Following the defeat of the Noldor Elves in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Morgoth’s forces
swept through Beleriand, capturing much of the area including Hithlum which was given
to the Easterlings who betrayed the Union of Maedhros.
However the Dark Lord had no intention of rewarding them, instead turning these lands
into a prison by cutting them off from the rest of the continent.
After the siege and fall the cities of Brithombar and Eglarest in the Falas, Cirdan led the
survivors to the Isle of Balar, hoping to establish a refuge for their people, while
in the east the Sons of Feanor lost their lands as well, retreating to Amon Ereb.
Of the great Elven Kingdoms that once existed, Doriath was one of the few to remain, protected
by the Girdle of Melian created by their Queen.
Nargothrond, also remained unconquered, ruled by King Orodreth, who, along with King Thingol,
did not participate in the battle against Angband, instead fighting a secret war from
shadow in order to avoid attracting Morgoth’s attention.
As a result Morgoth did not consider these realms as immediate threats to his power,
instead focusing on Gondolin ruled by Turgon, who after the death of his brother Fingon,
became High King of the Noldor Elves.
Yet the location of their city remained unknown to the Dark Lord, and so he tortured and interogatted
his captive Hurin who had travelled to Gondolin in his youth.
Despite the horrors inflicted upon him, Hurin refused to betray King Turgon, and so Morgoth
placed a powerful curse on the man and his family and seated him immovably upon the mountain
Thangorodrim, so he might watch helplessly from afar, as his loved ones suffered their
tragic fates.
With the Easterlings given dominion over Hithlum, including the lands of Dor-lomin, they plundered
and enslaved the last remnant of the House of Hador.
In order to protect Hurin’s son Turinn he was sent to Doriath, were he was raised by
King Thingol, while his mother Morwin remained in Dor-Lomin giving birth her 3rd child Nienor.
Fortunately, Hurin’s wife and young daughter were largely left 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, courageous and highly skilled fighter, and
at the age of 17 asked King Thingol for a place among his warriors.
** Throughout his years among the elves, Turin
befriended Mablung the Heavy Hand and Beleg Strongbow, but also made an enemy of Saeros,
councillor to the king.
Eventually Saeros tried to ambush his enemy in the forest, but died in the resulting conflict.
Believing he would be held responsible, Turin left Doriath behind, taking over the leadership
of a band of outlaws where he was soon joined by his friend Beleg who brought him the sword
Anglachel, as a gift from King Thingol.
Unfortunately, leaving Doriath was but the first step down a terrible path for the son
of Hurin, who went on to bring pain and suffering to nearly all of those he grew to love.
First his band of outlaws were massacred in Amon Rudh, after making an enemy of Mim the
petty dwarf, who revealed their location to the Orcs.
Next Turin killed his friend Beleg Strongbow, when he awoke confused and disoriented after
being rescued from captivity.
Realizing what he had done, the son of Hurin nearly went mad with grief, but his new friend
Gwindor, a former captive of Morgoth, took him to Nargothrond, where he reforged Anglachel
into a black bladed sword he named Gurthang.
In time Turin became an important advisor to Orodreth, but again the curse struck, as
he convinced the king to build a great bridge across the river Narog, and fight openly against
the Dark Lord Morgoth at the battle of Tumhalad.
Unfortunately they were devastated by the fires of Glaurung father of Dragons, resulting
in victory for the forces of Morgoth, who killed King Orodreth, sacked the city, slaughtered
their warriors and enslaved the population.
During the battle Glaurung used his magic to place Turin into a hypnotic daze, and twisted
his mind, convincing him that his mother Morwen and younger sister Nienor needed him in Dor-
Lomin.
And so when he awoke from his stupor, he did not try and rescue the Elves, instead needlessly
departing for his people’s homeland, where he learned his mother and sister were not
even present, having travelled to Doriath long ago searching for Turin.
Realizing the trick that had been played on him, the son of Hurin grew so enraged he killed
the Easterling Lord Brodda before turning back to track down Glaurung and his prisoners.
Unfortunately, Turin’s reckless behaviour in Dor-Lomin proved devastating for the remnants
of the House of Hador, who suffered further abuse and oppression at the hands of their
Easterlings Masters.
Although he failed to protect his people, Turin hoped he could rescue Finduilas, the
betrothed of his friend Gwindor who died in the battle of Tumhalad.
But he arrived too late and collapsed in grief upon her burial mound.
Racked by pain and guilt, Turin returned to the forests of Brethil where he came across
a beautiful woman, crying with sadness and no memory of her past.
She took the name Niniel, and soon they were married, allowing Turin to know happiness
once again.
But soon enough it was all taken away, as he faced Glaurung in battle, mortally wounding
the creature before collapsing unconscious from a magical spell.
While he slept and Glaurung lay dying, the dragon used his final moments to lift the
veil of amnesia set upon Niniel to reveal that her name was actually Nienor sister of
Turin Turambar.
Realizing that she married her own brother, and was pregnant with his child, Nienor took
her own life by leaping into a ravine.
When Turin awoke, he was told what occurred by Brandir the Lame, Lord of the Haladin,
but grew so enraged he refused to believe it, killing the man before many witnesses.
Yet soon his friend Mablung of Doriath arrived, confirming the truth of the tale, and Turin
became so distraught he could no longer abide the misery of his life, and fell upon his
sword.
With his children all dead, the Dark Lord Morgoth feigned mercy and freed Hurin from
captivity, knowing that the man was now broken and might inflict his misery and doom upon
others.
Finally free, Hurin returned home to Dor-Lomin only to find it occupied by Easterlings, with
the last of his people enslaved.
He then set out to take refuge in Gondolin with his friend King Turgon, but when he arrived
he received no response, as the king feared this might be a trap by the Dark Lord.
Feeling betrayed by the king for whom he’d sacrificed so much, Hurin yelled out in anger
and by doing so 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 was at last was reunited
with his wife Morwen, encountering her at the graves of their children.
Yet he found her in rags, so wary from heart-ache and despair that she soon spoke her final
words and died, buried alongside her children.
Hurin, now poisoned with bitterness and hatred in his heart, killed the petty dwarf Mim,
and travelled to Doriath where he confronted King Thingol for failing to protect his son.
But sensing the corruption within him, Melian the Maia the used her magic to clear his mind,
leaving Hurin to realize all the harm he’d done and how his actions only served to help
the Dark Lord.
No longer able 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.
Yet Hurin’s influence lived on, as before his death he had recovered a precious necklace
called Nauglamir, and gave it to King Thingol before departing Doriath.
The King then took the necklace along with the silmaril given to him by Beren, and hired
the Dwarves of Nogrod to combine them into one magnificent piece of jewelry.
However the beauty and allure of this creation was too powerful, and when the work was complete,
the dwarves demanded the necklace itself as payment.
When Thingol refused to pay their price violence erupted, resulting in the death of the King.
Heartbroken by the loss of her husband, Queen Melian left middle-earth and returned to her
homeland of Valinor, leaving her kingdom vulnerable to attack, no longer protected by the magical
barrier she had maintained.
As for the Elves of Doriath, they were so enraged by the death of their King, they tracked
down the escaping dwarves and slaughtered all but two who managed to return to Nogrod.
Once arrived in their homeland, the survivors lied about what had occurred, claiming Thingol
had refused to pay them for their work and had attacked them.
Enraged by this apparent betrayal, the Dwarves gathered an army and marched on Menegroth,
sacking the city in a terrible battle with heavy losses on both sides, including the
death of Mablung who guarded the silmaril necklace, which was then taken by the invaders.
Yet the victory of the dwarves was short lived, as Tol Galen soon heard about the death of
Thingol and attack on Doriath, prompting Beren to leave their sanctuary with an army of Green
Elves to slaughter the Dwarves returning to their mountain and recover the precious necklace,
which was then worn by Luthien until her death, when it was passed to her son Dior, who inherited the rule
of Doriath.