Lay of Varlëa
Lovely the trees in the Greenwood so fair,
Lovely the spices that float in the air.
Peaceful the people who make it their home
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
The shadows emerge from the wold to the wood,
Shadows that carry the first hint of fear.
Why do they trouble our fair woodland home?
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
A maiden was walking the forest so green
Long was her life and much had she seen.
No shadows of fear could withstand her bright eyes
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Her history was rich and much had she seen.
Melian the Maia with love she had served.
True shadows indeed she had seen in her time
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Her world had been torn when her great king had died
And Melian from this world’s sad face had departed.
A new home she found in the wood they called green.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
For ages long she had wandered this vale
Remembering times when her lords she had served.
And healing the hurts in her heart full of love
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
But now shadows come to disturb her fair home
And valiantly brave, she patrols on its edge.
Bright is her sword and keen is its blade
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Beyond the next ridge awaits a strange sight.
In the edge of the wood roams one called a Periannath
O whence did he come to this woodland so fair?
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Old Tobold had wandered beneath the trees eaves
His fate had brought him beneath the green trees
Far had he wandered from the riverside
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Yet shadows had found him and pressed the attack
Dark creatures had forced his back against a rock
His weapon was lost and how could he win?
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
One weapon he had yet though weak it may seem.
His flute he pulled out and played a brave dream.
He played of bright sun on a full summer day.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
The shadows pressed closer, all seemed to be lost
They slowed at his music but still they came on.
Oh strength of the Valar this small one defend
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
To the top of the ridge his music did fly
And one heard it at last who was touched by its might
Her heart pulled her forward to face its own doom
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Then came maid Varlëa a to find the bright flute
That played in the shadows but sang of the sun.
In wonder her eyes beheld the Perian.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Her heart was true snared in the song of that flute
Her own voice she added to drive fear away.
To Elbereth she sang and the shadows all fled.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Tobold heard her voice and his heart was full glad
At her feet did he fall as one worships a queen
But raising him up she did kiss his gold brow
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
She followed him hence from the forest so fair
For many long years she was never seen there.
But his people they led o’er the mountains so high.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Long years but fleeting she loved by his side.
A lifetime for him in content did abide.
His children she bore and true love found its home.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Her joy became dimmed as she watched him grow old
A shadow of parting she saw on his brow.
And then he was gone and she never more loved
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
As a cloud o’re the face of the moon dims its light
So the light of her eyes was diminished
She laid him to rest in a Hobbity grave.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
A grandchild there was like an elf fair of grace
And from this tiny one she took comfort
And carried her off to her old woodland home
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
To fair woman hood, Mallea did grow
And the elves of the wood loved her dearly
And Linmir the green did take her for his wife.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Through many long years did the lovers enjoy
All the joys of the wood ‘neath the sky
And a child they bore of fair elven like
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Hellimân the Blessed was their fair issue called
And he grew to a beauty of manhood
Yet fair heart was captured as should have been spared.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
For Vanya Greenleaf in her father’s fair house
Had never yet known any mortal.
And her innocence great set a seal on her doom.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Though her father said nay and her mother gainsaid
Fair Vanya would not be denied,
But gave all her love to a mortal half elf.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Still all seemed quite well and the hobbits stayed hale
And aged not nor suffered of sickness.
But the gift of Eru within them was set.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
A fair son was born who they named Aldanna
And a vision of elf child was he.
And he grew to manhood in the midst of the wood.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Then at last fell the doom, Mallea passed away
Outside of the circle of Arda.
Though ne’er had she aged in the hall of the wood.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
And now it was seen what the heartbreak would be
For all those who hearts were fair given
In love to an elf who inside was a hobbit.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Then Varlëa did repent of the sorrow she’d brought
On the people who lived in that woodland
And taking Aldanna she left there for good.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
To an old Hobbit hole, in the side of a hill
Varlëa did take Aldanna.
To his people to live out the rest of his life.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
A blessing she gave to the get of her love
That music would always be with them.
Then she rode right away and was never more seen
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
On a palfrey of grey to the Havens she rode
Bowed was her head, and weary her heart
And never again on these shores was she seen
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Lovely the spices that float in the air.
Peaceful the people who make it their home
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
The shadows emerge from the wold to the wood,
Shadows that carry the first hint of fear.
Why do they trouble our fair woodland home?
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
A maiden was walking the forest so green
Long was her life and much had she seen.
No shadows of fear could withstand her bright eyes
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Her history was rich and much had she seen.
Melian the Maia with love she had served.
True shadows indeed she had seen in her time
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Her world had been torn when her great king had died
And Melian from this world’s sad face had departed.
A new home she found in the wood they called green.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
For ages long she had wandered this vale
Remembering times when her lords she had served.
And healing the hurts in her heart full of love
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
But now shadows come to disturb her fair home
And valiantly brave, she patrols on its edge.
Bright is her sword and keen is its blade
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Beyond the next ridge awaits a strange sight.
In the edge of the wood roams one called a Periannath
O whence did he come to this woodland so fair?
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Old Tobold had wandered beneath the trees eaves
His fate had brought him beneath the green trees
Far had he wandered from the riverside
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Yet shadows had found him and pressed the attack
Dark creatures had forced his back against a rock
His weapon was lost and how could he win?
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
One weapon he had yet though weak it may seem.
His flute he pulled out and played a brave dream.
He played of bright sun on a full summer day.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
The shadows pressed closer, all seemed to be lost
They slowed at his music but still they came on.
Oh strength of the Valar this small one defend
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
To the top of the ridge his music did fly
And one heard it at last who was touched by its might
Her heart pulled her forward to face its own doom
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Then came maid Varlëa a to find the bright flute
That played in the shadows but sang of the sun.
In wonder her eyes beheld the Perian.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Her heart was true snared in the song of that flute
Her own voice she added to drive fear away.
To Elbereth she sang and the shadows all fled.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Tobold heard her voice and his heart was full glad
At her feet did he fall as one worships a queen
But raising him up she did kiss his gold brow
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
She followed him hence from the forest so fair
For many long years she was never seen there.
But his people they led o’er the mountains so high.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Long years but fleeting she loved by his side.
A lifetime for him in content did abide.
His children she bore and true love found its home.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Her joy became dimmed as she watched him grow old
A shadow of parting she saw on his brow.
And then he was gone and she never more loved
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
As a cloud o’re the face of the moon dims its light
So the light of her eyes was diminished
She laid him to rest in a Hobbity grave.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
A grandchild there was like an elf fair of grace
And from this tiny one she took comfort
And carried her off to her old woodland home
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
To fair woman hood, Mallea did grow
And the elves of the wood loved her dearly
And Linmir the green did take her for his wife.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Through many long years did the lovers enjoy
All the joys of the wood ‘neath the sky
And a child they bore of fair elven like
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Hellimân the Blessed was their fair issue called
And he grew to a beauty of manhood
Yet fair heart was captured as should have been spared.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
For Vanya Greenleaf in her father’s fair house
Had never yet known any mortal.
And her innocence great set a seal on her doom.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Though her father said nay and her mother gainsaid
Fair Vanya would not be denied,
But gave all her love to a mortal half elf.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Still all seemed quite well and the hobbits stayed hale
And aged not nor suffered of sickness.
But the gift of Eru within them was set.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
A fair son was born who they named Aldanna
And a vision of elf child was he.
And he grew to manhood in the midst of the wood.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Then at last fell the doom, Mallea passed away
Outside of the circle of Arda.
Though ne’er had she aged in the hall of the wood.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
And now it was seen what the heartbreak would be
For all those who hearts were fair given
In love to an elf who inside was a hobbit.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
Then Varlëa did repent of the sorrow she’d brought
On the people who lived in that woodland
And taking Aldanna she left there for good.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
To an old Hobbit hole, in the side of a hill
Varlëa did take Aldanna.
To his people to live out the rest of his life.
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
A blessing she gave to the get of her love
That music would always be with them.
Then she rode right away and was never more seen
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.
On a palfrey of grey to the Havens she rode
Bowed was her head, and weary her heart
And never again on these shores was she seen
This side of the sea, this side of the sea.