John Ronald Reuel Tolkien - the creator of Middle-earth and a devoted linguist... Let us dedicate this month's topic to the thing that stood at the cradle of this wonderful fantasy world - Languages. Indeed it was Tolkien's love for languages and their construction that compelled him to create an entire world where these languages would be alive - because a language without history is just a collection of words and grammar rules.

That is not the case of Middle-earth though, and we are thankful to Tolkien that he didn't only create Quenya and Sindarin, but also the mighty and beautiful Elves whose voices rise to the stars as they sing in a nightly forest, that with Adunaic he created the Men of Numenor, the Sea-kings whose glory was as high as the depth of their fall and with Khuzdul the Dwarves who create wonderful things in their halls deep under the mountains while the deep song of their voices sounds with their hammers. And the list goes on: there is Valarin, the language of the Powers residing in Aman, the speech of Rohirrim, based on old Anglo-Saxon, the Black Speech that sounds through Mordor, Entish, where only what is worth a long speech is said, and of course Westron, the Common speech..

There is a saying in Slovak "how many languages you know, so many times you are a person". Learning languages is as important in Middle-earth as in our world, especially for travellers, like Aragorn was, and for every educated person in general. You can write/draw a picture about Aragorn or Legolas learning a new language, or, in the contrary, having trouble because they don't know the language of some poeple they meet. Put them into a situation where they language skills are tested, maybe even save their life. Just write your story in English, please, because not all of us are fluent in Quenya or Khuzdul

The deadline for this challenge is June 25tht.

For writers: send your stories to teitho.contest@gmail.com. As usually, the contest is anonymous and the story can't be posted publicaly until the results of the challenge are announced.

For artists: Submit your picture into the Teitho gallery folder of . The picture should be new, drawn specifically for the challenge. State that you are submitting it to the contest in the artist's comments.

Happy writing and drawing!
Your Teitho-moderators,
nautika, StarLight, and Mirach

The deadline of this challenge has been extended to May 31st!

They are just things. A ring like any other, a sword like many other swords. What makes them so special, then? It is their history - the hands that touched them, the kings and heroes who owned them. They are heirlooms, given from a father to son, from mother to daughter for generations. And Heirlooms are the theme for this month's challenge. Thanks to WhiteGloves for the suggestion!

When we think of heirlooms in Middle-earth, we think first of Barahir and The-Sword-that-was-Broken, but Tolkien mentioned others as well. When Gimli asked Galadriel for a single strand of her hair, he said he would have it encased in imperishable crystal and it would become an heirloom of his house. Éowyn gifted Merry a small horn made by the Dwarves - that Eorl the Young brought from the North. They are not only things, but symbols. They can be connected to the status of the line that owns them, to lordship or even kingship. They can be a precious memory that should be preserved for the next generations.

But not only objects can be inherited. An heirloom can also be a secret knowledge or advice, a song, a tale, a name, or even some special talent... You can write about or draw both of them - material or immaterial heirlooms, about their history, how they were acquired by our heroes, or how they were passed on.

The deadline for this challenge is May 31st.

For writers: send your stories to teitho.contest@gmail.com. As usually, the contest is anonymous and the story can't be published publicaly until the results of the challenge are posted.

For artists: Submit your picture into the Teitho gallery folder of . The picture should be new, drawn specifically for the challenge. State that you are submitting it to the contest in the artist's comments.

Happy writing and drawing!
Your Teitho-moderators,
nautika, StarLight, and Mirach

Current theme: HEIRLOOMS

Teitho: May contest theme "Heirlooms"They are just things. A ring like any other, a sword like many other swords. What makes them so special, then? It is their history - the hands that touched them, the kings and heroes who owned them. They are heirlooms, given from a father to son, from mother to daughter for generations. And Heirlooms are the theme for this month's challenge. Thanks to WhiteGloves for the suggestion!

When we think of heirlooms in Middle-earth, we think first of Barahir and The-Sword-that-was-Broken, but Tolkien mentioned others as well. When Gimli asked Galadriel for a single strand of her hair, he said he would have it encased in imperishable crystal and it

She held up a small crystal phial: it glittered as she moved it.... 'In this phial,' she said, 'is caught the light of Eärendil's star, set amid the waters of my fountain. It will shine still brighter when night is about you. May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out.

J. R.R. Tolkien, FOTR

Not everyone in Middle-earth was blessed with a crystal phial. They depended on torches and candles to dispel the darkness. For this month's theme we are focusing on "Candles". Candles have many uses other than light, of course. They give off heat, set the mood for romance, and can even be used to seal a message. King Elessar surely sent and received countless messages during his reign. Is there one you'd like to share with us? Elves live long lives. Can you picture (perhaps literally – remember drawing is now part of our contest) Legolas struggling to get the cotton tight enough to make a wick? You need not write about a real candle. We know our heroes 'burn the candle at both ends'! What has kept them busy lately?

Remember that you can now submit both stories and pictures in answer to the Teitho themes. You can enter just one of the cathegories, or both. Since we are posting this theme later than usual, the deadline is April 27th. You can ask for an extension if you are close to finishing your entry and need a few more days. Thanks to ~openmeadow for the theme suggestion!

For writers: send your stories to teitho.contest@gmail.com. As usually, the contest is anonymous and the story can't be published publicaly until the results of the challenge are posted. Remember, they don't have to be main characters, but either Legolas or Aragorn must be mentioned in your entry.

For artists: Submit your picture into the Teitho gallery folder of . The picture should be new, drawn specifically for the challenge. State that you are submitting it to the contest in the artist's comments. You are not restricted to drawing only Aragorn or Legolas.

Here are the stories for this month:

A Candle for a Brother by Erulisse 3rd place
Candle Burning Bright by Fiondil 2nd place
Light in the Darkness by Darkover
The Light Bearer by Linda Hoyland 1st place


And here are the pictures:
Gil Estel by 1st place
By Candle Light by 3rd place
Spring Ritual by 2nd place

Congratulations!

Your Teitho-moderators,
nautika, StarLight, and Mirach