by Daeron-(V)
Oct. 5, 2002
Gwindor was an elf lord of Nargothrond, the brother of Gelmir and
the son of Guilin
.
We first heard of him in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. He led a small
company
of elves, and this was against the counsel of Orodreth
. This was because Orodreth knew of how Gwindor grieved for the
loss
of his brother, Gelmir, in the Dagor Bragollach. In a short
sense,
this was quite foresighted, but had Orodreth seen far beyond the Fifth
Battle,
he may not have given this warning.
Gwindor's company was the only group of elves from Nargothrond that
went
to the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, for Orodreth would not lead or send any
troops
with the Sons of Feanor, due to the deeds of Celegorm and
Curufin.
Therefore this company did not march under the banners of Nargothrond,
but
the banners of Fingon.
As Gwindor's company reached the lines of battle, a company of Orcs
marched
up the outworks of the Barad Eithel. With them they carried an
elf.
This elf, by complete coincidence, was Gwindor's brother, Gelmir, who
had
been captured in the Dagor Bragollach.
There upon the Barad Eithel, Gelmir was mutilated as a taunt to the
armies
of the eldar and edain. It was very unfortunate that Gwindor was
in
the mass of elves who witnessed the horrid event.
So Gwindor, in all his rage, jumped upon his horse and sped into the
host
of Angband, leading his company with him. And Fingon, seeing
this,
led his army into the battle and this is how the Nirnaeth Arnoediad was
started.
"Ever in the forefront of the battle went Gwindor and the Elves of Nargothrond, and even now they could not be restrained; and they burst through the Gate and slew the guards upon the very stairs of Angband, and Morgoth trembled upon his deep throne, hearing them beat upon his doors."
Unfortunately, Fingon's troops did not reach Gwindor's company in
time and the company were all slain, save Gwindor who was taken captive
into
Angband.
And soon the Fifth Battle was over, the forces of Good being betrayed
by
Ulfang and his easterlings.
For fourteen long years, Gwindor slaved in Morgoth's mines. But one day
he
escaped. Of his escape not much is known, but he was soon found
by
Beleg in the forest, Taur-nu-Fuin.
This was one part in the book that showed how terribly Morgoth treated
his
slaves:
"Grieving Beleg looked upon him; for Gwindor was now but a bent and fearful shadow of his former shape and mood, when in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad that lord of Nargothrond rode with rash courage to the very doors of Angband, and there was taken."
Gwindor then told Beleg that he had seen an orc band, the orc
band that held Turin captive, and therefore the one Beleg was
after. Beleg then told Gwindor of his mission to find Turin and
Gwindor counseled
him to turn back, but Beleg wouldn't falter from his goal.
After Beleg had shot the wolf sentinels, and carried Turin away from
the
orc camp, he cut the shackles which bound Turambar. There, on a
day
remembered with woe, Anglachel slipped and pricked Turin's foot,
causing
him to wake up and slay Beleg. Turin stayed by his body through
the
storm that happened that night and into the morning. The orcs
that
held him captive thought he'd have gone far by then, and therefore did
not
search the areas near the camp.
It was Gwindor who aroused Turin to burying Beleg, and it was also
Gwindor
who took Anglachel and the lembas; and both those items played a part
in
the future.
Gwindor's strength was returned as he guarded and guided Turin, who was
in
a walking sleep. Gwindor took Turin to Ivrin's lake, where
Turin's
madness was cured, and Laer Cu Beleg was composed.
Soon after they were taken by Elven scouts of Nargothrond and brought
before
Orodreth. It was for Gwindor's sake that Turin was allowed in
Nargothrond.
But at first the people at Nargothrond did not recognize Gwindor, save
Finduilas,
daughter of Orodreth. She had loved him before he left
Nargothrond
and Gwindor had named her Faelivrin (Gleam of the sun on the pools of
Ivrin.)
Turin grew great in favor in Nargothrond and he was given much,
including
the title Mormegil. And the love of the people of Nargothrond
drifted
from Gwindor to Turin, this including Finduilas. This became
apparent
to Gwindor who counselled her:
"Daughter of the house of Finarfin, let no grief lie between us; for though Morgoth has laid my life in ruin, you I still love. Go whither your love leads you; yet beware! It is not fitting that the Elder Children of Iluvatar should wed with the Younger; nor is it wise, for they are brief, and soon pass, to leave us in widowhood while the world lasts. Neither will fate suffer it, unless it be once or twice only, for some high cause of doom that we do not perceive. But this Man is not Beren. A doom indeed lies on him, as seeing eyes may read in him, but a dark doom. Enter not into it! And if you will, your love shall betray you to bitterness and death. For hearken to me! Though he be indeed Agarwaen (bloodstained) son of Umarth (illfate), his right name is Turin son of Hurin, whom Morgoth holds in Angband, and whose kin he has cursed. Doubt not the power of Morgoth Bauglir! Is it not written on me?
Then Finduilas sat long in thought; but at last she said: 'Turin son of Hurin loves me not; nor will.'"
When Turin became aware of this he became angry at Gwindor,
and claimed he had done ill to him.
Much time passed, and after Orodreth found that "Agarwaen" (or Mormegil
as
he had been known) was indeed the son of Hurin, Turin's fame rose even
higher
in Nargothrond. During this time Turin's counsel became more
important
than Orodreth's himself to the people of Nargothrond, and persuaded
them
to do things they probably wouldn't, and shouldn't have done.
Gwindor
spoke with Turin and advised him not to abandon the ways of secrecy,
but
Turin did not listen to him, for Gwindor had lost all his former beauty
and
charisma.
Soon after, Nargothrond was attacked. The people forsook the
stealth
that Orodreth had worked so hard to achieve, and Glaurung came down on
them
strongly. And the Battle of Tumhalad happened.
It was an awful battle, as most battles were in that day, but
especially
awful was this one, for Orodreth was slain, and Gwindor too.
His last words were spoken to Turin were:
"Let bearing pay for bearing! But ill-fated was mine, and vain is thine; for my body is marred beyond healing, and I must leave Middle-earth. And though I love thee, son of Hurin, yet I rue the day that I took thee from the Orcs. But for thy prowess and thy pride, still I should have love and life, and Nargothrond should yet stand a while. Now if thou 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!"
Unfortunately, Gwindor's final request was never granted.
Turin, under the spell of Glaurung, heard not the cries of Finduilas
and Gwindor's
words came true.
So ends the story of Gwindor, a rather sad one. Just another tale
of
how Morgoth ruined a nation by use of the elves and men. For had
Turin
listened to the advice that Gwindor had given him, Nargothrond wouldn't
have
fallen so easily.
Reference: The Silmarillion
Image
: "Turin_GwindorDeath2" Death of Gwindor. Artist Peter Xavier Price.
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