The Silmarillion

The story of Lúthien and Beren gives Maedhros hope that an attack against Melkor could succeed. He tries to rally the other Elves, but many do not trust a son of Fëanor, and Thingol refuses to give up his Silmaril. The Dwarves do help and make many weapons, as do various groups of Men. Maedhros concocts a plan and, though he is slightly delayed, is joined by Fingon and Turgon. Melkor’s spies have revealed Maedhros’ plan, however, and his Orcs tempt Fingon’s forces to attack too soon, though they manage to fight their way almost into Angband. They find themselves overstretched and trapped. Fingon’s forces are beaten back before Maedhros has even arrived. Fingon and Turgon join forces during battle and then are joined by Maedhros. Melkor sends his full army into the field, including balrogs and dragons. The Elves would have won, but they were betrayed by Men. The sons of Ulfang switch sides, though many of them perish in the fight.

Maedhros’ army breaks; of the sons of Fëanor, “all were wounded none were slain” (94). They escape with the help of the Dwarves. Fingon is killed by Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs, while Turgon is encouraged by Húrin and Huor to flee back to Gondolin and rebuild the Elvish forces. He does so and Húrin and Huor mount a heroic last stand; Huor is killed, but Húrin is captured alive.

By the end of the battle, “the realm of Fingon was no more; and the sons of Fëanor wandered as leaves before the wind” (95). Melkor takes control of vast swaths of land. Turgon, now technically King of the Noldor, thinks only of Melkor. Húrin is dragged before Melkor, who forces him to sit in a stone chair high up in Thangorodrim and watch as all of the lands below are destroyed. 

Túrin is the son of Morwen and Húrin. He has a sister, Lalaith, who died of sickness at a young age. After Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Húrin’s people are subjugated by the Men from the east. Without her husband and still with child, Morwen is forced send Túrin away to stay with Thingol. After Thingol accepts the request, he calls for Morwen to join her son. She refuses, sending back with them the “Dragon-helm of Dor-lómin, greatest of the heirlooms of the house of Hador” (98).

Túrin grows up as Thingol’s foster son. He has a good but lonely upbringing. After a disagreement, an accident causes the death of an Elf and Túrin refuses to subject himself to Thingol’s judgement. He joins a band of roving outlaws. In Túrin’s absence, Thingol pardons him and Beleg promises to bring Túrin back. He happens across Túrin a year later and the outlaws capture Beleg. When Túrin sees how badly his gang have treated Beleg, he swears to only attack “the servants of Angband” (99) but refuses to return with Beleg. After speaking to Thingol, Beleg promises to protect Túrin and, with the king’s blessing, takes a sword named Anglachel and a “store of lembas” (99).

Túrin and his gang, while searching for a camp, capture a dwarf named Mîm. In exchange for sparing his life, Mîm offers to lead his captors to his home. There, it is revealed that Túrin’s outlaws have killed Mîm’s son. Shamed by this, Túrin promises a ransom to Mîm. Túrin learns about Dwarves while staying in the home. Beleg joins them and they stay the winter with the Dwarves, after which Melkor’s forces begin to move again. Túrin begins to build his gang into an army. Mîm is captured and leads Orcs to his house, where they kill many and capture Túrin.

Beleg survives and tracks the Orcs. On his journey, he encounters Gwindor, who had been captured during the Nirnaeth Arnoediad and had escaped. After catching up to the Orcs, Beleg and Gwindor sneak into the camp at night and free Túrin. When they wake the unconscious prisoner, Túrin thinks he is under attack and mistakenly kills Beleg. He is horrified by his actions. The next morning, Túrin and Gwindor bury Beleg, taking his sword and his lembas. They travel together to Nargothrond. Gwindor is not recognized at first by his people. He is soon accepted, as is Túrin, who becomes friends with Orodreth. Túrin and Gwindor argue over Finduilas, who switches her affections from the latter to the former and back again. Túrin convinces Orodreth to fight more against Melkor’s forces.

At this time, Morwen finally flees Dor-lómin with Nienor, her daughter, only for Thingol to tell her that her son has left. Ulmo sends Thingol a warning, telling him to pass the warning along to Orodreth. Túrin advises Orodreth not to listen and this ends in tragedy: Glaurung the dragon kills many Men and Elves. Túrin leads an army against Melkor’s forces but is pushed back. Orodreth and Gwindor are both killed; with his dying breath, Gwindor tells Túrin to return to Nargothrond to protect Finduilas, but Túrin arrives too late. The city is sacked. Glaurung spots Túrin and challenges him. Túrin fights the dragon but is caught in Glaurung’s spell and freezes. Glaurung taunts Túrin, mocking his pride, his family’s fortunes, and his failure to defend Nargothrond. Finduilas passes over the bridge before Túrin, captured and enslaved. Túrin breaks the spell and manages to escape, though has been tricked into believing that his mother and sister are in danger and still in Dor-lómin. He rushes to find them but finds only an empty home.

In Dor-lómin, he visits the home of Brodda the Easterling, who has taken Aerin for his wife. Aerin is “Húrin’s kinswoman” (106) and has been abused by Brodda. Túrin hears that his mother and sister traveled west; he kills Brodda and his underlings, then he flees. Regretting his decisions, he chooses to search for Finduilas but hears a rumor that she has been brutally murdered by the Orcs. Túrin spends the winter grieving, given shelter by woodsmen. He appreciates their gesture and names himself Turambar and promises to protect them.

Morwen hears news of her son’s death and searches for him. Nienor, her daughter, disguises herself and joins the party of Elves who chase after Morwen. They are attacked by Glaurung, who bewitches Nienor with such bad amnesia that she forgets her own identity. She flees in a “madness of fear” (108); she is found again, naked and lost, by Turambar (really Túrin) near the burial mound of Finduilas and is taken in. He has no idea who she really is and Túrin falls in love with his sister. They eventually marry and she becomes pregnant. Glaurung is plotting an attack on the woodsmen so Túrin gathers the forces and attempts to surprise the dragon. Nienor follows after him. Túrin tries to ambush Glaurung but fails; his friends die. Túrin manages to stab the dragon. Glaurung dies, though his blood burns Túrin and the dragon’s final stare casts a spell over Túrin that makes him appear dead. Nienor views the destruction from afar and runs to the scene; she finds Túrin’s body and presumes him to be dead. Glaurung, with his dying breath, reveals Nienor’s true identity and her relation to Túrin: “Distraught with horror and anguish” (110), she kills herself.

As the true story reaches the woodsmen’s community, Túrin returns to them. He is told what happened but does not believe it to be true. Killing a man, he flees into the woods. As he mourns, he is found by Mablung, one of Thingol’s people. Mablung affirms the story Túrin has heard. Túrin flees and talks to his sword; the sword says it will take his life gladly for “the blood of Beleg my master, and the blood of Brandir slain unjustly” (111). He throws himself on his sword. The Elves write a lament for the dead and bury Túrin.