Memories: Estella.
Dear Lela,
Your father wanted us to write the story of your mother so you would know about her as she is not written in the book your Cousin Frodo and Uncle Sam wrote about the War of the Rings. Some things are better kept within the memories of those closest to the events. This is my side of the story, which I hope does justice to your mother.
Corona and I were friends from childhood. She had been born in Buckland near by my home and our mothers were also friends. With Freddie, then called Fatty, off so often with his friends I was often left alone. After awhile I started to spend a lot of time with Corona. We would always work outside, no matter how undignified our mothers' thought it was. There were times when we would travel to Hobbiton to help the Gamgees, Corona's mother's family. They taught us how to garden, how to cook, even something I doubt my mother knew how to do. It was always fun and family with the Gamgees.
When I was 30 years old, a friend of my family's held a party for his only son. Saradoc Brandybuck was easily the most prominent man in Buckland and very high up in the Shire, being the brother-in law of Paladin Took, the current Thian of the Shire. He was very proud of his son Meriadoc (called Merry by friends and family), as was the patriarch of the Brandybuck family, Rorimac Brandybuck. While Saradoc was the Master of Buckland, he was still using the advice of his father, the former Master. Rory had been the only one who had retired and handed it down to his son before his death. But then Master Rory was never an ordinary Hobbit and neither was his grandson. But there was one thing Rory Brandybuck did well, and that was having a party and he had no better party then that of his grandson's coming of age.
I was invited of course; all of Buckland was invited to this party of the season. Corona's cousin Sam also came with a Hobbit-lass he fancied named Rose Cotton. Frodo Baggins and Peragrin Took (known as Frodo and Pippin) were also invited at no surprise. Often the Baggins and Took families came to the Buckland parties. Also there was a good friend of Corona and mine named Pervinca Took. She was the same age as us and whenever we were together we were known to be as mischievous as my brother and his band of friends.
This party was actually a big deal for me for other reasons then my good friends would be there. For a while I had a slight infatuation with Merry and from the gossips around town and from hints from my brother, Merry was planning on asking me to "date" him as they say today. Merry and I had been friends for a long time but that made no difference in the fact I was extremely nervous although it turned out to be a waste of time for he never asked me that night nor for a long time.
Corona and I look a lot alike. We both are fairly tall hobbits with dark curly hair and fair skin that tanned. The only real difference in our looks was that she had brilliant green eyes and I had regular blue-gray eyes that no one would consider spectacular. I hate to admit this but there were times I was envious of her eyes. Her eyes made her beautiful. I felt very average and unworthy next to her at times. She never knew of this, I made sure. She's my best friend after all.
Those eyes entrapped Pippin and Merry. It was what made them fall in love with her. For Pippin, it was that night at the party and for Merry it was a gradual emotion. Even Freddie was enamored with her. Of course he had been for years and Corona knew that. The only hobbit that was interested in me was Ted Sandyman and I found him too arrogant to be interested in as more then an annoyance. Pippin finally asked Corona out the next year and they often went on dates. Merry and I created diversions for them, telling their parents if they asked that hobbit in question was at our homes. While they went on their picnic dates or whatever they planned on doing, I assisted Merry and Sam in forming a plan about Frodo. Frodo had been very mysterious and we were curious. Merry and I had known about Bilbo's ring and had often wondered about it. Sam had no idea about it till later when he learned from Frodo.
We eventually included Pippin and Corona in on our plan. They helped while planning their secret wedding. Merry, Sam, Pervinca and I were the only ones who attended the ceremony that took place in an open spot in the forest. It was very pretty and I still can picture it. Pippin and Corona were very happy and Merry had actually started to hold my hand that day. Sometimes simple things like that stand out in a girl's memory.
Pippin and Corona lived in Crickhollow for the short period before Frodo left on his quest. He thought he would fool us by saying he planned on moving in with Pippin and Corona at Crickhollow but we all knew that he planned on going on this mission alone, with only Sam along with him. The night he arrived we told him that we knew and that Merry and Pippin planned on going with them. I had wanted to go too but Merry, Freddie and Frodo voted that down. Freddie was staying behind to make it look like someone was living in Crickhollow besides Corona. I also moved in later. It was also that night that I got the odd feeling that this "trip" was going to be far more then a trip to Rivendell, city of the Elves. I told Merry so but he told me I was just worrying too much.
They were gone for longer then they anticipated. It was over a year before they returned and during that time things changed dramatically in the Shire. Men started to appear in the Shire, taking over governing and setting up rules that only advanced themselves. Corona had a baby as well. You were named Lela after a cousin of hers. Freddie and I were imprisoned soon after your birth in a makeshift prison in Michel Delving. I never knew why I was imprisoned and I shall not comment on the time I spent there now.
Pippin, Merry, Sam and Frodo arrived back in the Shire in early November of that year. Those of us in the prison were released personally by Merry and Pippin, whose heart wasn't in it. I later found out on the way to Crickhollow that Corona had decided to fight in battle. Unfortunately she died while fighting. Pippin was in shock, really. For a couple of weeks he didn't come out of his room at Crickhollow except to catch a rare meal and to visit Corona's grave. It was sad to watch.
I busied myself by taking care of you while I recovered a bit from the injuries I had. Merry helped me. I could see the haunted look in his eyes, especially when he looked at you and your father, but surprisingly he didn't seem as bad off as Pippin did. He didn't smile much for a while after the battle but he tried to put on a good front for Frodo who needed it.
They had all changed greatly from before they left. Frodo mostly keep to himself, writing in Bilbo's book about the trip. Occasionally he came to get details from Merry and Pippin, but he mostly stayed in Hobbiton. He also served as Mayor for a while but Sam soon took over. Sam had become more self-confident and had started a family with Rosie. The pair love children and plan on having many.
Pippin had lost much of the childlike innocence he had before leaving. He still played around with the younger hobbit children and will always look for fun, but he has a look in his eye that make him seem older then he looks and is. He is wiser now. He really did not become like his own self till Diamond arrived. She brought back his smile. If it hadn't been for her, I fear that Pippin may have lost it.
Merry also changed. He became more mature and quieter, although like Pippin he still was a bit mischievous. He told me stories of his time away from the shire, how he had fought war, been homesick, been near death, lost friends and loved ones, and even saw a King crowned. He spent more time with me for some reason after the war and told me these things. I could see the tears in his eyes when he spoke of King Theoden and how he had promised the King that they would set down and talk about the history of pipe weed. That is Merry for you; he always loved to learn those odd facts that the general population didn't. That is why he wrote the book on pipe- weed. It was in memory of Theoden and because of his love of learning.
When your father married Diamond, I was so happy to see him smile again. The fact that she got along so well with you was a plus. I can't help but say I was jealous when I saw her holding you. It meant that my time as your temporary mother was over. It made me wish for children of my own. I still do wish that.
A year after Pippin's wedding, Merry and I got married. It was a small ceremony, similar to Pippins. We had Sam oversee it and invited only close friends and family to the celebrations. Granted that was a bit odd for hobbits not to have large gatherings at their weddings but Merry wanted this way, and I have to agree. We had all changed since the war, and our relationships changed. We felt comfortable with those around us and it made the day extra special. Merry and I walked to Corona's grave while everyone else was celebrating to tell her. Corona would have been there beside me if my perfect dream had come true. She was my best friend and I missed her there. She would have loved to be there too, I know it. She would have stood next to me, making faces at you while you sat in Uncle Frodo's lap. Pippin would be smiling at you two and Merry would be trying to pay attention while not trying to see what Pippin was smiling at. It would have been wonderful.
There are times when I am still jealous of your mother, but I realize something. I have more then she did. She never got to see you grow up, or see you walk for the first time. She never got to grow old with the man she loved or have conversations with me over our children and later grandchildren. She missed it all. I wish she were here so much sometimes. I know she would have loved it.
I am not sure if this helps you any in knowing your mother or understanding the times around her and your father's lives but I hope it does. Your mother was an amazing hobbit and an amazing friend. I see her in you every time you come to see me in your eyes and in your actions. Your mother would have been proud of you.
Estella Bolger-Brandybuck
Dear Lela,
Your father wanted us to write the story of your mother so you would know about her as she is not written in the book your Cousin Frodo and Uncle Sam wrote about the War of the Rings. Some things are better kept within the memories of those closest to the events. This is my side of the story, which I hope does justice to your mother.
Corona and I were friends from childhood. She had been born in Buckland near by my home and our mothers were also friends. With Freddie, then called Fatty, off so often with his friends I was often left alone. After awhile I started to spend a lot of time with Corona. We would always work outside, no matter how undignified our mothers' thought it was. There were times when we would travel to Hobbiton to help the Gamgees, Corona's mother's family. They taught us how to garden, how to cook, even something I doubt my mother knew how to do. It was always fun and family with the Gamgees.
When I was 30 years old, a friend of my family's held a party for his only son. Saradoc Brandybuck was easily the most prominent man in Buckland and very high up in the Shire, being the brother-in law of Paladin Took, the current Thian of the Shire. He was very proud of his son Meriadoc (called Merry by friends and family), as was the patriarch of the Brandybuck family, Rorimac Brandybuck. While Saradoc was the Master of Buckland, he was still using the advice of his father, the former Master. Rory had been the only one who had retired and handed it down to his son before his death. But then Master Rory was never an ordinary Hobbit and neither was his grandson. But there was one thing Rory Brandybuck did well, and that was having a party and he had no better party then that of his grandson's coming of age.
I was invited of course; all of Buckland was invited to this party of the season. Corona's cousin Sam also came with a Hobbit-lass he fancied named Rose Cotton. Frodo Baggins and Peragrin Took (known as Frodo and Pippin) were also invited at no surprise. Often the Baggins and Took families came to the Buckland parties. Also there was a good friend of Corona and mine named Pervinca Took. She was the same age as us and whenever we were together we were known to be as mischievous as my brother and his band of friends.
This party was actually a big deal for me for other reasons then my good friends would be there. For a while I had a slight infatuation with Merry and from the gossips around town and from hints from my brother, Merry was planning on asking me to "date" him as they say today. Merry and I had been friends for a long time but that made no difference in the fact I was extremely nervous although it turned out to be a waste of time for he never asked me that night nor for a long time.
Corona and I look a lot alike. We both are fairly tall hobbits with dark curly hair and fair skin that tanned. The only real difference in our looks was that she had brilliant green eyes and I had regular blue-gray eyes that no one would consider spectacular. I hate to admit this but there were times I was envious of her eyes. Her eyes made her beautiful. I felt very average and unworthy next to her at times. She never knew of this, I made sure. She's my best friend after all.
Those eyes entrapped Pippin and Merry. It was what made them fall in love with her. For Pippin, it was that night at the party and for Merry it was a gradual emotion. Even Freddie was enamored with her. Of course he had been for years and Corona knew that. The only hobbit that was interested in me was Ted Sandyman and I found him too arrogant to be interested in as more then an annoyance. Pippin finally asked Corona out the next year and they often went on dates. Merry and I created diversions for them, telling their parents if they asked that hobbit in question was at our homes. While they went on their picnic dates or whatever they planned on doing, I assisted Merry and Sam in forming a plan about Frodo. Frodo had been very mysterious and we were curious. Merry and I had known about Bilbo's ring and had often wondered about it. Sam had no idea about it till later when he learned from Frodo.
We eventually included Pippin and Corona in on our plan. They helped while planning their secret wedding. Merry, Sam, Pervinca and I were the only ones who attended the ceremony that took place in an open spot in the forest. It was very pretty and I still can picture it. Pippin and Corona were very happy and Merry had actually started to hold my hand that day. Sometimes simple things like that stand out in a girl's memory.
Pippin and Corona lived in Crickhollow for the short period before Frodo left on his quest. He thought he would fool us by saying he planned on moving in with Pippin and Corona at Crickhollow but we all knew that he planned on going on this mission alone, with only Sam along with him. The night he arrived we told him that we knew and that Merry and Pippin planned on going with them. I had wanted to go too but Merry, Freddie and Frodo voted that down. Freddie was staying behind to make it look like someone was living in Crickhollow besides Corona. I also moved in later. It was also that night that I got the odd feeling that this "trip" was going to be far more then a trip to Rivendell, city of the Elves. I told Merry so but he told me I was just worrying too much.
They were gone for longer then they anticipated. It was over a year before they returned and during that time things changed dramatically in the Shire. Men started to appear in the Shire, taking over governing and setting up rules that only advanced themselves. Corona had a baby as well. You were named Lela after a cousin of hers. Freddie and I were imprisoned soon after your birth in a makeshift prison in Michel Delving. I never knew why I was imprisoned and I shall not comment on the time I spent there now.
Pippin, Merry, Sam and Frodo arrived back in the Shire in early November of that year. Those of us in the prison were released personally by Merry and Pippin, whose heart wasn't in it. I later found out on the way to Crickhollow that Corona had decided to fight in battle. Unfortunately she died while fighting. Pippin was in shock, really. For a couple of weeks he didn't come out of his room at Crickhollow except to catch a rare meal and to visit Corona's grave. It was sad to watch.
I busied myself by taking care of you while I recovered a bit from the injuries I had. Merry helped me. I could see the haunted look in his eyes, especially when he looked at you and your father, but surprisingly he didn't seem as bad off as Pippin did. He didn't smile much for a while after the battle but he tried to put on a good front for Frodo who needed it.
They had all changed greatly from before they left. Frodo mostly keep to himself, writing in Bilbo's book about the trip. Occasionally he came to get details from Merry and Pippin, but he mostly stayed in Hobbiton. He also served as Mayor for a while but Sam soon took over. Sam had become more self-confident and had started a family with Rosie. The pair love children and plan on having many.
Pippin had lost much of the childlike innocence he had before leaving. He still played around with the younger hobbit children and will always look for fun, but he has a look in his eye that make him seem older then he looks and is. He is wiser now. He really did not become like his own self till Diamond arrived. She brought back his smile. If it hadn't been for her, I fear that Pippin may have lost it.
Merry also changed. He became more mature and quieter, although like Pippin he still was a bit mischievous. He told me stories of his time away from the shire, how he had fought war, been homesick, been near death, lost friends and loved ones, and even saw a King crowned. He spent more time with me for some reason after the war and told me these things. I could see the tears in his eyes when he spoke of King Theoden and how he had promised the King that they would set down and talk about the history of pipe weed. That is Merry for you; he always loved to learn those odd facts that the general population didn't. That is why he wrote the book on pipe- weed. It was in memory of Theoden and because of his love of learning.
When your father married Diamond, I was so happy to see him smile again. The fact that she got along so well with you was a plus. I can't help but say I was jealous when I saw her holding you. It meant that my time as your temporary mother was over. It made me wish for children of my own. I still do wish that.
A year after Pippin's wedding, Merry and I got married. It was a small ceremony, similar to Pippins. We had Sam oversee it and invited only close friends and family to the celebrations. Granted that was a bit odd for hobbits not to have large gatherings at their weddings but Merry wanted this way, and I have to agree. We had all changed since the war, and our relationships changed. We felt comfortable with those around us and it made the day extra special. Merry and I walked to Corona's grave while everyone else was celebrating to tell her. Corona would have been there beside me if my perfect dream had come true. She was my best friend and I missed her there. She would have loved to be there too, I know it. She would have stood next to me, making faces at you while you sat in Uncle Frodo's lap. Pippin would be smiling at you two and Merry would be trying to pay attention while not trying to see what Pippin was smiling at. It would have been wonderful.
There are times when I am still jealous of your mother, but I realize something. I have more then she did. She never got to see you grow up, or see you walk for the first time. She never got to grow old with the man she loved or have conversations with me over our children and later grandchildren. She missed it all. I wish she were here so much sometimes. I know she would have loved it.
I am not sure if this helps you any in knowing your mother or understanding the times around her and your father's lives but I hope it does. Your mother was an amazing hobbit and an amazing friend. I see her in you every time you come to see me in your eyes and in your actions. Your mother would have been proud of you.
Estella Bolger-Brandybuck