May 25, 2002
Mankind
Tolkien Encyclopedia
Valar Guild
Túrin a.k.a. Neithan (outlaw of
Doriath), Gorthol (based off of the Dragon Helm of Dor-Lómin), Agarwaen son
of Umarth, the Bloodstained, son of Ill-fate (entrance into Nargothrond),
Adanedhel (for his beauty and noble bearing by the elves), Mormegil – Black
Sword of Nargothrond (for his sword Gurthang), Wildman of the Woods (for his
proposed return to Nargothrond), and Turambar (his name in the settlement
with the Haladin)
He was the son of Húrin and Morwen. He had a sister Lalaith, which means
laughter, but she died as a result of a pestilence that came from Angband.
The Easterlings invaded and held power over the people in Dor-Lómin, and
were enslaving the people where young Turin lived, but
“…so great was the beauty and majesty of the Lady of Dor-Lómin that the
Easterlings were afraid, and dared not to lay hands upon her or her
household…”
This was so for a short time but still Morwen feared that Túrin
would be taken from her and enslaved by the Easterlings.
“Therefore it came into her heart to send him away in secret, and to beg
King Thingol to harbour him…”
Beleg found the two servants that held Túrin and led them to Menegroth.
Upon Turin's arrival, Thingol took him and fostered him in honor of his father,
Húrin. Also, elves were sent to beg Morwen to leave Hithlum and come to
Doriath, but she would not leave. However, she did give the elves something
for Túrin, the Dragon-helm of Dor-Lómin.
Turin was with Thingol for nine years and during that time, due to a lack of
word from his mother and sister, he chose to take up arms to help guard
Doriath. He fought for a three year period alongside Beleg away from Menegroth but,
upon his return, Turin quarreled with Saeros, which ended up with Saeros’
death. Túrin would not see the king and fled. He ran through the Girdle of
Melian and joined up with a group of desperate men that fought all that came
across them.
Beleg was sent to look for him, because Thingol loved him and had pardoned
him. A year later, he found Túrin’s outlaw camp, but he wasn’t there, and
the rest of the band bound him and treated him badly. Túrin came back
eventually and freed him and then renewed their friendship.
They parted, as neither of them would remain with the other. Beleg returned
to the king and the king sent him after Túrin and gave him Anglachel as his
parting gift. Melian warned of the blade, saying that too much of the evil
of the forger was in it, but Beleg took it anyway. Melian bestowed upon
Túrin (if Beleg should find him) a store of lembras, which only the queen
could give, and had never been given to a man before, and only very seldom
afterwards.
Soon after, Túrin led his band westward and
captured a dwarf named Mîm who, along with his two sons (of the two,
one would die from an arrow loosed by Túrin’s men), were the only
three of the Petty-Dwarves left. Mim led them, as ransom, to his hidden house
upon Amon Rûdh. That winter, Beleg returned and together, the Two
Captains cleared the area of orcs. Túrin’s famed Dragon Helm of Dor-Lómin
betrayed Túrin’s identity and Mîm showed orcs the path to Amon
Rûdh. Túrin was captured. Beleg and Gwindor rescued him, but
Túrin unknowingly killed Beleg.
With Gwindor, Túrin went to Nargothrond. He reached his full manhood there.
He became a great warrior and trusted advisor. It was during this time that
Anglachel (Beleg’s sword) was reforged for Túrin and named Gurthang. It was
also at Nargothrond that Finduilas developed unrequited love for Túrin.
Túrin fought well in the disastrous Battle of Tumhalad. But upon his
return, Glaurung ensnared him. Glaurung released him with a lie that his
mother was in danger in Dor-Lómin. Túrin went there to look for his mother
and unknown sister instead of chasing Finduilas. When he discovered the
ruse, he became angry and slew many Easterlings, including Brodda, who held
sway over Dor-Lómin.
Upon his proposed return for the rescue of Finduilas, since he could not think
of a better place for his kin except in Doriath where they fled to, he ran
across some of the men of Brethil and saved them. They begged for him to
come and stay with them, but he refused saying that he had one more errand
left. They then told him that Finduilas was slain by the orcs. He then
stayed with the men of Brethil, ruled by Brandir. For many years he lived
there, yet he could not refuse the “deeds of war.” He made Haudh-en-Elleth a
place of terror for the orcs, so that none would come near.
During this time, Morwen had heard of the fall of Nargothrond and was sad.
She set out, with Mablung after her, to find Túrin of her own accord. Nienor
was not allowed to go. Morwen left, and Nienor followed as one of Mablung’s
men. They had made their way to the “Hill of Spies” that lay before
Nargothrond. Once there, Mablung went away for a short while. Glaurung was
aware of all that they did, and set a great reek and odor all about the hill
and surroundings. He killed all of Mablung’s men and Morwen was lost. He
cast a very powerful spell of forgetfulness and utter darkness upon Nienor,
and then left. Mablung could not find either Morwen or Nienor, but kept
searching. Nienor ran into the woods, naked and frantic until she could run
no more. She awoke the next morning and wandered around until she rested on
the gravesite, Haudh-en-Elleth. Túrin found her, and named her Níniel. Soon,
Túrin hoped to marry her, but she resisted due to a darkness that was
in her heart. Three years later, he asked again and they were married. Orcs
issued by Glaurung alerted him that Túrin was in Brethil, and he left
Nargothrond. Glaurung rested right outside the woods of Brethil.
Túrin decided that Glaurung could not be beaten by any of the townsfolk and
offered himself to attack Glaurung. Dorlas volunteered, Hunthor, Brandir’s
kinsman, offered to go in Brandir’s stead. Túrin found out that Glaurung
stayed upon a hill with a gorge in between, and he hoped to climb the
gorge from the river below to strike at Glaurung from unawares. Dorlas could
not go and lurked in the woods in shame. On the way up, Hunthor was killed
by a rock dislodged by Glaurung’s movement. Túrin, however, climbed still
and managed to lodge Gurthang into Glaurung’s soft underbelly to the hilt.
And Glaurung died, but not before smiting Túrin with a look full of so much
malice, it knocked him unconscious, and revealing to Nienor that she was
Túrin’s sister.
Brandir overheard the conversation between Glaurung and
Nienor, and went back to Brethil to explain what had happened. He said
Nienor had thrown herself into the Teiglin, and Túrin was dead, and for that
he was glad, also that the dragon was dead. Túrin, however, came back to
Brethil and heard what Brandir had said, and became outraged because he
thought Brandir was just jealous of the love of him and Níenor. Túrin then
slew Brandir and went to Haudh-en-Elleth. There Mablung and his followers
found him. Túrin then asked one thing. He asked for tidings of his kin in
Doriath. Then Mablung told him of all that had happened, and Túrin knew that
he slew Brandir unjustly, and went to the top of Cabed-en-Aras and asked his
sword if it would slay him swiftly. It replied yes, to forget the blood of
its former master, Beleg, and the blood of Brandir. Then he cast himself
upon Gurthang, and it was broken.
He was then laid under the Stone of the Hapless.
Source: The Silmarillion – Quenta Silmarillion – Of Túrin Turambar
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