Riddles in the Downs

[Galadriel55]

Yes!!! You got it!

Explanation is mostly very much on point. A couple lines were intended differently, but it doesn't change the answer.

Old friends are fallen on the road - "There’s that Ted Sandyman a-cutting down trees as he shouldn’t. They didn’t ought to be felled: it’s that avenue beyond the Mill that shades the road to Bywater." This whole stanza is still Sam seeing the marring of the Shire.

Stanza 4 generally speaks about Frodo's vision of things in the distant past or future, which he might not yet understand.

When battle breaks and prophecies of old will come to pass, - "prophecies" is the most loose line, referring vaguely to Aragorn's return as King hitting Paths of the Dead en route, which in combination sorta fulfills multiple legends. The first part is correctly identified to the exact quote.

When you are taking up the tale from heroes of the past, - "many swift scenes followed that Frodo in some way knew to be parts of a great history in which he had become involved". Specifically he sees the arrival of Elendil & co and the founding of Gondor, a story that must be completed by the Return of the King, the Battle for Gondor, and the destruction of the Ring.

When tempests rage and vessels sail to build, save, and depart - Then he saw against the Sun, sinking blood-red into a wrack of clouds, the black outline of a tall ship with torn sails riding up out of the West (ship coming to build Gondor); And then again a ship with black sails, but now it was morning again, and the water rippled with light, and a banner bearing the emblem of a white tree shone in the sun (ship coming to save Gondor; and into the mist a small ship passed away, twinkling with lights (ship departing Middle-earth).

And, like you have rightly concluded, the thing Sam sees at first and Frodo sees at the end of their visions, is the reflection of STARS in the Mirror.

The floor is yours! *bows out*

[Urwen]

How about a simpler one?

He's done much for our welfare
So your lives I shall spare
But our leader he did slay
So you may not stay
And I shall meet his father, if here he finds his way
But you shall not, for you'll be far away

[Galadriel55]

Not as easy as you think

This gives me Scouring vibes a bit - Frodo urges to spare Saruman's life due to former helpfulness, but banishes him and Wormtongue from the Shire. Among other things, the fate of Lothi comes up (the killed leader). But the father makes no sense, and "he" would have to refer to both Saruman and Grima.

[Urwen]

That's not it. This, too, is from a very specific source.

Also, the 'he' in the fifth line refers to 'father'.

The 'he' in the first line, the 'father', the speaker and the addressees are all different people, by the way, though loosely connected.

[Huinesoron]

This is very frustrating, because I feel like it's lurking just below the level of memory. I can so nearly feel it.

A wandering father ("finds his way") will always make me think of Hurin, but I don't think Turin had anyone with him in Brethil. Did some of his bandits show up for the Wanderings of Hurin? But then they would have to still be there when Hurin arrived, which is the opposite of what the riddle says.

The exile part also makes me think of Orodreth's words to Celegorm and Curufin, but that doesn't fit well. I do feel like it might be an elvish thing, but that might just be Orodreth getting in my head.

hS

[Urwen]

Oh, you're so close. So close. Just think a little more.

The riddle is a poetic reinterpretation of speaker's own words from [specific source].

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Oh, you're so close. So close. Just think a little more.

The riddle is a poetic reinterpretation of speaker's own words from [specific source].

Aha, and it really is:

Originally Posted by The Wanderings of Hurin

Here Turin son of Hurin dwelt for a time, and he delivered the land from the Serpent of England. For this I give you your lives. But he scorned Brandir, right Chieftain of Brethil, and he slew him without justice or pity. Therefore I will not harbour you here. [...] If Hurin comes [...] then I shall be here to meet him[...] But you will not. Now go!

Hardang, Chieftain of Brethil, to Asgon and his men. It must be especially bitter for them, given that Asgon's last words to Turin were telling him to go away and never come back.

hS