Nienor Níniel

In the year 472, F.A. the Battle of Nirnaeth Arnoediad began and many came to fight. One of these, Hurin, Lord of Dor-lomin, Son of Galdor and wife to Morwen. He fought valiantly, yet at the aftermath of the battle was taken and held hostage. When news of his capture reached Morwen who still abided in Dor-Lomin, she sent Turin her son to Doriath for fear of his safety, yet she did not leave for she was with child. Then it came in the year 473 of the First Age, Nienor was born to Morwen and grew beside her mother. She was of great stature and was fair and beautiful to look upon and quite content, though she stood beside no father nor brethren. But Thingol in Doriath sent messengers that came bearing tidings of Turin in Doriath, and for nine years she lived with her mother in Dor-lomin, and heard tidings of him. She had also one other sibling, Urwen, yet Urwen died at 3, before she ever met Nienor, and so Nienor had thus never known any siblings. All remained this way until travel within and about Hithlum became dangerous, and Thingol stopped sending messengers so that no tidings were brought to or from Dor-lomin. Because of this, Turin became troubled and thought that some terrible fate must have come to Morwen and Nienor.

Some years later, because of a valiant and mysterious Mormegil, the danger of travel was greatly reduced, and Nienor and Morwen finally left Dor-lomin in search of Turin. Yet as the two arrived in Doriath, they did not find any tidings of Turin and heard that he had left yet no one knew his whereabouts. Despite this, the Kingdom of Doriath was generous and kind, and kept Nienor and Morwen as guests of Queen Melian and King Thingol.

Then, later it came after the Fall of Nargothrond that many people came to Doriath seeking safety and peace and brought with them many rumors which spread and were heard by Nienor and Morwen, among them the most notable; that Turin was Mormegil. Troubled by these rumors, and determined to find her son, Morwen then refused the counsel of Melian and decided to leave Doriath and search for him among the lands. Thingol sent with her Mablung and his company to protect her, yet Nienor was commanded to remain behind in Doriath for the sake of her safety. But Nienor was fearless and determined, and so greatly saddened by the leave of her mother that she defied the words of her mother and went in Mablung's company under the guise of a servant of Thingol, in hopes that when her mother saw her deep passion and how far she would wander for love of her, that her mother would stay. Yet as they came upon the banks of Sirion, her true identity was quickly discovered, and she was bidden to return. But she would not be persuaded and stood fast in her decision. So after three days they came to Amon Ethir, the Hill of Spies, and there Mablung set a guard of riders around Morwen and Nienor to protect them and spoke to them pleading that they would not go further and forbidding them to continue journeying on. But as they were still among the guards, he perceived that there was no enemy on the Hill and stealthily as he might, he approached the River Narog.

Yet it was not so, and Glaurung, the Dragon of Morgoth was aware of everything that they did and watched them intently. And as they approached nearer, he came forth into the river, and in the heat of his wrath, a foul reek went forth upwards from the river, a vast vapour of great stench, and it blinded Mablung and the company that went with him and they became lost. Then Glaurung travelled east along the Narog and was spotted by the guards on Amon Ethir. Seeing the great dragon and the danger that was at hand, they sought to lead Morwen and Nienor away from the river and bade them fly with all haste eastwards, back to where they had been for sake of their safety. But the wind it seemed laid not in their favor, and the terrible vapour and stench was brought upon them so that their horses were utterly maddened by the terrible reek and became ungovernable, running every way in confusion and discord, so that some were slain, and others ran onward untamed. Thus, Morwen and Nienor stood alone and were lost, and never again did any tidings of Morwen ever come to Doriath or any land. But Nienor survived this ill-fated fury, and was unharmed despite being thrown from her horse. And so she made her way back towards Amon Ethir, awaiting the arrival of Mablung.

She came above the reek but looking westward a terrible sight consumed her. There before Glaurung she stood, staring straight into the looming eyes of the fell beast, little fear in her. Then it came that Glaurung questioned her in mind, seeking her true identity. For some time, she restrained it because her will was strong, but as the dragon put forth all his power against her, she had not the strength to resist and revealed to him that she was indeed Nienor, daughter of Hurin the Lord of Dor-Lomin. But then Glaurung constrained her, forcing her to gaze into his deep and piercing eyes, and losing all control of herself, he placed upon her a dreadful forgetfulness, and she could not recall anything that she had experienced, nor her name or lineage or realm, nor even could she sit or see or hear or move by her own will, and she stood completely still, her eyes darkened as she was left alone. Then Glaurung left her standing there and he himself went back to Nargothrond.

Now Mablung who had fled at the approach of Glaurung, sought to find Morwen and Nienor once more. On he walked, as night fell and the sun grew dim, and the Moon a pale and vague crescent, hidden in the distance, shrouded by clouds of mist. And he turned under the sky of star-field, and there upon Amon Ethir he saw Nienor, standing still, lifeless, as an image of stone carved. No word did she speak or hear, and yet when he took her hand, she stirred and followed him without any sound. Thus, he led her from Amon Ethir in great grief and distress, and he himself did not know why he led her, because it seemed that they would only perish in the wild, succourless, but nevertheless, he led her on. Soon, they were found by three of Mablung's companions, and they slowly journeyed to the north and east, and they sought Doriath beyond Sirion, and the bridge near the Esgalduin. And as they journeyed onward, the strength of Nienor slowly returned, flowing back into her as a stream of life, but she could not speak nor hear, and still she walked blindly led beside the company. But as they drew closer, she would close her eyes and sleep, and this they attended to by laying her down. Then, on the fences, they were assailed by an Orc-band, but fate it seemed stood then in the favor of Nienor, and she was made able to see and hear and sprang up as the enemies approached, fleeing the place where they had stayed. Then the company that she had remained with slayed the Orc-band, but Nienor had escaped prior, and she ran fearful, swifter than a deer and as she went she tore off all of her raiment, and ran unclothed northward, and never did Mablung or his company find her or any trace of her and so he returned to Doriath and told that she had died, and was grieved. But she went on through the forest and then fell and awoke, and she rejoiced in light as if she had never known it and had no names for anything but was delighted in all.

But then a great storm arose in her midst, and so she took shelter upon the mound of Haudh-en-Elleth in terror and stopped her ears from the thunder but was drenched by the rain, and she laid like a wild beast upon the mound. There Turambar, her brother who did not know her because he had never seen her, found her and seeing her pitiful form on the mound of Finduilas pierced his core, so the woodmen came and lifted her up, and Turin warmed her with his cloak and brought her to his lodge and gave her food and clothes, and when she looked at Turin, she was comforted and found that she was fulfilled somehow and her desire was satisified. Because of this, she would not be parted from him and remained by him. But when he asked her name, she had no answer for him, and acted as a small child and wept. Then Turin took pity on her and said: "Do not be troubled. The tale shall wait. But I will give you a new name, and I will call you Niniel, Tear-maiden." And at his word she nodded and repeated the name, and this was the first time that she spoke since the loss of her memory. And on the next day they brought her to Ephel Brandir, but when they came to Dimrost, she shuddered, and fell ill with a fever of some sort. And so she was tended for long, and the women of Brethil taught her to speak as she recovered. And eventually she was healed, but she could not remember Turin's finding her on Haudh-en-Elleth. Then, because he had care for her, Brandir had love for her, but her love remained with Turin.

And at last, when there was peace in Brethil, Turin asked her to marry him, because he loved her also, and knew that her courage was not in such, and that she would not ask at that time. But Brandir was angered greatly by this, and so he told her the truth of Turin, that he was the son of Hurin and though she did not know the names which he spoke, a shadow fell upon her mind. But when it had been three years since the sack of Nargothrond, she vowed that she would wed with Turin, and her love was given to him completely, though the shadow of thought remained. And so in midsummer they were married and were very joyful and the woodmen of Brethil made a great feast to celebrate. But near the end of the year Glaurung sent Orcs and they issued forth against Brethil, but Turin did not go to battle because of his oath to Niniel that he would not unless their homes were assailed. But soon the woodmen were spent and could not fight anymore, and then Turin Turambar did arise forth and he gathered many to fight beside him and bore his black sword and defeated all of the Orcs. But Glaurung then knew that the Black Sowrd still remained in Brethil, and he devised new evils. Then in that spring, Niniel conceived, but she became wan and sad, and at the same time, Turin sent scouts because there was evil at Ephel Brandir. Then the rumors grew evermore, and everyone knew that Glaurung would come and was drawing nearer by day. So then, in fear all the peoples sought counsel from Turin, but he told them only that their weapons would not prevail against the dragon, and with wit alone could they win. So then he offered himself to go and seek the dragon and defeat him before he drew near, and this he did, calling company to assist him. Then Turin bade farewell to Niniel and left with two companions to Nen Girith. But Niniel, unable to restrain her fear and wait for tidings, left after him, and a great company went with her. This made Brandir even more full of fury, and he counselled all the peoples to turn from Turin, and dissuade them from following Niniel but was not successful.

Then, at Nen Girith, Turin learned that Glaurung was on the brink of the high shores of Teiglin, and he went to Cabed-en-Aras to creep into the gorge, ambushing Glaurung while he was not alert. So Hunthor went with Turin, and he crept down into the gorge with him, and they crossed over safely and came beside Glaurung. Then Glaurung stirred, and stench and heat filled the gorge, but they still went on. As they did, a stone came and fell and slain Hunthor and he was cast in the river and died, thus ending the House of Haleth. So then Turin went alone, and took out his sword Gurthang and lodged it into the belly of Glaurung with great strength, and at the feeling of his death-pang, Glaurung screamed and set forth fire which burned and then grew dim. So then Turin in his pridefulness sought the sword from Glaurung, and attempted to take it from the belly of him. But as he took it venom burned his hand from the belly of the dragon. Then Niniel heard Glaurung and was scared, and the voice of Glaurung immobilized her once more yet her memories were kept. So Brandir who came to seek her found her in this way, and tried to persuade her to follow him, and led her blindly,yet soon she perceived his plans and spoke that her love was loyal to Turin alone, and so she would not go with him. So she ran away from him casting away her cloak and came to the ruin of Glaurung in Cabed-en-Aras, and then she saw Turin, and she called his name but he would not answer, and she was grieved. Then she took a piece of her raiment and wrapped Turin's injured hand after washing it, and bound it, then Glaurung spoke a final heaved word before he died to her: "Hail, Nienor, Daughter of Hurin, 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, Turin son of Hurin! But the worst of all his deeds thou shalt feel in thyself." Then Glaurung died and Niniel looked upon Turin and cried: "Farewell, O twice beloved! A Turin Turambar turun ambartenen; master of doom by doom mastered! O happy to be dead!"

Then Brandir who had waited beside the brink of Cabed-en-Aras rushed to her, but as he came near she was distraught and came to the brink of Cabed-en-Aras she cast herself away and was lost in the wild water. Then tidings were sung of her death and reached every near region and her name was carved into a grey stone beside that of Turin, and many grieved for her presumable death, and mourned her greatly.

The name 'Nienor' means 'Mourning' in Quenya Elvish.
The name 'Niniel' means 'Tear-maiden' in Sindarin, the name given to her by Turin Turambar.