Húrin Is Released

"Unhappy was the lot of Húrin; for all that Morgoth knew of the working of his malice Húrin knew also, but lies were mingled with the truth, and aught that was good was hidden or distorted. In all ways Morgoth sought most to cast an evil light on those things that Thingol and Melian had done, for he hated them, and feared them" (p. 227, The Silmarillion). Morgoth deemed the time right to release Húrin from his bondage knowing he could use Húrin for his purposes. Húrin was wary of Morgoth's pity but took his freedom and was escorted to his homeland. It had been 28 years since his captivity.

In Hithlum Húrin's people rejected him thinking he was in league with Morgoth. And Húrin's heart became bitter. He decided then to seek Turgon and the Hidden City knowing the general direction. And so it was he came to (not knowingly) what was left of the Dry River and entry way into Gondolin that was now stopped up. He looked in vain for the Eagles but did not mark them though they had marked him. Thorondor himself took news of Húrin's coming to Turgon who ultimately said "'Even Húrin Thalion has surrendered to the will of Morgoth. My heart is shut'" (p. 228, The Silmarillion). Memories of Húrin compelled Turgon to change his mind but it was too late and the Eagles could not find him.

Standing at the mountains Húrin cried in a loud voice, "'O Turgon, will you no hear in your hidden walls?"' (p. 228, The Silmarillion). Unbeknownst to Húrin he was ever watched and tracked by Morgoth's spies so that all his words and deeds were known to the Dark Lord "...and Morgoth smiled, for he knew now clearly what region Turgon dwelt, though because of the eagles no spy of his could yet come within sight of the land behind the Encircling Mountains" (p. 228, The Silmarillion). This was the first evil of the release of Húrin.

Húrin was then led by a dream into Brethil hearing Morwen's voice. He arrived at the standing stone of his son and daughter and there found a ragged, homeless, hungry, old woman. But looking into her eyes he knew it was Morwen and she recognized Húrin saying he was come too late. "'It was a dark road. I have come as I could,' he answered" (p. 258, The Chilrdren of Húrin). Húrin would not tell what he knew of their children and Morwen died at sunset. There he buried her and etched into the stone the following words: "Here lies also Morwen Eledhwen" (p. 229, The Silmarillion). It was told by a seer of Brethil that the Stone of the Hapless would never be defiled by Morgoth or thrown down even if the sea drowned the land "...and still Tol Morwen stands alone in the water beyond the new coasts that were made in the days of the wrath of the Valar" (p. 230, The Silmarillion). 

Middle-earth timeline: First Age, 500-501

Today's reading comes from: The Silmarillion, pages 227-229, The Children of Húrin, pages 258-259, The Silmarillion, pages 229-230