Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin

           IthasbeentoldthatHuorthebrotherofHurinwasslainintheBattleofUnnumberedTears;andinthewinterofthatyearRianhiswifeboreachildinthewildsofMithrim,andhewasnamedTuor,andwastakentofosterbyAnnaeloftheGrey-elves,whoyetlivedinthosehills.NowwhenTuorwassixteenyearsoldtheElvesweremindedtoleavethecavesofAndrothwheretheydwelt,andtomaketheirwaysecretlytotheHavensofSirioninthedistantsouth;buttheywereassailedbyOrcsandEasterlingsbeforetheymadegoodtheirescape,andTuorwastakencaptiveandenslavedbyLorgan,chiefoftheEasterlingsofHithlum.Forthreeyearsheenduredthatthraldom,butattheendofthattimeheescaped;andreturningtothecavesofAndrothhedwelttherealone,anddidsuchgreathurttotheEasterlingsthatLorgansetapriceuponhishead.

           ButwhenTuorhadlivedthusinsolitudeasanoutlawforfouryears,Ulmosetitinhishearttodepartfromthelandofhisfathers,forhehadchosenTuorastheinstrumentofhisdesigns;andleavingoncemorethecavesofAndrothhewentwestwardsacrossDor-lomin,andfoundAnnon-in-Gelydh,theGateoftheNoldor,whichthepeopleofTurgonbuiltwhentheydweltinNevrastlongyearsbefore.Thenceadarktunnelledbeneaththemountains,andissuedintoCirithNinniach,theRainbowCleft,throughwhichaturbulentwaterrantowardsthewesternsea.ThusitwasthatTuor’sflightfromHithlumwasmarkedbyneitherMannorOrc,andnoknowledgeofitcametotheearsofMorgoth.