Middle-earth Journeys

Posted: **Sat Dec 17, 2005 5:45 pm**

Yes the extention is great! Now I can whip up something to add after the weekend. I have given it some thought as to opening a creative thread for those that may like to treat us with thier talents after the new year. We'll see how this goes first.

Posted: **Sun Dec 18, 2005 1:48 am**

Narwain Estel

My name is Rhîw an apt name
for days like this; endless
but not without daily cheer.
Although the air snaps so does
a warm hearth inside a bar.
In Taure-Ndaedelos

there by Enchanted River
I wait for ethuil
and the maiden bell flowers.
I wait to kiss the last brown
stalk before the anor wakes
Yavanna’s gifts to Arda.

The Elvish words I’ve used are Sindarin. Here is a glossary:

Narwain = January
Estel = Hope
Rhîw = winter
bar = home
Taure-Ndaedelos = Name given to Mirkwood Forest after the War of the Ring
ethuil = spring
anor = sun

Posted: **Sun Dec 18, 2005 11:41 am**

Christmas with the Balrog

In Moria I’d like to be
When winter snows start falling
But not with Trolls or Goblin hoards,
That would be quite appalling.

No! I’d be deep, deep down below,
Snug and warm and toasting,
Sitting with my Balrog friend
With chestnuts ever roasting

On an open fire. That would be grand.
The heat would be really handy,
We’d stuff ourselves with hot mince pies
And pud with flaming brandy.

We’d chat about the Good Old Days
When Morgoth would pop in for tea,
While I bask in Balrog’s cosy home
And warm my toes upon his knee.

It’s Christmas like I always dreamed
With roaring fires glowing,
Away from bitter frosts and snows
And freezing North Wind’s blowing.

So it’s good to know a Balrog
Who’s heart is warm and glowing
And who’s hearth is always 2000 degrees
Even when it’s snowing.

With apologies to Tolkien...

Posted: **Sun Dec 18, 2005 1:41 pm**

Posted: **Sun Dec 18, 2005 4:53 pm**

Well done, but I dare say A Balrog would do a bit more than to warm your toes.

Posted: **Sun Dec 18, 2005 8:35 pm**

Lovely poem, Philipa, and a multilingual one as well!

Iolanthe, wonderful!

Posted: **Sun Dec 18, 2005 11:19 pm**

Lindariel's Entry

It is my pleasure to assist Lindariel in posting her contest entry.

In winter solstice silence,
The armed wanderer bent,
Head bowed to knee, overwhelmed.

“So it begins,” thought he,
“The road to my destiny . . . my hope . . .
But the way is dark,
The enemy is strong,
And I . . . am weak.”

With a sigh,
He raised his doubtful eyes
And beheld the infinite peace and purity
Of the blessed Lady’s immaculate stars.
In their light, his heart swelled,
Remembering his beloved’s words of faith . . .
In him
In them.

“A si i-Dhúath ú-orthor, Aragorn,
Ú or le a ú or nin.”

And it seemed to him then
That Varda’s blessed stars
Flashed in the velvet sky,
And likewise, on his breast
The Evenstar glimmered
To honor his Lady’s belief.

“Be iest lîn, Arwen, meleth nin,”
He breathed.
“Forward I go,
In hope,
In faith . . .
And in the light of
Evenstar and Everwhite,
May our road be blessed!”

Posted: **Mon Dec 19, 2005 12:01 am**

Thank you merry. It's tough keeping syllable count with a word like Taure-Ndaedelos.

Very nice Lindariel

Posted: **Mon Dec 19, 2005 12:52 am**

An Entry From A Nine Year Old Fan

The nine year old daughter of one of our members has sent an entry to our contest even though she realizes that since she is not a member here at MeJ, she is not eligible for the prize. So...without futher ado...here is the entry from our honorary young member...and let me be the first to say...it is remarkable.

They left Rivendell on Christmas Day,
And how many wonders they had made,
For when in danger who would come to aid?

They passed over Caradhras’ peak,
For then they heard a dark voice speak.
It was Saruman, as Gandalf had feared,
While Gimli was thinking and scratching his beard.

“Now shall we go?” asked Gimli, excited.
But Gandalf was not very delighted.
He knew Shadow was there,
And it was something none could bear.

Moria. The name made Gandalf shiver.
For who knew what this Shadow could deliver?
“They have brought a cave troll!” interrupted him.
The troll that came was very grim.

After bands of orcs,
A dark light roared.
Legolas trembled, “What is this?
Watcher of the abyss?”
“No,” replied Gandalf, “A Balrog of Morgoth.”
Legolas almost fainted.
With tales of the Balrog he was acquainted.

At the Bridge of Khazad-dum, Gandalf fell.
They had to tell Galadriel.

Image: BALROG by Lindariel's Daughter

Posted: **Mon Dec 19, 2005 4:45 am**

Congratulations to the Lindariel family for two fine entries!

Posted: **Mon Dec 19, 2005 4:46 pm**

Wonderful work and of such good caliber. I would not wish to be one of the judges, for their work will be very hard indeed.

Posted: **Mon Dec 19, 2005 4:51 pm**

bruce rerek wrote:Wonderful work and of such good caliber. I would not wish to be one of the judges, for their work will be very hard indeed.

But Bruce...you WILL be one of the judges.

Posted: **Tue Dec 20, 2005 12:49 pm**

Riv Res wrote:
But Bruce...you WILL be one of the judges.

Oh gosh, I'd forgotten that too!

How am I ever going to decide?

Posted: **Sun Dec 25, 2005 3:27 pm**

Congratulations to Iolanthe for the Winning Entry in Our MeJ Yule Contest

Our heartiest MeJ congratulations go to Iolanthe whose entry has won our Yule contest.
Her 2006 Tolkien Calendar is on the way.

Christmas with the Balrog

In Moria I’d like to be
When winter snows start falling
But not with Trolls or Goblin hoards,
That would be quite appalling.

No! I’d be deep, deep down below,
Snug and warm and toasting,
Sitting with my Balrog friend
With chestnuts ever roasting

On an open fire. That would be grand.
The heat would be really handy,
We’d stuff ourselves with hot mince pies
And pud with flaming brandy.

We’d chat about the Good Old Days
When Morgoth would pop in for tea,
While I bask in Balrog’s cosy home
And warm my toes upon his knee.

It’s Christmas like I always dreamed
With roaring fires glowing,
Away from bitter frosts and snows
And freezing North Wind’s blowing.

So it’s good to know a Balrog
Who’s heart is warm and glowing
And who’s hearth is always 2000 degrees
Even when it’s snowing.

© The Brothers Hildebrandt

Posted: **Sun Dec 25, 2005 5:10 pm**

A worthy winner.

And very funny too.

A balrog deserves some love and friendship too.

Haven't had time to read this thread until now in the late afternoon of Christmas Day. (We celebrated yesterday, so I'm not THAT pathetic

, sitting at a computer on Christmas Day.) Am very glad to see so many Alan Lee illustrations.

Sadly too late to vote, but I love all of the entries, so it would have been difficult anyway.

GOD JUL! (Merry Xmas)
(In entire Scandinavia + Iceland and Finland we still use our forms of the ancient word yule, describing the time of year when the sun returns, don't have another "more Christian" word for the holiday, actually.

Which means that I do appreciate a yule contest.

)

Middle-earth Journeys

Tolkien's Yule Season Contest