Stories of Arda - Lord of the Rings Fan-Fiction Archive


	About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

Pearl of Great Price by Lindelea	3 Review(s)
Lyta Padfoot	Reviewed Chapter: 34 on 2/3/2004
Interested to see how this story ends up. Pearl is a brave girl, sacrificing her happiness for her family. Not that the Thain is a terrible person, but he's much older than her and there is no love. Plus, I think she'd rather have Isumbold. Waiting to see Lalia bite the dust. My copy of the letters says she dies in the spring, so her hourglass is down to the last few grains of sand. Author Reply: Haven't written any "author replies" in awhile, not wanting to give the climax away, but now all is bared and I can answer. Yes, you were right about the hourglass.

Grey Wonderer	Reviewed Chapter: 34 on 2/2/2004
Poor Pearl! I knew she would try something but this is so sad for her and so very brave. I dread what Paladin will go through when he hears what she has done. Author Reply: Yes, Pearl is brave and bold, a true sister to Pippin I'd say.

FantasyFan	Reviewed Chapter: 34 on 2/2/2004
It does not do to leave Pearl Took out of your conspiracy, it seems. All of those good qualities that Lalia and Ferumbras have numbered also mean that she’s not likely to stand still and see her family ruined, if there’s anything she can do about it. I’m assuming she came up with this plan all by herself, without asking anyone’s advice, and ran with it at the very first opportunity – no time to consult with even Frodo, much less give anyone else a say who could object before the deed is done. But it is a brilliant plan. Lalia will not object – as a matter of fact, she’s likely to be delighted by the chance to see two objectives realized at once: a marriage and presumably an heir for her son, as well as another slap to Paladin. For Pearl, the hard part is done – speaking to Ferumbras, and finding out if he will go along. Pearl has a great deal of self-discipline, and I’m sure she feels the actual marriage and living as the wife of the Thain will not be beyond her capabilities. But there’s some real angst just over the horizon. Saradoc is on a slow journey to Michel Delving and then to Frodo, and by the time Frodo arrives with the gold, it will be all over. Lalia will be even more delighted to spring the completed deal on Frodo, after he’s paid her with hard gold. He may be in her good graces right at this moment, but I don’t think she’ll be able to resist the temptation to profit yet again – that is unless Frodo hears the announcement before setting out, and declines to pay. He’s likely to go to the Smials anyway just to confirm Pearl’s willing assent. I’ve always thought Frodo has a temper, though usually well restrained under a gentlehobbit’s reserve. If I’m right, I don’t think he’ll take it well. Oh, I am pleased with how you worked the question of sucession into this chapter, too. I am looking forward to seeing how this all plays out, keeping in mind you’ve said there’s very little left of the story. Take care of yourself. It seems this winter, and the colds that come with it, is never going to end. I feel like I’ve been frozen for months. There’s but a thin thread of hope left that the daffodils will ever poke their noses up out of the icy ground. Have some hot chocolate on me (or some chicken soup). Author Reply: You're right, she came up with the plan in the dark watches of the night and put it into motion as soon as possible. There was no way to communicate with her relatives; for all she knew, Paladin Took and his family were on their own. Actually, Saradoc is going to drop the pony-and-gold off on his way to Michel Delving, quite as if returning a pony of Frodo's that went lame on an earlier visit Frodo made to Buckland, or that Merry borrowed to ride home, or some such plausible explanation. Forgot to mention in the talk of the succession that Tolibold's family (forget the son of the Old Took whose name ends in -bold) deliberately withdrew his branch from the succession, and that Lalia knew that with Paladin out of the running, Adelard would be the next Thain. Adelard, who is firmly under her thumb. Lalia, if anything happened to Ferumbras, wouldn't necessarily lose her grip on Tookland. Of course, that may all be background and no need to elaborate. My editor is always cutting background when she says it isn't really needed to follow the plot, saying it slows down the story... Of course, I as author need to know the background so that I am building a story on a firm foundation. It's hard enough to write "canon" without having read everything by or about JRRT, or worse, having read quite a bit but not remembering it all clearly. I am trying to take care of myself. At present am grimly fending off the Old Gaffer's Friend once again. Wish he'd go off to Hawaii on vacation like the Muse does... and wish the Muse wouldn't so often go off. Ah, well, when she's whispering, she usually works ahead, giving me enough chapters to keep on typing them in and posting them whilst she's off. That's a mercy. Chicken soup, there's a plan. Our daffs are six inches high now. Hope there won't be any more snow or frost to daunt them. I am rambling, a good sign it is time to go. Thanks for reviewing!

Return to Chapter List