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oaths to you。' And the brothers swore never to reveal the counsels of Turgon； and to keep secret an that they had seen in
his realm。 Then they took their leave； and the eagles ing bore them away by night； and set them down in Dor…lómin
before the dawn。 Their kinsfolk rejoiced to see them； for messengers from Brethil had reported that they were lost； but
they would not declare even to their father where they had been； save that they were rescued in the wilderness by the
eagles that brought them home。 But Galdor said： Did you then dwell a year in the wild？ Or did the eagles house you in
their eyries？ But you found food and fine raiment； and return as young princes； not as waifs of the wood。' And Húrin
answered： 'Be content that we have returned； for only under an oath of silence was this permitted。' Then Galdor
questioned them no more； but he and many others guessed at the truth； and in time the strange fortune of Húrin and Huor
reached the ears of the servants of Morgoth。
Now when Turgon learned of the breaking of the leaguer of Angband he would not suffer any of his own people
to issue forth to war； for he deemed that Gondolin was strong； and the time not yet ripe for its revealing。 But he believed
also that the ending of the Siege was the beginning of the downfall of the Noldor； unless aid should e； and he sent
panies of the Gondolindrim in secret to the mouths of Sirion and the Isle of Balar。 There they built ships； and set sail
into the uttermost West upon Turgon's errand； seeking for Valinor； to ask for pardon and aid of the Valar； and they
besought the birds of the sea to guide them。 But the seas were wild and wide； and shadow and enchantment lay upon
them； and Valinor was hidden。 Therefore none of the messengers of Turgon came into the West； and many were lost and
few returned； but the doom of Gondolin drew nearer。
Rumour came to Morgoth of these things； and he was unquiet amid his victories； and he desired greatly to learn
tidings of Felagund and Turgon。 For they had vanished out of knowledge； and yet were not dead； and he feared what
they might yet acplish against him。 Of Nargothrond he knew indeed the name； but neither its place nor its strength；
and of Gondolin he knew nothing； and the thought of Turgon troubled him the more。 Therefore he sent forth ever more
spies into Beleriand； but he recalled the main hosts of the Orcs to Angband； for he perceived that he could not yet make
a final and victorious battle until he had gathered new strength； and that he had not measured rightly the valour of the
Noldor nor the might in arms of the Men that fought beside them。 Great though his victory had been in the Bragollach
and in the years after； and grievous the harm that he had done to his enemies； his own loss had been no less； and though
he held Dorthonion and the Pass of Sirion； the Eldar recovering from their first dismay began now to regain what they
had lost。 Thus Beleriand in the south had a semblance of peace again for a few brief years； but the forges of Angband
were full of labour。
When seven years had passed since the Fourth Battle； Morgoth renewed his assault； and he sent a great force
against Hithlum。 The attack on the passes of the Shadowy Mountains was bitter； and in the siege of Eithel Sirion Galdor
the tall。 Lord of Dor…lómin； was slain by an arrow。 That fortress he held on behalf of Fingon the High King； and in that
same place his father Hador Lórindol died but a little time before。 Húrin his son was then newly e to manhood； but
he was great in strength both of mind and body； and he drove the Orcs with heavy slaughter from Ered Wethrin； and
pursued them far across the sands of Anfauglith。
But King Fingon was hard put to it to hold back the army of Angband that came down from the north； and battle
was Joined upon the very plains of Hithlum。 There Fingon was outnumbered； but the ships of Círdan sailed in great
strength up the Firth of Drengist； and in the hour of need the Elves of the Falas came upon the host of Morgoth from the
west。 Then the Orcs broke and fled； and the Eldar had the victory； and their horsed archers pursued them even into the
Iron Mountains。
Thereafter Húrin son of Galdor ruled the house of Hador in Dor…lómin； and served Fingon。 Húrin was of less
stature than his fathers； or his son after him； but he was tireless and enduring in body； lithe and swift after the manner of
his mothers kin； Hareth of the Haladin。 His wife was Morwen Eledhwen； daughter of Baragund of the house of B？or； she
who fled from Dorthonion with Rían daughter of Belegund and Emeldir the mother of Beren。
In that time also the outlaws of Dorthonion were destroyed； as is told hereafter； and Beren son of Barahir alone
escaping came hardly into Doriath。
Chapter 19
Of Beren and Lúthien
Among the tales of sorrow and of ruin that e down to us from the darkness of those days there are yet some in which
amid weeping there is joy and under the shadow of death light that endures。 And of these histories most fair still in the
ears of the Elves is the tale of Beren and Lúthien。 Of their lives was made the Lay of Leithian； Release from Bondage；
which is the longest save one of the songs concerning the world of old； but here is told in fewer words and without song。
It has been told that Barahir would not for sake Dorthonion； and there Morgoth pursued him to his death； until at
last there remained to him only twelve panions。 Now the forest of Dorthonion rose southward into mountainous
moors； and in the east of those highlands there lay a lake； Tarn Aeluin； with wild heaths about it； and all that land was
pathless and untamed； for even in the days of the Long Peace none had dwelt there。 But the waters of Tarn Aeluin were
held in reverence； for they were clear and blue by day and by night were a mirror for the stars； and it was said that
Melian herself had hollowed that water in the days of old。 Thither Barahir and his outlaws withdrew； and there made
their lair； and Morgoth could not discover it。 But the rumour of the deeds of Barahir and his panions went far and
wide； and Morgoth manded Sauron to find them and destroy them。
Now among the panions of Barahir was Gorlim son of Angrim。 His wife was named Eilinel； and their love
was great； ere evil befell。 But Gorlim returning from the war upon the marches found his house plundered and forsaken；
and his wife gone； whether slain or taken he knew not。 Then he fled to Barahir； and of panions his he was the most
fierce and desperate； but doubt gnawed his heart； thinking that perhaps Eilinel was not dead。 At times he would depart
alone and secretly； and visit his house that stood amid the fields and woods he had once possessed； and this became
known to the servants of Morgoth。
On a time of autumn he came in the dusk of evening； and drawing near he saw as he thought a light at the
window； and ing warily he looked within。 There he saw Eilinel； and her face was worn with grief and hunger； and it
seemed to him that he heard her voice lamenting that he had forsaken her。 But even as he cried aloud the lig