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； and pondered all his deeds。 And he cried upon
Finduilas to bring him counsel； for he knew not whether he would do now more ill to go to Doriath to seek his kin； or to
forsake them for ever and seek death in battle。
And even as he sat there Mablung with a pany of Grey…elves came over the Crossings of Teiglin； and he
knew Túrin； and hailed him； and was glad indeed to find him yet living； for he had learned of the ing forth of
Glaurung and that his path led to Brethil； and also he had heard report that the Black Sword of Nargothrond now dwelt
there。 Therefore he came to give warning to Túrin； and help if need be； but Túrin said： 'You e too late。 The Dragon
is dead。'
Then they marvelled； and gave him great praise； but he cared nothing for it； and said： 'This only I ask： give me
news of my kin； for in Dor…lómin I learned that they had gone to the Hidden Kingdom。'
Then Mablung was dismayed； but needs must tell to Túrin how Morwen was lost； and Nienor cast into a spell of
dumb forgetfulness； and how she escaped them upon the borders of Doriath and fled northwards。 Then at last Túrin
knew that doom had overtaken him； and that he had slain Brandir unjustly； so that the words of Glaurung were fulfilled
in him。 And he laughed as one fey； crying： 'This is a bitter jest indeed！' But he bade Mablung go； and return to Doriath；
with curses upon it。 'And a curse too upon your errand！' he cried。 'This only was wanting。 Now es the night。'
Then he fled from them like the wind； and they were amazed； wondering what madness had seized him； and they
followed after him。 But Túrin far out…ran them； and he came to Cabed…en…Aras； and heard the roaring of the water； and
saw that all the leaves fell sere from the trees； as though winter had e。 There he drew forth his sword； that now alone
remained to him of all his possessions； and he said： 'Hail Gurthang！ No lord or loyalty dost thou know； save the hand
that wieldeth thee。 From no blood wilt thou shrink。 Wilt thou therefore take Túrin Turambar； wilt thou slay me swiftly？'
And from the blade rang a cold voice in answer： 'Yea； I will drink thy blood gladly； that so I may forget the blood
of Beleg my master； and the blood of Brandir slain unjustly。 I will slay thee swiftly。'
Then Túrin set the hilts upon the ground； and cast himself upon the point of Gurthang； and the black blade took
his life。 But Mablung and the Elves came and looked on the shape of Glaurung lying dead； and upon the body of Túrin；
and they grieved； and when Men of Brethil came thither； and they learned the reasons of Túrin's madness and death； they
were aghast； and Mablung said bitterly： 'I also have been meshed in the doom of the Children of Húrin； and thus with my
tidings have slain one that I loved。'
Then they lifted up Túrin； and found that Gurthang had broken asunder。 But Elves and Men gathered there great
store of wood； and they made a mighty burning； and the Dragon was consumed to ashes。 Túrin they laid in a high mound
where he had fallen； and the shards of Gurthang were laid beside him。 And when all was done； the Elves sang a lament
for the Children of Húrin； and a great grey stone was set upon the mound； and thereon was carven in runes of Doriath：
TúRIN TURAMBAR DAGNIR GLAURUNGA
and beneath they wrote also：
NIENOR N1NIEL
But she was not there； nor was it ever known whither the cold waters of Teiglin had taken her。
Chapter 22
Of the Ruin of Doriath
So ended the tale of Túrin Turambar； but Morgoth did not sleep nor rest from evil； and his dealings with the house of
Hador were not yet ended。 Against them his malice was unsated； though Húrin was under his eye； and Morwen
wandered distraught in the wild。
Unhappy was the lot of Húrin； for all that Morgoth knew of the working of his malice Húrin knew also； but lies
were mingled with the truth； and aught that was good was hidden or distorted。 In all ways Morgoth sought most to cast
an evil light on those things that Thingol and Melian had done； for he hated them； and feared them。 When therefore he
judged the time to be ripe； he released Húrin from his bondage； bidding him go whither he would； and he feigned that in
this he was moved by pity as for an enemy utterly defeated。 But he lied； for his purpose was that Húrin should still
further his hatred for Elves and Men； ere he died。
Then little though he trusted the words of Morgoth； knowing indeed that he was without pity； Húrin took his
freedom； and went forth in grief； embittered by the words of the Dark Lord； and a year was now gone since the death of
Túrin his son。 For twenty…eight years he had been captive in Angband； and he was grown grim to look upon。 His hair and
beard were white and long； but he walked unbowed； bearing a great black staff； and he was girt with a sword。 Thus he
passed into Hithlum； and tidings came to the chieftains of the Easterlings that there was a great riding of captains and
black soldiers of Angband over the sands of Anfauglith； and with them came an old man； as one that was held in high
honour。 Therefore they did not lay hands on Húrin； but let him walk at will in those lands； in which they were wise； for
the remnant of his own people shunned him； because of his ing from Angband as one in league and honour with
Morgoth。
Thus his freedom did but increase the bitterness of Húrin's heart； and he departed from the land of Hithlum and
went up into the mountains。 Thence he descried far off。 amid the clouds the peaks of the Crissaegrim； and he
remembered Turgon； and he desired to e again to the hidden realm of Gondolin。 He went down therefore from Ered
Wethrin； and he knew not that the creatures of Morgoth watched all his steps； and crossing over the Brithiach he passed
into Dimbar； and came to the dark feet of the Echoriath。 All the land was cold and desolate； and he looked about him
with little hope； standing at the foot of a great fall of stones beneath a sheer rock…wall； and he knew not that this was all
that was now left to see of the old Way of Escape： the Dry River was blocked； and the arched gate was buried。 Then
Húrin looked up to the grey sky； thinking that he might once more descry the eagles； as he had done long ago in his
youth； but he saw only the shadows blown from the east； and clouds swirling about the inaccessible peaks； and he heard
only the wind hissing over the stones。
But the watch of the great eagles was now redoubled； and they marked Húrin well； far below； forlorn in the
fading light； and straightway Thorondor himself； since the tidings seemed great； brought word to Turgon。 But Turgon
said： 'Does Morgoth sleep？ You were mistaken。'
'Not so；' said Thorondor。 'If the Eagles of Manw？ were wont to err thus； then long ago； lord； your hiding would
have been in vain。'
'Then your words bode ill；' said Turgon； 'for they can bear but one meaning。 Even Húrin Thalion has surrendered
to the will of Morgoth。 My heart is shut。'
But when Thorondor was gone； Turgon sat long in thought； and he was troubled； remembering the deeds of Húrin
of Dor…lómin； and he opened his heart； and sent to the eagles to seek for Húrin； and to bring him if they might to
Gondolin。 But it was too late； and they never saw him again in light or in shadow。
For Húrin stood in despair before the silent cliffs of the Echoriath； and the westering sun； piercing the clouds；
stained his white hair with red。 Then he cried aloud in the wilderness； heedless of any ears； and he cursed the pitiless
land； and standing at last upon a high rock he looked towards Gondolin and called in a great voice： 'Turgon； Turgon；
remember the Fen of Serech！ O Turgon； will you not hear in your hidden halls？' But there was no sound save the wind in
the dry grasses。 'Even so they hissed in Serech at the sunset；' he said； and as he spoke the sun went behind the Mountains
of Shadow； and a darkness fell about him； and the wind ceased； and there was silence in the waste。
Yet there were ears that heard the words that Húrin spoke； and report of all came soon to the Dark Throne in the
north； and Morgoth smiled； for he knew now clearly in what region Turgon dwelt； though because of the eagles no spy
of his could yet e within sight of the land behind the Encircling Mountains。 This was the first evil that the freedom
of Húrin achieved。
As darkness fell Húrin stumbled from the rock； and fell into a heavy sleep of grief。 But in his sleep he heard the
voice of Morwen lamenting； and often she spoke his name； and it seemed to him that her voice came out of Brethil。
Therefore when he awoke with the ing of day he arose； and went back to the Brithiach； and passing along the eaves
of Brethil he came at a time of night to the Crossings of Teiglin。 The night…sentinels saw him； but they were filled with
dread； for they thought that they saw a ghost out of some ancient battle…mound that walked with darkness about it； and
therefore Húrin was not stayed； and he came at last to the place of the burning of Glaurung； and saw the tall stone
standing near the brink of Cabed Naeramarth。
But Húrin did not look at the stone； for he knew what was written there； and his eyes had seen that he was not
alone。 Sitting in the shadow of the stone there was a woman； bent over her knees； and as Húrin stood there silent she cast
back her tattered hood and lifted her face。 Grey she was and old； but suddenly her eyes looked into his； and he knew her；
for though they were wild and full of fear； that light still gleamed in them that long ago had earned for her the name
Eledhwen； proudest and most beautiful of mortal women in the days of old。
'You e at last；' she said。 'I have waited too long。'
'It was a dark road。 I have e as I could；' he answered。
'But you are too late；' said Morwen。 'They are lost。'
'I know it；' he said。 'But you are not。'
But Morwen said： 'Almost。 I am spent I shall go with the sun。 Now little time is left： if you know； tell me！ How
did she find him？'
But Húrin did not answer； and they sat beside the stone； and did not speak again； and when the sun went down
Morwen sighed and clasped his hand； and was still； and Húrin knew that she had died。 He looked down at her in the
twilight and it seemed to him that the lines of grief and cruel hardship were smoothed away。 'She was not conquered；' he
said； and he closed her eyes； and sat unmoving beside her as the night drew down。 The waters of Cabed Naeramarth
roared on； but he heard no sound； and he saw nothing； and felt nothing； for his heart was stone within him。 But there
came a chill wind that drove sharp rain into his face； and he was roused； and anger rose in him like smoke； mastering
reason； so that all his desire was to seek vengeance for his wrongs and for the wrongs of his kin； accusing in his anguish
all those who ever had dealings with them。 Then he rose up； and he made a grave for Morwen above Cabed Naeramarth
on the west side of