It is told that a seer and harp-player of Brethil named
Glirhuin made a song, saying that the Stone of the Hapless should not be
defiled by Morgoth nor ever thrown down, not though the sea should drown all
the land; as after indeed befell, and still Tol Morwen stands alone in the
water beyond the new coasts that were made in the days of the wrath of the
Valar. But Húrin does not lie there, for his doom drove him on, and the Shadow
still followed him.
Now Húrin crossed over Teiglin and passed southwards down the ancient road that
led to Nargothrond; and he saw far off to the eastward the lonely height of
Amon Rûdh, and knew what had befallen there. At length he came to the banks of
Narog, and ventured the passage of the wild river upon the fallen stones of the
bridge, as Mablung of Doriath had ventured it before him; and he stood before
the broken Doors of Felagund, leaning upon his staff.
Here it must be told that after the departure of Glaurung 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. Then he entered in, and stayed a while in that dreadful place,
where the treasures of Valinor lay strewn upon the floors in darkness and
decay; but it is told that when Húrin came forth from the wreck of Nargothrond
and stood again beneath the sky he bore with him out of all that great hoard
but one thing only.
Now Húrin journeyed eastward, and he came to the Meres of Twilight above the
Falls of Sirion; and there he was taken by the Elves that guarded the western
marches of Doriath, and brought before King Thingol in the Thousand Caves. Then
Thingol was filled with wonder and grief when he looked on him, and knew that
grim and aged man for Húrin Thalion, the captive of Morgoth; but he greeted him
fairly and showed him honour. Húrin made no answer to the King, but drew forth
from beneath his cloak that one thing which he had taken with him out of
Nargothrond; and that was no lesser treasure than the Nauglamír, the Necklace
of the Dwarves, that was made for Finrod Felagund long years before by the
craftsmen of Nogrod and Belegost, most famed of all their works in the Elder
Days, and prized by Finrod while he lived above all the treasures of
Nargothrond. And Húrin cast it at the feet of Thingol with wild and bitter
words.
'Receive thou thy fee,' he cried, 'for thy fair keeping of my children and my
wife! For this is the Nauglamír, whose name is known to many among Elves and
Men; and I bring it to thee out of the darkness of Nargothrond, where Finrod
thy kinsman left it behind him when he set forth with Beren son of Barahir to
fulfil the errand of Thingol of Doriath!'
Then Thingol looked upon the great treasure, and knew it for the Nauglamír, and
well did he understand Húrin's intent; but being filled with pity he restrained
his wrath, and endured Húrin's scorn. And at the last Melian spoke, and said:
'Húrin Thalion, Morgoth hath bewitched thee; for he that seeth through
Morgoth's eyes, willing or unwilling, seeth all things crooked. Long was Túrin
thy son fostered in the halls of Menegroth, and shown love and honour as the
son of the King; and it was not by the King's will nor by mine that he came
never back to Doriath. And afterwards thy wife and thy daughter were harboured
here with honour and goodwill; and we sought by all means that we might to
dissuade Morwen from the road to Nargothrond. With the voice of Morgoth thou
dost now upbraid thy friends.'
And hearing the words of Melian Húrin stood moveless, and he gazed long into
the eyes of the Queen; and there in Menegroth, defended still by the Girdle of
Melian from the darkness of the Enemy, he read the truth of all that was done,
and tasted at last the fullness of woe that was measured for him by Morgoth
Bauglir ['The Constrainer'];. And he spoke no more of what was past, but
stooping lifted up the Nauglamír from where it lay before Thingol's chair, and
he gave it to him, saying: 'Receive now, lord, the Necklace of the Dwarves, as
a gift from one who has nothing, and as a memorial of Húrin of Dor-lómin. For
now my fate is fulfilled, and the purpose of Morgoth achieved; but I am his
thrall no longer.'
Then he turned away, and passed out from the Thousand Caves, and all that saw
him fell back before his face; and none sought to withstand his going, nor did
any know whither he went. But it is said that Húrin would not live thereafter,
being bereft of all purpose and desire, and cast himself at last into the
western sea; and so ended the mightiest of the warriors of mortal Men.
