Death of Khîm

Mîm led the outlaws into the caves of Amon Rûdh. They were met by another Dwarf who spoke with Mîm before they disappeared quickly. Andróg called for an attack but Túrin was not concerned. Making their way blindly into the inner recesses of the caves Túrin and his men found Mîm grieving over the body of a Dwarf; not all of Andróg's arrows missed. Túrin said, "'...this may prove an ill hit. You loose shaft too lightly; but you may not live long enough to learn wisdom'" (p. 131, The Children of Húrin).

Túrin offered his healing arts but it was too late. Mîm's son, Khîm, was dead. Mîm noted that Túrin's bonds had kept him from aiding his son. Túrin's pity arose and he offered Mîm gold, as a token of sorrow, should he come to it. "'You speak like a dwarf-lord of old; and at that I marvel. Now my heart is cooled, though it is not glad'" (p. 132, The Children of Húrin). But he agreed to let Túrin and the band of outlaws stay with him nonetheless only asking that Andróg break his bow and never use it again. Mîm laid a curse upon Andróg, that if ever he should pick up a bow again he would die by one.

Reluctantly Andróg complied: '"The curse of a dwarf never dies, they say; but a Man's too may come home. May he die with a dart in his throat!'" (p. 132, The Children of Húrin). That night Mîm mourned for Khîm with his other son, Ibun. The next day he said he or Ibun would lead the men around until they could find there own way in and out of Amon Rûdh. Later that day Mim shared the sack of roots with the men and they were a hardyfood. The men and Túrin wondered what they were but Mîm would not reveal his secrets.

"'...We do not teach Men to find them, for Men are greedy and thriftless, and would not spare till all the plants had perished...'" (p. 134, The Children of Húrin). Once again I think Tolkien has humanity accurately portrayed. Are we not incredibly careless with the natural resource that God has given us? Harsh words arose between Mîm and Ulrad at the refusal to share more information. Mîm ultimately said to Ulrad, "'You are one of the fools that spring would not mourn if you perished in the winter'" (p. 135, The Children of Húrin). Ouch! Turin agreed with Mîm, however, warning Ulrad (and others I'm sure): "'Silence, if fair words stick in your throat, would serve all our ends better'" (p. 136, The Children of Húrin). Pretty sound advice from Túrin, if you cannot say something good say nothing at all. Obviously this is a tumultuous living situation between Mîm and the Men.

Middle-earth timeline: First Age, 486
Today's reading comes from: The Children of Húrin, pages 130-136