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will； I will lead you。' And he took her hand； and she arose silently； and followed him； and in the darkness none saw them
go。
But as they went down the path to the Crossings the moon rose； and cast a grey light on the land； and Níniel said：
'Is this the way？' And Brandir answered that he knew no way； save to flee as they might from Glaurung； and escape into
the wild。 But Níniel said： 'The Black Sword was my beloved and my husband。 To seek him only do I go。 What else
could you think？' And she sped on before him。 Thus she came towards the Crossings of Teiglin and beheld Haudh…en…
Elleth in the white moonlight； and great dread came on her。 Then with a cry she turned away； casting off her cloak； and
fled southward along the river； and her white raiment shone in the moon。
Thus Brandir saw her from the hill…side； and turned to cross her path； but he was still behind her when she came
to the ruin of Glaurung nigh the brink of Cabed…en…Aras。 There she saw the dragon lying； but she heeded him not； for a
man lay beside him； and she ran to Turambar； and called his name in vain。 Then finding that his hand was burned she
washed it with tears and bound it about with a strip of her raiment； and she kissed him and cried on him again to awake。
Thereat Glaurung stirred for the last time ere he died； and he spoke with his last breath； saying： 'Hail； Nienor； daughter
of Húrin。 We meet again ere the end。 I give thee joy that thou hast found thy brother at last。 And now thou shalt know
him： a stabber in the dark； treacherous to foes； faithless to friends； and a curse unto his kin； Túrin son of Húrin！ But the
worst of all his deeds thou shalt feel in thyself。'
Then Glaurung died； and the veil of his malice was taken from her； and she remembered all the days of her life。
Looking down upon Túrin she cried： 'Farewell； O twice beloved！ A Túrin Turambar turun ambartanen： master of doom
by doom mastered！ O happy to be dead！' Then Brandir who had heard all； standing stricken upon the edge of ruin；
hastened towards her； but she ran from him distraught with horror and anguish； and ing to the brink of Cabed…en…
Aras she cast herself over； and was lost in the wild water。
Then Brandir came and looked down； and turned away in horror； and though he no longer desired life； he could
not seek death in that roaring water。 And thereafter no man looked again upon Cabed…en…Aras； nor would any beast or
bird e there； nor any tree grow； and it was named Cabed Naeramarth； the Leap of Dreadful Doom。
But Brandir made his way back to Nen Girith； to bring tidings to the people； and he met Dorlas in the woods； and
slew him： the first blood that ever he had spilled； and the last。 And he came to Nen Girith； and men cried to him： 'Have
you seen her？ For Níniel is gone。'
And he answered： 'Níniel is gone for ever。 The Dragon is dead； and Turambar is dead； and those tidings are
good。' The people murmured at these words； saying that he was crazed； but Brandir said： 'Hear me to the end！ Níniel the
beloved is also dead。 She cast herself into Teiglin； desiring life no more； for she learned that she was none other than
Nienor daughter of Húrin of Dor…lómin； ere her forgetfulness came upon her； and that Turambar was her brother； Túrin
son of Húrin。 '
But even as he ceased； and the people wept； Túrin himself came before them。 For when the dragon died； his
swoon left him； and he fell into a deep sleep of weariness。 But the cold of the night troubled him； and the hilts of
Gurthang drove into his side； and he awoke。 Then he saw that one had tended his hand； and he wondered much that he
was left nonetheless to lie upon the cold ground； and he called； and hearing no answer he went in search of aid； for he
was weary and sick。
But when the people saw him they drew back in fear； thinking that it was his unquiet spirit； and he said： 'Nay； be
glad； for the Dragon is dead； and I live。 But wherefore have you scorned my counsel； and e into peril？ And where is
Níniel？ For her I would see。 And surely you did not bring her from her home？'
Then Brandir told him that it was so； and Níniel was dead。 But the wife of Dorlas cried out： 'Nay； lord； he is
crazed。 For he came here saying that you were dead； and he called it good tidings。 But you live。'
Then Turambar was wrathful； and believed that all Brandir said or did was done in malice towards himself and
Níniel； begrudging their love； and he spoke evilly to Brandir； calling him Club…foot。 Then Brandir reported all that he
had heard； and named Níniel Nienor daughter of Húrin； and he cried out upon Turambar with the last words of
Glaurung； that he was a curse unto his kin and to all that harboured him。
Then Turambar fell into a fury； for in those words he heard the feet of his doom overtaking him； and he charged
Brandir with leading Níniel to her death； and publishing with delight the lies of Glaurung； if indeed be devised them not
himself。 Then he cursed Brandir； and slew him； and he fled from the people into the woods。 But after a while his
madness left him； and he came to Haudh…en…Elleth； and there sat； and pondered all his deeds。 And he cried upon
Finduilas to bring him counsel； for he knew not whether he would do now more ill to go to Doriath to seek his kin； or to
forsake them for ever and seek death in battle。
And even as he sat there Mablung with a pany of Grey…elves came over the Crossings of Teiglin； and he
knew Túrin； and hailed him； and was glad indeed to find him yet living； for he had learned of the ing forth of
Glaurung and that his path led to Brethil； and also he had heard report that the Black Sword of Nargothrond now dwelt
there。 Therefore he came to give warning to Túrin； and help if need be； but Túrin said： 'You e too late。 The Dragon
is dead。'
Then they marvelled； and gave him great praise； but he cared nothing for it； and said： 'This only I ask： give me
news of my kin； for in Dor…lómin I learned that they had gone to the Hidden Kingdom。'
Then Mablung was dismayed； but needs must tell to Túrin how Morwen was lost； and Nienor cast into a spell of
dumb forgetfulness； and how she escaped them upon the borders of Doriath and fled northwards。 Then at last Túrin
knew that doom had overtaken him； and that he had slain Brandir unjustly； so that the words of Glaurung were fulfilled
in him。 And he laughed as one fey； crying： 'This is a bitter jest indeed！' But he bade Mablung go； and return to Doriath；
with curses upon it。 'And a curse too upon your errand！' he cried。 'This only was wanting。 Now es the night。'
Then he fled from them like the wind； and they were amazed； wondering what madness had seized him； and they
followed after him。 But Túrin far out…ran them； and he came to Cabed…en…Aras； and heard the roaring of the water； and
saw that all the leaves fell sere from the trees； as though winter had e。 There he drew forth his sword； that now alone
remained to him of all his possessions； and he said： 'Hail Gurthang！ No lord or loyalty dost thou know； save the hand
that wieldeth thee。 From no blood wilt thou shrink。 Wilt thou therefore take Túrin Turambar； wilt thou slay me swiftly？'
And from the blade rang a cold voice in answer： 'Yea； I will drink thy blood gladly； that so I may forget the blood
of Beleg my master； and the blood of Brandir slain unjustly。 I will slay thee swiftly。'
Then Túrin set the hilts upon the ground； and cast himself upon the point of Gurthang； and the black blade took
his life。 But Mablung and the Elves came and looked on the shape of Glaurung lying dead； and upon the body of Túrin；
and they grieved； and when Men of Brethil came thither； and they learned the reasons of Túrin's madness and death； they
were aghast； and Mablung said bitterly： 'I also have been meshed in the doom of the Children of Húrin； and thus with my
tidings have slain one that I loved。'
Then they lifted up Túrin； and found that Gurthang had broken asunder。 But Elves and Men gathered there great
store of wood； and they made a mighty burning； and the Dragon was consumed to ashes。 Túrin they laid in a high mound
where he ha