The Nauglafring

"We come now to the last of the original Lost Tales to be given consecutive narrative form" (p. 221, The Book of Lost Tales - Volume II). So says Christopher Tolkien. The tale of The Nauglafring, The Necklace of the Dwarves. What is a complicated, sprawling, narrative that covers over 20 pages (with the Eriol element still present) is truncated to about 5 pages in The Silmarillion. It's easy to see why the story was simplified and yet I always find myself wanting more when reading Tolkien.

As the original Tale goes Úrin (Húrin) brought the treasure hoard of Glorund to King Tinwelint and left to die in grief. Immediately the dragon-sickness took hold of all who laid eyes on that treasure. Úrin's band of followers demanded a share of the gold but Tinwelint would only yield what each man could carry in his hands. This led to heated words and a bitter fight where all the men were killed and "...the king's hall ran with gore, and the gold that lay before his throne, scattered and spurned by trampling feet, was drenched with blood" (p. 222-223, The Book of Lost Tales - Volume II). And from early in the story we see the ill-effects of dragon sickness--the same illness that would overtake Thorin in The Hobbit. Gwenniel (Gwendelin when we saw last, Melian in the published work) warned Tinwelint of the curse.

One Ufedhin, an exiled Noldoli living in Tinwelint's courts, had dealings with the Nauglath and Indrafngs (Dwarves). This is the first real appearance of the Dwarves and their intro is as such: "The Nauglath are a strange race and none know surely whence they be; and they serve not Melko nor Manwë and reck not for Elf or Man, and some say that they have not heard of Ilúvatar, or hearing disbelieve" (p. 223, The Book of Lost Tales - Volume II). Perhaps they did not serve Melko but in Tolkien's earliest writings there was an evil bent to the Dwarves. Ufedhin offered to bring some Dwarves to Tinwelint so they could fashion the treasure hoard into things precious and of great value.  Yet Ufedhin's heart was pierced by the gold as well.

Ufedhin asked to take the gold to Nogrod for the Dwarves to fashion for seven months but Tinwelint disliked this plan and held Ufedhin hostage until the Dwarves returned with the treasure. Seven months later the Dwarves returned with many fair things and Tinwelint offered them a feast--in reality he was not letting them leave for he wanted more work from them. Crowns for Tinweling and Gwenniel were made and other fair things. At last Ufedhin asked for the Silarmil, won by Beren and Tinúviel, to be set in The Nauglafring. When this precious necklace was made with one of Fëanor's jewels set within the time for payment came. It had been another three months past.

Ufedhin scorned this request saying the kindness of Tinwelint's halls for 10 months was payment enough. But the Dwarves, coached by Ufedhin made the following request: 7 jewels of Valinor, 7 robes of magic weaved by Gwenniel, a sack of gold for each, 3 sacks of silver for each, and each a golden cup to drink to Tinwelint's health. Had this request not been enough they topped it off with a request to take with each a fair woodland Elf maiden. Tinwelint was wrathful--the dragon sickness would not permit him to give up any of the treasure at this point and "...never could he deliver maidens of the Elves unto illshapen Dwarves without undying shame" (p. 229, The Book of Lost Tales - Volume II).

Tinwelint had the Dwarves and Ufedhin whipped and offered the following recompense essentially 9 pieces of gold, one piece of silver, and a small gem each. Ufedhin would receive in accordance of his scornful reply but his Dwarven friends were forced to pay back one piece of gold and two pieces of silver each for Ufedhin's time in Tinwelint's halls. With that they were given a great feast for their journey home and asked to drink to Tinwelint's health. Upon arriving back home the greed and wrath of the Dwarves were stoked. News of the treasure and the treatment reached the Indrafangs (another clan of Dwarves) and they came to aid their kin. Furthermore they formed an alliance with Orcs and wandering goblins to aid them. One problem remained: finding Tinwelint's halls for they were guarded by the magics of Gwenniel.

An Elf from Tinwelint's folk came to the Dwarves and offered to lead them through the magic for he too was bitten by the gold-lust. And so it was, while Tinwelint was on a hunt, the Dwarven-Orc alliance attacked. The halls were overtaken and Ufedhin sat mockingly on Tinwelint's throne. Gwendelin confronted him and her gaze would forever leave him in shame but as they spoke Naugladur (one of the Dwarves), wearing the Nauglafring, brought in Tinwelint's head. In grief Gwendelin left the halls and none could lay hand on her though they tried. In her wandering grief she found Huan and told him all that befell. Huan ran straightaway to i-Guilwarthon, the living-dead, where Beren and Tinúviel dwelt and told them all.

Tinúviel was in great grief and Beren rallied the mysterious green and brown Elves to himself for revenge. Cutting out many details (treachery on the road, in-fighting over the treasure hoard that left many Dwarves dead) Beren's party came upon Ufedhin (who did not reveal his identity) and he told them where the Dwarves were. Beren and his Elves ambushed the Dwarves at the crossing of the Aros River--as the Dwarves fell their gold rested at the bottom of the river. Beren fought valiantly for several hours, taking many wounds, against Naugladur eventually killing him and retrieving the Nauglafring with the Silmaril.

The Tale comes to a close with Gwendelin wandering and finding Tinúviel. She is healed of her grief and returns to Valinor but not before rebuking Beren for adorning her daughter with the accursed Nauglafring. A son is born to Beren and Tinúviel, Dior, who grows to manhood and after his parents fade the curse of the Nauglafring follows him. The sons of Fëanor, seeking to fulfill their oath, attack Dior and many are killed on both sides. In the old tale this coincides with the fall of Gondolin bringing the Elves to the brink of utter defeat and ruin.

Christopher Tolkien notes that huge differences between the the published version and the earliest story and how difficult it was to arrive at the Silmarillion version. "My father never again wrote any part of this story on a remotely comparable scale..." (p. 245, The Book of Lost Tales - Volume II). One day, someday, I will try my hand at integrating the texts together. I wonder what I will come up with.