Lengthy research by Lily and Mungo revealed that the engraving on the cup was an old elven salutation of ‘Be healthy!’ or perhaps ‘Wassail!’, but they felt they might still be missing nuances. All new hobbits from the eight families were blessed from this cup at their naming ceremonies, and Halfred was its main custodian. Over time, as he became a much respected physician, he noticed that the cup had a noticeable effect on healing those hobbits with stomach complaints and ingested poisons. He concluded that the engraving was a spell fragment.
The diamond swan ring was considerably harder to narrow down since there were so very many legends concerning swans, swan changelings, swan ships, Dol Amroth, swan lakes and swansongs. Estella became its main custodian. They never could discover any effect on avian wildlife, nor on water courses, nor find in it any secret lettering or compartments under the gems. Its value probably lay in its history and significance to the right person, but who that might be she could not guess.
The ‘cheese knife’ remained with Isenbold as custodian. It was used in many, many boundary patrols and its keen blade could cleave through all sorts of materials with ease. It was of Numenorian style, but the leather scabbard suggested much more recent workmanship. It was most likely a relic of the lost realm of Arnor and probably had a more dignified name of some sort.
The walking stick handle of carved ivory remained a mystery, eventually falling into the category of mathom. The hobbits kept it concealed and safe within the North Farthing, finally finding a place for it within Edgar and Bella’s extensive ‘historical and musical mathoms and other curiosities’ collection in High Hay Hall’s new extension.
Marroc and Estella Noakes settled at Dumblebee smial, raising three lively sons on the land: Isenbold, Reginald and Mungo. They greatly expanded their beehives over the years and developed a good number of hive colonies amid new flower meadows. These were credited with a noticeable improvement in the fertility of North Farthing and Greenfield’s orchards in particular. They also began a meadery at the smial which proved most popular; the mead business prospered and, with the enthusiastic help of their sons, expanded until it supplied taverns and inns all over the Shire.
Gorboduc and Primula worked hard over many years to defend Goggleguard and the Cawland smials from predations of their shadow-wight, but local vigilance and determined improvement to local bounder patrols eventually reduced this threat to a scary boggart haunting the high moors. They raised eight dutiful hobbits in their cosy and hospitable smial: Iris, Peredur, Rorimac, Poppy & Betony, Hamson, Saradas and Fastred. All these youngsters learned early a duty to protect their neighbours and enmity to fell creatures.
Halfred in time became became the foremost healer and chirurgeon in North Farthing, very learned and highly esteemed (despite a sometimes-sarcastic bedside manner). His extreme willingness to help any hobbit in need was effectively moderated by Marigold’s ruthless triaging of requests. They remained close by The Old Harp Tavern, where various Clayhanger aunts and grandparents could keep an extra eye on their children in a sudden emergency. Their six hobbitlings were Marigold, Halfred, Tobold, Lily, Hatilde and Otto.
Edgar and Bella settled at High Hay Hall, extending the smial at need to accommodate their many and varied interests, as they rarely received a mathom which they didn’t like. Their hospitality and curiosity greatly enhanced the lively reputation of their smial, although they seldom contributed to its agriculture (a lack remedied by the assiduous hard work of their eldest son, to their bafflement and despair). Their children were Odo, Rowan, Foxglove, Lily, Byrony and Wilmund. Edgar continued to make music and to collect old songs but oft returned to that haunting Northern tune, although he never performed it again.
Isenbold and Poppy raised four children at Mugglewort Place in the wild western moors: Reginard, Eglantine, Andiwise and Isengar. As well as expanding their herds and range of goats’ cheeses, Isenbold also devoted time to improving bounder patrols and travelled all over the farthing to conduct training. He kept confidential journals of the things he encountered. Poppy became a famous artisan, not only in paintings but also jewellery, embroidery and carven horn-work. Her romantic depictions of the high moors created a trend for hiking holidays amongst more leisured hobbits.
Mungo and Lily stayed in Kings Worthy to open their bookshop and its attached book-binding workshop. They also built a lending library and reading room for those tween hobbits who wanted to learn a bit more than just their letters and number reckoning. In this way they worked assiduously to turn their large fortune into a much smaller fortune. They had five daughters: Belladonna, Foxglove, Buttercup, Ivy and Lily. Mungo eventually became town clerk and chief archivist for the wider area, and was a popular choice for weddings.
Tobold and Anjelica disappeared from all knowledge for over a decade. One autumn morning they came marching up the road from Long Cleeve; Angelica in fine Dwarven-style armour with a hobbitling daughter on her shoulders. They re-opened a forge in Darrowby but spent most seasons travelling around the Shire, fixing and mending and teaching as needed. They were always regarded as ‘a bit queer’ by respectable folk.