THE TALE OF HURIN AND MORWEN

Part One

As it has been passed down in the Silmarillion for ages

HEREAFTER Hurin son of Galdor ruled the house of Hador in Dorlomin, and served Fingon. Hurin was of less stature than his fathers, or his son after him; but he was tireless and enduring in body, lithe and swift after the manner of his mother's kin, Hareth of the Haladin. His wife was Morwen Eledhwen, daughter of Baragund of the house of Beor, she who fled from Dorthonion with Rian daughter of Belegund and Emeldir the mother of Beren. In those days Maedhros son of Feanor lifted up his heart, perceiving that Morgoth was not unassailable. He gathered all the strength that he could of Elves and Men and Dwarves, and he resolved to assault Angband from east and west. On the appointed day, on the morning of Midsummer, the trumpets of the Eldar greeted the rising of the sun; and in the east was raised the standard of the sons of Feanor, and in the west the standard of Fingon, High King of the Noldor. There all the Noldor of Hithlum were assembled, together with Elves of the Falas and Gwindor's company from Nargothrond, and he had great strength of Men; upon the right were the host of Dor-lomin and all the valour of Hurin and Huor his brother, and to them had come Haldir of Brethil with many men of the woods. Then Fingon looked towards Thangorodrim, and there was a dark cloud about it, and a black smoke went up; and he knew that the wrath of Morgoth was aroused, and that their challenge was accepted. But now a cry went up, passing up the wind from the south from vale to vale, and Elves and Men lifted up their voices in wonder and joy. For unsummoned and unlooked for Turgon had opened the leaguer of Gondolin, and was come with an army of ten thousand strong, with bright mail and spears like a forest. Then when Fingon heard from afar the great trumpet of Turgon his brother, the shadow passed and his heart was uplifted, and he shouted aloud: "Utulie'n aure! Aiya Eldalie ar Atanatari, utulie'n aure!" The day has come! Behold, people of the Eldar and Fathers of Men, the day has come! And all those who heard his great voice echo in the hills answered crying: "Auta i lome!" ' The night is passing!' And thus began the assault on Morgoth and his vast armies.

HEN in the plain of Anfauglith, on the fourth day of the war, there began Nirnaeth Arnfauglith, Unnumbered Tears, for no song or tale can contain all its grief. The host of Fingon retreated over the sands, and Haldir lord of the Haladin was slain in the rearguard; with him fell most of the Men of Brethil, and came never back to their woods. Yet neither by wolf, nor by Balrog, nor by Dragon, would Morgoth have achieved his end, but for the treachery of Men. In this hour the plots of Ulfang were revealed. The sons of Ulfang went over suddenly to Morgoth and drove in upon the rear of the sons of Feanor, and in the confusion that they wrought they came near to the standard of Maedhros. The host was assailed on three sides, and it broke, and was scattered, and fled this way and that. Now in the western battle Fingon and Turgon were assailed by a tide of foes thrice greater than all the force that was left to them. Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs, high captain of Angband, was come; and he drove a wedge between the Elvenhosts, surrounding King Fingon, and thrusting Turgon and Hurin aside towards the Fen of Serech. Then he turned on Fingon. That was a grim meeting. At last Fingon stood alone with his guard dead about him; and he fought with Gothmog, until another Balrog came behind and cast a thong of fire about him. Thus fell the High King of the Noldor; and they beat him into the dust with their maces, and his banner, blue and silver, they trod into the mire of his blood. The field was lost; but still Hurin and Huor and the remnant of the house of Hador stood firm with Turgon of Gondolin, and the hosts of Morgoth could not yet win the Pass of Sirion. Then Hurin spoke to Turgon, saying "Go now, lord, while time is! For in you lives the last hope of the Eldar, and while Gondolin stands Morgoth shall still know fear in his heart." So it was that Turgon fought his way southward, until coming behind the guard of Hurin and Huor he passed down Sirion and escaped; and he vanished into the mountains and was hidden from the eyes of Morgoth. The men of Dor-lomin held the rearguard, as Hurin and Huor desired; for they did not wish in their hearts to leave the Northlands, and if they could not win back to their homes, there they would stand to the end. Thus was the treachery of Uldor and Ulfang redressed. Huor fell pierced with a venomed arrow in his eye, and all the valiant Men of Hador were slain about him in a heap. Last of all Hurin stood alone. Then he cast aside his shield, and wielded an axe two-handed; and it is sung that the axe smoked in the black blood of the troll-guard of Gothmog until it withered, and each time that he slewed Hurin cried:"Aure entuluva!" 'Day shall come again!' Seventy times he uttered that cry; but they took him at last alive, by the command of Morgoth, for the Orcs grappled him with their hands, which clung to him still though he hewed off their arms; and ever their numbers were renewed, until at last he fell buried beneath them. Then Gothmog bound him and dragged him to Angband with mockery.