Due to my work schedule in the next week, Chapter six will be delayed. I will try to get it out as soon as possible. Until then, please enjoy Chapter 5.

Kendrick awoke alert and disoriented. The scent of ammonia was still strong in his nose. He guessed someone had used smelling salts to wake him up. Either that or Frodo pissed on him while he was down. He hoped it wasn't the latter.

He scanned the room wildly. He knew he had been unconscious and vulnerable. He wondered how long he had been out. Had Frodo had time to do to him what he had done to the others? He didn't feel different. Reality hit him like a glass of cold water. Though that could have been due to a glass of cold water being thrown into his face.

"Better?" Pearl asked. Kendrick focused on his cousin. She was balancing on the ball of her feet as she straddled his legs. She twirled the empty mug in her hands as she smirked at his soaked, disheveled state.

"No. Why are you here? I thought you didn't believe me," Kendrick replied. Pearl tossed his dream journal onto his chest.

"I took a peak through it while you were unconscious. At first I thought that it was you doing the killings. Pippin and I talked about you a bit during Watch. We were both upset that you didn't join when you could have. He told me that you knew that we had found Fatty. I didn't believe him, but it's there in your journal. The details are too vivid to not place you there with Fatty, but Pippin told me you were with him that morning when we found him. There's no way you could have been killed Fatty, then talked with Pippin that morning. Kendrick, what is going on?" Pearl asked.

Kendrick allowed himself a moment to collect himself before he would answer. Everything still seemed surreal. The visions were real. His confrontation with Frodo was now proof of that. That also meant that everything was true. Merry...Pippin...Sam...They were all gone. Made monsters by a Hobbit he had once called cousin.

"It began with Frodo. I think something followed him back from his journey. I saw a vision earlier in his room. The creature looked like the Nazgul Pip and Merry talked about. It killed Bilbo and was slowly killing Frodo. I'm guessing it was draining him of blood. It bit into his neck. As it lingered, Frodo grew weaker, but then he turned on it. Something happened when he did. He's not the Hobbit we knew Pearl. He's done something to the others too. Pearl, if you see them, don't trust them. Not even Pippin," Kendrick explained.

Pearl allowed her cousin to get up. Her legs were beginning to cramp from squatting so long anyway. Kendrick ran his hand through his wet hair.

"You didn't see Frodo, did you?" Kendrick asked.

"No. When I got here, all I saw was you. Why?" Pearl responded.

"Nothing. He must have run off before you got here. Maybe he heard you coming and decided against further confrontation. Look! This window has been broken through," Kendrick pointed to the broken window near the back of the living room. He saw that no glass was lying on the living room floor. The window had been broken from the inside out.

Though he didn't feel different, Kendrick was unsure if Frodo bit him between the time he was knocked out and when Pearl arrived. He ran to the bathroom and checked himself thoroughly in the mirror.

"What are you doing?" Pearl asked.

"Checking for bite marks. Frodo had plenty of time to kill me or worse. I don't know why he didn't. Maybe disarming him, literally, weakened him. I managed to a lucky stroke when he attacked and took his right arm." Kendrick replied. He was relieved to find no sign of bite marks anywhere on his neck or shoulders.

"What are we going to do?" Pearl asked.

"You are going to handle the Watch. Tell what you think they can handle. I'm going to leave the Shire. I'm thinking I may have angered Frodo enough for him to chase me. Better he and the others chase one Hobbit than stick around and bleed the rest of the Shire dry," Kendrick replied. He grabbed a towel and began drying himself off. If he had to set out that night, he might as well be dry.

"Right, so what happens if he and the others don't chase you out of the Shire?" Pearl asked.

"Then we'll arm you and the Watch. Bilbo came back from Erebor with treasure. Maybe it included some weaponry," Kendrick said. He led Pearl to Bilbo's stash. Kendrick opened the linen cabinet at the end of the bedchamber hallway. It was a brilliant hiding place Bilbo had created shortly after returning from his journey. Bilbo had the foresight to think that his loathsome Sacville-Baggins cousins would try to pilfer it when he wasn't looking. As it turned out, it was not long after he had hidden his share of treasure when the old Hobbit had caught Lobelia trying to make off with his silverware. Kendrick removed the linen from the bottom shelf and lifted the floor. The space contained gold and jewels, but no weapons.

"What now genius?" Pearl asked. Kendrick glared at his cousin. The next logical place to look was the oak chest Bilbo kept at the foot of his bed. He made his way to the chest, but paused before opening the heavy wooden lid. When he opened the lid, tears began to pool when his eyes landed on the red book sitting inside the chest. Bilbo's entire account of his journey was in that book. Frodo had also began to write in it as well, though Kendrick suspected he wouldn't be getting around to finishing his part of the story any time soon. He gently took the book and sat it on the bed. Underneath the book lay Sting. Kendrick took the blade in both of his hands.

"Here, take Sting. It's Elven made, so it should be effective against any of them should they confront you," Kendrick handed the sword to Pearl.

"What about you?" Pearl asked. She was reluctant to take the blade, but Kendrick all but forced it into her hands.

"I've got Pippin's sword. I'll be alright. Though I'm afraid this is the only weapon in the smial. Might tell Halfred to pilfer some of the Gaffer's tools to use as weapons," Kendrick said as he closed the lid to the chest. He began to make his way to the front door, but Pearl's strong hand grabbed him by the arm.

"You're not thinking of going out tonight are you?" Pearl asked.

"They probably won't come after me tonight. I can get a decent head start on them." Kendrick replied. He winced as Pearl tightened her grip on his arm. For a Hobbit lass, she was quite strong. Years of pushing Lalia's great arse around the Shire had built that strength. Pearl must have maintained her physique since the old cow's death.

"You'll wait until morning," Pearl ordered. She could tell that Kendrick wanted to argue, but she merely tightened her grip further to silence him. "Am I understood?"

–

Pearl hesitated at the door of the Green Dragon Inn. She could barely believe what she had learned in the last day and a half. How could she expect the Watch to believe that the monsters that have been terrorizing the Shire were the Hobbits they were searching for and hoping were safe. Pearl knew the truth now, but she didn't know if the rest of the Watch could handle it. Normally Pippin would be right be her side, but he was gone now. Allegedly one of the monsters they were hunting according to Kendrick. Pearl entered the inn and took her usual seat. Halfred, Marigold, and Rufus were already present and seated.

"Where's Pippin?" Halfred asked.

"He's not coming." Pearl answered. A wave of despair washed over the members of the Watch. Marigold held back her tears to the best of her ability. Tears wouldn't do anyone any good. She reminded herself that the Watch was there to be strong for the Shire.

"We'll find him Pearl. Hopefully it's not too late and we'll find him alive. Do you have any idea where he could have gone?" Halfred asked. He hoped that Pippin had just stupidly wandered off, and would return home to a good lecture from Pearl. However, even he had to acknowledge that the likelihood of finding Pippin alive was slim to none.

"I don't know where Pippin could have gone. However, he would want us to continue our patrols as if he were here. Frogmorton has quieted a bit. Most of the attacks have taken place near the forest. Pincup might be a good place to patrol tonight," Pearl's suggestion was deceptive. It was true that Pippin would want them to look for everyone, and not just himself. Even with all he had been through, he still had a sort of childlike innocence about him. He was also selfless, and always put others before him. Pearl, on the other hand, was a selfish bitch. She knew that Pippin was last seen near Pincup. Though Kendrick hadn't named the town from his vision, he was at least able to describe it clearly enough.

"Pincup it is then. Anything else before we head out?" Halfred asked.

"Do you think you can pilfer some of the Gaffer's tools to use as possible weapons?" Pearl asked.

"We're not fighters. Besides, do you know how much of a lecture I'd get from the Gaffer if he caught me taking his gardening tools?" Halfred balked.

"These things took one of our own. We need to be armed. Besides, do you know how much of a pounding you'd get from me if you don't take the Gaffer's tools?" Pearl explained.

–

Pincup was all but deserted. The streets were bare and unkempt. Windows were broken. Doors swung open in the cold night wind. Rotting fruit lay untouched on market stalls. Some of the produce was strewn about the main street, which had fallen from an overturned wagon. The night sky was cloudless, allowing the moonlight to shine brilliantly. This cast sinister shadows upon the smials. The Hobbits of the Watch moved slowly and silently as possible. The darkness within the smials was impenetrable.

Pearls grip on the hoe is so tight she could feel her knuckles turn white. Anything could be lying in wait in the dark. As the group turned the corner to a small smial laden street, they noticed a cloaked figure lying unmoving in the middle of the road. Marigold recognized the hay colored curls of her brother and began running toward him. Pearl stopped her by grabbing her wrist.

"Wait. It could be a trap. I'll check on him, and let you know if it's safe. Keep your guard up until I say otherwise." Pearl whispered her orders. She slowly made her way to the prone Sam Gamgee. She used the blunt end of the hoe to lift the cowl from his face. Sam's face was fresh as that of any living Hobbit. He was either alive, or only barely dead. Pearl couldn't see if he was breathing. Not wanting to make herself vulnerable to attack, she took the same end of the hoe and jabbed the Gardener hard in the side.

"OW! What was that for?" Sam cradled his side in pain. She flipped the hoe to where the sharp end of the tool was now pointed at him. Sam scurried to his feet at the threat. "What are you doing poking sleeping Hobbits in the middle of the night?"

"I only poke sleeping Hobbits who sleep in the middle of a ghost town. Hobbits who have been missing for months. Hobbits who may be involved in my brother's disappearance. Tell me Sam Gamgee. Know of any such Hobbits?" Pearl's question was more of a demand.

"Pearl! Stop it. If Sam's alright, then Pippin would be fine too. They probably already ran into each other," Marigold pleaded.

"That's right. Pearl there's no need to be unreasonable. I ran into Pippin yesterday, but we got holed up here by the monsters. Marigold, Halfred, I'm sorry that I worried you so badly, but I couldn't leave Master Frodo," Sam explained. He began walking toward his sister, but Pearl stopped him with the shaft of the hoe.

"No," Pearl ordered.

"Pearly. We're all safe. Put the hoe down," Merry said as he stepped out of the smial to her right. Pearl turned her attention, and her hoe to Merry. She was beginning to feel panic. Her breathing was coming in rapid spurts as the adrenaline pumped through her veins. Her heart felt like it could burst through her chest at any moment.

"Pearl, they said that they're alright. Once we get Pippin and Frodo, we can all go home," Marigold said. She couldn't contain her relief, and ran to her brother who drew her into a hug.

Pearl's breath stopped in her chest. Marigold had put them in a very bad situation. The monsters had them flanked, with Marigold a hostage. Pearl had no way of articulating this to the Watch. She mentally kicked herself for not telling them the truth. Now her silence would doom them all.

Pearl felt a gust of wind brush past her. She heard Marigold screaming behind her. She turned away from Merry to look back at the scene unfolding. Her eyes widened as she watched Pippin pinning Sam to the ground. The two Hobbits clawed and bit at each other like feral cats. One or the other would roar in pain and fury as the other scored a hit with talon or fang. Halfred was cradling Marigold as she wept into his arms. Rufus didn't seem to know what to make of what he was seeing. Pearl couldn't blame him. Remembering Merry, she turned her attention back to her Buckland cousin.

Merry watched the melee with only mild irritation. He returned his gaze to meet Pearl's. For a moment, Pearl felt a wave of vertigo pass over her. It was unnatural. As if someone was pushing aside her consciousness in order to supplant it with their own. Pearl fought the presence in her mind. She shook her head, blinked, sneezed, anything she could think of to distract herself from Merry's gaze.

Rage building in her, Pearl swung her hoe hard at Merry. The Bucklander caught the tool with ease and ripped it from her grip. Pearl was stunned that Merry could so easily overpower her strength. Her strength was her greatest asset, and a boon to her in her dealings with her younger brother and cousin. Merry had always been afraid of her. Now she was afraid of him.

Pearl felt the wind leave her lungs as the blunt end of the hoe impacted her side. The force of the blow caused her to fly back several feet. Pearl hit the ground hard. She desperately tried to force air back into her lungs as Merry casually walked towards her.

Rufus finally managed to get his wits about him. He saw Pearl fly back after being struck by her own hoe. Pippin and Sam were still fighting, but Merry was making his way toward Pearl. His demeanor reminded him of a cat stalking a bird. Without thinking, Rufus gripped his gardening sheers and charged toward the Bucklander. Rufus only had seconds to really think about the futility of his actions as he felt Merry's fingers close around his throat. His feet dangled helplessly in the air as he struggled to breath. The gardening sheers were taken from his hands as if a toy was being taken from a child. Agonizing pain shot through his chest. He felt his lungs fill with fluid, and the taste of copper prominent on his tongue. He felt himself falling. It felt like an eternity, but the journey only lasted seconds. He could barely hear Marigold screaming in terror at the mess he must have been. Darkness was quick to overcome him as he drew his last breath.

Pearl was finally able to draw breath. She coughed violently as the air forced its way into her lungs. Merry was still coming toward her. He licked Rufus' blood off of his hand as he slowly made his way to her. Still stunned from earlier, Pearl could do nothing more than try to crawl away. As she turned to make her escape, she felt Merry's hands on her back. The hands suddenly became a wall as she was thrown into the side of a smial. Her head was swimming. Vomit and bile tickled the back of her throat as she fought the nausea. Merry was again advancing toward her. He looked like was enjoying the punishment he was dealing to her.

Pearl balled her fingers into a fist, grabbing a bit of dirt as well. If she couldn't win the fight, she could hopefully buy time to flee. Before she could throw the handful of earth, Merry caught her hand. His grip was like stone. Pearl screamed as the bones in her wrist threatened to break under her cousin's grasp. With a flick of his thumb, he forced her to drop the dirt she had been holding.

"Now now, that's no way to greet family," Merry said. Unable to fight the tears, Pearl sobbed in fear as her cousin toyed with her.

'Where the hell was Halfred?' She thought.

"You have quite a bit of bullying to atone for Pearly, but you are still family. And family should stick together. I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'll torture you until the brink of death. Slowly, so that any...accidents can be avoided. Once you're on that edge, we'll make you one of us. It's not so bad once you get used to it. I do miss the sun sometimes, but the gains far outweigh the losses," Merry whispered into her ear. She felt his tongue brush against her temple where a bit of blood had dripped from her scalp. Pearl felt his free hand reach for her blade.

Merry's screams pierced her ears. The stench of burned flesh assailed her nostrils. Her cousin was grasping his right hand in pain. Smoke rose from the sizzling flesh. It took a moment to realize that Merry had burned himself on her sword. Sting.

Welcoming her moment of clarity, Pearl drew sting from its sheath. Merry recoiled from the mere sight of the blade. His face was twisted in fury and pain. Pearl got up and forced him further back. She finally had a chance to get a good look at the creature her cousin had become. Though he still looked like the Hobbit she knew, his fingernails were now long, sharp talons. His eyes were amber lined with ruby instead of the sky blue they had once been. The most striking change was now his deadliest weapon. His teeth bore fangs. Two pair on the top, his second incisors and his canines, and on the bottom his lower canines.

Merry hissed and growled as Pearl approached him with Sting drawn. The light from the blade was too much for his eyes to take. He couldn't see where he was going, and ended up tripping over Sam and Pippin. Sam felt the Bucklander fall on him. He too recoiled as the sight of Sting offended his eyes. Knowing that they were outmatched by the elven blade, Sam dragged Merry and Pippin to their feet. He ushered them towards the woods. Merry followed him closely, but Pippin stayed behind.

Pippin turned back toward his older sister. He held his hand up to his eyes in an attempt to block Sting from his vision. His body felt fear, but his mind was clear and unafraid. He looked forlornly at Pearl. With his eyes he told her that he was sorry for everything. Her eyes seemed to say the same. Pippin wanted to hug his older sister. To tell her with words that he was sorry, but he couldn't.

"Pippin! Come on!" Sam roared. Pippin gave a pleading look to Sam, but he had no choice but to obey. He looked back to his sister one last time before running into the woods.

Once she was certain that the three of them were gone, Pearl sheathed Sting. Marigold's sobbing was audible. Pearl turned to the pair. Halfred was doing his best to comfort his sister, but Pearl could see he was barely holding it together. Pearl walked over to Rufus. His eyes unseeing and lifeless. The gardening sheers jutting out of his chest. Pearl gently closed her fellow member's eyes.

"What is going on Pearl?" Halfred asked. His voice was laced with anger.

"Last night I found Kendrick at Bag End. He had been attacked by Frodo, however he was unharmed. Apparently for the last few months he had been having nightmares. Nightmares that showed him in great detail much of what has been happening in the Shire. Including what happened to Merry and Pippin. These dreams lead him to Bag End where he encountered Frodo, whom he claimed to have disarmed...literally. I almost didn't believe it myself, but he, or rather his journal, described in vivid detail some of the Hobbits we found. Before you ask, there was no way Kendrick could have been involved in their deaths. I had decided not to tell you because I wasn't sure how you would handle it. But because of my decision, Rufus is dead," Pearl explained. She fell to her knees as exhaustion overwhelmed her.

The first blow to her face stung. The flurry that followed compounded the pain, but it wasn't enough to pull Pearl out of her stupor. Halfred pulled Marigold off of Pearl. She continued her sobbing into the dirt road. The anger inside him was too much. Halfred balled his hand into a fist, then planted it squarely in Pearl's face. The Hobbit lass fell back from the blow. Halfred wanted to strike the Took girl again, but held his anger in check. Never in a thousand years did he think he would ever hit a lass. He had proven himself wrong, but did not feel shame for it. It was the least that Pearl deserved.

Tell me one good reason why I shouldn't expel you from the Watch. Tell me why I shouldn't pummel you into a bloody mess? You should have told us the truth. Instead your secrets got one of us killed," Halfred demanded. His nails dug into the palm of his hand as he clenched his fist tighter. The pain did nothing to quell his anger.

"Would you really have believed me if I told you? Would you have believed Kendrick if you read his journal? The only reason I believed was Pippin. However, he wasn't around a few hours ago to give credit to Kendrick's journal or my tale," Pearl wiped the blood dripping from her nose. Though it ached quite a bit, her nose was thankfully not broken. Halfred could throw quite a punch. "As for pummeling me into a bloody mess, I think not. Throw another fist my way again, and I'll break your hand."

"That's enough you two. Halfred, Pearl's right. We wouldn't have believed her. I still can't believe that Sam is…" Marigold choked back her tears. "We need to stop fighting. Otherwise they're just going to pick us off."

"How do we fight them? You saw Merry throwing Pearl around as if she were a doll. You saw him pick Rufus up with one hand before he killed him. He was just one. There are four of them, and only three of us. It would probably take an army of Men or Elves to fight just them." Halfred ranted. He ran his hand nervously through his hair.

"Merry said something about missing the sun. I think that they may be vulnerable to sunlight if he means what I think he means. He also burned himself on Sting. Maybe other Elven blades will burn them too," Pearl surmised. She brushed her hand gently on the hilt of the sword. The wooden hilt was unmarred despite having seared her cousin's skin as if it had been a red hot poker.

"How did you get Sting?" Halfred asked.

"I borrowed it from Frodo," Pearl replied curtly.

"You mean you stole it. By the Valar, are there no depths you will sink to?" Halfred was exasperated. "I can't trust you. As of now, you're out of the Watch. You withheld valuable information. Information that could have prevented Rufus' death. That's more blood on your hands…" Halfred was cutoff.

"Halfred! Please stop! Merry killed Rufus, not Pearl. As it is there aren't enough of us to even be a Watch. Let's go home now. If we stay out her any longer, they may come back and finish us off," Marigold pleaded.

"Pearl's a killer too Goldie," Halfred started.

"Lalia's death was an accident. Why are you still so bothered by it?" Marigold was tired of her brother's stubbornness. She was tired, physically and emotionally. Her neck and back ached terribly. She felt dizzy and unsteady on her feet. Her fatigue won out as she collapsed. She felt strong arms catch her before she hit the ground. The strong smell of ammonia woke her from her stupor. She looked up to see Pearl holding smelling salts to her nose. The scent caused her to cough

"We need to get out of here. You may not like me, but right now you need me. If for nothing except to carry your sister home," Pearl stated as she lifted Marigold into her arms. Marigold was a healthy plump lass. Pearl didn't think that the Gaffer's daughter would be too much of a burden.

"I can carry my own sister home," Halfred retorted.

"Please, you can't even tend a quarter of the garden at Bag End without needing a lunch break," Pearl shot back.

"Stop it both of you," Marigold slurred. She absentmindedly rubbed her aching neck and shoulder. She felt a dribble of moisture on her neck, but thought nothing of it.