In the first age of Arda, before the lands of Beleriand were lost to the sea, the north
western lands of Dor-Lomin were populated by Men of the House of Marach also known as
the House of Hador.
Allies of the Noldor Elves, they were staunch enemies of the Dark Lord Morgoth who ruled
from his fortress of Angband.
After the death of his father, the Lordship of the territory passed to the mighty warrior
Galdor the Tall who fathered two legendary heroes of men, naming them Hurin and Huor.
In their youth the brothers lived with their kinsmen in the forest of Brethil, until joining
a warparty to battle the Orcs encroaching on their lands.
While the battle saw their forces victorious, Hurin and Huor were cut off from their allies,
pushed back to the river Sirion and might have been killed if not for the Vala Ulmo
who saw their plight and sent a mist to cover their escape.
The eagles then descended and carried them to the safety of Gondolin, the secret city
founded by the Noldor Elves.
King Turgon welcomed them as friends and after swearing oaths to keep the cities location
secret, the eagles returned them to Dor-Lomin.
Sometime later, their homeland fell under attack by the armies of Morgoth, leading to
the death of Lord Galdor as he defended the mountains of Ered Wethrin.
Hurin, now the new Lord of Dor-Lomin, took up the fight and drove the enemy out of their
territory.
As Hurin settled into his role as leader of the territory, his brother Huor was married
and fathered a son named Tuor who later married an elf maiden and fathered a line of Half
Elven heroes which included Earendil the Mariner, Elrond of Rivendell, and Elros of Numenor.
Hurin was also wed and started a family, fathering a son Turin and daughter Urwin later known
as Lalaith.
However it was Huor’s line that would continue beyond the first age, as the Children of Hurin
were fated for tragedy.
When they were young a terrible wind known as the Evil Breath was sent from Angband,
carrying an illness which struck both of Hurin’s children.
The older boy Turin lay in a fever and dark dream but eventually recovered, and awoke
to learn that his beloved sister Urwin did not survive.
Turin was deeply affected by her loss, raising a hand towards Morgoth in the North and crying
out 'Marrer of Middle-earth, would that I might see you face to face, and mar you as
my lord Fingolfin did!'
A few years later, the House of Hador was once again called to war, joining the Union
of Maedhros, a great alliance of men, Elves and Dwarves that rose to battle the armies
of the dark Lord Morgoth and retake the lands lost decades early in the Dagor Baragollach.
Unfortunately the Nirnaeth Arnoediad as it became known, proved to be yet another defeat,
as the alliance was betrayed by the Easterlings, also known as the Swarthy Men, following Ulfang
the Accursed.
During the battle Hurin once again fought alongside his brother Huor, leading the men
of Dor-Lomin on behalf of their liege, King Fingon, High King of the Noldor Elves.
Yet when the battle turned against them, the army was split and separated, resulting in
the death of King Fingon, slain by Gothmog Lord of the Balrogs.
With Fingon dead, Hurin and Huor focused on ensuring the safety of King Turgon of Gondolin,
who now inherited the title High King of the Noldor.
And so the brothers took what remained of their army and formed a line at the Fen of
Serech, sacrificing themselves so the enemy army could not follow the retreating Elves
and discover the location of their secret city.
Although the House of Hador fought valiantly and succeeded in saving the retreating army
of the king, they were eventually overwhelmed and slaughtered, with Huor struck by an arrow
through the eye.
Even after all others were slain, Hurin continued cutting down orcs and trolls until grappled
to the ground and taken prisoner by the enemy.
Taking their captive to Angband, Hurin was tortured by Morgoth who sought to learn the
location of Gondolin.
Yet despite the horrors inflicted upon him, the Lord of Dor-Lomin would not break.
And so Morgoth cursed the man and his family, seating him immovably on the mountain Thangorodrim,
where he must watch from afar, helpless and bitter, as his loved ones suffered their tragic
fates.
Meanwhile, the Easterlings who betrayed the Union of Maedhros were given the lands of
Hithlum which included Dor-Lomin, plundering and enslaving the last remnant of the House
of Hador.
In order to protect her son Turin, Hurin’s wife Morwin sent the boy to Doriath, were
he was raised as the adopted son of King Thingol, while she remained in Dor-Lomin giving birth
her 3rd child Nienor.
Fortunately, Hurin’s wife and young daughter were sparred suffering at the hands of the
Easterlings, who largely left them in peace, due to a rumour that stated Morwin was a powerful
witch, allied with the Elves.
In Doriath, the boy Turin grew to be a strong and courageous warrior, and at the age of
17 learned that his homeland of Hithlum had completely fallen to the Easterlings, receiving
no more messages from his mother.
Saddened and angered by the fate of his kinsfolk, Turin asked King Thingol for a place among
his warriors, so he might battle the armies of the Dark Lord.
Granted the position, he was sent to the Northern Marches of Doriath to defend against Orc war
parties.
Wearing the Dragon-helm of Dor-Lomin, passed down through his family, Turin brought such
devastation upon his enemies, a rumor began to spread that the famous warrior Hurin of
Hithlum had escaped from Angband.
And while many came to love and admire Turin, becoming a friend of Mablung the Heavy Hand
and Beleg Strongbow, his rise in the court of Doriath made him an enemy of Saeros, councillor
to the king who spoke and thought ill of Turin and his people.
After a confrontation between them led Turin to strike and bloody the Elf, Saeros set about
ambushing the man when he was alone in the forest.
However Turin proved victorious in their battle, stripping the noble Elf naked and chasing
him through the woods as punishment for his insults.
Unfortunately Saeros lost his footing whil running and fell to his doom.
Although Turin did not intend to kill him, he did not mourn the loss, and refused to
return and face the judgment of the King.
Proud and fearless, Turin left Doriath behind and took over the leadership of a band of
outlaws.
Worried about his friend, Beleg Strongbow sought out Turin and his companions, asking
that he return to Doriath, but was refused.
And so the Elf returned to King Thingol, asking permission to join Turin’s band of warriors.
King Thingol allowed it and gifted Beleg the sword Anglachel forged from the metal of a
meteorite by master smith Eol the Darkelf.
Meanwhile Turin and his companions continued on, encountering a petty dwarf named Mim and
forcing him to shelter them in his home of Amon Rudh.
Yet one of Turin’s men shot an arrow that accidentally killed Mim’s son, and so the
dwarf held great hatred in his heart for these humans, despite their offer to pay a ransom
for the death.
Beleg soon joined them in Amon Rudh and fought at their side when Mim betrayed their location
to the Orcs who slaughtered nearly all the outlaws and captured Turin.
However, Beleg survived the massacre and followed the Orcs, encountering an escaped prisoner
from Angband along the way, named Gwindor.
After helping him recover from his injuries, the two infiltrated an Orc camp to find Turin
in a state of senseless stupor, having been tortured by the Orcs during his captivity.
Dragging him to a nearby thicket, Beleg pulled out his sword and started cutting loose his
bonds, only to accidentally cut Turin’s foot, prompting him to roar awake and take
the sword, killing Beleg, who he confused for the one of his Orc tormentors.
When Turin learned what he had done, he nearly went mad from his grief, but Gwidor stayed
by his side, and helped him reach Nargothrond, where he in peace for a time, reforging Anglachel
into a new black bladed sword he named Gurthang.
While living in Nargothrond, Turin son of Hurin, became an important advisor to King
Orodreth and practically came to rule in his name, convincing them to abandon their traditions
of secrecy and build a great bridge across the river Narog, then gathering and marching
their armies to fight openly against the Dark Lord Morgoth and the battle of Tumhalad.
Unfortunately their forces were unprepared to confront Glaurung, the father of Dragons,
who devastated their ranks with dragonfire.
The battle was an important victory for the forces of Morgoth, who killed King Orodreth
and sacked the city of Nargothrond, slaughtering and enslaving its population.
Glaurung also used his magic to place Turin into a hypnotic daze, which caused him to
stand by in a stupor as the Elves he knew and loved cried out in anguish as they were
carried away in chains.
When Turin awoke from his trance, he did not immediately set out to rescue his allies,
because the Dragon Glaurung had twisted his mind, convincing him that his mother Morwen
and younger sister Nienor needed him desperately in Dor- Lomin.
Swiftly he took off after them, unaware that his mother and sister were safe, having left
their homeland, and travelled to Doriath searching for Turin.
Arriving in Dor-Lomin, the son of Hurin learned that his mother and sister were gone and was
so enraged that he killed the Easterling Lord Brodda before turning back to seek out and
rescue his friend Finduilas taken during the sack of Nargothrond.
Yet because of his journey west, he was too late to save her, and collapsed in grief upon
her burial mound.
Returning to the forests of Brethil, Turin now named himself Turambar meaning Master
of Doom, and came across a beautiful woman, crying with great sadness and no memory of
her past.
She took the name Niniel, and soon they fell in love and were married.
And for a short time, Turin knew true happiness.
But the curse upon his family has not ended, and soon enough he faced his old foe once
more, setting out to confront Glaurung, father of dragons who was attacking the area.
Turin set out with 2 companion, one of whom lost heart and abandoned them, while the other
continued on, fighting and dying in the battle.
Yet eventually Turin succeeded in landing a killing blow, crying out 'Hail, Worm of
Morgoth!
Well met again!
Die now and the darkness have you!
Thus is Turin son of Hurin avenged.'
Yet as Glaurung lay mortally wounded he once again used his powers to enter Turin’s mind,
causing the man to collapse unconscious by his side.
Turin’s wife Niniel then found them and Glaurung used his final moments to inflict
more pain and tragedy against the family of Hurin, lifting the veil of amnesia to reveal
that her name was actually Nienor sister of Turin Turambar.
Nienor and her mother had spent some time in Doriath, but soon Morwin took off to Nargothrond
in search of her son who was rumoured to be in the city.
Nienor, unwilling to stay behind, also made the journey, only to find the city already
fallen.
Glaurung then used his magic to raise a mist to rise from the river, causing Nienor to
lose all her memories, eventually lowing her way in the forest of Brethil, collapsing in
tears, where she was found by her brother Turin, though neither of them recognized the
other.
When Nienor realized she married her own brother, and was pregnant with his child, she threw
herself into a ravine, taking her own life.
Turin then awoke, and was told what had occurred by Brandir the Lame, Lord of the Haladin,
but was so enraged by his words he would not believe it, killing the man before many witnesses.
Yet when his friend Mablung of Doriath arrived and confirmed the truth of Brandir’s words,
Turin could no longer abide the misery and tragedy of his life, deciding to end it all
by falling upon his sword.
And so with Hurin’s children all dead, the Dark Lord Morgoth feigned mercy and freed
him from captivity, knowing that the man was now broken and might bring his misery and
doom upon others he might encounter.
Finally free, Hurin first returned home to Dor-Lomin but found it occupied by the Easterlings,
with the last of his people enslaved or killed.
He then set out to find Gondolin where he might take refuge with King Turgon, but when
he arrived in search of the Eagles who might carry him into the city, he received no response,
as the king feared this might be a trap by the Dark Lord.
Hurin, feeling betrayed by the king for whom he’d sacrificed so much, then yelled out
in anger "Turgon, Turgon, remember the Fen of Serech!
O Turgon, will you not hear in your hidden halls?"
* Yet by yelling out in this way, he revealed to Morgoth the general location of Gondolin,
which would ultimately contribute to the cities downfall.
Turned away, Hurin continued on to the Forest of Brethil, where he at last was reunited
with his wife Morwen, encountering her at the graves of their children.
Yet the years had been hard on the women, and he found her in rags, wary from heart-ache
and despair.
Saying their final words to each other, Morwen died, and was buried alongside her children.
The location of their graves was one of the only areas to survive the destruction of Beleriand,
becoming the island of Tol Morwen.
Hurin, now poisoned with bitterness and hatred in his heart, found the petty dwarf Mim, and
killed him for his betrayal of Turin, then heading to Doriath where he scornfully blamed
King Thingol for failing to protect his son.
Yet Melian the Maia saw that Hurin was not in his right mind, and used her magic to lift
the cloud of darkness, poisoning his thoughts.
His mind now clear, Hurin saw all the harm he’d done and how his actions only served
to help the Dark Lord Morgoth.
Distraught, and unable to cope with the curse that destroyed his family, Hurin Thalion,
hero of the House of Hador and rightful Lord of Dor-lomin, ended his own life, throwing
himself into the sea.
And while the story of Hurin and his children was one of great tragedy, according to the
Second Prophecy of Mandos they would one day be avenged in the Dagor Dagorath, the final
battle at the end of the world, in which the Valar will wage war one last time against
the dark Lord Morgoth.
According to the prophecy: “In that day, Tulkas shall strive with Morgoth, and on his
right hand shall be Eönwë, and on his left Túrin Turambar, son of Húrin, coming from
the halls of Mandos; and the black sword of Túrin shall deal unto Morgoth his death and
final end, and so shall the Children of Húrin and all fallen Men be avenged."