in the Sindarin tongue。 They loved none but themselves； and if they feared and hated the Orcs； they hated the Eldar no
less； and the Exiles most of all； for the Noldor； they said； had stolen their lands and their homes。 Long ere King Finrod
Felagund came over the Sea； the caves of Nargothrond were discovered by them； and by them its delving was begun；
and beneath the crown of Amon R？dh； the Bald Hill； the slow hands of the Petty…Dwarves had bored and deepened the
caves through the long years that they dwelt there； untroubled by the Grey…elves of the woods。 But now at last they had
dwindled and died out of Middle…earth； all save M？m and his two sons； and M？m was old even in the reckoning of
Dwarves； old and forgotten。 And in his halls the smithies were idle； and the axes rusted； and their name was remembered
only in ancient tales of Doriath and Nargothrond。
But when the year drew on to midwinter； snow came down from the north heavier than they had known it in the
river…vales； and Amon R？dh was covered deep； and they said that the winters worsened in Beleriand as the power of
Angband grew。 Then only the hardiest dared stir abroad； and some fell sick； and all were pinched with hunger。 But in the
dim dusk of a winter's day there appeared suddenly among them a man； as it seemed； of great bulk and girth； cloaked
and hooded in white； and he walked up to the fire without a word。 And when men sprang up in fear； he laughed； and
threw back his hood； and beneath his wide cloak he bore a great pack； and in the light of the fire Túrin looked again on
the face of Beleg Cúthalion。
Thus Beleg returned once more to Túrin； and their meeting was glad； and with him he brought out of Dimbar the
Dragon…helm of Dor…lómin； thinking that it might lift Túrin's thought again above his life in the wilderness as the leader
of a petty pany。 But still Túrin would not return to Doriath； and Beleg yielding to his love against his wisdom
remained with him； and did not depart； and in that time he laboured much for the good of Túrin's pany。 Those that
were hurt or sick he tended； and gave to them the lembas of Melian； and they were quickly healed； for though the Grey…
elves were less in skill and knowledge than the Exiles from Valinor； in the ways of the life of Middle…earth they had a
wisdom beyond the reach of Men。 And because Beleg was strong and enduring； farsighted in mind as in eye； he came to
be held in honour among the outlaws； but the hatred of M？m for the Elf that had e into Bar…en…Danwedh grew ever
greater； and he sat with Ibun his son in the deepest shadows of his house； speaking to none。 But Túrin paid now little
heed to the Dwarf； and when winter passed； and spring came； they had sterner work to do。
Who knows now the counsels of Morgoth？ Who can measure the reach of his thought； who had been Melkor；
mighty among the Ainur of the Great Song； and sat now； a dark lord upon a dark throne in the North； weighing in his
malice all the tidings that came to him； and perceiving more of the deeds and purposes of his enemies than even the
wisest of them feared； save only Melian the Queen？ To her often the thought of Morgoth reached out； and there was
foiled。
And now again the might of Angband was moved； and as the long fingers of a groping hand the forerunners of his
armies probed the ways into Beleriand。 Through Anach they came； and Dimbar was taken； and all the north marches of
Doriath。 Down the ancient road they came that led through the long defile of Sirion； past the isle where Minas Tirith of
Finrod had stood； and so through the land between Malduin and Sirion； and on through the eaves of Brethil to the
Crossings of Teiglin。 Thence the road went on into the Guarded Plain； but the Orcs did not go far upon it； as yet； for
there dwelt now in the wild a terror that was hidden； and upon the red hill were watchful eyes of which they had not been
warned。 For Túrin put on again the Helm of Hador； and far and wide in Beleriand the whisper went； under wood and
over stream and through the passes of the hills； saying that the Helm and Bow that had fallen in Dimbar had arisen again
beyond hope。 Then many who went leaderless； dispossessed but undaunted； took heart again； and came to seek the Two
Captains。 Dor…Cúarthol； the Land of Bow and Helm； was in that time named all the region between Teiglin and the west
march of Doriath； and Túrin named himself anew； Gorthol； the Dread Helm； and his heart was high again。 In Menegroth；
and in the deep halls of Nargothrond； and even in the hidden realm of Gondolin； the fame of the deeds of the Two
Captains was heard； and in Angband also they were known。 Then Morgoth laughed； for now by the Dragon…helm was
Húrin's son revealed to him again； and ere long Amon R？dh was ringed with spies。
In the waning of the year M？m the Dwarf and Ibun his son went out from Bar…en…Danwedh to gather roots in the
wild for their winter store； and they were taken captive by Orcs。 Then for a second time M？m promised to guide his
enemies by the secret paths to his home on Amon R？dh； but yet he sought to delay the fulfilment of his promise； and
demanded that Gorthol should not be slain。 Then the Ore…captain laughed； and he said to M？m： 'Assuredly Túrin son of
Húrin shall not be slain。'
Thus was Bar…en…Danwedh betrayed； for the Orcs came upon it by night at unawares； guided by M？m。 There
many of Túrin's pany were slain as they slept； but some fleeing by an inner stair came out upon the hill…top； and
there they fought until they fell； and their blood flowed out upon the seregon that mantled the stone。 But a net was cast
over Túrin as he fought； and he was enmeshed in it； and overe； and led away。
And at length when all was silent again M？m crept out of the shadows of his house； and as the sun rose over the
mists of Sirion he stood beside the dead men on the hill…top。 But he perceived that not all those that lay there were dead；
for by one his gaze was returned； and he looked in the eyes of Beleg the Elf。 Then with hatred long…stored M？m stepped
up to Beleg； and drew forth the sword Anglachel that lay beneath the body of one that had fallen beside him； but Beleg
stumbling up seized back the sword and thrust it at the Dwarf； and M？m in terror fled wailing from the hill…top。 And
Beleg cried after him： 'The vengeance of the house of Hador will find you yet！'
Now Beleg was sorely wounded； but he was mighty among the Elves of Middle…earth； and he was moreover a
master of healing。 Therefore he did not die； and slowly his strength returned； and he sought in vain among the dead for
Túrin； to bury him。 But he found him not； and then he knew that Húrin's son was yet alive； and taken to Angband。
With little hope Beleg departed from Amon R？dh and set out northward； towards the Crossings of Teiglin；
following in the track of the Orcs； and he crossed over the Brithiach and journeyed through Dimbar towards the Pass of
Anach。 And now he was not far behind them； for he went without sleeping； whereas they had tarried on their road；
hunting in the lands and fearing no pursuit as they came northward； and not even in the dreadful woods of Taur…nu…Fuin
did he swerve from the trail； for the skill of Beleg was greater than any that have been in Middle…earth。 But as he passed
by night through that evil land he came upon one lying asleep at the foot of a great dead tree； and Beleg staying his steps
beside the sleeper saw that it was an Elf。 Then he spoke to him； and gave him lembas； and asked him what fate had
brought him to that terrible place； and he named himself Gwindor； son of Guilin。
Grieving Beleg looked upon him； for Gwindor was now but a bent and fearful shadow of his former shape and
mood； when in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad that lord of Nargothrond rode with rash courage to the very doors of Angband；
and there was taken。 For few of the Noldor whom Morgoth captured were put to death； because of their skill in forging
and in mining for metals and gems； and Gwindor was not slain； but put to labour in the mines of the North。 By secret
tunnels known only to themselves the mining Elves might sometimes escape； and thus it came to pass that Beleg found
him； spent and bewildered in the mazes of Taur…nu…Fuin。'
And Gwindor told him that as he lay and lurked among the trees he saw a great pany of Orcs passing
northwards； and wolves went with them； and among them was a Man； whose hands were chained； and they drove him
onward with whips。 'Very tall he was'； said Gwindor； 'as tall as are the Men from the misty hills of Hithlum。' Then Beleg
told him of his own errand in Taur…nu…Fuin； and Gwindor sought to dissuade him from his quest； saying that he would
but join Túrin in the anguish that awaited him。 But Beleg would not abandon Túrin； and despairing himself he aroused
hope again in Gwindor's heart； and together they went on； following the Orcs until they came out of the forest on the
high slopes that ran down to the barren dunes of Anfauglith。 There within sight of the peaks of Thangorodrim the Orcs
made their encampment in a bare dell as the light of day was failing； and setting wolf…sentinels all about they fell to
carousing。 A great storm rode up out of the west； and lightning glittered on the Shadowy Mountains far away； as Beleg
and Gwindor crept towards the dell。
When all in the camp were sleeping Beleg took his bow； and in the darkness shot the wolf…sentinels； one by one
and silently。 Then in great peril they entered in； and they found Túrin fettered hand and foot and tied to a withered tree；
and all about him knives that had been cast at him were embedded in the trunk； and he was senseless in a sleep of great
weariness。 But Beleg and Gwindor cut the bonds that held him； and lifting him they carried him out of the dell； yet they
could bear him no further than to a thicket of thorn…trees a little way above。 There they laid him down； and now the
storm drew very near。 Beleg drew his sword Anglachel； and with it he cut the fetters that bound Túrin； but fate was that
day more strong； for the blade slipped as he cut the shackles； and Túrin's foot was pricked。 Then he was aroused into a
sudden wakefulness of rage and fear； and seeing one bending over him with naked blade he leapt up with a great cry；
believing that Orcs were e again to torment him； and grappling with him in the darkness he seized Anglachel； and
slew Beleg Cúthalion thinking him a foe。
But as he stood； finding himself free； and ready to sell his life dearly against imagined foes； there came a great
flash of lightning above them； and in its light he looked down on Beleg's face。 Then Túrin stood stone…still and silent；
staring on that dreadful death； knowing what he had done； and so terrible was his face； lit by the lightning that flickered
all about them； that Gwindor cowered down upon the ground and dared not raise his eyes。'
But now in the dell beneath the Orcs were aroused； and all the camp was in a tumult； for they feared the thunder
that came out of the west； believing that it was sent against them by the great Enemies beyond the Sea。 Then