Apr 26

Apr 26 Guide to The Silmarillion: Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin (Ch. 23)

Chapter Twenty-three: Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin

Of Tuor

The son of Huor, brother of Húrin, was named Tuor and was raised by Annael of the Grey-elves. When he was 16, he was taken and enslaved by Lorgan, chief of the Easterlings in Hithlum. After three years, he escaped. When he had lived as an outlaw for four years, Ulmo put it on Tuor’s heart to seek out Gondolin.

Tuor came to Nevrast, where Ulmo arose from the waters and spoke to Tuor: “And Ulmo bade him depart from that place and seek out the hidden kingdom of Gondolin; and he gave Tuor a great cloak, to mantle him in shadow from the eyes of his enemies.”

Tuor met Voronwë, and they traveled to Gondolin together. Tuor stood before Turgon and warned him that the Curse of Mandos was now drawing near and urged him to depart from Gondolin and go down Sirion to the Sea. But Turgon’s pride did not allow him to accept this counsel.

Tuor remained in Gondolin, where he married Idril; Maeglin hated Tuor because he had loved Idril. Tuor and Idril bore a son, Eärendil Halfelven.

In this time, Morgoth continued to desperately seek Gondolin, and Idril built a secret path that would lead out of Gondolin in case of emergency.

The Betrayal of Maeglin

A time came when Maeglin had traveled outside the realm of Gondolin and was taken as prisoner to Angband. Maeglin purchased his life and freedom by telling Morgoth the location of Gondolin. In return, Maeglin was promised the lordship of Gondolin as Morgoth’s vassal and the possession of Idril.

The Fall of Gondolin

When Eärendil was seven years old, Morgoth attacked Gondolin. Ecthelion and Turgon both fell in battle. Tuor fought Maeglin and cast him down (remember what doom Maeglin’s father laid upon him as he died?).

Tuor and Idril escaped with as many people as possible through the secret passages Idril had made. Thorondor came to their aid. Glorfindel dueled with the Balrog but died; and Glorfindel was buried.

Tuor led the remnant of Gondolin through the mountains in secret and came to the Vale of Sirion, and Morgoth thought himself victorious. Idril and Tuor joined with the company of Elwing, Dior’s daughter.

Ulmo came to Valinor and pleaded to the Valar on behalf of the Elves and Men, but the Valar did nothing. In the end of his life, Tuor built a ship and set sail into the sunset in the West with Idril, and they were not heard from again.

Key Quote

"And it is said that in that time Ulmo came to Valinor out of the deep waters, and spoke there to the Valar of the need of the Elves; and he called on them to forgive them, and rescue them from the overmastering might of Morgoth, and win back the Silmarils, wherein alone now bloomed the light of the Days of Bliss when the Two Trees still shone in Valinor. But Manwë moved not; and of the counsels of his heart what tale shall tell? The wise have said that the hour was not yet come, and that only one speaking in person for the cause of both Elves and Men, pleading for pardon on their mis-deeds and pity on their woes, might move the counsels of the Powers; and the oath of Fëanor perhaps even Manwë could not loose, until it found its end, and the sons of Fëanor relinquished the Silmarils, upon which they had laid their ruthless claim. For the light which lit the Silmarils the Valar themselves had made."