Thus ended Nirnaeth Arnoediad； as the sun went down beyond the sea。 Night fell in Hithlum； and there came a
great storm of wind out of the West。
Great was the triumph of Morgoth； and his design was acplished in a manner after his own heart； for Men
took the lives of Men； and betrayed the Eldar； and fear and hatred were aroused among those that should have been
united against him。 From that day the hearts of the Elves were estranged from Men； save only those of the Three Houses
of the Edain。
The realm of Fingon was no more； and the sons of F？anor wandered as leaves before the wind。 Their arms were
scattered； and their league broken； and they took to a wild and woodland life beneath the feet of Ered Lindon； mingling
with the Green…elves of Ossiriand； bereft of their power and glory of old。 In Brethil some few of the Haladin yet dwelt in
the protection of their woods； and Handir son of Haldir was their lord； but to Hithlum came back never one of Fingon's
host； nor any of the Men of Hador's house； nor any tidings of the battle and the fate of their lords。 But Morgoth sent
thither the Easterlings that had served him； denying them the rich lands of Beleriand which they coveted； and he shut
them in Hithlum and forbade them to leave it。 Such was the reward he gave them for their treachery to Maedhros： to
plunder and harass the old and the women and the children of Hador's people。 The remnant of the Eldar of Hithlum were
taken to the mines of the north and laboured there as thralls； save some that eluded him and escaped into the wilds and
the mountains。'
The Orcs and the wolves went freely through all the North； and came ever further southward into Beleriand； even
as far as Nantathren； the Land of Willows； and the borders of Ossiriand； and none were safe in field or wild。 Doriath
indeed remained； and the halls of Nargothrond were hidden； but Morgoth gave small heed to them； either because he
knew little of them； or because their hour was not yet e in the deep purposes of his malice。 Many now fled to the
Havens and took refuge behind Círdan's walls； and the mariners passed up and down the coast and harried the enemy
with swift landings。 But in the next year； ere the winter was e； Morgoth sent great strength over Hithlum and
Nevrast； and they came down the rivers Brithon and Nenning and ravaged all the Falas； and besieged the walls of
Brithombar and Eglarest。 Smiths and miners and makers of fire they brought with them； and they set up great engines；
and valiantly though they were resisted they broke the walls at last。 Then the Havens were laid in ruin； and the tower of
Barad Nimras cast down； and the most part of Círdan's people were slain or enslaved。 But some went aboard ship and
escaped by sea； and among them was Ereinion Gil…galad； the son of Fingon； whom his father had sent to the Havens
after the Dagor Bragollach。 This remnant sailed with Círdan south to the Isle of Balar； and they made a refuge for all that
could e thither； for they kept a foothold also at the Mouths of Sirion； and there many light and swift ships lay hid in
the creeks and waters where the reeds were dense as a forest。
And when Turgon heard of this he sent again his messengers to Sirion's mouths； and besought the aid of Círdan
the Shipwright。 At the bidding of Turgon Círdan built seven swift ships； and they sailed out into the West； but no tidings
of them came ever back to Balar； save of one； and the last。 The mariners of that ship toiled long in the sea； and returning
at last in despair they foundered in a great storm within sight of the coasts of Middle…earth； but one of them was saved
by Ulmo from the wrath of Oss？； and the waves bore him up； and cast him ashore in Nevrast。 His name was Voronw？；
and he was one of those that Turgon sent forth as messengers from Gondolin。
Now the thought of Morgoth dwelt ever upon Turgon； for Turgon had escaped him； of ail his foes that one whom
he most desired to take or to destroy。 And that thought troubled him； and marred his victory； for Turgon of the mighty
house of Fingolfin was now by right King of all the Noldor； and Morgoth feared and hated the house of Fingolfin；
because they had the friendship of Ulmo his foe； and because of the wounds that Fingolfin gave him with his sword。 And
most of all his kin Morgoth feared Turgon； for of old in Valinor his eye had lighted upon him； and whenever he drew
near a shadow had fallen on his spirit； foreboding that in some time that yet lay hidden； from Turgon ruin should e to
him。
Therefore Húrin was brought before Morgoth； for Morgoth knew that he had the friendship of the King of
Gondolin； but Húrin defied him； and mocked him。 Then Morgoth cursed Húrin and Morwen and their offspring； and set
a doom upon them of darkness and sorrow； and taking Húrin from prison he set him in a chair of stone upon a high place
of Thangorodrim。 There he was bound by the power of Morgoth； and Morgoth standing beside him cursed him again；
and he said： 'Sit now there； and look out upon the lands where evil and despair shall e upon those whom thou lovest。
Thou hast dared to mock me； and to question the power of Melkor； Master of the fates of Arda。 Therefore with my eyes
thou shalt see； and with my ears thou shalt hear； and never shalt thou move from this place until all is fulfilled unto its
bitter end。'
And even so it came to pass； but it is not said that Húrin asked ever of Morgoth either mercy or death； for himself
or for any of his kin。
By the mand of Morgoth the Orcs with great labour gathered all the bodies of those who had fallen in the
great battle； and all their harness and weapons； and piled them in a great mound in the midst of Anfauglith； and it was
like a hill that could be seen from afar。 Haudh…en…Ndengin the Elves named it； the Hill of Slain； and Haudh…en…Nirnaeth；
the Hill of Tears。 But grass came there and grew again long and green upon that hill； alone in all the desert that Morgoth
made； and no creature of Morgoth trod thereafter upon the earth beneath which the swords of the Eldar and the Edain
crumbled into rust。
Chapter 21
Of Túrin Turambar
Rían； daughter of Belegund； was the wife of Huor； son of Galdor； and she was wedded to him two months before he
went with Húrin his brother to the Nirnaeth Arnoediad。 When no tidings came of her lord she fled into the wild； but she
was aided by the Grey…elves of Mithrim； and when her son Tuor was born they fostered him。 Then Rían departed from
Hithlum； and going to the Haudh…en…Ndengin she laid herself down upon it and died。
Morwen； daughter of Baragund； was the wife of Húrin； Lord of Dor…lómin； and their son was Túrin； who was
born in the year that Beren Erchamion came upon Lúthien in the Forest of Neldoreth。 A daughter they had also who was
called Lalaith； which is Laughter； and she was beloved by Túrin her brother； but when she was three years old there
came a pestilence to Hithlum； borne on an evil wind out of Angband； and she died。
Now after the Nirnaeth Arnoediad Morwen abode still in Dor…lómin； for Túrin was but eight years old； and she
was again with child。 Those days were evil； for the Easterlings that came into Hithlum despised the remnant of the
people of Hador； and they oppressed them； and took their lands and their goods； and enslaved their children。 But so
great was the beauty and majesty of the Lady of Dor…lómin that the Easterlings were afraid； and dared not to lay hands
upon her or her household； and they whispered among themselves； saying that she was perilous； and a witch skilled in
magic and in league with the Elves。 Yet she was now poor and without aid； save that she was succoured secretly by a
kinswoman of Húrin named Aerin； whom Brodda； an Easterling； had taken as his wife； and Morwen feared greatly that
Túrin would be taken from her and enslaved。 Therefore it came into her heart to send him away in secret； and to beg
King Thingol to harbour him； for Beren son of Barahir was her father's kinsman； and he had been moreover a friend of
Húrin； ere evil befell。 Therefore in the autumn of the Year of Lamentation Morwen sent Túrin forth over the mountains
with two aged servants； bidding them find entry； if they could； into the kingdom of Doriath。 Thus was the fate of Túrin
woven； which is fulltold in that lay that is called Narn i H？n Húrin； the Tale of the Children of Húrin； and is the longest
of all the lays that speak of those days。 Here that tale is told in brief； for it is woven with the fate of the Silmarils and of
the Elves； and it is called the Tale of Grief； for it is sorrowful； and in it are revealed most evil works of Morgoth Bauglir。
In the first beginning of the year Morwen gave birth to her child； the daughter of Húrin； and she named her
Nienor； which is Mourning。 But Túrin and his panions passing through great perils came at last to the borders of
Doriath； and there they were found by Beleg Strongbow； chief of the marchwardens of King Thingol； who led them to
Menegroth。 Then Thingol received Túrin； and took him even to his own fostering； in honour of Húrin the Steadfast； for
Thingol's mood was changed towards the houses of the Elf…friends。 Thereafter messengers went north to Hithlum；
bidding Morwen leave Dor…lómin and return with them to Doriath； but still she would not leave the house in which she
had dwelt with Húrin。 And when the Elves departed she sent with them the Dragon…helm of Dor…lómin； greatest of the
heirlooms of the house of Hador。
Túrin grew fair and strong in Doriath； but he was marked with sorrow。 For nine years he dwelt in Thingol's halls；
and during that time his grief grew less； for messengers went at times to Hithlum； and returning they brought better
tidings of Morwen and Nienor。
But there came a day when the messengers did not return out of die north； and Thingol would send no more。
Then Túrin was filled with fear for his mother and his sister； and in grimness of heart he went before the King and asked
for mail and sword； and he put on the Dragon…helm of Dor…lómin and went out to battle on the marches of Doriath； and
became the panion in arms of Beleg Cúthalion。
And when three years had passed； Túrin returned again to Menegroth； but he came from the wild； and was
unkempt； and his gear and garments were way…worn。 Now one there was in Doriath； of the people of the Nandor； high in
the counsels of the King； Saeros was his name。 He had long begrudged to Túrin the honour he received as Thingol's
fosterson； and seated opposite to him at the board he taunted him； saying：
'If the Men of Hithlum are so wild and fell； of what sort are the women of that land？ Do they run like deer clad
only in their hair？' Then Túrin in great anger took up a drinking…vessel； and cast it at Saeros； and he was grievously hurt。
On the next day Saeros waylaid Túrin as he set out from Menegroth to return to the marches； but Túrin overcame
him； and set him to run naked as a hunted beast through the woods。 Then Saeros fleeing in terror before him fell into the
chasm of a stream； and his body was broke