Middle-earth Journeys

Airwin, and everyone else, sorry to be so slow on these things. Some of our members are very busy on the Viggo board, and September brings new challenges for a lot of people. So be patient--we're still here!

Not a problem Merry. I'm quite busy on that board myself.

Sorry it took so long for me to get here. The song was sung by Sam at Cirith Ungol while trying to rescue Frodo...I think.

That's correct Riv! Your turn now!

Let's stick with Tolkien poetry then...

Who sang this verse and where were they when it was sung?

A wanderer escaped from night
to haven white he came at last,
to Elvenhome the green and fair
where keen the air, where pale the glass...

Oops! A stumper? Need a hint?

Not a stumper, Riv. I think Bruce and I are trying not to hog the game by letting some time pass for others to answer questions.

Green is an important color in this passage, isn't it?

Probably not anymore than Elvenhome.

OK, since no one else has attempted an answer, I'll give mine.

This passage is from Bilbo's poem about Earendil the Mariner, which he chanted in the Hall of Fire at Imladris after Frodo's recovery from nearly succumbing to his Morgul blade wound. You will recall that Bilbo took Aragorn aside for some assistance in finishing the poem, and after his recitation, the elves were not able to determine which parts had been composed by Bilbo and which by Aragorn.

And, by the way,

Happy birthday to me! I turned 49 yesterday!

Happy Birthday Lindariel!!

BTW...you are correct!

Tag, you it!

Happy Birthday to Chantal! Speaking from the other side of 50, the best is yet to come!

Happy Birthday Lindariel! I hope you had your cake and ate it too!

Thanks Riv, Merry, and Airwin! Mr. L and the two Miss L's took me to dinner at my favorite restaurant yesterday, and today I received a lovely present, cards, and a chocolate birthday cake. Yum!

Following on with the topic Riv selected, here is a level 1.5 question:

What contribution did Aragorn make to Bilbo's poem, and what is its significance to the future King of Gondor?

Aragorn insisted on putting in the "bit about the green stone":
...of adamant his helmet tall,
an eagle-plume upon his crest,
upon his breast an emerald.

It was the orginal Elessar. Galadriel gave either that stone or a copy of that stone (depending on which account in Unfinshed Tales you believe) to Celebrian and she to Arwen who gave it back to Galadriel to give to Aragorn. Galadriel gave it to Aragorn during the gift giving ceremony at the companies departure from Lothlorien.

"This stone I gave to Celebrian my daughter and she to hers; and now it comes to you as a token of hope. In this hour take the name that was foretold for you, Elessar, the Elfstone of the House of Elendil!"

Absolutely correct, Elizabeth! Even though Aragorn has not yet received this stone from Galadriel, he knows of its importance as part of his ancestor Earendil's story. Later, after Aragorn has received the stone, it gives him not only the name he will use when he becomes King of Gondor and Arnor, but also it is entirely possible that the stone aids him as he strives to heal Faramir, Eowyn, and Merry in the Houses of Healing. Remember that he purposefully wears only this stone and no other jewelry on this errand (he takes off Star of the North Kingdom, which he had worn in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields). I think he knows the healing properties of the stone and knows he will need its aid. "The hands of the King are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known." Word of this stone and Aragorn's acts of healing spreads through Minas Tirith (likely through Ioreth's gossip) even before Aragorn approaches the gates officially to declare himself King. Thus, the green stone Bilbo mentions in his poem helps to smooth the path for Aragron to assume the throne.

Your turn!