[Galadriel55]

I really liked that riddle. This was some good elm-referencing, and while the gist of the scenes was clear it took actual quote hunting to get it.

I suspect this one will be easier, but hopefully hard enough to still be fun. After toying with a couple versions of this idea I went with the more poetic one.




When spring unfolds the beechen leaf upon a sunny day,
When endless the assent, and pointless seems the long foray,
When red the walls and bleak the view and black smoke fills the air -
You must turn back! You must return! You must not linger here!

When mountain peaks loom in the sky and day to twilight fades,
When friend unlooked for's seen again, and friend long-missed awaits,
When enemy is tracking you like hunter tracks his prey -
You must remain and carry on, you have no other way.

When what is dear is tarnished by malevolence and guile,
Old friends are fallen on the road, and homes in ruin lie,
When barrow holds what little treasures left the hill intact -
Don't linger here beneath the stars! Return! You must turn back!

When battle breaks and prophecies of old will come to pass,
When you are taking up the tale from heroes of the past,
When tempests rage and vessels sail to build, save, and depart -
You must stay here and carry on, you must fulfill your part.

You know that you must walk this road together with a friend,
But what saw you before all this, which he saw at the end?