As Túrin led his companions to cross the river Dorlas' heart grew faint. While facing the dragon he could stand he feared the perilous crossing of Tieglin. Hunthor continued on with Túrin. They waited for Glaurung to move. The Great Worm let forth a breath of fire burning the trees on the other side of the river and, as Túrin hoped, jumped the banks. Túrin and Hunthor were not directly under the dragon and had to move quickly to come beneath him and climb up the ravine walls.
At one point Túrin almost passed out due to the heat but Hunthor caught him. As he turned to say thanks a great rock hurtled from above landed on Hunthor's head, killing him. And Túrin said, "'Alas! It is ill to walk in my shadow! Why did I seek aid? For now you are alone, O Master of Doom, as you should have known it must be. Now conquer alone!'" (p. 237, The Children of Húrin). Mustering his strength Túrin climbed the walls and sunk his Black Sword deep into the belly of Glaurung.
Glaurung screamed out in pain and hurtled his body over the ravine. On the Brethil side he convulsed and writhed in agony until all around him was smoke and ruin. And then the dragon was still. Túrin climbed up to where the dragon lie, still breathing yet eyes closed, and was pleased to find the hilt of his sword in the belly. Pulling out the sword he taunted the dragon, "'Hail, Worm of Morgoth! Well met again! Die now and darkness have you! Thus is Túrin son of Húrin avenged'" (p. 239, The Children of Húrin). The dragon's blood spilled on his hand as he drew out the sword burning it and Glaurung opened his eyes holding Túrin in a swoon beside him.
Niënor and the others were frightened hearing the Dragon's great cries and viewing the fire, smoke, ruin, and reek. But all grew quiet and no news came. Many thought the Blacksword to be dead. Brandir tried to comfort Niënor and lead her away though he knew not where to go. Niënor followed until she realized he was not leading her to her husband. She then ran off to where the battle had taken place and again Brandir was shaken.
Niënor found Túrin's body by the dragon. She bandaged his hand and kissed him but no response did he make. She cried out to Turambar, as she knew him, declaring the dragon dead. By now Brandir was in earshot. Her voice stirred Glaurung one last time to speak before his death. "'Hail, Niënor, daughter of Húrin. We meet again ere we end. I give you joy that you have found your brother at last. And now you shall know him: a stabber in the dark, treacherous to foes, faithless to friends, and a curse unto his kin, Túrin son of Húrin! But worst of all his deeds you shall feel in yourself'" (p. 243, The Children of Húrin).
With that the dragon's spell was lifted and Niënor remembered her forgotten past. She was also bidden to remember all that had happened since the dragon spell was laid: how she married her brother and he fathered the child growing inside her. And she began to run wildly but Brandir called for her to wait, for he had heard it all. "'Wait? That was ever your counsel. Would that I had heeded! But now it is too late. And now I will wait no more upon Middle-earth'" (p. 244, The Children of Húrin). Niënor then ran off the cliff and fell to her death in the Tieglin River.
Brandir was left with the bodies of Túrin and Glaurung not knowing whether to pity or curse the man that lay there. Leaving that place he ran into Dorlas and discovered his cowardice. Brandir rebuked Dorlas for all his rash words and actions that encouraged the Black Sword and led to Hunthor's death. Ultimately Brandir placed the death of Niënor on Dorlas and was filled with hate. But Dorlas said his actions kept Brandir safe form Orcs and he aimed to kill his lame lord then and there. To his surprise Brandir struck first killing Dorlas with the short sword he had brought with him.
Finally Brandir returned to the people declaring Túrin, Niënor, and the Dragon dead. And be said to them all "'For this she learned before she fled: Húrin's children were they both, sister and brother. The Mormegil he was called, Turambar he named himself, hiding his past: Túrin son of Húrin. Níniel we named her, not knowing her past: Niënor she was, daughter of Húrin. To Brethil they brought their doom's dark shadow'" (p. 247, The Children of Húrin). They did not understand how this could be but the people wished to go and bury Turambar, the hero who saved Brethil from Glaurung.
What a tragic tale. The Doom of Túrin. His steps were always marked for failure and his moments of joy and victory too short-lived. I am not a big reader of tragedy for I don't know if my soul could handle too much. Perhaps because there is so much tragedy in real life. But with Glaurung defeated this story gives a glimpse of hope that even some good can come out of the most tragic of circumstances. Alas, the tale is not quite complete.
Middle-earth timeline: First Age, 499
Today's reading comes from: The Children of Húrin, pages 234-247
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