Gwindor
Gwindor was an Elf of Nargothrond in the First Age. He was the son of Guilin and a prince of Nargothrond.
Gwindor was an Elf of Nargothrond in the First Age. He was the son of Guilin and a prince of Nargothrond.
Biography
Gwindor was born in Nargothrond to Guilin and was the brother of Gelmir. He was considered a bold leader, and the scout who scoured most far afield of all the folk of Nargothrond. He was betrothed to Finduilas, the daughter of Orodreth.
His brother was lost during the Dagor Bragollach, and wishing to avenge this loss, he joined the Union of Maedhros and followed Fingon to battle. During the assault, Gwindor led a small company of Elves of Nargothrond stationed at Barad Eithel. But when the hosts of Morgoth brought his brother, still alive, out before the fortress and mutilated him in front of the company, he rashly charged on the plains of Anfauglith, and thus began the Nírnaeth Arnoediad. It is said that Morgoth trembled as his company pounded on his gates, but he had ambushed the company within Angband itself, and all but Gwindor were slain.
He spent fourteen years as a captive slave in Angband where the strength and beauty of his body were ruined. At some point, he received a small sword from another Elf who worked in the forges and, while working in a stone-gang, turned suddenly on the guards. Though he lost a hand in that fight, he managed to escape and fled southwards. After crossing the Plains of Drouth, he eventually reached Taur-nu-Fuin. There his feet were entangled and he became enmeshed in its mazes, and he was taken by madness and wandered witless until he was heard by Orcs and pursued. The Orcs eventually found him, "grovelled fainting" and "cowering" and took him back to their camp. There he saw their spoils, countless chained captives, and Túrin held in baleful bonds. While in a bleeding swoon, the Orcs threw Gwindor on the "dung and slough" of their lair, but he then escaped "as a crawling worm on belly cowering".
The injury devastated Gwindor and he fell into despair in the wilderness, and nearly died of the wound. As Gwindor lay exhausted, he was found by Beleg who was looking for his friend Túrin. After regaining the will to live, Gwindor helped Beleg locate the Orc-band that had captured Túrin, and they freed him. But Túrin thought Beleg was an Orc and killed him before realizing his mistake. Gwindor found himself trying to rouse Túrin as Beleg had roused him, consoling him in his grief and led him to Nargothrond.
Túrin was admitted in the Elven realm thanks to Gwindor, but now Gwindor was worn out and did not have the power he once had before his capture. "Agarwaen" (Túrin's name while he stayed there) gained much influence among the Nargothronders and even Finduilas fell in love with him, a fact that Gwindor accepted without bitterness for Túrin. Believing that Finduilas would save Túrin from his fate, Gwindor revealed Agarwaen's identity to Finduilas, while he tried to persuade Túrin to return her feelings.
But when Túrin talked about open warfare against Morgoth's forces, Gwindor could see the incoming Fall of Nargothrond approach and counseled against this policy, only to be ignored. Orodreth the King of Nargothrond built a bridge, which not only eliminated the defense provided by the river Narog, but also revealed the location of the realm.
He brought Túrin to Nargothrond, and in time would counsel against Túrin's policy of open warfare against Morgoth, but was ignored. He loved the Elf Finduilas, but found himself unfit to wed her, and an engagement between them was broken. He grew jealous of Túrin since she loved him more, and felt Túrin had gained respect from the council at his expense. He warned Finduilas that Túrin was cursed and would bring doom to the people he loved. Nevertheless, Gwindor pitied and loved him.
Indeed, Gwindor was right and Glaurung came with a band of Orcs. The Elves were driven towards the plain of Tumhalad, where most of them, including Orodreth and Gwindor, were slain in battle. Túrin abandoned the battle and bore him to safety, but his wounds could not be healed. Before dying, he reproached Túrin for his pride and pleaded him to save Finduilas, informing him that only she could save him from his Doom; however his warning was not heeded, as Túrin failed to protect her.
Etymology
Gwindor consists of the Ñoldorin word gwind ("pale blue"), or in Quenya, vinya ("young"). Dor has several meanings ("high, lofty, noble, king, or master").
In other versions
In The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, Flinding was Gwindor's name; and he was the son of Fuilin. He first appears when Túrin kills Beleg by accident.