The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - THE LONELY STAR (Contd. from BD birthday party)

Birdland · 07-05-2002, 01:12 PM

Birdie admired the tall, graceful spires of the city as much as anyone, (and looked forward to stepping on land again, at least for a little while).

But her irritation wasn't solely due to "tapdancers" overhead, nor was her lack of sleep just from the noise. She had been unable to make heads nor tails of the riddles, and was glad that there were more scholarly minds among them. But the answers just seem to lead to more questions.

Is everyone saying that halflings go as far back as the days of Numenor? It doesn't seem fathomable, but yet it seems to be so.

But it's said that halflings are a off-branch of men. Does that mean that Halflings were Numenorians? Birdie looked at the men working on the pier, some with the aspects of kings, though they were only lowly dockhands. Halflings a branch of the Numenorians??? A loud shout of laughter burst out of the skin-changer, and a dockhand on the pier looked up at the sound and raised a friendly hand.

Alright then, Birdie mused further. So Sauron deceived the Numenor, and fed on their vanity, and so the island sank. The few survivors escaped by ship and sailed back to Middle-Earth...apparently without halflings.

Birdie glanced over to Kali, who stared, listlessly it seemed, at the white towers of the Setting Sun.

So how did these Numenorian halflings escape the fate of most of the Men? Did the "sea change" happen then!? But that would mean Hobrim came first! At least as far as Middle-Earth was concerned.

From Halflings, to Hobrims, then Hobrims AND Halflings? Birdie's head was throbbing. It sounded so amazing and far-fetched. But then she thought of the amazing, far-fetched world that she lived in.

"Kali!" called Birdie, and walked over to the Hobrim leaning on the rail. "So what do you think of the works of Men?"

"So tall and proud," said Kali, almost sadly. His face looked pale and drawn. Birdie looked closely at him and said "When's the last time you were in the water, Kali? Awhile, I think. Can you bear fresh water?"

Kali raised his head and sniffed. "Smells different, but not bad. I feel I could stand this "fresh water", though it does not smell as fresh as the sea."

"Then let's go in. No, wait," Birdie urged. "Not in front of the men there. Let's go to the far side and slip in there."

Birdie and Kali hid behind some barrels and slipped silently over the side, Bird morphing into dolphin shape as the cool river-water folded over her. It made her skin itch in an odd way, and she wondered how long a dolphin could bear saltless water.

A shadowy form slid past them in the cloudy current, and then Levanto, of all people, appeared before them. His usual emerald green color had taken on a paler hue, but his eyes were gleaming with delight.

"Levanto!" whistled Birdie. "Can you tolerate this river water, too"

"It is not the most agreeable of elements, but bearable". Levanto waved his hand dismissively. Then he exclaimed "I must admit that the works of these men have exceeded all my expectations! These towers! These walls! How do they build so high without the buoancy of water to support it? Some of these spires are almost as tall as the ones in my own beloved city beneath the sea."

Levanto raised his head cautiously above the water line and looked with longing at the white towers. "Ah, if only I could walk these streets and study these buildings. Talk to these Men about their works."

Birdie looked at Kali, who seemed to be feeling better, even in the river water. The hobrim nodded his head in agreement. "I too, would like to see how you live on land."

"Hmmmmmmmmmm..." Birdie mused, then her dolphin smile grew even wider. "And see the city you shall!" This was the kind of adventure Birdie really enjoyed!

Raising her head above water, she cried to Child, who was leaning over the rail. "Child! Talk to one of those men on the pier. Tell them we are in need of a pony and cart!"

[ July 05, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]

07-05-2002, 01:12 PM	#64
Birdland Ghastly Neekerbreeker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto Posts: 1,751	Birdie admired the tall, graceful spires of the city as much as anyone, (and looked forward to stepping on land again, at least for a little while). But her irritation wasn't solely due to "tapdancers" overhead, nor was her lack of sleep just from the noise. She had been unable to make heads nor tails of the riddles, and was glad that there were more scholarly minds among them. But the answers just seem to lead to more questions. Is everyone saying that halflings go as far back as the days of Numenor? It doesn't seem fathomable, but yet it seems to be so. But it's said that halflings are a off-branch of men. Does that mean that Halflings were Numenorians? Birdie looked at the men working on the pier, some with the aspects of kings, though they were only lowly dockhands. Halflings a branch of the Numenorians??? A loud shout of laughter burst out of the skin-changer, and a dockhand on the pier looked up at the sound and raised a friendly hand. Alright then, Birdie mused further. So Sauron deceived the Numenor, and fed on their vanity, and so the island sank. The few survivors escaped by ship and sailed back to Middle-Earth...apparently without halflings. Birdie glanced over to Kali, who stared, listlessly it seemed, at the white towers of the Setting Sun. So how did these Numenorian halflings escape the fate of most of the Men? Did the "sea change" happen then!? But that would mean Hobrim came first! At least as far as Middle-Earth was concerned. From Halflings, to Hobrims, then Hobrims AND Halflings? Birdie's head was throbbing. It sounded so amazing and far-fetched. But then she thought of the amazing, far-fetched world that she lived in. "Kali!" called Birdie, and walked over to the Hobrim leaning on the rail. "So what do you think of the works of Men?" "So tall and proud," said Kali, almost sadly. His face looked pale and drawn. Birdie looked closely at him and said "When's the last time you were in the water, Kali? Awhile, I think. Can you bear fresh water?" Kali raised his head and sniffed. "Smells different, but not bad. I feel I could stand this "fresh water", though it does not smell as fresh as the sea." "Then let's go in. No, wait," Birdie urged. "Not in front of the men there. Let's go to the far side and slip in there." Birdie and Kali hid behind some barrels and slipped silently over the side, Bird morphing into dolphin shape as the cool river-water folded over her. It made her skin itch in an odd way, and she wondered how long a dolphin could bear saltless water. A shadowy form slid past them in the cloudy current, and then Levanto, of all people, appeared before them. His usual emerald green color had taken on a paler hue, but his eyes were gleaming with delight. "Levanto!" whistled Birdie. "Can you tolerate this river water, too" "It is not the most agreeable of elements, but bearable". Levanto waved his hand dismissively. Then he exclaimed "I must admit that the works of these men have exceeded all my expectations! These towers! These walls! How do they build so high without the buoancy of water to support it? Some of these spires are almost as tall as the ones in my own beloved city beneath the sea." Levanto raised his head cautiously above the water line and looked with longing at the white towers. "Ah, if only I could walk these streets and study these buildings. Talk to these Men about their works." Birdie looked at Kali, who seemed to be feeling better, even in the river water. The hobrim nodded his head in agreement. "I too, would like to see how you live on land." "Hmmmmmmmmmm..." Birdie mused, then her dolphin smile grew even wider. "And see the city you shall!" This was the kind of adventure Birdie really enjoyed! Raising her head above water, she cried to Child, who was leaning over the rail. "Child! Talk to one of those men on the pier. Tell them we are in need of a pony and cart!" [ July 05, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]