Tuor

Huor’s only son with Rian was a great man from the House of Hador. He grew in the realm of the Elves and married from them, despite being mortal. He was skillful in battle, and the only mortal outside the ring bearers--accepted into Valinor. The Numenoreans and Aragorn descended from his lineage.

Tuor’s birth occurred in 472 of the First Age. Rian, the mother of Tuor got pregnant with Huor’s son after two months of marriage, before Huor left to join the army that marched for Nirnaeth Arnoediad. In that war, he fell alongside other great warriors like High King Fingon of the Elves. Rian did not know about Huor's death but when she heard that the war had ended, it caused her to suffer. She was only 20 years old and feared a bad fortune for her husband. She left Dor-lomin in despair, and as she wandered without aim, she met a group of Mithrim Elves, who took pity on her and accommodated her in their mountain dwellings at Mithrim. Rian lived in her haven and gave birth to Tuor until she heard about Huor's death in Nirnaeth Arnoediad from the army commander, Annael. She went to Huadh-en-Ndengin [1] with the hope of having a last glimpse of her husband but found rotting remains of dead warriors instead.

She became sick from the horrible sight she beheld and died after a short time. The Grey Elves nurtured Tuor and moved with them to the caves in Androth after the Easterlings rampaged and dislocated the people of Hithlum. Tuor grew in hate for the Easterlings for all their evil and oppression. Annael forbade him from confronting the Easterlings, so he listened and held back. The Sindar Elves decided to move through the gates of Noldor to the Haven of Sirion but were ambushed by the Dark Lord’s Orcs before they separated. The Easterlings caught Tuor and sold him as a slave in Hitlum, where he served as a servant to the allies of Morgoth; these servants were also known as Thralls.

As a slave, Tuor’s master was a vicious chief of the Easterlings known as Lorgan. Lorgan was a devout servant of Morgoth that helped him to spread fear in Hithlum and the hearts of the surviving members of Hador’s household. After three years of Tuor’s service as Thrall, he grew to full stature and potential, exceeding the Easterlings in speed and height. Tuor realized he could use his ability to escape, he then found his way out of captivity. He lived after as an outlaw, first moving south to Cirith Ninniach, then finally settling in Nevrast. Before he reached Nevrast, he traveled through the Gate of Noldor where he met two Elf companions Arminad and Gelmir that gave him direction. He stayed in Nevrast until he saw seven mysterious swans. He believed that they were signs to show him he had wandered long enough to find a home. Tuor trailed the seven swans until he reached the ruins of Turgon’s people in the Vinyamar.

Vala Ulmo [2] appeared to him from Belegaer while he looked at the ruins of Vinyamar. Ulmo told Tuor that he should warn Turgon of the imminent fall of Gondolin and the Doom of Noldor. He also gave Tuor the powerful cloak to help him evade the watch of his enemies. Tuor was set to begin his journey when he met Voronwe, the Gondolin mariner Elf that escaped Osse’s wrath during the voyage of the Noldor to Valinor. Tuor took Voronwe with him as a companion as they traveled to fulfill the quest of Ulmo. On their voyage, they passed Ivrin’s Pool, where they saw Turin Turambar going through Dor-lomin’s wastes with Gurthang in his hand.

Tuor and his companion finally arrived at Gondolin after having traveled for long. He announced his message from Vala Ulmo as his messenger to Turgon in Gondolin. When it became certain that he was from Vala Ulmo, the people of Gondolin took him to Turgon, where she announced his mission. He warned Turgon of the impending doom upon Gondolin as Morgoth was close to uncovering its secret location. Maeglin, the son of Eol that was later known as Dark Elf, faulted his claim and Turgon was convinced that they had to stay. Turgon could not bear to lose all the riches of Gondolin as it has grown to become as admirable as Tirion in Valinor itself. He held onto the belief that Gondolin's location could not be found, and if Morgoth eventually found it the army of Gondolin would stand up to his attack with great might. Turgon despite his confidence did not disregard the wisdom of Ulmo and made reforms to further protect the realm.

He commanded that the entrance of the city be sealed, trapping Tuor in Gondolin - although to his great pleasure. Tuor was received with honor from the people of Gondolin as he had the honor of speaking with Ulmo. The people soon found him worthy of even more honor as he displayed his great strength in body and spirit. Tuor fell in love with the Elven daughter of Turgon, Idril, and wanted to marry after seven years in the city. Turgon knew him enough to give his daughter in marriage with all pleasure, and so he became one of those from the race of men to marry Elves. Tuor had a son from his union to Idril Celebrindal and named him Earendil. Earendil became the father of Elrond that went on to give birth to Arwen.

Turgon became fond of Tuor and treated him very highly like the people of Gondolin. Once Turgon called upon his most skillful smiths to make him a befitting armor as a gift. His great armor was made from steel of the Noldor adorned with silver. His helm and shield were made with iron and jewels shaped in the form of a swan. Turgon also ordered builders to make a house for him upon the walls to the south of Gondolin, where he would live as he always pleased. It is said that the people of Gondolin would rejoice when the wing of his helm radiates light.

Tuor fought ferociously after Maeglin, the Dark Elf, exposed the location of Gondolin, it came under attack from Morgoth. The attack on Gondolin increased him in honor as he was hailed for many brave charges that included fighting Uruloke off. He protected his household from Maeglin who had targeted them for destruction by casting him into a burning flame, before escaping Gondolin with his family and people of Gondolin. He moved the people to safety in the Haven of Sirion. Tuor then built Earrame, the great ship to sail with his wife to Valinor.

Tuor was granted entrance into Valinor with his wife, Idril Celebrindal, even as a mortal. The entrance was likely for his protection of the Elves and marriage to Idril. He became the first mortal in Valinor. There was no detailed account on whether Earendil met his parents on return to Valinor. In the collection of early stories by Tolkien, Tuor and Idril reached one of the enchanted Isles in the Shadowy Seas with one of them or the two going into slumber for an indefinite period.

He was a man of tall and fierce look that bore an ax. He was gold-haired and fair. His kindness and manner were likened to those of his father’s kin.

In the second part of The Book of Lost Tales [3] (Volume Two of The History of Middle-earth), Tuor was said to bear an ax that he named Dramborleg in his speech at Gondolin. He had mentioned in the speech that his armor stuns buffets and cleave armors.

1. ^Haudh-en-Nirnaeth (Hill of Tears).
2. ^The Lord of Waters.
3. ^The Book of Lost Tales, Part Two.