The Children of Húrin

The few Men who survived the battle return to their home countries, resulting in the grief-stricken deaths of Haldir and Huor’s widows. A pregnant Morwen witnesses the Easterlings’ invasion of Dor-lómin but is spared because the Easterlings fear her association with the Elves. She keeps nine-year-old Túrin and Sador protected in her hall, which soon falls into disrepair. She is aided, however, by Aerin, one of Húrin’s kinswomen who is forced into marriage by an Easterling raider named Brodda. Brodda forces his prisoners to build him a wooden hall of his own.

When Túrin asks his mother when Húrin might return to liberate Dor-lómin, she honestly confesses her ignorance, which causes Túrin to suspect he is dead. Morwen disagrees but feels her despair growing as more time passes without her husband’s return. She decides to send Túrin off to Doriath to seek refuge with King Thingol. With the imminent birth of her child, she assesses that she will be unable to travel herself. When Túrin learns that she and Sador will remain in Dor-lómin, he resists leaving. However, she insists on her decision for the sake of their lineage, which Túrin only comes to understand as he says goodbye to Sador. Though he weeps at their parting, Túrin refuses Sador’s attempts to return the gift knife to him. Túrin weeps at his last sight of Morwen, which the narrator describes as his first sorrow. Sometime after Túrin’s departure, Morwen gives birth to a daughter named Niënor.

Accompanied by two guides, Gethron and Grithnir, Túrin makes the journey to Doriath, which is marked by deceptive paths. Their party is saved by an Elf woodsman named Beleg Strongbow, who aids them in their search for King Thingol and Melian. Thingol receives Túrin into his hall and becomes his foster parent, which many consider uncommon for a king, let alone between Elves and Men.

Grithnir dies of old age while Gethron leaves Doriath to bring news of Túrin to Morwen. Despite Melian’s urging, Mowen refuses to leave Dor-lómin out of pride; she also is preoccupied with raising Niënor. The narrator describes her failure to seek refuge in Doriath as Túrin’s second sorrow. Instead, Morwen sends Thingol the Dragon-helm of Hador—a helmet their family received from King Fingon—for safekeeping; Thingol immediately bequeaths it to Túrin. The young boy receives it with sadness, though he is not yet old enough to wear it to battle.

Túrin is raised by Melian, the queen of Doriath, who tasks one of her maidens, Nellas, with looking after him. Although Túrin and Nellas become friends, that friendship fades once Túrin grows older and less concerned with childish games. Over nine years, Túrin grows in strength and knowledge of Elf-lore, becoming a serious young man plagued by worries over the fate of his family. Through messengers, he comes to learn that Morwen and Niënor continue to live in precarious safety at Dor-lómin. All the Elves of Doriath regard Túrin highly except for one of Thingol’s counselors, Saeros, who looks down on Men as a lower race.

When Túrin is 17, Morgoth strengthens his hold on Hithlum (the region that contains Dor-lómin), making it impossible for any messengers to travel to Húrin’s family. Túrin asks Thingol for a sword and armor, including Hador’s Dragon-helm, so that he can join the fight against Morgoth. Thingol tries to convince him to complete his training, but Túrin is resolved to proceed. Melian advises him to “fear both the heat and the cold of [his] own heart, and strive for patience, if [he] can” (85). Túrin becomes a successful warrior, his reputation growing outside of Doriath as others witness the Dragon-helm in battle. Túrin also grows closer to Beleg Strongbow.

When Túrin is 20 and resting in Thingol’s halls, Saeros mocks Túrin’s unkempt appearance and then implies that Hithlum’s women are just as untidy. Enraged, Túrin strikes him with a drinking vessel. The next morning, Saeros attempts to strike back but is quickly defeated by Túrin. Túrin chases Saeros through the wood, which catches the attention of many who mistakenly think that Túrin initiated the chase without provocation. During the chase, Saeros falls on a stone and dies. Thingol’s captain, Mablung, tries to take Túrin into custody so that he can seek the king’s pardon. However, Túrin refuses and leaves Doriath instead. Mablung advises him to “fare free,” hoping that their next meeting does not happen under worse circumstances.

Thingol and Melian learn of what has transpired through Beleg, who has since gone to look for Túrin. Thingol holds a trial in Túrin’s absence and listens to Mablung’s testimony, which favors Túrin. Thingol is inclined to grant Túrin pardon but admits that his foster-son should have held back his temper. He thus banishes Túrin from his realm, disowning him until he seeks forgiveness.

Beleg returns to the court at the last minute to bring in Nellas, who has never entered Thingol’s hall before. Nellas testifies to Saeros’s provocations, believing that Túrin’s intention was not to kill him but to humiliate him. Thingol recants his previous verdict, pardoning Túrin instead. With Túrin still missing, Beleg requests to leave and find him. Thingol grants him a famous sword called Anglachel, which Melian warns has absorbed the dark spirit of its maker. Beleg sets out to search for Túrin.

Túrin flees into the Teiglin woodlands east of Doriath, which have been largely abandoned by the Edain following the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. The area is dominated by a fellowship of bandits called Gaurwaith or “wolf-men,” who are led by a disgraced but prudent Edain named Forweg. The Gaurwaith surround Túrin, who successfully defends himself from one of their bowmen and then offers to join their fellowship. When one of the bandits, Andróg, who also hails from Dor-lómin, asks Túrin his name, Túrin tells them it is Neithan the Wronged.

Túrin is accepted into the Gaurwaith under his assumed identity, revealing few details about his past life. Knowing he has nowhere else to go, Túrin remains with the Gaurwaith for a year. The outlaws develop a symbiotic relationship with the few Men who still live in the area, who give them food in the winter in hopes of being spared from their raids.

Forweg and Andróg leave the Gaurwaith camp on business. One day, Túrin hears a woman in distress; when he goes to rescue her, he sees that she is being attacked by none other than Forweg and Andróg. Túrin kills Forweg and releases the woman, warning her not to return, before leaving Andróg to bury their slain leader. Back at the camp, the Gaurwaith have become displeased with Forweg’s leadership, which leads Túrin to admit that he had killed him. Andróg returns and shares his memory of the events. Túrin then calls upon the Gaurwaith to elect him as their new leader. Believing that he can lead them to a permanent home, the Gaurwaith name Túrin captain.

Beleg Strongbow continues his search for Túrin as the Orcs continue their incursions into the region. Reaching Teiglin, Beleg hears rumors of a Man matching Túrin’s description and seeks out the Gaurwaith camp. He trails them on their westward exodus, often just missing them as soon as they depart their latest camp. The Gaurwaith, meanwhile, become aware that they are being pursued.

The Orcs descend upon the Teiglin woodlands, which tempts the Gaurwaith to return in hopes of plundering scraps of goods and treasure. Túrin and another Gaurwaith named Orleg go to spy on the Orcs but are noticed by scouts, who alert the camp. Túrin and Orleg lead the rest of the Orcs away from the Gaurwaith camp, resulting in Orleg’s death.

Beleg finally discovers the Gaurwaith camp, which Andróg is leading in Túrin’s absence. Beleg introduces himself as an old friend to “Neithan,” which prompts the bandits to spare him for fear of Túrin’s wrath. They tie him to a tree for several days, waiting for Túrin to return, and when he does make it back to the camp, he recognizes Beleg at once. He rebukes the Gaurwaith for treating Beleg poorly.

Beleg invites Túrin to return to Doriath. Túrin refuses despite hearing about his pardon. They both regret the unfortunate events that led to his flight from Doriath, but Túrin feels too attached to the Gaurwaith to leave them behind. After a year with the bandits, Túrin wishes to live out Mablung’s advice of faring free, leading his own group to fight the battles he wants to fight. Beleg accedes to Túrin’s wishes. When Beleg recalls Túrin’s trial, Túrin confesses that he no longer remembers Nellas, which saddens Beleg. Beleg then asks him to aid in the defense of Dimbar, an area to the north of Doriath; however, entering the region would mean crossing through Doriath, which Túrin reiterates that he will not do. When they part ways the following morning, they admit that it may be the last time they see each other. Yet, Túrin tells Beleg to follow him to a hill named Amon Rûdh should he ever decide to join their fellowship.

Beleg returns to Thingol and Melian, reporting the outcome of his search, which saddens Thingol. Melian rewards Beleg with lembas, a royal waybread exclusively kept by the queen. Beleg returns once more to the field of battle but leaves again in the winter.