Gorlim

Gorlim, called Gorlim the Unhappy, was one of the companions of Barahir.^[1]

[edit] History

Barahir, last lord of the Men of Ladros (Dorthonion), remained as an outlaw in his own land after it was lost to Morgoth in the Dagor Bragollach. He had twelve companions, one of these Gorlim, son of Angrim, but all their kin were scattered or killed.^[1] As Barahir and companions were camping at a secret hide-out in southern Ladros, Gorlim went out hunting near the area where he once lived, when he suddenly saw his old house standing as it long had, and through the window he saw his presumed dead wife, Eilinel. He came out of hiding to go to her, when he was captured by Orcs.^[2]

He was brought captive before Sauron, who tricked him into revealing where Barahir hid, claiming he could reunite Gorlim with his wife. Gorlim accepted, betraying his lord, and then Sauron revealed Gorlim had seen but a phantom devised by him, but that he would keep his word. He had Gorlim tortured to death, where he would be "reunited with his wife".^[2]

After Orcs had slain all of Barahir's remaining men but for his son Beren, who was out hunting, Gorlim appeared as a wraith in a dream of Beren, and confessed his deeds, giving Beren a chance to reclaim the Ring of Barahir, heirloom of his house, and escape alive.^[2]

[edit] Other versions of the legendarium

In the first version of the Lay of Leithian, it was Morgoth himself, not Sauron, that tricked Gorlim into betraying Barahir.^[3]

[edit] References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin"
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beren and Lúthien"
3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lays of Beleriand, "III. The Lay of Leithian: Canto II (Gorlim's betrayal and Beren's revenge)", pp. 162-5, 169-170