Riddles in the Downs

[Urwen]

The second and third line could refer to multiple people (if the Island I am thinking of is the same one you're thinking of.), but I will assume you're referring to Telperien and Thorin...in which case...er...

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

The second and third line could refer to multiple people (if the Island I am thinking of is the same one you're thinking of.), but I will assume you're referring to Telperien and Thorin...in which case...er...

Hiya! It's been... A While, yeah.

Neither Telperien nor Thorin, though it looks like you have the Island right. (I will note in passing that "lord" in the first line is not a specific title; it just means "a male ruler".)

hS

[Urwen]

Well, starting with line 2 might make it easier. So we can remove Vanimelde, since she is not well-known...but wait...Queen doesn't neccesarily mean 'ruling queen'...wait, I might have a theory... *wanders off to check*

[Urwen]

Could the answer be 'no one', or some variation thereof? The text says that Ancalime originally wanted to marry no one, the dwarves feared no one, Shadowfax bore no one originally etc.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Could the answer be 'no one', or some variation thereof? The text says that Ancalime originally wanted to marry no one, the dwarves feared no one, Shadowfax bore no one originally etc.

Correct! Or close enough: the actual answer is "no man".

I heard their words:
The lord of the Forest welcomed me: "Into Doriath shall no Man come while my realm lasts, not even those of the house of Beor who serve Finrod the beloved."
The queen of the Island wished my hand: "I should be free to wed whom I will; and that would be Uner (which is “Noman”), whom I prefer above all others."
The king in the Mountains feared me: "Hinder me? Thou fool. No living man may hinder me!"
The steed of the Plains would bear me: "Seven nights ago Shadowfax returned; but the king's anger is not less, for now the horse is wild and will let no man handle him."
But in the end, each found another.
Who am I?
I am No Man.


With full credit to Miranda Otto, who has just today appeared in-character as Eowyn to narrate the "War of the Rohirrim" movie.

... which of course means I was wrong about Telperien, for we all know that the Witch-King of the mountains of Angmar was in reality the Witch-Queen, etc etc etc.

Anyway, over to you!

hS

[Urwen]

I finally figured out what to use, so try this one on for size.

My twin and I were born amidst twilight
We were forcibly torn apart
I settled in woodland realm, a place of light
And there I got a new start

Years passed, and a companion strong
Realized my worth and took me along
We traveled for a long time
On a search without reason or rhyme

In the place of shadows he was gone
But I, I lived on
A new companion I found
But unseen forces had him bound

But I still had my own free will
For good or for ill
Tales were told
About a grudge I did hold

I died at the riverside
Swallowed by the tide
One day I will return at last
And the final judgment will be cast.

[Huinesoron]

brb, checking The Children of Hurin.

Hmm, okay. I'm going to guess you are Anglachel/Gurthang. There's some nice translated names in the riddle - I spotted "strong" for Beleg and "place of shadows" for Taur-nu-Fuin. I had to look up "twilight" for Nan Elmoth, and can't make "place of light" fit anything specific for Doriath.

The thing I was checking was what actually happened to ol'Blacksword. The riddle made me wonder if it had gone into the river somehow, but shattering counts as "died at the riverside". "Swallowed by the tide" I guess means... blood and/or despair?

hS