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over the Narog from the Doors of Felagund； for the swifter passage of their arms。 Then the servants of Angband were
driven out of all the land between Narog and Sirion eastward； and westward to the Nenning and the desolate Falas； and
though Gwindor spoke ever against Túrin in the council of the King； holding it an ill policy； he fell into dishonour and
none heeded him； for his strength was small and he was no longer forward in arms。 Thus Nargothrond was revealed to
the wrath and hatred of Morgoth； but still at Túrin's prayer his true name was not spoken； and though the fame of his
deeds came into Doriath and to the ears of Thingol； rumour spoke only of the Black Sword of Nargothrond。
***
In that time of respite and hope； when because of the deeds of the Mormegil the power of Morgoth was stemmed
west of Sirion； Morwen fled at last from Dor…lómin with Nienor her daughter； and adventured the long journey to
Thingol's halls。 There new grief awaited her； for she found Túrin gone； and to Doriath there had e no tidings since
the Dragon…helm had vanished from the lands west of Sirion； but Morwen remained in Doriath with Nienor as guests of
Thingol and Melian； and were treated with honour。
Now it came to pass； when four hundred and ninety…five years had passed since the rising of the Moon； in the
spring of the year； there came to Nargothrond two Elves； named Gelmir and Arminas； they were of Angrod's people； but
since the Dagor Bragollach they dwelt in the south with Círdan the Shipwright。 From their far journeys they brought
tidings of a great mustering of Orcs and evil creatures under the eaves of Ered Wethrin and in the Pass of Sirion； and
they told also that Ulmo had e to Círdan； giving warning that great peril drew nigh to Nargothrond。
'Hear the words of the Lord of Waters！' said they to the King。 'Thus he spoke to Círdan the Shipwright： 'The Evil
of the North has defiled the springs of Sirion； and my power withdraws from the fingers of the flowing waters。 But a
worse thing is yet to e forth。 Say therefore to the Lord of Nargothrond： Shut the doors of the fortress and go not
abroad。 Cast the stones of your pride into the loud river； that the creeping evil may not find the gate。〃'
Orodreth was troubled by the dark words of the messengers； but Túrin would by no means hearken to these
counsels； and least of all would he suffer the great bridge to be cast down； for he was bee proud and stern； and
would order all things as he wished。
Soon afterwards Handir Lord of Brethil was slain； for the Orcs invaded his land； and Handir gave them battle； but
the Men of Brethil were worsted； and driven back into their woods。 And in the autumn of the year； biding his hour；
Morgoth loosed upon the people of Narog the great host that he had long prepared； and Glaurung the úrulóki passed
over Anfauglith； and came thence into the north vales of Sirion and there did great evil。 Under the shadows of Ered
Wethrin he defiled the Eithel Ivrin； and thence he passed into the realm of Nargothrond； and burned the Talath Dirnen；
the Guarded Plain； between Narog and Teiglin。
Then the warriors of Nargothrond went forth； and tall and terrible on that day looked Túrin； and the heart of the
host was upheld； as he rode on the right hand of Orodreth。 But greater far was the host of Morgoth than any scouts had
told； and none but Túrin defended by his dwarf…mask could withstand the approach of Glaurung； and the Elves were
driven back and pressed by the Orcs into the field of Tumhalad； between Ginglith and Narog； and there they were
penned。 On that day all the pride and host of Nargothrond withered away； and Orodreth was slain in the forefront of the
battle； and Gwindor son of Guilin was wounded to the death。 But Túrin came to his aid； and all fled before him； and he
bore Gwindor out of the rout； and escaping into a wood there laid him on the grass。
Then Gwindor said to Túrin： 'Let bearing pay for bearing！ But ill…fated was mine； and vain is thine； for my body
is marred beyond healing； and I must leave Middle…earth。 And though I love thee； son of Húrin； yet I rue the day that I
took thee from the Orcs。 But for thy prowess and thy pride； still I should have love and life； and Nargothrond should yet
stand a while。' Now if thou love me； leave me！ Haste thee to Nargothrond； and save Finduilas。 And this last I say to thee：
she alone stands between thee and thy doom。 If thou fail her； it shall not fail to find thee。 Farewell！'
Then Túrin sped back to Nargothrond； mustering such of the rout as he met with on the way； and the leaves fell
from the trees in a great wind as they went； for the autumn was passing to a dire winter。 But the host of the Orcs and
Glaurung the Dragon were there before him； and they came suddenly； ere those that were left on guard were aware of
what had befallen on the field of Tumhalad。 In that day the bridge over Narog proved an evil； for it was great and
mightily made and could not swiftly be destroyed； and the enemy came readily over the deep river； and Glaurung came
in full fire against the Doors of Felagund； and overthrew them； and passed within。
And even as Túrin came up the dreadful sack of Nargothrond was well nigh achieved。 The Orcs had slain or
driven off all that remained in arms； and were even then ransacking the great halls and chambers； plundering and
destroying； but those of the women and maidens that were not burned or slain they had herded on the terraces before the
doors； as slaves to be taken into Morgoth's thraldom。 Upon this ruin and woe Túrin came； and none could withstand him；
or would not； though he struck down all before him； and passed over the bridge； and hewed his way towards the
captives。
And now he stood alone； for the few that followed him had fled。 But in that moment Glaurung issued from the
gaping doors； and lay behind； between Túrin and the bridge。 Then suddenly he spoke； by the evil spirit that was in him；
saying： 'Hail； son of Húrin。 Well met！'
Then Túrin sprang about； and strode against him； and the edges of Gurthang shone as with flame； but Glaurung
withheld his blast； and opened wide his serpent…eyes and gazed upon Túrin。 Without fear Túrin looked into them as he
raised up the sword； and straightway he fell under the binding spell of the lidless eyes of the dragon； and was halted
moveless。 Then for a long time he stood as one graven of stone； and they two were alone； silent before the doors of
Nargothrond。 But Glaurung spoke again； taunting Túrin； and he said： 'Evil have been all thy ways； son of Húrin。
Thankless fosterling； outlaw； slayer of thy friend； thief of love； usurper of Nargothrond； captain foolhardy； and deserter
of thy kin。 As thralls thy mother and thy sister live in Dor…lómin； in misery and want。 Thou art arrayed as a prince； but
they go in rags； and for thee they yearn； but thou carest not for that。 Glad may thy father be to learn that he hath such a
son； as learn he shall。' And Túrin being under the spell of Glaurung hearkened to his words； and he saw himself as in a
mirror misshapen by malice； and loathed that which he saw。
And while he was yet held by the eyes of the dragon in torment of mind； and could not stir； the Orcs drove away
the herded captives； and they passed nigh to Túrin and crossed over the bridge。 Among them was Finduilas； and she
cried out to Túrin as she went； but not until her cries and the wailing of the captives was lost upon the northward road
did Claiming release Túrin； and he might not stop his ears against that voice that haunted him after。
Then suddenly Glaurung withdrew his glance； and waited； and Túrin stirred slowly； as one waking from a hideous
dream。 Then ing to himself he sprang upon the dragon with a cry。 But Glaurung laughed； saying： 'If thou wilt be
slain； I will slay thee gladly。 But small help will that be to Morwen and Nienor。 No heed didst thou give to the cries of
the Elf…woman。 Wilt thou deny also the bond of thy blood？'
But Túrin drawing back his sword stabbed at the dragon's eyes； and Glaurung coiling back swiftly towered above
him； and said： 'Nay！ At least thou art valiant； beyond all whom I have met And they lie who say that we of our part do
not honour the valour of foes。 See now！ I offer thee freedom。 Go to thy kin； if thou canst。 Get thee gone！ And if Elf or
Man be left to make tale of these days； then surely in scorn they will name thee； if thou spurnest this gift。'
Then Túrin； being yet bemused by the eyes of the dragon； as were he treating with a foe that could know pity；
believed the words of Glaurung and fuming away he sped over the bridge。 But as he went Glaurung spoke behind him；
saying in a fell voice： 'Haste thee now； son of Húrin； to Dor…lómin！ Or perhaps the Orcs shall e before thee； once
again。 And if thou tarry for Finduilas； then never shalt thou see Morwen again； and never at all shalt thou see Nienor thy
sister； and they will curse thee。'
But Túrin passed away on the northward road； and Claiming laughed once more； for he had acplished the
errand of his Master。 Then he turned to his own pleasure； and sent forth his blast； and burned all about him。 But all the
Orcs that were busy in the sack he routed forth； and drove them away； and denied them their plunder even to the last
thing of worth。 The bridge then he broke down and cast into the foam of Narog； and being thus secure he gathered all
the hoard and riches of Felagund and heaped them； and lay upon them in the innermost hall； and rested a while。
And Túrin hastened along the ways to the north； through the lands now desolate between Narog and Teiglin； and
the Fell Winter came down to meet him； for in that year snow fell ere autumn was passed； and spring came late and cold。
Ever it seemed to him as he went that he heard the cries of Finduilas； calling his name by wood and hill； and great was
his anguish； but his heart being hot with the lies of Glaurung； and seeing ever in his mind the Orcs burning the house of
Húrin or putting Morwen and Nienor to torment； he held on his way； and turned never aside。
At last worn by haste and the long road （for forty leagues and more had he journeyed without rest） he came with
the first ice of winter to the pools of Ivrin； where before he had been healed。 But they were now but a frozen mire； and
he could drink there no more。'
Thus he came hardly by the passes of Dor…lómin； through bitter snows from the north； and found again the land
of his childhood。 Bare and bleak it was； and Morwen was gone。 Her house stood empty； broken and cold； and no living
thing dwelt nigh。 Therefore Túrin departed； and came to the house of Brodda the Easterling； he that had to wife Aerin；
Húrin's kinswoman； and there he learned of an old servant that Morwen was long gone； for she had fled with Nienor out
of Dor…Lómin； none but Aerin knew where。
Then Túrin strode to Brodda's table； and seizing him he drew his sword； and demanded that he be told whither
Morwen had gone； and Aerin declared to him that she went to Doriath to seek her son。 'For the lands were freed then
from evil；' she said； 'by the Black Sword of the south； who now has fallen； they say。' Then Túrin's eyes were opened； and
the last threads of Glaurung's spell were loosed； and for anguish； and wrath at the lies that had deluded him； and hatred
of the oppressors of Morwen； a black rage seized him； and he slew Brodda in his hall； and other Easterlings that were his
guests。 Thereafter he fled out into the winter； a hunted man； but he was aided by some that remained of Hador's people
and knew the ways of the wild； and with them he escaped through the falling snow and came to an outlaws' refuge in the
southern mountains of Dor…lómin。 Thence Túrin passed again from the land of his childhood； and returned to Sirion's
vale。 His heart was bitter； for to Dor…lómin he had brought only greater woe upon the remnant of his people； and they
were glad of his going； and this fort alone he had： that by the prowess of the Black Sword the ways to Doriath had
been laid open to Morwen。 And he said in his thought： 'Then those deeds wrought not evil to all。 And where else might I
have better bestowed my kin； even had I e sooner？ For if the Girdle of Melian be broken； then last hope is ended。
Nay； it is better indeed as things be； for a shadow I cast wheresoever I e。 Let Melian keep them！ And I will leave
them in peace unshadowed for a while。'
Now Túrin ing down from Ered Wethrin sought for Finduilas in vain； roaming the woods beneath the
mountains； wild and wary as a beast； and he waylaid all the roads that went north to the Pass of Sirion。 But he was too
late； for all the trails had grown old； or were washed away by the winter。 Yet thus it was that passing southwards down
Teiglin Túrin came upon some of the Men of Brethil that were surrounded by Orcs； and he delivered them； for the Orcs
fled from Gurthang。 He named himself Wildman of the Woods； and they besought him to e and dwell with them； but
he said that he had an errand yet unachieved； to seek Finduilas； Orodreth's daughter of Narg