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spoke against it； and bade them beware of the guile of Morgoth； whose strength was always greater than it seemed； and
his purpose other than he revealed。 And though the signal of the approach of Maedhros came not； and the host grew
impatient； Húrin urged them still to await it； and to let the Orcs break themselves in assault upon the hills。
But the Captain of Morgoth in the west had been manded to draw out Fingon swiftly from his hills by
whatever means he could。 He marched on therefore until the front of his battle was drawn up before the stream of Sirion；
from the walls of the fortress of Eithel Sirion to the inflowing of Rivil at the Fen of Serech； and the outposts of Fingon
could see the eyes of their enemies。 But there was no answer to his challenge； and the taunts of the Orcs faltered as they
looked upon the silent walls and the hidden threat of the hills。 Then the Captain of Morgoth sent out riders with tokens
of parley； and they rode up before the outworks of the Barad Eithel。 With them they brought Gelmir son of Guilin； that
lord of Nargothrond whom they had captured in the Bragollach； and they had blinded him。 Then the heralds of Angband
showed him forth； crying： 'We have many more such at home； but you must make haste if you would find them； for we
shall deal with them all when we return even so。' And they hewed off Gelmir's hands and feet； and his head last； within
sight of the Elves； and left him。
By ill chance； at that place in the outworks stood Gwindor of Nargothrond； the brother of Gelmir。 Now his wrath
was kindled to madness； and he leapt forth on horseback； and many riders with him； and they pursued the heralds and
slew them； and drove on deep into the main host。 And seeing this all the host of the Noldor was set on fire； and Fingon
put on his white helm and sounded his trumpets； and all the host of Hithlum leapt forth from the hills in sudden
onslaught。 The light of the drawing of the swords of the Noldor was like a fire in a field of reeds； and so fell and swift
was their onset that almost the designs of Morgoth went astray。 Before the army that he sent westward could be
strengthened it was swept away； and the banners of Fingon passed over Anfauglith and were raised before the walls of
Angband。 Ever in the forefront of that battle went Gwindor and the Elves of Nargothrond； and even now they could not
be restrained； and they burst through the Gate and slew the guards upon the very stairs of Angband； and Morgoth
trembled upon his deep throne； hearing them beat upon his doors。 But they were trapped there； and all were slain save
Gwindor only； whom they took alive； for Fingon could not e to their aid。 By many secret doors in Thangorodrim
Morgoth had let issue forth his main host that he held in waiting； and Fingon was beaten back with great loss from the
walls。
Then in the plain of Anfauglith； on the fourth day of the war； there began Nirnaeth Arnoediad； Unnumbered
Tears； for no song or tale can contain all its grief。 The host of Fingon retreated over the sands； and Haldir lord of the
Haladin was slain in the rearguard； with him fell most of the Men of Brethil； and came never back to their woods。 But on
the fifth day as night fell； and they were still far from Ered Wethrin； the Orcs surrounded the host of Hithlum； and they
fought until day； pressed ever closer。 In the morning came hope； when the horns of Turgon were heard as he marched up
with the main host of Gondolin； for they had been stationed southward guarding the Pass of Sirion； and Turgon
restrained most of his people from the rash onslaught。 Now he hastened to the aid of his brother； and the Gondolindrim
were strong and clad in mail； and their ranks shone like a river of steel in the sun。
Now the phalanx of the guard of the King broke through the ranks of the Orcs； and Turgon hewed his way to the
side of his brother； and it is told that the meeting of Turgon with Húrin； who stood beside Fingon； was glad in the midst
of battle。 Then hope was renewed in the hearts of the Elves； and in that very time； at the third hour of morning； the
trumpets of Maedhros were heard at last ing up from the east； and the banners of the sons of F？anor assailed the
enemy in the rear。 Some have said that even then the Eldar might have won the day； had all their hosts proved faithful；
for the Orcs wavered； and their onslaught was stayed； and already some were turning to flight。 But even as the vanguard
of Maedhros came upon the Orcs； Morgoth loosed his last strength； and Angband was emptied。 There came wolves； and
wolfriders； and there came Balrogs； and dragons； and Glaurung father of dragons。 The strength and terror of the Great
Worm were now great indeed； and Elves and Men withered before him； and he came between the hosts of Maedhros and
Fingon and swept them apart。
Yet neither by wolf； nor by Balrog； nor by Dragon； would Morgoth have achieved his end； but for the treachery
of Men。 In this hour the plots of Ulfang were revealed。 Many of the Easterlings turned and fled； their hearts being filled
with lies and fear； but the sons of Ulfang went over suddenly to Morgoth and drove in upon the rear of the sons of
F？anor； and in the confusion that they wrought they came near to the standard of Maedhros。 They reaped not the reward
that Morgoth promised them； for Maglor slew Uldor the accursed； the leader in treason； and the sons of Bór slew Ulfast
and Ulwarth ere they themselves were slain。 But new strength of evil Men came up that Uldor had summoned and kept
hidden in the eastern hills； and the host of Maedhros was assailed now on three sides； and it broke； and was scattered；
and fled this way and that。 Yet fate saved the sons of F？anor； and though all were wounded none were slain； for they
drew together； and gathering a remnant of the Noldor and the Naugrim about them they hewed a way out of the battle
and escaped far away towards Mount Dolmed in the east。
Last of all the eastern force to stand firm were the Dwarves of Belegost； and thus they won renown。 For the
Naugrim withstood fire more hardily than either Elves or Men； and it was their custom moreover to wear great masks in
battle hideous to look upon； and those stood them in good stead against the dragons。 And but for them Glaurung and his
brood would have withered all that was left of the Noldor。 But the Naugrim made a circle about him when he assailed
them； and even his mighty armour was not full proof against the blows of their great axes； and when in his rage
Glaurung turned and struck down Azaghal； Lord of Belegost； and crawled over him； with his last stroke Azaghal drove a
knife into his belly； and so wounded him that he fled the field； and the beasts of Angband in dismay followed after him。
Then the Dwarves raised up the body of Azaghal and bore it away； and with slow steps they walked behind singing a
dirge in deep voices； as it were a funeral pomp in their country； and gave no heed more to their foes； and none dared to
stay them。
But now in the western battle Fingon and Turgon were assailed by a tide of foes thrice greater than all the force
that was left to them。 Gothmog； Lord of Balrogs； high…captain of Angband； was e； and he drove a dark wedge
between the Elvenhosts； surrounding King Fingon； and thrusting Turgon and Húrin aside towards the Fen of Serech。
Then he turned upon Fingon。 That was a grim meeting。 At last Fingon stood alone with his guard dead about him； and he
fought with Gothmog； until another Balrog came behind and cast a thong of fire about him。 Then Gothmog hewed him
with his black axe； and a white flame sprang up from the helm of Fingon as it was cloven。 Thus fell the High King of the
Noldor； and they beat him into the dust with their maces； and his banner； blue and silver； they trod into the mire of his
blood。
The field was lost； but still Húrin and Huor and the remnant of the house of Hador stood firm with Turgon of
Gondolin； and the hosts of Morgoth could not yet win the Pass of Sirion。 Then Húrin spoke to Turgon； saying： 'Go now；
lord； while time is！ For in you lives the last hope of the Eldar； and while Gondolin stands Morgoth shall still know fear
in his heart。'
But Turgon answered： 'Not long now can Gondolin be hidden； and being discovered it must fall。'
Then Huor spoke and said： 'Yet if it stands but a little while； then out of your house shall e the hope of Elves
and Men。 This I say to you； lord； with the eyes of death： though we part here for ever； and I shall not look on your white
walls again； from you and from me a new star shall arise。 Farewell！'
And Maeglin； Turgon's sister…son； who stood by； heard these words； and did not forget them； but he said nothing。
Then Turgon took the counsel of Húrin and Huor； and summoning all that remained of the host of Gondolin and
such of Fingon's people as could be gathered he retreated towards the Pass of Sirion； and his captains Ecthelion and
Glorfindel guarded the flanks to right and left； so that none of the enemy should pass them by。 But the Men of Dor…lómin
held the rearguard； as Húrin and Huor desired； for they did not wish in their hearts to leave the Northlands； and if they
could not win back to their homes； there they would stand to the end。 Thus was the treachery of Uldor redressed； and of
all the deeds of war that the fathers of Men wrought in behalf of the Eldar； the last stand of the Men of Dor…lómin is
most renowned。
So it was that Turgon fought his way southward； until ing behind the guard of Húrin and Huor he passed
down Sirion and escaped； and he vanished into the mountains and was hidden from the eyes of Morgoth。 But the
brothers drew the remnant of the Men of the house of Hador about them； and foot by foot they withdrew； until they came
behind the Fen of Serech； and had the stream of Rivil before them。 There they stood and gave way no more。
Then all the hosts of Angband swarmed against them； and they bridged the stream with their dead； and encircled
the remnant of Hithlum as a gathering tide about a rock。 There as the sun westered on the sixth day； and the shadow of
Ered Wethrin grew dark； Huor fell pierced with a venomed arrow in his eye； and all the valiant Men of Hador were slain
about him in a heap； and the Orcs hewed their heads and piled them as a mound of gold in the sunset。
Last of all Húrin stood alone。 Then he cast aside his shield； and wielded an axe two…handed； and it is sung that
the axe smoked in the black blood of the troll…guard of Gothmog until it withered； and each time that he slew Húrin
cried： 'Aur？ entuluva！ Day shall e again！' Seventy times he uttered that cry； but they took him at last alive； by the
mand of Morgoth； for the Orcs grappled him with their hands； which clung to him still though he hewed off their
arms； and ever their numbers were renewed； until at last he fell buried beneath them。 Then Gothmog bound him and
dragged him to Angband with mockery。
Thus ended Nirnaeth Arnoediad； as the sun went down beyond the sea。 Night fell in Hithlum； and there came a
great storm of wind out of the West。
Great was the triumph of Morgoth； and his design was acplished in a manner after his own heart； for Men
took the lives of Men； and betrayed the Eldar； and fear and hatred were aroused among those that should have been
united against him。 From that day the hearts of the Elves were estranged from Men； save only those of the Three Houses
of the Edain。
The realm of Fingon was no more； and the sons of F？anor wandered as leaves before the wind。 Their arms were
scattered； and their league broken； and they took to a wild and woodland life beneath the feet of Ered Lindon； mingling
with the Green…elves of Ossiriand； bereft of their power and glory of old。 In Brethil some few of the Haladin yet dwelt in
the protection of their woods； and Handir son of Haldir was their lord； but to Hithlum came back never one of Fingon's
host； nor any of the Men of Hador's house； nor any tidings of the battle and the fate of their lords。 But Morgoth sent
thither the Easterlings that had served him； denying them the rich lands of Beleriand which they coveted； and he shut
them in Hithlum and forbade them to leave it。 Such was the reward he gave them for their treachery to Maedhros： to
plunder and harass the old and the women and the children of Hador's people。 The remnant of the Eldar of Hithlum were
taken to the mines of the north and laboured there as thralls； save some that eluded him and escaped into the wilds and
the mountains。'
The Orcs and the wolves went freely through all the North； and came ever further southward into Beleriand； even
as far as Nantathren； the Land of Willows； and the borders of Ossiriand； and none were safe in field or wild。 Doriath
indeed remained； and the halls of Nargothrond were hidden； but Morgoth gave small heed to them； either because he
knew little of them； or because their hour was not yet e in the deep purposes of his malice。 Many now fled to the
Havens and took refuge behind Círdan's walls； and the mariners passed up and down the coast and harried the enemy
with swift landin