[Thinlómien]

I've always liked this chapter - probably because we are told about Haleth, who is my personal heroe. I've always liked her, she is one of the few real female heroes in Tolkien's books. Now I'm not discounting Idril, Elwing, Finduilas, Arwen and the likes who are, of course, heroes in their own right, but they are all satyed in the female role and boundaries. Haleth, on the other hand, could be described as a feminist heroe. She did things that only men were supposed to do - like fighting and being the leader for her people - (I don't know about the ways of Haladin, but that seemed to be the general way of thinking in Beleriand in those days) and did them well. Haleth is brave yet not foolsihly so. She is respectable and dutiful, a good leader who can manage things.

And her brief exchange of words with Caranthir! That's something that never fails to impress me. This is quite difficult to explain, but it brings tears to my eyes and makes me always think "wow, the Edain are truly a magnificient people". The effect is similar to what Húrin's and Huor's words to Turgon in Nirnaeth Arnoediad and their last stand makes me feel.

Besides, I can imagine the situation so well. Caranthir, a Noldorin lord in shining armour on a great horse offering aid and pity to Haleth, a woman in ragged and bloodsoaked clothes with a sword in her hand (or something like that) and she proudly declines it. That is a very impressive picture.