Riddles in the Downs - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Urwen · 03-13-2019, 06:37 AM

Nope. See, you're making a mistake of focusing on 'great fires'.

Huinesoron · 03-13-2019, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urwen

Nope. See, you're making a mistake of focusing on 'great fires'.

Sooooo, I can't focus on the sea or the fires; that leaves... hearts? Darkness?

...

Feanor? He has the advantage of actually being dead, plus, y'know, 'Spirit of Fire'. And he was most certainly impatient.

hS

(Look, it was him or Joseph Conrad...)

Urwen · 03-13-2019, 07:13 AM

No, I said you shouldn't be focusing on 'great fires'. What I meant by that is that there are other fires too. 'Great fires' have significance for the world as a whole, while this particular fire has significance only to the person in question (and one of their kinsmen)

And not Feanor. I don't see how is his etymology related to the sea, or the ocean, in any way.

I am trying to help, but it's difficult to do without giving away the answer completely.

Huinesoron · 03-13-2019, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urwen

I am trying to help, but it's difficult to do without giving away the answer completely.

Hey, no, this is good. Like Bilbo with Gollum's final riddle, I'm able to find lots of answers that mostly fit, but haven't yet come upon one which fits perfectly.

How about Nienor Niniel? 'Maid of Tears' has a salt-water connection to the sea, and her encounter with Glaurung would explain both 'fear once ruled' and 'darkness claimed'. She remained faithful to Turin under both names (though in different ways), and she was definitely impatient (the Silm doesn't have a precise quote, but the Narn might). This would make Glaurung the great fire, who at that time wasn't really bothering anyone other than the Children of Hurin when they went to hassle him.

hS

Urwen · 03-13-2019, 08:01 AM

Not Nienor, but you're getting closer.

(And before someone says it, no, not Turin or Lalaith either)

Urwen · 03-14-2019, 05:29 PM

Bump?

Huinesoron · 03-15-2019, 06:27 AM

Aha! Is it Aerin of Dor Lomin?

Quote:

The sea is a part of me
And I am a part of the sea

I didn't know this, but the 'aer' in her name is a Sindarin word for 'ocean' (as in 'Belgaer').

Quote:

Fear once ruled me
But I managed to overcome it, you see

Having been taken as a slave-wife, Aerin rebelled against Brodda to help Morwen.

Quote:

Darkness claimed me
For its own
My hope was lost
But they'll reap what they've sown

Like I said, slave-wife. Brodda the Easterling was a follower of Ulfang the Black, which adds an extra layer to 'darkness'.

Quote:

Because through it all
My heart remained true
My will remained steadfast
And my patience was at its end

I Don't Have My Books On Me(TM), but the first three lines definitely apply, and the fourth seems not implausible.

Quote:

Great fire burned at that time
One that was easily distinguished
My spirit might have left it all behind
But the flame in my heart wasn't extinguished

Aerin eventually died by burning herself alive after Turin killed Brodda, because... apparently the House of Hador just can't have nice things. As a bonus, her name is an anagram for Arien, the Maia of the Sun, who can be the 'flame in my heart'.

I have an actual good feeling about this one.

hS

03-13-2019, 06:37 AM	#1
Urwen Spirit of Nen Lalaith Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Meneltarma Posts: 5,408	Nope. See, you're making a mistake of focusing on 'great fires'. __________________ Tuor: Yeah, it was me who broke [Morleg's] arm. With a wrench. Specifically, this wrench. I am suffering from Maeglinomaniacal Maeglinophilia.

03-13-2019, 07:13 AM	#3
Urwen Spirit of Nen Lalaith Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Meneltarma Posts: 5,408	No, I said you shouldn't be focusing on 'great fires'. What I meant by that is that there are other fires too. 'Great fires' have significance for the world as a whole, while this particular fire has significance only to the person in question (and one of their kinsmen) And not Feanor. I don't see how is his etymology related to the sea, or the ocean, in any way. I am trying to help, but it's difficult to do without giving away the answer completely. __________________ Tuor: Yeah, it was me who broke [Morleg's] arm. With a wrench. Specifically, this wrench. I am suffering from Maeglinomaniacal Maeglinophilia.

03-13-2019, 08:01 AM	#5
Urwen Spirit of Nen Lalaith Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Meneltarma Posts: 5,408	Not Nienor, but you're getting closer. (And before someone says it, no, not Turin or Lalaith either) __________________ Tuor: Yeah, it was me who broke [Morleg's] arm. With a wrench. Specifically, this wrench. I am suffering from Maeglinomaniacal Maeglinophilia.

03-14-2019, 05:29 PM	#6
Urwen Spirit of Nen Lalaith Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Meneltarma Posts: 5,408	Bump? __________________ Tuor: Yeah, it was me who broke [Morleg's] arm. With a wrench. Specifically, this wrench. I am suffering from Maeglinomaniacal Maeglinophilia.