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Surely you remember the wanderings of Húrin's wife Morwen Eledhwen...
Well, who knew that Eledhwen (that would be me) would wander around Toronto
in search of him? (Why am I still searching?) Yet, round an unexpected
corner, I found Middle Earth, a true sense of fellowship and some amazing
War of the Ringers!
Our deepest thanks to Celebriel, Dernhelm and HobbitFriend who helped us
bring back to you news (and visions) of….
A LONG EXPECTED PARTY : The Gathering of the Fellowship 2003
Picture this …. You sit nervously fidgeting in a large auditorium. The lights go out. Unexpected. Your eyes open wider. You hear the music you know so well from what has to be a collection of the best soundtracks ever – you know the ones. A circle of people are illuminated on the stage, swaying rhythmically to the music. Before you can even wonder what’s going on, the light turns red and Sauron stands, towering above them, hammer upheld. They are about to be destroyed. You’re completely taken up in the story unfolding in front of you onstage – beautifully choreographed to Howard Shore’s incredible score, without any words spoken at all. The story of the Ring goes on from Sauron’s loss. You see the Fellowship on its Quest. Then Elves are arranging themselves as a defence, but against what? Behind you, the doors burst open and you jump at the noise of Orcs shrieking, running down the aisles to the stage where battle awaits them. As they are defeated by the combined effort of the Elves, you breathe a sigh of relief. Aragorn becomes a victorious king and healer. Frodo struggles through Mordor and finally climbs to Mount Doom. The Ring is destroyed, Sauron is vanquished, and the Shire and the rest of the free world are restored. You cheer and clap with hundreds of others knowing that your day is only going to get better from here.
So,
where are you? At a marathon showing of all three movies?? Nope. You’re
sitting in the welcoming ceremonies at The Gathering of the Fellowship 2003.
And the weather outside might be frightful, but inside the friendship is delightful.
And there’s no place we would rather go, so let it snow! Let it snow!
Let it snow! For the next three days there are activities to please you whether
you like art, armour, games, movie stars, costume, discussions, films or a
pleasant mixture of them all! The venue was the Sheraton Hotel in downtown
Toronto but when you walk through the doors, you know that you are now in
some special corner of Middle Earth, far removed from the mundane city world.
Elves, Hobbits, Wizards, and even a Nazgûl or two greet each other like
family. The hotel restaurant/bar quickly comes to resemble a veritable Inn
we all happen to know in the village of Bree as Rangers, Hobbits, Dwarves,
Men and Women of Gondor and Rohan, and Wizards pour in to rest their weary
feet and hear travellers’ tales.
The first day is kicked off in high style with that incredibly choreographed show and a welcome by the MC, Quickbeam (Cliff Broadway) from TheOneRing.net. A few of us WaroftheRingers were able to meet and talk (and hug!) the night before. In the morning a couple of us met and talked (and hugged!) again and then we split up to see the sights. Over the next couple of days, we met many times and ate together or went to sessions or movies together. It's amazing - though I should not be surprised - that there is this great bond and we really felt like family when we met! I know the next time we see each other (and any of you that we didn't meet) there will be a lot of laughs, hugs and great times!
To see what it all looked like check out this fantastic Gallery straight out of Middle Earth!!! (With many bows of thanks to Illuvatar!)
The range and quality of the programming deserves a special mention. It was diverse and of excellent quality – no sessions at all where you sat wondering what it was all about. The guest speakers and presenters were all wonderful and we learned so much more than we knew going in!! To give you a peek at the programming, you could see:
• Ted Nasmith
present his artwork
• Haldir (Craig Parker) and Gil Galad (Mark Ferguson)
live onstage
• Q+A with Gamling (Bruce Hopkins)
• Tolkien and Beowulf with Professor Michael Drout
• Presentation of the upcoming Tolkien-inspired film ANCANAR
• Meditation on Middle Earth - a panel with authors,
artists, professors and more
• Arms and Armour of Middle Earth
• Professor Mike Foster on Tolkien in the 1960's
• Documentaries like “The Legacy of the Lord of the
Rings” with professor Dan Timmons
• “Riddles in the Dark” – Craig Parker
and Mark Ferguson reading from “The Hobbit”
• Tolkien costuming for the amateur
• Autograph sessions galore ….
and some of what we didn't get to...
• Learning to write
the Tengwar
• EA presenting their LOTR games
• A presentation from ProLiteracy Worldwide on Harry Potter and LOTR –
how they boost literacy
• Tolkien Jeopardy
• Women in Middle Earth – a panel discussion with authors such as Michelle
West and Alison Baird and professors like Dr. Jane Chance and Dr. Mike Foster
…. and that was just the beginning of it! There was also the Banquet and the movies!
(Now ... there's a lot of good stuff to read, but if you're really anxious to know if they'll be doing it again, well we won't make you wait. Just go here.)
Ted Nasmith's "Visions of Middle Earth"
Ted Nasmith’s “Visions of Middle Earth” treated us all to a little bit of history and development of his work, along with slides of his stunning
paintings. For example, how as a child he saw the architecture of the mausoleum at Verdun, which communicates the horror and tragedy of
the soldiers’ deaths, and how this must have unconsciously influenced his later rendition of Barad Dur. He also recounted writing to Tolkien as a fan and
sending a photograph of one of his paintings. He received a letter back from the Professor saying that he appreciated that people like him (Nasmith)
had been inspired by his work to render it artistically and even gave him some feedback.
It was really interesting to see earlier and later paintings of the same scenes
such as Rivendell and The Argonath and to hear how his vision developed. We
also got to look at some of his lesser known work such as the troth of Arwen
and Aragorn at Cerin Amroth and Mirrormere. Then he showed us some paintings
that will be featured in the revised edition of the illustrated “Silmarillion”
which he is currently working on. A particularly haunting and beautiful one
for me depicts Túrin finding Nienor on the mound of Finduilas. I can’t wait
for this book to come out! Ted also talked about creating a visual look that
captures what we sense from the literature, which does always seem to come
through in his work. All in all, it was a fascinating opportunity to walk
through these paintings with the artist himself and listen to what inspired
him and what it was like for him to work on them. (For more information on
his work, you can go to Ted's
website.)
Ted’s Art Gallery
There was nothing better than walking through the gallery of Ted's magnificent
art. It was a truly special experience to be able to stand in front these
pieces and look at the incredible detail that is his signature. For the many
art buffs who wandered through, there was probably no greater thrill than
to be able to talk to the artist himself, as Ted was in the Gallery chatting
with folks and answering their questions. You could also pick up a number
of prints on sale at the Gallery as a special Christmas treat for yourself!
As a writer, I've always been inspired by Ted's use of light and colour and
a real sense of the deeper themes of Middle Earth that come through the painting.
It seems to be a place beyond words where ideas are born. Walking through
the gallery (again and again!) was a truly gratifying and inspirational experience!
Art Competition
The Gathering played host
to the art of some of the most creative, talented artists around. Fans were
free to view an impressive array of art from sculptures, to posters, drawings,
paintings, and photo manipulations. It was both a privilege and a hard chore
to cast individual votes for all of the varying art contest categories. Every
winning entry truly deserved their respective prize, but the winning entries
that absolutely stood out my memory belonged to our very own resident artist
- Kim Kincaid. Her beautiful portrait of Aragorn won for best portrait. There’s
no question why. Just take a look at those soulful eyes and that exquisite
lighting and you can see for yourself. This particular drawing is the second
one found on Kim's page in our Art Gallery!
Kim did not just sweep the best portrait category. Her drawing "The One
Ring Serkis" won in the Best Drawing category as well. To see this gorgeous
portrait visit the Gallery
of Imladris on The Gathering website. This is one of the most creative,
well-done, original pieces of art in the entire gallery. We can all be proud
of Kim's accomplishment!
(Dernhelm)
Eledhwen adds: Absolutely! CONGRATULATIONS KIM!! This is a fantastic achievement and War of the Ring
is really proud of you!!
Haldir and Gil Galad
Live!
What to say about “Haldir and Gil Galad Live!”? That it was an
hour of uproar punctuated by informational tidbits? Or that it was the funniest
hour I’ve had in a REALLY long time? Maybe just that those Elves sure
know how to have fun?! Craig Parker (Haldir) and Mark Ferguson (Gil Galad)
were an absolute treat to watch as they joked onstage and interacted with
the audience – a little instruction on self love and something about
telling yourself “I love you mate”. All innocent fun and good
laughs all the way ‘round, as they inquired about squirrel habits ("Why
do they go everywhere in pairs?" they were wondering) - apparently the only
animals that Elves don't understand! For this hometown girl, the highlight
was their recount of a Toronto Maple Leafs hockey game. Lots of fighting –
every now and then they stop and play with the little black thing –
‘What was THAT?’ asks Mark – but after a few minutes, they
stop and go back to fighting! Not to forget their magnificent Canadian accents,
eh? - or their account of hockey fans who practise insults like "You're so
- OLD!" Ahh, what’s not to love about this sport?
They
did (in between their hilarity) talk about their experiences on set, relating
what it was like to learn sword-fighting and how many times the poor stuntmen
got whacked in the head! And we learned that Elf hair is not exactly a happy
combination with shooting arrows in rapid succession! Mark admitted that he
really liked having an army and Elrond as his assistant and Craig gave us
a very brief, but quite accurate "Agent Elrond" impression! They were also
asked a question about "...raving, drooling, foaming fangirls..." - I can't
quite remember all the adjectives there - but "foaming" was a good
one and gave many of us (and them) a new expression!
That hour went by much too quickly for me. It was a really fantastic experience
to watch these guys having fun onstage. I came away with a real respect for
what they do (serious and not!) and the natural talent and almost extraordinary
wit they have. They were also very personable and gracious, winning the hearts
of all!
Q+A
with Bruce Hopkins
Bruce
Hopkins gave a wonderful one hour plus session that was mostly comedy but
also part serious. He didn't have any projects scheduled when he got the call
for LOTR, so he was thrilled, especially as the part of Gamling expanded.
Taking questions from aspiring actors, Bruce stressed the importance of "practicing
your craft," even if it meant taking low-paying or even no-paying projects.
A general all round talented good guy, and the proud possessor of an Isengard
Swim Team t-shirt!
(Celebriel)
Eledhwen adds: I was also really struck by how down-to-earth and sincere Bruce was. He related his stories with such endearing honesty and good-natured charm! It was another hour of much fun and I came away with a lot of respect for Bruce as an actor and as a person.
Riddles
in the Dark
This one-hour reading by none other than Craig Parker and Mark Ferguson was
as wonderful for the adults as for the hobbit lads and lasses gathered just
in front of the stage. For the hour, they sat rapt and attentive for one of
the most spirited readings I've ever heard. Mark and Craig not only read this
chapter from "The Hobbit" brilliantly, they brought their own brand
of quick-witted commentary and characteristic hilarity to it as well. When
Bilbo finds the Ring "... it was the turning point in his career",
reads Mark, who then quips "and in Tolkien's". From the passage where Bilbo
is looking for his pipe, Craig reads (in a not-very-typical Public Service
fashion) "It was not broken and that was something. Then he felt for his
pouch and there was some tobacco in it, and that was something more. (Although
smoking is very bad for you!)", he goes on smoothly "Then he felt for his
matches and he could not find any at all, and that shattered his hopes completely.
(But ultimately saved his life!) ..." It was Tolkien - with a little something
*special* added! The highlight was definitely Craig's rendition of Gollum,
done in an amazing voice! Ah, again - another hour that went by on wings!
Autographs
For All!!
What's a convention without the chance to meet and greet stars? Though I'm
not normally into autograph hounding, I did take advantage of the opportunity
to meet Craig Parker, (Haldir) and Mark Ferguson (King Gil-Galad). This first
autograph signing session was definitely an opportunity for The Gathering
organizers to either smoothly handle a serious glitch, or fall on their swords.
I'm happy to report that the organizers came through with flying colors. 
What
happened is that hundreds of folks lined up and waited patiently to obtain
Craig, Mark and Bruce Hopkin's (Gamling) pics and autographs, but as luck
would have it, there was no way they would be able to get through the crowd
and make it to their next event on time. The line was cut off directly in
front of me, but instead of adopting a "too bad so sad" attitude,
event organizers made sure that everyone who had waited in line and wanted
one, received a yellow ticket to come back the next day and be first in line.
I was most impressed and most every one was happy about the efforts being
extended. I did indeed return the next day with my copy of my fanfic, "Arrival
At Rivendell" in hand. Both Craig and Mark signed my book and took the
time to look at the some of the illustrations. I must say, Craig Parker does
not look at all like his character Haldir, but he was as genteel as any elf
could be!
(Dernhelm)
DISCUSSIONS AND PANELS
The folks from Heren Istarion, the New York Tolkien Society, deserve a special mention. They put together these unbelievable panels, talks and discussions. I'm sure it was very hard work, but everyone appreciated it and it was well worth the effort. This section of programming really gave us a good opportunity to delve into the depth and totality of Tolkien's work. So bravo to Anthony Burdge and Jessica Burke and all who helped put these sessions together!
Tolkien and Beowulf
Professor Michael Drout did not begin his talk at the front of the room where
we were all looking for him. Instead we suddenly heard a powerful voice behind
us, reading from Beowulf (in what I believe was Old English, but I’m
not an expert there!) as he came walking in from the door and down the aisle.
He explained that this was the way that Tolkien would begin his lectures at
Oxford, timing his walk and lecture to the peal of the bell from the clock
tower! He would then just launch into his lectures – I can imagine that
it took a lot for his students to keep up with him!
There
was so much information packed into this session that I could not possibly
give it all here, but Professor Drout took us through some of the history
of the poem and different scholarly arguments about its authorship and dating.
He also went through some of Tolkien’s contributions to study in this
area and how he changed the criticisms of the poem forever by his belief that
it should be looked at first as a poem. He talked about the manuscripts (material
drawn from Tolkien’s lecture, but never published) that he found in
the Bodleian Library at Oxford, which led to the book he published last year
titled “Beowulf and the Critics”.
The room was full for this energetic, inspirational and informative talk on Tolkien and Beowulf and when I left, I had learned some things I definitely did not know before. This was one of the many times that I reflected on how much Tolkien contributed and how everything I learn about him strengthens and intensifies interest in his work. It’s all one can do to marvel at such a great mind. (If you are more interested in the details of this talk, send me an email and I’ll be more than happy to share my notes; it really is a remarkable facet of Tolkien’s work.) For more (and much better) information than I can give, you can go to Professor Drout’s website.
Meditations on Middle Earth
Tom Maringer, creator of The Shire
Post, was inspired by the description of Bilbo and his letters to create commonplace
objects like stamps and coins to develop a sense of place. (See more at www.shirepost.com)
Author Michelle West first read
LOTR at age 12, and has read it through twenty times since then. She is impressed
with the story’s sense of loss, of elegy, and of its ability to capture
quiet grief. Author Allison Baird explained that while initially she read
straight through to follow the story, on repeat readings she focuses on Tolkien’s
craftsmanship, especially in verbal descriptions. Artist Ted Nasmith noted
that he doesn’t read the books too often, so they remain fresh and inspiring.
Why do the books remain important?
Because they show “an extraordinary humanity in a time of great cultural
change.” Because of their themes of “forgiveness, compassion,
love, decency, moral order, shame, honour, and the importance of living on
principle.” Because, as Michelle said, “Staying in and fighting
for what is right is what defines us.” Because, as Tom said, we can
take life building tools from the books. Ted Nasmith summed it up by saying,
“I cannot imagine what my life would have been like without Tolkien.”
(Celebriel)
Making Middle Earth
Real: Tolkien and Tangibility
This Heren Istarion panel with Sam Balcomb, Raiya Corsiglia, Tom Maringer,
Joe Piela, and Ted Nasmith, hosted by Anthony Budge and Jessica Burke, examined
various ways Middle Earth is made real.
Tom’s stamps and coins bring reality, as do Joe’s weapons and
armor. Ted uses the time of day, light and shadow, and water as ways of conveying
realism. Filmmakers Sam and Raiya use landscape, noting “landscapes
are very important in making it real. You can’t do the whole film in
front of a blue screen.” Joe explained that the process of making weapons
and armor is magical. He makes hand forged weapons at a coal burning forge,
like Tolkien’s dwarves and elves, and feels a strong connection to Middle
Earth.
(Celebriel)
Tolkien in the 1960s
To set the stage, Professor Mike Foster of Illinois Central College opened his presentation with a film clip
from the opening of the Beatles’ movie Help (1965), featuring an exotic
sacrificial ritual involving a ring. Tolkien reached a wide audience for the
first time in the 1960s with the advent of mass market paperback publishing.
Ace Publishers in the US issued a pirated paperback edition in June 1965 that
was followed in October by the first authorized US edition, issued by Ballantine
for $0.95 a copy. Interest soared, and Lord of the Rings was the top selling
paperback in 1966. I still have my three $0.95 volumes, fragile as the old
manuscripts Gandalf consulted in the Minas Tirith library, with their trippy
cover art and large print notices. Talk about feeling as old as Elrond!
Foster suggested that the trilogy’s
popularity with the 60’s generation traced to its resonance with the
zeitgeist of the times: the strong environmental theme, the hobbits’
smoking of pipeweed to relax, and the image of the Shire as an ideal place
to live, yet one without a government. Further, at that time the US was experiencing
a love of all things British, from the Beatles and other rock bands to Ian
Fleming’s James Bond.
The Beatles enjoyed the Trilogy so much there was serious discussion of their making a film version. A major
director, such as Stanley Kubrick, David Lean, or Michael Antonioni, was seen
as essential to bring such a project to completion. Kubrick , who later created
the mysterious 2001: A Space Odyssey, said the film was unmakeable, and the
Beatles later lost interest. It’s interesting to imagine a Lord of the
Rings created by the maker of Laurence of Arabia or Blow Up. Perhaps Kubrick
was right, and we needed to wait 35 years for the film technology that helped
give us Lord of the Rings.
(Celebriel)
ARMOUR
Arms And Armour Of Middle Earth
This session was hosted by Joe Piela, Master Metalsmith and chief armour maker
for the weapons used in the upcoming film, "Ancanar". It was a fascinating
historical, as well as, behind-the-scenes look at how authentic-looking weapons
are made and utilized in film. Fans were able to get their hands on such things
as helmets, gloves, and chainmail for a up close look at the intricate detail
that goes into making the weaponry. It was truly amazing to feel just how
heavy the helmets are and to think that actors have to endure wearing them
for hours at a time. I was particularly impressed with the beauty and intricate
detail on the Rohan-style helmet. Joe Piela has devoted himself to his craft
and to scholarly research on weapons in Tolkien's Middle Earth. He not only
talked about the making of the weapons themselves, but he discussed their
history as gleaned from sources such as Tolkien's Unfinished Tales, and Book
of Lost Tales. Fans were also treated to an impressive live demonstration
of battle action as two warriors suited up and fought ferociously against
each other. Don't try this at home folks! Joe Piela stressed the importance
of safety and of making weapons out of the right material. He specifically
mentioned that the use of rattan covered with duct tape was commonly used
for fashioning swords for sparring. Over all, this was a great opportunity
to photograph up close some pretty awesome looking weapons and to gain an
appreciation for the craft of armour making.
(Dernhelm)
Armour Apprentice Workshop
Toby Markham, Julia McGee, and
Jose Salcedo led some two dozen people in this hands on workshop. In just
two hours they learned the basic techniques of making templates from dolls
and photographs for armor pieces and were carefully cutting, taping (with
heavy duty black or gray tape) and assembling the individual pieces of armor
plate. Members of one group created reasonable beginnings of jointed glove
armor, modeled on Toby Markham’s incredible Sauron costume.
(Celebriel)
Tolkien Costuming For The Amateur
A session designed to display the amazing sewing talents and creativity of
Donna Maloney, Stephanie Strysick, Julia McGee and Leithelen Laslosse. And
display amazing talents they did! This was much more than a fashion show even
though there were live models on hand to wear some of the outfits made. Other
outfits were displayed on mannequins and still other costumes or select pieces
of costumes were passed around so that fans could have a hands-on examination
of fabrics, detail, and sewing techniques. The costumes ranged from simple
Elvish gowns to exact replicas of costumes worn in LOTRs movies. What was
most impressive about the costumes is the ingenuity that each artist employed
to make each costume. It was an impressive display of "out-of-the-box"
thinking to create everything from gowns to swords to intricate headpieces.
To the best of my understanding, none of the panel members were professional
costume makers. Fans interested in making costumes were given an extensive
list of resources for help ranging from online groups to specific books. If
you had any interest at all in costume making, this was the session to attend.
The extensive resource list alone was worth attending this standing-room only
session.
(Dernhelm)
Costume Hunters
I had not planned on going to Tuesday’s Masquerade and Ball, mostly
because 1) I didn’t think I’d know anyone to talk to, and 2) I
figured I’d either go to the movie or use the evening to read, do email,
and, gasp, even work on notes. My many new friends, though, had other ideas
and kept encouraging me to rent a costume and join them. Finally I decided,
well, maybe you do only live once, and so I headed out to Malabar’s
main store a few blocks away for a, uh, wider selection (in more ways than
one).
I
think there is a small part somewhere in each of us that longs for the fun,
escape, and release from self-imposed personality constraints that donning
a costume offers, whether for Mardi Gras, Halloween, or Eomer’s Ball.
The people at Malabar were just fantastic, and I met several more Gatherers
in the shared experience of trying on passing imitations of Elvish dresses.
I found the perfect dress: yards and yards of purple satin with an enormous
train and ribboned, slashed sleeves. Two good things about this dress were
1) it was so elaborate people would notice the dress, and not me, and 2) it
was really, really big and so the Malabar folks kindly pinned it up about
two sizes, enabling me to tell everyone how the dress had to be altered to
make it small enough for me. One not so good thing was that I could not get
into, or out of, it without help, as it had hooks and eyes instead of a zipper.
(Celebriel)
FILM/DOCUMENTARIES
ANCANAR
If there was one seminar that had my absolute attention it would be the one
concerning the upcoming, Tolkien-inspired film entitled, Ancanar. Writer/Director
Sam Balcomb, writer/actress Raiya Corsiglia, actor Gregory Lee Kenyon and
amoursmith Joe Piela were present to discuss all facets of the making of this
independent film. How far they have come since they unveiled their website
back in 2000! Fans where treated to an extensive preview of Ancanar and the
overall consensus was that folks were Very excited about this project. These
are serious film makers who are putting their time, talents and resources
behind the production of this original tale based in Middle-Earth. Fans were
thrilled to hear the latest news that Sam and Raiya were on the verge of sealing
a deal for some major financing. All of the panel members were very accessible
and gladly answered questions from the audience from film making techniques
to questions on budget, to questions about the Tolkien estate and who exactly
ownes what. My conclusion about this film remains the same as it was when
I first heard of it in 2000 - it is worthy of fan support and if people will
get behind this film, movie goers will not be disappointed as Middle-Earth
once again comes to life on the big screen.
(Dernhelm)
Ringers: Lord of the Fans
Cliff Broadway, better known as Quickbeam of The One Ring.net, gave an overview
of Tolkien fandom and the upcoming film Ringers, scheduled for release in
2004, which he narrated as well as co-wrote/co-produced. Cliff gave a recap
of Tolkien’s wave of popularity in the 1960s and its re-emergence with
the Trilogy films. Cliff explained that Ringers is a worldwide affectionate
look at Rings fans, capturing tales of their devotion to the story and films
without the heavy irony of “Trekkies.” Quickbeam’s standard
autograph: “Much too hasty!”
(Celebriel)
The Legacy of Lord of the Rings
I was determined to see Professor
Dan Timmons of Ryerson University and his excellent documentary, The Legacy
of Lord of the Rings, which had to be cancelled on Monday because of a major
A/V glitch: No TV and VCR could be obtained. Professor Timmons wrote, directed,
produced, edited and financed his film as a labor of love, which presents
Tolkien’s cultural legacy in literature, art, music. It features footage
of Oxford and Warwickshire, where Tolkien grew up, interviews with a wide
range of Tolkien scholars and writers, and the art of Ted Nasmith.
The film, which runs just over
50 minutes, has four parts: Subcreation, The Masterpiece, Reponse, and Legacy.
Extensive interviews, commentary, and images by Ted Nasmith are use to create
a fascinating and in-depth picture. Tom Shippey notes that for Tolkien, language
was about sound. Writer Peter Beagle comments on Tolkien’s use of the
quest theme, in which the journey itself is more important than the end. LOTR
is unique in its treatment of the theme of power. Its heroes do not seek power,
rather they seek to destroy an item of great power as a way of undoing a great
evil. And small ordinary people are central to the story, not just kings and
future kings.
The Response section examines the astonishing response to the books among
both the literary elite and the common reader. Tolkien can be credited with
inventing, or at least reinventing, the genre of fantasy fiction. While science
fiction existed, true fantasy fiction as a genre did not, other than as children’s
books or retellings of fairy tales. Response among the literary elite turned
sour as the Trilogy’s popularity grew. Why? Because it came to be seen
as a threat to the literary establishment’s modernism. Was modernism
really the answer if the ancient was still alive and more widely read?
The Legacy section makes the point
that Tolkien, or anyone else for that matter, didn’t foresee how pervasive
and enduring the work would become. Its elegiac mourning for a lost world
still resonates. It remains inspirational and relevant, showing how the disenfranchised
can make a difference for all those who live in a dark world.
(Celebriel)
KING EOMER'S FEAST: A Celebration of Middle Earth
After wrestling with my wig and closing as many of the purple satin’s hooks and eyes as I could without
dislocating my arms, I made my way to lobby to join hundreds of costumed revelers.
I found some friends to finish hooking me into my dress, which was great,
since I no longer had to stand with my back to the wall. The main pre-departure
ceremony was picture taking.
The Masquerade and Costume Contest
It was a little slow getting into
Medieval Times, and impossible to sit with friends if you didn’t get
your seat assignments together, but other than that the event was well organized.
The Masquerade and Costume Contest started the festivities. Cliff Broadway (“Quickbeam”) again served as MC. There were so many great costumes it was impossible to photograph them all.
One of the absolute best I saw was a couple dressed as Sam and Gollum, whom I met in the lobby. Gollum was on all fours on a chain, covering in light grey body paint, and wearing some rags. When I asked Sam why they weren’t in the contest, Sam pulled on Gollium’s chain and said, “ Because this Stinker is always late!” Fantastic. Among contest entrants, I especially liked Louise Pattrenden and Lyn Sigurdsen as The Argonath and was pleased to learn they won Best in Show. Fabulous concept and execution. My personal favorite for simple, direct, and funny was Sauron’s Finger!
The Tournament of the Mark
After the costume contest, everyone
proceeded to the jousting arena for medieval style entertainment and dinner
hosted by King Eomer and Lady Eowyn. We saw demonstrations of falconry and
special paces and moves by the horses, followed by the staged knights’
tournament. I have always been wary of this kind of performance, perhaps because
I fear something bad will happen on the night I’m there. People charging
at each other full speed with lances down is scary no matter what century
you’re in. Also, the food tends to not be very good and I don’t
like eating with my hands. Fortunately, nothing bad happened and the somewhat
anachronistic meal of roast chicken, ribs, garlic toast and coke was passable.
Eomer’s Ball
The last part of the evening was
music and dancing to Glass Hammer in Meduseld. I walked around taking more
costume pictures and went back to see the horses and falcons. People could
go into the court to have their picture taken on a throne under the White
Tree banner of Gondor.
Watching dancing elves and ringwraiths
was fun. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. The buses arrived just
after 11PM to take Gatherers to the midnight show of Return of the King, and
I left shortly after myself.
(Celebriel)
MOVIES
There is nothing like seeing Lord of the Rings movies with Lord of the Rings fans, especially if they are in full
costume! I didn't tackle all three movies in one day because I really wanted to see the programming on Wednesday (and get my
autographs - I have my priorities!). But Dernhelm, that crazy warrior did it (!) and when we met in the evening for "Return of the King" and she looked as beautiful and
fresh as if she had just arrived!
I took the more leisurely route of watching one film each night, with a great audience, and ending my time at The Gathering with my first
viewing of Return of the King. It was an experience I know I'll always remember, simply for the sheer excitement and amazing, crazy energy
that we all had, despite our short hours of sleep.
We watched the movie together, cheered and wept together - seven hundred people
bonding via Peter Jackson, Tolkien and tears. How many other moments in life
are like this? At the end of it all came time for us to say good-bye as it
was really all over and everyone would be going in many directions the next
day. It was a very poignant, bittersweet moment of satiety (having had such
a marvellous three days and finally seeing the movie) and emptiness (because
it was over and we were parting with good friends).
This
is only a bit of everything we did and saw. If only we could write about everything
that happened there. It felt like a huge adventure where we learned a few
things, had many laughs, met many new friends, old friends and maybe most
importantly, put faces to our online friends. We ate, sang, and I’m
sure I saw a springle-ring or two break out. But most of all we took away
great admiration and respect for all of the people who came together to share
their joy and talent, and their inspiration from the Professor’s great
works.
What is a great website like War of the Ring for? To give voice to fandom in its myriad, kaleidoscopic forms; we thrive in it here, our world on the web. But for three special days, it came to life and we revelled in its richness and diversity. I marvelled,yet again, at the particular influence that Tolkien’s writing has on our art, literature, music, and culture. All of this comes from the way his work moves us to our spirit - you, me, Peter Jackson – we would all have been different had Middle Earth not touched our lives.
It was hard to let good friends go and suddenly Toronto was just a city again, yet perhaps not quite the same. For, once Elven magic tints the air, it stays to colour all things, does it not?
The Gathering of the Fellowship had an air of good friendship and fun that allowed us to experience Middle Earth and express it however we could. The spirit holding it all together was real fellowship and all the good that it stands for. And, here is the best part - they’re going to do it again. In 2005, there will be another Gathering; there’s an announcement already and you can even purchase your memberships (see The Gathering website). The only thing left to say is “Forth Eorlingas!!”.
As for me, the ever-wandering wife of Húrin Thalion (he really isn’t coming home, is he?), Hobbit laughter, wizardly ruminations, scribes, bards, and artists galore still ring through the halls of my memory. I think all of us who were there, thank the Gathering Committee and the incredible team of volunteers from the bottom of our hearts for putting their devotion into this event and making it magic for us all! The Road goes ever on and on … and so we go forward with eager feet. Ahead of us there is a merry, warmly lit inn where we’ll meet again - old friends now and hopefully a good many new ones too. Here’s looking forward to seeing you there in 2005!
In Fellowship,
Fan Fiction Section Editor - War of the Ring.net
For even more check out these journals by Celebriel and Dernhelm!
Got a comment on what you've read? Then post a message below, if you have a question or want to discuss in more detail then head over to the WotR Community Forum.
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