Túrin sped to Nargothrond rallying any Elves he could find along the way. But Glaurung and the Orcs reached it first using the great bridge Túrin had built to cross the river Narog and decimate the dwellings there. Upon that woe Túrin came and no one could withstand him in his might and Helm. He stood alone, all others fled, when Glaurung came from the halls of Nargothrond and said, "'Hail, son of Hurin. Well met!'" (p. 178, The Children of Húrin).
Glaurung tried to make Turin remove the Helm for it protected him and the dragon feared it. Túrin knew the Helm had been made in scorn of the great worm and would not take it off. Glaurung mocked him, questioning if he really was Húrin's son: "'For he has not the hardihood to look me in the face, openly'" (p. 155, Unfinished Tales). Up to this point Túrin had not looked the dragon in the eye, only at his feet. "But being thus taunted, in pride and rashness he thrust up the visor and looked Glaurung in the eye" (p. 155, Unfinished Tales).
Túrin sprung to attack but Glaurung looked into his opponents eye. "Without fear Túrin looked into those eyes as he raised up his sword; and straightway he fell under the dreadful spell of the dragon, and was as one turned to stone" (p. 178, The Children of Húrin). There they long stood until Glaurung spoke twisted truth to Túrin speaking of the thralldom of his mother and sister. "'Thankless fosterling, outlaw, slayer of your friend, thief of love, usurper of Nargothrond, and deserter of your kin'" (p. 179, The Children of Húrin) Glaurung called Túrin. And being caught up in the dragon's glance Túrin's mind grasped onto the words and he hated himself.
Meanwhile the Orcs led away prisoners and Finduilas was among them. She cried out to Túrin for help but he made no movement. And ever after her voice haunted him. Finally Glaurung withdrew his glance and waited for Túrin to awake. Once again he sprang at the dragon. Once again Glaurung taunted him saying he paid no attention to the Elf-maiden; would he also forget the plight of his mother and sister? Túrin lashed at the dragon. "'At least you are valiant. Beyond all whom I have met'" (p. 180, The Children of Húrin) and Glaurung offered what seemed to be a gift to Túrin; to go free to find Morwen and Niënor. Believing his enemy had pity off Túrin dashed to find his kin.
Everywhere he went Túrin could here the cries of Finduilas but his heart was deceived by the lies of Glaurung. So he did not turn aside from Dor-lómin even though Gwindor had bade Túrin save Finduilas in his dying breath. Glaurung laughed, accomplishing all that Morgoth had sent him to do, and he then drove away the remaining Orcs and hording the riches of Finrod Felagund in Nargothrond he slept in the halls on his new treasure.
And now the tale has taken an even darker turn. It would seem that Túrin had this one chance to cheat his doom but the lies overtook him and he is seeking after the wrong end. For Morwen and Niënor are safe in Doriath. Finduilas is on her way to certain death in Angband. So in this great tale, as is true of all life, when under control of lies the end cannot be good. I feel for Túrin. All his best laid plans fail and his closest friends, ones who could help him see the truth and break the chains of lies, are gone.
Middle-earth timeline: First Age, 495, autumn
Today's reading comes from: The Children of Húrin, pages 176-178, Unfinished Tales, page 155, The Children of Húrin, pages 178-181
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