Túrin and the Folk of Haleth

When last we left Túrin he had ran by Tuor and Voronwë by the Pools of Ivrin in pursuit of Finduilas who was taken by Orcs. Túrin soon found himself in the Forest of Brethil where still, though greatly dwindled, lived the Folk of Haleth. They were now hiding in secret as opposed to challenging Orcs. Brandir, who was not a man of war for he was lame and a gentle spirit, was the leader after his father Handir was killed. Although a few of their woodsmen defended their borders against the Orcs.

It was these men Túrin came across hearing sounds of fighting. The Men of Brethil were surrounded by Orcs. Túrin made a great amount of noise and feigned he led a great company of men yelling for an attack, many of the Orcs grew frightened and they saw Túrin jump out of the woods with the Gurthang, the Blacksword, and they fled in terror for that blade was well known. Together with the woodsmen Túrin chased the Orcs away. The men turned to Túrin in wonder and one of their number, Dorlas, said "'You are swift in the hunt, lord; but your men are slow to follow.' 'Nay,' said Túrin, "we all run together as one man, and will not be parted.'" (p. 194, The Children of Húrin). And they had a good laugh.

Túrin did not reveal his true name to the men saying only his trade was Orc-slaying. At this the men begged him to abide in Brethil for they needed his help. And Túrin held them in wonder not knowing why anyone else would take his dark fate upon them. But he said he must find Finduilas. At this Dorlas informed him his quest was over for she had died. The woodsmen had attacked the Orcs coming from Nargothrond and as soon as they were attacked they killed all their captives; Finduilas was driven into a tree with a spear.

Túrin was mortified and asked how they were sure. Dorlas recalled her last words: "'Mormegil. Tell the Mormegil that Finduilas is here.'" (p. 195, The Children of Húrin). They took Túrin to her grave and their he fell stricken. Dorlas turned to his men, "'Too late! This is piteous chance. But see: here lies Mormegil himself, the great captain of Nargothrond. By his sword we should have known him, as did the Orcs'" (p. 195, The Children of Húrin). They bore Túrin to Ephel Brandir and there were met by their lord. Brandir was troubled for he could tell a darkness lay on Túrin.

By the spring the darkness of Finduilas' death lifted and Túrin hoped for a fresh start. He sought to renounce his name and past. He called himself Turambar, meaning Master of Doom, and asked that he be counted as one of the Folk of Haleth. He often led forays against the Orcs which displeased Brandir. Túrin did lay down the Blacksword to avoid bringing vengeance upon the Forest of Brethil but did not stop his Orc-slaying. Dorlas asked, even though the Blacksword was laid down, if he was not truly the son of Húrin as rumor reported the Blacksowrd to be. "'So I have heard. But publish it not, I beg you, as you are my friend'" (p. 197, The Children of Húrin).

Once again we see Túrin rename himself to avoid the curse upon him. It has not worked for him yet. It reminds me of myself, looking for fresh starts, new beginnings, more lines in the sand. When the reality is, in and of myself I cannot defeat the curse of sin in my life. I rather must turn it all over, past, present, and future, to Jesus. The curse does not lay within a name but inside ourselves.

Middle-earth timeline: First Age, 495-496
Today's reading comes from: The Children of Húrin, pages 192-197