 | |
| Guest-elf | |
| Saeros | |
|---|---|
| Biographical Information | |
| Other names | Orgol (see below) |
| Position | Counsellor to Thingol |
| Location | Doriath |
| Affiliation | Guest-elves[1] |
| Language | Doriathrin |
| Birth | Years of the Trees[2] |
| Death | F.A. 484[3] Tributary of Esgalduin[4] |
| Family | |
| Parentage | Ithilbor[2] |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
| Clothing | Shield[5] |
| Weaponry | Sword[5] |
| Gallery | Images of Saeros |
But Saeros dwelt mostly in Menegroth, and won the esteem of the king; and he was proud, dealing haughtily with those whom he deemed of lesser state and worth than himself. He became a friend of Daeron the minstrel, for he also was skilled in song; and he had no love for Men, and least of all for any kinsman of Beren Erchamion.
Saeros was a counsellor of Thingol's court in Doriath. In his pride, he begrudged the esteem shown towards Túrin, the human foster son of King Thingol, and would speak contemptuously to him. One evening, in the dining hall of Menegroth, Saeros provoked Túrin to such a point that Túrin cast a drinking vessel at Saeros' face. Their escalating feud eventually led to Saeros' unintentional death.
The death of Saeros caused Túrin to leave Doriath, imposing self-exile on himself.
History
Background
Saeros was of the Guest-elves, those of the Green-elves who sought refuge in Doriath following the death of their lord, Denethor, in the First Battle of Beleriand.[6] His father, Ithilbor,[7] was chief of the Guest-elves, and had been given a permanent place in Thingol’s council. Though the Guest-elves dwelt mostly in the small land of Arthórien under their own chief, Saeros had been for a long time resident in Menegroth.[6]
Saeros was great among the people of Doriath, and had won the esteem of the King, being accounted by Thingol to be faithful and wise, and served as one of his counsellors. He further had the friendship of Daeron, for he was also skilled in song. Saeros had no love of Men, least of all those in kinship with Beren, who he held to have brought harm to Doriath.[7]
Thus, Saeros begrudged Túrin, and the love and esteem that he was held in as Thingol's foster-son. This grew as Túrin approached manhood, and Saeros spoke ill about Túrin where he could, though his words were cunning and his malice veiled. If he met with Túrin alone however, he spoke haughtily and showed his contempt plainly. While Túrin grew weary of him, he returned the ill words with only silence, and this displeased Saeros.[7]
In F.A. 481,[8] as Túrin approached manhood, he was permitted to join Thingol's marchwardens, and over the next few years he seldom returned to Menegroth, but won great renown for his strength and deeds of daring.[7]
Quarrel at the table
If the Men of Hithlum are so wild and fell, of what sort are the women of that land? Do they run like deer clad only in their hair?
One evening in the summer of F.A. 484[9] Saeros entered the dining hall late and found his accustomed seat among the elders occupied by an unlooked for Túrin, whose appearance was unkempt and weather-stained. Saeros was angered by this, assuming that Túrin in his pride had done this with the intent to affront him, and his anger was all the more to find that Túrin was welcomed, rather than rebuked, by the other elders. Saeros therefore feigned to be of like-mind, and sat across from Túrin, claiming he was glad to yield his seat if it meant the chance to speak with him. Saeros then plied Túrin with questions about news from the borders and of his deeds, but the mockery in his voice was clear. At last Túrin grew weary and, lost in his thoughts, he frowned and no longer answered Saeros. Believing the frown was aimed at himself, Saeros no longer concealed his anger and tossed his golden comb before Túrin, stating that while Túrin's ragged cloak may be excused, there was no need to allow his hair to become as a thicket of brambles, and perhaps if his ears were uncovered he could hear better. Túrin still said nothing, but looked upon Saeros with a warning glare. Saeros returned his gaze with scorn however, and then asked, loudly for all to hear, that if the men of Hithlum were so wild, what of the women? Did they run like deer, clad only in their hair?[7]
At this Túrin snapped, and cast a heavy drinking vessel into Saeros' face, sending him reeling backwards with great hurt. Túrin then drew his sword, and moved towards Saeros, but was restrained by Mablung, the chief captain of Thingol, who had been sitting at his side. Saeros then arose and, after spitting blood on the board, spoke with a broken mouth, asking how long they would continue to harbour this "woodwose"; he further proclaimed that for hurting a liege of Thingol, and then drawing a blade, the least doom would be exile. He then proclaimed that outside the hall, he could answer Túrin in like kind.[7]
Túrin then released himself from Mablung's grasp and left without a word. Mablung then rebuked Saeros, holding him to blame for the evil that had occurred, and that the King's law may find his broken mouth a just return for his taunting. Saeros retorted that if Túrin had an issue he could take it up with the King, but there was no excuse for the drawing of sword, and that if he tried that outside the hall, Saeros would slay him. Mablung expressed his doubt that it would go as such, and heeded Saeros to not do the will of Morgoth, and to remember that he was of the Eldar.[7]
Ambush of Túrin and death
Saeros, there is a long race before you, and clothes will be a hindrance; hair must suffice.
The next morning, Túrin left Menegroth to return to the north-marches. Before got very far, Saeros waylaid him from behind, running upon with with shield and drawn sword. Túrin had been trained for vigilance in the wild however, and saw Saeros' approach from the corner of his eye; he leapt aside as Saeros approached, and turning on Saeros drew his own blade. Declaring to now make Saeros pay for the mockery of his mother, Morwen, Túrin first clove Searos' shield and, after a clash of swift blades, proved the stronger, wounding Saeros' sword-arm.[7]
Unknown to both Túrin and Saeros was that these events were witnessed by Nellas, a childhood friend of Túrin who had been sitting in a tree to look upon Túrin as he left.[7]
With Saeros now at his mercy, Túrin recalled his words from the night before and threw him to the ground before stripping him of his clothing. Túrin then prompted a now naked Saeros to run, and that unless he went swift as a deer, he would be pricked from behind. Túrin than set the point of his sword in Saeros' buttock, prompting him to flee wildly. As Saeros ran in terror, he called wildly for help, but Túrin pursued, and now matter how Saeros swerved, Túrin remained behind him, ever egging him further on at sword-point.[10]
Saeros' cries were heard by others who then joined the chase, but only the swiftest could keep up, and Mablung was at the head of these. Mablung called on Túrin to hold his pursuit, but Túrin persisted, and sprang again on Saeros. Saeros, despairing, ran wildly to where a stream which fed the Esgalduin passed through a deep cleft. Saeros attempted to make the wide leap, but his footing failed on the far side, and he fell back and was broken upon a rock in the water.[10]
Assuming he would incur Thingol's wrath, Túrin held himself in exile and left Doriath. When Thingol eventually returned to Menegroth at the end of summer, he held trial around these events and, based on the testimony from Nellas, determined that Túrin held no fault, being wronged and provoked by Saeros.[10]
Etymology
The name Saeros is not given a direct translation, but may possibly contain the Noldorin element sear "(bitter)"[11],[12] the Sindarin element ross ("rain; spindrift, spray; foam"),[13] or the Sindarin element -os ("augmentative suffix")[14].
Genealogy
Other versions of the legendarium
The Book of Lost Tales
In Turambar and the Foalókë, from The Book of Lost Tales, Orgof was an Elf of mixed Ilkorin and Gnome heritage, and on his mother's side he was nearly akin to King Tinwelint (Thingol) himself. He was in some favour, as he was a good hunter and an Elf of prowess, but was loose with his tongue, and overconfident due to his standing with the king. He was extremely fond of fine garments, jewels, and gold and silver, and clad himself extravagantly. Orgof was jealous of the esteem shown to Túrin, and would thus frequently jest with barbed words whenever they sat together at the king's board, especially about Túrin's rough appearance; Túrin never responded however, and gave no heed to him.[15]
On the twelfth anniversary of when Túrin had last seen his mother, Mavwin (Morwen), he was extra grim, speaking curt answers to those who sat near him. A drunken Orgof made a laugh of Túrin, and drew forth daintily a comb of gold which he offered. When Túrin deigned to not notice him, Orgof stated that Túrin didn't know how to use it, and that he should return to his mother for her to teach him, unless the women of Hithlum were as ugly and unkempt as their sons. Túrin snapped at this, and he fiercely cast a heavy drinking vessel into Orgof's face, calling him a fool and telling him to fill his mouth with it rather continue his drunken, witless prate. Orgof's face was broken, and as he fell he hit his head heavily on the stone floor, and lay dead.[15]
Those of Orgof's kin who were present half drew their weapons, but none struck as the king gave no sign but to stare stonily at Orgof's body. After Túrin had departed, Tinwelint pardoned him in absence, and most of the folk were in agreement as it was known that Túrin had long held his peace against the folly of Orgof. Orgof's kinsmen were constrained from retaliation both by fear of Tinwelint, and by the many gifts he gave them to accept his judgement.[15]
As noted about Orgof by Christopher Tolkien: "In the old story he is explicitly a fop and a fool"[16]
The Lays of Beleriand
In The Lay of the Children of Húrin Orgof changed only in minor details: he was now directly stated as being envious of anyone who was favoured over him, and his gold comb became a dear treasure.[17]
Orgof's insult also remains near the same, though added was a closing remark of the women of Hithlum being as uncouth and unkempt "as their cast-off sons".[17]
When Thingol pardons Túrin, he also speaks of Orgof, stating that the hour had come for his soul to seek the sad pathway to the deep valley of the Dead Awaiting, to ponder there for three thousand years his grim jesting before faring back to feast again. Thingol then still provides a wergild, now specifically to Orgof's sons.[17]
The insulting of Morwen
In the essay Quendi and Eldar, the Sindarin terms "Calben" and "Morben" were introduced, along a complicated history.
In brief, originally, before the discovery of other races, "Calben" ("light-person") was synonymous with "Eldar", and "Morben" ("dark-person") with "Avari". These terms then evolved, with Calben narrowing to refer only to the Sindar within Beleriand, and Morben expanding to include other Incarnates and Elves who later arrived in Beleriand, such as the Nandor; when the Nandor were recognized to be kinsfolk, they were received into the class of Calben. Eventually these terms shifted again to Calben becoming practically equivalent to ‘peoples in alliance in the War against Morgoth’, and Morben to be everyone else, including those of the Avari who had crept into Beleriand, but remained secretive and hostile to the Eldar.[18]
The implication then became that Morben were either allies of Morgoth, or at least of dubious loyalty and weaker in resistance to his pressure and lies.[19]
It thus became one of Saeros' worst insults to refer to Túrin's mother "Morwen" (so named for her dark hair) as "Morben", and a reason for Túrin to smote him.[19]
Other later versions
In The Grey Annals, when describing how some of the Green-elves took shelter in Doriath, the name Orgol and "of the Guest-elves in Arthórien" was written in the margin, marked with carets indicating that something should be done with them.[20]
Within the Narn i Hîn Húrin, likely earlier versions describe Saeros as Daeron's kinsman, and in another as his brother.[21]
In the process of publishing the The Children of Húrin, Christopher Tolkien noted the following on the name of Saeros:
It seems, incidentally, certain from a closer understanding of the relations of the manuscripts that my father rejected the name Saeros and replaced it by Orgol, which by 'linguistic accident' coincides with Old English orgol, orgel 'pride'. But it seems to me too late now to remove Saeros.
External links
- Andrew Higgins, "Be Very Qwiet, I am Hunting Tolkienian Woodwoses" 9 October 2011, Dr. Wotan's Musings, accessed 21 February 2025
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part One. The Grey Annals", pp. 112-3
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Narn i Hîn Húrin (The Tale of the Children of Húrin)", "Túrin in Doriath", p. 77
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part One. The Grey Annals": §259
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Children of Húrin, "Túrin in Doriath", p. 90
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Children of Húrin, "Túrin in Doriath", p. 85
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part One. The Grey Annals": Note on §38
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Narn i Hîn Húrin (The Tale of the Children of Húrin)", "Túrin in Doriath"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part One. The Grey Annals": §258
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part One. The Grey Annals": §259
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Children of Húrin, "Túrin in Doriath"
- ↑ Paul Strack, "N. saer adj.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon, accessed 19 February 2025
- ↑ Mark Fisher, "Saeros" 15 June 2016, The Encyclopedia of Arda, accessed 14 May 2024
- ↑ Paul Strack, "S. ross¹ n.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon, accessed 19 February 2025
- ↑ Paul Strack, "S. -oth suf.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon, accessed 19 February 2025
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "II. Turambar and the Foalókë"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "II. Turambar and the Foalókë": "Notes and Commentary"
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lays of Beleriand, "I. The Lay of the Children of Húrin: I. Túrin's Fostering"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: B. Meanings and use of the various terms applied to the Elves and their varieties in Quenya, Telerin, and Sindarin"
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: Author's Notes to Quendi and Eldar", note 9
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part One. The Grey Annals": Note on §38
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Narn i Hîn Húrin (The Tale of the Children of Húrin)", "Notes", note 8