A walk through Beleriand
Kullerva
Posts: 1,114 Member
I am so close to my final goal, and I keep stalling at the last ten pounds. Now I have decided to do something I have long wanted to do: create a walk through Beleriand.
What is Beleriand? Ancient Middle-earth, from before the time of the Númenorian flood, when the world was new. Gondor, Arnor, Eriador--they didn't exist yet, and Sauron, far from being the Big Bad, was ranked #3 on the power scale. My favorite story in Tolkien's mythos is not The Lord of the Rings, but the shorter, more modest, and much more tragic tale of the children of Húrin. I read it when I was eleven, and a year hasn't gone by since then when I haven't read it through at least once.
Now, this story is a tragedy, which means it's a bit of a downer. It also exists in dozens of tiny pieces sprinkled throughout HoME, Christopher Tolkien's 12-volume History of Middle-Earth. When I was nineteen, I spliced together all the disparate versions into a single volume spanning roughly three hundred pages. A few years back, Christopher Tolkien put out Children of Húrin, which purported to be a single-volume version of the story, but which...isn't. In fact, it ends just before the best part starts, and that made me pretty mad. As mad as Sam without taters.
So now...*now*...I will be starting a journey through my compiled version of the tale. While I will touch on elements of the other two epic sagas of the first age (Beren and Lúthien, Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin), I will mainly be focused on Turin's journey. Without this story, we would not know half of what we do about Nargothrond, Doriath, the petty-dwarves, Brethil, the origin of dragons, the Sylvan Elves of the First Age...I could go on, but I won't. Also, Melian, the Maia that trained Gandalf, gets a fuller treatment in this story than any other, even the one about her daughter.
And finally, I begin. This will be a harrowing journey full of sorrow and heartbreak. Unlike Children of Húrin, though, I can promise that the ending I choose--and that Tolkien wrote--is more bittersweet and less awful than the one Christopher Tolkien chose. This story is the last thing Tolkien was working on before he died, and even unfinished and unpolished as it is, I consider it some of his finest work
The story starts with two brothers, Húrin and Huor, in the forest of Brethil, where they've been raised. They go on an orc-raid and become separated from their companions, but Thorondor (yes, *that* Thorondor), lord of eagles, spies them and rescues them, taking them to the hidden city of Gondolin. Gondolin is ruled by Turgon, king of the Noldor, highest elf-lord of the first age.
Brethil to Gondolin: 56.86 miles. Let's do this thing.
What is Beleriand? Ancient Middle-earth, from before the time of the Númenorian flood, when the world was new. Gondor, Arnor, Eriador--they didn't exist yet, and Sauron, far from being the Big Bad, was ranked #3 on the power scale. My favorite story in Tolkien's mythos is not The Lord of the Rings, but the shorter, more modest, and much more tragic tale of the children of Húrin. I read it when I was eleven, and a year hasn't gone by since then when I haven't read it through at least once.
Now, this story is a tragedy, which means it's a bit of a downer. It also exists in dozens of tiny pieces sprinkled throughout HoME, Christopher Tolkien's 12-volume History of Middle-Earth. When I was nineteen, I spliced together all the disparate versions into a single volume spanning roughly three hundred pages. A few years back, Christopher Tolkien put out Children of Húrin, which purported to be a single-volume version of the story, but which...isn't. In fact, it ends just before the best part starts, and that made me pretty mad. As mad as Sam without taters.
So now...*now*...I will be starting a journey through my compiled version of the tale. While I will touch on elements of the other two epic sagas of the first age (Beren and Lúthien, Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin), I will mainly be focused on Turin's journey. Without this story, we would not know half of what we do about Nargothrond, Doriath, the petty-dwarves, Brethil, the origin of dragons, the Sylvan Elves of the First Age...I could go on, but I won't. Also, Melian, the Maia that trained Gandalf, gets a fuller treatment in this story than any other, even the one about her daughter.
And finally, I begin. This will be a harrowing journey full of sorrow and heartbreak. Unlike Children of Húrin, though, I can promise that the ending I choose--and that Tolkien wrote--is more bittersweet and less awful than the one Christopher Tolkien chose. This story is the last thing Tolkien was working on before he died, and even unfinished and unpolished as it is, I consider it some of his finest work
The story starts with two brothers, Húrin and Huor, in the forest of Brethil, where they've been raised. They go on an orc-raid and become separated from their companions, but Thorondor (yes, *that* Thorondor), lord of eagles, spies them and rescues them, taking them to the hidden city of Gondolin. Gondolin is ruled by Turgon, king of the Noldor, highest elf-lord of the first age.
Brethil to Gondolin: 56.86 miles. Let's do this thing.
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Replies
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Brethil to Gondolin: 8.30 miles yesterday. 48.56 miles to go.2
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Brethil to Gondolin: 9.20 miles yesterday. 39.36 miles to go.2
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Brethil to Gondolin: 10.73 miles on 10/6. 28.63 miles to go.
Brethil to Gondolin: 9.08 miles yesterday. 19.55 miles to go.2 -
Brethil to Gondolin: 9.38 miles yesterday. 10.17 miles to go.2
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Brethil to Gondolin: 7.67 miles yesterday. 2.5 miles before the next location!2
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9.67 miles yesterday.
Brethil to Gondolin: 56.86 miles (complete!)
Gondolin to Dor-Lómin:102 miles
7.17 miles complete; 94.83 to go.
This distance (Gondolin to Dor-Lómin) presented the first significant obstacle I had in creating this challenge: where, in Mandos’ name, is Húrin and Huor’s home? Dor-Lómin is obvious enough, but the specific city/town isn’t consistently marked on any map, or even given a name.
There are clues given in the narrative; Túrin’s sister Urwen is named Lalaith after a stream that runs in the mountain passes near their home. There are two rivers connecting to the mountains bordering the south of Dor-Lómin. We know from Morwen’s description of the passes that the place where they live does not share any part of a border with Nevrast, so we can rule out any water sources coming from that direction.
I have chosen the spot slightly to the north of the widest pass through the mountains near the river Taeglin as the location for this challenge. It could easily be located at the other pass with the rivers Malduin and Sirion farther north, but I reason (perhaps incorrectly?) that people would want to live a bit further south, where there’s more water and more distance between them and Thangorodrim. Also, later in the narrative, Túrin returns home by way of Ivrin, which is closer to this pass than the one further north, and which presents more of a “straight shot” from Nargothrond to Dor-Lómin. If Túrin had been heading for the other pass, he would likely have skirted Ivrin in haste; he traveled all that distance in just a few days, along the line of the river Narog. Also, if Túrin’s birthplace had been that close to Sirion, getting to Doriath (or at least close) would have been easier.
Also, a note on distances. Not many are given in The Silmarillion, but the map I’m working with gives me 20 leagues per inch, based on the description of Túrin’s journey from Nargothrond to Ivrin (“for forty leagues and more had be journeyed without rest”). My map gives me forty leagues and change for the scale I’ve chosen, and I am extrapolating all distances from that. Other scholars could dispute me, but there’s always been more debate over the Silmarillion maps than the ones for LotR, for obvious reasons.
End nerd rant. For now.2 -
Gondolin to Dor-Lómin: 9.82 miles yesterday. 85.01 miles to go.2
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Gondolin to Dor-Lómin: 8.56 miles yesterday. 76.45 miles to go.2
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Gondolin to Dor-Lómin: 10.24 miles yesterday. 66.21 miles to go.2
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Gondolin to Dor-Lómin: 10.84 miles yesterday. 55.37 miles to go.2
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Gondolin to Dor-Lómin: 9.36 miles yesterday. 46.01 miles to go.2
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Gondolin to Dor-Lómin: 8.19 miles yesterday. 37.82 miles to go.2
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Gondolin to Dor-Lómin: 8.50 miles yesterday. 29.32 miles to go.2
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Gondolin to Dor-Lómin: 8.05 miles yesterday. 21.27 miles to go.2
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Gondolin to Dor-Lómin: 8.03 miles on 8/18. 13.24 miles until next location.1
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Gondolin to Dor-Lómin: 7.37 miles on 8/19. 5.87 miles to go until next location.1
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Gondolin to Dor-Lómin: 8.24 miles yesterday.
2.37 miles banked toward the next location, which is...
Dor-Lómin to Angband- Nirnaeth Arnoediad: 240 miles
Okay, so Angband is another place that isn’t marked on the map, because it’s actually off the map. (Why, Tolkien? Why?) However, the account of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad (Battle of Unnumbered Tears) gives Dorthonion as the place for a signal-fire to begin the battle, and that Angband overlooks Ard-galen to the south. Later in the narrative, Túrin is captured and taken through Taur-nu-Fuin to Angband, which lines up with Ard-galen as well. From these events as well as more vague descriptions in the story of Beren and Lúthien, I place Angband a bit to the north of Ard-galen, and off the map.
Why are we headed to Angband? Because of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad (Battle of Unnumbered Tears, the biggest battle with the highest body count ever until Dagor Dagorath, the battle that will end the world). Húrin and Huor go to battle, and while Huor dies because of an Orc-arrow in the eye (ow), Húrin lives and is captured alive. He’s brought to Morgoth for questioning.
Once there, Morgoth curses Húrin and his children: “Upon all whom you love my thought shall weigh as a cloud of Doom, and it will carry them down into darkness and despair. Wherever they go, evil shall arise. Whenever they speak, their words shall bring ill counsel. Whatsoever they do will turn against them. They shall die without hope, cursing both life and death.”
Like I said, kind of a depressing story…
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9.19 miles yesterday. 11.56 miles on the road to Angband. 228.44 miles to go.1
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6.74 miles yesterday. 221.7 miles to go.1
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First month progress:
Weight: No loss (but no gain, either)
Distance: 214.93 miles
Location: Road to Angband
Average daily deficit: 390 calories
This month I learned to make bissara (yum!) and chia pudding (also yum). I am going to try learning one recipe per month for the duration of this challenge.1 -
Second month progress:
3.8 lb. loss from highest weight.
Location: Dor-Lómin to Menegroth (by way of Sirion): 216 miles
After Húrin fails to return home, Morwen considers where to send Túrin to keep him safe from the Easterlings, even men that have invaded Hithlum. Morwen sends him over the mountains to Doriath with two companions. She is not able to go herself because she’s pregnant.
The narrative states that Gethron, Grithnir and Túrin had to pass over the steep vales of Sirion, so this distance is calculated using those vectors and isn’t given as a straight shot.
Average daily deficit: 297 kCal
This month, I learned to make bean brownies.
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9.67 miles yesterday.
Brethil to Gondolin: 56.86 miles (complete!)
Gondolin to Dor-Lómin:102 miles
7.17 miles complete; 94.83 to go.
This distance (Gondolin to Dor-Lómin) presented the first significant obstacle I had in creating this challenge: where, in Mandos’ name, is Húrin and Huor’s home? Dor-Lómin is obvious enough, but the specific city/town isn’t consistently marked on any map, or even given a name.
There are clues given in the narrative; Túrin’s sister Urwen is named Lalaith after a stream that runs in the mountain passes near their home. There are two rivers connecting to the mountains bordering the south of Dor-Lómin. We know from Morwen’s description of the passes that the place where they live does not share any part of a border with Nevrast, so we can rule out any water sources coming from that direction.
I have chosen the spot slightly to the north of the widest pass through the mountains near the river Taeglin as the location for this challenge. It could easily be located at the other pass with the rivers Malduin and Sirion farther north, but I reason (perhaps incorrectly?) that people would want to live a bit further south, where there’s more water and more distance between them and Thangorodrim. Also, later in the narrative, Túrin returns home by way of Ivrin, which is closer to this pass than the one further north, and which presents more of a “straight shot” from Nargothrond to Dor-Lómin. If Túrin had been heading for the other pass, he would likely have skirted Ivrin in haste; he traveled all that distance in just a few days, along the line of the river Narog. Also, if Túrin’s birthplace had been that close to Sirion, getting to Doriath (or at least close) would have been easier.
Also, a note on distances. Not many are given in The Silmarillion, but the map I’m working with gives me 20 leagues per inch, based on the description of Túrin’s journey from Nargothrond to Ivrin (“for forty leagues and more had be journeyed without rest”). My map gives me forty leagues and change for the scale I’ve chosen, and I am extrapolating all distances from that. Other scholars could dispute me, but there’s always been more debate over the Silmarillion maps than the ones for LotR, for obvious reasons.
End nerd rant. For now.9.67 miles yesterday.
Brethil to Gondolin: 56.86 miles (complete!)
Gondolin to Dor-Lómin:102 miles
7.17 miles complete; 94.83 to go.
This distance (Gondolin to Dor-Lómin) presented the first significant obstacle I had in creating this challenge: where, in Mandos’ name, is Húrin and Huor’s home? Dor-Lómin is obvious enough, but the specific city/town isn’t consistently marked on any map, or even given a name.
There are clues given in the narrative; Túrin’s sister Urwen is named Lalaith after a stream that runs in the mountain passes near their home. There are two rivers connecting to the mountains bordering the south of Dor-Lómin. We know from Morwen’s description of the passes that the place where they live does not share any part of a border with Nevrast, so we can rule out any water sources coming from that direction.
I have chosen the spot slightly to the north of the widest pass through the mountains near the river Taeglin as the location for this challenge. It could easily be located at the other pass with the rivers Malduin and Sirion farther north, but I reason (perhaps incorrectly?) that people would want to live a bit further south, where there’s more water and more distance between them and Thangorodrim. Also, later in the narrative, Túrin returns home by way of Ivrin, which is closer to this pass than the one further north, and which presents more of a “straight shot” from Nargothrond to Dor-Lómin. If Túrin had been heading for the other pass, he would likely have skirted Ivrin in haste; he traveled all that distance in just a few days, along the line of the river Narog. Also, if Túrin’s birthplace had been that close to Sirion, getting to Doriath (or at least close) would have been easier.
Also, a note on distances. Not many are given in The Silmarillion, but the map I’m working with gives me 20 leagues per inch, based on the description of Túrin’s journey from Nargothrond to Ivrin (“for forty leagues and more had be journeyed without rest”). My map gives me forty leagues and change for the scale I’ve chosen, and I am extrapolating all distances from that. Other scholars could dispute me, but there’s always been more debate over the Silmarillion maps than the ones for LotR, for obvious reasons.
End nerd rant. For now.
Nothing wrong with nerd ranting0
This discussion has been closed.