Then Mablung was dismayed; but needs must tell to Túrin how Morwen was lost; and Nienor cast into a spell of
dumb forgetfulness; and how she escaped them upon the borders of Doriath and fled northwards。 Then at last Túrin
knew that doom had overtaken him; and that he had slain Brandir unjustly; so that the words of Glaurung were fulfilled
in him。 And he laughed as one fey; crying: 'This is a bitter jest indeed!' But he bade Mablung go; and return to Doriath;
with curses upon it。 'And a curse too upon your errand!' he cried。 'This only was wanting。 Now es the night。'
Then he fled from them like the wind; and they were amazed; wondering what madness had seized him; and they
followed after him。 But Túrin far out…ran them; and he came to Cabed…en…Aras; and heard the roaring of the water; and
saw that all the leaves fell sere from the trees; as though winter had e。 There he drew forth his sword; that now alone
remained to him of all his possessions; and he said: 'Hail Gurthang! No lord or loyalty dost thou know; save the hand
that wieldeth thee。 From no blood wilt thou shrink。 Wilt thou therefore take Túrin Turambar; wilt thou slay me swiftly?'
And from the blade rang a cold voice in answer: 'Yea; I will drink thy blood gladly; that so I may forget the blood
of Beleg my master; and the blood of Brandir slain unjustly。 I will slay thee swiftly。'
Then Túrin set the hilts upon the ground; and cast himself upon the point of Gurthang; and the black blade took
his life。 But Mablung and the Elves came and looked on the shape of Glaurung lying dead; and upon the body of Túrin;
and they grieved; and when Men of Brethil came thither; and they learned the reasons of Túrin's madness and death; they
were aghast; and Mablung said bitterly: 'I also have been meshed in the doom of the Children of Húrin; and thus with my
tidings have slain one that I loved。'
Then they lifted up Túrin; and found that Gurthang had broken asunder。 But Elves and Men gathered there great
store of wood; and they made a mighty burning; and the Dragon was consumed to ashes。 Túrin they laid in a high mound
where he had fallen; and the shards of Gurthang were laid beside him。 And when all was done; the Elves sang a lament
for the Children of Húrin; and a great grey stone was set upon the mound; and thereon was carven in runes of Doriath:
TúRIN TURAMBAR DAGNIR GLAURUNGA
and beneath they wrote also:
NIENOR N1NIEL
But she was not there; nor was it ever known whither the cold waters of Teiglin had taken her。
Chapter 22
Of the Ruin of Doriath
So ended the tale of Túrin Turambar; but Morgoth did not sleep nor rest from evil; and his dealings with the house of
Hador were not yet ended。 Against them his malice was unsated; though Húrin was under his eye; and Morwen
wandered distraught in the wild。
Unhappy was the lot of Húrin; for all that Morgoth knew of the working of his malice Húrin knew also; but lies
were mingled with the truth; and aught that was good was hidden or distorted。 In all ways Morgoth sought most to cast
an evil light on those things that Thingol and Melian had done; for he hated them; and feared them。 When therefore he
judged the time to be ripe; he released Húrin from his bondage; bidding him go whither he would; and he feigned that in
this he was moved by pity as for an enemy utterly defeated。 But he lied; for his purpose was that Húrin should still
further his hatred for Elves and Men; ere he died。
Then little though he trusted the words of Morgoth; knowing indeed that he was without pity; Húrin took his
freedom; and went forth in grief; embittered by the words of the Dark Lord; and a year was now gone since the death of
Túrin his son。 For twenty…eight years he had been captive in Angband; and he was grown grim to look upon。 His hair and
beard were white and long; but he walked unbowed; bearing a great black staff; and he was girt with a sword。 Thus he
passed into Hithlum; and tidings came to the chieftains of the Easterlings that there was a great riding of captains and
black soldiers of Angband over the sands of Anfauglith; and with them came an old man; as one that was held in high
honour。 Therefore they did not lay hands on Húrin; but let him walk at will in those lands; in which they were wise; for
the remnant of his own people shunned him; because of his ing from Angband as one in league and honour with
Morgoth。
Thus his freedom did but increase the bitterness of Húrin's heart; and he departed from the land of Hithlum and
went up into the mountains。 Thence he descried far off。 amid the clouds the peaks of the Crissaegrim; and he
remembered Turgon; and he desired to e again to the hidden realm of Gondolin。 He went down therefore from Ered
Wethrin; and he knew not that the creatures of Morgoth watched all his steps; and crossing over the Brithiach he passed
into Dimbar; and came to the dark feet of the Echoriath。 All the land was cold and desolate; and he looked about him
with little hope; standing at the foot of a great fall of stones beneath a sheer rock…wall; and he knew not that this was all
that was now left to see of the old Way of Escape: the Dry River was blocked; and the arched gate was buried。 Then
Húrin looked up to the grey sky; thinking that he might once more descry the eagles; as he had done long ago in his
youth; but he saw only the shadows blown from the east; and clouds swirling about the inaccessible peaks; and he heard
only the wind hissing over the stones。
But the watch of the great eagles was now redoubled; and they marked Húrin well; far below; forlorn in the
fading light; and straightway Thorondor himself; since the tidings seemed great; brought word to Turgon。 But Turgon
said: 'Does Morgoth sleep? You were mistaken。'
'Not so;' said Thorondor。 'If the Eagles of Manw? were wont to err thus; then long ago; lord; your hiding would
have been in vain。'
'Then your words bode ill;' said Turgon; 'for they can bear but one meaning。 Even Húrin Thalion has surrendered
to the will of Morgoth。 My heart is shut。'
But when Thorondor was gone; Turgon sat long in thought; and he was troubled; remembering the deeds of Húrin
of Dor…lómin; and he opened his heart; and sent to the eagles to seek for Húrin; and to bring him if they might to
Gondolin。 But it was too late; and they never saw him again in light or in shadow。
For Húrin stood in despair before the silent cliffs of the Echoriath; and the westering sun; piercing the clouds;
stained his white hair with red。 Then he cried aloud in the wilderness; heedless of any ears; and he cursed the pitiless
land; and standing at last upon a high rock he looked towards Gondolin and called in a great voice: 'Turgon; Turgon;
remember the Fen of Serech! O Turgon; will you not hear in your hidden halls?' But there was no sound save the wind in
the dry grasses。 'Even so they hissed in Serech at the sunset;' he said; and as he spoke the sun went behind the Mountains
of Shadow; and a darkness fell about him; and the wind ceased; and there was silence in the waste。
Yet there were ears th