Elentari dismounted from her horse and knelt down beside the stone slab Airerūthiel had indicated. "This is a fool talking, but can you read the Ancient Tongue?" asked the Gondorian, her brows knitting together as she puzzled over the elaborate and mysterious-looking text. "My mother tried to teach it to my siblings and I when we were small, but alas! the knowledge has all but left me as I grew older, and the precious little I have is useless in this matter."
Elentari smiled to herself as she ran her fingers delicately over the lettering, hidden by a mass of sprawling weeds and choking brambles. Some of it had all but faded, but if she squinted hard enough it was just possible to make it out. "I think you have stumbled upon a clue, young one," she replied, "and 'tis twice so fortunate for you, as it is a message from your mother. She must have possessed the gift of foresight, and she knew what would happen to her family when she walked no more in this Middle-earth."
The Elf-witch's voice suddenly changed, ringing out through the woodland realm as clear as the peal of wedding bells, as she read the words of the riddle inside her head.
"'The sun has set on the days I saw
Yet barely risen in your spring
And as we take our steps to war
I gave you peace for wings
The way to the spider's tower you seek
Is perilious and long
The paths you walk are dark and bleak
But keep the gift of song
Follow the southeast trail and cross
The river going west
Along the way there may be loss
Do not forsake your quest
Go into the Brown Lands east of the Great
Past Emyn and Fangorn She awaits.'"
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'If they give you ruled paper, write the other way' - Juan Ramón Jiménez
I love pirates!
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