Bombadil's brooch

[Lalaith]

Here's something I found on a discussion site, I'm pasting the quote rather than giving a link as the site is down and I had to go into the cache...

The passge implies a personal knowledge and a sense of regret and loss. I almost get the feeling he knew the very woman who wore that brooch and was not merely speaking figuratively. I think Tom watched out for the remnant of the Dunedain of Cardolan and protected them in his little realm for over 200 years until disease finished them off.