that came out of the west； believing that it was sent against them by the great Enemies beyond the Sea。 Then a wind
arose； and great rains fell； and torrents swept down from the heights of Taur…nu…Fuin； and though Gwindor cried out to
Túrin； warning him of their utmost peril； he made no answer； but sat unmoving and unweeping in the tempest beside the
body of Beleg Cúthalion。
When morning came the storm was passed away eastward over Lothlann； and the sun of autumn rose hot and
bright； but believing that Túrin would have fled far away from that place and all trace of his flight be washed away； the
Orcs departed in haste without longer search； and far off Gwindor saw them marching away over the steaming sands of
Anfauglith。 Thus it came to pass that they returned to Morgoth empty…handed； and left behind them the son of Húrin；
who sat crazed and unwitting on the slopes of Taur…nu…Fuin； bearing a burden heavier than their bonds。
Then Gwindor roused Túrin to aid him in the burial of Beleg； and he rose as one that walked in sleep； and
together they laid Beleg in a shallow grave； and placed beside him Belthronding his great bow； that was made of black
yew…wood。 But the dread sword Anglachel Gwindor took； saying that it were better that it should take vengeance on the
servants of Morgoth than lie useless in the earth； and he took also the lembas of Melian to strengthen them in the wild。
Thus ended Beleg Strongbow； truest of friends； greatest in skill of all that harboured in the woods of Beleriand in
the Elder Days； at the hand of him whom he most loved； and that grief was graven on the face of Túrin and never faded。
But courage and strength were renewed in the Elf of Nargothrond； and departing from Taur…nu…Fuin he led Túrin far
away。 Never once as they wandered together on long and grievous paths did Túrin speak； and he walked as one without
wish or purpose； while the year waned and winter drew on over the northern lands。 But Gwindor was ever beside him to
guard him and guide him； and thus they passed westward over Sirion and came at length to Eithel Ivrin； the springs
whence Narog rose beneath the Mountains of Shadow。 There Gwindor spoke to Túrin； saying： 'Awake； Túrin son of
Húrin Thalion！ On Ivrin's lake is endless laughter。 She is fed from crystal fountains unfailing； and guarded from
defilement by Ulmo； Lord of Waters； who wrought her beauty in ancient days。' Then Túrin knelt and drank from that
water； and suddenly he cast himself down； and his tears were unloosed at last； and he was healed of his madness。
There he made a song for Beleg； and he named it Laer Cú Beleg； the Song of the Great Bow； singing it aloud
heedless of peril。 And Gwindor gave the sword Anglachel into his hands； and Túrin knew that it was heavy and strong
and had great power； but its blade was black and dull and its edges blunt。 Then Gwindor said： 'This is a strange blade；
and unlike any that I have seen in Middle…earth。 It mourns for Beleg even as you do。 But be forted； for I return to
Nargothrond of the house of Finarfin； and you shall e with me； and be healed and renewed。'
'Who are you？' said Túrin。
'A wandering Elf； a thrall escaped； whom Beleg met and forted；' said Gwindor。 'Yet once I was Gwindor son
of Guilin； a lord of Nargothrond； until I went to the Nirnaeth Arnoediad； and was enslaved in Angband。'
'Then have you seen Húrin son of Galdor； the warrior of Dor…lómin？' said Túrin。
'I have not seen him；' said Gwindor。 'But rumour of him runs through Angband that he still defies Morgoth； and
Morgoth has laid a curse upon turn and all his kin。'
'That I do believe；' said Túrin。
And now they arose； and departing from Eithel Ivrin they journeyed southward along the banks of Narog； until
they were taken by scouts of the Elves and brought as prisoners to the hidden stronghold。 Thus did Túrin e to
Nargothrond。
At first his own people did not know Gwindor； who went out young and strong； and returned now seeming as one
of the aged among mortal Men； because of his torments and his labours； but Finduilas daughter of Orodreth the King
knew him and weled him； for she had loved him before the Nirnaeth； and so greatly did Gwindor love her beauty
that he named her Faelivrin； which is the gleam of the sun on the pools of Ivrin。 For Gwindor's sake Túrin was admitted
with him into Nargothrond； and he dwelt there in honour。 But when Gwindor would tell his name； Túrin checked him；
saying： 'I am Agarwaen the son of úmarth （which is the Bloodstained； son of Ill…fate）； a hunter in the woods'； and the
Elves of Nargothrond questioned him no more。
In the time that followed Túrin grew high in favour with Orodreth； and well…nigh all hearts were turned to him in
Nargothrond。 For he was young； and only now reached his full manhood； and he was in truth the son of Morwen
Eledhwen to look upon： dark…haired and pale…skinned； with grey eyes； and his face more beautiful than any other among
mortal Men； in the Elder Days。 His speech and bearing were that of the ancient kingdom of Doriath； and even among the
Elves he might be taken for one from the great houses of the Noldor； therefore many called him Adanedhel； the Elf…Man。
The sword Anglachel was forged anew for him by cunning smiths of Nargothrond； and though ever black its edges shone
with pale fire； and he named it Gurthang； Iron of Death。 So great was his prowess and skill in warfare on the confines of
the Guarded Plain that he himself became known as Mormegil； the Black Sword； and the Elves said： 'The Mormegil
cannot be slain； save by mischance； or an evil arrow from afar。' Therefore they gave him dwarf…mail； to guard him； and
in a grim mood he found also in the armouries a dwarf…mask all gilded； and he put it on before battle； and his enemies
fled before his face。
Then the heart of Finduilas was turned from Gwindor and against her will her love was given to Túrin； but Túrin
did not perceive what had befallen。 And being torn in heart Finduilas became sorrowful； and she grew wan and silent。
But Gwindor sat in dark thought； and on a time he spoke to Finduilas； saying： 'Daughter of the house of Finarfin； let no
grief lie between us； for though Morgoth has laid my life in ruin； you still I love。 Go whither love leads you； yet beware！
It is not fitting that the Elder Children of Ilúvatar should wed with the Younger； nor is it wise； for they are brief； and
soon pass； to leave us in widowhood while the world lasts。 Neither will fate suffer it； unless it be once or twice only； for
some high cause of doom that we do not perceive。 But this Man is not Beren。 A doom indeed lies on him； as seeing eyes
may well read in him； but a dark doom。 Enter not into it！ And if you will； your love shall betray you to bitterness and
death。 For hearken to me！ Though he be indeed agarwaen son of úmarth； his right name is Túrin son of Húrin； whom
Morgoth holds in Angband； and whose kin he has cursed。 Doubt not the power of Morgoth Bauglir！ Is it not written in
me？'
Then Finduilas sat long in thought； but at the last she said only： 'Túrin son of Húrin loves me not； nor will。'
Now when Túrin learnt from Finduilas of what had passed； he was wrathful； and he said to Gwindor： 'In love I
hold you for rescue and safe…keeping。 But now you have done ill to me； friend； to betray my right name； and call my
doom upon me； from which I would lie hid。'
But Gwindor answered： 'The doom lies in yourself； not in your name。'
When it became known to Orodreth that the Mormegil was in truth the son of Húrin Thalion he gave him great
honour； and Túrin became mighty among the people of Nargothrond。 But he had no liking for their manner of warfare；
of ambush and stealth and secret arrow； and he yearned for brave strokes and battle in the open； and his counsels
weighed with the King ever the longer the more。 In those days the Elves of Nargothrond forsook their secrecy and went
openly to battle； and great store of weapons were made； and by the counsel of Túrin the Noldor built a mighty bridge
over the Narog from the Doors of Felagund； for the swifter passage of their arms。 Then the servants of Angband were
driven out of all the land between Narog and Sirion eastward； and westward to the Nenning and the desolate Falas； and
though Gwindor spoke ever against Túrin in the council of the King； holding it an ill policy； he fell into dishonour and
none heeded him； for his strength was small and he was no longer forward in arms。 Thus Nargothrond was revealed to
the wrath and hatred of Morgoth； but still at Túrin's prayer his true name was not spoken； and though the fame of his
deeds came into Doriath and to the ears of Thingol； rumour spoke only of the Black Sword of Nargothrond。
***
In that time of respite and hope； when because of the deeds of the Mormegil the power of Morgoth was stemmed
west of Sirion； Morwen fled at last from Dor…lómin with Nienor her daughter； and adventured the long journey to
Thingol's halls。 There new grief awaited her； for she found Túrin gone； and to Doriath there had e no tidings since
the Dragon…helm had vanished from the lands west of Sirion； but Morwen remained in Doriath with Nienor as guests of
Thingol and Melian； and were treated with honour。
Now it came to pass； when four hundred and ninety…five years had passed since the rising of the Moon； in the
spring of the year； there came to Nargothrond two Elves； named Gelmir and Arminas； they were of Angrod's people； but
since the Dagor Bragollach they dwelt in the south with Círdan the Shipwright。 From their far journeys they brought
tidings of a great mustering of Orcs and evil creatures under the eaves of Ered Wethrin and in the Pass of Sirion； and
they told also that Ulmo had e to Círdan； giving warning that great peril drew nigh to Nargothrond。
'Hear the words of the Lord of Waters！' said they to the King。 'Thus he spoke to Círdan the Shipwright： 'The Evil
of the North has defiled the springs of Sirion； and my power withdraws from the fingers of the flowing waters。 But a
worse thing is yet to e forth。 Say therefore to the Lord of Nargothrond： Shut the doors of the fortress and go not
abroad。 Cast the stones of your pride into the loud river； that the creeping evil may not find the gate。〃'
Orodreth was troubled by the dark words of the messengers； but Túrin would by no means hearken to these
counsels； and least of all would he suffer the great bridge to be cast down； for he was bee proud and stern； and
would order all things as he wished。
Soon afterwards Handir Lord of Brethil was slain； for the Orcs invaded his land； and Handir gave them battle； but
the Men of Brethil were worsted； and driven back into their woods。 And in the autumn of the year； biding his hour；
Morgoth loosed upon the people of Narog the great host that he had long prepared； and Glaurung the úrulóki passed
over Anfauglith； and came thence into the north vales of Sirion and there did great evil。 Under the shadows of Ered
Wethrin he defiled the Eithel Ivrin； and thence he passed into the realm of Nargothrond； and burned the Talath Dirne