The War of the Jewels (16 page)

$266. Beleg was found by Thingol's messengers, and taken to Menegroth and healed by Melian. At once he set forth in search of Turin [pencilled in margin: bearing the Dragon-helm that Turin had left in Menegroth]. He came upon Gwindor bewildered in Taur-na-Fuin (where Sauron now dwelt) and together they pursued the captors of Turin. From an orc-camp on the edge of the desert they rescued him as he slept in drugged sleep, and carried him to a hidden dell. But Beleg as he laboured to unloose Turin's fetters pricked his foot, and he was roused, and dreaming that he was surrounded by Orcs that would torment him, seized Beleg's sword and slew him ere he knew him. Gwindor buried Beleg, and led Turin away, for a dumb madness of grief was on him.

490.

$267. Through great perils Gwindor led Turin towards Nargothrond, and they came to the pools of Ivrin, and there Turin wept and was healed of his madness. Gwindor and Turin came at last to Nargothrond, and were admitted; for Finduilas daughter of Orodreth, to whom Gwindor had been betrothed, alone of his people knew him again after the torments of Angband.

490-5.

$268. During this time Turin dwelt in Nargothrond, and became great in counsel and renown. The Noldor took Beleg's sword which Turin had kept, and re-forged it, and it was made into a black sword with edges as of fire. Now Turin [added:]

had begged Gwindor to conceal his right name, for the horror he had of his slaying of Beleg and dread lest it were learned in Doriath; and he / had given out his name as Iarwaeth [struck out: the blood-stained], but now it was changed to Mormegil the Blacksword, because of the rumour of his deeds with that weapon in vengeance for Beleg; but the sword itself he named Gurthang Iron of Death. Then the heart of Finduilas was turned from Gwindor (who because of his pains in Angband was half crippled) and her love was given to Turin; and Turin loved her, but spoke not, being loyal to Gwindor. [Added:] Then Finduilas being torn in heart became sorrowful; and she grew wan and silent. / But Gwindor seeing what had befallen was bitter at heart, and cursed Morgoth, who could thus pursue his enemies with woe, whithersoever they might run. 'And now at last,' he said, 'I believe the tale of Angband that Morgoth hath cursed Hurin and all his kin.'

$269. And he spoke on a time to Finduilas, saying: 'Daughter of the House of Finrod, let no grief lie between us, for, though Morgoth hath laid my life in ruin, thee still I love. But go thou whither love leads thee! Yet beware! Not meet is it that the Elder Children should stoop to the Younger. Neither will fate suffer it, save once or twice only for some high cause of doom.

But this Man is not Beren. A doom indeed lies on him, as seeing eyes may well read in him, but a dark doom. Enter not into it!

And if thou wilt, then thy love shall betray thee to bitterness and death. For behold! this is not Iarwaeth nor Mormegil, but Turin son of Hurin.'

$270. And Gwindor told how Hurin's torment and curse was known to all in Angband; and said: 'Doubt not the power of Morgoth Bauglir! Is it not written in me?' But Finduilas was silent.

$271. And later in like manner Gwindor spoke to Turin; but Turin answered: 'In love I hold thee for rescue and safe-keeping.

And even were it not so, still I would do thee no hurt willingly, who hast suffered such great wrongs. Finduilas indeed I love, but fear not! Shall the accursed wed, and give as morrowgift his curse to one that he loves? Nay, not even to one of his own people. But now thou hast done ill to me, friend, to bewray my right name, and call my doom upon me, from which I had thought to lie hidden.'

$272. But when it became known to Orodreth [and the folk of Nargothrond that Iarwaeth was indeed the son of Hurin, then greater became his honour among them, and they would do >] that Iarwaeth was indeed the son of Hurin, he gave him great honour, and did I all that he counselled. And he being troubled by this new grief (for ever the love of Finduilas that he would not take grew greater) found solace only in war. And in that time the folk of Nargothrond forsook their secrecy, their war of ambush and hunting, and went openly to battle; and they [struck out: allied themselves with Handir of Brethil, and]

built a bridge over the Narog from the great doors of Felagund for the swifter passage of their arms. And they drove the Orcs and beasts of Angband out of all the land between Narog and Sirion eastward, and westward to the Nenning and the borders of the desolate Falas. Thus Nargothrond was revealed to the wrath and malice of Morgoth, but still at Turin's prayer his true name was not spoken, and rumour spoke only of Mormegil of Nargothrond.

The following entry, for the year 492, was struck out later. Its replacement, an inserted annal for the year 400, has been given earlier ($120).

$273. [Rejected annal for the year 492] Here Meglin son of Eol was sent by his mother Isfin to Gondolin, and Turgon rejoiced to hear tidings of his sister whom he had deemed lost, and he received Meglin with honour as his sister-son. But it is said that Meglin, having been nurtured in the shadows of Brethil, was never wholly at ease in the light of Gondolin.

494.

$274. In this time, when because of the deeds of Mormegil of Nargothrond the power of Morgoth was stemmed west of Sirion, Morwen and Nienor fled at last from Dor Lomin and came to Doriath, seeking tidings of Turin. But they found him gone, and in Doriath no tidings had been heard of his name, since the Orcs took him, five years before. [Added:] Morwen and Nienor remained as guests of Thingol, and were treated with honour, but they were filled with sorrow, and yearned ever for tidings of Turin. /

495.

$275. Here [added:] Handir of Brethil was slain in the spring in fighting with Orcs that invaded his land. The Orcs gathered in the passes of Sirion. Late in the year having thus mustered great strength / Morgoth assailed Nargothrond.

Glaurung the Uruloke passed [into Hithlum and there did great evil, and he came thence out of Dorlomin over the Erydwethrin

>] over Anfauglith, and came thence into the north vales of Sirion and there did great evil, and he came thence under the shadows of the Erydwethrin / with a great army of Orcs in his train, and he defiled the Eithil Ivrin. Then he passed into the realm of Nargothrond, burning the Talath Dirnen, the Guarded Plain, between Narog and Sirion. Then Orodreth and Turin

[struck out: and Handir of Brethil; added later:] and Gwindor /

went up against him, but they were defeated upon the field of Tum-halad; and Orodreth was slain [struck out: and Handir.

Added later:] and Gwindor. [Pencilled in margin: Turin in the battle wore the Dragon-helm.] Turin bore Gwindor out of the rout, and escaping to a wood there laid him on the grass.

$276. And Gwindor said, 'Let bearing pay for bearing! But hapless was mine, and vain is thine. For now my body is marred, and I must leave Middle-earth; and though I love thee, son of Hurin, yet I rue the day I took thee from the Orcs. But for thy prowess, still I should have love and life, and Nargothrond should stand. Now if you love me, leave me! Haste thee to Nargothrond and save Finduilas. And this last I say to thee: she alone stands between thee and thy doom. If thou fail her, it shall not fail to find thee. Farewell!'

$277. Therefore Turin sped now back to Nargothrond, mustering such of the rout as he met on the way. [Added:] And the leaves fell from the trees in a great wind as they went, for the autumn was passing to a dire winter. And one, Ornil, said:

'Even so fall the people of Nargothrond, but for them there shall come no Spring.' And Turin hastened, I but Glaurung and his army were there before him (because of his succouring of Gwindor), and they came suddenly, ere those that were left on guard were aware of the defeat. In that day the bridge that Turin let build over Narog proved an evil; for it was great and mightily made and could not swiftly be destroyed, and thus the enemy came readily over the deep river, and Glaurung came in full fire against the Doors of Felagund, and overthrew them, and passed within.

$278. And even as Turin came up the ghastly sack of Nargothrond was wellnigh achieved. The Orcs had slain or driven off all that remained in arms, and they were even then ransacking all the great halls and chambers, plundering and destroying; but those of the women and maidens that were not burned or slain they had herded on the terrace before the doors, as slaves to be taken to Angband. Upon this ruin and woe Turin came, and none could withstand him; or would not, though he struck down all before him, and passed over the bridge, and hewed his way towards the captives.

$279. And now he stood alone, for the few that had followed him had fled into hiding. But behold! in that moment Glaurung the fell issued from the gaping Doors of Felagund, and lay behind, between Turin and the bridge. Then suddenly he spoke by the evil spirit that was in him, saying: Hail, son of Hurin. Well met!'

$280. Then Turin sprang about, and strode against him, and fire was in his eyes, and the edges of Gurthang shone as with flame. But Glaurung withheld his blast, and opened wide his serpent-eyes and gazed upon Turin. And without fear Turin looked in those eyes as he raised up his sword, and lo!

straightway he fell under the dreadful spell of the dragon, and was as one turned to stone. Thus long they stood unmoving, silent before the great Doors of Felagund. Then Glaurung spoke again, taunting Turin. [Pencilled against this paragraph: For while he wore the Dragon-helm of Galion he was proof against the glance of Glaurung. Then the Worm perceiving this (sic)]

$281. 'Evil have been all thy ways, son of Hurin,' said he.

'Thankless fosterling, outlaw, slayer of thy friend, thief of love, usurper of Nargothrond, captain foolhardy, and deserter of thy kin. [Struck out: How long wilt thou live to bring ruin upon all that love thee?] As thralls thy mother and sister live in Dorlomin, in misery and want. Thou art arrayed as a prince, but they go in rags. For thee they yearn, but thou reckest not of that. Glad may thy father be to learn that he hath such a son, as learn he shall.' And Turin being under the spell of Glaurung, harkened to his words, and saw himself as in a mirror mis-shapen by malice, and loathed that which he saw. And while he was yet held by the eyes of Glaurung in torment of mind, and could not stir, at a sign from the dragon the Orcs drove away the herded captives, and they passed nigh to Turin and went over the bridge. And behold! among them was Finduilas, and she held out her arms to Turin, and called him by name. But not until her cries and the wailing of the captives was lost upon the northward road did Glaurung release Turin, and he might not even stop his ears against that voice that haunted him after.

$282. Then suddenly Glaurung withdrew his glance, and waited; and Turin stirred slowly as one waking from a hideous dream. Then coming to himself with a loud cry he sprang upon the dragon. But Glaurung laughed, saying: 'If thou wilt be slain, I will slay thee gladly. But small help will that be to Morwen and Nienor. No heed didst thou give to the cries of the Elf-woman.

Wilt thou deny also the bond of thy blood?'

$283. But Turin drawing back his sword stabbed at his eyes; and Glaurung coiling back swiftly towered above him, and said:

'Nay! At least thou art valiant. Beyond all whom I have met.

And they lie who say that we of our part do not honour the valour of foes. Behold! I offer thee freedom. Go to thy kin, if thou canst. Get thee gone! And if Elf or Man be left to make tale of these days, then surely in scorn they will name thee, if thou spurnest this gift.'

$284. Then Turin, being yet bemused by the eyes of the dragon, as were he treating with a foe that could know pity, believed the words of Glaurung, and turning away sped over the bridge. But as he went Glaurung spake behind him, saying in a fell voice: 'Haste thee now, son of Hurin, to Dorlomin! Or maybe the Orcs shall come before thee, once again. And if thou tarry for Finduilas, then never shalt thou see Morwen or Nienor again; and they will curse thee.' [Pencilled in margin: Glaurung taunts him with the Dragon-helm.]

$285. But Turin passed away on the northward road, and Glaurung laughed once more, for he had accomplished the errand of his Master. Then he turned to his own pleasure, and sent forth his blast, and burned all about him. But all the Orcs that were busy in the sack he routed forth, and drove them away, and denied them their plunder even to the least thing of worth. The bridge then he broke down and cast into the foam of Narog, and being thus secure, he gathered all the hoard and riches of Felagund and heaped them, and lay then upon them in the innermost hall, and rested a while.

$286. Now Turin hastened along the ways to the North, through the lands now desolate, between Narog and Taiglin,

[added:] and the Fell Winter came down to meet him; for that year snow fell ere autumn was passed, and spring came late and cold. / Ever it seemed to him as he went that he heard the cries of Finduilas, calling his name by wood and by hill, and great was his anguish; but his heart being hot with the lies of Glaurung, and seeing ever in his mind the Orcs burning the house of Hurin or putting Morwen and Nienor to torment, he held on his way, turning never aside.