The Coming of Glaurung

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The Children of Húrin chapters
  1. The Childhood of Túrin
  2. The Battle of Unnumbered Tears
  3. The Words of Húrin and Morgoth
  4. The Departure of Túrin
  5. Túrin in Doriath
  6. Túrin among the Outlaws
  7. Of Mîm the Dwarf
  8. The Land of Bow and Helm
  9. The Death of Beleg
  10. Túrin in Nargothrond
  11. The Fall of Nargothrond
  12. The Return of Túrin to Dor-lómin
  13. The Coming of Túrin into Brethil
  14. The Journey of Morwen and Niënor
  15. Niënor in Brethil
  16. The Coming of Glaurung
  17. The Death of Glaurung
  18. The Death of Túrin

The Coming of Glaurung is the sixteenth chapter of The Children of Húrin.

Synopsis

Since his coming to Nargothrond, Glaurung grow both in size and power, as many Orcs were under his command. Hearing about the free Woodmen of Brethil, the dragon started Orc attacks on that land, and it was the third year of the coming of Túrin to Brethil. However, he kept the word given to Níniel and didn't go to war, but the Orcs were stronger and fiercer than previous groups, and Dorlas and his men suffered great damage.

"The Coming of Glaurung" by Alan Lee

Seeing that the enemy had entered the woods, Turambar took his sword Gurthang, and with his help the men took courage and the Orcs were completely defeated. When Glaurung heared the news, got furious, but remained quiet and thoughtful, and so the winter passed in peace. Thus the Men of Brethil became confident and happy, but Turambar knew the day he would face his fate was near, so he sent far away many explorers, as he was now in charge of Brethil, and nobody obeyed Brandir.

At spring, Níniel got pregnant and became pale and sad. Bad news came to Brethil that time: there was a great forest fire in the Guarded Plain, and soon they knew it was Glaurung heading north, burning everything in his path. Turambar was doubtfull about what to do, and only decided a plan at summer, when it was known that Glaurung was coming stright to the Teiglin.

Turambar explained his plain to the Men of Brethil: they wouldn't attack the dragon as an army, and most of the men should stay in Ephel Brandir and be prepared to run away if the dragon reached there. These words left the men completely consternated, but Turambar conforted them reminding how Azaghâl hurt the dragon during the Nirnaeth. He would do the same: pierce the dragon's belly till death, and for this he only needed a few brave men. Only two answered Turambar's call, although no more were needed: Dorlas and Hunthor.

Therefore the three men went to Nen Girith, where Turambar's explorers informed them about how Glaurung in its angry was coming in a stright line and didn't turn to the Crossings of the Taeglin, so he would have to cross the river through the ravine of Cabed-en-Aras. This was a steep and dangerous ravine, but Turambar decided to go down it right before the dragon crosses it from above.

Meanwhile, Níniel talked with Brandir full of fear, and he couldn't confort her, so she decided to follow Turambar instead of waiting for news. Many followed her, wishing to know the result of the confrontation, as many had great hope in the Black Sword. This group arrived to Nen Girith at dusk, and many of them repented of approaching the danger with such haste.

When the imprudent had group left Amon Obel, Brandir felt insulted and renounced his lordship. Thereby he left the settlement to follow his beloved Níniel, limping towards the Western border of Brethil.