The Death of Glaurung

The Death of Glaurung is the seventeenth chapter of The Children of Húrin.

Synopsis

Túrin is marching with two companions to Glaurung's lair, past the Cabed-en-Aras. They descend into a ravine, but one of them, Dorlas, is fearful of the water, and runs away before they can cross the river. Glaurung begins to move and starts to attack Brethil by crawling over the ravine in which Túrin and Hunthor are positioned. Túrin begins to climb up, to attack Glaurung from beneath, but almost falls, and he is steadied by Hunthor. A loose stone from above hits Hunthor, killing him, leaving Túrin alone to fight Glaurung. Túrin finishes his climb to Glaurung's underbelly, and stabs him with his sword Anglachel, causing a fatal wound. Glaurung hurls himself to the other side of the ravine, and lies prone and still, his fire put out. When Túrin pulls out his sword from the dragon's belly, he is sprayed with a jet of Glaurung's poisonous blood. This causes Túrin to faint, and he lies beside the dragon, appearing dead.

Niënor, who is Túrin's wife (and his sister, though they do not know it), hears the screams of Glaurung and sees his flames, and fearfully goes to the scene. She is followed by Brandir, who is romantically interested in her, though his love is unrequited. She finds Túrin and thinks him dead, and weeps for some time. At length, Glaurung awakes, and lifts the curse he had placed upon her, restoring her memory, and she realized that she is Túrin's sister. In despair, she jumps from the top of Cabed-en-Aras, and dies. Brandir blames Dorlas for Niënor's death, and at this Dorlas assaults Brandir, but Brandir kills him. Brandir returns to the people, and reports the unknowing incest and deaths of Niënor and Túrin. Thus, the chapter ends.