The Fall of Gondolin, part two

Tuor left to check on his wife and son he found Maeglin's most devoted followers blocking the way to his house. Maeglin was dragging her by the hair, while she fought savagely, to the wall of the city so she might watch her son be thrown down to his death. Tuor lets out such a great shout that the Orcs hear it and hesitate even from without of the city walls. Tuor, in rage, quickly captured Maeglin and threw him over the walls and his folk of the Wing, though outnumbered, quickly destroyed Maeglin's followers. By then they could hear the noise at the battle at the Gate arise. A small contingent was left (Voronwë included) to guard Tuor's family and he rushed back toward the fighting hoping the City might stand.

But the forces of Morgoth were too many. Rog and his folk made one last great charge of renown driving back many Balrog's who assailed the Elvish defenders. At first the Balrog's retreated by design to lure Rog into the open; soon they were running for their lives as the Folk of the Hammer of Wrath ran forth killing as they went. But even so, they would never return to the City. Further into the City the attackers came in. The forces of Morgoth had the advantage. The defenders dwindled and were to be overrun when the music of flutes was heard. Ecthelion and his warriors, held in reserve by Turgon, now entered the fray. Even still the battle went ill many were killed and Ecthelion wounded. Gathering their last defense in the Square but Turgon would not leave his tower and look for escape. Tuor was torn between his devotion to the King and the safety of Idril and his son but ultimately fought on.

They retreated gathering folks from the Wing, Tree, Fountain, Swallow, and Arch. Tuor ordered them to fall back to the Square of the King, perhaps the most defensible position left. Soon Glorfindel and the Elves of the Golden Flower are driven to the Square by pursuing Orcs. All were weary and tired, many like Ecthelion were wounded. All entrances to the square blocked, save one, and through came Egalmoth who had been defending the walls. He had gathered to him stragglers of the defense and fared about Gondolin destroying bands of Orcs they met. Their coming to the Square proved an encouragement. The women and children were moved into the king's halls and the defenders organized. All houses, save the Hammer of Wrath, were present, if only a few, and the king's guard was completely intact.

At last came the assault. The defenders were hard pressed as those outnumbered can only defend so long. Ecthelion fighting Gothmog, Lord of the Balrogs, fell with a wound in his other arm; he could now wield now weapon. "Then leapt Ecthelion lord of the Fountain, fairest of the Noldoli, full at Gothmog even as he raised his whip, and his helm that had a spike upon it he drave into that evil breast, and he twined his legs about his foeman's thighs; and the Balrog yelled and fell forward; but those two dropped into the basin of the king's fountain which was very deep. There that creature met his bane; and Ecthelion sank steel-laden into the depths, and so perished the lord of the Fountain after fiery battle in cool waters" (p. 184, The Book of Lost Tales, Part II).

The enemy hesitated at Gothmog's death and Turgon with his guard entered the battle driving them further back. But even this fresh assault from the defenders could not keep the enemy at bay for long. Turgon knew Gondolin was lost. The King urged them to flee and seek safety and throwing down his crown he climbed to the top of his tower. They could not change Turgon's mind and he bid them to follow Tuor who counselled them of the secret way that Idril had built for escape. As they retreated Glorfindel held the rearguard valiantly though many of his house fell. Beyond hope Tuor led his people away and came upon Voronwë and Idril. She was stricken with woe and together they saw the Tower of the King crumble behind them.

As they fled they gathered women and children and Tuor commanded they only bring food. He learned from Voronwë  that Idril gathered all that she could and sent them to the Secret Way, including Eärendil, their son, but she would not leave the city without her husband. Those who left were led by one Legolas Greenleaf, a keensighted Elf from the Folk of the Tree who knew the plains of the Valley well. Into the Secret Way the refugee's went. As they rushed into the open they espied Eärendil's guard pursued by Orc wolfriders. Tuor gathered 50 men and rescued his son. On they pressed, even past sundown, and climbed the Encircling Mountains seeking the Eagle's Cleft to pass out of the Hidden Valley.

There they ran into a stiff defense and to make matters worst Glorfindel's rearguard was also being heavily engaged. (The last mention of Legolas was that he did see the enemy ahead because they were so well hidden). Another battle ensues. Glorfindel fights against a Balrog slaying it but as it fell it grabbed his long golden locks and the Elf fell to his death. At the front the Eagles came to the aid of Tuor and their King, Thorondor, uplifted the body of Glorfindel so that the Orcs might not hew it. By the aid of the Eagles and bravery of Glorfindel Tuor led the refugees out of the Fall of Gondolin.

Dagor Dagorath

I love Tolkien fans. Obviously, I am one myself but I am not referencing myself at all here. As find different fan perspectives and insights across the web I am awestruck. It's both encouraging to see how others incorporate Tolkien into their lives and challenging. Every time I think I have a little better understanding I see things out there that remind me I have such little knowledge.

I found a superb blog today. I landed on the post concerning Dagor Dagorath which is the last battle in the Middle-earth mythology. I've noticed as I've been reading through The History of Middle-earth this year bits and pieces concerning this end battle popping up. This particular blogger has accomplished something with Dagor Dagorath I hope to eventually do: construct a chronological/cohesive tale out of all of Tolkien's works.

Indeed, it's a well referenced tale putting together what little Tolkien hinted at in the battle. I highly recommend perusing it. I love Tolkien fans. They make me a better fan.

The Fall of Gondolin, part one

Perhaps the best read I've had yet in The History of Middle-earth is The Fall of Gondolin in The Book of Lost Tales, Part II. Christopher Tolkien stated "...the abandonment of which is one of the saddest facts in the whole history of incompletion" (p. 203, The Book of Lost Tales, Part II). I wholeheartedly agree. Tolkien began a complete rewrite of Tuor's journey to Gondolin with many added details as well as enhancement of the existing old text. This rewrite (found in Unfinished Tales) stops with his arrival in Gondolin. Very little detail is thereafter recorded on Gondolin's actual fall and much of it was compressed in The Silmarillion. All that to say; seeing the detailed rewrite of the beginning of Tuor's adventure leaves me salivating at the thought of what the rewrite of the actual battle and fall of Gondolin may have looked like given the detailed piece found in Lost Tales.

Tuor's saga has long been one of my favorites from among the First Age. It offers hope (mingled with sadness) as opposed the bleak grinding circumstances of the contemporary tale of The Children of Húrin. In fact it serves almost as a mirror to his cousin Túrin's journey (especially the early writings) with huge difference. Whereas Túrin's journey was shaped and guided by the curse of Morgoth Tuor's journey was shaped and guided by the blessing of Ulmo. As you can imagine, huge implications for the adventure of each man.

I will point out a few highlights for me in the Lost Tales version of the story and really can only recommend that you read it for yourself. My starting point is the name of the Hidden Realm. Perhaps this was mentioned in The Silmarillion or other books I've read but a guard mentions it is the City of Seven Names. Tuor asks what those names are:

1. Gondobar (City of Stone)
2. Gondothlimbar (City of the Dwellars in Stone)
3. Gondolin (The Stone of Song)
4. Gwarestrin (Tower of the Guard)
5. Gar Thurion (Secret Place)
6. Loth (Flower)
7. Lothengriol (flower that blooms on the plain)

The old story is similar in that Turgon rejects Ulmo's advice (the details of which are slightly different); Tuor, enamored with Gondolin, stays, and he marries Turgon's daughter Idril. Maeglin is present and still unhappy with Tuor's presence. Indeed, Maeglin is the source of Gondolin's fall thinking he can win himself a kingdom and Idril as wife. In this older version of the story Maeglin gives Morgoth explicit instructions of the type of weaponry he'll need to overthrow Gondolin. Idril has Tuor prepare a secret escape route for she was filled with foreboding. Finally the appointed day arrived: "Then came over the plain riders who bore breathless tidings from those who kept vigil on the peaks; and they told of the fiery hosts and the shapes like dragons, and said: 'Melko is upon us'" (p. 172, The Book of Lost Tales, Part II). 

In the Tales great detail is given concerning the mustering of the houses/kindreds of Gondothlim: 

• The house of the king in white, red, and gold. Their emblem was the moon, sun, and sacred heart (which has it's own very cool backstory)
• Tuor's folk of the White Wing
• Maeglin's soldiers clothed darkly with now emblem. Most were of "dark countenance"
• The folk of the Swallow: the best archers, clothed in white, blue, and dark purple with feather's in their helms. "Their lord was Duilin, swiftest of all men to run and leap and surest of archers at the mark" (p. 173, The Book of Lost Tales, Part II). *Men in this context is still referring to Elves
• The Folk of the Heavenly Arch; the wealthiest of the people with armor and shields encrusted with gems let by Egalmoth
• The Folk of the Pillar and Tower of Snow the tallest of the people both led by Penlod
• The Folk of the Tree led by Galdor (most valiant next to Turgon the King), clad in green with clubs and slings for weapons
• The House of the Golden Flower bearing a single ray of sun on their shields led by Glorfindel
• The People of the Fountain led to battle by musical flutes and their lord Ecthelion
• The Host of the Harp; brave all except "...their leader Salgant was a craven..." (p. 173, The Book of Lost Tales, Part II). 
• The Folk of the Hammer of Wrath wiedling maces like hammers and led by Rog the Valiant. "The sign of this people was the Stricken Anvil, and a hammer that smiteth sparks about it was set on their shields, and red gold and black iron was their delight" (p. 174, The Book of Lost Tales, Part II).

A very formidable defense in my opinion. 

A great and detailed battle ensues. Morgoth (by Maeglin's cunning) devised armored transports in dragon-like shapes to carry the Orcs to the City while spewing flames at the Elves. Countless Orcs could gain close proximity to the sieged City in this fashion. "Then did Rog shout in a mighty voice, and all the people of the Hammer of Wrath and the kindred of the Tree with Galdor the valiant leapt at the foe. There the blows of their great hammers and the dint of their clubs ran to the Encircling Mountains and the Orcs fell like leaves; and those of the Swallow and the Arch poured arrows like the dark rains of autumns upon them, and both Orcs and Gondothlim fell thereunder for the smoke and the confusion" (p. 174-175, The Book of Lost Tales, Part II). Just one of many epic battle scenes.