Gléowine was a Man of Rohan who served as King Théoden's minstrel during the War of the Ring.
Biography[]
During the funeral of King Théoden, Gléowine made a song about the King's fall, and also named the previous Kings of Rohan. It was said that Gléowine made no songs afterwards.[1]
Out of doubt, out of dark, to the day's rising
he rode singing in the sun, sword unsheathing.
Hope he rekindled, and in hope he ended;
over death, over dread, over doom lifted
out of loss, out of life, unto long glory.
Etymology[]
The name Gléowine means "music-friend", from gléo ("music, harp") and wine ("friend"). The suffix -wine can also be seen in Fréawine and Goldwine.[citation needed]
Portrayal in adaptations[]
In The Lord of the Rings Online, Gléowine comes from a small village in Wildermore, a land to the west of the Wold and is the mentor of Horn. He is first encountered being banished from Edoras at the command of Gríma Wormtongue. The player and Horn later find him drinking his sorrows in the town of Snowbourn. A messenger from Aldor Harding reports that no news had come from Wildermore in several weeks and Gléowine agreed to accompany the player and Horn to his homeland which he had no visited in many a year. The find that the land has been ravaged by the devilry of Saruman and after helping the people of the land decided to return to Edoras to inform the King of what had happened, risking the death for breaking Gríma's ban. They return after Théoden had been healed by Gandalf and the King takes Gléowine back to his side on the ride to the Fords of Isen. During the Battle of Helm's Deep Gléowine keeps away from the fighting and later composes a song about the last stand of Théoden's doorwarden Háma. Gléowine again journeys by the King's side to Mundburg and sees the King's death at the hands of the Witch-king first-hand.
References[]
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, Book Six, Chapter VI: "Many Partings"