In 1974, i.e. in 7526 if using the Kingdom's system of dating, Ms. Norton became the Rt. Hon. Dame André Norton, Countess of Forlindon, Baroness Forlond; Dame of the Most Noble Order of the Flame of Anor (D.F.A.) in the Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor.

For those of you who are a bit lost at this point, as was I when I saw the title for the first time, I hasten to explain that the Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor can be found on the map of Tolkien's Middle Earth. Forlindon, also called the Northern Lindon, is a part of Lindon laying north of the Moon Gulf. Forlond - The Northern Port - is a major city overseeing the Moon Gulf.

In hope to cast some more light on the circumstances of Ms. Norton becoming one of the peers of Gondor and Arnor, I conducted a short e-mail interview with its creator - John William Houghton, currently Duke and Regent Numenor:

Maciej Zaleski: What inclined you to giving Ms. Norton the title of Countess Forlindon?

John W. Houghton: She wrote a brief article on how she first came to read Tolkien, which we hoped to use as the lead for a magazine of undergraduate fantasy and SF (Harvard has various other such things: a humor magazine, etc.)--the magazine never got off the ground, but we did want to thank her. The article later appeared in our newsletter, "Chronicles of the Restoration".
Interestingly, the person who wrote to her was Susan Shwartz, Countess of Harlindon - since then an author in her own right, and one who has collaborated with Dame Forlindon.

MZ: Did any of you come to Ms. Norton to tell her about it in person?

JWH: No, we just sent her Letters Patent in the mail.

MZ: So there was no huge celebration?

JWH: Her publishers threw a big party for her birthday some years ago, and I did attend that, using the occasion to present her with her robes as a Countess and the collar of her order of knighthood. Irritatingly, My cab got caught in traffic and I missed most of the fun at the party!


Finally, you might be interested to see some explanations of the heraldic symbols present in Ms. Norton's crest and coats of arms. Here's the result of my friend Thomas' research:

	SILVER	SABLE (BLACK)
Prinsault	humbleness, honesty, innocence, chastity, phlegmatic, Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, water, pearl, Monday	mourning, wealth, melancholy, Mars, Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn, diamond, Tuesday, earth, iron
Douët d'Arg	wealth	humbleness
Nubecker	chastity, wisdom, innocence, immaculacy, joy, pearl	mourning, diamond
Camajani	friendship, justice, equity, innocence, chastity	stability, staidness, mourning, dignity
Hartzell	cheerfulness, composure, nobility	sorrow, repentance, revenge
John Ferne	pearl, moon	diamond, Saturn, reason (intellect)
Silvester á Petra Sancta	innocence, diligence, sincerity	mourning, despair, caution, humbleness

Moon	mystery, good, calm forces watching over earthly deeds; fighting under the night's cover; soul's strength against adversities; inconstancy of fate;
Cat	symbolises independence, vigilance, foreseeability, bravery, cunning, passion, seducer
Star	noble deeds, safe guide