The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post

alatar · 08-31-2005, 11:39 AM

alatar stood leaning upon his staff, silent, peering at the closed door of the barrow. One might think that he were a blue statue, except for the bright light of his eyes. His multiple attempts to access the 'Downs door were all for not, and Wizards did not suffer such denials well. Was this the doings of the Enemy? What new plot was this? Did the wights inside finally tire of his *wit* and nonsense and bar the door? Was the Server of the Secret Webhost currently underwater? The clamoring voices inside his head shouted of their many questions. He quieted them down with a suggestion that he'd return to the 'We Love PJ' site if the noise didn't abate.

In the ensuing silence, alatar considered the problem once more.

The letters "Forbidden 430" were easily read, yet meant nothing to him. He knew many ways of opening a door - spells, Words of Command, passwords - even those reserved words in the secret tongue of Programmers that they do not teach.

Yet nothing would open the door.

"Must be missing something." He raised his staff yet again, but the door did not budge. Changed staves, changed spells, changed hats, tested various combinations - nothing worked! He even considered asking the assistance of other Istari, but in this his pride held him back - the waves of despair had not yet reach his toes.

"What haven't I tried?" alatar looked around, seeing if any hobbits were nearby, as purportedly some hobbits' heads were were thick enough to crack open doors (if properly applied). Alas, none were within reach. Finally, as he sat, tired and edging towards defeat, his staff laying nearby where he'd thrown it, there was a CRACK! The door was opening!

Quickly alatar stood, regained his composure and his staff, and waited to see what joy or horror would greet him.

It was the honorable Bêthberry who stood in the open doorway. "Come in," she said, "Sorry that the doors were stuck." He noted that she was oddly dressed, as if for a party, and alatar saw that all of his conjectures were for not.

Confused yet delighted he said, "Uhh...at your service and your family's," as he knew not what else to say on such occasions. He entered the barrow and set about looking around to see what may have changed. alatar gazed back at the door, at the barrow, and began to let down his guard. "All seems well enough," he thought, yet he still wasn't so sure, and would keep an eye on the shadows this night and those that followed.

08-31-2005, 11:39 AM	#10
alatar Doubting Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Heaven's basement Posts: 2,466	alatar stood leaning upon his staff, silent, peering at the closed door of the barrow. One might think that he were a blue statue, except for the bright light of his eyes. His multiple attempts to access the 'Downs door were all for not, and Wizards did not suffer such denials well. Was this the doings of the Enemy? What new plot was this? Did the wights inside finally tire of his wit and nonsense and bar the door? Was the Server of the Secret Webhost currently underwater? The clamoring voices inside his head shouted of their many questions. He quieted them down with a suggestion that he'd return to the 'We Love PJ' site if the noise didn't abate. In the ensuing silence, alatar considered the problem once more. The letters "Forbidden 430" were easily read, yet meant nothing to him. He knew many ways of opening a door - spells, Words of Command, passwords - even those reserved words in the secret tongue of Programmers that they do not teach. Yet nothing would open the door. "Must be missing something." He raised his staff yet again, but the door did not budge. Changed staves, changed spells, changed hats, tested various combinations - nothing worked! He even considered asking the assistance of other Istari, but in this his pride held him back - the waves of despair had not yet reach his toes. "What haven't I tried?" alatar looked around, seeing if any hobbits were nearby, as purportedly some hobbits' heads were were thick enough to crack open doors (if properly applied). Alas, none were within reach. Finally, as he sat, tired and edging towards defeat, his staff laying nearby where he'd thrown it, there was a CRACK! The door was opening! Quickly alatar stood, regained his composure and his staff, and waited to see what joy or horror would greet him. It was the honorable Bêthberry who stood in the open doorway. "Come in," she said, "Sorry that the doors were stuck." He noted that she was oddly dressed, as if for a party, and alatar saw that all of his conjectures were for not. Confused yet delighted he said, "Uhh...at your service and your family's," as he knew not what else to say on such occasions. He entered the barrow and set about looking around to see what may have changed. alatar gazed back at the door, at the barrow, and began to let down his guard. "All seems well enough," he thought, yet he still wasn't so sure, and would keep an eye on the shadows this night and those that followed. __________________ There is naught that you can do, other than to resist, with hope or without it. Last edited by alatar; 08-31-2005 at 12:19 PM.