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.