**The Barrow-Downs Birthday Mailbag - May 2006**

[Estelyn Telcontar]

There was one who watched over the Barrow in thought from afar. She had inherited that ability from her great-grandmother, and she had used it well throughout the past years. She saw the Wight reading his cards and letters and was sure that she detected a smile upon his ghastly lips over some of them. Then, a green-glowing tear ran down his emaciated cheek and he sniffed after reading another missive. Obviously, he was touched, though it wouldn't have done to show that to any outsiders. After all, he had a reputation to live down to!

She raised her glass in a silent toast - he would find her card later, for she had placed it at the very bottom of the mailbag. For now, she was happy to see that so many had paid him respect. "Cheers, Wight!" she murmured, sipping at the invigorating liquid.

The vision faded...

[Gothmog]

The tear slowly finding it's way down the green cheek dripped down on a wrinkled piece of paper. There were no fancy adornments, no beautiful poem or drawn pictures. It was a short message written down in crude letters and it looked like it was scribbled down in a hurry. But still the simplicity and apparent honestly of the note moved the mighty wight. The text read:

"Dear mr Wight
I hope you excuse the late arrival of this letter. I want to thank you,
on the behalf of all stray Balrogs out there, for giving up your barrow
as a resting place when our limbs grow too weary on our journeys.
Here, we can always find the warmth of friendship and shared interests.
For the past six years and an eternity to come!

/Gothmog, the friendly leader of the Balrogs"

After a faint smile, the ghastly shape of the wight let the piece of paper fall into the growing pile already read letters and extended his bony hand towards the next one...

[Ealasaide]

No pictures or clever sayings here, just a heartfelt Happy Birthday to the Downs! I haven't been around much lately but hope to be around a little bit more again in the future. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

[Child of the 7th Age]

Cami sat down at the desk, took out a fresh packet of paper, and her very finest ink pen. For the next twenty minutes, she stared blankly at the topmost sheet, pulling out a word here and there, while hoping for inspiration to strike. When no lightning bolt was forthcoming, she resigned herself to the fact that she would have to come up with something to say, if only for the sake of politeness. She had not the slightest shred of inspiration to assist her in the task.

So be it! There had been many a day that she had managed to scratch out an RPG post even after all cleverness had fled, despite the fact that the bare words stared mockingly back at her. Wadding up one sheet already smeared with illegible chicken scrawl, she selected the next clean leaf and began to write very quickly, scarcely thinking about what she was saying.

Her missive read as follows:

Master Wight,

To be blunt, this has been a bit of a hard-knock year. Even the little things of life can pile up on one's plate and give a poor hobbit considerable headaches: minor aches and pains, a dear relative who has passed away after a hard illness, the fact that one of my young lads is about to venture out on his own and be swept down the road to who knows where (a source of both pride and sadness for his slightly bewildered mother).

With so much nonsense going on, I have not been able to come to the Downs as frequently as I would have liked. I've had no time for the Books forum and can scarcely keep up with things in the Shire. Still, there have been many a day when this little place has been a source of great merriment and relief. Tired and footsore, I turned a corner, left behind a few worldly headaches and found a haven in Middle-earth: a friend or two who will listen to me rant along with a little piece of time that I can claim as my own to write.

I mean it quite sincerely when I thank you for starting this site so that kindred spirits can meet and share. You have done more good than you know. My kindest regards to you and your family on this happy occasion. May you reap some of the light hearted moments that you have so generously provided for us at the Downs.

Your devoted Shire resident,

Cami Goodchild

[piosenniel]

About mid-day they came to a hill whose top was wide and flattened, like a shallow saucer with a green mounded rim. Inside there was no air stirring, and the sky seemed near their heads... 'Splendid!' said Frodo. 'If we make as good going this afternoon as we have done this morning, we shall have left the Downs before the Sun sets and be jogging on in search of a camping place.' But even as he spoke he turned his glance eastwards, and he saw that on that side the hills were higher and looked down upon them; and all those hills were crowned with green mounds, and on some were standing stones, pointing upwards like jagged teeth out of green gums.

That view was somehow disquieting; so they turned from the sight and went down into the hollow circle. In the midst of it there stood a single stone, standing tall under the sun above, and at this hour casting no shadow. It was shapeless and yet significant: like a landmark, or a guarding finger, or more like a warning . . .

Raising a pint to you, dear Wight! This place you've made for us has been, and continues to be, a lovely site to wander about in.

Happy Birthday to the B-D . . . & many more happy returns of the day . . .

~*~ Pio

[Guinevere]

from a downer who is neither inspired nor eloquent, but very grateful to be a member of this wonderful site for nearly 4 years now.


(To decipher the Tengwar, this site is useful)

[dancing spawn of ungoliant]

Dear Mr. Wight,

It's not a simbelmyne, but you are the stem that keeps this place blooming and makes us flourish, too.
Thank you. For everything.

With best regards,
dancing spawn of ungoliant


edit: For those who wish to see the flower in actual size...