The Seeker's Song

By Katharine

Disclaimer: The Lord of the Rings and all related properties are copyrights of J.R.R. Tolkien, et al. This story is written for entertainment purposes only. No infringement is intended.

Warnings: Rated G. Language purists beware! (Read notes at the end)

This is an Elven song that I wrote and translated at the age of fifteen. I originally composed it for a fic, but I've since modified it slightly so that it can stand on its own.

Try reading this out loud, if you're adept with Elvish pronunciation. It sounds really cool!

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"Im ráninand arda a

nin orerín na palanéllo.

Aiyin amanë tehtaín thar yenilyë:

Lorgaladh bril miarë,

velya a norë armet,

vanalóthë ethuilessë a

himithë hriwesse.

Aewë linlissénda

brethilesse, an ceyath

quanta lalaith a meréthiel.

Im mara nanesse Imladris;

nuin galadh a arhirë sirith,

last anolë a linnë iauro.

Nin henë ugwatha;

nin megil na nilárth hiro nin.

Nin coi na uiquanta

gloscal ned Varda Elentári

a lhachanor sinome,

si mílonde imnur.

"A! Erédur tulant a cela

nin mar vanadunésseo Elrond.

Noranton tenn'galendorë yássen

mara Edain thálo a astal,

finlaurië Rohirrim talathannún.

"Ve raniëlon thar

hin galenóren Edain,

nin orë nantechuir,

a tiranton tenn'hineldë an gelydh:

Thíliel elenath mivilya,

bálenchoiren neno,

a lalaith ohwesta.

Quenenón tenn'hain:

'Aníron hir mel an ninorë,

er tenn'cheb ardameto.

Sí man ontúva gelydh nin?'

A thíliel elenath hi quenen:

'Rildë a galadë a ninquë nalmet—

collo ohirilninë; ai!

giliath onú gelydh melesse,

an nayes fáno tenn'ath.'

A mornen hi quénen:

'Minya'echion, im uchébgolodh meléva,

a im ugólo man ontúva le gelydh.'

A laliel ohwesta hi quénen:

'A, nin mellon iauro,

mel vánawen na vaniel;

nayes ve lissígwäelin.

Daro hi faroth oyes,

an nayes gaya morgul dirle!'

"Dolen nant nin dénië,

a dinui nin orë nallant;

an yeni úrimbë raenín er,

ar vánawen arim.

Nan engwa a ereb si sinome.

Tinuviel ilye nar er a er,

a wilwarinen nar er a er,

a eleni nar sangarim ilye;

ernan ereb nuin hain.

"Tiro! Si na arahíril,

eräiniel nuin vilya!

Ielna vana a neth,

a golodh ve pella yeni.

Fino na mánglar;

ielna romen-a-ninniachriel,

a eleni rigar ieldhol.

Galadithil tina ielhénesse—

míriel nar! Ieltälen nar linte,

macil astaldo, a lalaith na

ve linnë lissivilyésse.

Arda a vilya láitale eringáliel;

amain maratar, vanahíriel!

"Si onai ielorë tenn'im,

an híer aníron; mel ned

ielorë quantair ninorë.

Lasto tenn'im, vanahíriel,

a úavo nin bethë!

Ai, vanimélye luitha pella quettar;

linairón tenn'le?

Linairónye tenn'le?"

Translation:

"I have long wandered the earth,

and my memory is from afar.

I have beheld blessed signs across all the years:

Golden trees glittering in the sunlight,

skies and lands without end,

fair blooms in springtime and

cool mists in winter.

Little birds sweetly sing in the birches,

for their lives are filled

with laughter and feasting.

I dwell in the valley of Imladris;

under the trees and beside flowing streams,

I hearken to the lore and songs of old.

My eyes are undimmed;

my sword is devoted to the realm of my lord.

My life is ever filled

with the dazzling light of Varda Star-queen

and the Sun's leaping flame in this place,

here in the haven I love.

"Lo! A dark day came, and I departed

from my home in the fair valley of Elrond.

I rode unto green lands wherein

dwell Men of strength and valor,

the golden-haired Rohirrim of the western plains.

"As I was wandering across these

green lands of Men,

my heart was stirred,

and I looked unto these three for counsel:

the shining stars in the sky,

the stirring depths of the sea,

and the laughter of the breeze.

I spoke unto them:

'I desire to find a love for my heart,

one to keep unto the end of the world.

Now who shall give wisdom unto me?'

And the shining stars spoke thus:

'Bright and radiant and white we are—

the cloak of our Lady; alas!

the star-host gives not wisdom in love,

for it is veiled to us.'

And the dark water spoke thus:

'Son of the Firstborn,

I keep no knowledge of love,

and I do not know who will give wisdom to thee.'

And the laughing breeze spoke thus:

'O, my friend of old,

the love of a fair maiden is passing;

it is like the sweet wind-song.

Halt this pursuit of it,

for 'tis a dreadful sorcery thou seekest!'

"Hidden was my lament,

and silently my heart wept;

for years unnumbered I have wandered alone,

without a fair maiden by my side.

I am weary and lonely here in this place.

All the nightingales are one and one,

and the butterflies are one and one,

and the stars are a great throng together;

I alone am but one beneath them.

"Look! Here is a noble lady,

the daughter of kings under the sky!

She is fair and young,

and wise beyond her years.

Her hair is of fine gold;

she is a maiden garlanded with sunrise and rainbow,

and stars wreathe her head.

The light of the Moon sparkles in her eyes—

like jewels they sparkle! Her feet are swift,

her blade valiant, and her laughter is

as a song in the sweet air.

The earth and sky praise thee, O daughter of the green forest;

blessed be the house of thy father, fair lady!

"Now may she give her heart to me,

for this alone I desire; the love of

her heart would fill my own.

Hearken to me, fair lady,

and despise not my words!

Alas, thy beauty enchants me beyond speech;

may I sing to thee?

May even I sing to thee?"

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Um…yes, before anyone points it out, this song is written in a strange blend of Quenyan and Sindarin Elvish, and would probably get laughed out of the Last Homely House within the first two lines. As far as I know, though, the grammar and syntax are pretty darned good.

I was fifteen, okay? At that age, I just wanted to see if I could.

Finally, I don't know why anyone would bother to steal something as linguistically haphazard as this is, but I must put forth the following appeal: please, PLEASE don't use any part of this song without asking me. It took a lot of time and effort, and I'd hate to see my hard work stolen by lazy plagiarists!

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed!

(Oh, and my primary resource for translating the song was the book The Languages of Middle-earth, written by Ruth S. Noel. I've since been informed that that book isn't very reliable, but them's the breaks.)