News from Bree
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Sep 3 2014, 1:45am
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The Great Hall of Poets
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Welcome to The Great Hall of Poets, our regular monthly feature showcasing the talent of Middle-earth fans. Each month we will feature a small selection of the poems submitted, but we hope you will read all of the poems that we have received here in our Great Hall of Poets. So come and join us by the hearth and enjoy! If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you'd like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors. The Lay of Eowyn By William Diehl Now, hear the Lay of Eowyn, A shield-maiden of yore, Who lived her life in fealty And loyalty, and war. In Meduseld, King Theoden Had no daughter of his own, So he bade his sister's child live With him in his great home. A lovely maiden of golden hair Known all across the Mark, But a shield-maiden must prove herself At the coming of the Dark. It happened many years ago Before our age had come. Evil fell upon the Rohirrim And no more songs were sung. Across the fields of Rohan And the grasses of the Wold, Invaders from a far-off land Rode fearlessly and bold. Though Theoden was wizened, He bore a majesty of old. He sent the mighty Eorlingas To East and Western Folds. Upon the west the invaders crept, The orcs of an evil lord, Where Theodred, son of Theoden Met doom by a goblin-sword. To Theoden, King of Rohan, this news Dealt a mighty blow. By evil counsel Theoden was Convinced that he was old. But from the North came a mighty sword, The blade of Anduril. The lost king of the western lands Had come in times of ill. This proud man's name was Aragorn, Son of Arathorn by birth. His grand arrival in Meduseld Brought happiness and mirth. He approached the lofty dais Where Theoden was set, And suddenly he saw Eowyn Who smiled when they met. A finer warrior she had never seen, This man of jet-black hair, His face was proud of bearing Though his hands showed signs of wear. And he beheld a shield-maiden - So lovely yet so stern, A woman of strength and beauty For which any man would yearn. Then Theoden and Aragorn rode To battle in the West, Leaving Eowyn to think of them and Manage Meduseld her best. Across the grass of Rohan came Tidings of victory! Now, the mighty warrior Aragorn Would come for her to see. For many days she waited until Finally, he returned. She was overjoyed to see him But shocked with what she learned. He announced that in the morning he Would go upon his way, Leaving lonely, anguished Eowyn In Meduseld to stay. She begged to come with Aragorn As he rode away to war. But Aragorn would have her not And rode out from the door. Soon Theoden, the King, returned; A battle he had won. But preparations were underway, For war had just begun! A muster of the countrymen Prepared to travel east, But Eowyn was to be left behind To guard their hall of feast. A night passed in unhappiness, No comfort from the moon. Indeed no morning ever came, Only the Dark of Doom. But Eowyn was resolute, She the King did not obey. With mail corslet and silver sword Among the men she made her way. With the Eored of the King she rode Through many perilous days, Yet though she knew the danger She would still not turn away. At last the mighty Rohirrim Came to the battle-ground. And Theoden of the Riddermark Led a charge of great renown. Through countless ranks of enemy His proud horse, Snowmane, flew. Their banner he hewed to the ground, Their leader Theoden slew. The Rohirrim had changed the tide Of battle on that day. The fearful Darkness on the land Began to go away. But suddenly there was horror As men looked toward the sky. For they heard a screech of terror And saw a shadow flying high. Alas, the King of Darkness on a Fell-winged steed had come, So Snowmane reared with terror Dumping Theoden to the ground. Poor Theoden's days were over as he Was pinned beneath his steed, With the ever-nearing evil wraith Contemplating wicked deeds. But Eowyn had observed the King As doom upon him fell, And the shield-maiden began the deed of which Many tales would tell. The evil wraith approached the King To desecrate the dead. Although the men were paralyzed This maiden felt no dread. Defying the dark she leaped from her horse, Running to her liege's side. The fierceness of the shield-maiden Made men's eyes open wide. "Come not between the Nazgul and his Prey," the Ringwraith said, "Or he shall take thee to his land Where thou wouldst wish for death." "Dost thou not know the prophecy, No man may hinder me!" These evil words of terror made Men loath to watch and see. "Thou dost not look upon a man But a woman of the Mark!" And as she threw her helmet down Her hair lit up the dark. "Be gone, foul dwimmerlaik," she said, "You stand before my kin, For living or evil dark undead I Will smite thee if I can." So firm a challenge her had not had In this age of the land. He charged the shield-maiden, a Great mace in his hand. He, with a screech, the mace let fall, It broke her shield arm. But suddenly with a cry of pain He wheeled in alarm. A Halfling, holbytla, had travelled From a far-off land to war, And seeing the peril of Eowyn Had come to lend his sword. As the Nazgul stood above Eowyn, His mace raised in the air, The Halfling's sword thrust in his leg And a howl went through the air. The Ringwraith stumbled backward, now Helplessly in pain, For now the labors of Eowyn had Not all been in vain. Her sword she raised above his head, Though none could see his flesh, And driving her sword into his face There came the howl of death. The sword splintered and fragmented, Eowyn fell to the ground. The black breath was upon her And she lay without a sound. She was borne with honor from the Field to the Tower of the Guard, Where rested she among the slain Of countless soldiers hard. But ho! The mighty Aragorn to his Kingdom had returned. He won the battle on the field whence Of Eowyn he heard. "The hands of a King are healing hands," Said Ioreth the Old, And Aragorn, the long lost King, Knew healing arts of old. He saved the valiant Eowyn And left her to grow strong. For he had still a war to fight And soon he hurried on. As Eowyn recovered, she Longed for battle still; A shield-maiden must prove herself In times of dark and ill. She met a young man, Faramir, The ruler of the Tower. For he too had been nearly killed In Gondor's darkest hour. For Faramir this shield-maiden Was a pleasant sight indeed, And soon he fell in love with her Though him she did not see. Her heart on another man was set, That ranger of the North. She longed for news of battle As the messengers rode forth. But now the tidings darkened, Turning new hope to despair. And Faramir and Eowyn Together began to fare. The two proud warriors fell in love Upon the Tower of the Sun. And suddenly the tidings came that The final war was won! As all the western lands rejoiced with Hard-earned victory, The shield-maiden made it known that Faramir's wife she'd be. The two were joined in happiness As all the world rejoiced, While all the blessings of Gondor and The Rohirrim were voiced. The two dwelled in Ithilien, Land of eternal spring. The two lived ever in happiness Where birds and minstrels sing. Oh, here is come the end of the Lay of Eowyn- The shield-maiden of the Mark; the Princess of Ithilien. ~~*~~ The Fellowship By: Olivia B Legolas: I shall came back in spring when gold leaves fall from trees. I shall come sit by the river and dream of the seas. Gimli: I will come back to the mountain, and look upon brethren who died. Then I will dig down in the dark for the true silver metal hide. Boromir: I will never come back home, but my soul shall go to the hall of my father's kindred history, now hear my horn's last call. Aragorn: I must win my crown back by right, and correct my ancestor's bane. I have used the sword that was broken, to start the dominion of man's reign. Gandalf: I will go back now across the seas, for my work to bring peace here is done. I have used magic, wisdom, and fireworks so the hobbits can keep having fun. Frodo: I shall come back in summertime, to my hole 'neath the hill with round door. I have saved my lovely Shire land, but my calling is to a distant seashore. Sam: I came back to the lover I left, to my garden and hedge's home. I have been the most faithful companion, but my heart wants a hole to roam. Pippin: I came back from battles with plenty, and served as a white tree guard man. I left my home as a fool, but lo I returned a great soldier of the land. Merry: I shall come back a new, wiser hobbit, for I saw war but pain did not stop me. I fought with horse lords in a great battle, and saw sights I never thought I'd see. ~~*~~ Arwen's Song By Elessar's Queen We met at dusk in Imladris wood; He called, "Tinuviel!" As Beren called in years long past, Far west of Rivendell. In Lorien of singing gold We met at length once more; I plighted troth to Arathorn's son On Amroth's hill of lore. I turned away from Elven-home And gave to him my love; Immortal life I rejected then And naught could my heart move. Estel went far a-journeying Till war inevitable came. Through Eru's grace Ring passed away, The Shadow fell in shame. In City of Kings our hands were joined At midsummer of year; And though he'd kingdom, wealth, and power, 'Twas me he held most dear. But at long last his years were spent; He lay in Silent Street As still and cold as hardest stone. Our son took Estel's seat. I chose to bear the Doom of Men That day so long ago; I now must bear the Doom of Men, Would I or would I no. I'll not be conquered at last test - I who renounced the Foe. There's life past death, His gift to Men, Relief from bitter load. My mortal love, I grieve for you Beneath these fading trees Of what was once fair Lorien, Forsaken for the seas. I too now lay me down to sleep Upon this hill of ours, To lie, perchance, forevermore In nature's golden bower. O Elbereth Gilthoniel, Your daughter Arwen sleeps. O Eru, take me to Your land Beyond the Sundered Seas. ~~*~~ Read all the poems submitted for August here. Click here to read the complete collection in The Great Hall of Poets.
(This post was edited by entmaiden on Sep 3 2014, 2:53pm)
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