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.