Quenta 23 — Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin
Chapter 23 of the Quenta Silmarillion
Summary
Tuor, son of Huor, grew up in the wilderness of Dor-lómin after the Nirnaeth, and was led by Ulmo, the Lord of Waters, along the secret ways to Nevrast, where he found the arms and the mandate left by the Vala for the lord of Gondolin. He bore to Turgon the warning of Ulmo to abandon the hidden city and make for the sea; but Turgon, trusting in his secrecy, would not go, and Tuor dwelt in Gondolin, earned his favour, and wedded Idril the king’s daughter, whom Maeglin loved. Of them was born Eärendil Halfelven, the star of hope, in the last days of the city’s brightness before the treason of Maeglin delivered it to Morgoth. In the sack of Gondolin the Balrogs and dragons swarmed through the breaches, and Turgon, Ecthelion, and many lords fell in the defence; Maeglin, cast from the walls, perished with the ruin he had wrought. Tuor, with Idril and the remnant of the people with the young Eärendil, fled by the pass into the far west and the Havens of Sirion. It is said that Tuor at last took ship with Idril and passed into the West, being numbered among the Eldar.