A Pearl Beyond Price 2: unexpected visitors
The Great Smials 1402
Dealing with Lalia proved equal to Pearl's fears. There was nothing she could do to please the old matriarch. Lalia's imposing presence would have been enough to cow most tweenage hobbits. Her tongue seemed to be made of poison, sharp daggers, and icicles. Pearl was now the closed available target for Lalia's wrath. Lalia did not content herself with criticizing how Pearl performed the tasks Lalia requested of her but also found fault with the girl's looks, manners, and general intelligence.
It really was too much. Most other hobbits near Pearl's own age of twenty- seven would have been constantly on the verge of tears. Some would have given in to a foolish bout of temper at the old harpy and brought her displeasure down on their family. Pearl missed her father and siblings terribly. It had been nearly a week since she had received a kind word or touch from anyone. Oh, she got pitying looks aplenty but, even if some of the hobbits here wanted to have a conversation with her, Lalia kept her too busy to talk to anyone for long. The others were probably just glad that they were not Lalia's new prey.
Pearl had to attend the crone from the time she woke up until well after dark. Lalia needed help moving about and she still took an extremely active part in the running of Tookborough. She was very much in control. In fact, she loved to surprise anyone who was shirking their work, conducting a clandestine affair, or otherwise misbehaving. Pearl cringed when this happened. She knew she was culpable because she was assisting Lalia in sneaking about the Great Smials. Unfortunately, despite being rendered practically immobile by her great size and age, Lalia's mind was sharp and her body resilient. She might beat Gerontius Took's record for longevity. Pearl shuddered at this thought.
Her real regret was that she had not had much time to browse in the great Took library. The Tooks always collected many books, maps, and other printed works. Her great-great-grandfather, Gerontius, had been especially fond of collecting. Perhaps she could sneak into the library late at night after Lalia was asleep...
A piercing screech intruded upon Pearl's thoughts. Lalia thundered, "Girl! What are you doing sitting there daydreaming! I have asked you three times to get me a cup of tea! I have never heard of such laziness and incompetence!"
Pearl wanted to tell Lalia that it was ridiculous that a Took should be waiting on a Clayhanger and not even have a chance to see her own family's library. She also wanted to tell her exactly what she could do with her tea. She remembered how her father wanted her to behave well toward the tyrant. It would reflect well upon the family if she could endure Lalia with grace. She curtsied to the old woman and, in a quiet voice, said, "I am sorry, Madam. I will go get the tea."
Lalia sniffed and said, "Do not forget who I am girl! I will not tolerate disobedience. Be glad I keep order here and not that weak-kneed son of mine. He was not even capable of finding a lass to get him an heir! As for that father of yours, he was far too attached to that Banks baggage he married." Lalia took a moment to sneer before continuing, "He went to pieces after she died. No, he is not Thain material. My son, Ferumbras, may carry that title but I am Thain in all but name. Stop gawking and get that tea, you lazy chit!" Pearl turned away from Lalia and headed towards the kitchen. The girl's back was straight and her pace was measured but swift. She was trembling but not from fear or hurt. She was furious. How could Ferumbras allow his mother to terrorize everyone like this? She knew the answer to her own question, though. He was truly a weak and cowed man. He was already old and seemed to possess little of the Took spirit.
When she came back with the tea, Lalia was speaking with Ferumbras. He did not say anything as he left the room but he nodded at Pearl and his eyes seemed to give her an apology.
"Well, girl," said Lalia, "that took you long enough. You will have even more duties tomorrow. We are going to have a special guest. Frodo Baggins is coming to visit from Hobbiton. He wanted to look at the library before going to Buckland. Impertinent puppy! Well, he is Old Bilbo's heir so we must treat him as a hobbit of standing. The dress I wish to wear tomorrow needs mending and Violet is too busy to be bothered. You will do that. Try not to botch the job."
Pearl said nothing and curtsied to Lalia in order to acknowledge her obedience. Frodo was coming! Her cousin was only seven years older than her and they shared similar scholarly interests. He had always been kind to them and Pippin adored him. She had not seen him since the famous party the previous autumn.
Lalia gave the silent girl a sly, malicious look and said, "Don't look so pleased, girl. You think that the Baggins heir will help you? Hah! You are just distant enough cousins for a match but all he cares for is books! I even heard that he has been seen in the company of a mere child fifteen years younger than him. If he does marry, which I doubt, it will probably be her. She is from a low family but, from what I hear, she will be much prettier than you when she comes of age. He surely does not have to worry about marrying for money!"
Pearl's eyes widened and her mouth opened and closed like that of a beached fish. How did the old witch know about Rosemary Whitfurrows? Pearl had seen Frodo taking the lass aside to talk to her at the Great Party. When an opportune moment presented itself, she indulged her Took curiosity and asked her cousin what was going on.
She remembered the pain in Frodo's eyes when he said, "Despite what I told her, I do love her. She is too young, Pearl. By the time she comes of age, she will have found a lad her own age."
How had Lalia found out? The only reason Pearl found out was that she was extremely observant. Lalia had not even been at the party! Maybe she really was a witch. Pearl was not bothered. She thought of Frodo as an older brother and she knew he treated her as a sister. However, if Lalia turned her poison tongue on her gentle cousin to taunt him about this or ruin his reputation, Pearl really would have to hit her.
That night, Pearl was up late mending Lalia's dress. The seams were split and Pearl fear that, if Lalia put the dress on, they would spilt again and the old woman would blame her for that. Pearl was almost done when she heard a pebble gently hit her window.
She put the dress down and went to look out the window. She saw two little hobbit-lads on a white pony. One had dark hair, the other was blond. Merry and Pippin! The little rascals came all this way alone and in the dark!
"Pearl," Pippin whispered, "We have come to rescue you."
"Stay right there," she said, "I will come down and let you in. 'Aunt' Esme must be frantic!"
Pearl felt overwhelmed. She had to deal with Lalia, protect Frodo from the harridan's tongue, and now she had to deal with these two imps! She sighed. They really did mean well and were dear boys but the trouble they caused!
Dealing with Lalia proved equal to Pearl's fears. There was nothing she could do to please the old matriarch. Lalia's imposing presence would have been enough to cow most tweenage hobbits. Her tongue seemed to be made of poison, sharp daggers, and icicles. Pearl was now the closed available target for Lalia's wrath. Lalia did not content herself with criticizing how Pearl performed the tasks Lalia requested of her but also found fault with the girl's looks, manners, and general intelligence.
It really was too much. Most other hobbits near Pearl's own age of twenty- seven would have been constantly on the verge of tears. Some would have given in to a foolish bout of temper at the old harpy and brought her displeasure down on their family. Pearl missed her father and siblings terribly. It had been nearly a week since she had received a kind word or touch from anyone. Oh, she got pitying looks aplenty but, even if some of the hobbits here wanted to have a conversation with her, Lalia kept her too busy to talk to anyone for long. The others were probably just glad that they were not Lalia's new prey.
Pearl had to attend the crone from the time she woke up until well after dark. Lalia needed help moving about and she still took an extremely active part in the running of Tookborough. She was very much in control. In fact, she loved to surprise anyone who was shirking their work, conducting a clandestine affair, or otherwise misbehaving. Pearl cringed when this happened. She knew she was culpable because she was assisting Lalia in sneaking about the Great Smials. Unfortunately, despite being rendered practically immobile by her great size and age, Lalia's mind was sharp and her body resilient. She might beat Gerontius Took's record for longevity. Pearl shuddered at this thought.
Her real regret was that she had not had much time to browse in the great Took library. The Tooks always collected many books, maps, and other printed works. Her great-great-grandfather, Gerontius, had been especially fond of collecting. Perhaps she could sneak into the library late at night after Lalia was asleep...
A piercing screech intruded upon Pearl's thoughts. Lalia thundered, "Girl! What are you doing sitting there daydreaming! I have asked you three times to get me a cup of tea! I have never heard of such laziness and incompetence!"
Pearl wanted to tell Lalia that it was ridiculous that a Took should be waiting on a Clayhanger and not even have a chance to see her own family's library. She also wanted to tell her exactly what she could do with her tea. She remembered how her father wanted her to behave well toward the tyrant. It would reflect well upon the family if she could endure Lalia with grace. She curtsied to the old woman and, in a quiet voice, said, "I am sorry, Madam. I will go get the tea."
Lalia sniffed and said, "Do not forget who I am girl! I will not tolerate disobedience. Be glad I keep order here and not that weak-kneed son of mine. He was not even capable of finding a lass to get him an heir! As for that father of yours, he was far too attached to that Banks baggage he married." Lalia took a moment to sneer before continuing, "He went to pieces after she died. No, he is not Thain material. My son, Ferumbras, may carry that title but I am Thain in all but name. Stop gawking and get that tea, you lazy chit!" Pearl turned away from Lalia and headed towards the kitchen. The girl's back was straight and her pace was measured but swift. She was trembling but not from fear or hurt. She was furious. How could Ferumbras allow his mother to terrorize everyone like this? She knew the answer to her own question, though. He was truly a weak and cowed man. He was already old and seemed to possess little of the Took spirit.
When she came back with the tea, Lalia was speaking with Ferumbras. He did not say anything as he left the room but he nodded at Pearl and his eyes seemed to give her an apology.
"Well, girl," said Lalia, "that took you long enough. You will have even more duties tomorrow. We are going to have a special guest. Frodo Baggins is coming to visit from Hobbiton. He wanted to look at the library before going to Buckland. Impertinent puppy! Well, he is Old Bilbo's heir so we must treat him as a hobbit of standing. The dress I wish to wear tomorrow needs mending and Violet is too busy to be bothered. You will do that. Try not to botch the job."
Pearl said nothing and curtsied to Lalia in order to acknowledge her obedience. Frodo was coming! Her cousin was only seven years older than her and they shared similar scholarly interests. He had always been kind to them and Pippin adored him. She had not seen him since the famous party the previous autumn.
Lalia gave the silent girl a sly, malicious look and said, "Don't look so pleased, girl. You think that the Baggins heir will help you? Hah! You are just distant enough cousins for a match but all he cares for is books! I even heard that he has been seen in the company of a mere child fifteen years younger than him. If he does marry, which I doubt, it will probably be her. She is from a low family but, from what I hear, she will be much prettier than you when she comes of age. He surely does not have to worry about marrying for money!"
Pearl's eyes widened and her mouth opened and closed like that of a beached fish. How did the old witch know about Rosemary Whitfurrows? Pearl had seen Frodo taking the lass aside to talk to her at the Great Party. When an opportune moment presented itself, she indulged her Took curiosity and asked her cousin what was going on.
She remembered the pain in Frodo's eyes when he said, "Despite what I told her, I do love her. She is too young, Pearl. By the time she comes of age, she will have found a lad her own age."
How had Lalia found out? The only reason Pearl found out was that she was extremely observant. Lalia had not even been at the party! Maybe she really was a witch. Pearl was not bothered. She thought of Frodo as an older brother and she knew he treated her as a sister. However, if Lalia turned her poison tongue on her gentle cousin to taunt him about this or ruin his reputation, Pearl really would have to hit her.
That night, Pearl was up late mending Lalia's dress. The seams were split and Pearl fear that, if Lalia put the dress on, they would spilt again and the old woman would blame her for that. Pearl was almost done when she heard a pebble gently hit her window.
She put the dress down and went to look out the window. She saw two little hobbit-lads on a white pony. One had dark hair, the other was blond. Merry and Pippin! The little rascals came all this way alone and in the dark!
"Pearl," Pippin whispered, "We have come to rescue you."
"Stay right there," she said, "I will come down and let you in. 'Aunt' Esme must be frantic!"
Pearl felt overwhelmed. She had to deal with Lalia, protect Frodo from the harridan's tongue, and now she had to deal with these two imps! She sighed. They really did mean well and were dear boys but the trouble they caused!