Chapter 21 - Of Túrin Turambar - J.R.R. Tolkien
226The Silmarillion
The History of the Silmarils - Of Túrin Turambar
Audiobook
After Morgoth's decisive victory in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, he granted Hithlum to the Easterlings, who oppressed and enslaved the remaining people of Hador. Húrin's pregnant wife, Morwen, and young son, Túrin, remained in Dor-lómin. Fearing that Túrin would be enslaved, Morwen secretly sent her son away to the kingdom of Doriath, hoping that King Thingol would harbor the son of Húrin. She gave birth to a daughter, Nienor, after Túrin's departure.
Túrin was admitted into Doriath and Thingol raised him as an adopted son. Later, he joins Beleg Cúthalion in the fight against the Orcs of Morgoth at the borders of Doriath.
Three years later, Túrin fled from Doriath and Beleg set out in search to find him, hoping to bring him back to Doriath. Later, Beleg arrived again, Túrin would still not return to Doriath, so Beleg remained and the outlaws were grateful for his aid.
One night, the Orcs came in the night, taking Túrin's company by surprise. Many were killed while they slept, but Túrin was captured and taken away. Beleg, alive but wounded, set out in search of Túrin. Sneaking into the camp, he found Túrin bound and asleep and carried him a short distance away. Beleg drew his sword Anglachel to cut Túrin's shackles, but it slipped and pricked Túrin's foot. Suddenly awake and afraid in the darkness, Túrin believed he was being attacked by the Orcs. He seized the sword from Beleg and slew him.
In Nargothrond, Túrin did not give his real name, but over time he earned the respect of many people, including Orodreth, the king. With Túrin's true identity revealed to Orodreth, he became a counselor to the king and advised that Nargothrond turn from its secrecy and fight more openly. In accordance with Túrin's advice, a bridge was built from the city to allow faster movement of their forces. Morgoth's servants were driven out of the area and his attention turned to Nargothrond.
In F.A. 495, Morgoth released the armies he had prepared against Nargothrond. These were led by Glaurung the dragon. Túrin and Orodreth came into battle at Tumhalad, but they did not expect Morgoth's armies to be so large and they were utterly defeated.
Túrin managed to escape and later he approached the dragon, but the creature cast a spell upon him, so Túrin stood still. Once the spell was removed, Glaurung put upon him visions of his mother and sister crying for help, so he ran north in madness.
After a long and cold journey to Dor-lómin, Túrin learned that Morwen and Nienor had left for Doriath. While traveling southwards, Túrin eventually came upon some Men of Brethil. Túrin took the name Turambar and fought without his famous black sword.
Turambar and the Men of Brethil found a woman collapsed in the woods, but he did not know it was Nienor and she could not remember anything or even speak. He gave her the name Níniel, Tear-maiden, and they took her home. Over time, the people of Brethil healed her and taught her how to speak again. Their leader Brandir fell in love with her, but her heart was instead turned to Turambar. Unaware that they were siblings, Níniel and Turambar loved each other and, after three years since the sacking of Nargothrond, they wed. The next year, Níniel became pregnant.
Around this time, Orcs entered Brethil, so Túrin Turambar once again took up his sword Gurthang and led many Men against them. Now aware of Túrin's location, the dragon left Nargothrond and made his way toward Brethil. Turambar decided that Glaurung could only be defeated by cunning, not by might.
Turambar found Glaurung sleeping over the gorge of Cabed-en-Aras and carefully climbed into it to approach from below. He thrust his black sword into Glaurang's soft belly and the dragon screamed in pain while he died. When Turambar retrieved his sword, venomous black blood fell on his hand and the dying dragon opened his eyes, which caused Turambar to fall unconscious.
Níniel went towards Glaurung's screams to see what happened to Turambar, and Brandir followed her. She found Turambar's still body next to the dragon and she could not wake him. Then, nearly dead, Glaurung spoke his last words and told Níniel that she was actually Nienor, daughter of Húrin, and that her husband Turambar was in fact her brother Túrin. As the dragon died, the spell was lifted from Nienor and her memory was completely restored. Believing that Túrin was dead and realizing that she was carrying the unborn child of her brother, Nienor threw herself over the gorge of Cabed-en-Aras into the waters of the Teiglin.
Túrin saw that his doom had overtaken him. Then Túrin set the hilt of his black sword Gurthang into the ground and threw himself onto its blade, ending his tragic life.
A stone was placed upon his tomb, commemorating him and Nienor, although her body was never found.