Chapter 20 - Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad - J.R.R. Tolkien

The Silmarillion
The History of the Silmarils - Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad
Audiobook
Beren and Lúthien returned to Middle-earth from the Halls of Mandos. After briefly greeting Thingol and Melian, they retired to the island of Tol Galen, never to be seen again by any Man. They had a son, Dior, before finally dying for the second time, witnessed by no one.
Hearing the word of the deeds of Beren and Lúthien, Maedhros and the rest of the Sons of Fëanor were inspired to try and attack Morgoth. They sent emissaries out to the rest of the Eldar and their allies to gather a league, which was known as the Union of Maedhros.
Yet their prior deeds greatly hindered their effort. Orodreth of Nargothrond refused to send aid, and out of Nargothrond came only one small division led by Gwindor. Thingol refused to aid them as well due to Celegorm and Curufin's misdeeds against his daughter Lúthien. Only Beleg and Mablung came from Doriath, and they served under Fingon, not Maedhros. Maedhros was successful in getting the help of several allies: Dwarves of Nogrod and Belegost, Easterlings led by Bór and Ulfang, Elves and Edain out of Hithlum, and members of the House of Haleth. Tidings even reached the hidden city of Gondolin of the battle that would soon occur.
Maedhros planned to attack Angband from the east over Anfauglith openly to attract the attention of Morgoth's forces. Meanwhile, Fingon would hide in the passes of Hithlum and wait for a signal fire in Dorthonion to reveal the right time to attack, and thus both groups would trap Morgoth's army between them. On the appointed day of Midsummer, the forces took their assigned places. Fingon brought many Men both from Dor-lómin led by Húrin and Huor, as well as the Haladin of Brethil under Haldir. Yet things had begun to go awry already, as Maedhros was delayed by false reports of an Orc attack. But the darkness that had fallen on the hearts of the army of Fingon was lifted by an unexpected arrival: Turgon, leading ten thousand spears from Gondolin, had come in secret to aid his brother. Fingon was elated and proclaimed that the darkness was finally lifting and the day had come at last.
The battle soon commenced, as Morgoth had been planning for a long time. Gwindor lead out a band to attack, and the rest of the Noldor under Fingon soon followed. They charged through the ranks of Morgoth's army and made it all of the ways to the wall of Angband, but they were unable to keep up the assault, and they were soon repulsed.
Morgoth's armies counterattacked, pushing back Fingon's armies on the fourth day of the assault. Turgon withheld his forces at first until Fingon was pushed back towards the Pass of Sirion, then rushed out to help Fingon. At this time as well, the forces of Maedhros finally arrived and began to turn the tide of battle. Yet even this was not enough, for Morgoth deployed every force he had: Glaurung, Orcs, Balrogs, and wolves. And the worst stroke of all, the Easterlings with Maedhros betrayed the forces of the Eldar and went over to the enemy. This final stroke proved too much and broke the armies of the Elves. The Sons of Fëanor escaped.
In the west, the army of Fingon was also broken. Fingon himself was struck down by Gothmog, lord of Balrogs. Only the sons of Hador, Húrin and Huor, were able to rally a defense strong enough to hold off the forces of Morgoth. They bid Turgon to retreat, with Huor saying that from Turgon and himself a new star would rise.
Húrin was captured and brought before Morgoth, though not before slaying more than seventy Orcs. Thus ended the battle that would later be known as Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Unnumbered Tears. It was the most grievous loss of all the battles of Beleriand.
The Orcs of Morgoth had free rein to attack the North of Beleriand. The Havens of Círdan were destroyed soon after the battle, with the remnants of the Eldar fleeing southwards to the Isle of Balar. Turgon would soon reach out to Círdan in secret, and he commissioned the shipwright to build seven ships to sail westward and seek pardon from the Valar.
Morgoth had Húrin brought before him and he put Húrin to the top of a high mountain and cursed him to sit in a chair unmoving. Yet even this was not enough to break Húrin, no matter how many years he was cursed to remain.
Timeline of Arda:
Years of the Sun
Years of the Sun in the First Age
466: Beren and Lúthien come to Angband and achieve the Quest of the Silmaril.
* They return to Doriath, but Carcharoth ravages the land.
* Beren dies, and Lúthien abandons life.
* Lúthien pleads Mandos for Beren.
* Beren and Lúthien are restored to life as mortals.
468: The Union of Maedhros is begun.
469: Lalaith dies in autumn.
470: Dior Eluchíl is born.
472: Nírnaeth Arnoediad, "The Battle of Unnumbered Tears", is fought at midsummer.
* Morgoth utterly defeats the Elves and Edain.
* Fingon and Huor are slain, but Gwindor and Húrin are captured.
* Turgon becomes High King of the Noldor.

[@taylormagnant4927]

The University of Vermont (USA) has a literature class on Tolkien that I'm taking right now, and I would have died without this playlist. I actually haven't made it to this video yet (I'm still on the earlier chapters), but I wanted to share my gratitude so I don't forget by the time I get here for real. Before this year, I'd only ever read the original Lord of the Rings, so I was dreading reading the Silmarillion for this class, especially since I only had a week and a half to read the whole thing (I only started three days ago and I have to have it finished by next Wednesday lol). Your videos have been invaluable, since I can listen to them while taking notes on my physical copy. Your voice is beautiful reading a story like this, and your careful diction is perfect for understanding an older, more formal writing style I'm not used to. I read the first chapter of the Quenta Silmarillion without your videos, and I was so lost, so when I found the playlist I went back and listened to your videos for the Ainulindale and the Valaquenta, even though I had already read them, and was beyond impressed with how much easier it was to understand. Using pictures of characters is genius - by tying a name to a face I was able to memorize who was who much faster than I was expecting, which was invaluable in later chapters. My favorite part of these videos is how you add maps and charts!! Keeping track of where people are moving is much easier with images than with only foreign words on a page. Finally, listening to you say the words/names Tolkien has made stopped me from humiliating myself in front of my professor during class, since I didn't have to blindly guess at how they sounded. Anyway, this comment is kind of long, but this playlist is criminally underappreciated. I wanted to let you know how much your work impressed me and helped me through a pretty stressful class. I know you haven't finished the whole Silmarillion yet, and if you do it will probably be after my class has ended, but I have subscribed! I can't wait to hear the rest in my own time. Thank you for the hard work!!!

[@PamkoElessar]

You’re welcome 🙂 Sorry, I don’t have first chapter. I got copyright strike 😩

[@gironda11]

It doesn't matter how many times I read this, the betrayal of the Easterlings kills me. Huor and Hurin covering the rear guard for Turgon's retreat makes me tear up. The strength and bravery of the dwarves always pumps me up.

[@thaqefalkhasawneh8850]

I can't believe that this story still not adapted in movies its amazing.

[@PamkoElessar]

Unfortunately no :(

[@thaqefalkhasawneh8850]

@@PamkoElessar thank you for the videos i am really enjoying it, especially after the disappointment of rings of power i lost all hope of getting any good fantasy show so maybe i well get the books

[@PamkoElessar]

I know what are you talking about and I agree with you. you’re welcome 😊

[@PrincipledNaturalLaw]

I suspect, it would be a great disappointment compared to the one which is manifested in one's imagination from the words.

[@mtnbean_gaming]

Keep it that way

[@RockTheBass]

I can't thank you enough for reading this aloud by chapter like this. I'm reading the Silmarillion now and your reading juxtaposed with the maps and pictures makes the stories much easier to follow!

[@PamkoElessar]

Enjoy 😉

[@PleaseNThankYou]

Wow. I wonder what it must have been like in ancient days, that the young men would sit and listen to the stories that mattered. By candle or fire, they would listen to the old men. It must have been difficult to fall asleep.

[@PamkoElessar]

Sooo true 😊😊

[@Upright1337]

Keep them coming please, listening to it the first time. Best reader ive found by far!

[@PamkoElessar]

😁🙂

[@LeonardoPolichuth]

Awesome, thanks!

[@PamkoElessar]

You’re welcome

[@rtSfe67]

Omg another chapter! Yaaay

[@PamkoElessar]

😁🙃😁

[@lukasegovic9478]

thank you

[@PamkoElessar]

You’re welcome

[@loopsad8826]

Next chapter please! I'm thoroughly enjoying these videos and can't wait for the next! Please!🙏

[@PamkoElessar]

🤣 thank you.

[@Ghost-oy2ly]

@@PamkoElessar When will the next chapter be coming out?🤤

[@PamkoElessar]

@@Ghost-oy2ly It is tough to say. As this is not my primary job, free time that I have, I am trying to make videos. I hope, this month :)

[@stetsonstarkey]

Hurin's stand is the most epic tale in the legendarium

[@PamkoElessar]

🙂

[@jmad318]

Such a gruesome end to Fingon

[@PamkoElessar]

True 😩

[@nastynick7425]

Very well done, maps and pictures are great way of additional storytelling

[@PamkoElessar]

Thank you 😊

[@JTChanceA1]

Definitely a lot of work, but this so far is the best sounding read. Would like to hear more. Got the hardback in '78. Haven't read it since. The illustrations are very good. Reminds me of the Tim Kirk's calendar. Thanks. Anticipating more. Excellent job.

[@PamkoElessar]

Tnx

[@paulgalligan1916]

Thus it came to pass 😆 Love it man thanks 😊

[@PamkoElessar]

Thank you 😊

[@coreycanham2330]

Please please by all the gods they need to make a tv series all about the silmarillion 🙏

[@PamkoElessar]

😇

[@kingivar702]

Crazy how the Noldor line of High Kings all fell in gruesome detahs

[@PamkoElessar]

🙃

[@rtSfe67]

I know it's a big chapter, but any idea on when this will be released?

[@PamkoElessar]

I am so angry at myself because it takes so long to publish a new video. And the reason for that is, I had one copyright strike and I searched for the cause and I didn't find it :( I am planning to put a video this month :)

[@rtSfe67]

​@@PamkoElessar youtube mods ruin everything

[@metademetra]

Maeglin has been doing a whole lotta "saying nothing"

[@PamkoElessar]

😂

[@bartoszrebelski8571]

Aurë entuluva!

[@PrincipledNaturalLaw]

An adaptation to film would, like EVERY other adaptation of a book with depth to film, be a disappointment yet due to the depth & span of this book that disappointment would be greater than is generally the case...

[@PamkoElessar]

True

[@richardmaier28]

Isn't it so,Jackson came close but how would it be done in my minds eye at 17 when I first started Tolkien and now at 70!

[@seanmoran2743]

@@richardmaier28John Boorman the director of Excalibur would have made The Lord of The Rings closer to the book than Jackson

[@PrincipledNaturalLaw]

Film negates or removes the one thing that allows the written word to be far superior...the human imagination.

[@gratefulguy4130]

​@@seanmoran2743 Absolutely true. I watched those movies many, many times.. but I was still also horrified on many levels by the most basic elements. Character & set design.. all kinds of things. It was the beginning of the trend of making everything dark and kind of.. soulless.

[@ENIGMATIC77788]

I need Chapter 21 Injected into my bloodstream 💉🩸

[@PamkoElessar]

I’m working on it, but man, it’s so Long chapter 😱

[@ENIGMATIC77788]

I await you patiently, G

[@rtSfe67]

@Dorian Elessar keep up the good work. I'm looking forward to it!

[@PamkoElessar]

Tnx