A riddle [G]

[aesc]

Title: A riddle
By: HF
Email: hfox @ontheqt.org
Rating/Warning: None
Work: LotR
Disclaimer: Tolkien hoc fecit.

Notes: A riddle for the tolkien_weekly "Queens" challenge. Under the wire! (I hope!)


A RIDDLE

A dowager queen am I, for my husband is gone.

My garment is white, my seven skirts embroidered with tales of the great. Each day the living weave new ones.

I am learned though unlettered; in my heart is the seat of wisdom. I see from afar the captains returning, the dark in the East, the Sea that covers the old home of my children.

I am old, white-crowned. Great men ride to protect me, even into the hand of the Shadow.

Say who I am and where I reside, and if he who must wed me shall come again.


Feel free to supply an answer :)

Comments

[ribby.livejournal.com]

Yay, riddles! And such a clever one, too... gorgeous imagery. The Great Marriage of the King and the Land, mmhmm. *grin* Minas Tirith, yes?

Lovely response to the challenge!

~Kris

[aesc.livejournal.com]

Yay! Thanks so much! *tigertackles*

[seleneheart]

I think he will come again. Wonderful riddle . . . the King wed to the land. Although that implies that we need a sacrifice, summer king or somesuch.

[aesc.livejournal.com]

Although that implies that we need a sacrifice, summer king or somesuch.

*grin* I think the Gondorians will stay away from blood sacrifices.

There are some skaldic texts in Old Norse that refer to the conquering or taking of a land in terms of either marriage or rape (depending on the poet), and that was kind of what I'd been thinking of.

[aervir.livejournal.com]

That's a marvellous drabble! I must admit I'd never have thought of Minas Tirith on hearing the clue "queens in Middle-earth", although IIRC, Faramir does use the expression, doesn't he? And it's so obvious and so suitable, as your riddle proves.

[aesc.livejournal.com]

IIRC, Faramir does use the expression, doesn't he?


He does! I don't have the passage in front of me, but he does make some reference to Minas Tirith as a queen of cities (or similar).

[aervir.livejournal.com]

Ha! Found it. It's actually in one of all-time favourite passages:

"For myself," said Faramir, "I would see the White Tree in flower again in the courts of the kings, and the Silver Crown return, and Minas Tirith in peace: Minas Anor again as of old, full of light, high and fair, beautiful as a queen among other queens: not a mistress of many slaves, nay, not even a kind mistress of willing slaves. War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend: the city of the Men of Numenor; and I would have her loved for her memory, her ancientry, her beauty, and her present wisdom. Not feared, save as men may fear the dignity of a man, old and wise."

[aesc.livejournal.com]

Yay! I knew he'd said something along those lines, but I didn't have my copy of the book with me when I wrote the drabble. *relief*

[ren-aleria.livejournal.com]

Minas Tirith (or the White Tower), in Gondor, and yes

[aesc.livejournal.com]

Got it in one :)

[randi2204]

Ooh, lovely!

It took me a moment to realize you meant Minas Tirith--though the seven skirts should have been a huge clue!--but I did finally get it when I got to the Sea that covers the old home of my children. I left my brain at work today; that's my excuse. ^^ But still--very, very nicely done.

[aesc.livejournal.com]

I left my brain at work today; that's my excuse

That happens to me. A lot. I think it's because my work right now is so astoundingly boring that my brain creeps out of my head and wanders off..

[windswept1.livejournal.com]

Ooh! This is beautifully done. It describes Minas Tirith so well, and I think it brings out all the rather saddening beauty of an ancient city very nicely.

[aesc.livejournal.com]

*beam* Thank you!