Who told you, and who sent you?
| Gnome | |
| Ufedhin | |
|---|---|
| Biographical Information | |
| Location | Artanor |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
| Gallery | Images of Ufedhin |
Ufedhin was an Elf according to the early version of the legendarium in The Book of Lost Tales. He was notable for his treachery of Tinwelint, King of Artanor.
History
Treasure of Glórund
Ufedhin was a very wealthy Gnome who dwelled in Artanor. When Úrin brought the treasure of Nargothrond before Tinwelint as a payment for his "fair keeping" of his wife and children, Tinwelint, on the advice of Gwendelin, wanted to throw the treasure into the river. However, Ufedhin attempted to convince him otherwise and, due to the curse of Mîm the Dwarf, Tinwelint decided to keep the treasure.
Ufedhin - who was a close friend of the Dwarves of Nogrod - convinced Tinwelint to ask for their aid in the reshaping of the gold. When they agreed to work for Tinwelint, he sent half of the gold to Nogrod as a loan and kept the other half, which they were bidden to remake and reshape into many different objects.
However, Tinwelint was already blinded by greed and decided to take Ufedhin as a hostage so that the Dwarves would not trick him. This angered Ufedhin and caused him to plot revenge on the King. When the Dwarves finished their work (including the Nauglafring, the Necklace of the Dwarves), Ufedhin convinced them to ask the King to pay an exorbitant price. Upon hearing this price, the King ordered Ufedhin and the Dwarves to be whipped and paid them a pittance for their work.
Death of Tinwelint and Sack of Artanor
Naugladur, King of the Indrafangs, heard the news of what had happened in Artanor and also received a message from Bodruith, King of Belegost, of the death of Mîm and the true nature of the acquisition of Glorund's gold. He was furious and decided to wage a war against Tinwelint.
Ufedhin offered to guide the armies of Nogrod and Belegost through the Girdle around Artanor. At that time, another Elf from Artanor named Narthseg revealed to Naugladur that Tinwelint would commemorate the Hunting of the Wolf with a great hunt in the woods near the borders of Artanor.
In these woods, Tinwelint was slain by Naugladur, and the army of Nogrod ravaged Artanor. Coming to Menegroth, with Naugladur holding Tinwelint's head and bearing the Nauglafring around his neck, Ufedhin walked to the throne of Tinwelint and sat right next to his wife Gwendelin, who reprimanded him for his actions. This tongue-lashing would continue to haunt Ufedhin.
On the way back to Nogrod, Ufedhin tried to slay Naugladur in his sleep, lusting for the Nauglafring. Bodruith, who also lusted after the necklace, tried to kill Ufedhin in turn, but was slain by him. At that Naugladur awoke, but Ufedhin had already fled. While he was fleeing he was caught by the Green-elves led by Beren who had already heard about the sack of Artanor and Tinwelint's death by Gwendelin. However, he concealed his identity and told Beren where Naugladur and his host would pass on their way back to Nogrod.
In the end, when Beren's army annihilated the Dwarves and Beren himself slew Naugladur, Ufedhin saw Gwendelin for the final time. He could not endure the sight of her, and fled screaming in pain and terror. None knew what became of him after this.[1]
Etymology
Ufedhin is a Gnomish word meaning "outcast, outlaw" or "one who changes his clan and goes to a new kinship".[2]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "IV. The Nauglafring"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "I-Lam na-Ngoldathon: The Grammar and Lexicon of the Gnomish Tongue", in Parma Eldalamberon XI (edited by Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, and Patrick H. Wynne), p. 74