uts far afield；
for now he ordered things as he would； and few gave heed to Brandir。 As it drew near to summer Glaurung came to the
borders of Brethil； and lay near the west shores of Teiglin； and then there was great fear among the woodfolk； for it was
now plain that the Great Worm would assail them and ravage their land； and not pass by； returning to Angband； as they
had hoped。 They sought therefore the counsel of Turambar； and he counselled them that it was vain to go against
Glaurung with all their force； for only by cunning and good fortune could they defeat him。 He offered therefore himself
to seek the dragon on the borders of the land； and bade the rest of the people to remain at Ephel Brandir； but to prepare
for flight。 For if Glaurung had the victory； he would e first to the woodmen's homes to destroy them； and they could
not hope to withstand him； but if they then scattered far and wide； then many might escape； for Glaurung would not take
up his dwelling in Brethil； and would return soon to Nargothrond。
Then Turambar asked for panions willing to aid him in his peril； and Dorlas stood forth； but no others。
Therefore Dorlas upbraided the people； and spoke scorn of Brandir； who could not play the part of the heir of the house
of Haleth； and Brandir was shamed before his people； and was bitter at heart。 But Hunthor； kinsman of Brandir； asked
his leave to go in his stead。 Then Turambar said farewell to Níniel； and she was filled with fear and foreboding； and their
parting was sorrowful； but Turambar set out with his two panions and went to Nen Girith。
Then Níniel being unable to endure her fear； and unwilling to wait in the Ephel tidings of Turambar's fortune； set
forth after him； and a great pany went with her。 At this Brandir was filled all the more with dread； and he sought to
dissuade her and the people that would go with her from this rashness； but they heeded him not。 Therefore he renounced
his lordship； and all love for the people that had scorned him； and having naught left but his love for Níniel he girt
himself with a sword and went after her； but being lame he fell far behind。
Now Turambar came to Nen Girith at sundown； and there he learned that Glaurung lay on the brink of the high
shores of Teiglin； and was like to move when night fell。 Then he called those tidings good； for the dragon lay at Cabed…
en…Aras； where the river ran in a deep and narrow gorge that a hunted deer might overleap； and Turambar thought that he
would seek no further； but would attempt to pass over the gorge。 Therefore he purposed to creep down at dusk； and
descend into the ravine under night； and cross over the wild water； and then to climb up the further cliff； and so e to
the dragon beneath his guard。
This counsel he took； but the heart of Dorlas failed when they came to the races of Teiglin in the dark； and he
dared not attempt the perilous crossing； but drew back and lurked in the woods； burdened with shame。 Turambar and
Hunthor； nonetheless； crossed over in safety； for the loud roaring of the water drowned all other sounds； and Glaurung
slept。 But ere the middle…night the dragon roused； and with a great noise and blast cast his forward part across the
chasm； and began to draw his bulk after。 Turambar and Hunthor were well…nigh overe by the heat and the stench； as
they sought in haste for a way up to e at Glaurung； and Hunthor was slain by a great stone that was dislodged from
on high by the passage of the dragon； and smote him on the head and cast him into the river。 So he ended； of the house
of Haleth not the least valiant
Then Turambar summoned all his will and courage and climbed the cliff alone； and came beneath the dragon。
Then he drew Gurthang； and with all the might of his arm； and of his hate； he thrust it into the soft belly of the Worm；
even up to the hilts。 But when Glaurung felt his death…pang； he screamed； and in his dreadful throe he heaved up his bulk
and hurled himself across the chasm； and there lay lashing and coiling in his agony。 And he set all in a blaze about him；
and beat all to ruin； until at last his fires died； and he lay still。
Now Gurthang had been wrested from Turambar's hand in the throe of Glaurung； and it clave to the belly of the
dragon。 Turambar therefore crossed the water once more； desiring to recover his sword and to look upon his foe； and he
found him stretched at his length； and rolled upon one side； and the hilts of Gurthang stood in his belly。 Then Turambar
seized the hilts and set his foot upon the belly； and cried in mockery of the dragon and his words at Nargothrond： 'Hail；
Worm of Morgoth！ Well met again！ Die now and the darkness have thee！ Thus is Túrin son of Húrin avenged。'
Then he wrenched out the sword； but a spout of black blood followed it； and fell on his hand； and the venom
burned it。 And thereupon Glaurung opened his eyes and looked upon Turambar with such malice that it smote him as a
blow； and by that stroke and the anguish of the venom he fell into a dark swoon； and lay as one dead； and his sword was
beneath him。
The screams of Glaurung rang in the woods； and came to the people that waited at Nen Girith； and when those
that looked forth heard them； and saw afar the ruin and burning that the dragon made； they deemed that he had
triumphed and was destroying those that assailed him。 And Níniel sat and shuddered beside the falling water； and at the
voice of Glaurung her darkness crept upon her again； so that she could not stir from that place of her own will。
Even so Brandir found her； for he came to Nen Girith at last； limping wearily； and when he heard that the dragon
had crossed the river and had beaten down his foes； his heart yearned towards Níniel in pity。 Yet he thought also：
'Turambar is dead； but Níniel lives。 Now it may be that she will e with me； and I will lead her away； and so we shall
escape from the dragon together。' After a while therefore he stood by Níniel； and he said： 'e！ It is time to go。 If you
will； I will lead you。' And he took her hand； and she arose silently； and followed him； and in the darkness none saw them
go。
But as they went down the path to the Crossings the moon rose； and cast a grey light on the land； and Níniel said：
'Is this the way？' And Brandir answered that he knew no way； save to flee as they might from Glaurung； and escape into
the wild。 But Níniel said： 'The Black Sword was my beloved and my husband。 To seek him only do I go。 What else
could you think？' And she sped on before him。 Thus she came towards the Crossings of Teiglin and beheld Haudh…en…
Elleth in the white moonlight； and great dread came on her。 Then with a cry she turned away； casting off her cloak； and
fled southward along the river； and her white raiment shone in the moon。
Thus Brandir saw her from the hill…side； and turned to cross her path； but he was still behind her when she came
to the ruin of Glaurung nigh the brink of Cabed…en…Aras。 There she saw the dragon lying； but she heeded him not； for a
man lay beside him； and she ran to Turambar； and called his name in vain。 Then finding that his hand was burned she
washed it with tears and bound it about with a strip of her raiment； and she kissed him and cried on him again to awake。
Thereat Glaurung stirred for the last time ere he died； and he spoke with his last breath； saying： 'Hail； Nienor； daughter
of Húrin。 We meet again ere the end。 I give thee joy that thou hast found thy brother at last。 And now thou shalt know
him： a stabber in the dark； treacherous to foes； faithless to friends； and a curse unto his kin； Túrin son of Húrin！ But the
worst of all his deeds thou shalt feel in thyself。'
Then Glaurung died； and the veil of his malice was taken from her； and she remembered all the days of her life。
Looking down upon Túrin she cried： 'Farewell； O twice beloved！ A Túrin Turambar turun ambartanen： master of doom
by doom mastered！ O happy to be dead！' Then Brandir who had heard all； standing stricken upon the edge of ruin；
hastened towards her； but she ran from him distraught with horror and anguish； and ing to the brink of Cabed…en…
Aras she cast herself over； and was lost in the wild water。
Then Brandir came and looked down； and turned away in horror； and though he no longer desired life； he could
not seek death in that roaring water。 And thereafter no man looked again upon Cabed…en…Aras； nor would any beast or
bird e there； nor any tree grow； and it was named Cabed Naeramarth； the Leap of Dreadful Doom。
But Brandir made his way back to Nen Girith； to bring tidings to the people； and he met Dorlas in the woods； and
slew him： the first blood that ever he had spilled； and the last。 And he came to Nen Girith； and men cried to him： 'Have
you seen her？ For Níniel is gone。'
And he answered： 'Níniel is gone for ever。 The Dragon is dead； and Turambar is dead； and those tidings are
good。' The people murmured at these words； saying that he was crazed； but Brandir said： 'Hear me to the end！ Níniel the
beloved is also dead。 She cast herself into Teiglin； desiring life no more； for she learned that she was none other than
Nienor daughter of Húrin of Dor…lómin； ere her forgetfulness came upon her； and that Turambar was her brother； Túrin
son of Húrin。 '
But even as he ceased； and the people wept； Túrin himself came before them。 For when the dragon died； his
swoon left him； and he fell into a deep sleep of weariness。 But the cold of the night troubled him； and the hilts of
Gurthang drove into his side； and he awoke。 Then he saw that one had tended his hand； and he wondered much that he
was left nonetheless to lie upon the cold ground； and he called； and hearing no answer he went in search of aid； for he
was weary and sick。
But when the people saw him they drew back in fear； thinking that it was his unquiet spirit； and he said： 'Nay； be
glad； for the Dragon is dead； and I live。 But wherefore have you scorned my counsel； and e into peril？ And where is
Níniel？ For her I would see。 And surely you did not bring her from her home？'
Then Brandir told him that it was so； and Níniel was dead。 But the wife of Dorlas cried out： 'Nay； lord； he is
crazed。 For he came here saying that you were dead； and he called it good tidings。 But you live。'
Then Turambar was wrathful； and believed that all Brandir said or did was done in malice towards himself and
Níniel； begrudging their love； and he spoke evilly to Brandir； calling him Club…foot。 Then Brandir reported all that he
had heard； and named Níniel Nienor daughter of Húrin； and he cried out upon Turambar with the last words of
Glaurung； that he was a curse unto his kin and to all that harboured him。
Then Turambar fell into a fury； for in those words he heard the feet of his doom overtaking him； and he charged
Brandir with leading Níniel to her death； and publishing with delight the lies of Glaurung； if indeed be devised them not
himself。 Then he cursed Brandir； and slew him； and he fled from the people into the woods。 But after a while his
madness left him； and he came to Haudh…en…Elleth； and there sat；