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and dwelt there yet, as one changed to stone. But all
declared that it was known in Nargothrond ere the end that the blacksword was
none other than Túrin son of
Húrin of Dor-lómin.
Then great was the fear and sorrow of Morwen and of Nienor; and Morwen said:
"Such doubt is the very work of Morgoth! May we not learn the truth, and know
surely the worst that we must endure?"
Now Thingol himself desired greatly to know more of the fate of Nargothrond,
and had in mind already the sending out of some that might go warily thither,
but he believed that Túrin was indeed slain or beyond rescue, and he was loath
to see the hour when Morwen should know this clearly. Therefore he said to
her: "This is a perilous matter, Lady of Dor-lómin, and must be pondered. Such
doubt may in truth be the work of Morgoth, to draw us on to some rashness."
But Morwen being distraught cried: "Rashness, lord! If my son lurks in the
woods hungry, if he lingers in bonds, if his body lies unburied, then I would
be rash. I would lose no hour to go to seek him."
"Lady of Dor-lómin," said Thingol, "that surely the son of Húrin would not
desire. Here would he think you better bestowed than in any other land that
remains: in the keeping of Melian. For Húrin's sake and
Túrin's I will not have you wander abroad in the black peril of these days."
"You did not hold Túrin from peril, but me you will hold from him," cried
Morwen. "In the keeping of
Melian! Yes, a prisoner of the Girdle. Long did I hold back before I entered
it, and now I rue it."
"Nay, if you speak so. Lady of Dor-lómin," said Thingol, "know this: the
Girdle is open. Free you came hither; free you shall stay or go."
Then Melian, who had remained silent, spoke: "Go not hence, Morwen. A true
word you said: this doubt is of Morgoth. If you go, you go at his will."
"Fear of Morgoth will not withhold me from the call of my kin," Morwen
answered. "But if you fear for me, lord, then lend me some of your people."
"I command you not," said Thingol. "But my people are my own to command. I
will send them at my own advice."
Then Morwen said no more, but wept; and she left the presence of the King.
Thingol was heavy-
hearted, for it seemed to him that the mood of Morwen was fey; and he asked
Melian whether she would not restrain her by her power.
"Against the coming in of evil I may do much," she answered. "But against the
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going out of those who will go, nothing. That is your part. If she is to be
held here, you must hold her with strength. Yet maybe thus you will overthrow
her mind."
Now Morwen went to Nienor, and said: "Farewell, daughter of Húrin. I go to
seek my son, or true tidings of him, since none here will do aught, but will
tarry until too late. Await me here until haply I return."
Then Nienor in dread and distress would restrain her, but Morwen answered
nothing, and went to her chamber; and when morning came she had taken horse
and gone.
Now Thingol had commanded that none should stay her, or seem to waylay her.
But as soon as she went forth, he gathered a company of the hardiest and most
skilled of his march-wards, and he set Mablung in charge.
"Follow now speedily," he said, "yet let her not be aware of you. But when she
is come into the wild, if danger threatens, then show yourselves; and if she
will not return, then guard her as you may. But some of you I would have go
forward as far as you can, and learn all that you may."
Thus it was that Thingol sent out a larger company than he had at first
intended, and there were ten riders among them with spare horses. They
followed after Morwen, and she went south through Region, and so came to the
shores of Sirion above the Twilit Meres; there she halted, for Sirion was wide
and swift, and she did not know the way. Therefore now the guards must needs
reveal themselves; and Morwen said: "Will
Thingol stay me? Or late does he send me the help that he denied?"
"Both," answered Mablung. "Will you not return?"
"No!" she said.
"Then I must help you," said Mablung, "though it is against my own will. Wide
and deep here is
Sirion, and perilous to swim for beast or man."
"Then bring me over by whatever way the Elven-folk are used to cross," said
Morwen; "or else I will try the swimming."
Therefore Mablung led her to the Twilit Meres. There amid the creeks and reeds
ferries were kept hidden and guarded on the east shore; for by that way
messengers would pass to and fro between Thingol and his kin in Nargothrond.
Now they waited until the starlit night was late, and they passed over in the
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white mists before the dawn. And even as the sun rose red beyond the Blue
Mountains, and a strong morning-wind blew and scattered the mists, the guards
went up on to the west shore, and left the Girdle of
Melian. Tall Elves of Doriath they were, grey-clad, and cloaked over their
mail. Morwen from the ferry watched them as they passed silently, and then
suddenly she gave a cry, and pointed to the last of the company that went by.
"Whence came he?" she said. "Thrice ten you came to me. Thrice ten and one you
go ashore!"
Then the others turned, and saw that the sun shone upon a head of gold: for it
was Nienor, and her hood was blown back by the wind. Thus it was revealed that
she had followed the company, and joined them in the dark before they crossed
the river. They were dismayed, and none more than Morwen. "Go back, go back! I
command you!" she cried.
"If the wife of Húrin can go forth against all counsel at the call of
kindred," said Nienor, "then so also can Húrin's daughter. Mourning you named
me, but I will not mourn alone, for father, brother, and mother.
But of these you only have I known, and above all do I love. And nothing that
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