Aha, there was a good reason for stopping short the revelation of Farry's story in a previous chapter. Farry's maybe more impressed with his Da than before, or he's slowly realizing the severity of what has just happened, but now he's decided to be perfectly honest. I wonder if Pip is thinking back to all the farm food he might have pilfered in his past life as a wastrel, and if he made reparations to all those farmers?! And here, you've found the perfect way to let Farry keep up with the chores, to earn a new saddle. The hobbits in the barns can't say much about him not keeping to his place, if he's making up for wrongs done to another common hobbit. Most will think Farry's being punished for running away, except Farry himself, and the rest will have the satisfaction of seeing that their leaders (and their sons) don't put themselves above the law. The escort is amused now, but if they think on it for long, they might be glad to see Farry growing some hobbit-sense - after all, they don't want him to be as much trouble as Pip was. As usual, your chapter titles have more than one meaning, as you could also consider this Pip's reparation to his son for not seeing and tending to his needs before now. With Pip's new resolve to train his son, just in case he might live, and Farry's sudden fondness for chores, Diamond isn't going to know her changed family.
I see you've also started posting 'A Small and Passing Thing' on ff.n, and I noticed a few changes in the first chapter, I think. I'ts going to be fun to read there, when I've already seen so much of it here, in process. |
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