The Land of Bow and Helm

From Tolkien Gateway
The Children of Húrin chapters
  1. The Childhood of Túrin
  2. The Battle of Unnumbered Tears
  3. The Words of Húrin and Morgoth
  4. The Departure of Túrin
  5. Túrin in Doriath
  6. Túrin among the Outlaws
  7. Of Mîm the Dwarf
  8. The Land of Bow and Helm
  9. The Death of Beleg
  10. Túrin in Nargothrond
  11. The Fall of Nargothrond
  12. The Return of Túrin to Dor-lómin
  13. The Coming of Túrin into Brethil
  14. The Journey of Morwen and Niënor
  15. Niënor in Brethil
  16. The Coming of Glaurung
  17. The Death of Glaurung
  18. The Death of Túrin

The Land of Bow and Helm is the eighth chapter of The Children of Húrin.

Synopsis[edit | edit source]

The coming of Beleg to Bar-en-Danwedh and the return of the Dragon-helm to Túrin brought about a change in both the fortunes and focus of the men of Amon Rûdh. As a host they seemed in their forays with the marauding companies of orcs that came down the Sirion and they spread fear and dread. So did Túrin's whereabouts come to the knowledge of Morgoth, and the enemy set his devices in motion to capture Túrin; for he was patient in his malice as he had been with his father, Húrin, and put forward his forces only to test Túrin's mettle and give him false confidence.

The Land of Bow and Helm by Alan Lee

On a time, the valour of Beleg's bow and the Dragon-helm brought forth those dispossessed men who were drawn to wage war with the enemy, and the force of men grew so that there were many camps about the woods of Amon Rûdh. Dor-Cúarthol Túrin called his domain in pride, and himself Gorthol, The Dread Helm; but Beleg was wary of the doom ahead and counselled caution but to this Túrin took little heed for he had confidence in his own will.

It was at this time that Mîm's curse of Andróg came to fruition: he once again took up a bow and was poisoned by an orc arrow; but the power of Beleg healed him of the wound. This went ill with Mîm, who already had a hatred of all things elven and so he chose to betray Túrin's men. Mîm passed to a company of orcs and revealed to them the stronghold of Bar-en-Danwedh and led a force to its doors.

There the outlaws were bested but Andróg revealed to Túrin the secret stair to the summit of the hill and there there was a final stand. Against a stone all but Túrin and Beleg were slain and Andróg was wounded mortally by an orc shaft. Beleg was pinned on the summit while Túrin was taken alive as prisoner – for so were Morgoth's commands.

When all was passed, Mîm came to torment Beleg in that high place, but Andróg crept forth and thrust a sword at the Petty-dwarf who leapt from the heights in fear. In his final agony, Andróg released Beleg; then he died.