On a very unremarkable afternoon in the Shire an elderly hobbit was sitting in a tattered armchair smoking his very long pipe by a roaring fire, the room was filled with the sweet fragrance of Old Toby. Smoke rings were floating lazily in the air. Porto 'Applepip' Goodfellow enjoyed his host's excellent tea and cakes, and with his eyes half closed he welcomed the newest gossip.
"Rubilia had just given birth ter twins the day before yesterday," Miss Perabell Goldworthy told the small gathering over her fourth helping of strawberry and cream scones covered in a generous dusting of sugar. " Two healthy wee lads."
"Did she really?" commented Miss Poppy Burrows sipping her cup of hot tea. " Rubilia and Lungo are certainly keeping busy," she continued with a cheeky smile. "Their first child Rosie just turned one."
Miss Yule shrugged… then rolled her eyes at Poppy's words, knowing that even when gossiping she was not supposed to do that. It was… well, rude. "Babes come at a time of their own choosing," she said; being a trained midwife and knowledgeable in herb lore and the art of healing, she knew a great deal about such things.
There was silence for a couple of minutes, as teacups were refilled and a new cake appeared from the kitchen.
"Still no word from Cousin Amorey then?" asked young Sweetpea Brandybuck. "’Tis more than one year that she has been gone."
"… She was always an odd one, like her father," added Miss Poppy, "...with her head in the clouds, keeping strange friends with them elves and dwarves. Small wonder that in the end Miss Amorey was overcome by a sudden fit of Tookishness, leaving her home behind in a disarray and not even speaking proper good-byes."
Yule was beginning to regret inviting her neighbours for tea. Gossip did come natural to hobbits but not to her, however it was good practice to get along with as many people as possible in the Four Farthings, especially when you are the local midwife.
"I’d like to remind you, Missus Poppy, that my father was a Took, also," said Yule quietly. And I rather like my Tookish cousins, myself. Whatever they might be, at the very least they are not stuffy and boring."
Poppy Burrows's face was now of the same colour of a ripe apple, she did not like to be rebuked, but kept quiet. She still thought Tooks were all queer and too adventurous, but she was a guest, and she was enjoying the free food too much to offend her hostess.
"If she tarries abroad for much longer she will forget all about The Shire, though,” said Sweetpea, helping herself to another slice of the delicious strawberry tart. " Once Miss Amorey has been missing for a year and a day, without any word of her and her whereabouts, her heir can request that she be declared dead and take over all her belongings."
"Amorey has no heir, as far as I know," declared Yule while putting a fresh kettle on the fire.
Porto 'Applepip' opened his eyes slowly and spoke for the first time "The request was put in two weeks ago by her neighbours. All her possessions will be auctioned and her house and ponies sold the week after next."
All presents gasped aside from Yule. She had always known this would eventually happen and was not surprised.
A… sale, how could they?” asked Miss Sweetpea Brandybuck in total shock. The thought that the old china and silver eating utensils and finest linens and furniture and everything else Amorey had stored in that beautiful smial of hers would be offered to any grubby hand with a few coins in it upset her greatly.
"They have no choice,'tis the law Missus Brandybuk. The day after tomorrow, Amorey Sweetrose Took will be 'presumed dead', according to Shire law, and that means all her possessions will be sold to the higher bidder."
A new pot of tea and a tray of fruit-cakes arrived on the table. The latest news about 'the sale' was quite surprising. Miss Sweetpea Brandybuck filled her cup with some fresh tea and added some honey to it before picking up a fruit-cake. " What do you make of all this Miss Yule,?" she asked with her mouth full, "...after all Miss Amorey was....is your cousin."
Yule thought about that for a moment or two. "Yer can sell plates, rugs, and spoons...but yer cannot sell memories and feelings, those yer keep forever in the hobbit heart." she said quietly with a smile. Old master Porto Goodfellow nodded sagely and leaned back in the armchair blowing a perfectly round smoke ring that floated gently in the light on a very unremarkable afternoon in the Shire.
To Be Continued....(one day)
