Riddles in the Downs

[Urwen]

So I'll assume she is a female of the line of Finwe, who lives in East now. Am I close?


Or maybe you're being cheeky and the answer is Tar-Telperien.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

So I'll assume she is a female of the line of Finwe, who lives in East now. Am I close?

Or maybe you're being cheeky and the answer is Tar-Telperien.

You're not very close at all, I'm afraid. Though there is a Numenorean connection somewhere.

hS

[Urwen]

Then I am drawing a blank.

[Urwen]

Hint please?

[Huinesoron]

West of the Sea my line arose;
In the Heart of the Sea we prospered;
East of the Sea we grew strong.

Now East of the Sea I dwell;
In the West of the land I call home;
In the Heart of the hero forever.

Two hints:

1. This is a single individual living far from their kin.
2. The hero is described as such by Tolkien (and on one occasion as the chief hero of the story).

(Previous hints are that there are connections to both Galadriel and Numenor in the riddle.)

hS

[Urwen]

.....Maglor?

[Huinesoron]

Not him.

All six lines apply directly to the subject of the riddle. Moreover, the first triplet is in chronological order.

hS

[Urwen]

Arwen?

[Nerwen]

I think the answer is the mallorn tree Sam (the "hero") planted in the Shire.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Nerwen

I think the answer is the mallorn tree Sam (the "hero") planted in the Shire.

Correct! Mellyrn began in Valinor, and reached Lorien by way of Numenor and Tol Eressea. The second Party Tree was planted in the Westfarthing by, per Tolkien, the chief hero of the story.

Over to you!

hS

[Nerwen]

Nice riddle!

Grey and gold-
Your wedding day
We greeted you with singing;
A morning, cold,
We speed away,
The broken symbol winging.

[Urwen]

We know this one, yes we do, my Precious......

Grey and gold- To [her] they gave two birds with grey plume, and with gold beaks and legs
Your wedding day - as a gift for her wedding day
We greeted you with singing; - [she] was awakened by birds singing
A morning, cold,
We speed away, - but then she sent them away
The broken symbol winging. - and they flew off to the land from whence they came

Answer: The birds given to Erendis by Elves of Tol Eressea as a wedding gift.

[Urwen]

Did I get it right, Nerwen?

[Nerwen]

Yep! Well done!

[Urwen]

Listen to my tale
One of sorrow and grief
Long was my life
While theirs was brief

On his throne
The Dark One laughed
Laughed at their misfortune
That he himself had caused

Their heritage noble
Their intentions pure
But against the Dark One's will
There is no cure

Now I hold them
I protect them still
One of them has a task
A prophecy to fulfill

The land is gone
Under the sea
Still I stand alone
To hold them till the end of Ea

[Pervinca Took]

Hurin?

[Urwen]

Nope.

[Galadriel55]

Tol Morwen?

[Urwen]

Yea.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Yea.

Nice one! Creative.

[Urwen]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

Nice one! Creative.

Thanks. When should we expect yours?

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Thanks. When should we expect yours?

I have an idea but won't be able to sit down and write it for another several hours at least. So... give it around 6 hours?

[Urwen]

Kay

Thanks again.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Kay

Thanks again.

Knowing that you're waiting for it I didn't spend time putting it in an aesthetic form. But the clues are bountiful.


Born in the East,
I have seen many lands.
Silver-clad,
I announce great beginnings.

Announcer of trouble,
Herald of death.
I did as was foretold
But to bring only pain.



Happy riddling!

[Urwen]

When thinking of 'foretold' stuff, Eowyn comes to mind.

[Galadriel55]

Not Eowyn.

[Urwen]

Nimrodel?

[Galadriel55]

Not Nimrodel. As always, it may help you to explain what your reasoning is, so I can tell you when you're on the right track qmd what lines you've misinterpreted.

[Urwen]

Well, she was clad in silver, she was born East of the Great sea, and she caused Amroth's death.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Well, she was clad in silver, she was born East of the Great sea, and she caused Amroth's death.

But did she herald death or announce trouble? Those lines mean something specific.

See? If you explain your guess you can get feedback and hints.

[Urwen]

Maybe the messenger who pronounced the Doom of Mandos, then? He was the herald of deaths of Feanor and his sons, Fingolfin, Fingon, Turgon, Aredhel, Finrod, Orodreth, Gwindor and Maeglin

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Maybe the messenger who pronounced the Doom of Mandos, then? He was the herald of deaths of Feanor and his sons, Fingolfin, Fingon, Turgon, Aredhel, Finrod, Orodreth, Gwindor and Maeglin

And how would you explain the first paragraph? And what was foretold about him?

All of the lines have an explanation directly from the text. They are not there for poetry.

[Urwen]

You said I'd get hints. These are not hints, as they give no information which isn't obvious from the riddle itself.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Urwen

You said I'd get hints. These are not hints, as they give no information which isn't obvious from the riddle itself.

You want a more concrete hint? Hmm... Think Third Age.

[Urwen]

Some thoughts.....so this character was born in Third age, in Middle Earth, is the subject of prophecy, heralds death and brings pain

Witch-King of Angmar? He fits all of the above, and looks like he is clad in silver in the Otherworld.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Some thoughts.....so this character was born in Third age, in Middle Earth, is the subject of prophecy, heralds death and brings pain

Witch-King of Angmar? He fits all of the above, and looks like he is clad in silver in the Otherworld.

At what point did you decide this is a character?

No, not the Witch-King.

[Urwen]

At the point you said 'announce great beginnings', meaning they speak. And apart from Gurthang, no object/place can speak.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Urwen

At the point you said 'announce great beginnings', meaning they speak. And apart from Gurthang, no object/place can speak.

I can think of several non-people who can announce things, including objects, places, and other creatures. If you're curious I can give a couple examples after the riddle is solved. You don't have to literally speak to fulfill this function.

[Urwen]

Nenya?

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Nenya?

No.