Riddles in the Downs

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

Narya comes to mind (one could describe the various rings as 'cousins,' I suppose, and Sauron's would certainly be a bother), but how or why Bilbo would have been 'warned' of it shoots the whole thing to pieces....

[Blind Guardian]

Often found at Bag End,
and though no-one mentioned me,
I must have been there that fine night,
under the party tree.

No sign at Farmer Maggot's
nor Crickhollow hideaway,
none at all at Old Tom's house,
even on washing day.

At Rivendell, the elves do tell,
Bilbo was warned of me.
But on his dragon quest and return West,
I'm lacking, don't you see?

My ancient cousin, you may discover,
in Galadriel's fair realm,
and mention of another,
but the cousin's far less bother.

But I'll be there,
though it's cold and bare,
by the seat of power,
in Ecthelion's Tower.
And you'll be glad,
my lass or lad,
to set your eyes on me.

Let's see, Gandalf was at Bilbo's party, so was Sam, Merry, Pippin, Bilbo, Frodo, and a lot of other hobbits. None of which have cousins in Lothien. Aragon was in Lothien but his mother died in Rivendell. Boromir, Gimli and Legolas went to Lothien, Legolas is the only I can think of having a cousin their. LEGOLAS!

[Beorn of Carrock]

I bet that the Westernmost place that Legolas had travelled was Rivendell, unless he was born before Oropher's arrival in Greenwood.

My pick goes to a Dwarf. There are some mentioned in Bilbo's party, and Gimli passed from Lorien as a memmber of the Fellowship. Does he has any mentioned cousin? If yes, my guess would go there.

[Pitchwife]

Funny idea - could it be cakes?

Often found at Bag End,
and though no-one mentioned me,
I must have been there that fine night,
under the party tree.
- I'd suppose so, too.

No sign at Farmer Maggot's
nor Crickhollow hideaway,
- they wouldn't have gone so well with the mushrooms.
none at all at Old Tom's house,
even on washing day.
- Tom's menu mentions "yellow cream, honeycombs, and white bread and butter", but no cakes.

At Rivendell, the elves do tell,
Bilbo was warned of me.
- "Mind Bilbo doesn't eat all the cakes! He's too fat to get through key-holes yet"
But on his dragon quest and return West,
I'm lacking, don't you see?
- Presumably the provender for the quest didn't include any.

My ancient cousin, you may discover,
in Galadriel's fair realm,
- lembas, of course.
and mention of another,
but the cousin's far less bother.
- Gimli mentioned cram in Lórien, but lembas were much better.

But I'll be there,
though it's cold and bare,
by the seat of power,
in Ecthelion's Tower.
- Pippin and Gandalf were served "white cakes" while talking with Denethor.
And you'll be glad,
my lass or lad,
to set your eyes on me.
- Pippin certainly was!

[Rumil]

Ibrin - nope, not Narya

BG - nope, not Legolas

Beorn - nope, not a dwarf

Pitchwife, of course you have it, indeed, CAKE!

Excellent job, and explanation, I could see Legate was on the right track, but nobody fancies woodworm for tea

Was thinking of calling this 'canonical occurences of the word "cake" in the legendarium'

Of course the Bag End bit refers to the Dwarves raiding Bilbo's larder in The Hobbit and snaffling all his seed-cake (on which there was a thread many moons ago). And I'm surprised by the lack of mention of a birthday cake at the eleventy-first shindig.

And you'll be glad,
my lass or lad,
to set your eyes on me.

Everyone likes cake!

All yours Pitchwife,
(I'll have to think of a tricky one next time!)

[Pitchwife]

Thanks, Rumil!
This was another good one, and quite amusing in hindsight. I found it tricky enough, and I don't think I'd have guessed it if Legate hadn't brought up the idea that it could be an object rather than a person. But what really gave it away was the end - 'lass and lad' sounded distinctly hobbitish to my ear, and knowing hobbits, what would they be most glad to set their eyes on? Food, of course!
Now why do I always have to solve a riddle when I haven't got a new one ready? But I'll try hard to think something up soon; and Urwen, if you pop in here, have a nice cuppa tea, practice lotus position, listen to your own breath and... you get the picture.

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

Thank God I was wrong! I've never been any good at constructing riddles, so I don't quite know why I piped up in the first place. Going back to lurking mode....