board77

Sorry for the delay. Beth and I took a long-needed weekend excursion.

What to ask? What to ask?

Aha!

Where did my namesake, Voronwë, son of Aranwë, tarry on his way from Gondolin to the Havens of the Shipwrights, and what are the fairest of the "wealth of fair things that is beyond the thought of hearts in the hard hills of the North" that he found in that land?

The Isle of Balar.

I think it was the Willows and flowers like gems?

Wow, that was fast!

Mostly right. Fairest of all were the Willows of Nan-tathren "pale greeen, or silver in the wind, and the rustle of their innumerable leaves is a spell of music." And indeed "the grass is filled with flowers, like gems, like bells, like flames of red and gold, like a waste of many-coloured stars in a firmament of green."

But the Isle of Balar is in fact where the Havens of the Shipwrights was located, and it was the land of Nan-tathren (where "Ulmo is but the servant of Yavanna") where Voronwë tarried.

Very impressive, Alatar, and clearly purely from memory! Ask the next question, please.

<ducks in to Voronwë>

Alatar, c'mon, ask an easy one!

Ok, a fairly easy one...

Where did Tuor receive his arms, and who decreed that he should have them?

I believe he recieved them at Nevrast, but I can't, for the life of me, remember who it was who said he should have them

I'll take a guess - I think Ulmo gave them to him, but was it on the instructions of Turgon?

We're looking at a practically correct answer, but I'm going to be a stickler and ask for the exact location.

Those who knew me on TORC should find this answer easily enough!

Um... okay, Vinyamar?

(Another wild guess)

Exactly. Although Nevrast is also technically right.

Since you got both parts Jude, I'll let you set the next question.

Curse my ignorance!

No, really. Go ahead.

I actually got one?

Okay - who was known as the "Dark Elf", and how and why was he executed?

The "Dark Elf" was Eol, who lived in Nan Elmoth (?). I think he was executed for kidnapping Aredhel. I'm not sure how, though I believe it was by the hand of his son, Maeglin, and involved a mountain. (How's that for vague? )

How come I only come in to see answers, not questions?

Maiden, I believe Eol was executed for killing Aredhel (accidentally, while trying to murder his son) and it was by being pushed off a cliff. Was Maeglin the one to give him the shove? Can't recall.

Anyway, I'm just spamming. You were quite close enough and should go ahead with the next question, Jude agreeing.

I guess I can answer another one now.

Eol was known as the dark Elf. He took Aredhel, Turgon's sister, as his wife.



They had a son, Maeglin. Aredhel and Maeglin were essentially Eol's prisoners. When they tried to escape and return to Gondolin, he followed them and was captured by the Noldor of Gondolin. When he was brought before Turgon, he was given the option of living his life out in peace in Gondolin, but he took out a spear and threw it at Maeglin. Aredhel leapt in the way, and was pierced by the spear.



The wound did not seem to be serious, but the spear was poisoned, and Aredhel sickened and died overnight. Therefore, the following day, Eol was taken to the top of the battlements and cast over the side, to his death.

Small correction to the previous answer if I may. It was Turgon who left the arms for Tuor, at Ulmo's direction.

Edit: It appears that not one, but two people beat me to it. Woohoo!

Voronwe, I love the fact that you have illustrations for your answer. That's just awesome.

Maiden, I just wanted to check on the spelling of Aredhel's name, and these two illustrations popped right upin my Google search. Of course, by the time I had gotten them all set up, you and Frelga had already posted the answer. :

I'm looking forward to your next question.

I'm looking forward to your next answer.

(Pictures help the Silmarillion-impaired, yes they do. . . .)

I think Voronwe should have some sort of prize for going to all that trouble. Like extra 5 points added to his post count, or something.

BTW, does anyone else think Aredhel's head is put on backwards in the otherwise stunning spear-throwing picture?

Linda Blair was the model he used for the picture.