Pearl Took, by Kaylee Arafinwiel

[kayleelupin.livejournal.com]

B2MeM Challenge: Family Traditions

Format: Double drabble

Genre: Family

Rating: PG

Warnings: Vague mention of prior death.

Characters: Paladin II, Eglantine Took, Pearl Took, Fortinbras II, Adalgrim Took, OCs

Pairings: Paladin/Eglantine

Creators' Notes (optional): For Dreamflower, inspired very much by her hobbits!

Summary: The Naming Day of Paladin Took's first child does not go quite as expected. (This will make far more sense if you have read Dreamflower's "The Dwarf Dagger", "Eleventy-One Years", and, from "Dreamflower's Mathoms III" "An Evening at Whitwell" and/or know her (and my) headcanon for Paladin's family. But it can, I hope, be enjoyed even if you don't know those fics. Highly recommend them, though! :) )




“We’ll name her Pearl, Father.” Paladin cradled his month-old daughter, and Adalgrim stilled, exchanging uncertain glances with Cousin Fortinbras.

Fortinbras II looked sharply at Paladin; at not even forty-two, Adalgrim’s son was quite young still to Fortinbras’ eyes. “Are you sure about that, lad?” he asked.

“It is, after all, Took tradition to repeat names.” Periwinkle lay a hand on Adalgrim’s arm, understanding what her husband’s misgivings were, and Fortinbras II, for his part, refused to look at his wife. Instead, he looked at the month-old babe.

“Pearl, is she,” the Thain said. He’d brought out Old Yellowskin. “Is there anyone who disagrees?”

Paladin’s older sisters, standing back with Eglantine, had exchanged concerned looks, but they said nothing. Eglantine, too, was silent. “Adalgrim? Periwinkle?”

They shook their heads.

Fortinbras nodded. “You are, of course, correct, Periwinkle,” he said to his cousin’s wife. “Pearl Took, then – it is, after all, family tradition.”

Pearl Took, Daughter of Paladin and Eglantine – 1 Astron, 1375 S.R., he wrote in red ink under her parents’ names. As he lifted his eyes, he saw the other Pearl Took’s inscription, and turned his head away sharply.

He hoped that would not become family tradition.

Comments

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

Oh, I do understand! And this Pearl, too, will know her own share of grief, although she will also know her own share of joy.

[kayleelupin.livejournal.com]

O yes! Thank you, Larner! :) I really appreciate this review.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Very nicely written. I enjoyed this glimpse of Hobbit naming traditions.

[kayleelupin.livejournal.com]

Thank you Linda! It is canon, at least, that *male* Hobbit names were repeated in the Took family in particular (Paladin himself, of course, when he acquires the Thainship, is a II - which makes me wonder, who was Paladin I?) but I wouldn't be surprised if female Hobbit names were repeated now and again in the Took family (and others).

[dreamflower]

This is really nicely done, Kaylee, and I love the tribute to "The Dwarf Dagger". I especially like that it is all done with innuendo, no one openly speaking a rebuke to Lalia, who must be left alone to think her own thoughts of guilt.

Wonderful job, dear!

[kayleelupin.livejournal.com]

*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...

[febobe.livejournal.com]

Hee! :) Nice.

[kayleelupin.livejournal.com]

Thank you!