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GAndyalf
Valinor
Mar 25 2010, 4:54pm
Views: 5936
Shortcut
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NottaSackville: With Gollum and Smaug you’re dealing with some of the highest forms of magic in Middle-earth. In Gollum’s case, he had possessed the One Ring at that point for nearly 500 years. Remember that the Ring gave power to its possessor “according to his stature”, hence Gollum never really acquired a high degree of what the Ring was capable of bestowing, especially as hobbit-kind were particularly resistant to it. However, given that Gollum had probably spent more than three centuries inside of the Misty Mountains it seems to follow that the Ring would react to a very constant, recurring need of his: to be able to make his way in the utter dark of the vast labyrinth of underground caverns and passages. Further, this effect is partially borne out by Gollum’s aversion to both the Sun and the Moon – as all the followers of Sauron and Morgoth before him are – by use of the power of the Ring to see in utter dark he is similarly averse and even hurt by the “pure” light of the Sun and Moon which come directly from the Maiar Arien (Sun) and Tilion (Moon). I concur that it is written as a definite “light” but I disagree that it is incompatible “ray vision” but rather a magical effect that is replete in the story(ies). For Smaug the Golden one has to consider the origin of Dragons in Middle-earth. They are much like the Balrogs in that they are spirits that gravitated early to Morgoth and evil. Because of their other-worldly spirits that inhabit the bodies Morgoth chose to corrupt to hold them (remember, Morgoth could not make anything, only mock, so a dragon’s body is SOMETHING he found that he could corrupt, enhanced by the fell spirits of the Maia who followed him into ruin). These spirits, being Maiar of old, had tremendous Power within them (such as when Bilbo feels the strong urge to run out and reveal himself to Smaug and tell him everything) and their eyes in particular appear to be conduits for much of their power. It is my opinion that the red glow of Smaug’s eyes is a function of the fell spirit within being able to “leak out” to the world. I believe the dwarves’ shining eyes was the westering sun reflecting in them and nothing more. The reason being partially that they are wearing armor of another age that might be part of the reflection and that Dain’s people are not so described. I suspect that for dramatic/storytelling effect is why the phenomena is described as “light” to begin with when it seems to me to be clearly a magical effect and not true ‘light’ in the non-magical world sense. As for Bilbo and others being able to see it, magic often is described in more neutral terms than just being useful to the being casting/using it but is often a general effect that is both helpful and detrimental. Therefore the effect is to help Gollum see, but also for Bilbo to “see the magic” and be guided and helped by it as well. Answers or guesses or me blathering: 1) No one, but I don’t think he was blinded – he sure didn’t act like it! (smile) 2) Because Smaug’s “spirit” was like a Maia and there’s lots of stuff on dragons’ eyes to be wary of. 3) Poetic license, methinks (actually ‘heroic license’ which is related, imo) 4) Not in the least. 5) Nope. Everyone should question what they don’t understand, especially when they care for the story. 6) Yes, the horses of the Nazgul. That, I believe, further solidifies my theory of the “fell spirits within” such creatures, or at least evidence of the effect of the will of Sauron once it enters a creature. 7) I don’t. Strongly disliked that effect as to me it was unneeded and appeared cheap. If it had to be done I would have preferred that the air of Mordor appear much more hazy and the beam have an effect more similar to a lighthouse beam piercing the gloom with a halo effect than a sharp, crisp “flashlight” effect. I think rather than the camera’s still spot and the beam searching, perhaps a panoramic of the places Sauron was actually looking and giving a visual type of red-light dread when it pierced exactly the spot and doing that for random seconds and spots would have been a MUCH better effect. Just my opinion. 8) Yes, but I don’t believe Tolkien drew on them so much as he drew upon the mysteries of magic in literature.
"Even the very wise cannot see all ends."
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Subject
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User
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Time
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It's Tolkien Reading Day! Post your ABCs of Tolkien here.
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N.E. Brigand
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Mar 25 2010, 3:48am
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C is for Cerin Amroth...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 3:57am
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Wow - nicely done!
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NottaSackville
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Mar 25 2010, 11:57am
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<Bows low>
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 1:24pm
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GREAT ELEPHANTS!
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 3:27pm
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No problem - it's a common mistake
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NottaSackville
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Mar 25 2010, 3:53pm
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But you did so...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 4:56pm
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A question
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Kangi Ska
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Mar 27 2010, 1:42am
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Yep.//
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Elizabeth
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Mar 27 2010, 3:01am
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As Lady Elizabeth says...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 27 2010, 3:18am
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It *raises* the question...
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Elizabeth
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Mar 27 2010, 4:09am
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<chuckle>
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GAndyalf
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Mar 27 2010, 5:57am
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A good poet is aware of all levels of meaning in his work.
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Kangi Ska
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Mar 27 2010, 2:32pm
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But he never tells us...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 27 2010, 3:56pm
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A guess...
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Elizabeth
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Mar 27 2010, 6:20pm
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A good poet offers the poem not its meaning
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Kangi Ska
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Mar 27 2010, 6:26pm
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(smile)
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GAndyalf
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Mar 27 2010, 7:07pm
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Simbelmyne or Evermind in ths common tongue
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Kangi Ska
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Mar 27 2010, 7:16pm
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Thank you!
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GAndyalf
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Mar 27 2010, 7:21pm
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Yes it is about time I reread the Silmarillion. It has been a couple years.//
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Kangi Ska
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Mar 27 2010, 8:09pm
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The Heart of Elvendom on earth
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Kangi Ska
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Mar 27 2010, 8:03pm
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Am I to understand then...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 27 2010, 8:21pm
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A bit more difficult to explain
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Kangi Ska
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Mar 27 2010, 8:41pm
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Cool!
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GAndyalf
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Mar 28 2010, 1:44am
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The perilous realm
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FarFromHome
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Mar 31 2010, 4:22am
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Nicely said! //
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Voronwë_the_Faithful
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Mar 31 2010, 2:33pm
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No.
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Night Wolf
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Apr 1 2010, 4:58pm
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Perhaps the place chose them. //
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Kangi Ska
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Mar 27 2010, 2:22pm
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T is for Tolkien
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Magpie
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Mar 25 2010, 4:10am
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Very "British"...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 3:25pm
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British wit
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Magpie
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Mar 26 2010, 1:16am
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"Frank-ness"
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GAndyalf
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Mar 26 2010, 1:32am
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well...
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batik
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Mar 26 2010, 1:11am
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re: coffee
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Magpie
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Mar 26 2010, 1:14am
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X is for X-Ray vision ...
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NottaSackville
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Mar 25 2010, 4:12am
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LOL at #5 :-) //
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Magpie
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Mar 25 2010, 4:16am
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Interesting question!
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FarFromHome
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Mar 25 2010, 7:21am
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E is for Emission Theory
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Darkstone
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Mar 25 2010, 3:46pm
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Interesting - good to know I wasn't alone...
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NottaSackville
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Mar 25 2010, 3:54pm
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I think....
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 4:54pm
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Light of eyes
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White Gull
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Mar 26 2010, 2:00pm
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The answer to Smaug's powers...
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Kangi Ska
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Mar 27 2010, 2:05am
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P is for Peregrin Took!
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fairelvenlady
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Mar 25 2010, 4:46am
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Give or Took...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 5:20pm
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K is for Kirith Ungol
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Modtheow
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Mar 25 2010, 5:32am
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corrected link
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Modtheow
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Mar 25 2010, 12:33pm
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Tolkien - word pictures.
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Istari68
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Mar 25 2010, 4:16pm
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"Ha, hmm, my friends, let us go for a walk!"...
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batik
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Mar 25 2010, 5:54am
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sidestepping the quiz for a comment on the word Quickbeam
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Magpie
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Mar 25 2010, 1:57pm
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Wow!
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 5:32pm
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My son is Rowan
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Kangi Ska
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Mar 27 2010, 3:15pm
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Hmmmm....
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Darkstone
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Mar 25 2010, 7:38pm
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T is for Thursday!
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sador
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Mar 25 2010, 6:10am
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How subversive, satirical and sharp of you
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SirDennisC
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Mar 25 2010, 7:49pm
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E(ä) is for Eärendil
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Night Wolf
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Mar 25 2010, 7:15am
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Interesting
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SirDennisC
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Mar 25 2010, 9:13pm
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B is for Beowulf
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SirDennisC
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Mar 25 2010, 9:35am
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worthy of study
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Modtheow
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Mar 25 2010, 5:56pm
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I'm glad we agree!
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SirDennisC
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Mar 25 2010, 9:18pm
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Scholarly...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 6:01pm
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Thank you
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SirDennisC
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Mar 25 2010, 10:33pm
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Yes but don't forget...
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FarFromHome
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Mar 26 2010, 4:52am
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(laughs)
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GAndyalf
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Mar 26 2010, 1:30pm
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I have to agree
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FarFromHome
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Mar 26 2010, 2:05pm
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Cool stuff!
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GAndyalf
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Mar 26 2010, 4:14pm
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Would that be a stoat?
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N.E. Brigand
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Mar 26 2010, 5:51pm
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Whoops!
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FarFromHome
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Mar 27 2010, 1:13am
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Regardless of the typo
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SirDennisC
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Mar 27 2010, 3:38am
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F is for Fëanor
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Elizabeth
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Mar 25 2010, 10:03am
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In pity for Feanor...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 6:39pm
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Thank you!
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Elizabeth
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Mar 25 2010, 8:05pm
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I is for Ioreth
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dernwyn
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Mar 25 2010, 10:15am
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I think it says a lot...
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Magpie
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Mar 25 2010, 2:07pm
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Yes, a favourite
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SirDennisC
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Mar 26 2010, 3:42am
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Intriguing idea indeed!
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GAndyalf
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Mar 26 2010, 1:33pm
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Concurring with GAndy
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dernwyn
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Mar 26 2010, 3:43pm
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Ioreth is a fun character.
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fairelvenlady
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Mar 27 2010, 8:26pm
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A little learning...
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FarFromHome
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Mar 28 2010, 1:01am
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From a medieval history syllabus...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 28 2010, 1:51am
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my own favorite quote
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sevilodorf
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Mar 28 2010, 5:43pm
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L is for Lothórien
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drogo
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Mar 25 2010, 10:19am
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through a high window
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Modtheow
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Mar 25 2010, 5:49pm
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I'd never thought about it that way
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Oiotári
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Mar 25 2010, 9:36pm
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Nasmith, for me.
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Elizabeth
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Mar 25 2010, 10:46pm
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Thanks for those links!
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Aunt Dora Baggins
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Mar 26 2010, 1:00am
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Middle-earth in HD...
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batik
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Mar 26 2010, 9:16pm
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I guess it depends
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FarFromHome
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Mar 29 2010, 1:09pm
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J is for Josef Stalin
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Pryderi
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Mar 25 2010, 11:36am
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It seems,
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SirDennisC
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Mar 25 2010, 9:32pm
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He does seem to dislike "globalisation" doesn't he?...
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Pryderi
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Mar 25 2010, 11:01pm
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'D' is for Denethor
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Hamfast Gamgee
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Mar 25 2010, 11:38am
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Denethor, son of Ecthelion
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 6:57pm
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W is for Woses!
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Tweezers of Thu
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Mar 25 2010, 12:22pm
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always something new
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Modtheow
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Mar 26 2010, 12:20am
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Oh, yes! Even after 44 years (gasp!)...
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Tweezers of Thu
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Mar 26 2010, 4:58pm
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Ack - they're everywhere!
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NottaSackville
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Mar 26 2010, 12:24pm
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Another example! Flame-eyed Elves!
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Tweezers of Thu
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Mar 26 2010, 5:36pm
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"L" is also for "Letters"
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Elwen
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Mar 25 2010, 1:37pm
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(Soft, benevolent smile for Frodo)
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 7:17pm
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O is for Olórë Mallë
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Oiotári
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Mar 25 2010, 2:33pm
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Roverandom?
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 7:23pm
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R is for Rosie
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Rosie-with-the-ribbons
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Mar 25 2010, 3:27pm
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(laughs) Getting two in at once?
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 7:29pm
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Yep
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Rosie-with-the-ribbons
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Mar 26 2010, 9:23am
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Wish I had your impishness!
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GAndyalf
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Mar 26 2010, 4:50pm
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Muchos gracias
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Rosie-with-the-ribbons
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Mar 26 2010, 6:59pm
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It's not too far off...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 26 2010, 7:14pm
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Close enough...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 26 2010, 7:21pm
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Marido Oscuro, lol...
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Evernight
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Mar 26 2010, 7:03pm
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<Takes his lumps>
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GAndyalf
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Mar 26 2010, 7:16pm
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G is for Gandalf
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Nerdanel
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Mar 25 2010, 6:01pm
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At a guess...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 7:35pm
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laughter
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Modtheow
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Mar 26 2010, 2:33am
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S is for Smith of Wootton Major.
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Evernight
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Mar 25 2010, 6:08pm
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(Daubs tears)
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 7:44pm
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"Why is Faery important? How important is it to you?"
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SirDennisC
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Mar 26 2010, 4:12am
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A is for Arkenstone!
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entmaiden
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Mar 25 2010, 6:53pm
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Because you asked...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 7:51pm
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It just so happens
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Oiotári
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Mar 25 2010, 8:57pm
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Z is for Zirakzigil
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weaver
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Mar 25 2010, 8:29pm
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"I need no map," said Gimli...
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N.E. Brigand
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Mar 25 2010, 9:20pm
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Aha! More Z's!
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weaver
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Mar 25 2010, 9:46pm
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On living rock.
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Pryderi
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Mar 25 2010, 11:34pm
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Zis monument, carved into ze hillside - it is zuspicious, no?
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squire
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Mar 26 2010, 1:53am
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U is for Uolë Kúvion, the Man in the Moon
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Dân o’Nandor-on-Anduin
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Mar 25 2010, 10:43pm
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How charming...
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SirDennisC
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Mar 26 2010, 2:48am
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E is for Erendis
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acheron
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Mar 26 2010, 12:39am
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I really like this story
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Modtheow
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Mar 27 2010, 1:49pm
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V is for Voronwë
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Voronwë_the_Faithful
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Mar 26 2010, 2:12am
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One of the amazing things about the depth of Tolkien's writing -
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NottaSackville
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Mar 26 2010, 12:48pm
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I remembered...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 26 2010, 4:55pm
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H is for Halfling!
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aranelthehobbit22
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Mar 26 2010, 2:21am
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No worries
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SirDennisC
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Mar 26 2010, 2:30am
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Thank you
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GAndyalf
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Mar 26 2010, 2:40am
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M is for Morwen
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Saelind
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Mar 26 2010, 2:54am
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The saddest...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 26 2010, 3:18am
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M is for Morwen
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Saelind
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Mar 26 2010, 3:48am
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'H' is for, hip, hip, hooray, everyone!
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Altaira
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Mar 26 2010, 3:33am
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N is for Niggle
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Finding Frodo
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Mar 26 2010, 4:11am
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Whoops!
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Finding Frodo
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Mar 26 2010, 2:33pm
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Niggle and Tasks...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 26 2010, 4:33pm
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Y is for Yggdrasil.
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N.E. Brigand
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Mar 26 2010, 6:42am
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How did drasils turn into wargs?
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NottaSackville
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Mar 26 2010, 3:47pm
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A is for N.E. Brigand -
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NottaSackville
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Mar 26 2010, 12:28pm
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Seconded!
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sador
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Mar 26 2010, 12:31pm
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Thirded!
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entmaiden
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Mar 27 2010, 12:09am
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All in favour
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Modtheow
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Mar 27 2010, 1:57pm
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And a big thank-you from me, too
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Lily Fairbairn
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Mar 28 2010, 6:03pm
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Wow! This is great!
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Compa_Mighty
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Apr 4 2010, 7:52pm
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