giggled as she swooped closer to the two puppies chasing her.
Ivy giggled as she flew a little higher, tempting them to jump. Origo was leading his other puppy friend, Abira, into chasing Ivy.
Ivy knew that Origo would be the first to try and catch her. But, their game suddenly stopped as three knocks echoed down the corridor. Origo instantly stopped playing. Abira wagged her tail, she knew who it must be.
Just then, her Pimpernel walked out of the lounge. A smile instantly came over Pimpernel's face as she saw the two puppies in the hall way.
"I think Diamond is here, Ori" she said.
And she was right. Origo heard the door opened. He slowly wondered down the hall way and around the shallow bend. There, he could three large figures standing at the door way.
It was then that he saw his Diamond. Diamond smiled as her little puppy bound towards her.
"Oh, hello Ori" she said, her heart melting as his ears flopped as ran along.
Diamond picked up her pup and gave him a big cuddle.
"You are my Origo, aren't you?" she asked, remembering what happened last time.
Origo gave a nod and rested his head on Diamond's shoulders. Pippin and Diamond didn't take their coats off, for they were not staying long.
Pearl smiled as she looked up as Pimpernel, followed by Pippin and Diamond, walked in. Faramir was fast asleep. His blue eyes hidden from view.
"Hello" Pearl half whispered.
Diamond looked down at her sleeping son.
"Has he been a good boy?" she asked, smiling.
Pearl looked up.
"Oh no, he's been a very naught boy" she said, jokily.
Diamond smiled as she placed her puppy on the floor and picked up her son. Faramir gave a small whimper, but did not wake.
"Do you want to stay for some tea?" Pearl asked.
But, all Diamond wanted to do was to go home and go to sleep.
"Oh, I couldn't possibly, little Faramir needs to get to sleep and all" she answered.
Pearl smiled and nodded.
"I understand" she said, standing up.
Diamond now felt a bit guilty, but there was a lot to do at home.
"Maybe tomorrow?" Diamond suggested.
Pearl smiled.
"Tomorrow sounds good, Origo can come around again" Pearl said, looking down at him.
Origo did not like being on the floor. He gave a small whimper and looked at his Diamond. Diamond looked down to see her puppy looking at her.
"Oh puppy" she said.
Pippin was standing at the door way, waiting for Diamond to stop talking.
"Pippin?" Diamond asked, getting his attention.
Pippin looked around.
"Yes?" he asked.
"Would you take Faramir, please?"
Pippin smiled and walked over to Diamond. Diamond delicately handed her son over to his father. Origo watched as Diamond turned back around.
"Come here, puppy" she said, bending down and scooping up the soft pup.
Origo gave a happy whimper and rested his head on his Diamond's shoulder. Diamond smiled as she held her puppy there.
"Do you want to go home?" Diamond asked her puppy.
Origo gave a small whimper and a little nod. Just then, the little party of puppies and hobbits walked down to the large front door. Everyone said their goodbyes, including Pimpernel and Abira, and went their separate ways. Diamond, Pippin, Origo and Faramir dived into the coldness of night. As they walked along, Origo started to shiver.
"We'll be home soon" Diamond said, trying to fight back the shivers.
Origo was whimpering and shivering. The few short minutes he was out in the coldness seemed like it would never end.
Diamond smiled as she walked up to the large door of her home. She opened the door and a wave of warmth fluttered past both Ori and herself.
Origo was set down on the floor as Pippin walked in. Diamond smiled as she closed the door, keeping the coldness out and the warmth in.
"Best get the little one off into his cot" Diamond said.
There was a slight awkward moment as Pippin handed Faramir over to his mother. For a split second, Pippin and Diamond's eyes met. Pippin took a deep breath as Diamond, who was much shorter then him, walked away.
"Will she ever love me again?" Pippin asked himself.
Pippin took a deep breath, hunger was slowly clawing away at him. But tiredness told him otherwise.
"Maybe just a small bite to eat and then I can settle down" he told himself.
Origo had followed his Diamond all the way to her room. He gave a small whimper as he stood by the bed. Diamond smiled as she looked around.
"Come on then" she said, picking him up and gently placing him on the bed.
"I'll be back soon" she said.
Origo watched as his Diamond walked out of the room. But he was too sleepy to wonder where she was going. He looked around. His little tail wagged as he saw Diamond large, warm pillow.
Diamond was only away for a few minutes. But, when she returned, she saw her little puppy had curled up on her pillow. She smiled as she changed into nightgown. She took a deep breath as she pealed back the duvet. Origo opened his eyes and looked over at his Diamond. She smiled as she picked Ori up and laid down next to him. A few seconds later, the large duvet was drawn over the pup.
A few seconds later, Origo's fluffy head emerged out of the duvet.
"Good night" Diamond said, kissing her puppy on his fluffy face.
Origo yawned and settled down. Soon, Origo's little eyes closed. Diamond yawned and closed her eyes too. She felt like she had only been asleep for a few minutes before she was woken.
Faramir had started to cry. Diamond took a deep breath as she opened her eyes. She smiled as she looked down at Origo. He was gently snoozing on her arm.
She gently moved him off, placing his head gently on the bed. Ori was sleeping too deeply to notice that his Diamond had gone to Faramir.
Origo was in a world of his own. The small pup had been through much in his life, being in the Shire was only the tip of the iceberg.
Diamond would never truly know where this puppy came from or why she felt so comforted by him. All she knew was that she needed to look after him.
Pimpernel felt the same way as she slept. Her pup was snuggled under the duvet, sleeping as well. But, in reality, neither of the little puppies were anywhere near Hobbiton.
In fact, both of them were in Rivendell. But both were not in their puppy form. A young looking girl with blonde, shoulder length hair slept under a large duvet.
Origo was gently sleeping within the warm duvet. But he was not alone. A small green fairy was snuggled up to the puppy as well.
The fairy was called Ivy. She was the reason that Origo and Mya had to leave the Shire. All three of them were many miles away from what they called home.
But, what made it even worse was the fact that Mya had broken her leg. Once again, it was due to Ivy. Ivy had accidently flown over a small ledge. The excitable puppy followed suit. But, unlike the fairy, Origo could not fly.
Gravity took over and the little puppy fell onto a ledge.
Ivy had regretted fluttering over the edge. But it was made even worse by the accident that Mya had. Her leg broke as she slipped down the little ledge.
Her plan of staying just a day or two now had to turn into three or four weeks. Only two beings resided in Rivendell. Elladan and Elrohir were sitting around a long table.
They talked for hours. The coldness was not felt by the brothers. Wind whistled through the empty, degrading buildings. The pillars of rock crumbled every so often.
Elladan stood at the edge of a ruined building. He looked down at the valley below. The river wound its way towards a distance sea.
"We need to leave this building, it is not safe" he told his brother.
Elves made now sound as they walked, unlike dwarves, men and hobbits. But, unlike elves, men, hobbits and dwarves were all asleep.
Diamond smiled as she placed her son back into his cot. She smiled as she heard a small whimper come from under her large duvet. But she was still not herself.
Dolly was still laying in her freezing home, waiting to be dealt with. Paladin knew that a lot of fellow hobbits would ask questions.
Diamond uncovered little Origo.
"Shush, puppy" she said, lifting him up.
Diamond smiled as, through the darkness, two little eyes glinted. Diamond couldn't see anything, be she knew that Origo was there.
The duvet was drawn over both of them. Before long, Origo had fallen back to sleep, safe in the knowledge that Diamond was there and will protect him.
Diamond, once again, fell into the only place that she knew she was safe. She saw wide open spaces, fields of the greenest grass she had ever seen. The sun was blazing and all was well.