The Eyes and Ears of Melkor by Chilled in Hithlum

Chapter 12 The Golden Summer

Hurin watched with increasing relief and gratitude as Nienor's health returned; respect for the son of his cousin grew and he thought him a wise and kindly man, Hurin also sensed that Brandir's compassion towards his daughter had deepened and he saw well the love light that shone in his eyes.  Conversely, the father did not perceive the same feelings from his daughter, but she was still weak in those days and her confusion was great.  In these matters Brandir was always on hand to tend to her needs and he taught her much in the identification of things.  The spring turned ever fairer and after a month the patient emerged from her rest; she stepped out linking the arm of her healer into the village on the verdant hill, brilliant in glittering low sun.  Brandir said to those assembled at his threshold, "Behold! Our Niniel is healed, she has surfaced from the shadow that lies behind her and is now a lady of Brethil."  She shrank into the shoulder of Brandir as the villagers applauded heartily, but her heart leapt as she glanced up and saw Turambar among the group smiling warmly towards her.  This sensation was palpable to Hurin and he felt sure that in her heart she recognised her brother, but he acknowledged to himself that in her mind she did not; furthermore, Hurin knew that they had never met as siblings but he saw in his son the same kindness and protective instinct that Turin bore for his first sister.

The womenfolk of Ephel Brandir took kindly to Niniel, for she was as an innocent child without device or motive, and she was eager to learn all that they would teach.  They would take her for prolonged woodland-walks in the glorious summer days of that year and at length she discovered all the names that she had lost.  It seemed to her that the sunlight illuminated every new word and emblazoned it into her memory; there was peace in Brethil in those days and Niniel walked in the security the guarded forest and in the gladness of her new found friends.  Now, it has been told that Brandir was club-footed and of gentle temper, for this reason when Niniel would walk at whiles with him in the forests they linked arms and their pace was slow; however, he would expand on what she had already learnt and patiently show her the ways of the living world.  He was an erudite and forbearing leader but he was unlovely, and it seemed to many that this was the foremost reason that he had no wife; but there was much talk among the villagers regarding the close bond between their chief and the foundling girl, and since she remained in his house it was hoped by several folk that she would indeed become The Lady of Brethil.  Yet for all this Niniel was not merry, she would not laugh unless she found herself perchance in the company of Turambar making japes with the other Forest-Wardens.

Turin too had found a semblance of happiness in Brethil; for it seemed to him that he regained some honour among valiant allies, since it was he who saved them from the Orc ambush at his coming to these lands.  Yet his arrival on that day was not greeted with gladness by all, for when Brandir first met Turin in his wild desolation a black foreboding descended on the Lord of Brethil and he declared the wayfarer as ‘The last bane of our people."  Dorlas and the others protested, telling Brandir of his great deed in assisting them, of his grief at the loss of Finduilas and that he was none other than the mighty Mormegil of Nargothrond.  Brandir's mood softened and he took Turin into his care; thus, as it was with Gwindor so it was with Brandir, Turin was healed of his woes and by early spring he became hale again.  It was then that he took his new name, Turambar, and he entreated with Brandir and the others to be counted of one of the Brethilim and when this was done he swore allegiance to them.  He could by right claim kinship with Brandir through his father's lineage but Turin for that time renounced his kin, deeming them safe with Thingol and Melian, and he wished to leave behind him the evil shadows of his past.  He set aside his black sword and took up the bow and spear as was the wont of the woodsmen; this did not mean that his courage had forsaken him, on the contrary he fiercely guarded the Crossings of Teiglin, and he contested with and slew any Orcs that came nigh to the Haudh-en-Elleth.  The warriors of Brethil, out of esteem and love, would follow him into any affray and their hearts were high within them. 

Hurin's contentment augmented throughout that year as his children's sorrows melted away in the golden heat of the summer; once again he recalled his earlier advice to Morwen to send Turin to Brethil as a child and now he deemed his judgement was good.  Like his son he reasoned that it would have been better if his kind had not meddled in the greater affairs of the Elves, and at this time Hurin regretted his own valour which had led him to such a fate and he cursed his enemies, wishing now for a simpler life.  Melkor also felt refreshed, for he took his own advice and rested easy in his pit; furthermore, the time for Glaurung's waking drew near and there was much to discuss ere the final stroke.  Even in Angband the warmth of that season was felt and across all the lands nobody rushed as the lingering summer strolled lazily towards a dazzlingly beautiful autumn.

Gold gave way to red and purple as the days shortened in the ripening of the year and, though the heats were never oppressive, the nights were now tempered by a gentle breeze.  Niniel delighted in walking alone in this climate and on such an evening she happened upon Turambar undertaking sentry duty; he sat by a tree atop a hill with a gentle slope that overlooked the Teiglin, he was watching the dancing silver flickers of reflected moonlight on the river as she silently sat beside him.  At length Niniel stated that she did not know his name and they both laughed, wondering how this could be after all this time.  He paused for a moment when she asked what his name portended, and told her it meant ‘Master of Dark Shadow'; saying that he too had lost precious things in a darkness which lay behind him, but like her he too had seemingly overcome the shadow.  Niniel inquired if his flight from darkness led him to Brethil as it had her, and Turambar confirmed this; they both agreed that their days had brightened since they met and that they had found peace of mind.  Hurin now fully discerned his daughter's attraction to this man without mistake and he was dismayed; he tried desperately to read his son's face but only saw an expression of bemusement, for Turin was recalling the day when he found Niniel on the mound of Finduilas and wondering if this event was a sign of fate, up until that moment this cold thought had not ruled him.  Presently, Hunthor arrived to relieve a restless Turambar who departed without a word to his friend or visitor.  Hunthor said, "The hour grows late my lady, shall I send for an escort to see you home safely?" but Niniel shook her head in stunned silence and fled in tears towards the lights of Ephel Brandir.