Gwindor
| Gwindor | |
|---|---|
| Noldo | |
 | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Titles | Prince of Nargothrond |
| Location | Nargothrond |
| Death | F.A. 495 (aged c. 45) Battle of Tumhalad |
| Family | |
| Parentage | Guilin |
| Siblings | Gelmir |
| Spouse | Betrothed to Finduilas; never married |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
| Hair color | Dark |
| Weaponry | Sword |
| Gallery | Images of Gwindor |
 | Gwindor.mp3 |
| By Ardamir. (Help; more articles) | |
Gwindor was an Elf of Nargothrond the son of Guilin and a Prince of Nargothrond. He loved Finduilas. His brother was lost during the Dagor Bragollach. Wishing to avenge his loss, he followed Fingon to battle, leading a small company of Elves of Nargothrond stationed at Barad Eithel.
He is credited with beginning the Nirnaeth Arnoediad ("Battle of Unnumbered Tears") when the hosts of Morgoth brought his brother and mutilated and slew him. At the sight of Gelmir's mangled corpse, he charged on the plains of Anfauglith. It is said that Morgoth trembled before his ire as he approached, and he reached the Stairs of Angband, but his followers were killed and he was captured and taken inside Angband before he could destroy the dark lord.[1]
He spent fourteen years as a captive slave in the mines of Angband where the strength and beauty of his body were ruined, and he lost a hand. But he escaped and was while in Taur-nu-Fuin he was found by Beleg who was looking for his friend Túrin. Gwindor helped Beleg located the Orc-band that kept the young Man, and the two Elves freed him; with Beleg tragically killed at that moment. Gwindor consoled Túrin in his grief and led him to Nargothrond.
Túrin was admitted in the Elven realm thanks to Gwindor, but now Gwindor was worn out and did not have the influence he had before hi capture. While Túrin stayed there, he gained much influence among the Elves of Nargothrond and even Finduilas fell in love with him, a fact that Gwindor accepted without bitterness for Túrin. But when Túrin talked about open warfare upon Morgoth's forces, Gwindor could see the incoming doom of Nargothrond approach and counselled against this, only to be ignored. Orodreth the King of Nargothrond built a bridge, which not only revealed the location of Nargothrond, but also the defense of the river Narog was lost.
Indeed, Gwindor was right and Glaurung with a band of Orcs came. The Elves were driven towards the plain of Tumhalad, were most of them, including King Orodreth and Gwindor, were slain in the Battle of Tumhalad. Before dying, he assigned the protection of Finduilas to Túrin, and that she alone could save him from the Curse of Morgoth; however his prophecy did not come to be, as Túrin failed to protect her.[2]
