Riddles in the Downs

[Azaghâl]

Well here is my feeble attempt, certainly not as good as yours, and probably too easy. While I enjoy immensely guessing at riddles, writing one is a nighmare, anyway here it is.



When light and hope are long forgotten
Behind closed doors, in deep dungeons and chains of iron,

Only I can find a way
Over the mountains or under wide waters and even to the highest tower

To come and bring back
Friend to friend, lover to lover and kinsman to kinsman,

Allowing the tortured souls
To give voice one last time before they are released.

[Morsul the Dark]

Originally Posted by Azaghâl

Well here is my feeble attempt, certainly not as good as yours, and probably too easy. While I enjoy immensely guessing at riddles, writing one is a nighmare, anyway here it is.



When light and hope are long forgotten
Behind closed doors, in deep dungeons and chains of iron,

Only I can find a way
Over the mountains or under wide waters and even to the highest tower

To come and bring back
Friend to friend, lover to lover and kinsman to kinsman,

Allowing the tortured souls
To give voice one last time before they are released.

see I was thinking Gandalf until the last verser which makes me think Aragorn...

See Gandalf fits in with Thorin's father locked away hope lost
finding his way over the mountain un the waters and highest twer the balrog pursuit
to come and bring back friend to friend lover to lover kinsman to kinsman could be any number of folks

Aragorn however clinches the army of the dead... fulfill their oath and be done...

will keep thinking

[Galadriel55]

I am thinking it's Luthien releasing the prisoners of Tol-in-Gaurhoth. The waters don't make sense, though, and allowing to give voice? Hmm...

[Azaghâl]

Sorry, Morsul the Dark, it is neither Aragorn nor Gandalf.

Galadriel55, you are very much nearer the spot, though the "I" is not Luthien. I could comment more on your answer but I am afraid it would give it away. Thanks for your praises in your previous post, by the way.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Azaghâl

Galadriel55, you are very much nearer the spot, though the "I" is not Luthien.

If not Luthien, then my guess is Finrod Felagund.


When light and hope are long forgotten
Behind closed doors, in deep dungeons and chains of iron,

In the dungeons of Tol-in-Gaurhoth

Only I can find a way
Over the mountains or under wide waters and even to the highest tower

"I go now to my long rest in the timeless halls beyond the seas and the Mountains of Aman", and Beren cannot follow him because he is a Man.

To come and bring back
Friend to friend, lover to lover and kinsman to kinsman,

Not sure... I mean, yes, it is because of him that Beren and Luthien met again, and the kinsman could be interpreted as him joining Finarfin in Aman, but can't see a friend?

Allowing the tortured souls
To give voice one last time before they are released

All the prisoners of Tol-in-Gaurhoth are released when Luthien takes over. However, only Beren "gives voice" before he is released.

[Azaghâl]

Good try but it is not Felagund and while both Beren and Luhien are indeed mentioned in the riddle, they are not the answer either.

[Gil-Galad]

Originally Posted by Azaghâl

When light and hope are long forgotten
Behind closed doors, in deep dungeons and chains of iron,

Only I can find a way
Over the mountains or under wide waters and even to the highest tower

To come and bring back
Friend to friend, lover to lover and kinsman to kinsman,

Allowing the tortured souls
To give voice one last time before they are released.

This is a really good riddle!

I want to say either Maedhros or even the Silmarils. Even Feanor screams at me, mostly because of the kinsman parts and how the Noldor were linked to the Silmarils.

Unless this is a hobbit/lotr riddle, I fear to be going in the wrong direction

[Azaghâl]

None of your three guesses is the answer, but I have to say that Maedhros is indeed mentioned in the riddle.

[Galadriel55]

Is it Thorondor?

When light and hope are long forgotten
Behind closed doors, in deep dungeons and chains of iron,

Everything to do with Thangorodrim

Only I can find a way
Over the mountains or under wide waters and even to the highest tower

This is true, unless Elves, Men, and Dwarves can somehow grow wings

To come and bring back
Friend to friend, lover to lover and kinsman to kinsman,

Fingon and Maedhros, Beren and Luthien, ...Hurin and Huor?

Allowing the tortured souls
To give voice one last time before they are released.

Now that's still a bit puzzling...

[Azaghâl]

No, it is not Thorondor, but now that you have the lovers, Beren and Luthien, and the kinsmen, Maedhros and Fingon, you only need to find the friends, who are not Húrin and Huor or I would have written 'brother to brother'.

The "I" should be made clear then, I think.



EDIT: the last two verses have been deliberately phrased so as to be puzzling, because I was afraid the riddle would be too easy.

[Nerwen]

Could the "I" be, not a person, but something abstract like "song" or "music"? The whole would then refer to various incidents where characters found each other through it.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Nerwen

Could the "I" be, not a person, but something abstract like "song" or "music"? The whole would then to various incidents where characters found each other through it.

Ah, and then the friends are Frodo and Sam. Brilliant!