The Unexpected Unparty!

[Groin Redbeard]

The dwarf, Groin Redbeard, strode along merrily. He was not usually a merry fellow, and tended to be very solom at times, but this was a happy day: the Barrow Downs' Birthday. Wanted to pass this way before he left the Barrow Downs for a short vacation. He just capped the hill that he was climbing and could see the group of downers gathered around and chatting, but unfortunetly Groin had no time for that now.

There they all were, the wise and knowledgable Legate of Amon Lanc, the hardworking and fun loving Estelyn Telcontar, the far-fetched Alatar, and Gwathagor, the jack of all topics. He did not see many of the Downers that he knew, but they would probably show up in time.

Time was running short for him, he had to prepare for his upcoming journey. So, Groin hoisted his axe on his shoulders and began to walk back home.

"Farwell my friends," he said in a loud voice, "Have fun on this blessed day! Have a good one!"

[Eönwë]

Eönwë fell down on Legate. He had forgotten all about the Barrow-Downs Birthday and had instead done some extreme-jumping-off-the-back-of-an-eagle-sport.

And suddenly, just in front of him, far below, he could see some of the familiar Downers singing and dancing, and doing other such frivolities in the party spirit. So he had just jumped off, not thinking what he was doing and forgetting his parachute jumped in to join the party. Lucky Legate was there to break break his fall. It could have been a very nasty fall. Eönwë actually weighed a lot more than normal, and had put on an extra 100kg of muscle in the last few hour after drinking too much miruvor the day before.

Legate groaned. Eönwë got off him quickly and apologised, "Sorry, Legate. I just happened to be flying over when I decided to drop in like this," he said, making a poor attempt at a joke.

After a few seconds he brought out the cleverly concealed barrels of beer, mead, and miruvor for the adults, and some elanorberry juice for the young ones.

[Gwathagor]

Gwathagor shook off the trance at the sound of rolling barrels. Years of wandering in the wilds had taught him a variety of survival skills, including hair-trigger reflexes, keen eyesight and hearing (even beyond that of ordinary elves), and the ability to wake up when the ale came out. These had saved his life many times.

"Good to see you all here," he said. "Thanks for the drinks, Eonwe. And Rumil, thanks for the pizza. Always bring pizza to a party. Pizza is good."

[alatar]

alatar had remained inside the Barrow for most of the party, though he did sneak out once to look for pizza and ale. He had gotten in - IN! - and knew that if he'd stepped out the Door that he chanced get stuck out there once again.

More doggerel came to mind:

* Once I thought I'd been infractionated *
*For being overly opinionated, *
* But finally was vindicated *
* When learning that the server'd been terminated. *

* Remember when the Barrow Downs was two? *
* One site for me and one site for you? *
* Seeing yourself logged in though nothing could you do? *
* But thankfully the wights came through. *

[Rumil]

Rumil's eyes suddenly popped open and he sat up and stretched most widely.

'Good morning everyone! I'm so glad to see a few more guests at our un-party.

Morning Esty, sorry to doze off like that but I have journeyed many days to get here and must continue my travels tomorrow.

Good morning Legate, wonderful to see you again, I must remember to give some thought to your fiendish riddle when I have my books with me.

Hello Lhuna, I think its my first party here too, I guess we both wander in and out at unpredictable times but not all those who wander are lost, it is said!

Morning Bethberry, why thank-you, popcorn for breakfast is novel but certainly not unwelcome. A light refreshing rain might be just what I need to wake me up properly today.

Ah, and Eonwe has dropped in with refreshments too, wonderful! A sip of Miruvor in the morning does one the world of good.

And Gwathagor, you're quite welcome to the pizza, you must try my wild-caught Mirkwood venison with sauce made from the finest imported Numenorean tomatoes and wild kine of the East mozzarella on dough that surpasses the savour of any mortal bread. I like it with pineapple.'

Esty whispered a few words in Rumil's ear.

'Oh dear' said Rumil, 'I believe I must apologise for attempting the springle-ring while in an elvish restorative trance last night, too much wild kine mozzarella makes for a disturbed night.'

'Alatar, good to see you got in at last. It has been a strange sort of a day, but at least you made it in and I am coming round to the opinion that today is indeed today (though the palantir must need servicing again, it still thinks its tomorrow -ho hum).'

[Oddwen]

A startling lack of noise greeted the plodding form of Oddwen as she rounded the gentle curve of the knoll. Oh wait, her iPlod had gone dead.

A startling lack of noise greeted the headphone-removing form of Oddwen as she descended into the yard below. A few Downers had already gathered, bringing some deeeeeeelicious looking pizza and some scrumptiously crunchable popcorn...she plopped her reasonably-sized bag of chocolate mint patties onto the the stone table, and took a serving of pizza. Alright, two servings.

Hastily, before the door to the great Barrow could close again, she slipped in a brightly colored card reading

"Have A GR8 Birthday!"

[Formendacil]

A tall and not-quite-haggard stranger strode across the Barrow Downs, nursing a limp in his left leg, the last vestige of a once badly broken leg. He had not crossed these grounds in many months indeed. His countenance had changed in those days (he wore new glasses now), and none in those parts knew him by the names he now used: the Philosopher-King, the Church-Geek, and the Edmontonian.

His nose twitching in irritation, the Philosopher-Geek walked up to the barrow, noticed the absence of action inside and the instructions to a lawn party behind, and so quickly jotted down a birthday greeting,

"May the peace of the Valar leave this unhallowed place untroubled for many years to come."

The Edmontonian did not sign it. He had a vision from years long past, of a ghost--Piosennial was it?--that haunted anyone who left their signature on such things.

Unable to linger longer at the door, he slowly trudged around the barrow to the lawn party. It had been what? One year? Two years? since he'd lived in these parts. Such a long time. He had charted many strange courses (like 'Ancient Near Eastern Religions' and 'British Romantic Poets') in the time since and he doubted many people would be left who remembered him.

Then he reached the lawn and there was Esty, and there was Bêthberry, and there was Oddwen: familiar figures all. It was like stepping into a picture; all of a sudden you were there and amid all the strange hairdos and and clothing styles that looked terribly outdated and left you with the jibblies because you used to dress that way. Except it wasn't quite that bad, because Hookbill the Goomba was nowhere to be seen.

"Wonder where the old Goomba is?" he muttered to himself. "Better not be in the hospital having surgery--he owes me an appendix."

For better or worse or uglier, Formendacil had returned to the Barrow Downs.

[Morthoron]

The Dark Elf nodded grimly
Leaning somber 'gainst the chimbley
Mantle sooted black and stained,
And about the barrow a gentle rain
Caused a hiss inside the flue
As errant drops dripped through
To reach the embered fire
Like mournful tears upon a pyre.
And in reverie now enthralled,
The somber Sindar thus recalled
The ashes of many a passing blaze,
Fading into memory's haze --
Of ages gone and deeds done
'Ere the rising of the sun.
Choking past the melancholy,
Seeing faces red and jolly,
He contrives a bitter smile,
Yet he knows that all the while
the box on yonder table yawns --
Cold and empty, contents gone.
Thus, he sadly drifts away,
And heaves a sigh as if to say,
That it surely would have been nice
To have saved him just one pizza slice!

Happy Birthday!

[Rumil]

I've secured a stash of Seattleite ale and Scotch Miruvor - hooray - I might well fall aleep again now - goodnight!

[Thinlómien]

Thinlómien joined the merry company, greeting everybody. "You have pizza and miruvor? Great. I brought some lembas." The others cast her a quizzical look. "Erm... just in case we needed to go for a long journey or something, and it tastes good in any case," she explained, smiling widely.

She looked at Rumil. "Is he asleep?" Lommy asked Estelyn.
"Yes, it seems like he just dozed off again."
"What a pity. Well, he'll wake up eventually."

Then she looked around and saw Legate and Eönwë. She remembered the incidence she had seen from afar. "Are you guys alright?" she asked, not very concerned though, as they were not in mortal danger anyway as they were dead already.

Before either of them could answer, she turned back to the all-knowing Esty. "I have a little birthday present. Should I take it inside? Where is the Barrow-Wight?"