LOTRLounge is temporarily without pictures, due to deletion of the acount on which they were hosted. We will try to replace them A.S.A.P.
We are sorry that we have never updated since a long time ago. Please contact our President.

Written by Curufinwe, Senior Coder, an LOTRLounge Member


LATER:
Requested by Curufinwe (above), I renewed what possible template malfunctions we had, and for those I could not find, I had to replace them with something else. Please tell us how you like the Lounge!

Written byLuthien, an LOTRLounge Member

Now let the song begin! Let us sing together!

Of sun, stars, moon and mist, rain and cloudy weather,

Light on the budding leaf, dew on the feather,

Wind on the open hill, bells on the heather,

Reeds by the shady pool, lilies on the water:

Old Tom Bombadil and the River-daughter!

In The Fellowship of the Ring: The Old forest, where we first "meet" Goldberry, her voice is described as “young and ancient as Spring, like the song of a glad water flowing down into the night from a bright morning in the hills” and “falling like silver”, while singing the song above to greet the four hobbits to Tom Bombadil’s house. Her hair is long, wavy, and yellow, and she is usually clad in clothing that reminded one of rain, or rivers, etc. 

She is depicted with the beauty of the elves, though it is never told that she is, indeed, an elf. However, there is reason to believe she could have been an elf with this statement to Frodo: “…I see that you are an elf-friend; the light in your eyes and the ring in your voice tells it.” (The Fellowship of the Ring, In the House of Tom Bombadil)

Not much is known of Goldberry, since she played so little a part in The Fellowship of the Ring. She is said to be the daughter of the River, though this expression isn’t explained in The Lord of the Rings. In the Encyclopedia at the website Council of Elrond (www.councilofelrond.com), Goldberry is said to be the daughter of the River-woman, a spirit of the river Withywindle.

According to the Encyclopedia at Council of Elrond, Goldberry is also Tom Bombadil’s wife. Tolkien did not state this relationship outright in The Fellowship of the Ring, but it can be concluded when Tom calls Goldberry “his lady” and that she waits at his home for his return.

…By that pool long ago I found the River-daughter,

fair young Goldberry sitting in the rushes.

Sweet was her singing then, and her heart was beating!

Written by Jennifer ~ Fánefalmë, a LOTRLounge Member

We are officially starting up The Lord of the Rings Lounge again! Wahoo!! We are going to try and have an entry written by SOMEONE at least once every week!

And We will try to have a member meeting at least every 2 weeks.


Namarie!

Written by Curufinwe, a Lord Of The Rings Lounge coder

The great conflict at the end of the Third Age, named for the One Ring and the importance this had in the final outcome. The war was fought between the Free (a loose alliance of Elves and Men led by the Wise) and Sauron the Dark Lord, with Saruman as a third power based in Orthanc.

Sauron at all times held the military advantage in the War, due to his overwhelming forces; not only Orcs and Trolls, but Men of Harad and the East. His main immediate object was the overthrow of Gondor, his near neighbour and the strongest of his enemies. He had such forces at his command, though, that he was able to fight the war on many fronts, also attacking Dale, Erebor and the Wood-elves in the far north, and Lórien from his secondary stronghold at Dol Guldur. There can be no doubt that, had the Wise not achieved possession of the Ring, Sauron would ultimately have been victorious.

Saruman had claimed alliance with both the Wise and the Dark Lord, but was ultimately fighting for his own ends. In alliance with the Dunlendings, and having Orcs at his own command, his objective was the defeat of Rohan. Until late in the War, he held the advantage, defeating Rohan twice at the Battles of the Fords of Isen. He had not considered the Ents of Fangorn in his plans, however, and when they were roused to anger at his actions, they brought about his downfall.

The policy of the Wise was based around the Quest of Mount Doom; a company of nine under the leadership of Gandalf travelled from Rivendell with the One Ring, with the hope of reaching Orodruin in Mordor and there destroying it. Because the Ring held much of Sauron's native power, they realised that in unmaking it, they would also defeat its creator. Against all hope, the Quest was achieved by Frodo Baggins, and Sauron defeated.

The War did not end with the defeat of Sauron, for Saruman fled northward after the capture of Orthanc, and established himself in the Shire, bending the Hobbits to his will by threat of violence and the persuasive power of his voice. The return of Frodo Baggins and his companions led to a rebellion by the Shire-hobbits, in which Saruman was killed by his servant, Gríma Wormtongue.

Although Sauron and Saruman were both defeated, the Wise did not achieve total victory. With the destruction of the One Ring, the Three Rings that had maintained the realms of the Elves in Middle-earth lost their power, and the Elves began to leave Middle-earth for the Undying Lands.

John

OK, meeting's will now be on fridays. It's supposed to be in the afternoon, but giftedgirl can't be there then, so I need Ideas, please!

  We will have a meeting this Friday if we can decide a time.

~Curufinwe

Since i haven't posted for awhile, i'll post today.

Felarof

Ancestor of the mearas - the great horses of Rohan. Felarof was a beautiful white horse and he was strong and swift and proud. It was said that Felarof came from a line of horses whose sire was brought to Middle-earth from the Undying Lands by the Vala Orome.

Felarof was a wild horse. As a foal, Felarof was captured by Leod of the Eotheod, who lived in the north near the source of the Anduin. When Felarof was fully grown, Leod tried to mount him, but the horse threw him. Leod struck his head and died, and his son Eorl vowed to avenge his death.

Eorl tracked Felarof down and called to him, and the horse came. Eorl said that Felarof owed him a weregild - meaning compensation for his father's death. Felarof was able to understand the language of Men, and he submitted to Eorl and gave up his freedom. He allowed no one but Eorl to ride him, and he wore no bit or bridle.

In 2510, Eorl rode Felarof to the aid of Gondor at the Battle of the Field of Celebrant. Afterwards, the Eotheod were given the land of Rohan and Eorl became the first King. Felarof had the life-span of a Man. He was buried in the mound of Eorl, who died in battle in 2545.

Felarof's descendants the mearas were magnificent, long-lived horses. The most famous of these was Shadowfax.

Other Names:
Felarof was called Father of Horses because the mearas were descended from him. Eorl called him Mansbane because he caused the death of his father.

Etymology:
Felaróf is a poetic Anglo-Saxon word meaning "very valiant, very strong." The name was given by Eorl.

Sources:
The Two Towers: "The King of the Golden Hall," p. 112
Appendix A of LotR: "The House of Eorl," p. 346, 349
Unfinished Tales: "Cirion and Eorl," p. 299, 314 note 28

Luthien

Bio of Gimli son of Gloin

Vital Statistics:

Race: Dwarves
Date of Birth: 2879
Date of Death: 120 F.A. or thereafter
Residences: Lonely Mountain; later Glittering Caves
Parents:Father - Gloin, mother - unknown
Siblings: None
Spouse: None
Children: None
Weapon: Axe
Galadriel's gift: Three strands of her hair

Detailed Biography

 Gimli was a stout-hearted and loyal Dwarf. His father Gloin had been one of Bilbo Baggins' companions on the quest to the Lonely Mountain, and Gimli was a member of the Fellowship that accompanied Frodo Baggins on the quest to destroy the One Ring. Gimli overcame his suspicion of Elves as he grew to admire Galadriel and formed a lasting friendship with Legolas, earning him the name Elf-friend.

  Gimli was born in 2879. His father Gloin was of the line of Durin; his mother's name is not known. In his youth, Gimli lived in the Blue Mountains west of Eriador. After the Dwarves reclaimed the Lonely Mountain in 2941, Gloin relocated his family there and became prosperous.

  Around 3017, a messenger came to the Lonely Mountain from Mordor seeking news of Bilbo and the Ring he had found. Gloin and Gimli were sent to Rivendell to warn Bilbo and seek advice from Elrond. They arrived at Rivendell in October of 3018 and on the 25th they attended the Council of Elrond. At the Council it was decided that the Ring must be taken to Mordor and destroyed, and Frodo Baggins volunteered for this task.

  Gimli was chosen to represent the Dwarves in the Fellowship of the Ring. When they left Rivendell on December 25, Gimli wore a shirt of steel rings and carried a broad-bladed axe. Elrond told the members of the Fellowship that they were not bound by oath to remain with the Ring-bearer, but Gimli replied, "Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens." (FotR, p. 294)

  As the Fellowship approached the Misty Mountains, Gimli caught sight of the peaks of Barazinbar, Zirakzigil and Bundushathur for only the second time in his life. His heart trembled at the thought of seeing Mirrormere in the Dimrill Dale that lay beyond the mountains.

  The Fellowship was prevented from crossing the mountains at the Redhorn Gate by a blizzard. Gimli told his companions that Caradhras had always had a cruel reputation, and he advised them to turn back. But their way was blocked with snow and they had to dig their way out. Gimli claimed it was the ill will of Caradhras.

  Gandalf proposed that they take the passage under the mountains through the Mines of Moria. Gimli was the first to agree to this suggestion, for he longed to see the ancient Dwarf realm of the Dwarrowdelf. The Fellowship's decision was forced when they were attacked by Wargs. Gimli fought the beasts stoutly with his axe, and then Gandalf led the way to Moria with Gimli at his side.

  They reached the West-gate, which had once been the site of commerce between the Dwarves and the Elves. Both Gimli and Legolas denied that their people were responsible for the rift between the two races. Gandalf urged the Dwarf and the Elf to remain friends for he needed their help............

For more, go HERE

~Curufinwe, LOTRLounge coder and entry writer

Dates:	Constructed in the beginning of Arda, destroyed in the War of Wrath, c.I 583
Location:	Far to the north of Beleriand
Other Names:	The Hells of Iron
Meaning:	Usually given as 'Hells of Iron', but the literal meaning is 'iron prison'

(somewhat conjectural)¹

For more resources check out the encyclopedia of Arda

Orcs Warring servants of the Dark Lords

Meaning: Derives from Old English, 'demons' (but see The Etymology of 'Orc' below) Other Names: Goblins, Glamhoth, Yrch

Little is known for certain of the beginnings of the Orcs, the footsoldiers of the Enemy. It is said that they were in origin corrupted Elves captured by Melkor before the beginning of the First Age. In appearance, Orcs were squat, swarthy creatures. Most of them preferred the darkness, being blinded by the light of the Sun, but the kinds bred later in the Third Age such as the Uruk-hai could endure the daylight.

The Etymology of ‘Orc’ '...the word is as far as I am concerned actually derived from Old English orc 'demon', but only because of its phonetic suitability...' The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien No 144, dated 1953 The word orc could be called the Tom Bombadil of Tolkien's etymology; it occurs in different variants in almost all the languages of Middle-earth, but we have almost no details of how they interconnect. The variety of 'orc'-words is illustrated by Tolkien himself: 'Orc is the form of the name that other races had for this foul people as it was in the language of Rohan. In Sindarin it was orch. Related, no doubt, was the word uruk in the Black Speech...' The Lord of the Rings Appendix F I The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age So it is clear that these words are all related (and orc is also, apparently, used freely by speakers of the Common Tongue). What is harder to discover, though, is how these words are all related to one another. Why does the rural hobbit-dialect use essentially the same word for these creatures as in the courts of Minas Tirith or Caras Galadhon? When it comes to the word's origins, there are three possible theories. Theory 1: Ancient Mannish Tongues The connection of orc to Old English strongly suggests a Mannish origin. Other old words of this kind, like mathom and smial, have their origins in the ancient tongues of the Northmen (hence the shared understanding between the Hobbits and Rohirrim, whose ancestors had once lived in the same northern regions). This language can be traced back to the ancestors of the Edain in the First Age, from whose language also came the Adûnaic tongue of Númenor and ultimately the Common Speech of Middle-earth. This puts the first pieces of the puzzle into place. If the word orc is shared by the language of the Rohirrim, the dialect of the Hobbits and the Westron tongue, it must date back at least to these ancient ancestors of Men. However, orc surely cannot have been invented by these Mannish-speakers. They came late onto a linguistic scene in which Sindarin was already well established. At the time the Elves encountered Men, they had been warring with the Orcs for centuries - it is not plausible that they would have abandoned their own word for their foe and replaced it with one from a coarse alien tongue. The only realistic alternative is that the earliest Men did not invent the word orc for themselves, but adapted it from Elvish orch, and then passed it down to their descendants. This accounts for Tolkien's qualification '..but only because of its phonetic suitability...' quoted above. Theory 2: Orkish Dialects An apparently more practical theory might be that the Orcs invented their own name for themselves, and the other races (especially the Elves) adopted this for their own use. Unfortunately, this doesn't fit with the established facts: 'It is said that [the Orcs] had no language of their own, but took what they could of other tongues and perverted it to their own liking...' The Lord of the Rings Appendix F I The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age This seems to suggest that the Orcs didn't originally have a name for their own kind, but borrowed it from some other source. This is a strange conclusion to be sure, but it seems the only one discernable from the text. We would have to presume that this acquired name was then incorporated into Sauron's Black Speech when it was created long after. If the Orcs didn't invent their own word uruk, then, it must have come from some other source. Theory 3: Elvish The only remaining plausible theory is that it was the Elves who invented the word, and passed it on to the other races, including the Orcs themselves. This is borne out by The Etymologies (in volume 5 of The History of Middle-earth), where we find a reference to an Elvish root órok, from which the various Elvish words for 'goblin' derive. This seems to be the oldest origin of the word, from which all the others developed.

Written by John, a LOTRLounge Member

LOTR Bio of Legolas Greenleaf

Race: Elves
Date of Birth: Unknown
Left Middle-earth: 120 F.A.
Residences: Mirkwood; later Ithilien
Parents:Father - Thranduil; Mother - Unknown
Siblings: None known
Spouse: None known
Children: None known
Hair color: Unknown (see note)
Weapons: Bow & arrows and a long white knife
Horse: Arod
Galadriel's gift: Bow of the Galadhrim and a quiver of arrows

Detailed Biography:

Legolas Greenleaf, son of the Elvenking of Mirkwood, was selected to represent the Elves in the Fellowship of the Ring. His endurance, keen sight, and fighting skills were of great help on the quest, but his loyalty and friendship were even greater assets to his companions. Legolas grew fond of the Hobbits and he loved and supported Aragorn, but the strongest bond he formed was his unlikely friendship with Gimli the Dwarf.

Little is known about Legolas's early life. His date of birth is not known, though he made some vague references to his age:

 "It [Fangorn] is old, very old," said the Elf. "So old that almost I feel young again, as I have not felt since I journeyed with you children."
The Two Towers: "The White Rider," p. 94

 "Five hundred times have the red leaves fallen in Mirkwood in my home since then," said Legolas, "and but a little while does that seem to us."
The Two Towers: "The King of the Golden Hall," p. 111

 "These are the strangest trees that ever I saw," he said; "and I have seen many an oak grow from acorn to ruinous age."
The Two Towers: "The Road to Isengard," p. 152

  Based on these comments it would appear that Legolas was at least several hundred years old at the time of the War of the Ring, and possibly even several thousand, but an exact age cannot be determined. The age attributed to the character of Legolas in Peter Jackson's film version of The Lord of the Rings is 2,931; however, this figure has no basis in the text.

  It should also be noted that in The Book of Lost Tales II, an Elf named Legolas Greenleaf was present at the Fall of Gondolin in the First Age. But this Elf was of the Noldor and went to Tol Eressea where he remained and thus was almost certainly not the same as Legolas of the Fellowship.

  Legolas was a Silvan Elf of Sindarin descent. His father Thranduil was one of the Sindar who had come from Lindon sometime before the year 1000 of the Second Age. The Elves of Mirkwood were mainly Silvan, or Wood-Elves, and Legolas identified himself as one of the Silvan folk. It is not known who Legolas's mother was, and some have speculated that she may have been a Silvan Elf, but there is no textual basis for this theory.

Legolas's father Thranduil had imprisoned Thorin Oakenshield and his Dwarf companions when they passed through Mirkwood on the way to the Lonely Mountain in 2941. Thranduil also met Bilbo Baggins, to whom he gave the name "Elf-friend," and he fought in the Battle of the Five Armies. It is not known whether Legolas was involved in these events.

  On March 21, 3017, Aragorn brought Gollum to Mirkwood to be held captive and questioned about his hunt for Bilbo and the One Ring. Gollum was guarded day and night, but the Elves took pity on him and allowed him to climb a tree that stood alone. One night in June of 3018, Gollum refused to come down. The Wood-Elves were then attacked by Orcs and Gollum escaped in the confusion.

  Legolas was sent to Rivendell to inform Elrond of Gollum's escape. On October 25, he attended the Council of Elrond, where it was decided that the One Ring had to be taken to Mordor and destroyed. Frodo Baggins volunteered for this task, and Legolas was chosen to represent the Elves in the Fellowship that was to accompany the Ring-bearer. The Fellowship left Rivendell on December 25, 3018.

The Fellowship was prevented from crossing the Misty Mountains at the Redhorn Gate by a blizzard. Legolas was able to walk upon the snow and find the edge of the storm. He reported back to his companions that they did not have much further to go to dig their way out.

  Gandalf suggested an alternate route under the mountains through the Mines of Moria. Legolas was against the idea, for although the Elves of Eregion had at one time traded with the Dwarves of Khazad-dum, evil had been awoken there and Moria now had an evil reputation. But the Fellowship's decision was forced when they were attacked by Wargs. Legolas slew many with his arrows, and the Fellowship made their way quickly to the West-gate of Moria.

  The West-gate had once been the site of commerce between the Elves and the Dwarves. Both Legolas and Gimli denied that their people were responsible for the rift between the two races. Gandalf urged the Elf and the Dwarf to remain friends for he needed their help.

The journey through Moria took several days. In the Chamber of Mazarbul on January 15, they discovered the tomb of Balin, who had led an ill-fated expedition to Moria thirty years earlier. Then the Fellowship was attacked by Orcs. Legolas shot two through the throat, and altogether his companions slew thirteen. The Orcs retreated and the Fellowship fled. Legolas had to drag Gimli away from his kinsman Balin's tomb.

At the Bridge of Khazad-dum, Legolas saw a creature of shadow and flame approaching and realized that it was a Balrog. Gandalf told the others to flee and he fought with the Balrog until they both fell into the abyss.

  The Fellowship made their way towards the woods of Lothlorien. Legolas realized that Frodo and Sam were lagging behind, and they stopped to tend the Hobbits' injuries. At last they came to the eaves of the Golden Wood. Legolas had never been to Lothlorien, but he had heard that Elves still dwelled there guarded by a secret power.

By the Nimrodel, Legolas sang of the Elf-maiden for whom the stream was named. He then began to climb one of the mallorn trees seeking shelter for his companions, but a voice speaking in Elvish from high in the branches stopped him. The Elves were border wardens of Lothlorien, and they had heard Legolas singing and recognized him as one of their Northern kindred. They asked him to climb up with Frodo to their flet.

The leader introduced himself as Haldir and Legolas told him who his companions were. Haldir was not pleased to learn that one of them was a Dwarf. After questioning Legolas he agreed that Gimli could remain, but cautioned Legolas to keep an eye on him.

The next day, Gimli balked at being the only member of the Fellowship who had to wear a blindfold through the woods. The Dwarf said he would agree if Legolas wore one too, and the Elf replied, "A plague on Dwarves and their stiff necks!" (FotR, p. 362) At last Aragorn convinced them to compromise, and the entire Fellowship went blindfolded, though Legolas was unhappy.

"Alas for the folly of these days!" said Legolas. "Here all are enemies of the one Enemy, and yet I must walk blind, while the sun is merry in the woodland under leaves of gold!"
The Fellowship of the Ring: "Lothlorien," p. 362

 At Caras Galadhon on January 17, the Fellowship was brought before Celeborn and Galadriel, the Lord and Lady of the Golden Wood. The Fellowship stayed in Lothlorien for a month. The Elves of Lothlorien sang laments for Gandalf, but Legolas would not interpret them for the others for he was still grieving the Wizard's loss. Legolas spent much time among the Elves, yet he also took Gimli with him and the two began to form a bond of friendship that surprised their companions.

  The Fellowship left Lothlorien on February 16. Legolas received a bow of the Galadhrim and a quiver of arrows from the Lady Galadriel. They set out down the Anduin, and Legolas shared a boat with Gimli. The Dwarf wept at his parting from Galadriel and wondered why he had come on the quest. Legolas comforted his friend.

"Alas for us all! And for all that walk the world in these after-days. For such is the way of it: to find and lose, as it seems to those whose boat is on the running stream. But I count you blessed, Gimli son of Gloin: for your loss you suffer of your own free will, and you might have chosen otherwise. But you have not forsaken your companions, and the least reward that you shall have is that the memory of Lothlorien shall remain ever clear and unstained in your heart, and shall neither fade nor grow stale."

The Fellowship of the Ring: "Farewell to Lorien," p. 395

    

Info from HERE

Written by Curufinwe, LOTRLounge member