Of Turgon and the Birth of Tuor

By the fall of 472 rumor of Nirnaeth Arnoediad reached Dor-Lómin. Rían, wife of Huor, became distraught when her husband did not return and ran into the wild. She was found by the Grey Elves and they cared for her. She bore a son while with them. She named him Tuor as Huor had wished. "'I beg you of you to foster him, and to keep him hidden in your care; for I forebode that a great good, for Elves and Men, shall come from him. But I must go in search of Huor, my lord'" (p. 17, Unfinished Tales). This was similar to her husband's last words to Turgon in the heat of battle.

Annael was the only Grey Elf to return from that battle and he told Rían that Huor was killed and most likely buried in the Hill of the Slain. There she went to the hill and in her grief died. And the Elves raised Tuor and he was with great skill and knowledge. Meanwhile life grew hard for all Men and Elves in Hithlum due to the occupation of the Easterlings, the Men who betrayed the Elves for Morgoth's victory.

Turgon, High King of the Noldor (or what's left of them that is) sent messengers via the Sirion River to Círdan the Shipwright. He asked that seven ships would be built to sail West in hopes of calling upon the Valar. In the years that followed Nirnaeth Arnoediad they left the shores of Middle-earth but none of the ships came back and only one of the mariners ever returned.

Voronwë was his name and he was on the last ship West. It was caught in a raging storm brought forth by Ossë. Ulmo saved him and washed him upon the shore. Voronwë will play an important role in the events to come but we are not quite to that tale yet. This is definitely a season of little hope in Middle-earth. And it appears the Valar are silent and unconcerned.

But Morgoth is not settled by his victory. His thought was ever upon Turgon for he still does not know where the Hidden City of Gondolin lies (and Húrin did not betray the King). For Turgon is from the house of Fingolfin and Morgoth both feared and hated that house. For Fingolfin had wounded Morgoth in battle and had the friendship of Ulmo. Morgoth long had the unsettling thought that his ruin should come from Turgon.

Middle-earth timeline: First Age, 472
Today's reading comes from: Unfinished Tales, pages 17-18 and The Silmarillion, page 196