Midgård Fylking's 21st Anniversary, 1994

By Kim Hansen

Translated by Martin Hardgrave

The eighteenth of June, in what the inhabitants of Outer Earth call 1994, was the date of the great merrymaking held by Midgård's Fylking in connection with their 21st anniversary and the crowning of Glóin, son of Gróin, son of Farin, as king in Moria. Six of those who attended the festivities came from Imladris (the Danish Tolkien Society): Ecthelion, Gimli, Daeron, Aravorn, Tinúviel, and Pippin (alias Søren, Peter, Kurt, Lars-Terje, Ditte, and myself, respectively).

The Market

We started out from the Fyrisskolan, scene of the Northern Tolkien Festival. Here herolds announced that we would journey on three great mûmakil, known to some of the Outer Earth peoples as "busses", which took us out to the wood where the festivities would take place. After making our way through the wood for a while we came upon a great market place. Here one could buy everything from magical amulets to fine two-handed axes. Bard of Dale sold beautifully carved Vikings, and Radagast the Brown (whom I had mistakenly said was from Forodrim in the previous issue of "Athelas in English", instead of from Midgård's Fylking) sold pipes and "pipeweed".

All these wonders could be bought for the leather pieces, or "tallents", which were legal tender in these parts. One tallent cost five Swedish crowns. There was also an inn which sold food for an insignificant number of tallents.

Whilst we sat at table in the inn several cheerful bards appeared to provide music for dancing. This ended up as a long chain dance around the market square. It was all "jätte roligt" (great fun) as the locals say in their remarkable dialect of the common Westron tongue.

After having a breather after the dancing we noticed that a lot of people were gathering on the other side of the market place. We went over to see what was happening. It was the smith, the one who made the two-handed axes and chain-mail, engaged in a sword fight with a mail-clad knight. The bout ended happily, as after jousting for a while they parted as friends.

In the meantime a stage had been erected in the market place. A piece was performed here about Beren and Lúthien. It was royal entertainment. The piece, which was a performance of one of Tolkien's best and oldest stories, was beautifully performed and not without humour.

The Coronation

After the performance we were summoned to observe the coronation of Glóin in Moria, the Dwarrowdelf. This was a great privilege. We were lead behind the inn, and there found a secret entrance to Moria.

We walked downwards for a long time, first by a straight staircase then by a winding staircase, and finally reached a great grotto. The floor of the grotto was at first level, but a little way in it sloped upwards. The lower part of the slope was lit by flame, whilst the far end was in darkness. A stone throne could be seen in the light. We stood behind a row of lights on the level part of the floor. After we were all present a choir, hidden in the dark, began to sing. Then drums were beaten, and a procession appeared from a path which lead further into Moria. First there came two cowled torch bearers, then an axe-bearer, and finally someone carrying a small anvil. After these four came Glóin, son of Gróin, son of Farin. Finally someone came with the crown, followed by two more cowled torch bearers. After taking their places on the sloping floor Glóin was given the axe and anvil. Then he was crowned, and the moment the crown was placed on his head flames sprang up from the walls all over the grotto. Eglerio!

The Banquet

After the coronation we were lead to a great tent (which was in no way inferior to the pavillion in which Bilbo held his farewell party). After Midgård Fylking´s banners were lead into the tent with great ceremony we started to find our places. During this great banquet songs were sung by Midgård Fylking´s guild of singers. Once in a while someone would stand up and call a toast for the Valar. Extracts from the annals of Midgård Fylking were read from previous jubilees (their 7th and 14th). One person was dubbed a knight of Midgård Fylking, and many people were cheered by the more than 150 people present. Among those being cheered were Aravorn (Lars-Terje), Mikael Ahlström, Nils Ivar Agøy, and Beregond (Anders Stenström), who were dubbed honorary knights of the Estel Order (estel means "hope" in Sindarin).

The Concluding Ceremony

After we had eaten, the time came for the concluding ceremony, where those societies which had taken part handed over presents to the hosts and the newly crowned dwarf king. It had become dark outside, and when we were all gathered two long paper chains were set alight around the place where the different societies handed over their gifts with great ceremony. The gifts were taken by a page to Glóin and Elrond, who received them on behalf of Midgård´s Fylking. Ahead of our ceremony (which was one of the last, given our only recent attendance at such events) came that of Angmar (from Malmö), who gave their gift with song and fair words. Then we entered and handed over our gift, which was (even if we do say so ourselves) a wonderfully decorated dagger, Vorondil (which means "faithful servant" in Quenya). Our ceremony was a little flawed, as Glóin, in contrast to what had gone before, did not pass comment on the gift. The final gift came from Haradrim, who, under cover of many fireworks, gave our hosts a mysterious "turbogrill". This magical thing could, in two shakes of an orc's tail, turn any grill dinner to charcoal. Apparently, in Harad after the War of the Ring, no future was seen for weapons production, so they decided instead to turn to the manufacture of the aforementioned "turbogrills". After the handing over of the gift Haradrim withdrew in a great cloud of smoke.

That was the end of a not entirely ordinary tale about some not entirely ordinary people on a not entirely ordinary tour in the land of the Swedes.

Captions

The six envoys from Imladris. From the left: Ecthelion (Søren Aabyen), Gimli (Peter Jacome), Aravorn (Lars-Terje Lysemose), Daeron (Kurt Nielsen), Pippin (Kim Hansen), and Tinúviel (Ditte Hendrichsen).

Ready for departure from the Fyrisskolan.

To market in Midgård's Fylking.

The weaponsmith and his forge.

We also came across a real Ent, though for some strange reason he wouldn't give his name.

The guard at the Exchequer, where the town's tax inspector changed the attendees' money from Swedish crowns to tallents, and vice versa.

The descent into Moria took place in silence and darkness. For aesthetic reasons photography was banned on pain of death an experience Athelas´ envoys could do without. We did succeed in obtaining this illustration, however.

Glóin and Elrond

The jubilee party was held with pomp and ceremony. There were toasting, singing, talking, the dubbing of knights, and last but not least: eating and drinking. The invited guests received cheerful wine and splendid food.