A Shield-maiden's Song

Deed Lore

The first four pages of this book can be found on enemies scattered across Angmar, Eregion, and Moria. The last four pages of this book can be found on enemies scattered across Forochel, Moria, and the Misty Mountains.

A Shield-maiden's Song was written many long years ago and tells the tale of a Shield-maiden of Rohan. While the Shield-maidens of Rohan were rarely called to war, they were nevertheless as well-trained and versed in the arts of battle as their male counterparts. This book tells the tale of one such Maiden caught in unexpected battle, who in striving to defend her Lord against a great onslaught, sang out in clearest tones a stirring song of war as she fought. Such was the power of her voice that even the Orcs whom she faced saw her not as a frail woman, but as a great warrior to be feared.

Alas, you have no idea how the story ends and several other details beside seem to be missing from this copy of the book, which has been damaged by time and neglect. Perhaps there is someone at Rivendell who would be able to make use of it.

To complete this deed perform the following objective(s)

• A Shield-maiden's Song, Page 1

  This is the title page of the book. Inscribed beneath the title are the words, 'transcribed from a ballad by an unknown warrior-poet of the Rohirrim'.

• A Shield-maiden's Song, Page 8

  This page describes in flowery, exaggerated, and entirely unhelpful words the disciplined training the heroine of the poem went through to attain her skills.

• A Shield-maiden's Song, Page 11

  This page continues the story of the shield-maiden and her exploits, recounting one of her first battles. The text ends as she charges to the fore of the battle, placing herself between the enemy and one of her kinsmen.

• A Shield-maiden's Song, Page 12

  This passage opens with the heroine of the poem shielding her kinsman from a mob of Orcs, relentlessly battling the foul horde regardless of her own life. While she did not come through unscathed, in the end her skill and courage brought her through to victory.

• A Shield-maiden's Song, Page 15

  This passage tells how, because of her many feats of honour and glory, the shield-maiden was elevated to become the King of the Mark's personal guard.

• A Shield-maiden's Song, Page 19

  This passage tells how the foes of Rohan learned to fear the shield-maiden, for she seemed invulnerable in their eyes. Her renown drew all enemies upon her whenever she took to the field.

• A Shield-maiden's Song, Page 25

  The story ends with the death of the shield-maiden. Though she perished, her king lived and songs of her loyalty and courage were ever sung in the Golden Hall on feast days thereafter.

• A Shield-maiden's Song, Page 26

  The last page of the text contains commentary by the scholar who recorded the poem. He explains how A Shield-maiden's Song demonstrates the true nature of the guardian: To defend those in need, regardless of her own life. In the end, the guardian will win all renown.

Rewards

10 LOTRO Points

Additional Information

• This deed is available for Guardians at level 39.

This deed starts by acquiring the legendary book A Shield-maiden's Song, then pages need to be collected, see the Legendary Book Pages for more information on page locations.