The Revived Tolkien Trivia

[Pyan]

To try to get it going again...

The Wain to Bilbo or Frodo was what the part-constellation called The Plough or the Big Dipper is to us: so Elrond would call it Valacirca, or the Sickle of the Valar.

And high in the North, as a challenge to Melkor, (Varda) set the crown of seven mighty stars to swing, Valacirca, the Sickle of the Valar and sign of doom.

( Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch. 3, Of the coming of the Elves and the captivity of Melkor.)

I've forgotten if we're using The Book of Lost Tales: but if we are, alternate proposals for it were the Seven Stars, the Sign of Doom, the Silver Sickle, or the Seven Butterflies

 

[Clansman]

To you, oh mighty kraken, goes the silver bell. Or perhaps seven?

 

[Grimward]

Hurray!

*Waits for challenge*

 

[Pyan]

Hokay!

Whose breath was so bad that it made someone faint?

 

[Grimward]

Somehow, I missed the challenge, but I'm on it now.

Sauron, of course.

So great was the horror of his approach that Huan leaped aside. Then Sauron sprang upon Luthien; and she swooned before the menace of the fell spirit in his eyes and the foul vapour of his breath.

Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter XIX, Of Beren and Luthien, The Silmarillion

 

[Pyan]

Spot-on, Grimmy!

A miasmatic bell for you, and we await your question with bated (but sweeter, hopefully) breath...

 

[Grimward]

Thank'ee kindly, sir.

What road is taken when singing ends?

 

[Grimward]

Tsk. Didn't think a clue would be necessary for this one. No takers?

 

[hopewrites]

Well theres lots of singing on the road... isnt there.

 

[farntfar]

The road into the west,
taken by the ents and the entwives together, when they have nothing left to care for in the elf song that Treebeard sings to Merry and Pippin.

Do I need to quote it?

 

[Grimward]

Well, I like the quotes (and definitely hope, there is quite a bit of singing on the road to be had in the Trilogy), but the rules as laid down by Marky before he went on sabbatical again stipulate that quotes are not necessary, and by your description you have the passage I was referring to, farntfar.

We award bells (as a back read of the thread will reveal) for the correct answers, so a westward-leading, proximate bell to you, and yours the floor from which to levy the next challenge. Good job!

*Takes a seat next to the Green one and hope, and awaits farntfar's challenge*

 

[farntfar]

Well if you like quotes Grimward, your wish is my command.

ENT.
When Winter comes, the winter wild that hill and wood shall slay
When trees shall fall and starless night devour the sunless day
When wind is in the deadly East, then in the bitter rain
I'll look for thee, and call to thee. I'll come to thee again
ENTWIFE
When Winter comes, and singing ends, when darkness falls at last
When broken is the barren bough, and light and labour past
I'll look for thee, and wait for thee, until we meet again
Together we will take the road beneath the bitter rain!
BOTH.
Together we will take the road that leads into the West,
And far away will find a land where both our hearts may rest.

So maybe I should have said the road beneath the bitter rain.

Yes. Loads of singing Hope.
Luckily I had only gone through Luthien and Bombadil and Fanghorn before I found it. .


So my question is

Who drank who's blood gladly and why?

 

[Grimward]

*Grins*

No, your answer was specific enough for me to know you had the right one. In addition, Pyan (who likes the verse spread thoughout Tolkien's works) might know of another passage that could be close, but I can't think of any at the moment.

Good challenge. I've an idea, but I'm betting several others do, too.

 

[farntfar]

Thanks Grims.
I hope my question is specific enough now, and there aren't other events that could fit.

 

[Pyan]

It's Turin's sword, Gurthang speaking, and Túrin has just asked it if it will accept him using it to kill himself.

And from the blade rang a cold voice in answer: "Yea, I will drink thy blood gladly, that so I may forget the blood of Beleg my master, and of Brandir slain unjustly. I will slay thee swiftly."

The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch. XXI, Of Túrin Turambar

Interestingly, the quote is lost in the telling of the same event in The Children of Húrin:

And from the blade rang a cold voice in answer: "Yes, I will drink thy blood^, that so I may forget the blood of Beleg my master, and of Brandir slain unjustly. I will slay you swiftly."

The Children of Húrin, Ch. XVIII, The Death of Túrin.

I hope...there aren't other events that could fit

You're quite correct - surprisingly, this is the only example in the entire Tolkien saga of Middle-earth where a sword actually speaks, as far as I'm aware...

 

[Pyan]

Oops - forgot to say welcome to the thread, farntfar - it's nice to see some fresh blood! (goes off into maniacal cackle...)

 

[hopewrites]

Oh how I've missed your cackle. *hugs*

 

[farntfar]

Thanks Pyan for your welcome, and of course that's what I was thinking of; but in considerably less detail.
(embarrassed titter!)

Obviously I included the GLADLY so there could be no confusion. (He said, making sure he didn't look anyone in the eye.)

 

[Pyan]

Right then, my turn...

Who died in their sixty-first year, but was thought to have died young?

 

[hopewrites]

Mutters something dwarven and goes scampering for her books