Riddles in the Downs

[Galadriel55]

I figured that as I have some claim to this thread, I will start here. Here is some stream of consciousness poetry for a riddle. Please try to identify/explain specific elements in your answer.


The oldest one, the nameless one,
Did not know warmth of shining sun.
But in the darkness shone the stars,
And in their light, from countries far
The Second came in second's turn -
But, in the end, though day was won,
Who twice had torched, third time must burn.

But better known in tale of years
The younger sisters - one for tears,
And one for joy, resounding joy
Which yet failed darkness to destroy;
But peace was guarded well, until
Twixt triumph great and ruin great -
But stopping short of western hills -
A burst reversed the tides of fate,
Breaking resistance, kindling dread,
Incinerating every shred
Of estel in the lord now dead
Whose line was estel to beget.

I'm not the least, but I'm the last.
The closing rage of hardships past,
Of foes and heroes both long gone.
You cannot count us on one hand -
Though brief our line, 'tis yet too long,
And we destroyed our motherland.
I am the end. I am the start.
I split the thread of time apart.

[Pervinca Took]

Is verse 1 the 1st and 2nd elf, and then Feanor burning the ships and ... not sure what else, then getting killed by a Balrog?

[Urwen]

The first three lines of verse 2 sound like Turin, Nienor and Lalaith.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Pervinca Took

Is verse 1 the 1st and 2nd elf, and then Feanor burning the ships and ... not sure what else, then getting killed by a Balrog?

Feanor burning stuff and getting killed is in verse 1, correct. But he is not the focus of the riddle. And I'm not sure who you mean by first and second Elf, but that is not it. It might be easier to interpret "Second" in relation to Feanor - those elements are connected.

Originally Posted by Urwen

The first three lines of verse 2 sound like Turin, Nienor and Lalaith.

I knew that these lines would sound like the Hin Hurin lot, and purposefully played up the parallel. However, these three don't figure in the riddle.

[Urwen]

That sounds like Maglor, Feanor's second son and the last survivor of his line outside of Aman.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Urwen

That sounds like Maglor, Feanor's second son and the last survivor of his line outside of Aman.

Alas, not Maglor. Think more broad. You might also have more luck getting to the root of the riddle with the latter stanzas.

[Pervinca Took]

Is the last verse about Aragorn? Is the motherland Numenor?

Tears sounds like Nienna. She lived alone, but did she have a sister?

I meant the first and second elves to wake - was the first called Imin?

What else did Feanor burn, or did you mean the ships and his spirit in general, or the life-force of his mother?

[Galadriel55]

Reposting on new page:



The oldest one, the nameless one,
Did not know warmth of shining sun.
But in the darkness shone the stars,
And in their light, from countries far
The Second came in second's turn -
But, in the end, though day was won,
Who twice had torched, third time must burn.

But better known in tale of years
The younger sisters - one for tears,
And one for joy, resounding joy
Which yet failed darkness to destroy;
But peace was guarded well, until
Twixt triumph great and ruin great -
But stopping short of western hills -
A burst reversed the tides of fate,
Breaking resistance, kindling dread,
Incinerating every shred
Of estel in the lord now dead
Whose line was estel to beget.

I'm not the least, but I'm the last.
The closing rage of hardships past,
Of foes and heroes both long gone.
You cannot count us on one hand -
Though brief our line, 'tis yet too long,
And we destroyed our motherland.
I am the end. I am the start.
I split the thread of time apart.