The Death of Beleg

From Tolkien Gateway
The Children of Húrin chapters
  1. The Childhood of Túrin
  2. The Battle of Unnumbered Tears
  3. The Words of Húrin and Morgoth
  4. The Departure of Túrin
  5. Túrin in Doriath
  6. Túrin among the Outlaws
  7. Of Mîm the Dwarf
  8. The Land of Bow and Helm
  9. The Death of Beleg
  10. Túrin in Nargothrond
  11. The Fall of Nargothrond
  12. The Return of Túrin to Dor-lómin
  13. The Coming of Túrin into Brethil
  14. The Journey of Morwen and Niënor
  15. Niënor in Brethil
  16. The Coming of Glaurung
  17. The Death of Glaurung
  18. The Death of Túrin

The Death of Beleg is the ninth chapter of The Children of Húrin.

Synopsis[edit | edit source]

When Beleg could not find the body of Túrin amongst the fallen on the summit of Amon Rûdh, he knew the orcs of Morgoth had taken him; so after he was healed he took to the heels of the enemy and followed their tracks northward beyond Brithiach.

Beleg searching for Túrin by Alan Lee

In the heights of Taur-nu-Fuin and the Pass of Anach, he came upon the shrunken form of an elf. Gwindor it was who had only recently escaped from the evil mines of Angband – the very elf who had fought in the Battle of Unnumbered Tears and had been taken at the doors of Morgoth.

There Beleg and Gwindor witnessed a horde of orcs swarm northward and in their midst was Túrin, chained and whipped. The evil soldiers took camp, guarded by wolves in a deep vale; and Beleg came silently with his great bow and shot each wolf dead so that he could steal into the heart of the encampment. There he seized Túrin and took him away.

Now Beleg cut Túrin's bonds with the sword Anglachel; but misfortune was amongst them and the blade slipped and pricked Túrin's foot. In rage, thinking he was to be tormented by orcs, Túrin leaped forth, and swiftly taking Anglachel, he slayed his attaker, only too late to see it was his friend Beleg.

There Túrin stood as stone in shock; for his friend lay dead before him.

He was roused only by Gwindor to help in burying Beleg, and the mighty bow Belthronding was laid upon his breast; but dark Anglachel Túrin took himself to take vengeance on Morgoth.

Then Gwindor took Túrin in his grief and they passed away westward to the calm and holy Eithel Ivrin where Túrin shook off his grief and was healed of his madness. There he sang the Laer Cú Beleg, the Song of the Great Bow, in memory of his friend.

Southward then they passed to Gwindor’s realm until the elven scouts of Nargothrond took them as prisoners.