Riddles in the Downs

[Shards of Narsil]

It's been ten days since the riddle was posted, and I've been racking my brain without success (as it seems have others as well).

Maybe throw us a bone Legate?

That is, if The Might and Mhagain agree since they have been actively involved in this one.

[Thenamir]

I'm barging in here, with not a single post on this thread heretofore (and kudos to Legate for not only the composition, but the artful replies to the guesses so far) but something jogged my mind in the last two lines of this one. My guess is the Ring itself, speaking to Gollum, perhaps at the Crack of Doom, but I can't make it all fit. Here's what I have:

I'm as dark as night, - not sure about this one, perhaps though it was shiny gold, it was dark in purpose, not in color.
I run far from light, - the darkness of the Barad-Dur and perhaps also of Gollum's cave?
Spell is upon me - the spell of the Dark Lord at the Ring's forging, perhaps the inscription? (hmmm...spell...inscription...could this be a horrible pun?)
As you will now see. - another I'm not sure about, perhaps the fact that the inscription appears when heated, as it undoubtedly did when cast into the chasm, depicted in the movie but not explicitly mentioned in the book.
You'll beat me, I know - Gollum was the cause of the eventual destruction of the Ring
But I bring the woe: - fairly obvious for all who carried or desired the Ring
Your friend is now lost, - the murder of Deagol
But that was the cost. - Smeagol could not obtain the Ring otherwise

Not as creative as some of the guesses so far, but I had to get rid of the tickle in my mind. Knowing the creativity of the riddles so far, it can't be that obvious...or can it? Great thread, keep it up!

EDIT: I thought I'd read the progress of the riddle carefully, but I see that someone already guessed the Ring. My apologies for the side trip. But I contend, based on the explanations above, that the Ring fits fairly well, if not exactly.

[mhagain]

I'm not sure if hints are necessary or wise at this stage. We've covered quite a lot of possibilities, and any hint that's useful may very well end up giving the entire thing away.

I still have this thing in the back of my mind going "dark enchanted river running underground" over and over again, but I'm going to ignore that just now and guess:

The Mouth of Sauron

Dark as night: he is a Black Numenoran, so check
Run far from light: more figurative that literal
Spell is upon me: did Sauron enchant or enslave him?
As you will now see: as you'll notice/observe
You'll beat me: Sauron was overthrown, and the mouth speaks for him
But I bring the woe: which the next bit
Your friend is now lost: Frodo, so check
But that was the cost: the cost of sending Shire-rats into Mordor

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

First, sorry TM and sorry Thenamir and sorry mhagain, the answers are not correct, but nevertheless they were quite creative.

But now some important thing for all riddlers around here. I won't be posting any more hints. You don't need it. Trust me Your guesses here are almost enough for making alternative answers. But, only almost. Remember:

I am waiting for the person who posts a correct answer with proper explanation of all the lines (since a blind shot with random success might be unfair for those who have worked here so hard and so long). Don't worry, I don't want any super-hyper-precise explanations. Just try to think hard, make a conclusion, try to verify your answer going through all the lines of the riddle, and then post it.

I don't want the explanation just to bother you with it. I want to know that the person who posts the answer is really sure about it. I dare to say, as in all of my riddles, when the person really knows the correct answer, he/she will know it. Or at least would have no trouble of checking whether it fits - and after checking it, he/she would know.

Also I want just to ensure you that if you post something and it is not correct, I say an explicite "NO" to you. Thus, if some of you, like Thenamir, have some idea of an answer, you can verify whether the same answer was not already posted here and if I said "no" to it. This will save you some time.

[The Might]

Great riddle I must admit...I have been thinking about a possible answer the last few days, but nothing really good came to me until know

I personally think of the Dark Door, the entrance ot the Paths of the Dead

I'm as dark as night, - obviously since it is called the dark door
I run far from light, - it is found in a dark glen
spell is upon me - the prophecy made by an old man sitting there to Baldor of Rohan ([font=Verdana][size=-1]"The way is shut. It was made by those who are Dead, and the Dead keep it, until the time comes.")[/size][/font]
as you will now see. - now means that time had come, Aragorn had arrived to fulfill the prophecy
You'll beat me, I know - just as above, it was time for Aragorn to pass the door and enter the Paths of the Dead
but I bring the woe: - I explain this below
your friend is now lost,- talking about Halabarad of the Dunedain, he himself says as he reaches the door [font=Verdana][size=-1]"This is an evil door, and my death lies beyond it. I will dare to pass it nonetheless..."[/size][/font]
but that was the cost. - the cost of Aragorn passing

As you said, I think now I feel I found the right answer.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

No. Although very good, TM. Great explanation, but there are moments which are not completely ok. Basically, "the spell is upon me" and "I bring the woe: your friend is now lost" are much more simple than how you portray them. Also if that were just the door, they certainly don't "run" (the path maybe, the doors don't). I wouldn't consider that "the way is shut" a spell, there is no spell, there are the Dead and to pass is a destiny, not a spell. Similarly with the friend. Much more simple.

I know 99% that the next answer will be THE answer.

[The Might]

well, I first thought of the Stone of Erech, but it doesn't run either...so maybe it's the King of the Dead himself
he seems to fit all the lines...though I am not so sure about the "I'm as dark as night" one...