Mîm Betrays Túrin

Reports of the Dragon Helm reached Morgoth and he was pleased ftp discover Túrin. For long Túrin was hidden from Morgoth by the arts of Melian but no longer. Morgoth feared that Túrin's strength would grow enough that he would somehow nullify the curse laid upon him. Morgoth sent spies and soon Amon Rûdh was marked.

Mîm was aware of these spies and driven by his hatred of Beleg he sought them out. Mîm bargained with the Orcs to betray the company at Amon Rûdh. The Orcs feigned agreement with the terms of which were: The weight in iron any man killed or captured, the weight in gold of Beleg and Túrin, Amon Rûdh was to be left unoccupied for Mîm, Beleg was to be left alive for the Dwarf, and Túrin allowed to go free. The Orcs took Ibun, Mîm's son, as hostage until Amon Rûdh was delivered. Mîm was afraid but could not get out of his deal.

Mîm led the Orcs by secret ways to Amon Rûdh and too late did the watchmen call. A quick a battle ensued and Beleg and Túrin were soon forced to seal the caves and retreat. In desperate need Andróg revealed the secret stair he found that led to the top of Amon Rûdh. They killed the Orcs who had cleared the summit and were able to fend off advancing Orcs for while. Andróg was shot in the head by an arrow as Mîm's curse bit again. 

Indeed, the last remaining fighters were Beleg and Túrin. Túrin they bound and carried toward Angband. Beleg was chained hand and foot and left on the summit. The Orcs then set about ravaging the caves of Amon Rûdh taking what they wished. They did not find Mîm and so they left. "...Mîm appeared on the summit, and going to where Beleg lay prostrate and unmoving he gloated over him while he sharpened a knife" (p. 150, The Children of Húrin). But they were not alone for wounded as Andróg was he was not yet dead. He thrust a sword at the Dwarf scaring him away and in his last act of life he cut Beleg free from his chains.

Middle-earth timeline: First Age, 489
Today's reading comes from: The Children of Húrin, pages 147-150