Where Have All the Dragons Gone? - Page 3
© Michael Martinez
Hurin could wear the helm but because of his short stature he was uncomfortable with it, and he preferred to look his foes directly in the eye. So the helm stayed behind in Hithlum when Hurin rode off to fight in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, and Morwen his wife sent the helm with their son Turin to Doriath. When Turin grew to manhood and left Doriath Beleg brought him the dragon-helm, and with that heirloom of his house Turin began to earn a name for himself. Unfortunately, because of Hurin's pride and defiance Morgoth set his will against Hurin's children, and all of Turin's endeavors turned to grief.
The day came when Turin persuaded Orodreth to ride to open battle with Morgoth's armies, and Glaurung destroyed Orodreth and his people. When Turin returned to Nargothrond he wore the helm and Glaurung was afraid of him. But the dragon goaded Turin into lifting the visor and in so doing Turin exposed himself to Glaurung's power.
The dragon-helm was thus a very powerful artifact, and with it Turin might have had stood a chance of doing battle against Glaurung. Or would he? Even though Glaurung couldn't daunt him, would the dragon have been so vulnerable to Turin?
Glaurung's first appearance two centuries before had resulted in a victory for Fingon and the Elven archers of Hithlum. They rode around the young dragon and pierced him with many arrows, driving him back to Angband. Glaurung fared better in the Dagor Bragollach and he undoubtedly wrought his vengeance against the Elves with glee. But barely a generation later he led a group of dragons against Maedhros' army in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad and this time they were opposed by the Dwarves.
Azaghal of Belegost went up against Glaurung and wounded him, though the deed cost Azaghal his life. Glaurung and his children retreated from the field of battle. When the dragon reappeared later he seems to have avoided trying to crush warriors with his belly, as he had tried to crush Azaghal, who fell beneath him.
In Turin's final confrontation with Glaurung he dealt the dragon a mortal wound in almost exactly the same fashion as Azaghal had wounded the beast, and the sword Turin used had been made by Eol, who learned a great deal about smithcraft from the Dwarves of Nogrod and Belegost. Glaurung was smart and wary, but when he crossed the ravine of the Teiglin, he had no idea that Turin waited for him below.
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