Hisime 3rd (Gildor on his way to Lothlorien)
Hisime 3rd (Gildor on his way to Lothlorien)
Gildor felt better to hurry up. He had lost too much time, during the
last day and half, since the rainy day.
He decided to say Hindrun to shut his mouth, and, sternly
ordered, "let's follow on, hurry, Hindrun: it is no holliday!"
Hindrun stopped complaining, and understood the boss, so he went on, in
hurry.
Hisime 2nd | Sunrise -- First commentaries on small birds
"Tell me then, o noble Hindrun, names of great heroes among the oewenien!..."
(As they had journeyed throughout the night, the horse had complained all the time, and Gildor had, few times, managed to stray subjects from complaint. They had gone into a quarrell, just before sunrise, concerning the part of little birds in the wars and great deeds, since days of old, and Gildor mocked Hindrun to be willing to find stars on a heaven well known by all Eldar and even by most Avari, but Gildor listened with astounded attention as Hindrun quoted some old verses of a lore in which an armour was mentioned to have been made for Tulkas by Aule, with the corpses -- that is, an armour of bones -- of oewenien killed by the hundreds of thousands by Morgoth, some occasion before the rise of the edainien ... All the corpses had been collected by Elbereth and Tulkas, after Morgoth had been pushed away back to the north.)
"Golden sun rises, my good Hindrun!", said Gildor.
"Eeeennrh-rh, pfrfrfrfr!?" to what Gildor was awkward in answering... For the plan was to rest only in the end of the day, but ... "well, what do horses care of lost blade and cloak, after all, and anyway, I will need them dearly, and 'ld better keep them even in case Ragnor and Rauros win this udunish bet, and pay them once we meet up at Imladris, or do something else", because Gildor was decided to send the Teleri up there, anyway. With a greeting to Elrond and news of the way, or something...
So... "I believe we will walk a bit more, before stopping to rest, my noble steed!"
There's no need to say that Hindrun fell into complaints again.
Hisime 1st | (Night)
Once delayed because of the previous day rain, Gildor had decided to travel on by night. Only ... Hindrun, the horse, did not know his master's plan, and, as they moved on, during the dark, Hindrun complained with Gildor, that he might have at least shared his plans with the horse, after all, horses are sensible creatures, and have the right to know what is going to happen!... *#%! (horse swearings and curses)...
They went on. Gildor's plan was to make a stop for resting a bit, during the following late afternoon.
Hisime 1st | Recovering field, after the delay
Hisime 1st -- Recovering field, after the delay
Having spent a few time in delay, because of the rain, Gildor decided to go on besides the rainy wheather. Hindrum did not like it much, and complained a lot, but even so, the Noldo went on, and made the horse to go on. And they'd probably have to travel by night, too, so as to win the bet, because no: Gildor would NOT loose his mantle and horse to two young Telerin youth sailers not used to the field walk! ("Hindrun, however, will only know that we're going to trottle day and night when night comes, and he realizes that we have not stopped, because I have had enough complaint for now, and I will have the double of what I already had by then, therefore, let it come when time comes!..."), thought the elf.
Plans, plans... "Bad horse!, Bad horse!"
(Gildor talks with his horse)
"Here it is, Hindrun: we will have to travel by night, to recover the
delay of the rainy day!"
"eeeeenrhrhrhrh-pfrrfrfrfrfr!"
"I knew you'd disagree."
"pfrfrfrfrfrfr..."
"I knew you'd understand..."
1349gildor30rainy_day
(...)
> "Right. Things will be different when we get to Lorien..."
>
> In seven weeks and a half.... Thought Gildor. Eru was merciful to the
> horses: they can't count their own age, and time for them is simply a
> day after another.
>
Long day, travelling under rain. Winds from the north took the rain
away.
Gildor would have to travel by night, he thought to himself, so as to
recover the delay. Obviously the teleri had delayed too, but it was to
be used on his favour! :^)
Only... :^ better not to let Hindrum to know it yet... "If he knows me
well, as he does, he must be thinking, already, and complaining
silently about it..."
1328
> After a brief moment of solemn silence, at last, Gildor asked:
>
> "This is it!, what do you think?"
>
> Hindrun
> "Pfrfrfrfrfrfrfrfr!..."
>
> Gildor
> "You're never happy!... What a company!"
>
> Hindrun
> "Eeeeeenrhrh!"
>
> Gildor looks back, and ahead.
>
> "O, I see... You're right, mate: we're going to have rain, I see...
> Better hurry up! Let's go, and find shelter before it falls."
Gildor got a rainy afternoon and night. He stopped, and hoped that
rain was leaving him, but it didn't. On the 29th morning, he talked
with Hindrun, who reminded him that if they waited long, there would
be no way of them winning the bet.
Therefore, Gildor went on the way with the horse on the 29th. Under
the rain.
"All right", said Gildor, "the song of Faroth and Wen actually is a
bit sad in itself... And the melody too. I'll think about another
one."
Gildor did not tell Hindrun, but he missed his lute really much, back
there, in his room, at Imladris.
"O, Imladris!", he thought, loud voice. "Why do I make these things,
right, mate?"
(Hindrun was quiet)
"Right. Things will be different when we get to Lorien..."
In seven weeks and a half.... Thought Gildor. Eru was merciful to the
horses: they can't count their own age, and time for them is simply a
day after another.
:^
1318gildor29song
> "Remember that?!, an old one, from the days of Beleriand!"
>
> the horse shooks his head:
> "Yeeeenrh-pfrfrfrfrf."
>
> Gildor
> "It's a beautiful one!: it goes on like this...
>
> [continues]
Gildor
"So,
Am----------------------G-----------------------------Am
Last night as I lay dreaming -- of pleasant days gone by
Am----------------------------------------------C----------G
mey mind being bent on ra-ambling -- to Nargoth Rond I did fly
Am-----------------------------------C-------------------G
I stepped on board a vision -- and I followed wi-ith the will
-----Am--------------------G-------------------------Am
when next I came to anchor at -- the cross near amon Thil...
Delighted by the vision -- enchanted by the scene
where in mey early bo-oyhood -- so often I-I had been
I thought I heard a murmur -- and I think I hear it still
it's that little stre-eam of wa-ater -- that flows down amon Thil...
Being on the 23rd of Nar -- the da-ay before the fair
when Nargoth Rond's sons and daughters -- in crowds assembled there
the young the old the brave and the bold -- their duty to fulfill
at the sacred rond of Narog's king -- a mile from amon Thil
I went to see-ee mey neighbours -- to hear what they might say
the brave ones were all dead and gone -- and the youngster's eyes
[turning gray
I met Tilion, the taylor -- he's bold as e-ever still
sure he used to make my britches -- w'n I lived in a-amon Thil
(I paid a flying visit to -- mey fi-irst and only love:
she's as fair as the prettiest li-ily -- and she's gen-ntle a-as a
[dove
She threw her arms around me saying -- 'Faroth I lo-ove you still!...'
By the valar she's Wen, the fa-armer's daughter -- the pri-ide of a-
[-amon Thil!...
I dreamed I he-eld and kissed her -- as i-in the days of yore...
she said 'Faroth you're only jo-oking -- as many's the ti-ime
[before...)
The cock, he crew in the mo-orning -- he crew both lo-oud and srill
I awoke in Li-indon far away -- many miles from a-amon Thil..."
After a brief moment of solemn silence, at last, Gildor asked:
"This is it!, what do you think?"
Hindrun
"Pfrfrfrfrfrfrfrfr!..."
Gildor
"You're never happy!... What a company!"
Hindrun
"Eeeeeenrhrh!"
Gildor looks back, and ahead.
"O, I see... You're right, mate: we're going to have rain, I see...
Better hurry up! Let's go, and find shelter before it falls."
1274gildor29song
Gildor is talking with Hindrun, the horse.
Gildor
"How's that song again, Hindrun?..."
the horse
"Pfrfrfrffrfrfrfr!..."
Gildor
"No, no, no: it was like this!:
"Last night as I was dreaming
of pleasant days gone by,
My mind being bent on rambling
to Nargothrond I did fly...
"Remember that?!, an old one, from the days of Beleriand!"
the horse shooks his head:
"Yeeeenrh-pfrfrfrfrf."
Gildor
"It's a beautiful one!: it goes on like this...
[continues]
1259summary
Gildor is on his way to Adayrn, so as to see who is going to win the
bet, him or his travel mates, the two telerin elves from the havens,
that acompany him to Lothlorien.
(Adayrn's a tree by the river Baranduin)
Gildor's walking on October 28th
1190review
REVIEW
Having met Niphredol, the thoron, Gildor finds out that something's
going on among the birds, and that one of the melib is missing.
He also found out with Niphredol that the nests of Emyn Beraid are now
empty, something that neither Cirdan nor Elrond knew.
Gildor and Hindrun head on toward the old Adayrn, where they have made
a bet, that he and Hindrun were to get there before the teleri that
where with them.
Gildor is also figuring out what to do about the two elves, because
he'd better follow the way to Lorien on his own, once the two elves
were young, and he felt that they might bring trouble: it wasn't time
for travelling with unexperienced companions.
Even if they had to move north from Adayrn, towards Rivendell, Gildor
was to head on to Lothlorien with his horse only.
1183gildor
Gildor:
>
> "Udun!, I forgot to ask him about the Hithaeglir... So hasty these
> birds always!... Let be."
Gildor talks with his horse.
"Once it has been held the goblins of the Misty Mountains, since we
last took the Amon Annor, I wander what about the south keeps of the
mountains, Hindrun.
"But Cirdan's worry about the delay of the company coming from
Lothlorien isn't unfounded. I think that the goblins may have taken
the way through the mountains, and blocked it.
"Maybe also Saruman is in bad situation.
"When we reach the mountains, my friend, we will split up. You will
return to Rivendell, and I'll follow on foot to Lothlorien. I will
cross the mountains silently. When we reach at Adayrn, I will send
Ragnor and Rauros somewhere else.
"However... They might be useful: if they go to Rivendell along the
misty mountains, they won't feel that their trip was in vain, and
they will may take a look at the way, and see how the goblin holds
are doing, and report to Elrond, once they are up there...
"Yes, I think that it might quite be a solution for them!..."
Hindrum seems to agree...
"Pfrfrfrfrfrfrfrfr!"
1182gildor28et_niphredol
[PART II]
> Gildor:
>
> "Well, I did not, and neither does Cirdan..."
>
Nipherdol looks to the sky:
"Then maybe I should go there, tell him so..."
Gildor:
"Wait!, wait!"
Niphredol breaks his movement.
Gildor:
"Tell me news of Rivendell!"
Niphredol:
"Last thing I know is that there has been plenty of people in the
Imladris, arriving from many places."
Gildor:
"Oh?"
Niph:
"Dwarves of the east, elves of Mirkwood, men from the south were also
trying to find the valley, I don't know if they managed to..."
Gildor:
"South?"
Niph:
"Oh, I don't know... One of the brothers said that he recognized the
colours of Gondor. I would not..."
Gildor:
"And Galdor must have reached Rivendell by the same time, if... It
seems that Elrond's meeting may have taken place after all."
Niph:
"I will be leaving, by now: do you need any that I can help, sire
elf?"
Gildor:
"Two more pieces of information, Niph, my friend: did you know of
periannath?"
Niph:
"Only that they don't like to leave their own homes, under hills,
however not deep as the dwarrows..."
Gildor:
"What about... Adayrn?, that's it what I had in mind..."
Niph:
"What about Adayrn?! He has grown roots long ago, and nothing's
changed. Why do you ask?"
Gildor:
"Right. This is it, thanks, my friend!"
Niph:
"Not at all, sire elf. See you around, maybe, some day..."
Gildor:
"See you! Take care! fly high!"
Niphredol took off and flew away, toward Emyn Beraid.
Gildor:
"Udun!, I forgot to ask him about the Hithaeglir... So hasty these
birds always!... Let be."
1171gildor28et_niphredol
> REVIEW | Gildor shares his plans with the horse.
The trotting during the morning had been swift and quiet.
In the afternoon, Gildor was surprised by a sudden intervention: it
was Niphredol, the thoron.
He had landed behind a hill, and awaited for Gildor to pass by. When
the elf was passing by, Niphredol came out, behind him, and before he
could notice, the bird shouted:
"Hail, Gildor Inglorion! Are the winds happy with our meeting?!"
Gildor jumped to the floor, and although he had recognized the voice,
in the haste, he had his sword in hand, unsheathed.
"Niphredol! I expected to find you yet, during this trip. But I had
heard that you had been spending days at Ereintherinin's Nest, by
Gwaihir... What are you doing here?!"
Niphredol:
"I was given a mission, sire elf: to find the Blue Messenger. Have
you seen him around, or heard of him? It has been difficult to find
him."
Gildor:
"Luin? Last time I heard of him, he was at Beorn's... Everyone knows
he's been working there."
Niphredol:
"Yes, but some things happened, and I did not find Beorn. Nor did I
find the Blue Meleb. The clues have lead me to these lands. I'm about
to believe that I'm going to find him at Cirdan's..."
Gildor:
"Only if he's arrived there during the last four days. I've come from
there, and he wasn't there. The Emyn Beraid are around, too, and it
happens that it used to be a refuge of his kin, since it was
abandoned by the dunedain."
Niph:
"But has been deserted, now. You should know this..."
Gildor:
"Well, I did not, and neither does Cirdan..."
[END OF PART I]
1164gildor27
As Gildor was travelling, he was making his plans.
"Well, Hindrun, once the teleri are travelling north of the hills
because they want a straighter way, they will have quite a work to
climb. This will give us enough time so as to travel in a good speed.
We don't have to run. Only to keep the trotting we've been making.
"I think it will be quite a stroll. We won't need to travel by night,
we can stop, and rest. All we have to do is to keep our eyes open, so
as to watch the road, and not to let any unexpected travellers to pass
by without taking notice.
"We're avoiding anyone, and we're travelling too south of the
periannath's Shire, therefore we won't have much work, but to keep the
rythm.
"What do you say, my friend, is this satisfactory?"
"Eeeenrkhrrkrkrkr", said Hindrun.
1163gildor26
the horse, who gave the answer:
>
> "Pfrfrfrfrfrfr-frfr, eeeenrh pfrfrfrfr-fr!", meaning "I hope so,
sire, > but I don't underestimate the fellow horses that carry them!"
>
> The sky was blue, and the wind fresh.
Horses don't live long as much as edain, but this horse was really
someone Gildor would miss, soon!
1155gildor26
Gildor took, then, the way south of the line in the map, and the teleri
took the way north of it.
Gildor kept an eye on them. He realized that they had decided to take a
short cut north of the hills.
"Fools as they will be!, Hindrun, my friend!: this bet is easily won!"
said he to the horse, who gave the answer:
"Pfrfrfrfrfrfr-frfr, eeeenrh pfrfrfrfr-fr!", meaning "I hope so, sire,
but I don't underestimate the fellow horses that carry them!"
The sky was blue, and the wind fresh.
1115gildor25lone_rider
[Re: GILDOR HEADS ON, on himself]
--- In Last_Battle_ofthe_elves@yahoogroups.com, "Gustavo"
wrote:
> [Re: Fwd: 25th October: Gildor & company on their way to Lorien]
>
> They would meet at old Adayrn.
> Thus [Gildor] got separated [of Ragnor and Rauros, of the teleri].
"It's better that I travel south, Hindrun", said Gildor to the
horse, "'cause it's more probable that trouble will come from that way.
Once we meet old Adayrn, we'll see what to do. Maybe I could manage to
send Ragnor and Rauros up north, to meet Galdor, at Rivendell. The
problem is going to be to convince them... But it'd be better that we
went on our on to Lothlorien. We'd follow faster."
1111gildor25
[Re: Fwd: 25th October: Gildor & company on their way to Lorien]
"Wheeeess!!", Gildor called Hindrun, who had, with his companions,
> taken the time to eat a bit, called the two horses. The elves
mounted,
> and went on ahead.
Gildor had made a bet with Ragnor and Rauros, once he saw the trip was
probably going to be tedious. They would meet at Baranduin, Gildor
travelling south, and the teleri travelling north of the way they had
marked in the map.
They would meet at old Adayrn, and Adayrn was to be their judge. If
Gildor got there first, Ragnor and Rauros were to give him their
horses. If Gildor lost the bet, Ragnor would have Gildor's sword, and
Rauros, Gildor's mantle.
Thus they got separated.
1044gildor25and_company
"Tell them to pretend you're only wild horses, > Hindrun, will you?"
>
> "pfrfrfrfrfr", he nodded.
>
> "Come lads," said Gildor, "there's bushes, near that tree. Lets hide."
They went near the tree. Rauros wished to unsheath his sword, but
Gildor, with a gesture, held him. "Just wait."
The man on the horse, appearently a local, passed by, and went his way,
slowly, in his path.
When he was far, Gildor went out, and Ragnor and Rauros, right after
him. "Wheeeess!!", Gildor called Hindrun, who had, with his companions,
taken the time to eat a bit, called the two horses. The elves mounted,
and went on ahead.
They travelled all day, and slept at night.
1043gildor25and_company
Gildor:
> "Don't you sing, Ragnor?, did you never th[ink] about singing?..."
>
> Rauros, suddenly frightened:
> "Captain!, look!"
>
> Gildor looked in the direction he showed.
>
> A man on a horse was coming closer.
Gildor said "halt", and they stopped.
"What is him, Rauros?", Gildor asked.
Rauros, making effort with his eyes, trying to recognize the figure,
said, at last: "A man. Not of the Dunedain. One of the locals of
Eriador, it seems to me..."
Gildor:
"Very good, Rauros. And he hasn't seen us." Gildor dismounted. Their
horses did not have cells.
"Let the horses be. He will think them to be wild." And Gildor added
to Hindrun, his horse: "Tell them to pretend you're only wild horses,
Hindrun, will you?"
"pfrfrfrfrfr", he nodded.
"Come lads," said Gildor, "there's bushes, near that tree. Lets hide."
1042gildor25and_company
> Gildor:
> "And Erestor is the advisor", he nods.
Rauros:
"And do you have contact with the lord of Mirkwood?"
Gildor:
"Thranduil?... Little. His older son is usually at Rivendell. He
likes to travel. For a while, people spoke that the prince and the
lord's daughter might... come to have something. But soon after she
came out with this story with the dunadan..."
Ragnor:
"They say she's pretty!"
Gildor:
"Arwen Undomiel? Ha-ha!, they say so, yes, they say."
Ragnor:
"Is she, captain?"
Gildor:
"And how are the girls at the haven, nowadays, Ragnor?, there's quite
few of them, for I rarely see any."
Ragnor:
"Ow, the pretty ones usually cross soon, and don't linger. They don't
resist the call of the West!"
Gildor:
"Good, they're girls, after all, ay? Would you wish them to be
strong?!"
Rauros:
"You did not answer Ragnor, captain: what about lady Arwen?"
Gildor:
"Let me see... Do you know Lomelin?"
Ragnor and Rauros, together:
"NNoo!"
Gildor:
"Right, you're younger... Tathar? Do you know Tathar... Hum, no, she
hasn't been to the Havens... Lefnui!, do you know maid Lefnui?,
remember her?"
Ragnor:
"Yes!"
Rauros:
"hm..."
Gildor:
"Quite like her, Ragnor, only her hair is darker. Lefnui is a bit
lighter, if I well remember."
Ragnor:
"What about you, master Gildor, do you have a companion?"
Gildor, laughing:
"Ha-ha-ha!!, I?!... My young one, I was really glad to have mey
cousin in the right path, as I gave him a lady... No: I tell you I
have not find the lady for me, not yet. There will be, somewhere, I
believe. Maybe at the other side of the Sea, though."
Ragnor:
"Oh, don't you feel lonely, master?"
Gildor:
"They say that after the third thousand, one will feel no loneliness
at all, my friend. Yes, I do, what can I tell you?"
Ragnor:
"O, but you're lucky, sire: you're at Imladris. We're at the Havens."
Gildor:
"Don't you sing, Ragnor?, did you never thought about singing?..."
Rauros, suddenly frightened:
"Captain!, look!"
Gildor looked in the direction he showed.
A man on a horse was coming closer.
1041gildor25and_company
> Gildor, smiling:
> "Yes, h-h-, it will b[e] a bit like both situations, by then, I
> believe!..." Then he spoke, in serious tone, "I believe we will be
able > to be there by the 20th Ringare**."
>
>
After some moments of silence, Rauros didn't keep himself:
"How many captains does master Elrond has, nowadays, captain Gildor,
o, please, tell us!... Tell us of Imladris!"
Gildor answers a bit awkward in his pride, although he was a bit used
to such situations...
(Gildor:)
"We're seven, plus the lord's advisor."
Rauros:
"It is you, and lord Glorfindel, and, and..."
Gildor takes a deep breath, and adds:
"And Elladan and Elrohir, the lord's sons. And Gwindor, my cousin.
And Tirion of the Noldor, too. And Aegnor."
Ragnor:
"And Erestor is the advisor."
Gildor:
"And Erestor is the advisor", he nods.
1040gildor25and_company
Gildor:
>
> "If you take a look at Rauros' map, Ragnor," Gildor makes a gesture
so > that Rauros shows Ragnor the map, "you will notice that there is a
> passage way south of Eregion. It is better to avoid any other ways,
but > the simplest ways, and I tell you this: we'd better hide."
> > Ragnor looked ahead, in pride. Gildor had warned Cirdan that this
would > be no easy trip, and Ragnor and Rauros had been warned of the
danger > they were going into.
Rauros added, taking a more careful look at the map:
"Captain... Taking a look at the map... We won't be able to make the
way in two weeks. In two weeks we will be as far as the south of
Periannathand*."
Gildor:
"Well noticed again, Rauros", Gildor made a gesture again, so that
Rauros showed the map to Ragnor. "And how long will we take, if we take
the straightest way?"
Rauros:
"Let see, through the Green Way, and then along this river..."
Gildor:
"Gwathlo, the Grey River."
Ragnor:
"Right!, the one that goes out to the Sea south of Minhiriath..."
Rauros, counting with his fingers, and making calculations:
"One month and a half!"
Gildor:
"Are you used to navigate, ay?"
Ragnor and Rauros, together:
"YYeess!"
Gildor:
There are no mountains through the waters... Because of the crossing,
we will take two months."
Rauros:
"O, it's like going around coral rocks..."
Ragnor:
"Or like when we have no winds from the east, and we have to oar."
Gildor, smiling:
"Yes, h-h-, it will bi a bit like both situations, by then, I
believe!..." Then he spoke, in serious tone, "I believe we will be able
to be there by the 20th Ringare**."
---
*The Shire
**December
965gildor25and_company
> "The Eldar will have no more high-kings at this side of the Sea: our
> time, some say, has come to the end. We're living the very end of our
> days here."
Rauros was a bit puzzled...
"Captain, if we're going to Lothlorien through Nan Curunir we'll
probably take a week longer or more to reach the Golden Forest, and
master Cirdan told us to hurry as much as we could..."
Gildor:
"Well done, Rauros!, I thought you both were only going to notice this
when we had arrived at Lorien!" He smiles.
"We're going straight to Lothlorien, my friend, and I hope we manage to
reach the realm in two weeks, once we don't have cars."
Rauros:
"Great."
Ragnor:
"Do you know how we're going to cross the mountains, captain?"
Gildor:
"If you take a look at Rauros' map, Ragnor," Gildor makes a gesture so
that Rauros shows Ragnor the map, "you will notice that there is a
passage way south of Eregion. It is better to avoid any other ways, but
the simplest ways, and I tell you this: we'd better hide."
Ragnor looked ahead, in pride. Gildor had warned Cirdan that this would
be no easy trip, and Ragnor and Rauros had been warned of the danger
they were going into.
958gildor25and_company
> Gildor:
> "hm-hum... I believe that to take the way to the Baranduin, and
then
> the Green Way. We can go through Nan Curunir, and visit old
Saruman,
> once we're going that way."
Walking ahead, Ragnor was looking forward to asking many things to
Gildor. It's true that Inglor's son was usually at the Havens, but he
used to stay always very little time, once his home was Imladris.
Therefore he was always to return as soon as he could. As one of
Elrond's main captains, together with the twins, Glorfindel, Gwindor
and Aegnor, Gildor always had many affairs, but Elrond trusted noone
else to escort the groups that left or passed through Imladris away
to the Havens.
Ragnor and Rauros had been born after the fall of Gil-galad, the last
of the great Kings of the Eldar. After Gil-galad, noone had been able
to gather all the elves under a banner. Thranduil of the Sindar now
ruled in the distant Greenwood, and Celeborn, a Sinda, too, of Elu
Thingol's house, was lord at the Golden Forest of Galadriel of the
Noldor, the daughter of Finarfin, and perhaps the greatest elf on
Middle-earth, in these days, but, perhaps Cirdan, although Cirdan did
not put himself in the affairs of war, since his youth.
(It was said, and known, they say, by some, that Cirdan had passed
the red ring of the elves, the ring of fire, to Mithrandir, soon
after his arrival in Middle-earth, which quite made sense. Cirdan
would make whatever role he had to endure with the ring of water in
his hand, but of fire he knew nothing, and had never known.)
(And it was known that Elrond mastered the ring of air, and Galadriel
had the ring of water under her keep.)
"But why was it, what do you think, captain," asked Ragnor, "that
master Elrond did not take the stars of Gil-galad to put on his
forehead, at the proper time, but that he prefered to let Cirdan shut
them for long, and now noone knows what happened with the royal
emblem of the high-king?..."
"The stars, my quite curious friend," answered Gildor, "were kept by
Cirdan for the time necessary. They are now at Imladris, under
Elrond's keep. But Elrond has no intention at all of taking it out of
its box, o, no: I think the next elf to put such stars on his
forehead, Ragnor, will be Finarfin, by the day Elrond takes the box
through the Sea to the West, and gives it to Gil-galad's uncle.
"The Eldar will have no more high-kings at this side of the Sea: our
time, some say, has come to the end. We're living the very end of our
days here."
951gildor25and_company
Hindrun, Gildor's horse was very happy for being out on trip again.
Ragnor:
"So, captain, did you think about the way we're taking?"
Gildor:
"hm-hum... I believe that to take the way to the Baranduin, and then
the Green Way. We can go through Nan Curunir, and visit old Saruman,
once we're going that way."
950gildor25and_company
Gildor was used to trips, but this time he wasn't so happy. Cirdan
had asked him to go to Lothlorien together with the messengers he was
sending. He understood Cirdan's worries, but he lamented not to have
brought his lute. "I imagine that Gwindor must be having feasts with
my dear lute..."
Not that he was sad about going to Lothlorien, not at all. Only, the
thought of not returning home so soon as he intended
Ragnor and Rauros were good companions, and the trip was going to be
quick, it seemed. Both were strong as he was, and they were by horse,
the three of them. They estimated that they would arrive at the
Golden Forest by the middle of the winter.
The autunm was beginning.
943goblins_at_the_mountains
A bard speaks:
"We, elves, do call them the Hithaeglir, to those the men call the
Misty Mountains.
"Many stories have been told about these mountains, for great realms
there florished, and vanished. The greatest realm of the Naugrim, the
dwarves, that ever was seen under the clouds of Manwe: Hadhodrond,
Hall of the Hadhod, which is how they call themselves.
"Near Hadhodrond there came to be one great realm, the last great
realm of the Noldor, since the fall of Beleriand, under the waters of
the end of the First Age of the Sun and the Moon: Eregion, Hollin, as
the men would call, and still, maybe, in their short memory, recall.
"But a darkness appeared, and dwelt among the smiths of Celebrimbor
the King, as though the curse of Feanor were still on his shoulders,
and the evil Gorthaur, that we now call Sauron, came under subtle
disguised among our people, and deceived us.
"Many of the works of then were imprisoned by his evil genious. Only
three rings were saved.
"The two realms fell, and the great halls of Hadhodrond, into which
even the feet of many great noldorin lords have been set, came to be
Moria, the Dark Abyss, inhabited by treacherous creatures, the orcs
of the mountains.
"For many years, some great evil kings have ruled such creatures. The
last two were the Great Goblin, and Bolg.
"The Great Goblin was killed by the blade of Glamdring, by the hands
of Mithrandir, our ally, messenger from the West, that came together
with his fours cousins, of whom we know only two to have remained in
Eriador.
"Bolg, was killed in the days of the quest for Erebor, now a
flourishing realm of the Hadhod, in the east, in the days of the fall
of Smaug the Red, as our friend and guest, Bilbo Baggins, is used to
tell us. Bolg was killed by then, by the not so cordial embrace of a
lord of Rhovanion, called Beorn, by many.
"(Some of these things can be found in the book 'There and Back
Again, a Hobbit's Tale', by one of this house's guests, who would be
ashamed to be mentioned, just now, once he is present..."
NEW USE FOR THIS BLOG
For the days to come, I will use this blog to role-play subjects and purpose.
Gustavo,
g.olivieri@bol.com.br
(CHRISTMAS)
(Once, last year, I mean, I wrote this, to some friends of another group in yahoo I had, then...)
"(...)
And I don't quite believe that Christ was born in the 25th, because I have a religious friend who keeps confusing me with some truths out of history... (Not complaining...)
"He wrote this:
"25 December?
When was Jesus born? Does anyone really know? Early Christians were unsure. Cyprian thought 28 March, Clement of Alexandria guessed 20 May, Hippolytus supposed 2 June. If these early Christian writers (3rd century), who lived close to the time of Christ, had to guess the date of his birth, how is it that we know better?
"CHRISTMAS ORIGINS: "THE MAN WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD"
I remember the night. It was chilly, especially for Florida, and Dad had a fire burning in the hearth. Even as a seven year old, I realized that this spelled certain doom for the jolly man who later that night would squeeze down the chimney. I mustered the courage to ask Dad, "Is there really a Santa?" I was devastated. Doubts soon began to flood my mind as to the existence of "the Stork," the Easter Bunny, even of God himself. I later years I learned that Santa Claus (alias Father Christmas, Saint Martin, der Weihnachtsmann, Père Noël ) was merely a corruption of Saint Nicholas, a Roman Catholic bishop of the 4th century. His attributes (red suit, reindeer, residence at the North Pole) derive from a blend of pagan legends with traditions about the saints. Good heavens!
"The Shepherds
According to Luke, the shepherds were "living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks at night."But what is Israel like in late December, the time traditionally assigned to "Christmas"? It is cold. It is the rainy season. The shepherds would not be found dwelling in the fields in the winter season, and certainly not at night. It is therefore unlikely Jesus was born after Halloween! Whence then the notion that he was born 25 December?
"Roman History
In 274 AD the Emperor Aurelian, influenced by the Persian cult of Mithras, designated 25 December as the "birthday" of the sun god, "Sol Invictus" [the invincible sun]. (In Mithraic tradition, the deity was born 25 December, and celebrated for twelve days. Sound familiar?) In some circles worship of the sun became identified with worship of the Son. Then in 354 Liberius of Rome ordered Christmas celebrated. This was popular among the Romans, who had already been celebrating the Saturnalia (12-24 December) as well as the Brumalia (25 December)--times of merrymaking and exchanging presents. Houses were decorated with greenery and festal lights. Gifts were given to children and the poor. Yes, Christmas has pagan origins. On top of all this, it is not even the actual birthday of Christ!
"Teutonic History
As with the Romans, the Teutonic peoples too had their celebrations of the winter solstice. The idea was that the sun god was dying or dead, and there certain things one should do to assist it on its way, thus speeding the recovery of the world from its winter torpor. As the days lengthened after around 22 December, there was great rejoicing and partying. Thousands of years of Teutonic history make their contribution to the customs of Christmas, and these customs spread with the people into Central Europe , Gaul , and Britain . At the Yuletide, special cakes were consumed, Yule logs were burnt as an incentive to the waxing sun, fir trees were adorned with lights in honor of the tree spirits, special greetings and gifts were exchanged, many went a-wassailing, and of course there was the mistletoe, under which one stood and began (only a kiss, mind you) the headlong rush into a night of pagan revelry! Remember that all of this was going on long before Christ was born.
"Shopping Sprees
What would Christmas be without the frenzied shopping that characterizes our society? Listen to Libanius, a 4th century Roman writer, as he describes the scene in pre-Christian Rome: "Everywhere may be seen well-laden tables. The impulse to spend seizes everyone. He who through the whole year has taken pleasure in saving, becomes suddenly extravagant; a stream of presents pours itself out on all sides." Yes, Christmas "spirit," often sustained by big business to sell merchandise, is nothing new, but rather an ancient and time-honored tradition.
"Closing considerations
We have seen that "Christmas" is essentially 100% tradition--and non-Christian at that! Yet traditions are condemned in the Bible only if they directly contradict the word of God. Jesus commanded us to remember his death, yet there is no harm in commemorating his entrance into the world. As one of the few who understands the true origins of this holiday, you can now enjoy the season in a more enlightened manner. So be of good cheer!
"As I received this, I replied, asking if it was a Christmas gift, and he answered a little later, saying "yes, a kind of...".
"With love,
to Cindy, Maldy and Sil.
Gustavo.
Rio, 25th Dec."
(I pass this on to you, guys, on this december of aD 2005. Guga.)
