Barrowdowners between the lines

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Thanks guys, I'll never take Tolkien seriously again. Well, unless I benefit from a helpful bout of amnesia, that is. After all, how can I possibly keep a straight face when confronted with so many of my fellow Barrowdowners within the pages of my favourite books?

Let's start with the obvious one: when Frodo and his companions enter the Barrow-downs, I can't help but think that they are going online to check out the latest threads.

And will I ever again be able to have a proper discussion about the character of Boromir? All I will be able to think about is the Barrowdowner Boromir88. He'll be talking during the Council of Elrond and I'll be thinking "Yes, yes, but could you give us another Crazy Caption?"

We talk about the difficulty of separating the books from the films, but I believe this difficulty of separating the books from the website is even harder.

Anyone else?

[Son of Númenor]

I was actually shocked when I first saw the term "Heren Istarion" in Unfinished Tales; that Tolkien would steal our beloved Georgian's screen name and use it to describe a sorcerous sect seemed almost diabolical!

[Nimrodel_9]

You know, sometimes I find myself imagining Eomer in a kilt....

When reading the verses about Gil-Galad, I always think "It didn't say anything about his puns!"

[Mithalwen]

While I have this problem too - funny how the book never mentions Gandalf and Boromir's shared interest in Fireworks or Eomer's specialist knowledge of Wargs - I have taken it to a further stage alas - I have started to catch glimpses of Barrowdowners who don't have character names on the edge of the action. I haven't pinned down everyone yet, but surely that smoke wreathed couple in the corner of the Green Dragon are Lalwende and Davem, the dunadan who holds Halbarad's horse as he gives Arwen's standard to Aragorn well I suspect that is Fordim. Encaitare is an elf musician in the Hall of Fire and there are various others slowly coming into focus .... ir is a sickness. I admit it - but do I suffer alone?

PS I suspect I am one of Ioreth's sisters ..

[Elennar Starfire]

Only sometimes, Nimmy?

[Lathriel]

I also find myself doing these kind of things. What often happens to me is that I see something in the newspaper or on T.V and I catch myself thinking of a barrowdowner who might be interested in the topic I just heard about.

Of course I also remember Eomer in a kilt, that has become a classic.

Its also because of the barrwdowners that I will always see Grima doing Saruman's wash!

[Morai]

I also find myself doing these kind of things. What often happens to me is that I see something in the newspaper or on T.V and I catch myself thinking of a barrowdowner who might be interested in the topic I just heard about.

Same here, every time I hear about an elf's keen vision or I think of it while watching LOTR movies, I think of the Nearsighted Elves and Maeg, and mentally disagree.

I'd point out that my "name" would be hard to place within Tolkien books because it comes from a picture book including a faery of that name that happens to come from Irish folklore. I'd also admit that I would have a hard time placing myself, being that I relate personality-wise to many creatures of ME.

Then again you never really know....

[Encaitare]

Encaitare is an elf musician in the Hall of Fire

Yet another impossible dream of mine.... it makes forsaking all social norms and becoming a gypsy sound almost plausible.

[Mithalwen]

Ah but Enca - in that weird paralel universe that is my mind you are already there.......

[Encaitare]

Ah but Enca - in that weird paralel universe that is my mind you are already there.......

Sweet.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

I have no idea if he'll thank me for this but, because Tom Bombadil can be quite hard to picture, I sometimes use the template of The Saucepan Man in those chapters!

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

I occasionally slip into a daydream of Mister Underhill as Tom Bombadil. Since M.U. is such a mystery to me, and Tommy is such a mystery to the world, it works nicely. Or not... depends on whose opinion you are asking.

Encai, you've also taken up a corner in my own personal Minas Tirith. Mithalwen, you were present at the Council of Elrond, as were davem, Lal, and Fordim (who happens to be Gandalf). Eswen occupies a quiet corner of Rivendell writing stories beside Bilbo, and Bethberry can occasionally be seen near the edge of the Old Forest.

Beren (of the books) is now unnaturally good at quizzes, Khamul has red hair and is an excellent artist, the Barrow-wight has a computer.

Thanks a lot guys.

[Maeggaladiel]

Originally Posted by Morai

Same here, every time I hear about an elf's keen vision or I think of it while watching LOTR movies, I think of the Nearsighted Elves and Maeg, and mentally disagree.

Awww, thanks, Morai. Every time I see "Moria" I wonder why they switched the "a" and "i."

Whenever I see the word "Aman," I think of our Archer friend in the Green Dragon.

[Morai]

Awww, thanks, Morai. Every time I see "Moria" I wonder why they switched the "a" and "i."

Reading/ hearing that Word always makes me giggle.
Alas, for some of the well known locations in Middle Earth now have permanately changed names such as Oredor, Salas Tirith and much much more.

[Lhunardawen]

I now find myself wondering how in the world Eomer can ride Firefoot, and thinking that Sam prepared stewed coneys using The Saucepan Man. How could this happen to me...or the books?

[Morsul the Dark]

When watching the movies when the balrog comes out everyone on the downs runs through my mind arguing whether or not the wings should be there