Somewhere Past the Shire Chapter 10 (They're Back)

Rosa got back from her long walk it the beautiful sunshining shire. She got home to find OrangeBlossom with a jar of honey and a few pieces of bread sleeping on her fathers chair. So Rosa cleaned up her mess and decided to let her sleep, Rosa was not in the mood to have her spoil her day. As Rosa was putting away the honey there was a knock on the door. It woke up OrangeBlossom with surprised as she hopped out of the seat and stood straight up. She ran to the door to find that Rosa's mum and dad had come back. "Hello Aunt Liliana!" said Blossom ever so nicely. "Hello my dear, where is Rosa?" "Oh in the pantry, does this mean I have to head home back to buck land?" "I am afraid so" as Liliana said that OrangeBlossom already started to head out she left with her mom and dad back to buck land. "Oh Roooosaaa! I am home and so is your Father" Rosa came into the kitchen skipping in with a lot of honey all over her face "My dear Rosa what have you been doing getting in the honey? You are all sticky now go get a bath please" Rosa was not happy to get a bath she just had one this morning! But if mother says you better do. Rosa had finished and her hair was as gold as the sun. "Uuuh Mum?" "Yes Rosa" she said while chopping carrots for dinner. " May I go berry picking with Dimple tomorrow I will be safe and pick lots so u can make some pie. Please?"  Her mother thought for a bit and finally decided " Alright you may go but be back before 4:00 ya hear?" "Yes ma'me!" Rosa said with the most excitement so Rosa ran out the door to look for Dimple to tell her the grand news. She didn't even realize Blossom was gone. 

Chapter er....10? Beyond the Banks Of Bywater.

Yesterday had been terrible for Dimple after all, the shelf above the pantry had finally given in to the weight on top of it. The jars and bottles on that shelf all lay on the floor either broken or spilled. It was a miserable mess. Dimple was in charge of cleaning it up to her mother’s expectations. It took all day yesterday inside scrubbing the floor and sorting through the jars to see which were broken and those that were not. The task never seemed to end,” Scrub this, mop that, wash this, you missed a spot!” were all ringing in her ears like clanging bells. By the time she crawled into bed her hands were bright red from scrubbing and her arms ached. The thought of the pleasant smiling morning seemed to mock her. And all thoughts of pleasure and joy had abandoned her mind.

But today life started afresh again! Another glorious spring morning arose from the night making Dimple wonder if the pantry incidence had only been a nightmare. But no, there was no more tunnel, only a wall with a trunk on the floor where it used to be. Dimple smiled anyway she knew somebody who would probably enjoy her tale of woe and misery, somebody who usually enjoyed stories and yarns. Valliserrire Avalon. She worked at The Green Dragon when she got bored, which was rather often. So dimple knew where to look for her. Dimple decided it wold probably be best to run up to the Fairbairn’s home to see how Rosa and Orangeblossom were. She was running up the well-travelled road to Hobbiton before the sun had crept much higher in the sky. “Today will be a better day than yesterday!” She resolved. “In fact, I will make it the best day of my existence!”  Then she saw Starfell. The dragon was sitting under a huge tree by the side of the road. “Hello Miss Millstone.” He said in a smooth voice, it was not a voice you would expected out of his species, it startled Dimple. “And a fair morning to you too kind dragon!” she said in the most off-hand voice she had. Starfell let out an exasperated sighed, “Miss. Millstone is that all you have to say? You seem not to care about much of anything other than your stomach and your friends.” Dimple stopped and glared at the dragon, “Have I need to be concerned about anything else? Mr Starfell! This is the Shire! Nothing bad can happen here... Well at least not now everything is safe and peaceful.” Starfell lifted his head and looked at the sky as if trying to get help from a higher source. “Miss. Millstone, You are being watched.” Starfell began with another sigh. “He is a hobbit like all the rest, only I do not think his intentions are quite in your favour. If you have any sense Miss. Millstone you will watch your back. But I seriously doubt you will heed my warning! You are such a foolish young Halfling.”

Dimple just stared at the white dragon. He is a dragon, and dragons are bad… so maybe I should ignore him… then again why would he warn me if he were evil? Dimple shrugged, He probably wants something from me… “Well Mr Starfell sir, do you mind if I continue on my way? The day is passing and I have things to do.”   Starfell grunted and moved out from under the tree, “Do as you please Miss. Millstone! I told you what I was supposed to do! You can leave it or take it! It is your own choice!” And with that he took a graceful leap into the air and blended perfectly with a passing cloud.  Dimple smirked, what is his deal? He must think we are unprotected and stupid! Dimple skipped down the road again… laughing to herself Well, I suppose some of us are—like Durrey…

Somewhere Past the Shire Chapter 8 (The Gamgees)

Rosa spent the rest of her evening at the Gamgee's hole. Her favorite family in all the Shire, as you may know Rosa has had always wanted Samwise Gamgee. Since she laid her big blue eyes on him when she was a wee lass. He was already married and had 11 children yet, she was still in love, with someone she could never have. Rosie was the lucky lass, the one who got to marry this wonderful hobbit.  Rosa was jealous when she first knew about it, but then she had to accept the fact that he would not let Rosie go and that her favorite Samwise was a grown up and she was still young. Rosa loved to visit Bagend. She liked to see what all those hobbits were doing. (especially Samwise.) "Why hello Rosa!" Elanor said with a smile "What can I do for such a kind lass?" "Well I am in a bit of a bind...." Rosa lightly said "Is that so Miss. Fairbarin? What has happened?" Elanor asked as she sat down on her Mothers rocking chair. "Well I left my cousin unattended and my Mother went all crazy about it, I only went over to Dimple's house for a hour or two and left her with Durrey!" "Durrey? How can you trust such a mischievous hobbit?" Elanor asked in awe. "Well, I really did not think that through I suppose.....thank you Elanor I am going to head back to the hole. May I say hello to your Father first?" "Go right ahead. Good night Rosa" Elanor said as she left the room. Rosa knew she was wrong and realized why her Mother was so upset. But she knew that seeing Samwise would get her in a good mood. Samwise was in the living room reading the book Frodo had given him before he left for the Grey Havens. Rosa always loved seeing it, she had always wanted to read it but she knew that would never happen. "hello Mr Samwise!" Rosa said happily " What are you reading?" She asked as she looked over his shoulder to take a peek at the wondrous book. Sam immediately shut it close and turned to Rosa "I am just readin Mr. Frodo's book, Miss.Rosa.  Sam said "the very last pages" with a sad expression. Rosa flashed back to the very sad day that Sam, Frodo, Merry, and Pippin had left for Mordor. That was the day it had started. Evil men had started coming and destroying the peaceful Shire, Rosa was only a young lass at the time she stayed in they went into hiding to try and avoid the mean humans that destroyed her home. "That was a horrid time in the Shire Mr. Gamgee, i am glad it is over. I must be on my way back home. I just wanted to tell you goodnight!" Rosa said softly " Good Night Miss. Fairbarin" Sam kindly said and returned to reading his book. Rosa left for home and thought about those horrid days in her memory. Rosa crawled in her through bedroom window got in her blue night gown with purple lilies and laid in her comfy bed to get a good nights rest. As morning came Rosa got up earlier than usual to apologize to her Mother. But she was not there she had left to go back with her Dad to finish they're meeting with Mr.Sancho. "Blossom! I am going out for a stroll be back in a few!" she yelled with no reply so she left a note and went to enjoy this beautiful day of sun. 

Chapter.....um....nine? Beyond the Banks of bywater. :)

Dimple wandered sleepily back to her room. Moro, she supposed was finally asleep. Her narrative of the Battle of Bywater had worked wonderfully. It was a scary story, she shivered at the memories it carried, Dimple had only been seven when it had happened, everything in the Shire was turned on its head… and the humans came in and ruined everything… It was terrible. Dimple hated humans. And yet, she still longed to see how they ran the world outside… She assumed it would look just like the ruined Shire in her memories, dark, torn down, and forsaken.  Dimple crawled into bed and pulled the covers over her head. Those memories scared her more than anything else in her life had. She sighed then drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

*

The shrill crying of baby Moro awakened May from her deep sleep. Her eyes snapped opened to see a little figure sitting at the end of her bed eyes wide and tear filled. May put her finger to her lips, “Quiet now honey, do not wake daddy,” Baby Mo scooted forwards into his mother’s arms. And cried for a few seconds before exclaiming softly “Mamma! Don’t wet dem take me! Dimps  said dey would!” May pulled him away from her hug and looked at him quizzically, “What did Dimps say?” Moro’s lip quivered “She sayed that if’n I didn’t goed to sweep soon ‘d’ mean big peopwews would take me away from you! And I didn’t goed to sweep soon!!! Muvva! Pwease don’t wet dem take me away!” May hugged him again and tried her best to calm him down, May was upset that Dimple would tell Moro those terrible stories about the nasty ruffians that invaded the Shire and left it in shambles. What was she thinking! Was she thinking! May was angry and  sad all at once. She would have to have a serious talk with her daughter on the morrow. Dimple had done it once again.

*

Beaming morning sunlight streamed through the high window in Dimple’s bedroom. It was a lovely morning! A glorious day had begun; she felt that the sun had smiled on this day especially for her pleasure. She set her feet on the floor and sighed, another day, all the same, peaceful and uneventful a perfect day for Shire-folk. Dimple stretched and stood up. She walked over to her chest and flipped it open and was about to pull off her nightgown when her mother charged in. Dimple cringed had she done something wrong already?

“Dimple Lin Millstone.” May began in a demanding tone. “Did you tell your brother scary stories last night about those awful mean big folks? “ Dimple cowered under her mother’s stare. But she nodded, “I suppose I did ma’am…”

“You suppose? Dimple why tell that story to your brother? He need not hear of those oversized misfortunes called humans at his young age! Dimple, how did you feel when they invaded?”

“scared… well terrified.” Dimple answered thoughtfully.

“Your brother is the same age you were when all that happened. Your stories inspire all sorts of thoughts and pictures in Moro’s little mind. Dimple, do not ever tell him another scary story about the Battle. He has no need to hear of it. Nor do you have need to speak of it.”

Dimple stood crest-fallen “I am sorry mum, I did not think of it like that…” May walked forward and kissed Dimple’s forehead, turned around and then walked out of the room saying over her shoulder “Now get yourself dressed missy!  We have breakfast to make!”

Dimple laughed and spun back to her chest and pulled out her favourite green and yellow dress with the faded pink flowers on it. Today may still be a good day after all…

She dressed and then exited her room. As she walked down the hallway, she heard a loud CRASH!  The sound of glass jars breaking found her ears too. “Uh-oh” She winced it had finally happened

Dimple’s pantry tunnel was out of business.

Somewhere Past the Shire Chapter 7 (Home again)

After a wonderful dinner Mrs.May cooked, Mr.Olo took Rosa home it was quite a quiet stroll Rosa was very tired and could barley walk! She always enjoyed her walk home. She liked to find the holes of her friends like Merry's and Pippin's. And of course Sam and Rosie's. She lived quite close to Bag End which Sam lived in now that Frodo and Bilbo are gone. She lived a few holes to the right from Bag End. The two finally arrived as Rosa curtsied and thanked Mr.Olo for taking her home. He started to head back as Rosa walked in to expect a quiet peaceful night. But when she walked in her mother came right in front of her stopping her from walking to Orangeblossom's room. The hole was as she left it sparkling clean but her Mum look very unpleased "Rosa Fairbarin! Where on Middle-Earth have you been?" By the look on her face you could tell she was scared and furious. "Mum I went to Dimples house for dinner." Rosa said in a innocent voice. "Rosa and what was your cousin supposed to eat?" Liliana asked "Uuuuh I didn't think of that." "Of course not." you could tell she was about to start a lecture "Rosa I expected you to be responsible, and take care of your cousin but what do you do? The opposite! She told me everything about you yelling at her and you leaving her with Durrey! Dear, why on Middle-Earth would you do such a thing? Then you tell him to take care of her while you have the time of your life at Dimples? I expected better from you. March to your room this instant young lass!" yelled Liliana. Rosa marched to her room as told with a very angry look on her face. Mother is wrong she doesn't understand, she is still alive isn't she happy for that? She slams her door shut as hard as she can and goes to flop on her bed. Rosa looks at the ceiling trying to understand her moms ways but to her it seemed impossible. Rosa was so upset she didn't even want to be in the same hole as her Mother. So she hopped out the window and ran to the hole closest to her, Bag End. Rosa knocked on the door to find Elanor there to open it she was around Rosa's age at the time. "Oh hello Rosa, would you like to come in?" "Yes please." So Rosa goes in expecting a lovely night with the Gamgee's.

Misfortune For Two Mud Covered Creatures. Chapter VIII Of Beyond The Banks of Bywater.

When Dimple got back to the Fairbairns’ she found Rosa mopping the floors as quickly as she could. Dimple looked down at her feet then smiled up at Rosa “umm…where can I step?” Rosa paused for a moment to scout out where she had just mopped, “to your left by the wall and then you will have to pretend you’re a frog and jump from dry spot to dry spot. Got it?” Dimple smiled “that is just what I was planning to do!” they both giggled as Dimple tried her hardest not to step on the already mopped floors. She made it to the kitchen area and smiled across the room to Rosa. The pretty girl’s cheeks were rosy from laughing. Dimple smiled wider that was probably why she is named Rosa. Dimple called across the hall “So missy rosy cheeks! Where is the legend, longest, ever, list?” Rosa tried to scowl but she had trouble her face did not want to bend in that direction. “It is on the table; do not let it eat you!” Dimple laughed and wandered into the dining room right beside the kitchen. There it was. The List, it was stretched across the six-foot table. Dimple whistled. She thought her mother left long lists of chores! No way she can possibly get all that done! Was the only thought that came to Dimple’s mind; it was going to be a long day.

*

Five o’clock came upon the girls very swiftly; and the Halflings hardly had half of the list and both were utterly exhausted. They had mopped all the floors, and dusted every surface that could have had dust on it, and washed sheets, cleaned windows, the bathroom, organized the pantry and the closets, and between that they ate lunch and tea, cleaning up after themselves of course. Dimple wondered what had become of the little pestilence Orangeblossom, and her fateful play day in the mud with Durrey; Dimple heard a soft knock on the door. She glanced at Rosa who rolled her eyes. “She will come in and mess everything up Dimple!” Dimple could not help but to feel sorry for her good friend, how could they avoid her? She was staying at the Fairbairn’s house and Rosa had to watch her. Dimple was thinking as fast as she could, then she had an idea. “Rosa would you like to come to my house for supper?” Rosa nodded “what are you thinking Dimple?” The clever redhead just smiled. Then opened the door to find none other than a mud covered Orangeblossom.  “See! I didn’t get in nasty trouble or anything Miss. Dimple!” Rosa covered her mouth. Dimple had not told her who she had left Blossom with.  Dimple smiled at Orangeblossom and then pointed at the mud that had dropped down to the rug just inside the door. “Miss Blossom! I just mopped this floor!” Blossom’s lip quivered, “I’m sorry! Miss Dimple, please don’t make me get a bath!” Dimple heard someone snort just outside the door. “Durrey, Durrey Took! What do you have to say for yourself?” Durrey stepped out from behind a small tree that grew just outside the fence. He was at least as mud covered as Blossom and he had a permanent smirk on his face causing the mud to wrinkle on his face and make him look completely silly. Between the two of them, one would have never guessed they were hobbits; they looked more like bears. “Hehe, well you see miss. Dimple” Durrey began “I was in the middle of a big nasty battle when this here forlorn maiden wandered to me and she says “Mr Durrey!” she said real softly and princesses like. I spun! I had no idear who ‘twas be’ind me! Miss blossom and I were in quite a fix! For the boys on the other side started a-flingging stones and hurlin’ mud every which way the moment I stopped looking at ‘em! So I grabs the missy and we runs fer it! And… I tripped, and then she fell and we both got covered in mud. We have had a lovely time since though! We stayed out of mischief the rest of the day, we did! We visited a few farmers and a few lovely generous housewives with pies... we were quite well behaved!”  Dimple smiled sinisterly at the two mud caked creatures. “Oh I am sure you were just perfect hobbits the both of you! And if you want to leave this house Durrey Took without being scrubbed clean and sparkling I suggest you head to the kitchen and get washing some dishes! Orangeblossom, you must get a bath! Right away, go on with you!” Durrey looked horrified and tried to dart out the door but, it seems that lovely, sneaky, little lasses are much faster than Mud covered lads. Rosa caught the Took by the arm before he could rush away, and shut the door. “Mr Durrey.” She began haughtily “I believe you promised me a favour last spring when I lent you a bit of my money?” Durrey whimpered “Yes’m, and I twould ‘ave paid you if it weren’t for the nasty Dragon stealing it all! I cannot be a good customer there and with you! Ya know!” Rosa twisted his arm. “will you do it for me now, Mr Took?” Durrey huffed and whined out a mournful “Sure yer ‘ighness! Anything! Just do not EVER let me borrow money from you again!” Rosa smiled “Ah yes, I will and you will wash the dishes that are still in the kitchen and finish a list of jobs that is on the dining room table. ALSO tuck little miss Blossom in bed after she has gotten her bath!” Dimple smiled and grabbed her shawl.  “You two be good, and do not dare step foot in their pantry!” Rosa followed Dimple’s example and grabbed her small cloak and opened the door for the two of them. Leaving behind two miserable, filthy Halflings.

Out on the road in the brisk spring night air the two girls giggled on their way down to Bywater.

“Dimple you’re a genius!” said Rosa gleefully, “Surely I would have never thought of that!”

The prideful Dimple smiled and shrugged “Well, some of us are just more brainy than others I suppose dear Rosa.”

Rosa rolled her eyes “I caught that remark missy! I am just as smart as you at least!”

Dimple laughed. “ I know you are, silly! Let us not fight this evening! We are both too tired for that and I am hungry for supper!” She sped up and grabbed Rosa’s hand as she did. “Come on slow chops! Let us get there before tis all gone!” The two hobbits raced each other the rest of the way down the well-worn path to Bywater. They stopped just as they reached the front garden “I win!” Rosa proclaimed happily “I beat you every time Dimple! You should really run more often!  You would not be nearly as chubby if you did! And you eat could thrice more than what you eat now!” Dimple gasped for breath and panted out “I seriously doubt that! My mother would kill me before she’d let me eat more.” Dimple walked past Rosa and up to the wooden red front door and opened wide. “Here we are Lady Fairbairn. My humble abode” Dimple did and very sarcastic deep curtsy while Rosa walked into the familiar home of the Millstones’.

Baby Mo was rushing around with the forks and spoons when the two walked in. “I suppose we are not late yet!” Said Dimple happily, Moro walked past them swiftly and called loudly behind his shoulder “Get out of ‘d’ way girls! Mamma comin wib ‘d’ ham!.” The girls backed out of the walkway in the small hall, and as if on cue, May came out of the kitchen with a small glazed ham on a platter with carrots and potatoes.  “Watch out Dimple! Hullo Rosa! Coming through!” She walked down the hall and then scurried into the sitting room towards the dining room in the south hall. The girls followed the two meal preparers into the snug dining hall where Olo sat at the end of a long table reading an old tattered book. He looked up gleefully when the smell of ham and the sound prodding of feet entered the room. “Eh heh! Look at that! Amazing job May! It smells delicious!” Olo turned to look at Baby Mo setting the table with vigour “Moro! The spoons go by the knifes you silly lad! Thank ye for helping your mother anyways!” May grinned and set the ham down then hurried towards the doorway to go to the kitchen and grab the bread and some plates. She smacked right into Dimple who was entering the Dining hall. “Ah! Dimple! Come help me with the pie! And the plates! You too Rosa, please!” The trio raced around until everything was in order for a lovely supper of Ham, potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, and honey bread.

All five sat around the oval table eating and enjoying each other’s company. It was a peaceful night in the Millstone’s hole… and hopefully at the Fairbarin’s hole too.

Mr Olo walked Rosa home later that evening after the day’s final meals were over. And Dimple helped her mother wash and dry the dishes to get them put away. May was very delighted by Dimple’s good behaviour, which led her to make cheery comments on things like how well Dimple had washed that dish! The merry hobbits were nearly finished when Baby Mo walked in in his nightshirt, (for he had already been tucked in.) hair a mess and his blanket hanging over his arm. May’s shoulders tensed when she saw him walk in, she knew what the problem was.  It vexed her greatly.  But she put on a smiling face and bent down a little to be eye-to-eye with the youngster. “Baby Mo, what’s the matter this time?” Moro looked up towards the ceiling trying to come up with an answer and avoid eye contact with his mother. “Ehhhh well.. It’s too dark in my room! And der bes too much light out here! And noise too! I can’t sweep wif all dis noise!” May looked imploringly at Dimple. The poor hobbit lass could guess what her mother was going to ask before she started saying it. Dimple threw her hands behind her untied her apron flung it on the table and darted for the doorway. May stopped her before she could escape. “Dimple! You forgot to hang up your apron!”  Dimple whimpered and darted back and hung her apron up as swiftly as she could, then back out of the kitchen she tried to run. However, May grabbed her arm this time. “Dimple dearie! Please tuck your brother in again.” Dimple groaned. She had been so good all day! She had stayed out of trouble! Cooked breakfast, washed the dishes, AND helped a forlorn hobbit lass with her chores! Now her mother had to ruin her successful day by giving her the worst job ever imaginable to any hobbit lass! Tucking Baby Moro in. It would not be so terrible if the lad would go to sleep! But he never would! You could sing all the lullabies you knew three times over, say all the nursery rhymes ever invented, and tell him long dull stories about sheep! But the confounded lad would just ask for more wide awake and ready for anything! Except sleep! Dimple grabbed Moro’s hand rather tightly and pulled him off to his room huffily. He crawled into his tiny bed and sat waiting to see which story Dimple would tell him. A thought struck Dimple, a thought she had never had before! If she could not lull him to sleep, she would try to scare him to sleep!

Somewhere Past the Shire Chapter 6 (Chores...)

While Dimple was off getting someone to watch OrangeBlossom Rosa decided to get to work. So she started sweeping the entire hole then she moped it. By that time Dimple was there and the two lasses made a list of chores for each to do. "Alright let's get these chores done Rosa!" Dimple said in a cheery mood. Dimples happy mood must be contagious because it brightened Rosa up. So they were done in a really short amount of time. They were doing dishes when Dimple invited Rosa for dinner. "Hey Rosa, why don't you come to my house for dinner tonight? I am sure my Mother is making a amazing meal." "Oh! That would be lovely Dimple. Let's finish these dishes and head to your hole!" They finished the dishes as fast as possible and Rosa grabbed her cape and the both ran to Bywater very fast. After a slight delay involving a dirty Durrey and a oblivious Orangeblossom. On the way Dimple told Rosa about the dashing young hobbit that she had met, "Oh Dimple how romantic" Rosa said wistfully after she finished. I wish Samwise wasn't married and so much older than I....What i would give to be Rosie!" They arrived at her hole; Dimple opened the door allowing all sorts of delicious smells to waft out. Baby Mo was running around trying toget the silverware to the table and trying to remember the words to a song. "Look at him! he's so helpful!" Rosa said. I wonder why Blossom won't act like that."