Riddles in the Downs

[Urwen]

I found another who perished at sea, and who happened to have a wife.

[Urwen]

Firiel and Arvedui or Elwing and Earendil.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Firiel and Arvedui or Elwing and Earendil.

I am Firiel, and he is Arvedui Last-King. It seems entirely reasonable to think that Firiel would have travelled to the haven at Imladris with her son while her husband was on the run.

Over to you.

hS

[Urwen]

May I steal this style for my next few riddles?

[Urwen]

While I wait for you to answer my question, here is one for you

A brave fighter was he
He followed orders faithfully
It almost cost him his life
But he was saved, fortunately

A fair maiden was she
Though no less noble than he
She remained true till the end
A terrible foe fell at her hand

Forgotten land, fair and free
Lost because of envy and greed
A land of beauty, taken in the flood
That's the western part of my blood

In the North, there dwelt fighters at heart
Who were both fierce and proud
In the great victory they played their part
That's the northern part of my blood

[Galadriel55]

He is Faramir and she is Eowyn. What I can't figure out is who is the speaker. Elboron, their child?

[Urwen]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

He is Faramir and she is Eowyn. What I can't figure out is who is the speaker. Elboron, their child?

Yes, Elboron.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

May I steal this style for my next few riddles?

Oh, um, yes, go for it.

hS

[Urwen]

Originally Posted by Huinesoron

Oh, um, yes, go for it.

hS

Somehow, I don't think you really mean it, so I won't.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Somehow, I don't think you really mean it, so I won't.

Just faintly baffled, is all. I originally came up with the style as a way to let the women of Middle-earth finally get a word in edgeways (Tolkien's women are brilliant characters, but they don't get a lot of page time), but that's purely my own little hobby; I didn't expect the style itself to be at all popular. By all means, go for it.

hS

[Galadriel55]

Was flipping though text looking for ideas and nearly started another reread. Whoops. Gotta be careful when approaching Tolkien's texts.



Taken hostage from my home
Then taken to the South,
I don't excel, I do not roam,
And silence on my mouth.

But comes the time to test my worth,
To right a dreadful wrong,
Because I am returning North
And sing a different song:

An ancient song of fright, and flame,
Or terror, enemies, and stir.
To that old song can you give name?
And to your humble minister?

[Urwen]

There are plenty of character taken hostage: Pippin, Merry, Earendil, Turin, even Frodo.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Urwen

There are plenty of character taken hostage: Pippin, Merry, Earendil, Turin, even Frodo.

Therefore that is probably not the line you should be focusing on.

[Urwen]

Bilbo, with the song being 'The Road Goes Ever On'.?

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Bilbo, with the song being 'The Road Goes Ever On'.?

Not Bilbo. How is he "returning North", and in what Southern place has he been? I can see why some lines might suggest Bilbo, but he doesn't fit the entire riddle.

[Urwen]

The Havens? Aren't they to the north of Rivendell?


But if you mean returning, then maybe Sam, Pippin and Merry, returning to the Shire?

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Urwen

But if you mean returning, then maybe Sam, Pippin and Merry, returning to the Shire?

Well, the answer is neither Bilbo, nor Sam, Pippin, or Merry.

[Urwen]

Maedhros?

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Maedhros?

Not Maedhros.

If you tell me why you think this is the answer, I will point out what thinking is correct and what is not.

[Urwen]

I am thinking of people who were taken hostages.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Urwen

I am thinking of people who were taken hostages.

As I already told you, don't. It will be a dead end. Pick at other lines instead.

[Urwen]

Yeah, well, the other lines don't work either, or at least Googling them doesn't. Although the first line of second stanza alludes to Faramir. Also, if no hostages are involved in the riddle, why did you write the line that says they are?

[Huinesoron]

... it's not the Horn of Gondor, is it? Taken from its origin in Rhun to Gondor in the south, then eventually returning north (Rivendell and points south) and being blown by Boromir below Amon Hen.

hS

[Huinesoron]

OH NO WAIT

"Awake! Awake! Fear, fire, foes! Awake!"

You are the Horn of the Mark, taken from Scatha's hoard in defiance of the dwarves, borne South to the Riddermark, gifted to Merry, and ultimately sounding the Horn-call of Buckland.

"Awake!"

hS

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Yeah, well, the other lines don't work either, or at least Googling them doesn't. Although the first line of second stanza alludes to Faramir. Also, if no hostages are involved in the riddle, why did you write the line that says they are?

1. I don't make riddles that are meant to be solved by googling.
2. Interesting thought about Faramir, but no. That line is not as specific.
3. I wrote "taken hostage from my home". I also told you that going through a list of people taken hostage will not get you anywhere. Both are true statements. If you want a hint to get you nearer the right answer, stop focusing on hostages. Of course, you don't have to take the hint, but then you might be going in circles for a long time. *shrug*


Edit: crossed with Huey x2

[Galadriel55]

*drumroll*

Originally Posted by Huinesoron

OH NO WAIT

"Awake! Awake! Fear, fire, foes! Awake!"

You are the Horn of the Mark, taken from Scatha's hoard in defiance of the dwarves, borne South to the Riddermark, gifted to Merry, and ultimately sounding the Horn-call of Buckland.

"Awake!"

hS

Absolutely correct!

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

*drumroll*

Absolutely correct!

Yay! For a while I was thinking of the Ring, as well, until horns occurred to me.

Okay:

Silver
1 up, 1 across, 1 down == 2 down
Silver

hS

[Urwen]

Silvertine/Celebdil?

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Silvertine/Celebdil?

Nope, but I had to think for a second about one of those.

Did you have any reasoning other than 'silver'?

hS

[Urwen]

Well, 1 up sounds like a peak, hence Silver+peak = Silvertine.


And in addition, 1 across = Gandalf crossing the bridge, 1 down = Balrog falling, 2 down = he pulled Gandalf with him, and they ended up on Silvertine.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Well, 1 up sounds like a peak, hence Silver+peak = Silvertine.


And in addition, 1 across = Gandalf crossing the bridge, 1 down = Balrog falling, 2 down = he pulled Gandalf with him, and they ended up on Silvertine.

Interesting! That's some good logic. Not right, I'm afraid, but good.

All of the numbers are describing the same kind of thing.

hS

[Urwen]

Well, the only other answers that come to mind and are connected to Silver are Idril and Boromir's horn. In the 1st case, 1 down could refer to Morleg, and in the second case to Boromir himself.


Nonetheless, Silvertine was so perfect, and the fact it is not right....well....

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Well, the only other answers that come to mind and are connected to Silver are Idril and Boromir's horn. In the 1st case, 1 down could refer to Morleg, and in the second case to Boromir himself.

Nonetheless, Silvertine was so perfect, and the fact it is not right....well....

Idril is half the answer; she is Silver.

But who is Silver?

hS

[Urwen]

Celebrimbor. A certain source mentions that he lived in Gondolin for a time.

[Galadriel55]

I wonder if the directions refer to instructions on a family tree.

If we start with Idril as the first Silver:
1 up are her parents, but as Elenwe's other relations are unknown we are left with Turgon.
1 across is either Fingon or Aredhel.
1 down would be their respective children: Gil-Galad and Maeglin.

But how does 2 down fit it, I am not sure. I thought this would be one of those related-by-multiple-lines things where someone is both a cousin and a cousin once/twice removed, but that doesn't seem to work here.

If Idril is the last Silver, the pathway would still point to a cousin, and the logic still breaks down.

Well, it was worth a try.

[Urwen]

Or we can go that rode.


Idril


Two down becomes two up: Turgon > Fingolfin


One across becomes Finarfin or Feanor


and one down becomes one up, which is Finwe.....

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

I wonder if the directions refer to instructions on a family tree.

If we start with Idril as the first Silver:
1 up are her parents, but as Elenwe's other relations are unknown we are left with Turgon.
1 across is either Fingon or Aredhel.
1 down would be their respective children: Gil-Galad and Maeglin.

But how does 2 down fit it, I am not sure. I thought this would be one of those related-by-multiple-lines things where someone is both a cousin and a cousin once/twice removed, but that doesn't seem to work here.

If Idril is the last Silver, the pathway would still point to a cousin, and the logic still breaks down.

Well, it was worth a try.

This is exactly the right approach to take, but I didn't mean siblings.

I also didn't write '= 2 down'. I wrote '== 2 down', which has a completely different meaning.

hS

[Urwen]

'==' means equal to, according to google

[Urwen]

Wait, I think I have it. Second 'silver' is either Earendil or Elrond/Elros. Hear out my reasoning.

1 up = Turgon
1 across = Elenwe, sitting across from Turgon.
1 down = Idril

then we have 2 down, which is either 2 down from Elenwe, which is Earendil, or 2 down from Idril, which is Elrond/Elros.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Urwen

1 up = Turgon
1 across = Elenwe, sitting across from Turgon.
1 down = Idril

But doesn't that just take you in a loop from Idril to Idril?



Ohhhhh... I just had an idea about the ==. A bit pictographic, eh? But who if not siblings... Gah!