Riddles in the Downs - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Huinesoron · 03-25-2019, 10:15 AM

Okay... 'whisk you away' sounds like a river, but I'm having trouble reconciling 'reflection' with 'fast-flowing'. Tolkien liked to put reflections on perfectly still water (Mirrormere, Aeluin), not on flowing rivers.

And that second-to-last line really has me baffled. It could just be an expansion on the theme that taking a journey widens your world, but it feels more mystical than that. The only explicitly magical rivers I can think of are the Withywindle (which won't 'whisk you away') and the Forest River of Mirkwood (which I don't think reflected anything, due to the... y'know, murk).

Anduin, on general principles?

hS

Urwen · 03-25-2019, 10:26 AM

Makes me think of Mirror of Galadriel.

Galadriel55 · 03-25-2019, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urwen

Makes me think of Mirror of Galadriel.

Correct!

Care to explain?

Urwen · 03-25-2019, 10:31 AM

Well, in the words of the owner, it lets you see things that were, things that are, and some things that may yet come to pass. The future it shows may never come to pass unless the future is prevented by the viewer in the first place.

Urwen · 03-25-2019, 11:54 AM

Well, since Galadriel55 isn't here and already said I am correct, I might as well continue

Come to me, the eldest one
Come to my land
Come to my domain
Where you and your kin dared to tread

Come to me, the third one
Bearer of your grandfather's name
You and your kin sought the treasure
Which was your father's claim to fame

You were captured
Trapped on the mountain high
And while you were saved
It came at a price

Galadriel55 · 03-25-2019, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urwen

Well, in the words of the owner, it lets you see things that were, things that are, and some things that may yet come to pass. The future it shows may never come to pass unless the future is prevented by the viewer in the first place.

Indeed, it lets you do all that, on the condition that you don't touch the water.

Your riddle makes me think about Dwarves for some reason.

Urwen · 03-25-2019, 06:19 PM

Nope, not a dwarf, mwahahaha!

Galadriel55 · 03-25-2019, 08:21 PM

Well the other thing with a ring is Maedhros. He's the eldest of Feanor's sons, who sought the Silmarils which are Feanor's famous creation. He was captured and trapped on a mountain and lost a hand in his escape. But I don't get the Grandfather thing. And the first stanza sounds like it's the earth itself speaking, Beleriand or ME perhaps - calling Maedhros into the cracks to his death, on the land to which the Noldor dared come in defiance of the Valar.

03-25-2019, 10:26 AM	#2
Urwen Spirit of Nen Lalaith Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Meneltarma Posts: 5,408	Makes me think of Mirror of Galadriel. __________________ Tuor: Yeah, it was me who broke [Morleg's] arm. With a wrench. Specifically, this wrench. I am suffering from Maeglinomaniacal Maeglinophilia.

03-25-2019, 10:31 AM	#4
Urwen Spirit of Nen Lalaith Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Meneltarma Posts: 5,408	Well, in the words of the owner, it lets you see things that were, things that are, and some things that may yet come to pass. The future it shows may never come to pass unless the future is prevented by the viewer in the first place. __________________ Tuor: Yeah, it was me who broke [Morleg's] arm. With a wrench. Specifically, this wrench. I am suffering from Maeglinomaniacal Maeglinophilia. Last edited by Urwen; 03-25-2019 at 10:45 AM.

03-25-2019, 11:54 AM	#5
Urwen Spirit of Nen Lalaith Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Meneltarma Posts: 5,408	Well, since Galadriel55 isn't here and already said I am correct, I might as well continue Come to me, the eldest one Come to my land Come to my domain Where you and your kin dared to tread Come to me, the third one Bearer of your grandfather's name You and your kin sought the treasure Which was your father's claim to fame You were captured Trapped on the mountain high And while you were saved It came at a price __________________ Tuor: Yeah, it was me who broke [Morleg's] arm. With a wrench. Specifically, this wrench. I am suffering from Maeglinomaniacal Maeglinophilia.

03-25-2019, 06:19 PM	#7
Urwen Spirit of Nen Lalaith Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Meneltarma Posts: 5,408	Nope, not a dwarf, mwahahaha! __________________ Tuor: Yeah, it was me who broke [Morleg's] arm. With a wrench. Specifically, this wrench. I am suffering from Maeglinomaniacal Maeglinophilia.

03-25-2019, 08:21 PM	#8
Galadriel55 Blossom of Dwimordene Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: The realm of forgotten words Posts: 10,495	Well the other thing with a ring is Maedhros. He's the eldest of Feanor's sons, who sought the Silmarils which are Feanor's famous creation. He was captured and trapped on a mountain and lost a hand in his escape. But I don't get the Grandfather thing. And the first stanza sounds like it's the earth itself speaking, Beleriand or ME perhaps - calling Maedhros into the cracks to his death, on the land to which the Noldor dared come in defiance of the Valar. __________________ You passed from under darkened dome, you enter now the secret land. - Take me to Finrod's fabled home!... ~ Finrod: The Rock Opera

03-25-2019, 10:15 AM	#1
Huinesoron Overshadowed Eagle Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: The north-west of the Old World, east of the Sea Posts: 3,959	Okay... 'whisk you away' sounds like a river, but I'm having trouble reconciling 'reflection' with 'fast-flowing'. Tolkien liked to put reflections on perfectly still water (Mirrormere, Aeluin), not on flowing rivers. And that second-to-last line really has me baffled. It could just be an expansion on the theme that taking a journey widens your world, but it feels more mystical than that. The only explicitly magical rivers I can think of are the Withywindle (which won't 'whisk you away') and the Forest River of Mirkwood (which I don't think reflected anything, due to the... y'know, murk). Anduin, on general principles? hS

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