Summary
Tuor son of Huor (born after his father died at the Nirnaeth Arnoediad) was fostered by some of the Sindar who lived still in hiding in Hithlum. But when they decided to abandon Hithlum and make for the Havens of Sirion, their party was attacked by Orcs and Easterlings, and Tuor was taken prisoner.
For three years he was a slave to the Easterlings. Eventually he escaped and lived as an outlaw, harassing the Easterlings. This lasted four years until Ulmo set in Tuor's heart that it was time to leave, and he left Dor-lómin and made his way secretly to deserted Nevrast, where Turgon had lived before he moved to Gondolin. In Turgon's abandoned hall of Vinyamar he found the sword, shield, helmet, and mail that Ulmo had told Turgon to leave there centuries before, which Tuor put on. A storm blew in out of the West, and in the storm Ulmo appeared in majesty. Ulmo spoke to Tuor and bid him find his way to Gondolin.
In the morning the storm had passed, and Tuor found the Elf Voronwë of Gondolin upon the shore. Voronwë had been on the last of the ships Turgon sent west to try to reach Valinor - the others had all been lost, and his own ship as well, but Voronwë himself had been saved by Ulmo. When he heard what Tuor had to say, Voronwë agreed to guide him to Gondolin. Along the way they passed the Pools of Irvin, which had been defiled by Glaurang on his way to Nargothrond. They spotted Túrin hurrying northward to try to rescue Morwen and Nienor, per Glaurang's lies. Túrin didn't see Tuor, and Tuor didn't know who Túrin was, but this was the closest the two cousins ever came to meeting.
Voronwë led Tuor to the hidden gates of Gondolin, and they were taken as captives before Ecthelion of the Fountain, warden of the gates. But Ecthelion recognized the arms and armor Tuor bore as the ones that Turgon had left behind when they departed Nevrast, and knew that Tuor must be the messenger Ulmo had promised long ago. Tuor was brought before Turgon (with Maeglin and Idril Celebrindal at his side) and gave Ulmo's message: the Doom of Mandos was nearing its final fulfillment, and Turgon should abandon Gondolin and flee down Sirion to the great sea.
Centuries ago Ulmo had warned Turgon about pride, and the dangers of loving too well the works of their hands, and that the only hope they had in the end came from Valinor. But Turgon greatly loved his city, and trusted to its secrecy. And Maeglin argued against leaving as well. So Turgon decided not to leave, but in fear of treason he ordered the one secret path into Gondolin destroyed.
Tuor stayed in Gondolin, and he and Idril fell in love. His standing with Turgon was so high that Turgon blessed the union, remembering what Huor had forseen at the Unnumbered Tears: from their two lines would come hope for Elves and Men. Maeglin, who had long wanted his cousin, was exceedingly jealous. Soon afterwards Idril gave birth to Eärendil Halfelven.
Thanks to Húrin's despairing cries, Morgoth knew in what region Gondolin was hidden, and the area was filled with spies (though Thorondor and the eagles kept the secret from being discovered). But Idril had a Bad Feeling About This, and had a secret escape prepared in case of trouble.
Maeglin, wandering in secret beyond the encircling mountains, was caught by Orcs and taken to Angband. Morgoth promised that Maeglin would be king of Gondolin after Morgoth conquered it, and that Maeglin would get Idril. Maeglin agreed to show Morgoth where the city was hidden, and after doing so returned to Gondolin as an enemy agent.
When Morgoth was ready, he launched his assault upon Gondolin with an army or Orcs, Balrogs, and dragons. There were many deeds of valor in defense of the city - special mention goes to Ecthelion, who fought Gothmog the lord of the Balrogs, and they killed each other - but Gondolin was doomed.. Tuor tried to get Idril and Eärendil out, but Maeglin had gotten to her first. Tuor and Maeglin fought, and Tuor threw Maeglin from the walls of the city.
Tuor and Idril led what survivors they could gather out via Idril’s secret escape route, but they were ambushed by Orcs and a Balrog. Glorfindel’s duel with the Balrog was legendary, and ultimately both died. The eagles drove back the Orcs, Thorondor retrieved Glorfindel’s body for burial, and Tuor and Idril were able to lead the survivors out of the mountains and, eventually, to the Mouths of Sirion where they joined with the survivors of Doriath Elwing had led there. With the fall of Turgon, Ereinion Gil-galad son of Fingon assumed the High Kingship of the Noldor.
Morgoth was satisfied that his triumph was complete. Four of the Sons of Fëanor were still out there, but they didn’t worry Morgoth. He didn’t regret the loss of the Silmaril, because its presence among the Eldar had done so much to help him, and the Oath of Fëanor had only ever worked in his favor. He ignored the survivors of the Eldar and Edain at the Mouths of Sirion, trusting to the Oath of Fëanor to tidy up for him.
Ulmo went to Valinor and pled with the Valar to forgive the Noldor and come to the aid of Elves and Men, but Manwë was unmoved. The time was not yet come, and would only come when a messenger would reach Valinor who could speak for both Elves and Men.
Eventually Tuor felt his old age approaching, and he gave in to the longing of his heart and built a ship. He and Idril sailed west, and passed out of all tales. It is said that Tuor alone, of all mortal Men, is counted among the Elves, and his fate is different from that of the rest of the race of Men.
Commentary
Once more, for the people in the back:
ALWAYS. LISTEN. TO. ULMO.
In the event that the Lord of the Waters ever shows up and offers you advice, be it on tax deductions, purchasing a car, the proper wine to pair with sea bass, or how to delay the Doom of Mandos, listen to him. I made a handy flow chart to consult in case you get confused.. Manwë himself could have used it at times.
But seriously Turgon. Ulmo warned you before you left Nevrast that this was going to happen. He had you leave arms and armor made to fit Tuor personally long before Men had reached Beleriand. He warned you not to get too enamored of your handiwork, and that it was doomed no matter what. And still Turgon chose to ignore the warning.
Maeglin, you slimy little fuck. I take comfort in knowing that not only did Tuor throw you off the walls, you bounced three times off the hill of rock before you hit the plains.
And so the Doom of Mandos marches on. Everything the Noldor built in Middle-earth has been destroyed, and Doriath and the Edain were dragged down with them. All that’s left is the survivors out of Gondolin and Doriath huddled by the Mouth of Sirion, Círdan and his people at their refuge on the Isle of Balar, and whatever refugees are still hiding in the countryside (which includes Maedhros and three of his brothers).
The fall of Gondolin hits hard. It’s one of the very first things that Tolkien wrote, as it happens. Gondolin was the greatest kingdom of the Elves in Middle-earth, a rival to Tirion-upon-Túna itself. It was the strongest and fairest, and also (not inappropriately) the last. Turgon was a pretty cool dude overall, even if he was an idiot at the end. And it fell through treachery - the only Elf to ever choose willingly to serve Morgoth, as far as I know. And he did so primarily because he wanted his cousin (roll Tide) and was jealous of Tuor.
Ecthelion and Glorfindel: kicking ass and taking names. I will always maintain that cutting Glorfindel was a very smart choice on Peter Jackson’s part, but he is a character that deserves major respect. And Gothmog, Lord of the Balrogs, is no more, though the Lord of the Fountains had to die to do it.
So as I said, the surviving remnants of the Eldar are huddled by the Mouths of Sirion, which includes Elwing and the Silmaril. And as I’ve mentioned several times now, the Sons of Fëanor are still out there. Surely we’re done with tragedy now, though, right? I mean, things can’t get worse, right?
They can get worse. Of course they can get worse.
Next time, we wrap up Quenta Silmarillion proper with the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath.
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