found none there save Nienor； standing alone under the stars as an image of stone。 No word she spoke or heard； but
would follow； if he took up her hand。 Therefore in great grief he led her away； though it seemed to him vain； for they
were both like to perish； succourless in the wild。
But they were found by three of Mablung's panions； and slowly they journeyed northward and eastward
towards the fences of the land of Doriath beyond Sirion； and the guarded bridge nigh to the inflowing of Esgalduin。
Slowly the strength of Nienor returned as they drew nearer to Doriath； but still she could not speak or hear； and walked
blindly as she was led。 But even as they drew near the fences at last she closed her staring eyes； and would sleep； and
they laid her down； and rested also； unheedfully； for they were utterly outworn。 There they were assailed by an Orc…
band； such as now roamed often as nigh the fences of Doriath as they dared。 But Nienor in that hour recovered hearing
and sight； and being awakened by the cries of the Orcs she sprang up in terror； and fled ere they could e to her。
Then the Orcs gave chase； and the Elves after； and they overtook the Orcs and slew them ere they could harm
her； but Nienor escaped them。 For she fled as in a madness of fear； swifter than a deer； and tore off all her clothing as she
ran； until she was naked； and she passed out of their sight； running northward； and though they sought her long they
found her not； nor any trace of her。 And at last Mablung in despair returned to Menegroth and told the tidings。 Then
Thingol and Melian were filled with grief； but Mablung went forth； and sought long in vain for tidings of Morwen and
Nienor。
But Nienor ran on into the woods until she was spent； and then fell； and slept； and awoke； and it was a sunlit
morning； and she rejoiced in light as it were a new thing； and all things else that she saw seemed new and strange； for
she had no names for them。 Nothing did she remember save a darkness that lay behind her； and a shadow of fear；
therefore she went warily as a hunted beast； and became famished； for she had no food and knew not how to seek it But
ing at last to the Crossings of Teiglin she passed over； seeking the shelter of the great trees of Brethil； for she was
afraid； and it seemed to her that the darkness was overtaking her again from which she had fled。
But it was a great storm of thunder that came up from the south； and in terror she cast herself down upon the
mound of Haudh…en…Elleth； stopping her ears from the thunder； but the rain smote her and drenched her； and she lay like
a wild beast that is dying。 There Turambar found her； as he came to the Crossings of Teiglin； having heard rumour of
Orcs that roamed near； and seeing in a flare of lightning the body as it seemed of a slain maiden lying upon the mound
of Finduilas he was stricken to the heart。 But the woodmen lifted her up； and Turambar cast his cloak about her； and they
took her to a lodge nearby； and warmed her； and gave her food。 And as soon as she looked upon Turambar she was
forted； for it seemed to her that she had found at last something that she had sought in her darkness； and she would
not be parted from him。 But when he asked her concerning her name and her kin and her misadventure； then she became
troubled as a child that perceives that something is demanded but cannot understand what it may be； and she wept。
Therefore Turambar said： 'Do not be troubled。 The tale shall wait。 But I will give you a name； and I will call you Níniel；
Tear…maiden。' And at that name she shook her head； but said： Níniel。 That was the first word she spoke after her
darkness； and it remained her name among the woodmen ever after。
On the next day they bore her towards Ephel Brandir； but when they came to Dimrost； the Rainy Stair； where the
tumbling stream of Celebros fell towards Teiglin； a great shuddering came upon her； wherefore afterwards that place was
called Nen Girith； the Shuddering Water。 Ere she came to the home of the woodmen upon Amon Obel she was sick of a
fever； and long she lay thus； tended by the women of Brethil； and they taught her language as to an infant。 But ere the
autumn came by the skill of Brandir she was healed of her sickness； and she could speak； but nothing did she remember
of the time before she was found by Turambar on the mound of Haudh…en…Elleth。 And Brandir loved her； but all her
heart was given to Turambar。
In that time the woodmen were not troubled by the Orcs； and Turambar went not to war； and there was peace in
Brethil。 His heart turned to Níniel； and he asked her m marriage； but for that time she delayed in spite of her love。 For
Brandir foreboded he knew not what； and sought to restrain her； rather for her sake than his own or rivalry with
Turambar； and he revealed to her that Turambar was Túrin son of Húrin； and though she knew not the name a shadow
fell upon her mind。
But when three years were passed since the sack of Nargothrond Turambar asked Níniel again； and vowed that
now he would wed her； or else go back to war in the wild。 And Níniel took him with joy； and they were wedded at the
midsummer； and the woodmen of Brethil made a great feast。 But ere the end of the year Glaurung sent Orcs of his
dominion against Brethil； and Turambar sat at home deedless； for he had promised to Níniel that he would go to battle
only if their homes were assailed。 But the woodmen were worsted； and Dorlas upbraided him that he would not aid the
people that he had taken for his own。 Then Turambar arose and brought forth again his black sword； and he gathered a
great pany of the Men of Brethil； and they defeated the Orcs utterly。 But Glaurung heard tidings that the Black
Sword was in Brethil； and he pondered what he heard； devising new evil。
In the spring of the year after Níniel conceived； and she became wan and sad； and at the same time there came to
Ephel Brandir the first rumours that Glaurung had issued from Nargothrond。 Then Turambar sent out scouts far afield；
for now he ordered things as he would； and few gave heed to Brandir。 As it drew near to summer Glaurung came to the
borders of Brethil； and lay near the west shores of Teiglin； and then there was great fear among the woodfolk； for it was
now plain that the Great Worm would assail them and ravage their land； and not pass by； returning to Angband； as they
had hoped。 They sought therefore the counsel of Turambar； and he counselled them that it was vain to go against
Glaurung with all their force； for only by cunning and good fortune could they defeat him。 He offered therefore himself
to seek the dragon on the borders of the land； and bade the rest of the people to remain at Ephel Brandir； but to prepare
for flight。 For if Glaurung had the victory； he would e first to the woodmen's homes to destroy them； and they could
not hope to withstand him； but if they then scattered far and wide； then many might escape； for Glaurung would not take
up his dwelling in Brethil； and would return soon to Nargothrond。
Then Turambar asked for panions willing to aid him in his peril； and Dorlas stood forth； but no others。
Therefore Dorlas upbraided the people； and spoke scorn of Brandir； who could not play the part of the heir of the house
of Haleth； and Brandir was shamed before his people； and was bitter at heart。 But Hunthor； kinsman of Brandir； asked
his leave to go in his stead。 Then Turambar said farewell to Níniel； and she was filled with fear and foreboding； and their
parting was sorrowful； but Turambar set out with his two panions and went to Nen Girith。
Then Níniel being unable to endure her fear； and unwilling to wait in the Ephel tidings of Turambar's fortune； set
forth after him； and a great pany went with her。 At this Brandir was filled all the more with dread； and he sought to
dissuade her and the people that would go with her from this rashness； but they heeded him not。 Therefore he renounced
his lordship； and all love for the people that had scorned him； and having naught left but his love for Níniel he girt
himself with a sword and went after her； but being lame he fell far behind。
Now Turambar came to Nen Girith at sundown； and there he learned that Glaurung lay on the brink of the high
shores of Teiglin； and was like to move when night fell。 Then he called those tidings good； for the dragon lay at Cabed…
en…Aras； where the river ran in a deep and narrow gorge that a hunted deer might overleap； and Turambar thought that he
would seek no further； but would attempt to pass over the gorge。 Therefore he purposed to creep down at dusk； and
descend into the ravine under night； and cross over the wild water； and then to climb up the further cliff； and so e to
the dragon beneath his guard。
This counsel he took； but the heart of Dorlas failed when they came to the races of Teiglin in the dark； and he
dared not attempt the perilous crossing； but drew back and lurked in the woods； burdened with shame。 Turambar and
Hunthor； nonetheless； crossed over in safety； for the loud roaring of the water drowned all other sounds； and Glaurung
slept。 But ere the middle…night the dragon roused； and with a great noise and blast cast his forward part across the
chasm； and began to draw his bulk after。 Turambar and Hunthor were well…nigh overe by the heat and the stench； as
they sought in haste for a way up to e at Glaurung； and Hunthor was slain by a great stone that was dislodged from
on high by the passage of the dragon； and smote him on the head and cast him into the river。 So he ended； of the house
of Haleth not the least valiant
Then Turambar summoned all his will and courage and climbed the cliff alone； and came beneath the dragon。
Then he drew Gurthang； and with all the might of his arm； and of his hate； he thrust it into the soft belly of the Worm；
even up to the hilts。 But when Glaurung felt his death…pang； he screamed； and in his dreadful throe he heaved up his bulk
and hurled himself across the chasm； and there lay lashing and coiling in his agony。 And he set all in a blaze about him；
and beat all t