This is original text by Luinyelle and others, first posted on VL in the Opahtielva channel around 2023-08.
The story was first told orally as a continuative story: each sentence told by a different person. It was later edited by Luinyelle for grammar and punctuation. Contributors were: Ellanto, Delle/Ranyare, Earen, Carnimóro, Vyacheslav and Chaered.
The version below is the revised version posted by Luinyelle on 2025-07-28; see https://discord.com/channels/397489292185960468/402164953529712640/1399415705622810754
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【1】 Andanéya yára nér marnë erinquavë orontissen.
► Once upon a time, an old man lived alone in the mountains.
【2】 I nér samnë onóna indyu.
► The man had twin grandchildren.
【3】 I onóna indyu cecennanë se ilyë löar neldë.
► The twin grandchildren visited him every three years.
【4】 Cecenniën se mauyanë tu retë andavë lië tyeller aniën cöarya.
► To visit him, they had to climb many stairs for a long time to reach his house.
【5】 Mettassë i tyelleron tullettë náha yáwenna yassë marnë hráva yo raxeä rámalócë.
► At the end of stairs, they came to a narrow ravine where there dwelled a wild and dangerous winged dragon.
【6】 I vendet cólanet vinya helet haruttan an tana hrívë ringa nánë.
► The two girls were carrying a new fur-coat for their grandfather, for that winter was cold.
【7】 Mal i rámalócë cennë i helet ar irnë sa.
► But the dragon saw the fur-coat and wanted it.
【8】 Equë i ramalócë: “Lertastë auta ú mahtiéno ó ni, qui antastë nin tana helet.”
► Quoth the dragon: “You may leave without fighting me if you give me that coat.”
【9】 I raxeä rámalócë utwa alta utwa úvanima mal níca, linta, ulca, hloimaquanta.
► The dangerous dragon was neither big nor ugly, but small, swift, evil, and full of poison.
【10】 I minnóna vendë hanquentë: “Uimmë antauva i helet lyen an nás luhtaina quoriën minya colindoryava.”
► The firstborn girl answered: “We will not give you the the fur-coat, for it is enchanted to choke its first wearer.”
【11】 Tana lúmessë i yára nér tarnë areä aicassessë colila höa hatal ar túra þanda ar tíranë.
► At that time the old man stood on a nearby mountain peak, carrying a big spear and a great shield, and he was watching.
【12】 I rámalócë hanquentë i venden ó aha: “Mára ná!
► The dragon responded to the girl with rage: “All right!
【13】 Nauvatyë i minya colindo ar cato samuvan i helet!”
► You will be the first wearer and afterwards I shall have the coat!”
【14】 Tá rámalócio vinya hína empë ar quentë: “Iquin, ánin anta i helet, an mauranyes lacë.
► Then the young child of the dragon came out and spoke: “I beg you, give me the coat, for I need it direly.
【15】 Tá antauvan maltaina cormanya ar vestan sa qualtauvan aiquen meristë.”
► Then I will give you my golden ring and I swear that I will kill whoever you want.”
【16】 Mal i yára nér i táriëllo holtunë: “A etsenë i vendet, uqui meril sa ehtinya hiruva hendelya!”
► But the old man from the height called out: “Release the two girls, unless you want that my spear will find your eye!”
【17】 I rámalócë ollë aitaina ar quentë: “Maitulië.
► The dragon was surprised and spoke: “Welcome.
【18】 Qui meril mahtalë, antauvanyes lyen.”
► If you want a fight, I will give it to you.”
【19】 I nér reäntë ar hanquentë: “Maro, navil, samin sina hatal?”
► The man smiled and answered: “What for do you think I have this spear?”
【20】 I rámalócë quansë cas ar rávë.
► The dragon shook its head and roared.
【21】 Tá i nér palunë yána rámu, palampes, oronyë vilyannna, núnë lintiénen i rámalócinna.
► Then the man spread vast wings, flapped them, rose into the air, and descended onto the dragon with speed.
【22】 I nér carnë sana, an hanyanë sa nalantaita i rámalócë hatalmen cé nauva loima, pan hé né níca ar sé pennë macil.
► The man did this, for he understood that attaching the dragon with a spear will be a mistake, for that one was small and he lacked a sword.
【23】 Tá holtunë rámalócio hína: “A larta!
► Then the child of the dragon shouted: “Wait!
【24】 Ui mauya ve mahta.
► We do not need to fight.
【25】 Quenten i antauvan len mára quaptalë.
► I said that I will give you a good bargain.
【26】 Nán rámalócë raineva.”
► I am a dragon of good will.”
【27】 I nér campë ara i rámalócinna atta, ena tentaila hatalya ana i yára rámalócë ar eques: “Mára ná, á quequetta!”
► The man jumped beside the two winged dragons, still pointing his spear towards the old dragon, and said: “All right, speak on!”
【28】 I vinya hlócë latyanë óparya mal uia óma ui ettullë, an Orondil, i sairon orontíva, pacantë romyavë: “Úmahtalë!
► The young worm opened its mouth, but no voice came out, for Orondil, the wizard of the mountains, loudly spoke: “Nuisance!
【29】 Quen ricë cuita orontinyar hrívessë?”
► Does someone try to awaken my mountains in winter?”
【30】 Tá illi þoronyer mal i nér quernë i sairondonna ar quentë: “Moina meldo, á apsenë i tarastië, mal hravani coitar orontelyassen.”
► Then all were afraid, but the man turned to the wizard and said: “Dear friend, forgive the trouble, but wild beasts live in your mountains.”
【31】 I minnóna vendë holtunë: “Áva esta i rámalóci hravani, harunya, an ammoicë naltë.”
► The firstborn girl called out: “Do not call the dragons ‘wild beasts’, grandfather, for they are very cute.”
【32】 I sairon maquentë: “Uin hanya mamo naldë.
► The wizard asked: “I do not understand who you are.
【33】 Maro i nér ar i carcaranat samir rámu?”
► Why do the man and the crocodiles have wings?”
【34】 Holtunë i haru: “Mal elyë antanë rámunya nin.
► The grandfather shouted: “But you yourself gave my wings to me.
【35】 Nánettë anna yá aháþiénen mellamnelya: i alta þoron.
► They were a gift when I healed your pet: the great eagle.
【36】 Ma uilyë enyalë?”
► Do you not remember?”
【37】 “Mana þoron?
► “What eagle?
【38】 I reät mellamninyat rámalócë atta nát: Massë nattë?!”
► My only pets are two winged dragons: where are they?!”
【39】 Tá i nér quentë i rámalócin: “Þorni aryë mellamni nár.”
► Then the man said to the dragon: “Eagles are the better pets.”
【40】 Mal i sairon quentë: “Þorni uir márë; yenya þoron pillë hencalcunya.
;
► But the wizard said: “Eagles are no good; yesteryear an eagle stole my glasses.
【41】 Á entulyat rámalocinyat!”
► Let my dragons return!”
【42】 Ta aurë, menel urþanë ar aicë lumbor hostaner or i oronti.
► That day, the sky was raging and fell clouds gathered above the mountains.
【43】 Ar tá ancalimë ítar palamper i sairon ar i yára nér.
► And then glaring lightning struck the wizard and the old man.
【44】 I vendent nicunë i alacossë ar i minnóna vendë vainë insë i heletsessë.
► The two girls were cold in the storm and the firstborn girl clad herself in the fur-coat.
【45】 Tá i rámalócë, cenila sa i vendë ui quallë, holtunë: “Cuptamo!” ar þustanë nár i vendenta.
► Then the dragon, seeing that the girl had not died, cried out: “Liar!” and blew fire onto the two girls.
【46】 Mal Manwë tultanë turwa ulo, ya luhtyanë sana nár lintavë.
► But Manwe sent a powerful rain that extinguished that fire quickly.
【47】 San ralanyë i þoron ar hyé equë: “Aiya! Mana xéya?”
► Thus the eagle was returned and he quoth: “Hail! What is happening?”
【48】 Lan i þoron quétanë, hencalcurya lantanë cendeleryallo Orondilo cendelenna, ye eccuinuánë epë i íta ar tá hyé alasseä nánë.
► While the eagle was speaking, his glasses fell off his face onto Orondil’s face, who was awakening after the lightning and then he was glad.
【49】 Orondil tolunë, oscennë, hententanë i rámalócit, ta holtunë: “A mellamninyat, uþúriën tyet andavë!”
► Orondil got up, looked around, spotted the two dragons, and shouted: “Oh, my pets, long have I looked for you!”
【50】 Ar tá i sairon ar i hlócit menner mardar, ar i haru ó indyoryat menner mardar yú ar xítaneltë alasseä hrívë uo.
► And then the wizard and the two worms went home, and the grandfather with his two grandchildren went home as well, and they spent a happy winter together.
—generated by quettali version 0.30.42