Author's Notes

Chapter 1. Message from the King

Pippin's serious bout with pneumonia is detailed in Jewels. More about the lingering effects can be found in stories set between Jewels and At the End of His Rope, and A Healer's Tale, in which he finds healing at last. One of the reasons Sam and Rose Gamgee went south with Elanor was to seek some remedy for Pippin.

Pippin's injury in a coach accident, compounding his health problems, happens in At the End of His Rope.

The Pony Post was instituted by Merry and Pippin when the latter left Buckland to take up his duties as Thain. They shared the expense of keeping a supply of fast, sturdy ponies at inns along the Stock Road, and employed relay riders to take news and small packages back and forth between Brandy Hall and the Great Smials. Thus a message could be sent from one to the other, covering the 50 miles between them, in a matter of a few hours, rather than two or even three days.

How Mayor Sam broke his leg on Pippin's behalf is detailed in All That Glisters.

Chapter 2. Taking the Good with the Bad

Pearl's part in Lalia's death can be read in Pearl of Great Price.

Chapter 3. Momentous News

Just a note to say that Regi the Steward married later in life than usual for hobbits; he was something of a confirmed bachelor, when young Rosa, a healer's daughter and healer in her own right, won his heart. He almost did not ask Rosa to marry him, because of their age difference, but Pippin talked him round...

As a result, they are still very much in love, even eight years or so after marrying, and dote upon their children, knowing how easily they might never have come about.

Ferdi's matchmaking ideas, specifically regarding Faramir and Goldilocks, can be seen in StarFire and Truth.

Sam and Rose discovering that they were expecting Tolman, and the consequences resulting in their staying in Gondor for nearly a year, rather than just a brief visit, can be found in At the End of His Rope.

Chapter 4. A Conspiracy is Formed

Farry was taken twice by murderous ruffians in his young life. First, in All that Glisters, and later, in A Matter of Appearances. He was also taken two more times, by not-so-murderous ruffians, once as a faunt while visiting Gondor with his parents, and another time in All that Glisters, when he, his mother, and a cousin were rescued from dying of exposure when stranded while travelling.

Farry's nearly disastrous attempt to run to Gondor is detailed in Runaway.

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I began adding notes at the end of each chapter rather than to a chapter at the end of the story at this point. If you happen to read this, which do you prefer? Notes at the end of each chapter, or all the notes gathered together at the end and published when the story is finished?