They once lived among the great early clans of the dwarves, but banished from their homes,
they would form a new race and would come to be among the bitterest enemies of the elves. The
most well known of these dwarves would come to embody the tragedy of their race and the
great evil they could bring about. His tale is one of the few that has not been wholly
told - as there is a poem about this character that remains unreleased to this very day.
Today, on Nerd of the Rings, we cover Mîm and the Petty-dwarves.
The seven fathers of the dwarves awoke sometime after the awakening of the elves,
which was long before the first age. Durin establishes Khazad-dum,
four dwarf fathers awake in the east, and the remaining two awake in the blue mountains,
founding Nogrod and Belegost. But there would be an eighth clan of dwarves that would enter
into the story of Middle-earth only in these early days. These dwarves were outcasts from
the other clans. Many were fugitives due to their own evil deeds. Others left or were driven out
from the Communities, being deformed or undersized, or slothful and rebellious.
It is said that long before the return of Morgoth that comes at the beginning of the First Age,
these outcast dwarves wandered Westward into Beleriand. They become diminished
in both stature and in smith-craft and take to living lives of stealth.
They were the first of all dwarves to cross the Blue Mountains into Beleriand and before
the elves arrived, they established the strongholds of Nulukkizdîn and Sharbhund.
Due to their early arrival in Beleriand, these dwarven outcasts were the first
dwarves the Elves would meet. In The Silmarillion, we are told that the Elves,
not knowing what these creatures were, hunted and killed the dwarves. Only after realizing
they were beings of intelligence and not mere beasts did they leave them alone. However,
in the History of Middle-earth volume The War of the Jewels, we see some of Tolkien’s writings
that may indicate both dwarves and elves were in the wrong. First, we learn that the elves seldom
caught sight of the dwarves in clear light. In this version, it is said the Eldar only
found out about them when the dwarves attacked by stealth at night. Believing them to be animals,
the Sindar elves called them “Levain tad-dail” which means “Two-legged Animals”. Later,
they would be called “Noegyth Nibin” and ever after they are known as the “petty-dwarves”.
Despite the fact that the Dwarves of the other clans did not think highly of the petty-dwarves,
they harbored ill-will toward the elves for having hunted and slain their lesser
kin. This grievance would be put aside as the dwarves of the blue mountains
would make treaties with the Sindar - in part because the petty-dwarves
had attacked the elves in ambush and never declared themselves to the elves. However,
the petty-dwarves would hold a hatred for all elves so long as their race would endure.
One of the earlier mentioned dwellings of the dwarves, Nulukkizdîn, is where
Galadriel’s brother Finrod would come seeking to establish a stronghold at the behest of
Ulmo. Even by this time, in 52 FA, it is believed the petty-dwarves had begun to dwindle in number.
They feign friendship with Finrod and help him to build the realm of Nargothrond in exchange for
generous reward. However, in an act of treachery, their chieftain Mîm would attempt to murder Finrod
in his sleep. This failed attempt would lead to the elves driving out all the petty-dwarves. Their
only remaining dwelling place is Sharbhund, also known as Amon Rudh - the Bald Hill.
We are told the petty-dwarves loved none but themselves. And while they feared and
hated the orcs, they hated the elves no less. Above all, they hate the Noldor,
for they saw them as usurpers who had stolen their lands and homes.
Over the centuries, the petty-dwarves would continue to dwindle, until at last, only three
would remain - Mîm and his sons Ibun and Khîm. These three would enter into the story of Túrin
Turambar in 486 FA when Túrin’s outlaws discover them one night in the wilderness. They capture
Mîm and an archer shoots an arrow at his sons as they flee. Mîm agrees to take the men to his
home - a place where Tûrin’s company could live without fear of being found by Morgoth’s forces.
Mîm takes them to Amon Rûdh, but now calls it Bar-en-Danwedh “The House of Ransom”.
They arrive to find Khîm has been killed by the arrow shot by the archer. Turin’s genuine
remorse at the loss of Mîm’s son earns some measure of respect from the dwarf,
though Mîm would pronounce a curse upon Andróg - the archer who had loosed the arrow…
"You speak like a Dwarf-lord of old; and at that I marvel. Now my heart is cooled, though it is not
glad. My own ransom I will pay, therefore: you may dwell here, if you will. But this I will add: he
that loosed the shaft shall break his bow and his arrows and lay them at my son's feet; and he shall
never take arrow nor bear bow again. If he does, he shall die by it. That curse I lay on him."
Andróg was afraid when he heard of this curse; and though he did so with great grudge,
he broke his bow and his arrows and laid them at the dead Dwarf’s feet. But as he came out from
the chamber, he glanced evilly at Mîm, and muttered: ‘The curse of a dwarf never dies,
they say; but a Man’s too may come home. May he die with a dart in his throat!’
As the story unfolds, it seems as though a friendship may develop between Túrin and
Mîm. Throughout the coming winter, Túrin would sit for many long hours
listening to the dwarf’s lore and tales of his long life. However,
the arrival of an old friend of Tûrin’s would ignite an old hatred in Mîm.
For Beleg Strongbow - one of the greatest elves of the age - would finally locate
his friend and would stay for a time in Bar-en-Danwedh. The dwarf despises the elf
and resents his friendship with Túrin. His hatred only grows when Beleg heals Andróg
from a poisoned arrow wound - thwarting Mîm’s curse - at least for the time being.
One night, Mîm and Ibun are captured by orcs and in order to save his own life, Mîm would betray
Túrin’s company, though he would request that Túrin himself not be slain. We are never told
what becomes of Ibun, though it is possible he was killed by these very orcs - or in some
later mishap. Thus, guided by Mîm, the orcs come to the secret dwelling and destroy the
company. Andróg is once again hit with an arrow, and though mortally wounded, his last
act would be to cut Beleg from his bonds. Tûrin is captured and taken away, and Mîm is left behind…
And at length when all was silent again Mîm crept out of the shadows of his house; and as the sun
rose over the mists of Sirion he stood beside the dead men on the hill-top. But he perceived that
not all those that lay there were dead; for by one his gaze was returned, and he looked in the eyes
of Beleg the Elf. Then with hatred long-stored Mîm stepped up to Beleg, and drew forth the sword
Anglachel that lay beneath the body of one that had fallen beside him; but Beleg stumbling up
seized back the sword and thrust it at the Dwarf, and Mîm in terror fled wailing from the hill-top.
And Beleg cried after him: 'The vengeance of the house of Hador will find you yet!'
Years later, in 495 FA, the realm of Nargothrond would fall to the dragon
Glaurung - thanks in part to the folly of Túrin himself. Four years later,
Glaurung would seek out Túrin in his new home of Brethil, but the man would finally kill the
dragon. With Nargothrond now in a ruined state with no dragon, orcs, or elves inhabiting it,
Mîm makes his way to his former home seeking its treasure for himself.
In 502 FA, Túrin’s father Húrin has been released from his captivity by Morgoth and after two years
of travel, after finding the grave of his children and burying his wife, comes to Nargothrond…
Mîm the Petty-Dwarf had found his way to Nargothrond, and crept within the ruined halls;
and he took possession of them, and sat there fingering the gold and the gems,
letting them run ever through his hands, for none came nigh to despoil him,
from dread of the spirit of Glaurung and his very memory. But now one had come,
and stood upon the threshold; and Mîm came forth, and demanded to know his purpose. But Húrin said:
'Who are you, that would hinder me from entering the house of Finrod Felagund?'
Then the Dwarf answered: 'I am Mîm; and before the proud ones came from over the Sea,
Dwarves delved the halls of Nulukkizdîn. I have but returned to take what is mine;
for I am the last of my people.'
'Then you shall enjoy your inheritance no longer,' said Húrin; 'for I am Húrin son of Galdor,
returned out of Angband, and my son was Túrin Turambar, whom you have not forgotten;
and he it was that slew Glaurung the Dragon, who wasted these halls where now you sit;
and not unknown is it to me by whom the Dragon-helm of Dor-lómin was betrayed.'
Then Mîm in great fear besought Húrin to take what he would, but to spare his life;
but Húrin gave no heed to his prayer, and slew him there before the doors of Nargothrond.
Thus the vengeance of the House of Hador is delivered, and the race of the petty
dwarves is no more. We are told that Mim was old even in the reckoning of other dwarves.
Between the founding of Nargothrond and his death in 502 FA, some 450 years pass. While
nowhere close to the nearly 2400 years Durin I lived in Khazad-dum,
there are no other named dwarves that we know for certain to live longer than Mîm. The
closest would likely be Dwalin from Thorin’s company who would live to be 340 years old.
Mim the petty-dwarf also is unique among Tolkien characters,
for he has an entire poem and accompanying prose text written by JRR Tolkien that has never been
released - well to be specific - it’s never been published in English. The text is known
as “The Complaint of Mim the Dwarf” and was published just once - in an obscure German
book from the late 1970s. While the English text has not been released to this very day,
we know that the poem consists of 26 lines of verse and there are six paragraphs of
prose which follow. According to Hammond and Scull’s Tolkien Companion and Guide, it is a
tale about an aging Mim, lonely and bitter, and how he struggles with not being able to forgive.
Mîm’s life - like the lives of his people - would be one of great tragedy - some inflicted by others
and some self-wrought. And while there would be no shortage of hostility between the races
of Middle-earth in the centuries to come, few beings could harbor hatred like the petty-dwarves.
as always I want to say a huge thank you to my patreon supporters who make this channel
possible Tom to Bombadil 19 listen me the Cinda kellebrimbor the mighty MIM team weasel Rabbi
Rob Thomas Charles Leisure Toby mobs music CCDC red team nerd sichman any timer pelkey sports
cards monkey the brown Christopher carbaugh Joe Tepper Sky carcass slide belts Dane ragnarson
salimerman zetrock berdelberg Grand strategy nerd Graham derekot the dark-haired one Wyland
Michael Wu Grant McGregor and Debbie if you enjoyed the artwork in this video check out
the artists in the description and purchase prints of their great work for yourself thanks
so much for watching and subscribing and we'll see you next time on nerd of the Rings