The Children of Húrin

by J. R. R. Tolkien

  The second matter concerns the story of the slaying of Glaurung at the crossing of the ravine. There are here a draft and a final version. In the draft, Túrin and his companions climbed up the further side of the chasm until they came beneath the brink; they hung there as the night passed, and Túrin ‘strove with dark dreams of dread in which all his will was given to clinging and holding’. When day came Glaurung prepared to cross at a point ‘many paces to the northward’, and so Túrin had to climb down to the river-bed and then up the cliff again to get beneath the Dragon’s belly.

  In the final version (†) Túrin and Hunthor were only part way up the further side when Túrin said that they were wasting their strength in climbing up now, before they knew where Glaurung would cross; ‘they halted therefore and waited’. It is not said that they descended from where they were when they ceased to climb, and the passage concerning Túrin’s dream ‘in which all his will was given to clinging’ reappears from the draft text. But in the revised story there was no need for them to cling: they could and surely would have descended to the bottom and waited there. In fact, this is what they did: it is said in the final text (Unfinished Tales, p. 134) that they were not standing in Glaurung’s path and that Túrin ‘clambered along the water-edge to come beneath him’. It seems then that the final story carries an unneeded trait from the previous draft. To give it coherence I have emended (†) ‘since they were not standing right in Glaurung’s path’ to ‘since they were not right in Glaurung’s path’, and ‘clambered along the water-edge’ to ‘clambered along the cliff’.

  These are small matters in themselves, but they clarify what are perhaps the most sharply visualised scenes in the legends of the Elder Days, and one of the greatest events.

  LIST OF NAMES IN THE TALE OF THE CHILDREN OF HÚRIN

  Names that appear in the map of Beleriand are followed by an asterisk.

  Adanedhel — ‘Elf-man’, name given to Túrin in Nargothrond.

  Aerin — A kinswoman of Húrin in Dor-lómin, taken as wife by Brodda the Easterling.

  Agarwaen — ‘Bloodstained’, name taken by Túrin when he came to Nargothrond.

  Ainur — ‘The Holy Ones’, the first beings created by Ilúvatar, who were before the World: the Valar and the Maiar (‘spirits of the same order as the Valar but of less degree’).

  Algund — Man of Dor-lómin, member of the outlaw band that Túrin joined.

  Amon Darthir * — A peak in the range of Ered Wethrin south of Dor-lómin.

  Amon Ethir — ‘Hill of Spies’, a great earthwork raised by Finrod Felagund a league to the east of Nargothrond.

  Amon Obel * — A hill in the midst of the Forest of Brethil, on which was built Ephel Brandir.

  Amon Rûdh * — ‘The Bald Hill’, a lonely height in the lands south of Brethil, abode of Mîm.

  Anach * — Pass leading down from Taur-nu-Fuin at the western end of Ered Gorgoroth.

  Andróg — Man of Dor-lómin, a leader of the outlaw band that Túrin joined.

  Anfauglith * — ‘Gasping Dust’, the great plain north of Taur-nu-Fuin, once grassy and named Ardgalen, but transformed into a desert by Morgoth in the Battle of Sudden Flame.

  Angband — The great fortress of Morgoth in the North-west of Middle-earth.

  Anglachel — Beleg’s sword, the gift of Thingol; after its reforging for Túrin named Gurthang.

  Angrod — Third son of Finarfin, slain in the Dagor Bragollach.

  Anguirel — Eöl’s sword.

  Aranrúth — ‘King’s Ire’, Thingol’s sword.

  Arda — The Earth.

  Aredhel — Sister of Turgon, wife of Eöl.

  Arminas — Noldorin Elf who came with Gelmir to Nargothrond to warn Orodreth of its peril.

  Arroch — Húrin’s horse.

  Arvernien * — The coastlands of Beleriand west of Sirion’s mouths; named in Bilbo’s song in Rivendell.

  Asgon — Man of Dor-lómin who aided Túrin’s escape after the slaying of Brodda.

  Azaghâl — Lord of the Dwarves of Belegost.

  Barad Eithel — ‘Tower of the Well’, the fortress of the Noldor at Eithel Sirion.

  Baragund — Father of Morwen; cousin of Beren.

  Barahir — Father of Beren; brother of Bregolas.

  Bar-en-Danwedh — ‘House of Ransom’, name given by Mîm to his house.

  Bar-en-Nibin-noeg — ‘House of the Petty-dwarves’ on Amon Rûdh.

  Bar Erib — A stronghold of Dor-Cúarthol south of Amon Rûdh.

  Battle of Unnumbered Tears — See Nirnaeth Arnoediad.

  Bauglir — ‘The Constrainer’, name given to Morgoth.

  Beleg — Elf of Doriath, a great archer; friend and companion of Túrin. Called Cúthalion ‘Strongbow’.

  Belegost — ‘Great Fortress’, one of the two cities of the Dwarves in the Blue Mountains.

  Belegund — Father of Rían; brother of Baragund.

  Beleriand * — Lands west of the Blue Mountains in the Elder Days.

  Belthronding — Beleg’s bow.

  Bëor — Leader of the first Men to enter Beleriand; progenitor of the House of Bëor, one of the three Houses of the Edain.

  Beren — Man of the House of Bëor, lover of Lúthien, who cut a Silmaril from Morgoth’s crown; called ‘One-hand’ and Camlost ‘Empty-handed’.

  Black King, The — Morgoth.

  Black Sword, The — Túrin’s name in Nargothrond; also the sword itself. See Mormegil.

  Blue Mountains — The great mountain chain (called Ered Luin and Ered Lindon) between Beleriand and Eriador in the Elder Days.

  Bragollach — See Dagor Bragollach.

  Brandir — Ruler of the People of Haleth in Brethil when Túrin came; son of Handir.

  Bregolas — Father of Baragund; Morwen’s grandfather.

  Bregor — Father of Barahir and Bregolas.

  Brethil * — Forest between the rivers Teiglin and Sirion; Men of Brethil, the People of Haleth.

  Brithiach * — Ford over Sirion north of the Forest of Brethil.

  Brodda — An Easterling in Hithlum after the Nirnaeth Arnoediad.

  Cabed-en-Aras — ‘The Deer’s Leap’, a deep gorge of the river Teiglin where Túrin slew Glaurung.

  Cabed Naeramarth — ‘The Leap of Dreadful Doom’, name given to Cabed-en-Aras after Niënor leapt from its cliffs.

  Celebros — Stream in Brethil falling down to Teiglin near the Crossings.

  Children of Ilúvatar — Elves and Men.

  Círdan — Called ‘the Shipwright’; lord of the Falas; at the destruction of the Havens after the Nirnaeth Arnoediad he escaped to the Isle of Balar in the south.

  Crissaegrim * — The mountain peaks south of Gondolin, where were the eyries of Thorondor.

  Crossings of Teiglin * — Fords where the old South Road to Nargothrond crossed the Teiglin.

  Cúthalion — ‘Strongbow’, name of Beleg.

  Daeron — Minstrel of Doriath.

  Dagor Bragollach (also the Bragollach) — The Battle of Sudden Flame, in which Morgoth ended the Siege of Angband.

  Dark Lord, The — Morgoth.

  Deer’s Leap, The — See Cabed-en-Aras.

  Dimbar * — The land between the rivers Sirion and Mindeb.

  Dimrost — ‘The Rainy Stair’, the falls of Celebros in the Forest of Brethil, afterwards called Nen Girith.

  Dor-Cúarthol — ‘Land of Bow and Helm’, name given to the country defended by Túrin and Beleg from their lair on Amon Rûdh.

  Doriath * — The kingdom of Thingol and Melian in the forests of Neldoreth and Region, ruled from Menegroth on the river Esgalduin.

  Dorlas — A man of consequence among the People of Haleth in the Forest of Brethil.

  Dor-lómin * — Region in the south of Hithlum given by King Fingolfin as a fief to the House of Hador; the home of Húrin and Morwen.

  Dorthonion * — ‘Land of Pines’, great forested highlands on the northern borders of Beleriand, afterwards named Taurnu-Fuin.

 
Drengist * — Long firth of the sea piercing Ered Lómin, the Echoing Mountains.

  Easterlings — Tribes of Men who followed the Edain into Beleriand.

  Echad i Sedryn — (also the Echad) ‘Camp of the Faithful’, name given to Mîm’s house on Amon Rûdh.

  Ecthelion — Elf-lord of Gondolin.

  Edain — (singular Adan) The Men of the Three Houses of the Elf-friends.

  Eithel Ivrin * — ‘Ivrin’s Well’, the source of the river Narog beneath Ered Wethrin.

  Eithel Sirion * — ‘Sirion’s Well’, in the eastern face of Ered Wethrin; the fortress of the Noldor in that place, also called Barad Eithel.

  Eldalië — The Elven-folk, equivalent to Eldar.

  Eldar — The Elves of the Great Journey out of the East to Beleriand.

  Elder Children — The Elves. See Children of Ilúvatar.

  Eledhwen — Name of Morwen, ‘Elfsheen’.

  Encircling Mountains — The mountains encircling Tumladen, the plain of Gondolin.

  Enemy, The — Morgoth.

  Eöl — Called ‘the Dark Elf’, a great smith who dwelt in Nan Elmoth; maker of the sword Anglachel; father of Maeglin.

  Ephel Brandir — ‘The Fence of Brandir’, the enclosed dwellings of the Men of Brethil upon Amon Obel; also the Ephel.

  Ered Gorgoroth * — ‘Mountains of Terror’, the vast precipices in which Taur-nu-Fuin fell southward; also the Gorgoroth.

  Ered Wethrin — ‘Shadowy Mountains’, ‘Mountains of Shadow’, the great range forming the boundary of Hithlum on the east and south.

  Esgalduin * — The river of Doriath, dividing the forests of Neldoreth and Region and flowing into Sirion.

  Exiles, The — The Noldor who rebelled against the Valar and returned to Middle-earth.

  Faelivrin — Name given to Finduilas by Gwindor.

  Fair Folk — The Eldar.

  Falas * — The coastlands of Beleriand in the West.

  Fëanor — Eldest son of Finwë, the first leader of the Noldor; half-brother of Fingolfin; maker of the Silmarils; leader of the Noldor in their rebellion against the Valar, but slain in battle soon after his return to Middle-earth. See Sons of Fëanor.

  Felagund — ‘Hewer of caves’, name given to King Finrod after the establishment of Nargothrond and often used alone.

  Finarfin — Third son of Finwë, brother of Fingolfin and half-brother of Fëanor; father of Finrod Felagund and Galadriel. Finarfin did not return to Middle-earth.

  Finduilas — Daughter of Orodreth, second King of Nargothrond.

  Fingolfin — Second son of Finwë, the first leader of the Noldor; High King of the Noldor, dwelling in Hithlum; father of Fingon and Turgon.

  Fingon — Eldest son of King Fingolfin, and High King of the Noldor after his death.

  Finrod — Son of Finarfin; founder and king of Nargothrond, brother of Orodreth and Galadriel; often called Felagund.

  Forweg — Man of Dor-lómin, captain of the outlaw band that Túrin joined.

  Galdor the Tall — Son of Hador Goldenhead; father of Húrin and Huor; slain at Eithel Sirion.

  Gamil Zirak — Dwarf smith, teacher of Telchar of Nogrod.

  Gaurwaith — ‘Wolf-men’, the outlaw band that Túrin joined in the woodlands beyond the western borders of Doriath.

  Gelmir (1) — Elf of Nargothrond, brother of Gwindor.

  Gelmir (2) — Noldorin Elf who came with Arminas to Nargothrond to warn Orodreth of its peril.

  Gethron — One of Túrin’s companions on the journey to Doriath.

  Ginglith * — River flowing into the Narog above Nargothrond.

  Girdle of Melian — See Melian.

  Glaurung — ‘Father of Dragons’, the first of the Dragons of Morgoth.

  Glithui * — River flowing down from Ered Wethrin and joining Teiglin north of the inflow of Malduin.

  Glóredhel — Daughter of Hador, sister of Galdor Húrin’s father; wife of Haldir of Brethil.

  Glorfindel — Elf-lord of Gondolin.

  Gondolin * — The hidden city of King Turgon.

  Gorgoroth — See Ered Gorgoroth.

  Gorthol — ‘Dread Helm’, name taken by Túrin in the land of Dor-Cúarthol.

  Gothmog — Lord of Balrogs; slayer of King Fingon.

  Great Mound, The — See Haudh-en-Nirnaeth.

  Great Song, The — The Music of the Ainur, in which the World was begun.

  Grey-elves — The Sindar, name given to the Eldar who remained in Beleriand and did not cross the Great Sea into the West.

  Grithnir — One of Túrin’s companions on the journey to Doriath, where he died.

  Guarded Plain, The * — See Talath Dirnen.

  Guarded Realm, The — Doriath.

  Guilin — Elf of Nargothrond, father of Gwindor and Gelmir.

  Gurthang — ‘Iron of Death’, Túrin’s name for the sword Anglachel after it was reforged in Nargothrond.

  Gwaeron — The ‘windy month’, March.

  Gwindor — Elf of Nargothrond, lover of Finduilas, companion of Túrin.

  Hador Goldenhead — Elf-friend, lord of Dor-lómin, vassal of King Fingolfin; father of Galdor father of Húrin and Huor; slain at Eithel Sirion in the Dagor Bragollach. House of Hador, one of the Houses of the Edain.

  Haldir — Son of Halmir of Brethil; wedded Glóredhel daughter of Hador of Dor-lómin.

  Haleth — The Lady Haleth, who early became the leader of the Second House of the Edain, the Halethrim or People of Haleth, who dwelt in the Forest of Brethil.

  Halmir — Lord of the Men of Brethil.

  Handir of Brethil — Son of Haldir and Glóredhel; father of Brandir.

  Hareth — Daughter of Halmir of Brethil, wife of Galdor of Dor-lómin; mother of Húrin.

  Haudh-en-Elleth — ‘The Mound of the Elf-maid’ near the Crossings of Teiglin, in which Finduilas was buried.

  Haudh-en-Nirnaeth — ‘The Mound of Tears’ in the desert of Anfauglith.

  Hidden Kingdom, The — Doriath.

  Hidden Realm, The — Gondolin.

  High Faroth, The * — Highlands to the west of the river Narog above Nargothrond; also the Faroth.

  Hírilorn — A great beech-tree in the Forest of Neldoreth with three trunks.

  Hithlum * — ‘Land of Mist’, northern region bounded by the Mountains of Shadow.

  Hunthor — Man of Brethil, companion of Túrin in the attack on Glaurung.

  Huor — Húrin’s brother; father of Tuor father of Eärendil; slain in the Battle of Unnumbered Tears.

  Húrin — Lord of Dor-lómin, husband of Morwen and father of Túrin and Niënor; called Thalion ‘the Steadfast’.

  Ibun — One of the sons of Mîm the Petty-dwarf.

  Ilúvatar — ‘The Father of All’.

  Indor — Man of Dor-lómin, father of Aerin.

  Ivrin * — Lake and falls beneath Ered Wethrin where the river Narog rose.

  Khîm — One of the sons of Mîm the Petty-dwarf, slain by Andróg’s arrow.

  Labadal — Túrin’s name for Sador.

  Ladros * — Lands to the north-east of Dorthonion that were granted by the Noldorin kings to the Men of the House of Bëor.

  Lady of Dor-lómin — Morwen.

  Lalaith — ‘Laughter’, name given to Urwen.

  Larnach — One of the Woodmen in the lands south of Teiglin.

  Lord of Waters — The Vala Ulmo.

  Lords of the West — The Valar.

  Lothlann — A great plain to the east of Dorthonion (Taur-nu-Fuin).

  Lothron — The fifth month.

  Lúthien — Daughter of Thingol and Melian, who after the death of Beren chose to become mortal and to share his fate. Called Tinúviel ‘daughter of twilight’, nightingale.

  Mablung — Elf of Doriath, chief captain of Thingol, friend of Túrin; called ‘the Hunter’.

  Maedhros — Eldest son of Fëanor, with lands in the east beyond Dorthonion.

  Maeglin — Son of Eöl ‘the Dark Elf’ and Aredhel Turgon’s sister; betrayer of Gond
olin.

  Malduin * — A tributary of the Teiglin.

  Mandos — A Vala: the Judge, and Keeper of the Houses of the Dead in Valinor.

  Manwë — The chief of the Valar; called the Elder King.

  Melian — A Maia (see entry Ainur); the queen of King Thingol in Doriath, about which she set an invisible barrier of protection, the Girdle of Melian; mother of Lúthien.

  Melkor — The Quenya name of Morgoth.

  Menegroth * — ‘The Thousand Caves’, the halls of Thingol and Melian on the river Esgalduin in Doriath.

  Menel — The heavens, region of the stars.

  Methed-en-glad — ‘End of the wood’, a stronghold of Dor-Cúarthol at the edge of the forest south of Teiglin.

  Mîm — The Petty-dwarf, dwelling on Amon Rûdh.

  Minas Tirith — ‘Tower of Watch’, built by Finrod Felagund on Tol Sirion.

  Mindeb * — A tributary of Sirion, between Dimbar and the Forest of Neldoreth.

  Mithrim * — The south-eastern region of Hithlum, separated from Dor-lómin by the Mountains of Mithrim.

  Morgoth — The great rebellious Vala, in his origin the mightiest of the Powers; called the Enemy, the Dark Lord, the Black King, Bauglir.

  Mormegil — ‘Black Sword’, name given to Túrin in Nargothrond.

  Morwen — Daughter of Baragund of the House of Bëor; wife of Húrin and mother of Túrin and Niënor; called Eledhwen ‘Elfsheen’ and Lady of Dor-lómin.

  Mountains of Shadow * — See Ered Wethrin.

  Nan Elmoth * — A forest in East Beleriand; dwelling-place of Eöl.

  Nargothrond * — ‘The great underground fortress on the river Narog’, founded by Finrod Felagund, destroyed by Glaurung; also the realm of Nargothrond extending east and west of the river.

  Narog * — The chief river of West Beleriand, rising at Ivrin and flowing into Sirion near its mouths. People of Narog, the Elves of Nargothrond.

  Neithan — ‘The Wronged’, name given to himself by Túrin among the outlaws.

  Nellas — Elf of Doriath, friend of Túrin in his boyhood.

  Nen Girith — ‘Shuddering Water’, name given to Dimrost, the falls of Celebros in Brethil.

  Nen Lalaith — Stream rising under Amon Darthir, a peak in Ered Wethrin, and flowing past Húrin’s house in Dor-lómin.