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.Northward he looked, and descried the Forest of Brethilclimbing green about Amon Obel in its midst, and thither his eyes were drawnever and again, he knew not why; for his heart was set rather to the northwest,where league upon league away on the skirts of the sky it seemed to him that hecould glimpse the Mountains of Shadow, the walls of his home.But at evening,Túrin looked west into the sunset, as the sun rode down red into the hazesabove the distant coasts, and the Vale of Narog lay deep in the shadowsbetween.So began the abiding of Túrin son of Húrin in the halls of Mîm, inBar-en-Danwedh, the House of Ransom.* * *For the story of Túrin from his coming to Bar-en-Danwedh to the fall ofNargothrond see The Silmarillion, pp.204-15, and the Appendix to the Narn iHîn Hûrin, p.158 below.The Return of Túrin to Dor-lóminAt last worn by haste and the long road (for forty leagues and more had hejourneyed without rest) Túrin came with the first ice of winter to the pools ofIvrin, where before he had been healed.But they were now only a frozen mire,and he could drink there no more.Thence he came to the passes into Dor-lómin; 20 and snow came bitterly from theNorth, and the ways were perilous and cold.Though three and twenty years weregone since he had trodden that path it was graven in his heart, so great wasthe sorrow of each step at the parting from Morwen.Thus at last he came backto the land of his childhood.It was bleak and bare; and the people there werefew and churlish, and they spoke the harsh tongue of the Easterlings, and theold tongue was become the language of serfs, or of foes.Therefore Túrin walked warily, hooded and silent, and he came at last to thehouse that he sought.It stood empty and dark, and no living thing dwelt nearit; for Morwen was gone, and Brodda the Incomer (he that took by force Aerin,Húrin's kinswoman, to wife) had plundered her house, and taken all that wasleft to her of goods or of servants.Brodda's house stood nearest to the oldhouse of Húrin, and thither Túrin came, spent with wandering and grief, beggingfor shelter; and it vas granted to him, for some of the kindlier manners of oldwire still kept there by Aerin.He was given a seat by a fire among theservants, and a few vagabonds well-nigh as grim and way-worn as he; and heasked news of the land.At that the company fell silent, and some drew away, looking askance at thestranger.But one old vagabond man, with a crutch, said: "If you must speak theold tongue, master, speak it softer, and ask for no tidings.Would you bebeaten for a rogue, or hung for a spy? For both you may well be by the looks ofyou.Which is but to say," he said, coming near and speaking low in Túrin'sear, "one of the kindly folk of old that came with Hador in the days of gold,before heads wore wolf-hair.Some here are of that sort, though now madebeggars and slaves, and but for the Lady Aerin would get neither this fire northis broth.Whence are you, and what news would you have?""There was a lady called Morwen," answered Túrin, "and long ago I lived in herhouse.Thither after far wandering I came to seek welcome, but neither fire norfolk are there now.""Nor have been this long year and more," answered the old man."But scant wereboth fire and folk in that house since the deadly war; for she was of the oldpeople - as doubtless you now, the widow of our lord, Húrin Galdor's son.Theydared not touch her, though, for they feared her; proud and fair as a queen,before sorrow marred her.Witchwife they called her, and shunned her.Witchwife: it is but 'Elf-friend' in the new language.Yet they robbed her.Often would she and her daughter have gone hungry, but for the Lady Aerin.Sheaided them in secret, it is said, and was often beaten for it by the churlBrodda, her husband by need.""And this long year and more?" said Túrin."Are they dead or made thralls? Orhave the Orcs assailed her?""It is not known for sure," said the man."But she is gone with her daughter;and this Brodda has plundered her and stripped what remained.Not a dog isleft, and her few folk made his slaves; save some that have gone begging, ashave I.I, Sador Onefoot, served her many a year, and the great master before;a cursed axe in the woods long ago, or I would be lying in the Great Mound now.Well I remember the day Húrin's boy was sent away, and how he wept; and she,when he was gone.To the Hidden Kingdom he went, it was said."With that the old man stayed his tongue, and eyed Túrin doubtfully."I am oldand I babble," he said."Mind me not! But though it is pleasant to speak theold tongue with one that speaks it fair as in time past, the days are ill, andone must be wary.Not all that speak the fair tongue are fair at heart.""Truly," said Túrin."My heart is grim.But if you fear that I am a spy of theNorth or the East, then you have little more wisdom than you had long ago,Sador Labadal."The old man eyed him agape; then trembling he spoke."Come outside! It iscolder, but safer.You speak too loud, and I too much, for an Easterling'shall."When they were come into the court he clutched at Túrin's cloak."Long ago youdwelt in that house, you say.Lord Túrin, son of Húrin, why have you come back?My eyes are opened, and my ears at last; you have the voice of your father
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