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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 Nargothrond。 Then Dorlas; the
leader of those woodmen; told the grievous tidings of her death。 For the Men of Brethil had waylaid at the Crossings of
Teiglin the Ore…host that led the captives of Nargothrond; hoping to rescue them; but the Orcs had at once cruelly slain
their prisoners; and Finduilas they pinned to a tree with a spear。 So she died; saying at the last: 'Tell the Mormegil that
Finduilas is here。' Therefore they had laid her in a mound near that place; and named it Haudh…en…Elleth; the Mound of
the Elf…maid。
Túrin bade them lead him thither; and there he fell down into a darkness of grief that was near death。 Then Dorlas
by his black sword; the fame whereof had e even inter the deeps of Brethil; and by his quest of the King's daughter;
knew that this Wildman was indeed the Mormegil of Nargothrond; whom rumour said was the son of Húrin of Dor…
lómin。 Therefore the woodmen lifted him up; and bore him away to their home