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[[Image:John Howe - The Fall of Gondolin.jpg|thumb|300px|''The Fall of Gondolin'' by [[John Howe]]]]
{{Disambig-more|The Fall of Gondolin|[[The Fall of Gondolin (disambiguation)]]}}
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[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - The Fall of Gondolin.jpg|250px|thumb|A page from the first version manuscript]]
{{title}}
'''The Fall of Gondolin''' is the third chapter of ''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]''. It is the earliest tale from the [[legendarium]] written by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]. It was first written during a leave of absence granted to Tolkien around the year [[1916]], while he was fighting in the [[World War I]], and was later revised until [[1920]]. The text remains as the single complete account of the city of [[Fall of Gondolin|Gondolin's fall]] in existence.


===Introduction & History of the Writing===
==Synopsis==
The '''"Fall of Gondolin"''' is the name of one of the original [[The Book of Lost Tales|Lost Tales]] which formed the basis for a section in [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien's]] later work, ''[[The Silmarillion]]''.
===Link===
After [[Eltas]] finished telling the Lost Tale of "[[Turambar and the Foalókë]]", [[Lindo]] commented that the fate of [[Glorund]]'s gold was told in the story of "[[The Nauglafring]]". Then many asked Eltas to tell that tale the next day, but he explained it was necessary to know about the coming of [[Eärendel]] first. At that moment [[Ilfiniol]] Littleheart, son of [[Bronweg]], entered into the room and Lindo said that he was the best one to tell the tales of [[Tuor]] and Eärendel.


"The Fall of Gondolin" tells of the founding of the [[Elves|Elven]] city of '''[[Gondolin]]''' (built in secret by [[Turgon]] and his people), of the arrival [[Tuor]], a prince of the [[Edain]], of the betrayal of the city to [[Morgoth]] by Turgon's nephew [[Maeglin]], and of its subsequent destruction by Morgoth's armies.
Then Ilfinion explained that those tales were very long and that it took seven times faring to the Tale-fire to hear them all, so he would need aid from [[Ailios]] and [[Meril-i-Turinqi]]. Messengers were sent to look for the Lady of the Isle, and no more tales were heard in the [[Cottage of Lost Play]] for three days. On the fourth day she was received as in a festival, and her maidens sang beautiful songs. Seated in the place of honour near the [[Tale-fire]], Meril asked Ilfiniol: "''Come now, O Ilfiniol, begin thou the tale of tales, and tell it more fully than thou hast ever done''". Thus Littleheart began telling "The Fall of Gondolin".


Tolkien actually began writing the story that would become "The Fall of Gondolin" in 1917 in an army barracks on the back of a sheet of military marching music. It is more or less the first traceable story he wrote down on paper about the Middle-earth legendarium.
===Tuor's journey to the Sea===
[[File:Alan Lee - The Rainbow Cleft.jpg|thumb|''The Rainbow Cleft'' by [[Alan Lee]]]]
[[Tuor]] lived alone by the shores of [[Lake Mithrim]] singing and hunting in its woods and learning lore from the [[Gnomes]] that wandered in the region. At some point he found a cave through which a river ran, and was driven to follow it by a mysterious and sudden spring of water. He met some of the Noldoli and came through the cave into a ravine called the Rainbow Cleft.  


Because he was constantly revising his [[First Age]] stories, the narrative Tolkien wrote in 1917 (published posthumously in the ''Book of Lost Tales'') remains the only full account of the fall of the city. The narrative in ''The Silmarillion'' was the result of the editing by his son [[Christopher Tolkien|Christopher]] of various different sources.
After travelling through the ravine for many days, Tuor was able to scale the cliff, and as he followed the ravine, he saw that an enormous wave came into it with great noise, and he was afraid. Finally, he reached the shore and became the first [[Men|Man]] to see the [[Sea]], and his heart was filled with [[Sea-longing]]. There he dwelt for a long time, marvelling at the sound of the waves. In that time he made a little cottage with wood that the Noldoli sent him through the river. He adorned his new home, which was called [[Falasquil]], and took the Swan as a token of his [[House of the Swan|house]].


A partial new version of "The Fall of Gondolin" was published in the ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'' under the title "Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin". Actually titled "Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin", this narrative shows a great expansion of the earlier tale. It can be surmised from this text that Tolkien would have rewritten the entire story, but for reasons that are not known he abandoned the text before Tuor actually arrives in the city. For this reason Christopher Tolkien retitled the story before including it in ''Unfinished Tales''.[[Image:Gondolin Plan.jpg|thumb|200px]]
Tuor tarried in Falasquil for a long time, until he saw three swans flying south. Seeing them as a sign, he followed them on a long trek south into more pleasant lands where the trend of the coast was more west-east than north-south. Eventually he reached a land where a river emptied into the sea. There, during the night he met a group of the Gnomes who guided him far inland, to [[Arlisgion]] from where he followed the course of the River [[Sirion]] north until he came to the [[Land of Willows]]. In this region Tuor was content to live, singing among the butterflies and other insects.


== The Fall ==
But [[Ulmo]] Lord of Waters, who had willed Tuor on this journey, decided he could not trust his plan to the Noldoli anymore, so he abandoned [[Ulmonan]] and leapt upon his car, and mighty was his appearance. Thus he came before Tuor in person, bidding him to seek the hidden city of Gondolin, and Ulmo promised that Tuor would speak his words there. This Tuor did, but soon the Gnomes' guides deserted him, fearing the reach of Melko's power in the north. Only one remained with him: [[Voronwë]] or Bronweg.


{{noncanon}}
===The journey of Tuor and Voronwë to Gondolin===
[[File:Alan Lee - Eagles fly above the encircling mountains.png|thumb|''Eagles fly above the encircling mountains'' by [[Alan Lee]]]]
After being abandoned by the Noldoli, Tuor felt weary and wished to come back to the Sea. But Voronwë encouraged him, explaining to him that he did not know the way, but it was said that those wanderers who seek the hidden city found true freedom in it. Then both sought for the city for many days until they found a deep dale amid the mountains that was opened by a noisy river. There a magic spell allowed only to the Noldoli to see a secret gate, so thanks to Voronwë they could find it.


[[Eriol]] listened in the [[Cottage of Lost Play]] as [[Lindo]] and others told tales of old.  Then [[Ilfiniol]], called [[Littleheart]] son of [[Bronweg]], was asked by Lindo to tell of the '''Fall of Gondolin'''.  And he did.
But into the door was a dark and tortuous way, and they crossed it running, full of fear. When they came into the light, they were surrounded by the Guard of the [[Gondothlim]]. They were in a great vale surrounded by mountains, and in the distance rose a city shining in the morning light. Voronwë spoke to the guards in the [[Gnomish|language of the Gnomes]], and one of them welcomed Tuor and Voronwë to Gondolin, city of [[Gondolin#The Seven Names|Seven Names]].


=== Prologue ===
The city rose in sight upon [[Amon Gwareth]] and [[Tumladin]] was smooth, so they could walk there without any guide. They reached Gondolin in the evening and were amazed by its beauty. At the gate, a guard asked their names, and Tuor presented himself as of the [[house of the Swan]] and a messenger of Ulmo.


===Tuor===
===Tuor in Gondolin===
[[File:Alan Lee - The entrance to the King’s house.png|thumb|''The entrance to the King's house'' by [[Alan Lee]]]]
Thus Tuor and Voronwë entered Gondolin, greeted with awe by its people, and were taken before King [[Turgon]]. There Tuor, given the power and majesty of Ulmo's own voice, told Turgon to gather his forces and attack Melko as the time for his overthrow was ripe. Turgon refused this counsel and so Tuor warned him that both [[Elves]] and [[Men]] would suffer for a long time before the [[Valar]] could contrive another means of salvation. However Tuor voiced Ulmo's other [[Ulmo's warning|counsel]]: to leave Gondolin, travel down the Sirion, build ships and sail back to [[Valinor]] to ask  the Gods for help against Melko. Again Turgon refused, informing Tuor that he had every year sent messengers by boat over the sea but all of them perished.


Now there was a man who dwelt in [[Dor Lómin]] named [[Tuor]]. And he was both a singer and a hunter, and played on a rough harp of wood and bear-sinews. He eventually departed from his people to lonely places, where he learned the speech and lore of the [[Noldor]] from wanderers there.
Tuor lamented this refusal, but he was invited to dwell in Gondolin, even in the king's halls. There he learned many things that would otherwise be kept secret from the race of Men. Matters of music, lore, architecture and culture were all taught to him and he became beloved in the city. Turgon had a suit of armour made for him and an axe, [[Dramborleg]]. Some years later he married Turgon's daughter [[Idril]] at [[Gar Ainion]], and [[Meglin]], the king's nephew, became jealous of them. In those days the desire of the Valar was fulfilled because Idril bore Tuor a son: [[Eärendel]].


Later, it is said, [[magic]] and destiny led him one day do a cavernous opening through with a hidden river flowed from [[Mithrim]].  And he entered the cavern, curious. But the waters forced him futher and further down, until he could not force his way back into the light.  And it is said that [[Ulmo]] had a hand in this.  Then came Noldorin [[elves]] to Tuor, and guided him until he came out into the light again, and saw the river flowed swiftly in a ravine of great depth with sides unscalable.  Then Tuor did not wish to return, but went ever forward, the river leading him to the west. And he called it the [[Golden Cleft]], or the [[Gully of the Rainbow Roof]], which was in the speech of the Noldor [[Glorfalc]] or [[Cris Ilbranteloth]].
===The encirclement of Gondolin===
Not all was blissful though, because Melko had gathered an army of spies and these he sent out to discover the city. They had found the [[Way of Escape]] and with the aid of captive Gnomes, bypassed the magic protecting it to enter through. Tidings of these spyings were bought to Turgon and he began preparing Gondolin for whatever might become of them.  


He continued on, drinking the water of the river and eating the beautiful fish of the stream.  One day a long time after he heard a cry, and could not decide what it came from.
Now Idril had a premonitory nightmare, perceiving that things would not remain peaceful and that Meglin, her cousin, was not all he seemed. Thus she asked Tuor to have a [[Idril's secret way|secret tunnel]] constructed, leading from their house far onto the plain of [[Tumladin]]. This Tuor did and despite the hardness of the rock of [[Amon Gwareth]], work began.


"It is a fay-creature," he said.  But after a while he said "Nay, 'tis but some small beast that waileth among the rocks."  But then it seemed to him as an unknown bird with a voice new to his ears and strangely sad. And on the next day he heard the same cry over his head, and looking up saw three great white birds, [[Gulls]] of [[Ossë]].
Idril's advice proved very good since Meglin was captured by [[Orcs]] spying in the region. In exchange for his life he offered them much information on Gondolin, and though they knew much of what he had told them, he told them to bring him before Melko so that he may judge the worth of his information. Melko was well pleased by what Meglin had to tell and together they conceived a plan for the capture of Gondolin, Melko even promising Meglin the hand of Idril if he could slay Tuor and Eärendel. On Meglin's advice Melko had his smiths and sorcerers constructed [[Iron Dragons|iron monsters]] in the likeness of dragons, which might cross difficult terrain and harbour legions of orcs to transport them safely across the open plain of Tumladin. It is noted that these monsters had never been seen before and never would be again until the "[[Dagor Dagorath|Great End]]".


At last Tuor found a spot where he could scale the cliffs surrounding him. A fresh wind touched his face, and he said "This is very good and like the drinking of wine", but he did not know he was near the [[Great Sea]].  Then he came to a narrow neck, where the river rumbled angrily.  Then Tuor saw the sea for the first time, and he was afraid. He found himself in a country bare of trees and swept by winds of the west.  Some have said he was the first of the [[men]] to see the sea and feel the desire it brings.
Meglin returned to Gondolin promptly so as not to arouse suspicion and from that point on appeared increasingly happy and light-hearted, though a shadow of dread placed upon him by Melko ever gnawed at him. This new Meglin, however, only increased Tuor and Idril's suspicion. Furthermore, Melko withdrew his spies, which Turgon and the Gondothlim interpreted as him seeing the impregnability of Gondolin and deciding against assault, and the watch on the mountains was slackened.


He took up his abode there, dwelling in a cove sheltered by black rocks. And he marvelled at the wonders there; the seaweed and the tide pools and the sea-fowl.  He adorned the cave in which he dwelt with figures of birds and flowers, and beasts and trees.  But chief among them was that of the swan, which he loved more than all others.
Seven years passed after the treachery of Meglin, and Eärendel was still a child. Idril became more worried and told some Gondothlim that she could help them if the city was attacked, but they laughed of this, trusting that the city would endure as long as [[Taniquetil]].


Once he saw three swans flying high and from the northward.  And he followed them, heading south.  Tuor bearing his harp and spear followed.  After a great day's journey he came back into a region of trees; a rugged land.  Yet he still followed the swans, even through the winter.  At last he came to a southern land more kindly, of sandy spits and many new piping birds.  And Tuor lost sight of the swans, and he never saw them again.  And the Noldor came to him at night, and he arose from sleep.  Then he followed them inland, and came to the land of [[Arlisgion]], the "place of reeds".  And he rested by the [[Sirion]] that spring. He called it the Land of Willows, and the birds there were unequalled in all the world. And here there was the sweetest grass and many aged willows, and Tuor was loth to depart, and he tarried in the morn.
=== The array of the Gondothlim===
Winter passed and the [[Nost-na-Lothion]] was held with happiness. When summer approached, the festival of [[Tarnin Austa]] was celebrated at night. But as the people gathered to see the sunrise in silence, a red glow grew in the north, dyeing the snow on the mountains as blood. Riders fled over the plain bringing the tidings: Melko's armies were coming upon them.


Here he saw the first butterflies.  And as summer came he still lingered, and gave names to all things, and sang new songs on his old harp.
Now is told of the symbols and colours of the [[twelve houses of the Gondothlim]] as they ready for battle: [[Turgon]] and the [[house of the King]]; Tuor and the [[house of the Wing]]; Meglin and the [[house of the Mole]]; [[Duilin of Gondolin|Duilin]] and the [[house of the Swallow]]; [[Egalmoth]] and the [[house of the Heavenly Arch]]; [[Penlod]] and the two houses of [[House of the Pillar|the Pillar]] and [[House of the Tower of Snow|the Tower of Snow]]; [[Galdor of the Tree|Galdor]] and the [[house of the Tree]]; [[Glorfindel]] and the [[house of the Golden Flower]]; [[Ecthelion]] and the [[house of the Fountain]]; [[Salgant]] and the [[house of the Harp]]; and [[Rog]] and the [[house of the Hammer of Wrath]].


===Ulmo's message===
A council of war was called by Turgon and all the lords gathered in his palace. There Tuor recommended to leave the city and save all the women and children. But Meglin and Salgant (who fawned upon Meglin and did his bidding) convinced Turgon to remain in the city, since it was a powerful fortress, so hard in the making and full of treasures. So ended the council and the Gondothlim deployed themselves for the battle.
[[File:Narfil Palùrfalas - Siege_of_Gondolin_1.jpg|thumb|First distribution of the Twelve Houses]]


Then Ulmo feared that Tuor would dwell forever in the Land of Willows.  Therefor he leaped upon his chariot drawn by a narwhal and a sealion, fashioned like a whale, and amidst the sounding of great conches sped up from [[Ulmonan]]. And he came to Tuor, blowing on his great instrument, to which Tuor hearkened. And Ulmo spoke to him.
===The battle of Gondolin===
So the battle began in earnest. As the hosts of Melko, commanded by [[Gothmog (balrog)|Gothmog]], crossed the plain of Tumladin, Turgon's war machines opened fire, supplemented by the Houses of the Heavenly Arch and of the Swallow, both houses of archers. However, for all their efforts they did little to slow the advance. Once the forces of Melko had reached the city, they found that they could not assault the walls as the sides of [[Amon Gwareth]] were smooth, and the beasts of Melko could not climb them. However, the heat of the creatures began to evaporate the city's fountains, except the [[fountain of the King]]. Now Gothmog led an assault on the northern gate, using the iron monsters to break them. From the bellies of the [[Iron Dragons|Iron creatures]] hosts of orcs spilled and Galdor and Rog with their houses were hard-pressed to hold them, while the archer houses poured arrows from above. Slowly, the Gondothlim began to lose terrain.


"O Tuor of the lonely heart," he said, "I will not that thou dwell for ever in fair places of birds and flowers; nor would I lead thee through this pleasant land, but that so it must be. But fare now on thy destined journey and tarry not, for far from hence is thy weird set. Now must thou seek through the lands for the city of the folk called Gondothlim or the dwellers in stone, and the Noldoli shall escort thee thither in secret for fear of the spies of Melko. Words I will set to your mouth there, and there you shall abide awhile. Yet maybe thy life shall turn again to the mighty waters; and of surety a child shall come of thee than whom no man shall know more of the uttermost deeps, be it of the sea or of the firmament of heaven."
[[File:Narfil Palùrfalas - Siege_of_Gondolin_2.jpg|left|thumb|The northern gate falls and Tuor confronts Meglin]]
At this time Meglin had decided to bring his plans to fruition and had travelled with the House of the Mole to Tuor's abode on the south western wall. There he intended to thrust Eärendel over the walls and make Idril see it. He also knew of Idril's secret way and wanted to use it for his own purposes. However, Salgant did not help Meglin as planned, and Tuor and his guard arrived just as Meglin was dragging Eärendel and Idril. Then Tuor gave a great shout, and a battle ensued between the Houses of the Mole and of the Wing. Meglin tried to stab Eärendel, but he was wearing a coat of mail made by his mother. Thereupon Tuor jumped upon Meglin and broke his arm, and lifted and threw him over the walls to his death. Tuor left Idril and Eärendel in the keeping of Voronwë and a guard of warriors from his house, and returned with the remainder of the house of the Wing to the combat.


Then Tuor continued up the river, but he heard the conches of Ulmo calling him until he died.
[[File:Narfil Palùrfalas - Siege_of_Gondolin_3.jpg|thumb|The north part is lost and Tuor goes to help]]
At the northern part, battle intensified as the Balrogs came upon the defenders there. Duilin and Penlod were slain. But Rog rallied his folk of the Hammer about him and made a desperate charge, beating the enemy back to the gates. However, Gothmog cut off their rear, so Rog kept the charge onto Tumladin. There he and his people were slaughtered, but in their charge Balrogs were slain for first time, with great surprise for both Gnomes and enemies.
[[File:Narfil Palùrfalas - Siege_of_Gondolin_4.jpg|thumb|Western walls are broken and the House of the Fountain comes in aid]]
With the loss of the folk of the Hammer, the other houses fell or had to retreat from the north part. Battle continued and a fresh assault was made by the forces of Melko upon the western wall. There the dragons had beat a way up Amon Gwareth and heaved against the wall, succeeding in breaching it. But Tuor and his men had already arrived, and soon came Ecthelion and the house of the Fountain (which had before now been held in reserve), ready to confront the incoming enemies. In the battle that followed Tuor and Ecthelion proved themselves mighty in battle, slaying Orc chieftains and Balrogs alike, but it was there that Ecthelion received a wound on his left arm from a Balrog's whip. There a great dragon appeared and trampled all those about it, Orc and Elf alike. But Tuor hewed its foot and it fled wrecking ruin about it. Carrying Ecthelion, Tuor led men from other houses to the [[Place of the Well]], and there they were saved by Galdor and his folk of the Tree.


A day came when he was weary, and he slept until it was almost night again.  And the Noldor came to him and guided him. Now Tuor wandered with them, but the elves became ill at ease.  And they told him of Morgoth, and what would happen if they were betrayed. And so they left him, though he wandered still in the hills. But it was said to Morgoth that there was a man there, and Morgoth doubted his own craft and watchfulness.
And so slowly but surely all those Houses that remained were driven back to the [[Square of the King]]. Of the Chieftains, Turgon, Tuor, Ecthelion, Galdor, Egalmoth and Glorfindel were there. Glorfindel came late, only able to escape from his position in the [[Great Market]] once the house of the Harp under the craven Salgant had taken leave of their captain quailing in his bed and relieved the house of the Golden Flower, as they had previously been ordered. There the Gondothlim made their final stand, reinforced by the presence of Turgon and the folk of the King.  


===Search for Gondolin===
They were hard pressed and soon what barricades they could erect were broken. There came Gothmog and though grievously wounded Ecthelion stepped up to face him. Gothmog disarmed him, ruining his right arm, but Ecthelion was not so easily defeated and drove the spike of his helmet into the chest of Gothmog, wrapping his legs around the demon's body and forcing him into the [[Fountain of the King]] where they both drowned.


But despite the desertation of Tuor by the elves out of fear, one elf named [[Voronwë of Gondolin|Voronwë]], or [[Bronweg]] remained with Tuor.  Now Tuor was sitting wearily by the stream, considering returning to the sea. But Voronwë came up to him, and said "O Tuor, think not but that thou shalt again one day see thy desire; arise now, and behold, I will not leave thee.  I am not of the road-learned of the Noldoli, being a craftsman and maker of things made by hand of wood and of metal, and I joined not the band of escort till late.  Yet of old have I heard whispers and sayings said in secret amid the weariness of thraldom, concerning a city where Noldoli might be free could they find the hidden way thereto; and we twain may without a doubt find the road to the City of Stone, where is that freedom of the Gondothlim."
Battle proved vain, and Turgon recited the words of [[Amnon]] the prophet: ''"Great is the Fall of Gondolin"''. As the Noldoli were pushed back to the very [[Tower of the King]], Turgon repented of his dismissal of Ulmo's advice, casting off his crown and bidding the Gondothlim follow Tuor from now on and if they might, find a way to flee the city. With that Turgon climbed to the highest peak of his tower and declared ''"Great is the victory of the Noldoli!"'' to which the orcs sneered in derision.


Long did Tuor and Bronweg seek that city, and after many days they came to a deep dale amid the hills. Here went the river over a very stony bed with much noise and rush, and it was curtained by alders; but the walls of the dale were sheer.  Then Voronwë found a gate concealed by bushes and foliage, and they passed through it into deep tunnels.  They heard echoes and footsteps behind them, and feared it was orcs.  After a long time they came to a second gate.  Then they passed through into the sunlight, and for a while they could not see anything.  Then they were suddenly surrounded by warriors in steel.  And even as they stood there they beheld Gondolin and the valley of [[Tumladen]].
Tuor was torn between his love for the King and for his family, and wished not to leave Turgon. Messengers were sent to the Tower, but Turgon refused thrice to leave, and his royal guard stayed with him.


Then Voronwë spoke with the guards, as did Tuor.  The guards received them gladly, saying "We are the guardians of the issue of the Way of Escape.  Rejoice that ye have found it, for behold before you the City of Seven Names where all who war with Melko may find hope."
Desperate council was taken and Tuor now informed them of the secret delving of Idril he had made. This course of action seemed best and so gathering what people of Gondolin they could find, Tuor led them south by the [[Road of Pomps]]. With Glorfindel and the House of the Golden Flower protecting the rear, they moved quickly down the [[Way of Running Waters]], with [[dragons]] and orcs in pursuit.  


Then Tuor asked "What be those names?"
=== The escape of the fugitives===
[[File:Alan Lee - The King's Tower Falls.jpg|thumb|''The King's Tower falls'' by [[Alan Lee]]]]
Meanwhile, Idril and Voronwë waited for Tuor before their house's doors, but Idril became worried and eventually sent most of her guard down the tunnel with Eärendel. Then she fared about, gathering survivors and showing them her tunnel, and she even bore a sword and led her guard to smite marauders. But soon the enemy killed all the guard except Voronwë, and Tuor's house was burned. Seeing the destruction of her city, Idril fell into shock and began wandering wildy around until she and Voronwë reached [[Gar Ainion]].


"'Tis said," replied the chief of the Guard, "and 'tis sung: '[[Gondobar]] am I called and [[Gondothlimbar]], City of Stone and City of the Dwellers in Stone; [[Gondolin]] the Stone of Song and [[Gwarestrin]] I am named, the Tower of Guard, [[Gar Thurion]] or the Secret Place, for I am hidden from the eyes of Melko; but they who love me most greatly call me [[Loth]], for like a flower am I, even [[Lothengriol]] the flower that blooms upon the plain.'"  But he added that usually they just called it ''Gondolin''.
Then Tuor arrived at this Place of the Gods, and there was Idril as on their wedding day. But Idril did not see Tuor: from the high Gar Ainion they could see the Square of the Palace, which was now burning and full of enemies. Then some dragons broke the base of the Tower of the King, and this fell, causing King Turgon's death. Melko had won this time.


Then Tuor and Voronwë asked to be brought thither. The chief of the Guard told them that the Guard must stay at their posts, but they could go themselves without a leader, for it was plain to see against the sky.
Now Tuor led the people to his house, and many women and children joined them. The house was in burned ruins, but the staircase to the tunnel remained, so the exiles filed down into the tunnel, which was hot from the fires of the dragons upon the plain and choked with bodies of those crushed by dislodged rocks in its roof. At length though, they came to the exit hidden in a dried pool shrouded by bushes. There the band came into some conflict over the path to take for though Tuor proposed [[Cristhorn]], others trusted rather to the [[Way of Escape]] which was nearer. Therefore a split occurred and those who fared to the Way of Escape were caught by a dragon that waited there and were slain.  


Therefor they marched across [[Tumladen]], and into Gondolin. Tuor was awestruck by the city, with its fountains and stairs, and high towers.  A throng followed him, wondering at his rough clothes (for at this stage in the legendarium Tuor did not receive armor at [[Vinyamar]]). Tuor was taller even than the elves, for the Gondothlim were short, slender, and lithe.
In the dark of the rising dawn, Tuor's company were guided across the plain by [[Legolas (elf of Gondolin)|Legolas]], of the folk of the Tree and went far across the plain. But looking back they witnessed six men on foot fleeing across the plain pursued by Orcs upon [[wolves]] and Tuor saw that upon the shoulders of [[Hendor]] was Eärendel. Therefore gathering fifty men about him he led them to the rescue of his son, destroying the Orcs. So was Eärendel reunited with his parents.      


But the guard pushed back the crowd and demanded their names.  Voronwë called himself [[Bronweg]], ordered by Ulmo to guide Tuor.  But Tuor said "I am Tuor son of [[Peleg]] son of [[Indor]] of the house of the Swan of the sons of the Men of the North who live far hence, and I fare hither by the will of Ulmo of the [[Outer Oceans]]."
Tuor and the [[Exiles of Gondolin|Exiles]] made it to the [[Cirith Thoronath|Eagle's Cleft]] and moved along the narrow pass, a cliff on one side and a sheer drop on the other. They had already begun the passage when a hail of stones came from above, hurled by Orcs, and from behind a Balrog came upon them, set there to prevent escape from the city. Glorfindel blocked it from reaching its target and there ensued a battle on the heights. Glorfindel hewed its arm and wrestled with it, and to defeat his foe he threw his weight against it, forcing it over the brink and into the abyss. Then the [[Eagles]] came, driving the Orcs off the mountainside, and so the column of exiles were saved. Glorfindel's body was borne up by the eagles and a cairn was made for him despite their haste, and after this deed the Gnomes always remembered him.


Then the guardsmen led them before [[King Turgon]], Lord of Gondolin, who dwelt within a beautiful palace. The king was robed in white, wearing a golden belt and a crown of garnets.  And he called out to Tuor, who replied with the message, Ulmo giving power to his voice.
=== The wanderings of the Exiles ===
The exiles wandered for a year or more among the mountains, until they found a stream in the next summer, and following it they reached better lands. Here Voronwë was inspired by Ulmo and guided them, and eventually they reached the [[Sirion]] river and the Way of Escape, where some Gondothlim had perished. Following the great river, they suffered attacks of wandering Orc-bands, but as they went forward, the protection of Ulmo increased.


"Behold, O father of the City of Stone," he said, "I am bidden by him who maketh deep music in the Abyss, and who knoweth the mind of Elves and Men, to say unto thee that the days of Release draw nigh. There have come to the ears of Ulmo whispers of your dwelling and your hill of vigilance against the evil of Melko, and he is glad: but his heart is wroth and the hearts of the Valar are angered who sit in the mountains of Valinor and look upon the world from the peak of Taniquetil, seeing the sorrow of the thraldom of the Noldoli and the wanderings of Men; for Melko ringeth them in the Land of Shadows beyond hills of iron.  Therefor have I been brought by a secret way to bid you number your hosts and prepare for battle, for the time is ripe."
Then they crossed the great cave of the [[Gates of Sirion|Tumultuous Winds]], where the Sirion went underground, and came out to the [[Pools of Twilight]]. These regions full of reeds were known to Tuor, but he could not remember the way because he had travelled during night. Autumn had come and the Exiles delayed in those marshes with great inconveniences.


''To be continued. You can help [[Tolkien Gateway]] by completing this article''
Finally, they reached the Land of Willows, where they could rest and heal their wounds and illness. There they dwelt for a long time, until Tuor again felt the sea-longing, and all the host followed him down Sirion to the Sea. Dwelling at the [[mouth of Sirion]], the exiles took the name of [[Lothlim]], and Eärendel grew fair there.


=== The Siege ===
Then Bronweg said: "''Alas for Gondolin''", and everyone in the [[Room of Logs]] remained quiet.


==Commentary==
The ''Link'' that introduces the Tale into ''The Book of Lost Tales'' narrative was written in the same manuscript of "[[Turambar and the Foalókë]]". The text of the Tale itself had been in existence for some time before this interlude, having its own complex history.


====The Breaking of the Gates====
The original text was written between [[1916]]-[[1917]] while [[Tolkien]] was recovering in a field hospital after the [[Battle of the Somme]]. It was written in pencil in two school exercise-books, with the title ''Tuor and the Exiles of Gondolin (which bringeth in the great tale of Eärendel)''. This first manuscript [[Christopher Tolkien]] calls '''''Tuor A'''''.


This book states that in the eighth year of [[Eärendil the Mariner|Eärendil]], son of Tuor, plain riders came to the city crying "Melko is upon us."  Then all were afraid, but the squares of the city were filled with the mustering of the companies (see [[Gondolin]] for a list).  Tuor was in command of the twelfth company, the Folk of the Wing.  Idril herself arrayed herself in mail, and sought Eärendil, who wept in fear because of the red lights dancing on the walls of his chamber.  And she gave him a small coat of mail to put on, and this he did and feared no more.[[Image:Siege of Gondolin 1.jpg|thumb|200px]]
Unlike other Lost Tales such as "Turambar" and "[[The Tale of Tinúviel|Tinúviel]]", the later revision did not undergo a total rewriting: only in later parts is the text entirely overwritten, and general corrections are made directly above the pencil. The result of these corrections was '''''Tuor B''''', a fair copy made by [[Edith Tolkien]], probably in the period when Tolkien wrote "[[The Music of the Ainur]]" and was working on the ''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]'' ([[1919]]-[[1920]]).


Turgon called a council, and though Tuor and others counselled him to fight out in the plain in the hope that they could break through and escape, Turgon listen to the counsel of Maeglin and [[Salgant]], and remained in the city to guard his treasures and the work of his hands behind strong walls.
''Tuor B'' was fully emended with stylistic revisions and changes to names. Some of these revisions were written on separated slips, and some of them contain indications on shortening the tale when given orally. It is clear then that most of these emendations were made as a preparation for Tolkien's reading at the Essay Club of [[Exeter College]] in the spring of 1920.


Upon the reaching of the city by [[Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs|Gothmog]] and his army, the archers of Gondolin poured unavailing arrows upon them.  All feared, but hope returned to them when it was found that the snakes of fire could not climb the hill for its steepness and glassiness, and because of the waters that poured down its sides.  But they lay about the feet of the city and rose up such heat that all in the city panted and were weary, and all fountains save those of the king grew hot.
Christopher elaborates by referring to his introduction to ''[[Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin]]'', in which he gave some further information, like the notes Tolkien used to introduce the reading of his 'essay':


Then Gothmog gathered all things of iron and piled them upon the [[North Gate of Gondolin|North Gate]], and at last the gates broke. Then did the catapults and engines of the king pour down darts and boulders, but they bounced off the heavy bodies. Then the orcs poured through the gates.
{{blockquote|Therefore I must read something already written, and in desperation I have fallen back on this Tale. It has of course never seen the light before. . . A complete cycle in an Elfinesse of my own imagining has for some time past grown up (rather, has been constructed) in my mind. Some of the episodes have been scribbled down. . . This tale is not the best of them, but it is the only one that has so far been revised at all and that, insufficient as the revision has been, I dare read aloud.<ref name=Unfinished>{{UT|Introduction}}, p. 5</ref>}}


But [[Rog]] and [[Galdor of the Tree|Galdor]] with the [[House of the Hammer of Wrath]] and the [[House of the Tree]] leaped forward, while the [[Folk of the Swallow]] and of the [[House of the Heavenly Arch|Arch]] poured down arrows.  The orcs fell like leaves, but because of their might the Gondothlim were pushed back into the city until the orcs held the northernmost part of the city.[[Image:Siege of Gondolin 2.jpg|thumb|200px]]
However, not all these emendations were made at the same time, as there is a clean typescript which Christopher calls '''''Tuor C'''''. This extends only until the message of Tuor to Turgon, having some notable changes in the end, and it has many names in blank which were filled later. As this was clearly an abandoned revision made before the lecture, Christopher used mainly ''Tuor B'' for the published text, giving the differences of ''Tuor A'' and ''Tuor C'' with notes.


====The Death of Maeglin====
Accompanying the Tale there is an unfinished document titled ''Name-list to The Fall of Gondolin'', whose information was mostly included at the end of Christopher's Commentary and in the Appendix. The list was properly published in full in [[Parma Eldalamberon 15|''Parma Eldalamberon'' 15]], edited by [[Christopher Gilson]] and [[Patrick H. Wynne]].


Tuor was at this time leading the [[Folk of the Wing]] through the turmoil, and at last he won his way to his house, and found that Maeglin had been there first. Now Maeglin intended to escape the sack and have his revenge by first throwing Eärendil from the wall and then forcing Idril to lead him to her secret passage out of the city. But when he confided his task to Salgant, the elf-lord fell into such a quaking that he became sick and lay in bed.
== Later use of the text ==
Soon after abandoning ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'', Tolkien began several poems about his mythology in a more mature tone. Among [[Poems Early Abandoned|those abandoned]] was ''[[The Lay of the Fall of Gondolin]]'', probably written in [[1920]], which follows very closely the Lost Tale, adding nothing to the narrative.<ref>{{LB|2c}}, p. 145</ref>


Now Tuor had come to this house to say farewell to his wife and son, and sent a bodyguard with them to the secret passage, but found the [[House of the Mole]] about the door, and these the grimmest and least good-hearted in the city. Then Tuor saw Maeglin, who had Eärendil in his arms and Idril by the hair upon the battlements, but encumbered by the child and because Idril was fighting him he moved slowly, cursing as he went. Then Tuor gave such a shout that the orcs far away wavered, and the Folk of the Wing threw themselves upon the Folk of the Mole, and Tuor pushed past.  Maeglin seeing Tuor drew a knife, and would have stabbed Eärendil, but the boy bit his hand, and the blow came down not solidly, bouncing off the mail coat. Then Tuor caught him up by the hand that held the knife and wrenching it broke Maeglin's arm. Then he lifted Maeglin up by the middle and hurled him out from the wall, and thrice did his body smite the slope of [[Amon Gwareth]], until if fell into the flames.
Tolkien only would finish the story of Gondolin in summarized forms, being particullarly special the one included in the ''[[Quenta Noldorinwa]]'' ([[1930]]), as it was the main text used by Christopher for his edition of ''[[The Silmarillion]]''.<ref>[[Douglas C. Kane]], [[Arda Reconstructed: The Creation of the Published Silmarillion]], "23. Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin"</ref>


But then the Folk of the Mole came at Tuor, and they were put to blows.  Yet none could stand before the wrath of Tuor, and they flew before him. Then Tuor and his men were forced to return to the gate, but Tuor left [[Voronwë of Gondolin|Voronwë]] and several swordsmen to guard Idril in his absence.[[Image:Siege of Gondolin 3.jpg|thumb|200px]]
The only attempt to revise the story was an incomplete narrative entitled ''Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin'' from [[1951]], which cut off abruptly at the moment Tuor first witnesses the city and thus never dealt with the actual fall of the city. It was published in ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'' under the title "[[Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin]]" to more accurately describe its content.<ref name=Unfinished>{{UT|Introduction}}, p. 5</ref>


====The Valor of the Hammer of Wrath====
{{blockquote|It is thus the remarkable fact that the only full account that my father ever wrote of the story of Tuor's sojourn in Gondolin, his union with Idril Celebrindal, the birth of Eärendil, the treachery of Maeglin, the sack of the city, and the escape of the fugitives – a story that was a central element in his imagination of the First Age – was the narrative composed in his youth.}}
 
Back at the gate the battle was evil, and [[Duilin of Gondolin|Duilin]] was stricken by a bolt from a [[balrog]], and fell from the walls and perished. The balrogs continued to shoot darts of fire and flaming arrows like small snakes into the sky, and these fell upon the roofs and gardens of Gondolin until all the trees and gardens were burnt, and the walls blackened.  Worse still it was when the demons climbed upon the coils of the serpents of iron and thence loosed unceasingly from their bows and slings till a fire began to burn in the city to the back of the main army of the defenders.
 
Then Rog of the [[House of the Hammer of Wrath]] cried out "Who now shall fear the [[Balrogs]] for all their terror?  See before us the accursed ones who for ages have tormented the children of the Noldoli ([[Noldor]]), and who now set a fire at our backs with their shooting.  Come ye of the Hammer of Wrath and we will smite them for their evil."  Then he lifted up his long-handled mace, and the people of the Stricken Anvil followed him, running like a wedge, and they were in a great rage.  Many of the orcs were borne backwards, and they leaped even upon the coils of the serpents and came at those Balrogs and smote them greviously. A number of the balrogs were slain, and they were sung as heroes ever after.
 
But Gothmog fell upon them, and at the last Rog was slain, and all the folk of the Hammer of Wrath with him, and in those streets there perished also [[Penlod]] and many of the [[House of the Pillar]] and of the [[House of the Tower of Snow]].
 
====Battle within the City and at the Breach====
 
The orcs held the gates, and many of the archers of the [[House of the Swallow]] and of the [[House of the Heavenly Arch]] were thrust to doom, but they had won a great space reaching nigh to the center of the city, even to the [[Place of the Well]] that adjoined the [[Square of the Palace]]. Then came [[Ecthelion of the Fountain|Ecthelion]] and the [[House of the Fountain]], whom Turgon had till now held in reserve.  And they fell upon the orcs with such fury that ever after "Ecthelion!" was a warcry of the [[Eldar]].[[Image:Siege of Gondolin 4.jpg|thumb|200px]]
 
Now Tuor and the Folk of the Wing arrayed themselves beside Ecthelion's company, and by their valiant blows pushed the orcs almost all the way back to the gate.  Then there came a quaking, for the [[dragons]] were beating a path up Amon Gwareth and casting down the walls of the city, and already there was a gap.  Little bands of the House of the Swallow and of the Arch fought bitterly amid the wreakage, but even as Tuor came one of the brazen snakes smote the western wall, and a great mass of it shook and fell.  Behind came a [[Beast of Gondolin|creature of fire]] and Balrogs upon it.  Flames shot from its mouth, clearing the streets, and the wings of the helm of Tuor were blackened.
 
Then the orcs returned, though Tuor slew [[Othrond]], the Lord of the Orcs, and [[Balcmeg]] and [[Lug]], and Ecthelion slew the champion [[Orcobal]].  At last the twain reached the balrogs, and Ecthelion alone slew three of them, and his sword (which might have been [[Orcrist]]) smote through their iron.  But they feared Tuor's axe [[Dramborleg]] even more, and five went down before it.
 
Then at last Ecthelion was wounded, and Tuor would not leave him, though the feet of the beast were like to trample them.  But Tuor hewed at the foot of the creature so that flame spouted forth, and the beast screamed and lashed its tale so that many orcs and Noldor were killed by its blows. Then Tuor lifted up Ecthelion and with his last remnant escaped the [[Fire-drake|drake]], but the Gondothlim were sorely shaken.
 
Tuor reached the [[Square of the Folwell]] by way of the north, and found there Galdor denying orcs the entrance by way of the [[Arch of Ingwë]], and but few of the men of the Tree were left.  It was then that Galdor saved Tuor's life, for Tuor tripped over a dead body in the dark and the orcs would have caught him had not Galdor leaped forward and hurled them back single-handedly.
 
====Defense of the King's Square, and the Death of Ecthelion====
 
Gradually the remaining companies seeped out of the Place of the Well, and went to the more defensable Square of the Palace.  Thus was the last gathering, and many among them were wounded, and Tuor was tired.  Even as he led his battalion in via the [[Road of the Arches]] there arose a noise, for [[Glorfindel of Gondolin|Glorfindel]] and the last of the [[House of the Golden Flower]] returned, having fought a terrible conflict in the [[Great Market]] on the east side of the city, and Glorfindel only barely escaped.
 
Turgon had sent the [[House of the Harp]] to their aid, but Salgant concealed this bidding from his soldiers, saying that they were to garrison the square of the [[Lesser Market]] to the south.  But they resisted Salgant and came before the king's hall, timely enough to save Glorfindel and push the enemy back into the market, though many perished there.
 
Tuor drank from the fountain, and gave the swooned Ecthelion a drink, so that he woke.  Then [[Egalmoth of the Heavenly Arch|Egalmoth]] came, for he had gathered some of the Arch and Swallow about him, and cast away his bow.  They went about the city dealing blows where they met the enemy, and men were glad to see him, for they had thought him dead, and he was a kingly lord.  The women and children had been brought into the palace, and a few survivors from each company had made it there, save that of the Hammer of Wrath, and the [[House of the King]] was untouched.  Long they resisted the press of foes around the Square of the Palace, but at last a drake broke through the line on the north, destroying the [[Alley of Roses]].  Tuor stood in the way of the beast, but was seperated from Egalmoth, and became weary.  Then Gothmog came, and beat him down.  But Ecthelion, who rose on weak legs, strode over Tuor's form.  But when he thrust his sword at the balrog he recieved a wound on his sword-arm, so that he dropped the sword, and Gothmog was unhurt.  As Gothmog raised his whip for a final blow, Ecthelion leaped forwar, and drove the spike of his helm into the evil breast of the balrog.  And he entwined his legs about the balrog's thighs, so that they both fell into the Fountain, and Gothmog's fire was quenched, for the fountain was very deep.  And Tuor wept.
 
Then came the soldiers of the House of the King, and they threw themselves upon the enemy with such vigor as to slay two score (forty-eight) balrogs, and even pushed one of the Fire-drakes into the [[Fountain of the King]], destroying it.  But a vast column of vapor rose, and many killed each other in the confusion.  One thing notable about this is that this, while happening to the fire-drake, did not occur when Gothmog fell in.  Despite the many deaths they rallied in a last stand beneath [[Glingal]] and [[Belthil]], the trees in the court.
 
====Last Words of the King====
 
Then said King Turgon "Great is the fall of Gondolin", and the elves about him shuddered, for such were the words of [[Amnon]] the [[prophet]].  But Tuor spoke wildly for ruth and love of the king.
 
"Gondolin stands yet, and Ulmo will not suffer it to perish!" he cried.  But Turgon responded:
 
"Evil have I brought upon the Flower of the Plain in despite of Ulmo, and now he leaveth it to wither in the fire.  Lo! hope is no more in my heart for my city of loveliness, but the children of the Noldoli shall not be worsted for ever."  Thus he spake.
 
Then the Gondothlim clashed their weapons, and Turgon spoke again.  "Fight not against doom, O my children!  Seek ye who may safety in flight, if perhaps there be time yet: but let Tuor have your lealty."  But Tuor said: "Thou art king;" and Turgon made answer: "Yet no blow will I strike more."
 
Then Turgon cast his crown at the roots of Glingal, the Golden Tree, and though Galdor who stood near picked it up, Turgon would not accept it, and bare of head he climbed to the topmost pinnacle of the [[Tower of the King|White Tower]].  There he shouted in a voice like a horn blown among the mountains: "Great is the victory of the Noldoli!"  It was said to be the middle of the night at this time, and the orcs yelled in derision.
 
Then they spoke of a sally (that is, a sortie from the city).  Many held that it was impossible to burst through, nor might they even get over the plain or through the hills, and that it was better therefor to die about the king.  But Tuor at last revealed to them [[Idril's Secret Way]].  The plan seemed desperate, due to the narrowness of the tunnel and the great amount of people, but that was their only choice.  But Turgon refused.
 
"Let Tuor," he said, "be your guide and your chieftain.  But I Turgon will not leave my city, and will burn with it."  Then again they urged him: "Sire, who are the Gondothlim if thou perish?  Lead us!"  But again he responded, "Lo! I abide here."  And when again they urged him for a third time, he cried "If I am king, obey my behests, and dare not to parley further with my commands."  After that they sent no more and made ready for the forlorn attempt.  But the folk of the royal house that yet lived would not budge a foot, and gathered thickly about the base of the king's tower.  "Here," said they, "We will stay if Turgon goes not forth."  And they could not be persuaded.
 
====Retreat through the City====
 
Then Tuor's heart was split between love for the King and love for Idril and Eärendil.  But even as he hesitated the last onslaught was being prepared, and he made his choice.  Hearing the wailing of the women he at last gathered all his company, and they moved southward by way of the [[Road of Pomps]] and the [[Way of Running Waters]].  But fire-drakes came, some of the largest, and Tuor forced the company on at a run.  But Glorfindel held them off at the rear, and many more of the House of the Golden Flower fell there.  But even as they ran on Tuor halted at [[Gar Ainion]], where he and Idril were married.  And there stood Idril before him, and beside her Voronwë.  But Idril did not see him, for she gazed back at the palace of her father.  Then all halted and looked back, and saw that a drake was coiled upon the very steps, and defiled their whiteness.  Orcs were rushing about, dragging out the innocent and forgotten, the women and children who had not made it to the palace, and murduring them or making captives of them.  The trees were withered, and the tower was besieged.  Even they could see the king upon the topmost tower, standing tall.
 
"Woe is me whose father awaiteth doom even upon his topmost pinnacle; but seven times woe whose lord hath gone down before Melko and will stride home no more!" cried Idril.
 
"Lo! Idril, it is I, and I live," said Tuor, "yet now will I get thy father hence, be it from the Hells of Melko!"  With that he would have gone down the hill alone, maddened with grief, but Idril coming to her wits grasped his heel, crying "My lord!"  But even as she spoke thus the tower fell, and Turgon was buried.
 
Then Idril said heavily "Sad is the blindness of the wise."
 
"Sad too is the stubbornness of those we love," replied Tuor, and he kissed his wife, for he loved her more than all of the people of Gondolin, but still she wept for her father.  Then Tuor turned to the captains, saying: "Lo, we must get hence with all speed, lest we be surrounded."
 
Then they moved quickly, and met only scattered bands of plunderers.  But every now and then they met a woman or child, and they joined them, though Tuor allowed them to take nothing but a little food.
 
Then Voronwë told Tuor of how Idril had waited before the door of her house, and how she wept for lack of tidings of her husband.  At length she sent most of her guard with Eärendil down the secret way, and girding up a sword went about the city gathering up the women and children and sending them down the tunnel.
 
Then they reached the house, and found it thrown down.  The exiles said farewell to Gondolin, and went down into the tunnel.
 
====The Tunnel and the Splitting of the Company====
 
The tunnel was hot and stuffy, for the dragons above caused it.  Many boulders were loosed by the trembling above, and not a few were crushed.  The fumes caused their torches and lanterns to go out, so that they were in darkness.  They found to their horror bodies of those who had gone before, and Tuor feared greatly for his son.  They were in that tunnel two hours, until at last they reached a basin where once water had been, but was now full of bushed.  There was gathered much of the folk that had gone on before, but Eärendil was not among them, and Tuor and Idril were in great anguish.
 
"Now," said Galdor, "We must get as far hence toward the Encircling Mountains as may be ere dawn come upon us, and that giveth no great space of time, for summer is at hand."  But a dissension rose, for a number said it was folly to make for [[Cristhorn]], as Tuor had proposed.
 
"The sun," they said, "Will be up long ere we win the foothills, and we shall be whelmed in the plain by those drakes and those demons.  Let us fare to [[Bad Uthwen]], the Way of Escape, for that is but half the journeying, and our weary and wounded may hope to win so far if no further."
 
But Idril spoke against this, and pursuaded the lords that they trust not to the magic of that way that had aforetime shielded it from discovery: "for what magic stands if Gondolin be fallen?"
 
But nonetheless a large body of men and women left Tuor and went to Bad Uthwen, and were destroyed by the jaws of a dragon that stood there at the order of Morgoth, as Maeglin had proposed.  But those in Tuor's company were led by [[Legolas of Gondolin|Legolas Greenleaf]], who knew all the plain by night or day, and could see well in the dark.
 
====Return of Eärendil====
 
They made much speed despite their weariness, and a mist fell upon them.  This was a marvel, for never before had mist come, and fared away in safety until they were too far away for any to see them from the hill or ruined walls.
 
The mists lifted at last late in the day, but Gondolin was still enshrouded.  But at the edge of the clearing of the mist, but a few furlongs off, a knot of Noldor on foot were fleeing strange cavalry of orcs mounted on [[wolves]], carrying spears.
 
"Lo! there is Eärendil my son," cried Tuor.  "Behold his face shineth as a star in the waste, and my men of the Wing are about him, and they are in sore straits."  Then he chose fifty of those that were least weary, and leaving the main company fared over that plain swiftly as they could, and Tuor shouted to the soldiers below to stand and flee not, for the [[wolfriders]] were scattering them and killing them off, and the child was seated upon the shoulders of [[Hendor]], a house-carle of Idril's.  Then they stood back to back, with Hendor amidmost, but Tuor soon came up, though all his troop was breathless.
 
The wolfriders numbered only a score, and only six men remained alive about Eärendil.  Then Tuor arranged his men into a crescent of one rank, and hoped to envelop the riders, so that none could escape.  Only two broke out, and these were wounded and without their mounts, so that tidings came too late to the city to be of any use.
 
Eärendil was glad to see his father again, and said: "I am thirsty, father, for I have run far — nor had Hendor need to bear me."  Then his father said nothing, for he had no water, and was thinking of the needs of his company.  But Eärendil spoke again: "'Twas good to see Maeglin die so, for he would se arms about my mother — and I liked him not; but I would travel in no tunnels for all of Melkor's wolfriders."  Then Tuor smiled and set him upon his shoulders.  Then the main company came up, and Tuor gave the child to his mother, who was in great joy, but Eärendil would not be borne in her arms.
 
"Mother Idril, thou art weary," he said, "And warriors in mail ride not among the Gondothlim, save it be old Salgant!"  Idril laughed amid her sorrow.  "Nay, where is Salgant?" Eärendil asked.  Salgant had told him quaint tales or played drolleries with him at times, and the child had much laughter of the old Noldoin those days when he came many a day to the house of Tuor (loving the good wine and fair repast he there recieved).  But none could say where Salgant was; he probably perished in the flames or was made a thrall.
 
====Passage of the Encircling Mountains====
 
They came to the foothills and it was full morning, but still grey, and there night to the beginning of the upward road folk stretched them and rested in a little dale finged with trees and hazel-bushes.  Many slept, for they were greatly exhausted.  Tuor, however, kept strict watch.
 
Eärendil, meanwhile, quenched his thirst and played beside a little brook with his mother.  Then he said to her "Mother Idril, I would we had good Ecthelion of the Fountain here to play to me on his flute, or make me willow-whistles!  Perchance he has gone on ahead?"  But Idril said nay, and told him the fate of that lord.  Eärendil wept, and said that he wished never to see the streets of Gondolin ever again.  And Tuor responded that he would not.  "For Gondolin is no more," he said.
 
At sunset they rose again, and they wound about through the hills.  They turning saw Gondolin for the last time, and then the sun disappeared, and they saw it never again.
 
The Pass of Cristhorn, which is the [[Eagle's Cleft]] was dangerous going, and the host would not ventured it by dark, with no light to guide them, and many women, children, and sick, had not their fear of Melkor's scouts been greater.  Darkness gathered, and they were forced to string out into a long straggling line.  Galdor and a party of spearmen went ahead, and Legolas with them.  Then came the least weary women and children supporting the sick that could go on foot, after which walked the House of the Wing.  After the House of the Wing was Egalmoth leading the slower women and children, as well as the sick.  At the back was the House of the Golden Flower of Glorfindel.
 
====Glorfindel and the Balrog====
 
As they came to Cristhorn, dark shapes that had lain hidden even from the eyes of Legolas leaped forward, and Galdor's men were beset.  Tuor thought that they had fallen in with one of Melkor's ranging companies, and feared no more than a sharp brush in the dark.  But he sent the women and sick rearward and joined with Galdor in the fray.  But rocks fell from above, and it looked as if the battle would go ill for the Gondothlim.  And with the enemies was a [[Balrog]].
 
Then Tuor realized that it was a trap, and now Galdor and Glorfindel held back the assault, and many of the orcs were stricken into the abyss.  And [[Thorondor]] rose with his people, the [[Thornhoth]], and they fell upon the orcs, and the battle turned.
 
Suddenly the Balrog leaped across the chasm, and came among the women and children, lashing his great whip of flame.  But Glorfindel was there, and long they fought.  His mail defended him from whip and claw, and they fought on a high rock which all could see.  Glorfindel had hewn off the Balrog's whip arm, but the balrog leaped forward, and though Glorfindel stabbed forward only the shoulder it found, and for a while they swayed upon the crag-top.  Then Glorfindel drew a dirk, and pierced the Balrog's belly, which was up to his face.  But even as the Balrog fell with a shriek it grasped Glorfindel's long golden hair, and both descended into the abyss.
 
Then the orcs fled, and Thorondor bore back up the body of Glorfindel, but the Balrog remained down in the abyss in the water of the [[Thorn Sir]], and it was black for many a day after.
 
And so they raised a cairn over the body of Glorfindel, and the yellow flowers grew there ever after.  Thorondor would not allow orcs to come near from that moment on.
 
====The Coming to the Land of Willows====
 
After much suffering the exiles came at last to the Land of Willows, where once Tuor had dwelt, and [[Tulkas]] had fought Melkor.  And there they healed themselves, and there their wounds were healed, and their women and maidens grew fair again.  But they did not smile any more.
 
All that remained of the Gondothlim was three hundred and twenty men and boys, and two hundred and sixty women and children.  And they dwelt at the [[Mouths of the Sirion]], and they took up the name [[Lothlim]], that is the People of the Flower, for no longer would they be called Gondothlim.  And Eärendil grew great among that people, and there the tale of Tuor ends.
 
And Littleheart said "Alas for Gondolin."  And no one in that room spoke or moved for a great while.
 
== Significance ==
 
The Fall of Gondolin was the first of the stories to be written in the [[Book of Lost Tales]] and was conceived when Tolkien was recovering in field hospital after the Battle of the Somme during the [[World War 1|First World War]]. This influence can be seen in a 'secret weapon' of Morgoth's that Tolkien describes:
 
"Melko assembled all his most cunning smiths and sorcorers, and of iron and flame they wrought a host of monsters such as have only at that time been seen and shall not again be until the Great End."
 
These "monsters" take the form of vast iron machines forged in the likeness of the dragons which also assault Gondolin. They act as an all terrain vehicle and troop transport during the battle. "But now Gothmog...gathered all his things of iron that could coil themselves around and above all obstacles"; "...and their hollow bellies clanged...Then were the topmost opened about their middles and an innumerable host of orcs...poured there from the breach".
 
While Tolkien often uses words such as 'iron' and 'brazen' in relation to monsters (particularly dragons) [[Christopher Tolkien]] confirms in the commentry that "the language employed suggest that some at least of the 'monsters' were inanimate 'devices'." Some (such as [[John Garth]] in 'Tolkien and the Great War') have suggested that with these 'iron serpents' Tolkien was inspired by the tanks which made their debut in the Battle of the Somme, a parralel to the real life battle he had just survived.  


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Twelve Houses of the Gondothlim]]
*[[Twelve houses of the Gondothlim]]
*[[Gondolin]]
*''[[The Fall of Gondolin]]''
*[[Fall of Gondolin screenplay]]
 
[[Category:Gondolin and Turgon]]
[[Category:Battles]]
[[Category:Writings]]


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[[Category:Manuscripts by J.R.R. Tolkien|Fall of Gondolin]]
[[de:Schlacht um Gondolin]]
[[fi:The Fall of Gondolin (The Book of Lost Tales 2)]]

Latest revision as of 20:07, 5 December 2022

The name The Fall of Gondolin refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see The Fall of Gondolin (disambiguation).
The Book of Lost Tales Part Two chapters
  1. The Tale of Tinúviel
  2. Turambar and the Foalókë
  3. The Fall of Gondolin
  4. The Nauglafring
  5. The Tale of Eärendel
  6. The History of Eriol or Ælfwine
A page from the first version manuscript

The Fall of Gondolin is the third chapter of The Book of Lost Tales Part Two. It is the earliest tale from the legendarium written by J.R.R. Tolkien. It was first written during a leave of absence granted to Tolkien around the year 1916, while he was fighting in the World War I, and was later revised until 1920. The text remains as the single complete account of the city of Gondolin's fall in existence.

Synopsis[edit | edit source]

Link[edit | edit source]

After Eltas finished telling the Lost Tale of "Turambar and the Foalókë", Lindo commented that the fate of Glorund's gold was told in the story of "The Nauglafring". Then many asked Eltas to tell that tale the next day, but he explained it was necessary to know about the coming of Eärendel first. At that moment Ilfiniol Littleheart, son of Bronweg, entered into the room and Lindo said that he was the best one to tell the tales of Tuor and Eärendel.

Then Ilfinion explained that those tales were very long and that it took seven times faring to the Tale-fire to hear them all, so he would need aid from Ailios and Meril-i-Turinqi. Messengers were sent to look for the Lady of the Isle, and no more tales were heard in the Cottage of Lost Play for three days. On the fourth day she was received as in a festival, and her maidens sang beautiful songs. Seated in the place of honour near the Tale-fire, Meril asked Ilfiniol: "Come now, O Ilfiniol, begin thou the tale of tales, and tell it more fully than thou hast ever done". Thus Littleheart began telling "The Fall of Gondolin".

Tuor's journey to the Sea[edit | edit source]

The Rainbow Cleft by Alan Lee

Tuor lived alone by the shores of Lake Mithrim singing and hunting in its woods and learning lore from the Gnomes that wandered in the region. At some point he found a cave through which a river ran, and was driven to follow it by a mysterious and sudden spring of water. He met some of the Noldoli and came through the cave into a ravine called the Rainbow Cleft.

After travelling through the ravine for many days, Tuor was able to scale the cliff, and as he followed the ravine, he saw that an enormous wave came into it with great noise, and he was afraid. Finally, he reached the shore and became the first Man to see the Sea, and his heart was filled with Sea-longing. There he dwelt for a long time, marvelling at the sound of the waves. In that time he made a little cottage with wood that the Noldoli sent him through the river. He adorned his new home, which was called Falasquil, and took the Swan as a token of his house.

Tuor tarried in Falasquil for a long time, until he saw three swans flying south. Seeing them as a sign, he followed them on a long trek south into more pleasant lands where the trend of the coast was more west-east than north-south. Eventually he reached a land where a river emptied into the sea. There, during the night he met a group of the Gnomes who guided him far inland, to Arlisgion from where he followed the course of the River Sirion north until he came to the Land of Willows. In this region Tuor was content to live, singing among the butterflies and other insects.

But Ulmo Lord of Waters, who had willed Tuor on this journey, decided he could not trust his plan to the Noldoli anymore, so he abandoned Ulmonan and leapt upon his car, and mighty was his appearance. Thus he came before Tuor in person, bidding him to seek the hidden city of Gondolin, and Ulmo promised that Tuor would speak his words there. This Tuor did, but soon the Gnomes' guides deserted him, fearing the reach of Melko's power in the north. Only one remained with him: Voronwë or Bronweg.

The journey of Tuor and Voronwë to Gondolin[edit | edit source]

Eagles fly above the encircling mountains by Alan Lee

After being abandoned by the Noldoli, Tuor felt weary and wished to come back to the Sea. But Voronwë encouraged him, explaining to him that he did not know the way, but it was said that those wanderers who seek the hidden city found true freedom in it. Then both sought for the city for many days until they found a deep dale amid the mountains that was opened by a noisy river. There a magic spell allowed only to the Noldoli to see a secret gate, so thanks to Voronwë they could find it.

But into the door was a dark and tortuous way, and they crossed it running, full of fear. When they came into the light, they were surrounded by the Guard of the Gondothlim. They were in a great vale surrounded by mountains, and in the distance rose a city shining in the morning light. Voronwë spoke to the guards in the language of the Gnomes, and one of them welcomed Tuor and Voronwë to Gondolin, city of Seven Names.

The city rose in sight upon Amon Gwareth and Tumladin was smooth, so they could walk there without any guide. They reached Gondolin in the evening and were amazed by its beauty. At the gate, a guard asked their names, and Tuor presented himself as of the house of the Swan and a messenger of Ulmo.

Tuor in Gondolin[edit | edit source]

The entrance to the King's house by Alan Lee

Thus Tuor and Voronwë entered Gondolin, greeted with awe by its people, and were taken before King Turgon. There Tuor, given the power and majesty of Ulmo's own voice, told Turgon to gather his forces and attack Melko as the time for his overthrow was ripe. Turgon refused this counsel and so Tuor warned him that both Elves and Men would suffer for a long time before the Valar could contrive another means of salvation. However Tuor voiced Ulmo's other counsel: to leave Gondolin, travel down the Sirion, build ships and sail back to Valinor to ask the Gods for help against Melko. Again Turgon refused, informing Tuor that he had every year sent messengers by boat over the sea but all of them perished.

Tuor lamented this refusal, but he was invited to dwell in Gondolin, even in the king's halls. There he learned many things that would otherwise be kept secret from the race of Men. Matters of music, lore, architecture and culture were all taught to him and he became beloved in the city. Turgon had a suit of armour made for him and an axe, Dramborleg. Some years later he married Turgon's daughter Idril at Gar Ainion, and Meglin, the king's nephew, became jealous of them. In those days the desire of the Valar was fulfilled because Idril bore Tuor a son: Eärendel.

The encirclement of Gondolin[edit | edit source]

Not all was blissful though, because Melko had gathered an army of spies and these he sent out to discover the city. They had found the Way of Escape and with the aid of captive Gnomes, bypassed the magic protecting it to enter through. Tidings of these spyings were bought to Turgon and he began preparing Gondolin for whatever might become of them.

Now Idril had a premonitory nightmare, perceiving that things would not remain peaceful and that Meglin, her cousin, was not all he seemed. Thus she asked Tuor to have a secret tunnel constructed, leading from their house far onto the plain of Tumladin. This Tuor did and despite the hardness of the rock of Amon Gwareth, work began.

Idril's advice proved very good since Meglin was captured by Orcs spying in the region. In exchange for his life he offered them much information on Gondolin, and though they knew much of what he had told them, he told them to bring him before Melko so that he may judge the worth of his information. Melko was well pleased by what Meglin had to tell and together they conceived a plan for the capture of Gondolin, Melko even promising Meglin the hand of Idril if he could slay Tuor and Eärendel. On Meglin's advice Melko had his smiths and sorcerers constructed iron monsters in the likeness of dragons, which might cross difficult terrain and harbour legions of orcs to transport them safely across the open plain of Tumladin. It is noted that these monsters had never been seen before and never would be again until the "Great End".

Meglin returned to Gondolin promptly so as not to arouse suspicion and from that point on appeared increasingly happy and light-hearted, though a shadow of dread placed upon him by Melko ever gnawed at him. This new Meglin, however, only increased Tuor and Idril's suspicion. Furthermore, Melko withdrew his spies, which Turgon and the Gondothlim interpreted as him seeing the impregnability of Gondolin and deciding against assault, and the watch on the mountains was slackened.

Seven years passed after the treachery of Meglin, and Eärendel was still a child. Idril became more worried and told some Gondothlim that she could help them if the city was attacked, but they laughed of this, trusting that the city would endure as long as Taniquetil.

The array of the Gondothlim[edit | edit source]

Winter passed and the Nost-na-Lothion was held with happiness. When summer approached, the festival of Tarnin Austa was celebrated at night. But as the people gathered to see the sunrise in silence, a red glow grew in the north, dyeing the snow on the mountains as blood. Riders fled over the plain bringing the tidings: Melko's armies were coming upon them.

Now is told of the symbols and colours of the twelve houses of the Gondothlim as they ready for battle: Turgon and the house of the King; Tuor and the house of the Wing; Meglin and the house of the Mole; Duilin and the house of the Swallow; Egalmoth and the house of the Heavenly Arch; Penlod and the two houses of the Pillar and the Tower of Snow; Galdor and the house of the Tree; Glorfindel and the house of the Golden Flower; Ecthelion and the house of the Fountain; Salgant and the house of the Harp; and Rog and the house of the Hammer of Wrath.

A council of war was called by Turgon and all the lords gathered in his palace. There Tuor recommended to leave the city and save all the women and children. But Meglin and Salgant (who fawned upon Meglin and did his bidding) convinced Turgon to remain in the city, since it was a powerful fortress, so hard in the making and full of treasures. So ended the council and the Gondothlim deployed themselves for the battle.

First distribution of the Twelve Houses

The battle of Gondolin[edit | edit source]

So the battle began in earnest. As the hosts of Melko, commanded by Gothmog, crossed the plain of Tumladin, Turgon's war machines opened fire, supplemented by the Houses of the Heavenly Arch and of the Swallow, both houses of archers. However, for all their efforts they did little to slow the advance. Once the forces of Melko had reached the city, they found that they could not assault the walls as the sides of Amon Gwareth were smooth, and the beasts of Melko could not climb them. However, the heat of the creatures began to evaporate the city's fountains, except the fountain of the King. Now Gothmog led an assault on the northern gate, using the iron monsters to break them. From the bellies of the Iron creatures hosts of orcs spilled and Galdor and Rog with their houses were hard-pressed to hold them, while the archer houses poured arrows from above. Slowly, the Gondothlim began to lose terrain.

The northern gate falls and Tuor confronts Meglin

At this time Meglin had decided to bring his plans to fruition and had travelled with the House of the Mole to Tuor's abode on the south western wall. There he intended to thrust Eärendel over the walls and make Idril see it. He also knew of Idril's secret way and wanted to use it for his own purposes. However, Salgant did not help Meglin as planned, and Tuor and his guard arrived just as Meglin was dragging Eärendel and Idril. Then Tuor gave a great shout, and a battle ensued between the Houses of the Mole and of the Wing. Meglin tried to stab Eärendel, but he was wearing a coat of mail made by his mother. Thereupon Tuor jumped upon Meglin and broke his arm, and lifted and threw him over the walls to his death. Tuor left Idril and Eärendel in the keeping of Voronwë and a guard of warriors from his house, and returned with the remainder of the house of the Wing to the combat.

The north part is lost and Tuor goes to help

At the northern part, battle intensified as the Balrogs came upon the defenders there. Duilin and Penlod were slain. But Rog rallied his folk of the Hammer about him and made a desperate charge, beating the enemy back to the gates. However, Gothmog cut off their rear, so Rog kept the charge onto Tumladin. There he and his people were slaughtered, but in their charge Balrogs were slain for first time, with great surprise for both Gnomes and enemies.

Western walls are broken and the House of the Fountain comes in aid

With the loss of the folk of the Hammer, the other houses fell or had to retreat from the north part. Battle continued and a fresh assault was made by the forces of Melko upon the western wall. There the dragons had beat a way up Amon Gwareth and heaved against the wall, succeeding in breaching it. But Tuor and his men had already arrived, and soon came Ecthelion and the house of the Fountain (which had before now been held in reserve), ready to confront the incoming enemies. In the battle that followed Tuor and Ecthelion proved themselves mighty in battle, slaying Orc chieftains and Balrogs alike, but it was there that Ecthelion received a wound on his left arm from a Balrog's whip. There a great dragon appeared and trampled all those about it, Orc and Elf alike. But Tuor hewed its foot and it fled wrecking ruin about it. Carrying Ecthelion, Tuor led men from other houses to the Place of the Well, and there they were saved by Galdor and his folk of the Tree.

And so slowly but surely all those Houses that remained were driven back to the Square of the King. Of the Chieftains, Turgon, Tuor, Ecthelion, Galdor, Egalmoth and Glorfindel were there. Glorfindel came late, only able to escape from his position in the Great Market once the house of the Harp under the craven Salgant had taken leave of their captain quailing in his bed and relieved the house of the Golden Flower, as they had previously been ordered. There the Gondothlim made their final stand, reinforced by the presence of Turgon and the folk of the King.

They were hard pressed and soon what barricades they could erect were broken. There came Gothmog and though grievously wounded Ecthelion stepped up to face him. Gothmog disarmed him, ruining his right arm, but Ecthelion was not so easily defeated and drove the spike of his helmet into the chest of Gothmog, wrapping his legs around the demon's body and forcing him into the Fountain of the King where they both drowned.

Battle proved vain, and Turgon recited the words of Amnon the prophet: "Great is the Fall of Gondolin". As the Noldoli were pushed back to the very Tower of the King, Turgon repented of his dismissal of Ulmo's advice, casting off his crown and bidding the Gondothlim follow Tuor from now on and if they might, find a way to flee the city. With that Turgon climbed to the highest peak of his tower and declared "Great is the victory of the Noldoli!" to which the orcs sneered in derision.

Tuor was torn between his love for the King and for his family, and wished not to leave Turgon. Messengers were sent to the Tower, but Turgon refused thrice to leave, and his royal guard stayed with him.

Desperate council was taken and Tuor now informed them of the secret delving of Idril he had made. This course of action seemed best and so gathering what people of Gondolin they could find, Tuor led them south by the Road of Pomps. With Glorfindel and the House of the Golden Flower protecting the rear, they moved quickly down the Way of Running Waters, with dragons and orcs in pursuit.

The escape of the fugitives[edit | edit source]

The King's Tower falls by Alan Lee

Meanwhile, Idril and Voronwë waited for Tuor before their house's doors, but Idril became worried and eventually sent most of her guard down the tunnel with Eärendel. Then she fared about, gathering survivors and showing them her tunnel, and she even bore a sword and led her guard to smite marauders. But soon the enemy killed all the guard except Voronwë, and Tuor's house was burned. Seeing the destruction of her city, Idril fell into shock and began wandering wildy around until she and Voronwë reached Gar Ainion.

Then Tuor arrived at this Place of the Gods, and there was Idril as on their wedding day. But Idril did not see Tuor: from the high Gar Ainion they could see the Square of the Palace, which was now burning and full of enemies. Then some dragons broke the base of the Tower of the King, and this fell, causing King Turgon's death. Melko had won this time.

Now Tuor led the people to his house, and many women and children joined them. The house was in burned ruins, but the staircase to the tunnel remained, so the exiles filed down into the tunnel, which was hot from the fires of the dragons upon the plain and choked with bodies of those crushed by dislodged rocks in its roof. At length though, they came to the exit hidden in a dried pool shrouded by bushes. There the band came into some conflict over the path to take for though Tuor proposed Cristhorn, others trusted rather to the Way of Escape which was nearer. Therefore a split occurred and those who fared to the Way of Escape were caught by a dragon that waited there and were slain.

In the dark of the rising dawn, Tuor's company were guided across the plain by Legolas, of the folk of the Tree and went far across the plain. But looking back they witnessed six men on foot fleeing across the plain pursued by Orcs upon wolves and Tuor saw that upon the shoulders of Hendor was Eärendel. Therefore gathering fifty men about him he led them to the rescue of his son, destroying the Orcs. So was Eärendel reunited with his parents.

Tuor and the Exiles made it to the Eagle's Cleft and moved along the narrow pass, a cliff on one side and a sheer drop on the other. They had already begun the passage when a hail of stones came from above, hurled by Orcs, and from behind a Balrog came upon them, set there to prevent escape from the city. Glorfindel blocked it from reaching its target and there ensued a battle on the heights. Glorfindel hewed its arm and wrestled with it, and to defeat his foe he threw his weight against it, forcing it over the brink and into the abyss. Then the Eagles came, driving the Orcs off the mountainside, and so the column of exiles were saved. Glorfindel's body was borne up by the eagles and a cairn was made for him despite their haste, and after this deed the Gnomes always remembered him.

The wanderings of the Exiles[edit | edit source]

The exiles wandered for a year or more among the mountains, until they found a stream in the next summer, and following it they reached better lands. Here Voronwë was inspired by Ulmo and guided them, and eventually they reached the Sirion river and the Way of Escape, where some Gondothlim had perished. Following the great river, they suffered attacks of wandering Orc-bands, but as they went forward, the protection of Ulmo increased.

Then they crossed the great cave of the Tumultuous Winds, where the Sirion went underground, and came out to the Pools of Twilight. These regions full of reeds were known to Tuor, but he could not remember the way because he had travelled during night. Autumn had come and the Exiles delayed in those marshes with great inconveniences.

Finally, they reached the Land of Willows, where they could rest and heal their wounds and illness. There they dwelt for a long time, until Tuor again felt the sea-longing, and all the host followed him down Sirion to the Sea. Dwelling at the mouth of Sirion, the exiles took the name of Lothlim, and Eärendel grew fair there.

Then Bronweg said: "Alas for Gondolin", and everyone in the Room of Logs remained quiet.

Commentary[edit | edit source]

The Link that introduces the Tale into The Book of Lost Tales narrative was written in the same manuscript of "Turambar and the Foalókë". The text of the Tale itself had been in existence for some time before this interlude, having its own complex history.

The original text was written between 1916-1917 while Tolkien was recovering in a field hospital after the Battle of the Somme. It was written in pencil in two school exercise-books, with the title Tuor and the Exiles of Gondolin (which bringeth in the great tale of Eärendel). This first manuscript Christopher Tolkien calls Tuor A.

Unlike other Lost Tales such as "Turambar" and "Tinúviel", the later revision did not undergo a total rewriting: only in later parts is the text entirely overwritten, and general corrections are made directly above the pencil. The result of these corrections was Tuor B, a fair copy made by Edith Tolkien, probably in the period when Tolkien wrote "The Music of the Ainur" and was working on the Oxford English Dictionary (1919-1920).

Tuor B was fully emended with stylistic revisions and changes to names. Some of these revisions were written on separated slips, and some of them contain indications on shortening the tale when given orally. It is clear then that most of these emendations were made as a preparation for Tolkien's reading at the Essay Club of Exeter College in the spring of 1920.

Christopher elaborates by referring to his introduction to Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin, in which he gave some further information, like the notes Tolkien used to introduce the reading of his 'essay':

Therefore I must read something already written, and in desperation I have fallen back on this Tale. It has of course never seen the light before. . . A complete cycle in an Elfinesse of my own imagining has for some time past grown up (rather, has been constructed) in my mind. Some of the episodes have been scribbled down. . . This tale is not the best of them, but it is the only one that has so far been revised at all and that, insufficient as the revision has been, I dare read aloud.[1]

However, not all these emendations were made at the same time, as there is a clean typescript which Christopher calls Tuor C. This extends only until the message of Tuor to Turgon, having some notable changes in the end, and it has many names in blank which were filled later. As this was clearly an abandoned revision made before the lecture, Christopher used mainly Tuor B for the published text, giving the differences of Tuor A and Tuor C with notes.

Accompanying the Tale there is an unfinished document titled Name-list to The Fall of Gondolin, whose information was mostly included at the end of Christopher's Commentary and in the Appendix. The list was properly published in full in Parma Eldalamberon 15, edited by Christopher Gilson and Patrick H. Wynne.

Later use of the text[edit | edit source]

Soon after abandoning The Book of Lost Tales, Tolkien began several poems about his mythology in a more mature tone. Among those abandoned was The Lay of the Fall of Gondolin, probably written in 1920, which follows very closely the Lost Tale, adding nothing to the narrative.[2]

Tolkien only would finish the story of Gondolin in summarized forms, being particullarly special the one included in the Quenta Noldorinwa (1930), as it was the main text used by Christopher for his edition of The Silmarillion.[3]

The only attempt to revise the story was an incomplete narrative entitled Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin from 1951, which cut off abruptly at the moment Tuor first witnesses the city and thus never dealt with the actual fall of the city. It was published in Unfinished Tales under the title "Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin" to more accurately describe its content.[1]

It is thus the remarkable fact that the only full account that my father ever wrote of the story of Tuor's sojourn in Gondolin, his union with Idril Celebrindal, the birth of Eärendil, the treachery of Maeglin, the sack of the city, and the escape of the fugitives – a story that was a central element in his imagination of the First Age – was the narrative composed in his youth.

See also[edit | edit source]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Introduction", p. 5
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lays of Beleriand, "II. Poems Early Abandoned: The Lay of the Fall of Gondolin", p. 145
  3. ↑ Douglas C. Kane, Arda Reconstructed: The Creation of the Published Silmarillion, "23. Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin"
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