The Eyes and Ears of Melkor by Chilled in Hithlum

Chapter 6 The Lost Years

THERE HAS BEEN MUCH DEBATE AMONG THE WISE REGARDING THE TIME SPAN IN RELATION TO THE SUBSEQUENT EVENTS.  IT SEEMS THAT THE DATES GIVEN FOR THE YOUNG DAYS OF TUOR AND THE ACTIVITIES OF TURIN SINCE HIS RELEASE ARE AT VARIANCE.  HOWEVER THERE ARE CERTAIN POINTS IN THEIR LIVES THAT ARE FIXED AND WITH THIS IN MIND THE AUTHOR REGRETS ANY AMBIGUITY THAT MAY BE OFFERED IN THE FOLLOWING TEXT WITH REFERENCE TO THIS PROBLEM.

It has been told that Sauron forsook the encampment at Anfauglith as the Orcs made merry before the last stage of their journey to Angband.  The Elf captives were herded together, bound and linked by a long chain; Turin was separately tied up against a tree whilst under the influence of Sauron's narcotic.  When the Orcs unpacked their gear the Orb that they thought was lost fell out of the bag unnoticed; so now under the direction of Sauron, they erroneously believed that their present deeds were going unseen and that they would escape punishment for their non-compliance to Melkor.  They took to drinking and boasted of their perceived victory over the tyrant and hailed the cleverness of Sauron.  Hurin watched enraged at the ill-treatment of his son but he was also relieved to see him alive after a week of uncertainty and worry; his turmoil soon turned into joy as he witnessed the daring of Beleg Strongbow, whom he thought surely dead or in torment.  He also heard the scream of Sauron amid the lightning and saw the rousing and cowardice of the fleeing drunken Orcs, and he laughed in his heart.  Although none save Gwindor witnessed the tragic slaying of Beleg by Turin's hand, who in a confused stupor believed him to be an enemy, at the height of that terrible thunderstorm.  However, it was seen by all that Sauron returned to the camp the following morning and that he beheld the complete undoing of his plans and fled in terror.  Of the fate of Ibun nothing is told, but it can only be assumed that he was slain when the errand of Sauron failed.

For long Melkor sat in fury as each deception of Sauron reached his ears, but it also became apparent that he erred at the first by banishing him in his rash desire to punish Hurin.  He finally realised that he had lost his most valuable asset; for if Sauron was capable of such deceit in order regain favour then what would he able to do more in allegiance with Angband, and ever Melkor feared he would supplant him.  Furthermore his plans to occupy the southlands seemed to be always hampered by trifling rebellion and the ineffectiveness of his servants.  Even now he had not captured the Mithrim Elves, or penetrated Doriath, or drew out Nargothrond and still Turgon evaded him and he was wroth.  Vengeance against Hurin permanently disturbed his heart; Melkor resented him even the slightest bit of joy amid his torment and he looked for ways to fulfil the curse against the mocker and his kin, but now Turin was lost to him and once more his contentment was postponed.

The tale turns again to Hithlum and the places where Hurin still yearned to be; for even in the years prior when Turin was revealed to him he always looked upon his homeland in the hope of seeing his beloved Morwen and his kin.  But Morwen he still saw not, for even now the Orcs and Easterlings never dared to venture near her home thinking her a witch because of the strength of will that was in her, and in spite of everything she would not leave her home.  Rumours of her power passed through the locality thus Hurin knew that she lived and he was glad; he often said clearly "They will not conquer her," and he ever saw Morwen's semblance in the face and grey eyes of Turin and his love for her deepened the more.  Now the house closest to Morwen's, which was forever tantalisingly out of view, was occupied by Brodda the Easterling and Hurin's kinswoman Aerin; and as been already told she would succour those about her in need.  It chanced one day that Nienor was receiving a basket of food from her neighbour as she did in previous times, when Hurin heard Aerin say "Tell Morwen that Brodda is going abroad tomorrow and I will visit you and your mother then!"  At long last he recognised her as his daughter, who had blossomed into a beautiful young woman, and he wept tears of joy and sorrow.  Hurin often took thought for his nephew too, and he often looked towards Mithrim because he knew of Morgoth's desire to capture the Elves that fostered Tuor.  As the boy developed he learnt how to handle weapons, and though he was skilled with a bow he favoured the axe as did Huor his father.  Seeing him in these days reminded Hurin of his kin in Brethil; for Huor was of a similar age to that of his son when he and Hurin fought the Easterlings with Haldir their uncle, and when they became lost in the mists at the Brithiach and from there were taken by Thorondor to Gondolin.

Now after many years of spying on the Elves of Mithrim; the secret ways about the caves of Androth began to unravel before their enemies and life became ever harder for them, it was decided by Annael that they would again chance the road to the Mouths of Sirion.  Their leaving did not go unseen and they were ambushed by a great force of Orcs and Easterlings.  The main body of Elves managed to escape through hidden passageways, for this march had been long in the planning; but Tuor would not flee and he fought his foes with few friends about him.  Eventually he stood alone and slew many enemies but in time he was overcome by the greater force and taken captive.  Hurin grieved at this, remembering his own fate at the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, and he feared for Tuor who had not yet reached his full stature.  He was brought before Lorgan who, in hatred for the kin of Hador, kept Tuor as his own personal slave and dealt with him cruelly.  Now as has been told, Morgoth knew of Tuor's existence because he informed Hurin of the rumour of Rian's babe being left in the care of Elves; therefore it must have pleased him to leave the boy in the hands of Lorgan knowing that when Hurin looked on his homeland he would see one of his kin in thraldom.  Again Morgoth's malice overreached his aim because after three years Tuor escaped and returned to Androth; there he lived as an outlaw, like his cousin before him, and now approaching his early manhood he would at whiles assail his foes by stealth.  The days of Tuor became less evil when war was renewed in the south about the Guarded Plain, for unexpectedly Orodreth the Lord of Nargothrond changed his tactics of hidden ambush to open attack; this development was a boon to Morgoth for a bridge was built across the River Narog and Orodreth's halls were revealed to him.  Rumour came out that land of a mighty warrior known as The Mormegil; tall was he and dreadful to look upon for his was arrayed in black with a golden Dwarf-Mask and well nigh impenetrable Dwarf-Armour, he wielded a black sword with pale fire at its edges named Gurthang, Iron of Death.  Many Orcs were brought from Hithlum to join the war and many quailed at the oncoming of the Mormegil, and few believed that ‘The Black Sword' could be slain in battle.  During the war Morwen and Nienor fled from Dor-Lomin and Tuor left the caves of Androth; although Hurin did not witness their leaving it would not be the last time he saw them again, and always he looked out for any news of Turin since his rescue by Beleg Strongbow.