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strongholds one by one。 The Orcs growing ever bolder wandered at will far and wide； ing down Sirion in the west
and Colon in the east； and they enpassed Doriath； and they harried the lands so that beast and bird fled before them；
and silence and desolation spread steadily from the North。 Many of the Noldor and the Sindar they took captive and led
to Angband； and made them thralls； forcing them to use their skill and their knowledge in the service of Morgoth。 And
Morgoth sent out his spies； and they were clad in false forms and deceit was in their speech； they made lying promises of
reward； and with conning words sought to arouse fear and jealousy among the peoples； accusing their kings and
chieftains of greed； and of treachery one to another。 And because of the curse of the Kinslaying at Alqualond？ these lies
were often believed； and indeed as the time darkened they had a measure of truth； for the hearts and minds of the Elves
of Beleriand became clouded with despair and fear。 But ever the Noldor feared most the treachery of those of their own
kin； who had been thralls in Angband； for Morgoth used some of these for his evil purposes； and feigning to give them
liberty sent them abroad； but their wills were chained to his； and they strayed only to e back to him again。 Therefore
if any of his captives escaped in truth； and returned to their own people； they had little wele； and wandered alone
outlawed and desperate。
To Men Morgoth feigned pity； if any would hearken to his messages； saying that their woes came only of their
servitude to the rebel Noldor； but at the hands of the rightful Lord of Middle…earth they would get honour and a just
reward of valour； if they would leave rebellion。 But few men of the Three Houses of the Edain would give ear to him；
not even were they brought to the torment of Angband。 Therefore Morgoth pursued them with hatred； and he sent his
messengers over the mountains。
It is told that at this time the Swarthy Men came first into Beleriand。 Some were already secretly under the
dominion of Morgoth； and came at his call； but not all； for the rumour of Beleriand； of its lands and waters； of its wars
and riches； went now far and wide； and the wandering feet of Men were ever set westward in those days。 These Men
were short and broad； long and strong in the arm； their skins were swart or sallow； and their hair was dark as were their
eyes。 Their houses were many； and some had greater liking for the Dwarves of the mountains than for the Elves。 But
Maedhros； knowing the weakness of the Noldor and the Edain； whereas the pits of Angband seemed to hold store
inexhaustible and ever…renewed； made alliance with these new…e Men； and gave his friendship to the greatest of their
chieftains； Bór and Ulfang。 And Morgoth was well content； for this was as he had designed。 The sons of Bór were
Borlad； Borlach； and Borthand； and they followed Maedhros and Maglor； and cheated the hope of Morgoth； and were
faithful。 The sons of Ulfang the Black were Ulfast； and Ulwarth； and Uldor the accursed； and they followed Caranthir
and swore allegiance to him； and proved faithless。
There was small love between the Edain and the Easterlings； and they met seldom； for the newers abode long
in East Beleriand； but Hador's folk were shut in Hithlum； and Beer's house was well…nigh destroyed。 The People of
Haleth were at first untouched by the northern war； for they dwelt to the southward in the Forest of Brethil； but now
there was battle between them and the invading Orcs； for they were stout…hearted men and would not lightly forsake the
woods that they loved。 And amid the tale of defeats of that time the deeds of the Haladin are remembered with honour：
for after the taking of Minas Tirith the Orcs came through the western pass； and maybe would have ravaged even to the
mouths of Sirion； but Halmir lord of the Haladin sent swift word to Thingol； for he had friendship with the Elves that
guarded the borders of Doriath。 Then Beleg Strongbow； chief of the march…wardens of Thingol； brought great strength
of the Sindar armed with axes into Brethil； and issuing from the deeps of the forest Halmir and Beleg took an Ore…legion
at unawares and destroyed it。 Thereafter the black tide out of the North was stemmed in that region； and the Orcs dared
not cross the Teiglin for many years after。 The People of Haleth dwelt yet in watchful peace in the Forest of Brethil； and
behind their guard the Kingdom of Nargothrond had respite； and mustered its strength。
At this time Húrin and Huor； the sons of Galdor of Dor…lómin； were dwelling with the Haladin； for they were
akin。 In the days before the Dagor Bragollach those two houses of the Edam were joined at a great feast； when Galdor
and Glóredhel the children of Hador Goldenhead were wedded to Hareth and Haldir the children of Halmir lord of the
Haladin。 Thus it was that the sons of Galdor were fostered in Brethil by Haldir their uncle； according to the custom of
Men in that time； and they went both to that battle with the Orcs； even Huor； for he would not be restrained； though he
was but thirteen years old。 But being with a pany that was cut off from the rest they were pursued to the Ford of
Brithiach； and there they would have been taken or slain but for the power of Ulmo； that was still strong in Sirion。 A mist
arose from the river and hid them from their enemies； and they escaped over the Brithiach into Dimbar； and wandered
among the hills beneath the sheer walls of the Crissaegrim； until they were bewildered in the deceits of that land and
knew not the way to go on or to return。 There Thorondor espied them； and he sent two of his eagles to their aid； and the
eagles bore them up and brought them beyond the Encircling Mountains to the secret vale of Tumladen and the hidden
city of Gondolin； which no Man yet had seen。
There Turgon the King received them well； when he learned of their kin； for messages and dreams had e to
him up Sirion from the sea； from Ulmo； Lord of Waters； warning him of woe to e and counselling him to deal kindly
with the sons of the house of Hador； from whom help should e to him at need。 Húrin and Huor dwelt as guests in the
King's house for well nigh a year； and it is said that in this time Húrin learned much lore of the Elves； and understood
also something of the counsels and purposes of the King。 For Turgon took great liking for the sons of Galdor； and spoke
much with them； and he wished indeed to keep them in Gondolin out of love； and not only for his law that no stranger；
be he Elf or Man； who found the way to the secret kingdom and looked upon the city should ever depart again； until the
King should open the leaguer； and the hidden people should e forth。
But Húrin and Huor desired to return to their own people and share in the wars and griefs that now beset them。
And Húrin said to Turgon： 〃Lord； we are but mortal Men； and unlike the Eldar。 They may endure for long years awaiting
battle with their enemies in some far distant day； but for us the time is short； and our hope and strength soon wither。
Moreover we did not find the road to Gondolin； and indeed we do not know surely where this city stands； for we were
brought in fear and wonder by the high ways of the air； and in mercy our eyes were veiled。' Then Turgon granted his
prayer； and he said： 'By the way that you came you have leave to depart； if Thorondor is willing。 I grieve at this parting；
yet in a little while； as the Eldar account it； we may meet again。'
But Maeglin； the King's sister…son； who was mighty in Gondolin； grieved not at all at their going； though he
begrudged them the favour of the King； for he had no love for any of the kindred of Men； and he said to Húrin： 'The
King's grace is greater than you know； and the law is bee less stem than aforetime； or else no choice would be given
you but to abide here to your life's end。'
Then Húrin answered him： The King's grace is great indeed； but if our word is not enough； then we will swear
oaths to you。' And the brothers swore never to reveal the counsels of Turgon； and to keep secret an that they had seen in
his realm。 Then they took their leave； and the eagles ing bore them away by night； and set them down in Dor…lómin
before the dawn。 Their kinsfolk rejoiced to see them； for messengers from Brethil had reported that they were lost； but
they would not declare even to their father where they had been； save that they were rescued in the wilderness by the
eagles that brought them home。 But Galdor said： Did you then dwell a year in the wild？ Or did the eagles house you in
their eyries？ But you found food and fine raiment； and return as young princes； not as waifs of the wood。' And Húrin
answered： 'Be content that we have returned； for only under an oath of silence was this permitted。' Then Galdor
questioned them no more； but he and many others guessed at the truth； and in time the strange fortune of Húrin and Huor
reached the ears of the servants of Morgoth。
Now when Turgon learned of the breaking of the leaguer of Angband he would not suffer any of h