blow； and by that stroke and the anguish of the venom he fell into a dark swoon； and lay as one dead； and his sword was
beneath him。
The screams of Glaurung rang in the woods； and came to the people that waited at Nen Girith； and when those
that looked forth heard them； and saw afar the ruin and burning that the dragon made； they deemed that he had
triumphed and was destroying those that assailed him。 And Níniel sat and shuddered beside the falling water； and at the
voice of Glaurung her darkness crept upon her again； so that she could not stir from that place of her own will。
Even so Brandir found her； for he came to Nen Girith at last； limping wearily； and when he heard that the dragon
had crossed the river and had beaten down his foes； his heart yearned towards Níniel in pity。 Yet he thought also：
'Turambar is dead； but Níniel lives。 Now it may be that she will e with me； and I will lead her away； and so we shall
escape from the dragon together。' After a while therefore he stood by Níniel； and he said： 'e！ It is time to go。 If you
will； I will lead you。' And he took her hand； and she arose silently； and followed him； and in the darkness none saw them
go。
But as they went down the path to the Crossings the moon rose； and cast a grey light on the land； and Níniel said：
'Is this the way？' And Brandir answered that he knew no way； save to flee as they might from Glaurung； and escape into
the wild。 But Níniel said： 'The Black Sword was my beloved and my husband。 To seek him only do I go。 What else
could you think？' And she sped on before him。 Thus she came towards the Crossings of Teiglin and beheld Haudh…en…
Elleth in the white moonlight； and great dread came on her。 Then with a cry she turned away； casting off her cloak； and
fled southward along the river； and her white raiment shone in the moon。
Thus Brandir saw her from the hill…side； and turned to cross her path； but he was still behind her when she came
to the ruin of Glaurung nigh the brink of Cabed…en…Aras。 There she saw the dragon lying； but she heeded him not； for a
man lay beside him； and she ran to Turambar； and called his name in vain。 Then finding that his hand was burned she
washed it with tears and bound it about with a strip of her raiment； and she kissed him and cried on him again to awake。
Thereat Glaurung stirred for the last time ere he died； and he spoke with his last breath； saying： 'Hail； Nienor； daughter
of Húrin。 We meet again ere the end。 I give thee joy that thou hast found thy brother at last。 And now thou shalt know
him： a stabber in the dark； treacherous to foes； faithless to friends； and a curse unto his kin； Túrin son of Húrin！ But the
worst of all his deeds thou shalt feel in thyself。'
Then Glaurung died； and the veil of his malice was taken from her； and she remembered all the days of her life。
Looking down upon Túrin she cried： 'Farewell； O twice beloved！ A Túrin Turambar turun ambartanen： master of doom
by doom mastered！ O happy to be dead！' Then Brandir who had heard all； standing stricken upon the edge of ruin；
hastened towards her； but she ran from him distraught with horror and anguish； and ing to the brink of Cabed…en…
Aras she cast herself over； and was lost in the wild water。
Then Brandir came and looked down； and turned away in horror； and though he no longer desired life； he could
not seek death in that roaring water。 And thereafter no man looked again upon Cabed…en…Aras； nor would any beast or
bird e there； nor any tree grow； and it was named Cabed Naeramarth； the Leap of Dreadful Doom。
But Brandir made his way back to Nen Girith； to bring tidings to the people； and he met Dorlas in the woods； and
slew him： the first blood that ever he had spilled； and the last。 And he came to Nen Girith； and men cried to him： 'Have
you seen her？ For Níniel is gone。'
And he answered： 'Níniel is gone for ever。 The Dragon is dead； and Turambar is dead； and those tidings are
good。' The people murmured at these words； saying that he was crazed； but Brandir said： 'Hear me to the end！ Níniel the
beloved is also dead。 She cast herself into Teiglin； desiring life no more； for she learned that she was none other than
Nienor daughter of Húrin of Dor…lómin； ere her forgetfulness came upon her； and that Turambar was her brother； Túrin
son of Húrin。 '
But even as he ceased； and the people wept； Túrin himself came before them。 For when the dragon died； his
swoon left him； and he fell into a deep sleep of weariness。 But the cold of the night troubled him； and the hilts of
Gurthang drove into his side； and he awoke。 Then he saw that one had tended his hand； and he wondered much that he
was left nonetheless to lie upon the cold ground； and he called； and hearing no answer he went in search of aid； for he
was weary and sick。
But when the people saw him they drew back in fear； thinking that it was his unquiet spirit； and he said： 'Nay； be
glad； for the Dragon is dead； and I live。 But wherefore have you scorned my counsel； and e into peril？ And where is
Níniel？ For her I would see。 And surely you did not bring her from her home？'
Then Brandir told him that it was so； and Níniel was dead。 But the wife of Dorlas cried out： 'Nay； lord； he is
crazed。 For he came here saying that you were dead； and he called it good tidings。 But you live。'
Then Turambar was wrathful； and believed that all Brandir said or did was done in malice towards himself and
Níniel； begrudging their love； and he spoke evilly to Brandir； calling him Club…foot。 Then Brandir reported all that he
had heard； and named Níniel Nienor daughter of Húrin； and he cried out upon Turambar with the last words of
Glaurung； that he was a curse unto his kin and to all that harboured him。
Then Turambar fell into a fury； for in those words he heard the feet of his doom overtaking him； and he charged
Brandir with leading Níniel to her death； and publishing with delight the lies of Glaurung； if indeed be devised them not
himself。 Then he cursed Brandir； and slew him； and he fled from the people into the woods。 But after a while his
madness left him； and he came to Haudh…en…Elleth； and there sat； and pondered all his deeds。 And he cried upon
Finduilas to bring him counsel； for he knew not whether he would do now more ill to go to Doriath to seek his kin； or to
forsake them for ever and seek death in battle。
And even as he sat there Mablung with a pany of Grey…elves came over the Crossings of Teiglin； and he
knew Túrin； and hailed him； and was glad indeed to find him yet living； for he had learned of the ing forth of
Glaurung and that his path led to Brethil； and also he had heard report that the Black Sword of Nargothrond now dwelt
there。 Therefore he came to give warning to Túrin； and help if need be； but Túrin said： 'You e too late。 The Dragon
is dead。'
Then they marvelled； and gave him great praise； but he cared nothing for it； and said： 'This only I ask： give me
news of my kin； for in Dor…lómin I learned that they had gone to the Hidden Kingdom。'
Then Mablung was dismayed； but needs must tell to Túrin how Mor