He is among the greatest elf warriors of the First Age. While he was not a king or lord of Beleriand,
he remains a fan favorite for his deeds - and above all his friendship and loyalty.
Today, on Nerd of the Rings, we cover the life and travels of Beleg Strongbow.
While we don’t know when Beleg was born, we know that he is among the Sindar of Doriath.
He first enters the tales of Middle-earth as an elf in the service of King Thingol,
serving as a captain of the Marchwardens. The marchwardens, whose chief was Mablung,
were tasked with guarding the borders of Doriath. Beleg was typically stationed on
Doriath’s northern borders, in the area near Brethil, Dimbar, and Nan Dungortheb.
Beleg is known as a great archer and overall warrior. He carries a black
yew-wood bow named Belthronding. Beleg’s well known honorific name Cúthalion or
“Strongbow” comes from his wielding of this great bow. Along with the bow, Beleg carries
another rare item - an arrow that is named. While not possessing any magical properties,
Dailir was always found unharmed by Beleg after being shot. The name Dailir means “cleaver”.
Being among the greatest of Thingol’s captains, Mablung and Beleg often travel together when
they leave Doriath. One such documented occasion comes in the year 20 FA for the Mereth Aderthad,
a feast held by the High King Fingolfin near the Pools of Ivrin. This Feast of Reuniting
is held to reunite all the divided elves in their common cause of standing against
Morgoth. Not only would the gathering include Fingolfin’s own Noldor and Beleg, Mablung,
and Daeron among the sindar of Doriath, but also the Feanoreans led by Maedhros
and Maglor from the East, elves from the havens led by Cirdan, and green-elves from Ossiriand.
This meeting is successful in uniting the elves of Beleriand - and just 40 years later,
they would win a great victory over Morgoth,
resulting in a 400 year peace during the Siege of Angband. However,
the peace would come to an end, and Beleg’s life would be plunged into decades of conflict.
In 466 FA, Beleg would join King Thingol, Marblung, Beren, and Huan the Hound in hunting
the werewolf Carcharoth. With the company, they would find Carcharoth and the wolf would
be killed and the silmaril recovered. However, both Beren and Huan would be killed in the deed.
Six years later (472 FA), Beleg and Mablung would be the only two elves
from Doriath to join the Union of Maedhros in the Battle of Unnumbered
Tears. For Thingol had sworn to never fight alongside the Sons of Feanor due
to Celegorm and Curufin’s attempted kidnapping of his daughter Luthien.
Still, Beleg and Mablung did not wish to remain behind, and went alone to join the
elves and men in their fight against Morgoth. As we know, the Battle of Unnumbered Tears would be
a devastating defeat for the free peoples, though both Mablung and Beleg would survive and return to
Doriath. In 473 FA, a young guest would arrive in Doriath to be raised by Thingol as a foster-son,
Túrin son of Húrin. While in Doriath, Turin would learn skills like archery, swordfighting,
hunting, woodcraft, and to speak the Sindarin tongue. In the years following the Nirnaeth,
Morgoth’s orcs control most of the northern lands, and would often travel south in attempted raids.
Turin grows impatient and with the king’s permission, he joins the marchwardens of
the north in defending Doriath at the age of 17. Thus, in 481 FA, Turin first wears
the Dragon-helm of Dor-lomin, joining Beleg in battle and becoming a companion of the Strongbow.
Beleg would be the greatest friend of Turin Turambar, leading to his entanglement in the
curse Morgoth had set upon the family of Hurin. The two come to be known as
great warriors among the soldiers of Doriath - with the Strongbow and the Dragon-helm renown
throughout the land as they are stationed in Dimbar and fight the orcs of Morgoth.
However, when Turin returns to Menegroth for a respite in 484 FA, he inadvertently kills
an elf who had tormented him. In the confusion that follows,
Turin flees Doriath rather than await the judgment of the king. Later that same year,
Beleg returns to Menegroth to find that Turin has fled into exile, though in the meantime,
the King, having discovered the truth of the situation, had pardoned Turin of any wrongdoing.
Thingol gives Beleg permission to search for Turin and deliver news of his pardon. Beleg
follows Turin in exile. Two years later, Beleg finds the Gaurwaith or wolf-men, the outlaws
with whom Turin now traveled and led. However, Turin is not with the men when Beleg arrives, and
they mistake him for a spy and torture him. Upon Turin’s return, Beleg is set free, and he is able
to finally deliver the news that Turin has been pardoned by the king, urging his friend to return.
But in the pride of his heart Túrin refused the pardon of the King,
and the words of Beleg were of no avail to change his mood. And he for his part
urged Beleg to remain with him in the lands west of Sirion; but that Beleg would not do,
and he said: ‘Hard you are, Túrin, and stubborn. Now the turn is mine. If you wish indeed to have
the Strongbow beside you, look for me in Dimbar; for thither I shall return.’
On the next day Beleg set out, and Túrin went with him a bowshot from the camp; but he said
nothing. ‘Is it farewell, then, son of Húrin?’ said Beleg. Then Túrin looked out westward,
and he saw far off the great height of Amon Rûdh; and unwitting of what lay before him he answered:
‘You have said, seek me in Dimbar. But I say, seek for me on Amon Rûdh! Else,
this is our last farewell.’ Then they parted, in friendship, yet in sadness.
Beleg returns to Thingol, giving him news of Turin and the outlaws who had captured him. Dismayed,
at Turin’s refusal to return, Thingol is at a loss for what to do, when Beleg asks…
‘Give me leave, lord,’ said Beleg, ‘and I will guard him and guide him as I may;
then no man shall say that elven-words are lightly spoken. Nor would I wish to
see so great a good run to nothing in the wild.’
Then Thingol gave Beleg leave to do as he would; and he said: ‘Beleg Cúthalion! For
many deeds you have earned my thanks; but not the least is the finding of my
fosterson. At this parting ask for any gift, and I will not deny it to you.’
‘I ask then for a sword of worth,’ said Beleg; ‘for the Orcs come now too thick
and close for a bow only, and such blade as I have is no match for their armour.’
‘Choose from all that I have,’ said Thingol, ‘save only Aranrúth, my own.’
Then Beleg chose Anglachel; and that was a sword of great worth, and it was so named because it was
made of iron that fell from heaven as a blazing star; it would cleave all earth-delved iron.
But as Thingol turned the hilt of Anglachel towards Beleg, Melian looked at the blade;
and she said: ‘There is malice in this sword. The dark heart of the smith still
dwells in it. It will not love the hand it serves; neither will it abide with you long.’
‘Nonetheless I will wield it while I may,’ said Beleg.
‘Another gift I will give to you, Cúthalion,’ said Melian, ‘that shall be your help in the wild,
and the help also of those whom you choose.’ And she gave him store of lembas, the waybread
of the Elves, wrapped in leaves of silver, and the threads that bound it were sealed at
the knots with the seal of the Queen, a wafer of white wax shaped as a single flower of Telperion;
for according to the customs of the Eldalië the keeping and giving of lembas belonged to
the Queen alone. In nothing did Melian show greater favour to Túrin than in this gift;
for the Eldar had never before allowed Men to use this waybread, and seldom did so again.
Beleg returns to the lands of Dimbar in the north,
where he had his lodges and many friends. It is said that Anglachel rejoiced to be
unsheathed once more and the orcs were driven back. When winter hits later that year,
Beleg leaves the north marches to search once again for Turin - never to return.
In the meantime, Turin and the outlaws had come to dwell at Amon Rudh, within the halls of Mim,
the petty-dwarf. It is here that Beleg finds Turin once more. He returns to his
friend the Dragon-helm of Dor-lomin and the gift of Lembas from Melian. Together,
Turin and Beleg once again lead raids against Morgoth’s orcs. Thus, the lands between Teiglin
and the west march of Doriath come to be known as Dor-Cúarthol - the Land of Bow and Helm.
However, there was a darkness that dwelt in Amon Rudh, for Mim, who had grown to
have a friendship with Turin, hated all elves - including Beleg. Mim had earlier pronounced
a curse upon one of Turin’s outlaws - Androg - who had fatally shot Mim’s son with an arrow.
After Beleg’s return to Turin’s company, the elf heals Androg of an arrow wound - thwarting
the curse of Mim for a time. Between his curing of Androg and his close friendship with Turin,
Beleg is hated most especially by the petty dwarf.
One day, Mim is captured by orcs, and in order to save his life, he betrays the location of the
outlaws. His only requests are that Turin should not be slain, and that Beleg would be left for him
to kill. A great battle erupts upon Amon Rudh when the company is surprised by the orcs, and all of
Turin’s men are killed, he is taken prisoner, and Beleg is bound and left for Mim to kill.
However, Androg was not yet slain, though he was mortally wounded. He seizes a sword,
thrusting it at the dwarf. Mim shrieks in fear and runs away. With his last effort,
Androg cuts through Beleg’s bonds, saying his hurts are too deep even for Beleg’s healing.
After allowing his wounds to heal,
Beleg follows the orcs into Taur-nu-Fuin. Along the way, he discovers Gwindor,
an elf from Nargothrond who had been in Morgoth’s captivity since the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. Gwindor
had escaped his thralldom and was attempting to find his way home. Gwindor had seen the
orc company which held Turin prisoner, and with the elf’s help, Beleg finds their camp at night.
One by one, the Strongbow shoots the wolves guarding the camp and Beleg sneaks in and
rescues an unconscious Turin during a thunderstorm. Turin had been subject
to torture at the hands of the orcs, and his mind was clouded from weariness and torment.
As Beleg carries Turin away from the camp, he falls and his arrow Dailir is broken.
Finally, away from the orcs, Beleg makes to cut Turin from his bonds:
Beleg drew his sword Anglachel, and with it he cut the fetters that bound Túrin; but fate was that
day more strong, for the blade of Eöl the Dark Elf slipped in his hand, and pricked Túrin’s foot.
Then Túrin was roused into a sudden wakefulness of rage and fear, and seeing a form bending over
him in the gloom with a naked blade in hand he leapt up with a great cry,
believing that Orcs were come again to torment him; and grappling with him in
the darkness he seized Anglachel, and slew Beleg Cúthalion thinking him a foe.
But as he stood, finding himself free, and ready to sell his life dearly against imagined foes,
there came a great flash of lightning above them, and in its light he looked down on Beleg’s face.
Then Túrin stood stonestill and silent, staring on that dreadful death, knowing what he had done;
Thus, the life of Beleg Cuthalion comes to an end in 489 FA in Taur-nu-Fuin.
Turin and Gwindor bury Beleg along with his bow Belthronding. Gwindor takes the blade Anglechel,
deeming it better to be used for vengeance against Morgoth than rotting within the
earth. Turin would eventually wield this blade himself, though it would need to be reforged,
for it had turned black and blunt when it spilled its master’s blood.
Turin is frozen in a state of shock, but allows himself to be led by Gwindor to the Pools of
Ivrin. There, he drinks from its pure waters and is healed. Upon coming to his senses, he weeps,
mourning for Beleg. He composes a lament in memory of his friend: Laer Cú Beleg,
“Song of the Great Bow”. Turin would sing the song aloud, regardless of his peril,
remembering the life of his greatest friend.
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