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befallen； save only of his evil handling by Túrin's panions。 Then Thingol sighed； and he said：
'What more would Túrin have me do？'
'Give me leave； lord；' said Beleg； 'and I will guard him and guide him as I may； then no man shall say that elven…
words are lightly spoken。 Nor would I wish to see so great a good run to nothing in the wild。'
Then Thingol gave Beleg leave to do as he would； and he said： 'Beleg Cúthalion！ For many deeds you have
earned my thanks； but not the least is the finding of my fosterson。 At this parting ask for any gift； and I will not deny it to
you。'
'I ask then for a sword of worth；' said Beleg； 'for the Orcs e now too thick and close for a bow only； and such
blade as I have is no match for their armour。'
'Choose from all that I have；' said Thingol； 'save only Aranrúth； my own。'
Then Beleg chose Anglachel； and that was a sword of great worth； and it was so named because it was made of
iron that fell from heaven as a blazing star； it would cleave all earth…delved iron。 One other sword only in Middle…earth
was like to it。 That sword does not enter into this tale； though it was made of the same ore by the same smith； and that
smith was E？l the Dark Elf； who took Aredhel Turgon's sister to wife。 He gave Anglachel to Thingol as fee； which he
begrudged； for leave to dwell in Nan Elmoth； but its mate Anguirel he kept； until it was stolen from him by Maeglin； his
son。
But as Thingol turned the hilt of Anglachel towards Beleg； Melian looked at the blade； and she said： 'There is
malice in this sword。 The dark heart of the smith still dwells in it。 It will not love the hand it serves； neither will it abide
with you long。'
'Nonetheless I will wield it while I may；' said Beleg。
'Another gift I will give to you； Cúthalion；' said Melian； 'that shall be your help in the wild； and the help also of
those whom you choose。' And she gave him store of lembas； the waybread of the Elves； wrapped in leaves of silver； and
the threads that bound it were sealed at the knots with the seal of the Queen； a wafer of white wax shaped as a single
flower of Telperion； for according to the customs of the Eldali？ the keeping and giving of lembas belonged to the Queen
alone。 In nothing did Melian show greater favour to Túrin than in this gift； for the Eldar had never before allowed Men
to use this waybread； and seldom did so again。
Then Beleg departed with these gifts from Menegroth and went back to the north marches； where he had his
lodges； and many friends。 Then in Dimbar the Orcs were driven back； and Anglachel rejoiced to be unsheathed； but
when the winter came； and war was stilled； suddenly his panions missed Beleg； and he returned to them no more。
Now when Beleg parted from the outlaws and returned into Doriath； Túrin led them away westward out of
Sirion's vale； for they grew weary of their life without rest； ever watchful and in fear of pursuit； and they sought for a
safer lair。 And it chanced at a time of evening that they came upon three Dwarves； who fled before them； but one that
lagged behind was seized and thrown down； and a man of the pany took his bow and let fly an arrow at the others as
they vanished in the dusk。 Now the dwarf that they had taken was named M？m； and he pleaded for his life before Túrin；
and offered as ransom to lead them to his hidden halls which none might find without his aid。 Then Túrin pitied M？m；
and spared him； and he said： 'Where is your house？'
Then M？m answered： 'High above the lands lies the house of M？m； upon the great hill； Amon R？dh is that hill
called now； since the Elves changed all the names。'
Then Túrin was silent； and he looked long upon the dwarf； and at last he said： 'You shall bring us to that place。'
On the next day they set out thither； following M？m to Amon R？dh。 Now that hill stood upon the edge of the
moorlands that rose between the vales of Sirion and Narog； and high above the stony heath it reared its crown； but its
steep grey head was bare； save for the red seregon that mantled the stone。 And as the men of Túrin's band drew near； the
sun westering broke through the clouds； and fell upon the crown； and the seregon was all in flower。 Then one among
them said： 'There is blood on the hill…top。'
But M？m led them by secret paths up the steep slopes of Amon R？dh； and at the mouth of his cave he bowed to
Túrin； saying： 'Enter into Bar…en…Danwedh； the House of Ransom； for so it shall be called。'
And now there came another dwarf bearing light to greet him； and they spoke together； and passed swiftly down
into the darkness of the cave； but Túrin followed after； and came at length to a chamber far within； lit by dim lamps
hanging upon chains。 There he found M？m kneeling at a stone couch beside the wall； and he tore his beard； and wailed；
crying one name unceasingly； and on the couch there lay a third。 But Túrin entering stood beside M？m； and offered him
aid。 Then M？m looked up at him； and said： 'You can give no aid。 For this is Kh？m； my son； and he is dead； pierced by an
arrow。 He died at sunset。 Ibun my son has told me。'
Then pity rose in Túrin's heart； and he said to M？m： 'Alas！ I would recall that shaft； if I could。 Now Bar…en…
Danwedh this house shall be called in truth； and if ever I e to any wealth； I will pay you a ransom of gold for your
son； in token of sorrow； though it gladden your heart no more。'
Then M？m rose； and looked long at Túrin。 'I hear you；' he said。 'You speak like a dwarf…lord of old； and at that I
marvel。 Now my heart is cooled； though it is not glad； and hi this house you may dwell； if you will； for I will pay my
ransom。'
So began the abiding of Túrin in the hidden house of M？m upon Amon R？dh； and he walked on the greensward
before the mouth of the cave； and looked out east； and west； and north。 Northward he looked； and descried the Forest of
Brethil climbing green about Amon Obel in its midst； and thither his eyes were drawn ever and again； he knew not why；
for his heart was set rather to the north…west； where league upon league away on the skirts of the sky it seemed to him
that he could glimpse the Mountains of Shadow； the walls of his home。 But at evening Túrin looked west into the sunset；
as the sun rode down red into the hazes above the distant coasts； and the Vale of Narog lay deep in the shadows between。
In the time that followed Túrin spoke much with M？m； and sitting with him alone he listened to his lore and the
tale of his life。 For M？m came of Dwarves that were banished in ancient days from the great Dwarf…cities of the east； and
long before the return of Morgoth they wandered westward into Beleriand； but they became diminished in stature and in
smith…craft； and they took to lives of stealth； walking with bowed shoulders and furtive steps。 Before the Dwarves of
Nogrod and Belegost came west over the mountains the Elves of Beleriand knew not what these others were； and they
hunted them； and slew them； but afterwards they let them alone； and they were called Noegyth Nibin； the Petty…Dwarves；
in the Sindarin tongue。 They loved none but themselves； and if they feared and hated the Orcs； they hated the Eldar no
less； and the Exiles most of all； for the Noldor； they said； had stolen their lands and their homes。 Long ere King Finrod
Felagund came over the Sea； the caves of Nargothrond were discovered by them； and by them its delving was begun；
and beneath the crown of Amon R？dh； the Bald Hill； the slow hands of the Petty…Dwarves had bored and deepened the
caves through the long years that they dwelt there； untroubled by the Grey…elves of the woods。 But now at last they had
dwindled and died out of Middle…earth； all save M？m and his two sons； and M？m was old even in the reckoning of
Dwarves； old and forgotten。 And in his halls the smithies were idle； and the axes rusted； and their name was remembered
only in ancient tales of Doriath and Nargothrond。
But when the year drew on to midwinter； snow came down from the north heavier than they had known it in the
river…vales； and Amon R？dh was covered deep； and they said that the winters worsened in Beleriand as the power of
Angband grew。 Then only the hardiest dared stir abroad； and some fell sick； and all were pinched with hunger。 But in the
dim dusk of a winter's day there appeared suddenly among them a man； as it seemed； of great bulk and girth； cloaked
and hooded in white； and he walked up to the fire without a word。 And when men sprang up in fear； he laughed； and
threw back his hood； and beneath his wide cloak he bore a great pack； and in the light of the fire Túrin looked again on
the face of Beleg Cúthalion。
Thus Beleg returned once more to Túrin； and their meeting was glad； and with him he brought out of Dimbar the
Dragon…helm of Dor…lómin； thinking that it might lift Túrin's thought again above his life in the wilderness as the leader
of a petty pany。 But still Túrin would not return to Doriath； and Beleg yielding to his love against his wisdom
remained with him； and did not depart； and in that time he laboured much for the good of Túrin's pany。 Those that
were hurt or sick he tended； and gave to them the lembas of Melian； and they were quickly healed； for though the Grey…
elves were less in skill and knowledge than the Exiles from Valinor； in the ways of the life of Middle…earth they had a
wisdom beyond the reach of Men。 And because Beleg was strong and enduring； farsighted in mind as in eye； he came to
be held in honour among the outlaws； but the hatred of M？m for the Elf that had e into Bar…en…Danwedh grew ever
greater； and he sat with Ibun his son in the deepest shadows of his house； speaking to none。 But Túrin paid now little
heed to the Dwarf； and when winter passed； and spring came； they had sterner work to do。
Who knows now the counsels of Morgoth？ Who can measure the reach of his thought； who had been Melkor；
mighty among the Ainur of the Great Song； and sat now； a dark lord upon a dark throne in the North； weighing in his
malice all the tidings that came to him； and perceiving more of the deeds and purposes of his enemies than even the
wisest of them feared； save only Melian the Queen？ To her often the thought of Morgoth reached out； and there was
foiled。
And now again the might of Angband was moved； and as the long fingers of a groping hand the forerunners of his
armies probed the ways into Beleriand。 Through Anach they came； and Dimbar was taken； and all the north marches of
Doriath。 Down the ancient road they came that led through the long defile of Sirion； past the isle where Minas Tirith of
Finrod had stood； and so through the land between Malduin and Sirion； and on through the eaves of Brethil to the
Crossings of Teiglin。 Thence the road went on into the Guarded Plain； but the Orcs did not go far upon it； as yet； for
there dwelt now in the wild a terror that was hidden； and upon the red hill were watchful eyes of which they had not been
warned。 For Túrin put on again the Helm of Hador； and far and wide in Beleriand the whisper went； under wood and
over stream and through the passes of the hills； saying that the Helm and Bow that had fallen in Dimbar had arisen again
beyond hope。 Then many who went leaderless； dispossessed but undaunted； took heart again； and came to seek the Two
Captains。 Dor…Cúarthol； the Land of Bow and Helm； was in that time named all the region between Teiglin and the west
march of Doriath； and Túrin named himself anew； Gorthol； the Dread Helm； and his heart was high again。 In Menegroth；
and in the deep halls of Nargothrond； and even in the hidden realm of Gondolin； the fame of the deeds of the Two
Captains was heard； and in Angband also they were known。 Then Morgoth laughed； for now by the Dragon…helm was
Húrin's son revealed to him again； and ere long Amon R？dh was ringed with spies。
In the waning of the year M？m the Dwarf and Ibun his son went out from Bar…en…Danwedh to gather roots in the
wild for their winter store； and they were taken captive by Orcs。 Then for a second time M？m promised to guide his
enemies by the secret paths to his home on Amon R？dh； but yet he sought to delay the fulfilment of his promise； and
demanded that Gorthol should not be slain。 Then the Ore…captain laughed； and he said to M？m： 'Assuredly Túrin son of
Húrin shall not be slain。'
Thus was Bar…en…Danwedh betrayed； for the Orcs came upon it by night at unawares； guided by M？m。 There
many of Túrin's pany were slain as they slept； but some fleeing by an inner stair came out upon the hill…top； and
there they fought until they fell； and their blood flowed out upon the seregon that mantled the stone。 But a net was cast
over Túrin as he fought； and he was enmeshed in it； and overe； and led away。
And at length when all was silent again M？m crept out of the shadows of his house； and as the sun rose over the
mists of Sirion he stood beside the dead men on the hill…top。 But he perceived that not all those that lay there were dead；
for by one his gaze was returned； and he looked in the eyes of Beleg the Elf。 Then with hatred long…stored M？m stepped
up to Be