*hugs Dreamflower* I'm ever so glad you love it, and that the tribute was done with innuendo. I didn't think it'd be very characteristic of hobbits (Lalia and perhaps Lobelia - thank heavens SHE wasn't there! - aside) to say outright that it was all Lalia's doing. (Well, not that Lalia would say it to herself, either, but I mean, no one else would be sharp-tongued like that. Not Proper, you know.) Instead, I picked up Dear Miss Dora's advice and had them shun her for the length of the ceremony. Even as Thain's Lady, no one spoke a word to her, and she didn't speak to anyone. They barely acknowledged her presence at all, but only Fortinbras'. I have no doubt that she was left to think of her guilt - but that also, perhaps, fuelled her anger, and perhaps she transferred her dislike of Pearl Took the elder to Pearl Took the younger, whose presence made her so wholly ignorable.

I'm sure as they entered the room (I didn't show that), the Whitwell Tooks gave Lalia cold nods and *looks*, and then ignored her afterward altogether. Likely that did nothing to endear Lalia to the new baby whatsoever...

Off topic - if Paladin became Paladin II, who was Paladin I? *scratches head* Does anyone know? I can't find anything about him anywhere...