Tol-in-Gaurhoth CXIV – The Evil Breath of Morgoth in Dor-lómin, discussion thread

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

Dramatis Personae

Húrin, of the House of Hador, master of Dor-lómin
Morwen Eledhwen, of the House of Bëor, Húrin's wife
Túrin, their son, 5-years old
Urwen “Lalaith”, their daughter, 3-years old
Sador “Labadal”, Húrin’s one-legged woodwright
Ragnir, Húrin’s blind servant
Túrin’s nurse
Aerin, a kinswoman of Húrin
Indor, Aerin’s father
Gethron, valiant old man
Grithnir, valiant old man
Asgon, strong and hardy villager
Andróg, a hard-hearted man
Algund, an old warrior
Forweg, a big and bold man

-Huor, brother of Hurin
-Rian, cousin of Morwen (they won't be married for another three years).

There's also a possibility Emeldir, mother of Beren, is still there. She was the one who led Morwen and Rian to Dor-lomim, and she'd only be 63 or so in the Plague Year. Nothing at all is said of her after her departure from Dorthonion other than that she reached Brethil, but it's certainly plausible.

Hareth, mother of Hurin and Huor, certainly should still be alive! She's only in her 40s or 50s, and it's not like her husband died of natural causes.

We know from Hurin and Huor that the children of the Lords of Dor-lomin were usually fostered in Brethil. It's hard to see how that could not be a reciprocal arrangement. You could argue that the Bragollach made it too dangerous, but if not, you have Brandir the Lame (age 4), great-grandson of the current Chieftain of the Haladin but in the direct line.

For that matter, Brandir's aunt and uncle, Hunleth and Hundad (children of the Chieftain's younger son Hundar) are 26 & 22 in 469; we know Hurin was still fostered at 16, so Hundad at least could be hanging out. Heck, Tolkien specifically outs him (through his son) as a coward, so he could just be scared - sorry, 'appropriately cautious' - of the trip home. (He'd also officially be 'fostered' by a man only six years older than him, which is hilarious.)

One last one... Gildis, wife of Hador Lorindal, grandmother of Hurin. Her husband would only be 79 in the Plague Year (were he not long dead), and wives of noblemen are often younger than their husbands. She could be of an age with Emeldir, and easily still alive.

Some of these are a bit of a stretch, but they're there if you want them.

hS