Groundhog GDIME

by annafan

Charlize has read all the fanfics, she knows all the tricks... All she has to do is follow the tried and tested methods for falling into Middle Earth, and she'll get the elven prince of her dreams. And if at first you don't succeed, try, try again... and again... and again. Not a Legomance (but not for want of trying on Charlize's part). The fic where everyone gets a happy ending!

34. Appendix A: Of Genealogy

Appendix A: Of Genealogy

Well, I marked this story as "complete." But then Thanwen read it, and she was so taken with the fact that "Sami" (the correct name for the indigenous reindeer herders of Northern Finland) when rendered in the accusative case lends itself to rather a good double-entendre in German that she wrote a limerick to celebrate Edric's dual nationality and impending fatherhood.

But first, the obligatory erratum: at 120 miles (or at least that looks roughly right now I've actually consulted the damn map) from the Mering stream to Edoras, there's no way that's two days ride. Or a day and half, or whatever I said it was. Serves me right for writing stuff in a rush. Oh, and for "pheasant" read "peasant" throughout.

So, without more ado, here is the limerick:

Ein junger Reiter der Mark
sprach: "Geograpie ist doch Quark.
Ob Eorling, ob Finne,
meiner Frau stehn die Sinne
danach, dass der Same ist stark."

Loose translation:
A Rider of the Mark of some fame
Said "Geography's only a game
Whether Eorling or Finn
My wife's only whim's
That the strength of the Sami/[something else beginning with 's'] is the same."

More literal (but less poetic) translation:
A young Rider of the Mark
said: "Geography is baloney.
Whether Eorling or Finn,
my wife's not averse
to the Sami/(or all the other things ;)) being strong."

And while we're on the subject of limericks, Sian 22 has written an alternative (and arguably even dirtier version) of the Maid of Ulf Hoo, which she's published as "GDIME: so long and thanks for all the fish."

With many thanks to Thanwen – both for the limerick and for being a good sport about Thanwenitis, and laith.. lath.. hwlaith... whatsummyjig thingies that go in your hair.