Pearl Beyond Price 7: discovery!
The Great Smials 1402
Esmeralda rushed into the room and her face was like a fierce summer storm, full of anger that was mitigated by a cool feeling of relief. For a minute, Pearl was frightened of her. She knew that there was nothing as ferocious as a mother afraid for her child. Pippin, with whom her relationship was more maternal than sisterly, inspired protective instincts in her.
The boys were cowering on the other side of her bed, looking scared and guilty. Esme grabbed Merry by the ear and hauled him toward her. Pearl had to stifle a laugh when, instead of reprimanding her offspring, Esme hugged him and showered him with kisses. She did make one threat, though.
Esmeralda's voice was firm when she said, "Meriadoc Brandybuck! You are never to do anything like that again! Your father will have extra chores for you when we get back to the Hall."
Pearl also hoped to leave The Great Smials as soon as was possible. She wanted to be back at Whitwell, with her sisters and all her familiar things. She had to admit Pippin was her favorite but Pimpernel was a sweet girl and Pervinca, well, Pervina had some growing up to do.
A sharp crack of thunder interrupted Pearl's thoughts and the sky was illuminated by lightening. Rain proceeded to pour from the sky as if every tear Nienna ever spilt was falling on the Shire. Pearl realized that she, Esmeralda, Frodo, and the lads would have to delay their travel plans. Ferumbras himself returned to her room to implore them to stay the night.
He did not say anything more about his mother but that did not surprise Pearl. Lalia was freshly dead, Ferumbras was caught up in funeral arrangements, and there were other hobbits in the room.
Pippin insisted on sharing Pearl's room. Pearl was glad for the company. She was terrified of storms, something she was loathe to admit because it did not become a lass of twenty-seven who had been caring for three younger sibling since she was eighteen. A cot was set up next to her bed for Pippin to sleep in. They talked for hours while the storm blew rain against the windowpanes.
When she thought Pippin was finally asleep, Pearl slipped out of her bed and went to secret the necklace. She had slipped it into her pocket just before Merry and Pippin entered the room. She sensed that it would not do to be seen with it so soon. She was about to put it in her traveling bag when she heard a gasp.
"Oooooh," breathed Pippin, "Where did you get that. Let me see it, please. That is finer than any of 'Aunt' Esme's jewels or anything you got from mother."
Pearl sighed. Her little brother really was too curious for his own good. She knew there was nothing for it now. He had seen the necklace and Pippin always had to look. "Alright, Pip," she said in a resigned voice, "I will let you see it more closely but you must not tell anyone. Thain Ferumbras gave me that and I do not think I should wear it quite yet."
She gave Pippin the necklace. She saw that the boy was examining the largest pearl in the necklace rather closely and asked, "What is it Pip. What do you see?"
"Hmmm..." he said with a frown, "There is something odd about the clasp." He proceeded to pick at it with his fingernail.
"Stop that Pippin," said an exasperated Pearl, "you are going to damage the necklace!"
Her breath stopped when Pippin slid a small, delicate object that was quite obviously a key out of the complicated little clasp of the necklace. Pearl had a bad feeling that her adventures were far from over.
Esmeralda rushed into the room and her face was like a fierce summer storm, full of anger that was mitigated by a cool feeling of relief. For a minute, Pearl was frightened of her. She knew that there was nothing as ferocious as a mother afraid for her child. Pippin, with whom her relationship was more maternal than sisterly, inspired protective instincts in her.
The boys were cowering on the other side of her bed, looking scared and guilty. Esme grabbed Merry by the ear and hauled him toward her. Pearl had to stifle a laugh when, instead of reprimanding her offspring, Esme hugged him and showered him with kisses. She did make one threat, though.
Esmeralda's voice was firm when she said, "Meriadoc Brandybuck! You are never to do anything like that again! Your father will have extra chores for you when we get back to the Hall."
Pearl also hoped to leave The Great Smials as soon as was possible. She wanted to be back at Whitwell, with her sisters and all her familiar things. She had to admit Pippin was her favorite but Pimpernel was a sweet girl and Pervinca, well, Pervina had some growing up to do.
A sharp crack of thunder interrupted Pearl's thoughts and the sky was illuminated by lightening. Rain proceeded to pour from the sky as if every tear Nienna ever spilt was falling on the Shire. Pearl realized that she, Esmeralda, Frodo, and the lads would have to delay their travel plans. Ferumbras himself returned to her room to implore them to stay the night.
He did not say anything more about his mother but that did not surprise Pearl. Lalia was freshly dead, Ferumbras was caught up in funeral arrangements, and there were other hobbits in the room.
Pippin insisted on sharing Pearl's room. Pearl was glad for the company. She was terrified of storms, something she was loathe to admit because it did not become a lass of twenty-seven who had been caring for three younger sibling since she was eighteen. A cot was set up next to her bed for Pippin to sleep in. They talked for hours while the storm blew rain against the windowpanes.
When she thought Pippin was finally asleep, Pearl slipped out of her bed and went to secret the necklace. She had slipped it into her pocket just before Merry and Pippin entered the room. She sensed that it would not do to be seen with it so soon. She was about to put it in her traveling bag when she heard a gasp.
"Oooooh," breathed Pippin, "Where did you get that. Let me see it, please. That is finer than any of 'Aunt' Esme's jewels or anything you got from mother."
Pearl sighed. Her little brother really was too curious for his own good. She knew there was nothing for it now. He had seen the necklace and Pippin always had to look. "Alright, Pip," she said in a resigned voice, "I will let you see it more closely but you must not tell anyone. Thain Ferumbras gave me that and I do not think I should wear it quite yet."
She gave Pippin the necklace. She saw that the boy was examining the largest pearl in the necklace rather closely and asked, "What is it Pip. What do you see?"
"Hmmm..." he said with a frown, "There is something odd about the clasp." He proceeded to pick at it with his fingernail.
"Stop that Pippin," said an exasperated Pearl, "you are going to damage the necklace!"
Her breath stopped when Pippin slid a small, delicate object that was quite obviously a key out of the complicated little clasp of the necklace. Pearl had a bad feeling that her adventures were far from over.