Jewels by Lindelea
Larner · 28 August 2025 · Chapter 32: A Curious Courtship
And which is it with eyes in her heart? I suspect it is Estella, when the truth is told. For she is for Buckland, and she knows it! !
Author's reply
Ah, Estella. Her heart has been Merry's since their childhood, even though he never knew until much later. Estella is incredibly observant, down to the minutest detail, which seems quite fitting for an artist of her calibre. Thanks!
Larner · 28 August 2025 · Chapter 31: Bird in a Trap
A bad business indeed. At least the folks of Long Cleave know it's not Pippin's own doing. Now--to see Pip inspired to defy his father properly!
Author's reply
It was such a relief to make sure the north-Tooks learned the truth of the matter. Whew. Unfortunately, some dynamics of the situation make defiance much more difficult. However, sometimes other defenders will step up when the champion is struck down... Thanks!
Larner · 28 August 2025 · Chapter 30: Stable Conversations
Maybe a gift from Lord Irmo might be in order.... I rejoice that Jewel and Socks are doing well with Merry's attentions.
Author's reply
What an interesting thought! I have to admit, I've paid much less attention to the Valar than I have to hobbits... Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to share your thoughts.
Larner · 28 August 2025 · Chapter 29: A Different Kind of Darkness
Pippin and Estella Bolger? I think not! Silly old Thain!
Author's reply
Silly old Thain. I think the arrangement started out as a favor to Odo (who had to find a Took for his daughter to marry per Bolger family tradition) long before Paladin became Thain, with the stipulation that either party could dissolve the agreement, but when Paladin was saddled with the Thainship and no resources, the fortune that Estella would bring with her proved too tempting. Not that Paladin was greedy... just grimly desperate, more or less. Thanks!
Larner · 28 August 2025 · Chapter 28: Father and Son
My grandmother could be like that. It brought her more misery in the end than it did to anyone else--save for my mother.
Author's reply
The world might be a better place if people would just focus on doing their best – their *own* best, that is – and not trying to live someone else's life for them. Sigh.
Larner · 27 August 2025 · Chapter 27: The Old Gaffer's Friend
Such humor may do more harm than good, but at least it was recognized in time. At least the poppy is helping--this time.
Author's reply
These were some difficult chapters to get through. Whew. For my own part, I hate "humor" that cuts other people down.
Larner · 27 August 2025 · Chapter 26: Fear Unspoken
Such illness is terrible to see. If only he can fight it--while those who love him sit in terrible anticipation while struggling to help him stay in this life. Now--the Thain! May he arrive to find his son rallying at last.
Author's reply
Even today, with all the medical marvels we have available, such illness is still a terrible thing. In retrospect, I would have loved to see the Thain arrive and pour his strength into Pippin, helping him rally... but then a lot of the conflict would be gone from the plot. I suppose this would have been a much shorter story if that had been the case. Thanks!
Larner · 23 August 2025 · Chapter 25: One Year Later
The start of pneumonia? He's known enough distress for it to start. Now--if a memory of Frodo will hearten him so he can hearten Merry when that day comes. Bless him for his care for Socks.
Author's reply
Yes, when I was writing Jewels and posting it at HASA all those years ago, there were some wonderfully supportive people at the archive. I connected there with a medical worker who advised me on symptoms as well as treatments that would have been available under the Shire's level of medical knowledge and application. In fact, Lyllyn warned me (after reading some draft chapters) that the symptoms I had described implied permanent lung damage and disability! Because of my fixation with plausibility, I was faced with rewriting those chapters. (Horrors!) I sat with that feedback for a few days, and then I came up with the timeline and character development arc, culminating in Sam consulting with Treebeard and returning with some specially-brewed Ent draught to address Pippin's problems. Thus, my habitual avoidance of rewriting resulted in a wider scope for the imagination! (Probably not the first time a vice or failing led to a positive result, but certainly the most memorable.) Thanks! (p.s. I hope this reply makes sense. I am very distracted. Squeak is repeatedly cruising by my legs and head-bumping me vigorously each time she passes. I must close the laptop now and top off the cat dishes, I think, before she gets hungry enough to take a bite out of me.)
Larner · 23 August 2025 · Chapter 24: Another Nephew's Visit
The anniversaries still happen, but as Pip noted, Merry is growing stronger as the memories become more bearable. I love the portrait so! Wish I had it here.
Author's reply
I can clearly see the portrait in my mind's eye. Would that I could draw or paint what I can see! (But I have resigned myself to making pictures with words. Such is life.) I'd love to have all the pictures that I describe Estella sketching or painting scattered around my house. Merry is growing stronger; part of it is due to his exercising his "walk in the Light" muscles (in a manner of speaking). As long as he remains mindful of the need to walk in the Light and disciplines himself to practise that mindset consistently, he can keep up the good fight. (But they're making a mistake in these early years by keeping the observance private. It works better in later years when more loved ones are included.) Thanks!
Larner · 23 August 2025 · Chapter 23: The Old and the New
No, but he won't ever be but a tramp. A lovely ceremony of rememberence.
Author's reply
I can't see Pippin wasting his life, not after what he went through on the Quest. This chapter may well be the origin of Remembering Day in my version of the Shire. Thanks for your encouraging words.
Larner · 18 August 2025 · Chapter 22: Sorrow Shared
Both Merry and Pippin helped save the twins, at least. And now there is the unspoken agreement betwixt Pip and Diamond. The marriage that didn't--a lasting grief for all.
Author's reply
It was heart-breaking to write of two losses. It's fairly subtle, but both Pippin and Merry remembered Ruby in naming daughters in their own families. For Pippin and Diamond, Forget-me-not's "love name" is Ruby. For Merry and Estella, they give their daughter an Elvish name that (someone told me) means "a red jewel that shines with starry fire". Pippin has an understanding with Diamond's parents that if things work out, they know where he stands, and he knows they won't stand in his way if things work out as he hopes. At this point in time, Pippin's not even of age yet. Diamond is (five?) years younger. Marriage, if it should happen, is still years away by typical Shire custom. (I think I read somewhere that male hobbits usually marry around the age of 40, while female hobbits typically marry around the time they come of age or as early as age 30. Lobelia was almost scandalously young when she married Lotho, 26 I think? I don't know if that comes out of something JRRT wrote or if I got it from fanfic; alternatively, I might have come up with some sort of understanding by studying the birthdates and marriages on the family trees. Anyhow, that's how it works in my stories.) Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to leave so many thoughtful reviews!
Larner · 18 August 2025 · Chapter 21: Message from an Absent Cousin
All he can do is to stay walking in the light. He will do well.
Author's reply
I'm so glad that Frodo had the foresight to leave him that precious note. He knew his faithful Sam would follow through and be wise enough to recognize when the time was right.
Larner · 18 August 2025 · Chapter 20: Mid-year's Eve, Afternoon into Evening
So the lack of this marriage is explained, and a time of joy is become a time of lamentations. Bless them all.
Author's reply
Sigh. I appreciate your blessings for them. Though healing comes with time, not all sad things will come untrue.
Larner · 18 August 2025 · Chapter 19: Mid-year's Eve, Noontide
So--this is how a marriage came to naught? Pippin is a hero of the Shire indeed!
Author's reply
Pippin is definitely a hero! Up to this point in my writing, Merry was always my favorite hobbit, but I think Pippin pulled even with him during this time...
Larner · 17 August 2025 · Chapter 18: Mid-year's Eve, Morning
Aha! Secrets abound, they do!
Author's reply
Oh yes. This chapter and the next two were three of the hardest chapters to write in this story. Sigh.
Larner · 17 August 2025 · Chapter 17: Tears of Joy
At least Saradoc knows what the anniversaries look like. And it appears that Merry has asked Ruby to marry him. We know who Diamond will accept when her time comes, and we know that somehow the proposed marriage between North-took and Brandybuck will fall apart. Will look eagerly to see how that will come in time.
Author's reply
Hopefully the resolution of this plot point will make sense when you read it!
Larner · 17 August 2025 · Chapter 16: Invitation from Long Cleeve
The challenge was met, but wasn't as fully Austen as it might have been. Lovely visit with possible future inlaws. And loved young Tad.
Author's reply
I can see your point. Austen had a much wider vocabulary than I have, for one thing. Young Tad is charming. It was such fun to make him Pippin's kindred spirit! I was inspired by a RL teen (close to Pippin's stage of development as a tween) who understood the wee hobbits so well, it was as if they resonated as part of the same chord.
Larner · 17 August 2025 · Chapter 15: Invitation to Long Cleeve
Healing has come through Frodo. Now Merry has the ability to fight his own shadows.
Author's reply
It seems so natural that the older cousin kept looking after the younger cousin(s) even by anticipating their future needs after his leaving. (And then, of course, I had him visit people in their dreams later on, implying that somehow he was given the grace to continue watching over them before he ultimately accepted the Gift of Eru. At that time, of course, according to my idea of what happens to Hobbits in the afterlife, he'd be reunited with them in person at the Feast.) Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Larner · 17 August 2025 · Chapter 14: The Grey Havens
It's the saddest part of the entire story. At least they got to say goodbye, and he spoke back to him.
Author's reply
As I said in another reply, I hate that Frodo sailed to the West. I even tried to come up with an explanation that made sense to me, but as I've mentioned before, I stumbled over one of JRRT's letters after finishing that story and found that the Professor was adamant that Frodo's malady was not physical. So properly, I suppose I ought to label my stories showing him physically afflicted as AU. I suppose I might justify what I wrote by saying that mental and emotional (and spiritual?) struggles can affect us physically... Thanks for reading and pausing to share your impressions.
Larner · 17 August 2025 · Chapter 13: Another Visit
The failing is beginning.
Author's reply
This part was so hard to write. I never completely understood why Frodo had to leave. It still grieves me that he did. Sigh.
Larner · 17 August 2025 · Chapter 12: A Visit from a Favourite Nephew
...and have a lovely daughter....
Author's reply
(Why did my brain suddenly start playing Herman's Hermits in the back of my mind?) Thanks!
Larner · 17 August 2025 · Chapter 10: Echoes of the Past
i am glad both were there to tell the tale, and to help assure and comfort one another.
Author's reply
It's sort of a symbolic standing back-to-back, bringing healing to all around them (who will understand better what they've been through and how to help) as well as themselves. At least, that's how I envisioned it working. Thanks!
Larner · 17 August 2025 · Chapter 10: Echoes of the Past
In my-verse Frodo is encouraged to write out his tempers, griefs, and frustraions, and all. We have to get them out to begin healing. Love the healer's wisdom.
Author's reply
Is that when he comes to live with Bilbo, or while he's in Minas Tirith, or...? I have to admit, even those stories of yours that I already read have faded somewhat in my memory. The nice thing about that is that reading them over again will be a lovely mix of recognising familiar bits and enjoying all over again the parts I've forgotten. Ossilan has been in the healing business for a long time... Thanks!
Larner · 17 August 2025 · Chapter 9: Of Fish and Forest
Alas that there hhas been a heart attack. Am glad that Pippin is a practiced rider at this point, and that the healer was swiftly found and brought to Saradoc's side. And I, too, am certain the lads won't bring Buckland to ruin! Heh!
Author's reply
All joking aside, I'm sure they have good heads on their shoulders – and Merry, at least, probably spent some time watching Elessar and Faramir and the others in positions of authority bring Minas Tirith back from the siege and battle. I'm sure he learned a lot from direct observation, while Pippin no doubt picked up a lot (as teens and children do) just from being there as the process was playing out. Thanks for reading and taking the time to leave your thoughts and impressions. I find reviews both heartening and insightful, as you know.
Fimbrethil · 9 August 2025 · Chapter 43: An End to Waiting
That last that ends with Cheers for the Tooks, Brandybucks, and Gamgees, was me.
Author's reply
Thank you for your lovely reviews! I've been under the weather for the past week or two, but now that I'm feeling better, I intend to come back and read and answer every single one in appreciation for your thoughtfulness. (((hugs))) Lin