I hope it's not knuckles! :D

King's head?

BURDEN: It drags the bearer earthwards.
OLIPHAUNT: Zero edge to this hang-out! But it’s colossal.
OSGILIATH: Within a vow are mingled a note, two ways and two eyes, we hear? There!
K: A Fallohide shows it to a Stoor.

ITHILIEN: Here! Lisp an orcish preposition, and add a legal property right!
VALAR: May they redirect a mumak!

Although I don't think Frodo specifically shows Gollum the severed head of the king's statue, that is an absolutely FANTASTIC answer, Urwen!

'Knuckles' is a good 'un 'an all.

But the answer is about as opposite to 'knife' or 'knuckles' as you could get.

Because the intent is the polar opposite of what it would (at least apparently) be with 'knife' or 'knuckles.'

I chose this K word partly because the K can give away 'book' passwords like this very quickly. But it's not obscure.

As a hint, it involves a mistake that Sam made about Frodo. ;)

Ah. Kindness?

Back of the net!
 

BURDEN: It drags the bearer earthwards.
OLIPHAUNT: Zero edge to this hang-out! But it’s colossal.
OSGILIATH: Within a vow are mingled a note, two ways and two eyes, we hear? There!
KINDNESS: A Fallohide shows it to a Stoor.

ITHILIEN: Here! Lisp an orcish preposition, and add a legal property right!
VALAR: May they redirect a mumak!

Kindness it is!

Over to you. :)

A Fallohide, a Harfoot and a Stoor walk into the bar...

(Will post the new puzzle at some point tomorrow.)

The first two order pints of bitter. Smeagol orders a pint of jellied eels ....

Here it is. Hope you like it. :)

1. A steward and burner's grandfather.
2. A steward and one of four with the same name.
3. A protagonist by another name.
4. Bregalad loved them.
5. A secret held a secret; one of two (former) buddies.
6. Her name is what she is.
7. Faithful (?); one of two (former) buddies.
8. A councillor restores, with minor disturbance and loss of path.

Some of the answers are....not what you'd expect. ;)

If it's the steward and burner I expect, number one should be TURGON, who begat Ecthelion II, who begat Denethor II.

Although I suppose a Balrog is kind of steward of Moria for a while. I don't know about any fiery little grandchildren, though. :D

TURGON: A steward and burner's grandfather.
2. A steward and one of four with the same name.
3. A protagonist by another name.
4. Bregalad loved them.
5. A secret held a secret; one of two (former) buddies.
6. Her name is what she is.
7. Faithful (?); one of two (former) buddies.
8. A councillor restores, with minor disturbance and loss of path.

4. Strawberry cornettos. :D

Or maybe ROWANS?

TURGON: A steward and burner's grandfather.
2. A steward and one of four with the same name.
3. A protagonist by another name.
ROWAN TREES: Bregalad loved them.
5. A secret held a secret; one of two (former) buddies.
6. Her name is what she is.
7. Faithful (?); one of two (former) buddies.
8. A councillor restores, with minor disturbance and loss of path.

6. Niniel?

Nope.

2. Hurin?

3. Ereinion?

6. Lalaith?

Yes to Hurin, no to other two.

TURGON: A steward and burner's grandfather.
HURIN: A steward and one of four with the same name.
3. A protagonist by another name.
ROWAN TREES: Bregalad loved them.
5. A secret held a secret; one of two (former) buddies.
6. Her name is what she is.
7. Faithful (?); one of two (former) buddies.
8. A councillor restores, with minor disturbance and loss of path.

8. Erestor?

TURGON: A steward and burner's grandfather.
HURIN: A steward and one of four with the same name.
3. A protagonist by another name.
ROWAN TREES: Bregalad loved them.
5. A secret held a secret; one of two (former) buddies.
6. Her name is what she is.
7. Faithful (?); one of two (former) buddies.
ERESTOR: A councillor restores, with minor disturbance and loss of path.

6. Ar-Feiniel?

7. Voronwe?

No. -_-

Forget about Silmarillion characters, they don't fit this theme.

OK ...

Well, Arwen means 'noble maiden,' or Undomiel means Evenstar.

I have a feeling one of the former buddies pairs is Deagol/Smeagol, but I can't make it work.

3. Estel?

TURGON: A steward and burner's grandfather.
HURIN: A steward and one of four with the same name.
3. A protagonist by another name.
ROWAN TREES: Bregalad loved them.
5. A secret held a secret; one of two (former) buddies.
ARWEN: Her name is what she is.
7. Faithful (?); one of two (former) buddies.
ERESTOR: A councillor restores, with minor disturbance and loss of path.

Estel is incorrect. I know for a fact that you like this particular protagonist a lot, Pervinca. In fact, I am surprised you haven't guessed him yet.

I just thought the password started with the word 'the.' ;)

IORHAEL, then?

Oh! THIRD AGE (password).

And maybe DEAGOL, as Galadriel thought? Is the secret the Ring?

Maybe the secret (Ring) also held the secret of Deagol's murder?

Urwen just nodded.

TURGON: A steward and burner's grandfather.
HURIN: A steward and one of four with the same name.
IORHAEL: A protagonist by another name.
ROWAN TREES: Bregalad loved them.
DEAGOL: A secret held a secret; one of two (former) buddies.
ARWEN: Her name is what she is.
G: Faithful (?); one of two (former) buddies.
ERESTOR: A councillor restores, with minor disturbance and loss of path.

One more to go.

Gollum ... if the ? is enough to negate 'faithful.'

TURGON: A steward and burner's grandfather.
HURIN: A steward and one of four with the same name.
IORHAEL: A protagonist by another name.
ROWAN TREES: Bregalad loved them.
DEAGOL: A secret held a secret; one of two (former) buddies.
ARWEN: Her name is what she is.
GOLLUM: Faithful (?); one of two (former) buddies.
ERESTOR: A councillor restores, with minor disturbance and loss of path.

And over to you. You've earned it.

Thank you! Here's another. Excuse me if I am not able to put in numbers and highlight codes straight away - got a deadline looming.

1. He’s a confused little creature!
2. Land of the vanished portal, they say. Take the second.
3. Here find a mountain ash, hollowed in the centre, where heartsease starts to grow. And take the second again.
4. A halfling? Not he of the rhyme, but one of his ….
5. Tumladen, Lossarnach, Ringlo, Blackroot, Anduin, Morgul.

2. Gondor (Gone door)

5. Vale?

Password: Book V?

Genau!
 

B: He’s a confused little creature!
GONDOR: Land of the vanished portal, they say. Take the second.
-O: Here find a mountain ash, hollowed in the centre, where heartsease starts to grow. And take the second again.
K: A halfling? Not he of the rhyme, but one of his ….

VALES: Tumladen, Lossarnach, Ringlo, Blackroot, Anduin, Morgul.

4. Kin?

B: He’s a confused little creature!
GONDOR: Land of the vanished portal, they say. Take the second.
-O: Here find a mountain ash, hollowed in the centre, where heartsease starts to grow. And take the second again.
KINDRED: A halfling? Not he of the rhyme, but one of his ….

VALES: Tumladen, Lossarnach, Ringlo, Blackroot, Anduin, Morgul.

Near enough. I think the text says 'near kindred' or 'close kindred.' (Gandalf to Denethor).

Gorgoroth for 3?

#3: A mountain ash is a Rowan (one of my favourite trees!), and 'hollowed in the centre' points towards ROHAN. I forget whose heartsease grew there - context suggests Merry?

hS