Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad (Silmarillion Study, Part 13)

Episode Transcript:

You’re listening to Tea with Tolkien, a podcast for the Hobbit at Heart.

Pull up a cozy chair and join us as we chat about the works and faith of J.R.R. Tolkien, and strive to carry a little piece of Middle-Earth into our own daily lives. 

You’re listening to Tea with Tolkien, a podcast for the Hobbit at Heart.

Pull up a cozy chair and join us as we chat about the works and faith of J.R.R. Tolkien, and strive to carry a little piece of Middle-Earth into our own daily lives. 

We’re on week thirteen of our Silmarillion read-along: Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad

Chapter 20: Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad (Unnumbered Tears)

In this Chapter

• Beren and Lúthien returned to Doriath but Melian grieved the loss of Lúthien’s immortality, and turned away from her. 

• After this, Beren and Lúthien went off together and dwelt in Tol Galen until their death. They had a son named Dior, who was Thingol’s heir. 

• In this time, Maedhros was emboldened by the victory of Beren and Lúthien against Morgoth, and urged the eldar to unite against him. He formed the Union of Maedhros.

• However, the Oath of Fëanor loomed above the Noldor and he received little help from the rest of the Eldar.

• Maedhros and his brothers demanded that Thingol give them the Silmaril, or else become their enemy. Melian counseled him to surrender it, but Thingol refused. 

• Celegorm and Curufin vowed to kill Thingol should they return victorious from battle, and Thingol fortified Doriath. 

• With the help of the Naugrim and some of the houses of Men, Maedhros prepared for war. 

• Maedhros planned to attack Angband from east and west: Maedhros from the east, and Fingon from Hithlum. The signal would come from a beacon in Dorthonion. 

• The hosts of Turgon from Gondolin came unexpectedly to aid Fingon.

• Morgoth sent a portion of his forces toward Hithlum with the errand of drawing out Fingon. They brought with them Gelmir son of Guilin, one of the lords of Nargothrond who had been captured, and they cut off his hands and feet, and at last his head. 

• At this, the Noldor were stirred to wrath and leapt forth for battle. Many were slain and Gwindor, brother of Gelmir, was taken prisoner. Fingon was cut off and could not come to his aid.

• Unfortunately, Morgoth had many spies amongst the houses of Men and they ultimately betrayed the Eldar.

  • “Many spies and workers of treason he sent forth among them, as he was the better able now to do, for the faithless Men of his secret allegiance were yet deep in the secrets of the sons of Fëanor.”

• “Yet neither by wolf, nor by Balrog, nor by Dragon, would Morgoth have achieved his end, but for the treachery of Men. In this hour the plots of Ulfang were revealed…”

• The sons of Ulfang turned against the sons of Fëanor. Maglor killed Uldor, who had been the leader in this treason, the sons of Bor killed Ulfast and Ulwarth. However, none of the sons of Fëanor were unharmed, though none were killed either.

• The Naugrim stood firm against Glaurung, and if not for them, all of the Noldor would have perished. 

• Fingon and Turgon were assailed by Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs, and Fingon was killed. 

• Húrin and Huor urged Turgon to return to Gondolin and so he escaped.

  • “Then Huor spoke and said: ‘Yet if it stands but a little while, then out of your house shall come the hopes of Elves and Men. This I say to you, lord, with the eyes of death: though we part here for ever, and I shall not look on your white walls again, from you and from me a new star shall arise. Farewell!’”

• Huor was then slain and Húrin stood alone. At last he was taken alive to Morgoth.

• Thus ended the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. 

• Morgoth’s victory was great, and the sons of Fëanor were scattered.

  • “The realm of Fingon was no more; and the sons of Fëanor wandered as leaves before the wind.”
    

• The servants of Morgoth roamed freely, destroying as they desire. The Easterlings who had served Morgoth were given the realm of Hithlum. 

• At Turgon's bidding, Círdan built 7 swift ships to ask the Valar for help; only one returned (Voronwë).

• Now Morgoth was obsessed with Turgon and the thought of finding him consumed his mind.

  • “And most of all his kin Morgoth feared Turgon; for of old in Valinor his eye had lighted upon him, and whenever he drew new a shadow had fallen on his spirit, foreboding that in some time that yet lay hidden, from Turgon ruin should come to him.”

• Húrin was brought before Morgoth but would not yield to him, so Morgoth cursed him and forced him to watch as everything he loved was destroyed. Morgoth also cured Húrin’s family/offspring. 

• Morgoth commanded his servants to gather the slain into a great pile and the Elves named it the Hill of Slain, or the Hill of Tears.