The Eyes and Ears of Melkor by Chilled in Hithlum

Chapter 17 The Final Report

Many months passed before Melkor received further word regarding the movements of Hurin; and since the archaic method of ‘Surveillance by Rover' had served him so well before, he felt no need to alter it.  However during this time of waiting he was not idle, and long did he scheme against Turgon; he sent forth many minions upon on spying errands about the regions of the encircling mountains, but all the ways of Gondolin were shut to them, and indeed if any did return to Angband they did so with empty mouths.  But Melkor was patient and had many legions of Orcs and thralls at his disposal; therefore he fretted not, and he knew that if he never took his eyes from that territory then he would surely glean some usable news of the true whereabouts of his foe.  Now, the summer of the year of Hurin's release had long passed into winter when the second party of Hurin's hunters returned to Angband.  They came with great trepidation, since the rumour of the fate of Captain Toff had long since been spread abroad with many embroidered additions; and the scouting Orcs understandably feared that this reflected poorly upon them.  Indeed, on their arrival they endured many rigorous and intrusive examinations to determine their true Orkishness; little did they know then, that all in the service of Melkor were encouraged to do the same without being told why, and those which refused or did not attend at the time appointed to them, were classified as traitors and assumed to be Elves.  Alas, many ‘innocents and ignorants' suffered under this new and unwelcome directive. 

However, the returning Orcs all received a clean bill of health and were instructed to wear red rags about their arms at all times whilst walking within the confines of Angband; this was but a part of Melkor's new edict.  At length, their Chief Orc was admitted before the Dark Lord of the North, who began unenthusiastically; "Before we proceed, I take it that you have fully appraised your predecessor's report, you have been fed and watered, so there will no need for any delays?"

"Yes, Lord; no, Lord," stammered the hefty Orc, "Thank you Lord, that is, I am very comfortable."

"Then you may begin," said Melkor.

So doing; he said in monotone, "I agree with everything that was said in Captain Toff's report..."

"Thrall Toff," interjected Melkor.

"Yes, Lord; sorry Lord," said the Orc, nervously wringing his hands. 

"Yes Lord, no Lord, I am scared stiff, Lord; get on with it!" barked Melkor.

"Yes, Lord," he began unwittingly, and wincing he said; "When Cap, er, the others left us to carry on with the mission we knew that we would not be able to follow Hurin because of the stationed Men at the crossing.  We decided instead to spread out into the forest; and once we had found a suitable base of operation, which was not easy as we had to burrow underground while making it look like the land above was not disturbed..."

Melkor yawned as the Orc droned on with unnecessary details, and he almost wished that the more eloquent Toff were there in his place; "...And since none of us were gardeners, we did not do too badly," heard Melkor after a minute of not listening.  He was tempted to bawl at him again but this would only serve to make him nervous, leading to more intolerable ‘Yes Lords, No Lords'; therefore, Melkor was doomed to listen to this tedium for hours as yet uncounted.  Still, the Orc was very thorough with his facts and Melkor learnt much from him; here follows in part the information that was painstakingly conveyed to the Lord of Angband.

A change had come over Brethil within the last year; for a dispute arose regarding who held the lordship of those lands since the death of Brandir, and the resolving of this matter was not to everybody's satisfaction.  The new Chieftain, one Hardang, welcomed not any outsiders into his province and had no love for the House of Hador; especially those which claimed fealty to Turin Turambar or his kin, howsoever valiant their renown.  It was under these conditions that Hurin's companions were seized and led before Hardang; and it was his ruling to expel them beyond his borders nigh to Doriath, blindfolded and under guard.  Therefore, they missed Hurin's return from Dimbar and the Encircling Mountains; and since they had honestly reported who they were travelling with, the Men of Hithlum were accordingly held at bay outside Brethil and could not warn their lord of any potential danger that may befall him.  Now, it has been told that Hurin entered into Brethil unhindered, appearing to the March Wardens of Teiglin as a phantom; for he came as one in an otherworldly deathly swoon, desperately seeking  for his wife, who called to him now in dreams.  Hurin had walked thus for several leagues since awaking in a daze at the foot of Turgon's heavily concealed mountain doorway; and now he traversed the perilous ravines along the southern reaches of Brethil until he arrived at the place where Glaurung met his doom.  In the meantime, orders reached the western outliers that if one came within the boundaries of the forest calling himself Hurin then he should be taken and led before Hardang.  Hence a small company was sent out after him but they found him not; however the despatch proved unnecessary, for Hurin returned to Teiglin and laid him to sleep by the mound of Finduilas, and there he was found at first light.  

The long diagonal journey from the Crossings of Teiglin to the Halls of Hardang was always hazardous and this time it proved particularly strenuous; for the Forest Men were hampered by a stumbling and belligerent old man.  Although Hurin's demeanour ingratiated him little with the company; there was one who was chief among them, Manthor brother of Hunthor, who remembered the allegiances of old and treated the aged warrior with due respect, he even tried to assist Hurin over difficult terrain but the curmudgeon proved too obstinate to help.  Now it was on this expedition that they were espied by the Orc party tracking Hurin who stealthily followed them on their north-easterly way.  At length they arrived at the newly refortified stronghold of Obel Halad that stood slightly north of the old stockade.  Its main feature was the Hall of the Chieftains which was in a courtyard enclosed by an earthen wall with a strong gate.  And at the rear there was a meeting place enclosed by a fence of high logs with sharpened crests; this was carved into the side of the hill and surrounded by seven tiers of seats in a horseshoe shape.  It was said that Hardang removed his seat from Ephel Brandir and re-established Obel Halad since a natural successor could not be found after Brandir's childless death.  In this he feigned that his actions were done out respect whilst the people grieved for their fallen lord, and to give them time to select a new chieftain; but many complained to no avail that he was too quick in assuming power and forming his own alternative government without due process. 

News of Hurin's coming reached Hardang long before his arrival and he awaited him with mounting unease; he sat for long hours pondering what ill may befall his leadership, for he knew that those who opposed him still honoured the Edain.  Thus he treated the wanderer with suspicion, and afterwards with discourtesy when Hurin defied him; then after a heated exchange, Hurin cast a stool at Hardang that smote his head and was consequently taken prisoner.  He was held in a dungeon in the dank caverns below whilst awaiting the judgement of Hardang.  Many claimed that it would be just to immediately slay the ‘embittered old fool' for assaulting their chieftain in this way; but Hardang was craftier than that and he saw an opportunity to unify the people behind him by deferring Hurin's fate to their will.  The day of arbitration was set for three days hence; thus, the heads of every household in Brethil were summoned to convene at the Moot-Ring at Obel Halad.  In this time, and after initial resistance and much pleading; Manthor persuaded Hurin to allow him to represent the old man at the hearing.  Now, the rumour of Hurin's trail had increased daily and many more people than were necessary arrived at Obel Halad, and most of Brethil's villages were  emptied; it seemed to all that everybody was there, save for those required to patrol the borders.  

The Moot-Ring soon swelled to capacity and many people were shut out, being forced to watch the proceedings from gaps in the log fence or to best find whatever vantage point they could; here the hooded Orcs easily blended in with the noisy crowd.  There was great murmuring and booing as Hurin was led forth into the courtyard; although many later maintained that this was because he appeared ill-treated and was held in bonds, even before being convicted.  In the centre of the ring lay a great flat stone where the Halad would sit in judgement; however, since Hardang was the Halad and could not by law recite a crime against his own self he needed another to do this in his stead.  For this task he hastily chose, Avranc son of Dorlas; this choice was unpopular among the elders since the young man was often haughty and insolent, yet he had found the favour Hardang by spreading malice and acting as an unsanctioned spy.  Avranc accused Hurin of being an emissary out of Angband with evil intent, which manifested itself in an attempt on Hardang's life.  Hurin made no reply and Avranc took this as a sign to proclaim his guilt to the crowd, and called for his death; but Manthor protested that the prisoner's silence was due to his being unfairly fettered, which went against the customs of the land.  Hardang noted that the crowd muttered restlessly against this and he ordered that Hurin should be released, much to Avranc's chagrin.  Hurin addressed the crowd by stating his name and his deeds, and he angrily renounced the court and its disrespect toward him.  Avranc and Hardang made no protest, believing that Hurin was sealing his own fate; but Manthor courteously restrained him whilst proclaiming that Hurin was provoked in his attack on the Halad.  He named Avranc ‘Runagate' since he was there present at Hurin's finding and under Manthor's command; but he deserted his post and overtook them in order to cast Hurin in a poor light before his master, when indeed it was he, Avranc, that misused the then witless old man with cruel words and wicked counsel among his colleagues.  Manthor claimed also that Hurin's food had been drugged during his incarceration, and called upon witnesses to confirm this since he had tested his theory on the jailor's dog.  He told of the scorn with which Hardang treated Hurin in his hall, when one of such close kin to greater lords of Brethil should have been received with honour and respect.  Pandemonium arose among the assembly, but when Manthor settled them down there was clearly heard the voice of Hardang saying that he should have let Avranc shoot Manthor with an arrow when he had previously asked; to which the crowd demanded Hurin‘s freedom and the removal of Hardang from the office of Halad.

Hurin mounted the Doom-Rock where stood Hardang and Avranc, but instead of facing them directly he turned towards the crowd and rebuked them, stating that since his children had died in this land then surely it would be natural for a father to seek their graves; moreover, he noted that whilst he had been in Brethil not one person had ever spoke their names to him.  He shamed those that were in power at the time of the threat of the Great Worm, in which they were ready to let Turin fight Glaurung but did nothing afterwards to aid him; claiming that some of griefs that followed may have been prevented.  He asserted that none in Brethil could match his son in valour and offered a father's forgiveness to those that bore him no ill will.  However, he would not forgive the fact that he found an old beggar-woman in the shade of the standing stone erected in honour of Turin and Nienor, who was left neglected there to die there as an outcast.  This woman he named as Morwen Eledhwen, his wife; and Hurin alleged that since Hardang had treated him such as a pariah, then it must have been he who commanded that Morwen meet the same fate, but she starved and died of exposure.  Many there assembled pitied Hurin and offered him gifts of penitence; however Hardang, abashed and afraid, edged himself away and Hurin lunged for him so that he retreated with speed to his guardsmen, and surrounded he pulled back toward the gate.  Several people took this as an admission of Hardang's guilt and took out their weapons against the Halad; yet there were others who remained loyal and readied themselves to defend him, at least until these charges were properly heard.

Manthor did his failing best to prevent bloodshed by standing between the baying groups with raised arms; but his cries were lost amid the noise, and indeed those in rebellion against Hardang took his gestures as a call to arms.  The people gathered outside fled in panic as the gate collapsed under the weight of the ensuing battle; alas, many fell in melee but Hardang escaped with most of his company to Obel Halad ere his pursuers caught up and surrounded his hall.  An anxious silence descended about the place and Manthor took his opportunity to parley with the besieged Hardang; he called for an end to the kin-slaying and began to maintain a semblance of calm.  Unfortunately as he was finalising arrangements to reconvene at the Moot-Ring; Avranc, from a window, fired a short past his ear and wrath erupted once more, there was a rush on the great doors and many fell, pierced by arrows from above.  But the people without were many, being now swelled in numbers by the onlookers, and the Halad's arrows could not puncture them all; maddened with anger, they came with great store of wood which they piled against the earthen wall encompassing the hall.  They gave the inhabitants until nightfall to come out; otherwise they would burn the grand old wooden structure to the ground, with them inside.  After sunset nobody emerged, so the people piled the wood against the hall and set it ablaze amid a shower of wild arrows; in this deed only Manthor stood aside, lamenting its wickedness.  As the fire spread many indeed surrendered, but Hardang and Avranc sought to flee via the back door; but they were espied and pursued, and Avranc being younger and fitter made good his escape but Hardang fell, being speared in the back.  Before he died he was brought before Hurin who looked down upon him with a sneer; Hardang returned his gaze and told him that he knew in his heart that the coming of the Lord of Dor-Lomin would bring forth his doom and this he told him also, that the last accusation against him was false but before he could elaborate, he died.  Hurin took this as Hardang's final malice ere his death, but Manthor standing close at hand thought otherwise; he doubted not Hurin's account of where she lay, rather it was because of this that he believed Hardang.  He told Hurin that ever since the raising of the Stone of the Hapless, that place was now hallowed in memory of his children and out of reverence nobody dared to tread foot nigh to that spot; however, because their mother now lay there he would find folk of the purest hearts to assist in her interment.

The following morning the folk of Brethil called upon Manthor to claim the mantle of the Halad but he refused, for now; stating that the matter should be taken up properly in the Moot-Ring which required sanctification after its despoilment, furthermore he had the funeral of Morwen to coordinate.  Therefore, the burial party went in slow procession down to the site of the burning with Manthor and Hurin in the van.  They reached that hallowed place in the early evening and there they did Morwen great honour in death, in recompense for her abandonment in life; there she was laid to rest beside her valiant son and her name was added to the stone.  Hurin declared that dread had now left this place, and it was his wish that it should become a spot for those to come to find solace for a grieving heart; for Morwen's search was over and she was with Turin at last.  Hurin thanked Manthor for his kindness, telling him to return to his folk and accept their offer of leadership; for now Hurin's errand in Brethil was complete and he would depart west over the Crossings of Teiglin.  Alas as they said farewell, a secret arrow fatally wounded Manthor and ere his death he saw Avranc fleeing through the trees; there were none present that were able to pursue, but his face was marked by all and justice would not be far behind him.  So it was that Hurin went from Brethil in sadness and he deemed also that his own shadow was not far behind him; and even so it came to pass, for the Orc party had rarely let him out of their sights and wherever he went they would follow.

The Orcs now marked the route by which Hurin would leave, but they knew that they would have to go out the way they came because of the strength of Men at the Haudh-en-Elleth.  At the crossing, Hurin was greeted by his companions; for they were discovered prowling about the southern eaves of the forest and escorted there at the request of Manthor that previous night.  Now, it was long past sunset and the foresters urged Hurin and his companions to stay in their shelter overnight so that they might continue refreshed the next morning.  At the urging of the others, Hurin reluctantly consented to this but his decision proved an ill, for the scouting Orcs readily spotted their going as they set upon the Old South Road to Nargothrond.  This presented the Orcs with further problems given that for the most part the road lay on open plains in which the traveller has wide views.  Therefore the Orc party were forced further north, and they went up river in all haste to the sources of Narog and south again on the opposite side.  The spies were fortunate in that Hurin's company did not waver from the road, and because of their leader's age they travelled at a considerably slower pace. So it was after three days the agents of Melkor arrived in time to see Hurin being assisted across the foaming river over the dangerous stones of the broken bridge that his son had once raised.  Once they were safely over to the other side the sight of new repaired doors surprised them and Hurin's companions stood aside as he purposefully smote upon the door.  To his great displeasure Mim answered demanding to know his intent; Hurin demanded entry to Felagund's House but the Petty Dwarf denied him, stating that it was his folk who delved there first and since he was last of the line the hall and all its contents were his.  Hurin grew wrathful, stating who he was and that he knew of Mim's betrayal of his son; the Dwarf cowered and begged for his life but the father of Turin drew his sword and slew Mim where he stood, Hurin then bade his attendants to cast him over the edge of the gorge of Narog where his small body would be dashed on the rocks and rushing waters below.  So they entered into the now dank and noisome Nargothrond, formerly a place of light and beauty; and the door remained shut for three nights, the Orcs set a watch upon it so that any movement in or out could be well marked.

However secrecy was not their aim, for on the fourth day the friends emerged with seven hastily crafted handcarts each laden with heavy caskets; Hurin though, came out last carrying a cobalt bag brocaded with gold filigree, in which the shape of a flat square box could easily be discerned.  They followed the River Narog north for two exhausting days until they reached its sources at the fresh springs below the mountains at Eithel Ivrin.  They built there an encampment and after food and rest a scout was sent forth to find a suitable cavern in the Ered Wethrin where they might stash their haul.  At last when all was ready, Hurin declared that he would take his leave of them forever and he presented his share of the treasure to them in reward for their service to him, save only the contents of the velvet bag.  To this they greedily consented and only one of them, Asgon, offered continued aid to Hurin; but the old man said, "They say you were born with good luck my friend, and it seems to have rubbed off on your associates.  No, dear Asgon, I must now go on alone: unburdened.  My final road is clear ahead and I fear that it would bring ill fortune, even to you my truest and most loyal companion.  Therefore I go now with a happy heart, safe in the knowledge that the treasures of Valinor rest not in the hands of treacherous Dwarves, or foul Worms or even the foulest himself, Morgoth.  Farewell."

Hurin went away east under the shadow of the mountains but not all the Orcs followed him; for his the final words stirred them to anger and they sought to bring the treasure to Angband in Hurin's spite.  Therefore the two quickest Orcs were ordered to follow Hurin until nightfall and after he fell asleep one would return stating his location.  Meanwhile the remaining Orcs waited for an hour after Hurin's departure from Eithel Ivrin and they ambushed and cruelly slew Asgon and his friends.  They loaded the booty onto the carts and followed Hurin in the same fashion, using swift runners to report his whereabouts each night.  Melkor was most pleased by their actions and it went greatly in the reporting Orc's favour; explaining also why it had taken so long for them to return with news.  Now, Hurin came again through the Vale of Sirion and nigh to the eaves of Brethil, he remembered to valour of Manthor but he did not stop there; he crossed the Brithiach into Dimbar and he remembered the Eagles of the Crissaegrim but he did not look to the sky, he went instead downriver to the Twilight Meres nigh to the west marches of Doriath and there he sought the admission of the king.  Here the Orc's report ended for none could enter therein save only by Thingol's will; moreover the way became too perilous, for indeed the runners had been spotted and one barely escaped alive in time to testify Hurin's last movements.  Luckily for the Orcs, they were able to conceal themselves and their cargo before an Elven hunting party came in pursuit; in which they only found the dead deserted Orc with no visible tracks around him, thus they came at length to Angband and this was the last time that Melkor would hear sure news of the wanderings of Hurin, but the tale of the son of Galdor does not end here.