House of the Golden Flower

As the histories bespoke, we were driven into the square of the King after much battle, with our foes at our very heels. Then came the men of the Harp, without their lord, and due to their timely arrival, we made it within the square safely, and they with us.
I looked about and saw Turgon, watching from the top of the stair, Tuor at the fountain drinking, and Ecthelion unconscious at his feet. I would have gone to him, but he rose from giving Ecthelion water and joined me and my men, and together we cleared the square and barricaded the entrances, save for the one at the South, which Tuor thought might be our escape.

No sooner had we set a guard of many men there was Egalmoth driven in that way. He and his men had been fighting hand to hand in the city streets, and were become overwhelmed. He had with him many rescued captives, all that were left of the women and children, who cowered there in the center of the square, eyes wide and breath fast. Turgon’s own guard bristled, yet untouched by the fight. They were avowed to him alone, and not even for the sack of the city would they be moved from his side.

Then the fight for the king’s square began in earnest, as our barricades need be defended, and long did we sweat and bleed and fight, and Ecthelion lay still by the fountain, Turgon at his side, the survivors gathered round. For some hours did we hold the square, until the barrier to the north was burst and breached by a drake, and Turgon’s men bristled and gathered him up the stair, and would have him and the women and children sequestered in the tower, but he refused, and they did not push him further.

Tuor himself jumped in front of the beast, Egalmoth at his side, but under the swarming of the Orcs they were separated in the fight, and Tuor was pushed back toward the fountain. I had my own hands full, or would have gone to him, but as it was, I could only fight on with my foes, the foul orcs; and watch as best I could.

Tuor was weaving, weary, his sword arm heavy with every stroke, and through the broken gate came a great Balrog, and he was Gothmog lord of Balrogs, Melkor’s own son. Then, out of nowhere, Ecthelion managed to get to his feet, and rose, and his face was ashen gray; his shield arm hanging limp at his side, stepped over Tuor even as he fell, and stood over him with one leg on either side. Gothmog attacked, and Ecthelion fought back, but took a blow to his sword arm, and it fell from his hand and he could not retrieve it.

Instead, he leapt at Gothmog, his chin on his chest so that the great spike atop his helm was foremost, and his leap carried it into the Balrog’s chest, and he wrapped his legs around Gothmog’s, driving with his helm, searching for the heart of that beast. Gothmog screamed, and pitched forward, and too quickly for anyone to act to save Ecthelion, fell face most into the fountain. Now, that fountain was very deep, and still held water, it had not steamed like the other fountains in the city. The Balrog was quenched, his fire out, and Turgon was shouting and trying to make down the stair, but repressed by his guard.

Ecthelion, as with all of us, was clad in steel armor, but in the thick of the fighting, none could break free to save him, for even if we had, we too would have sunk in our armor, or been unable to pull him out. And so perished Ecthelion lord of the Fountain of the South, fairest of the Noldoli, and my friend.

Now Tuor rose up, and wept, but he took up his sword, and it’s swing and thrust was mighty despite his weeping. Soon we all found ourselves at the foot of the stair by the fighting, but the enemy had lost heart at the fall of Gothmog, and Turgon and his men came down among us, Glamdring ringing at my side, and the foe were beaten back nearly to the gates again. We cornered one of the fire-drakes, and forced him into the fountain too, and then the water went up in much great steaming, and we all were covered in it and soaked through. Some were killed by the heat, but all were blinded by the cloud, and we gathered Turgon and rallied beneath the trees at the foot of the stair once more.
It was then that Turgon spoke again. “Great is the fall of Gondolin.” All turned to him then, eyes wide, and the company gave a collective shudder.

Tuor spoke then, “Gondolin stands yet, and Ulmo will not suffer it to perish!”

Now were they at the time standing, Tuor by the trees and the king upon the stairs, as they had spoken aforetime when Tuor spake at the embassy of Ulmo.

But Turgon said: “Evil have I brought upon the Flower of the Plain in despite of Ulmo, and now he leaveth it to wither in the fire. Lo! Hope is no more in my heart for my city of loveliness, but the children of the Noldoli shall not be worsted forever. “

Galdor and his men, and even mine clashed their weapons then, in eagerness to continue the fight, for some were still fighting that we might have this conversation. But Turgon said: “Fight not against doom, my children. Seek ye who may have safety in flight, if perhaps there be time yet: but let Tuor have your lealty.”

But Tuor said, “Thou art king.”

Turgon made his answer, “Yet no blow will I strike more.” And took of his crown and cast it at the roots of the tree by which Tuor stood.

Galdor stooped and picked it up, and would have returned it, but Turgon would not take it, and bareheaded he climbed to the topmost pinnacle of that white tower that stood night his palace. There he shouted in a voice like a horn blown among the mountains, and all that were gathered beneath the trees and the foemen in the midst of the square heard him: “Great is the victory of the Noldoli!” And it is said that this was then midnight, and the Orcs yelled in derision.

Then did we all speak of flight, and were of two minds. Many thought that we should never make it by night across the plain and over the hills, and that it was better to stay and die with our king. I was among this number myself. But Tuor did not like the idea of so many women and children dying, either by our hands at the last or at those of the enemy, and spoke of our secret delving. Then he counseled that we beg Turgon to flee, and would have sent me up to him, but I would not go. Turgon had his own mind, and surely at this time it was made up, and I could not even fathom it, let alone change it.
Now, Tuor’s plan was very dangerous indeed, seeing the size of our company and knowing myself the narrowness of that tunnel, but all gathered saw that this seemed best, and would go.

But Turgon would not go with us, and told us to go before it became too late, and said “Let Tuor be your guide and your chief. But I will not leave my city and will burn with it.”

Again we sped a messenger there to him, with the message, “Who are the Gondolithlim if you perish? Lead us!”

But he said only “I abide here. If I am king, obey my behests, and dare not to parley further with my commands.”

Now was Tuor torn sorely between his reverence for the king and the love for Idril and his child, wherewith his heart was sick; yet already serpents fare about the square trampling upon dead and dying, and the foe gathers in the mists for the last onslaught; and the choice must be made. Then because of the wailing of the women in the halls of the palace and the greatness of his pity for that sad remainder of the peoples of Gondolin, he gathered all that company, maids, children and mothers, and setting them amid most he marshaled as well as he might his men around them.

Deepest he set them at flank and rear, for he purposed falling back southward fighting as best he might with rearguard as he went; and thus if it might so be to win down the Road of Pomps to the Place of the Gods ere any great force be sent to circumvent him. Thence it was to go by way of Running Water past the Fountains of the South to the walls and to his home; but the passage of the secret tunnel he doubted much. Thereupon espying his movement the foe made forthwith with a great onslaught upon his left flank and his rear, from east and from north, even as he began to withdraw; but his right was covered by the king’s hall and the head of that column drew already into the Road of Pomps.

I would not have gone, but Galdor grasped me bodily by the armor I wore, and dragged me out of the square. Once out of the square the fighting was very thick, and I must fight to protect myself, and then to protect the others. So I left the square of the king, and Turgon therein, for he still had his guard, and I thought to return and convince him to leave with us.

Then some of the hugest of the drakes came on and glared in the fog, and he must perforce bid the company to go at a run, fighting on the left at haphazard; but I held the rear and many more of my house fell there. So we passed the Road and reached the Gar Anion, Place of the Gods; and this was very open and the highest ground in the whole city. There we expected the fighting fierce, but alas, the foe seemed to forget us, and we moved further, and we came upon Idril there, her hair all loose, and Tuor was brought up short in amazement.

By her stood Voronwe, but she looked past us, and seemed not to see even Tuor. Then we all halted and looked back, and I turned also, and my heart stood still in my chest. A dragon coiled round the very steps of the palace, the trees were blackened, and the tower was besieged. Up high I could make out the form of Turgon, but about the base of the tower another dragon curled, spouting flame. He lashed his tail, and Balrogs guarded him, and I could hear the people screaming distantly.

Idril spoke then, distraught. “Woe is me whose father awaiteth doom even on his topmost pinnacle; but seven times woe whose lord hath gone down before Melkor and will stride home no more!”

Tuor answered her, “Idril, it is I, and I live; yet now will I get thy father hence, be it from the Hells of Melkor!” With that he would go down the hill alone, maddened by the grief of his wife; but she came to her wits in a storm of weeping and delayed him saying, “My lord, my lord!”

Yet as they spoke a great noise came, and my eyes were riveted upon Turgon as the tower flared into flame and fell. I must have screamed. I do not know. It was if I were blinded but there was something I desperately wished to see. I would have run to him, but Galdor and the others held me back. I struggled with them, my awareness focused inward at that link that always told me subconsciously if my love was well. I could not find it. Could not find him. Our bond had been broken. I sank to my knees in a sudden weakness.

Idril said then, “Sad is the blindness of the wise.”

Tuor answered her, “Sad too is the stubbornness of those we love – yet twas a valiant fault. “ And he stooped and lifted and kissed her, for she was more to him than all the Gondolthlim; but she wept bitterly for her father.

Then Tuor turned to the captains, saying: “We must get hence with all speed, lest we be surrounded. “

Then Galdor dragged me to my feet, and set me upon them, and steadied me while I wobbled. “Come now, Glorfindel. There is still much work to do, and many lives to be saved. Idril and Tuor will have need of you yet, and their son.” He set my naked sword in my hand, straightened my breastplate, and turned me to face the group.

He looked me dead in the eye and said, “Now, you must guard the rear, and we must move swiftly. Do you understand?”

I nodded dumbly, my whole body seemed to have gone cold and numb, and life lacked interest.