Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Halthor the Hunter — Hardeth

Children of Halthor the Hunter:
Haldad — Danhar

Children of Haldad:
Haleth — Morifinwë Carnistir
Haldar — Thordan

Children of Haldar:
Haldan — Aveth

Children of Haldan:
Halmir — Fendis

Children of Halmir:
Hareth — Galdor (House of Hador)
Haldir — Glóredhel (House of Hador)
Hundar — Astoriel (of the House of Bëor)
Hiril — Enthor

Children of Haldir:
Handir — Beldis (House of Bëor)

Children of Handir:
Brandir the Lame

Children of Hundar:
Hunleth
Hundad — Brognil

Children of Hundad:
Hardang

Children of Hiril:
Meleth — Agathor

Children of Meleth:
Hunthor — Himmeth — Nachiel
Manthor

Dorlas — Daneth

Children of Dorlas:
Avranc — Nachiel — Himmeth

Larnach — Doreth

Children of Larnach:
Thoriel — Drengith (ancestors of Hiril Tári-Ecceþindë)

Glírhuin, seer and harp-player
Ebor, henchman of Manthor
Forhend, guard of the Crossings of Taeglin
Sagroth, guard of the Crossings of Taeglin

HALADIN GLOSSARY
av || “sharp” || real element, made up meaning
dad || “dog, hound” || semi-canonical meaning! the name “Haldad” means “watchdog”; I isolated the element from there
dan || “battle” || real element, made up meaning
dar || “lord” || real element, made up meaning
dor || “vassal, servant” || real element, made up meaning; ironically dor means “lord” in Sindarin
-eth || feminine suffix || likely canonical meaning? this is what it means in Sindarin
hal || “chief, guard” || canonical meaning! used for the prefix of the first few Chieftains’ names
har || “fist” || entirely made up; related to hard
hard || “fierce” || real element, made up meaning; related to har
lar || “land” || real element, made up meaning
nach || “arrow” || real element, made up meaning
ranc || “sword” || real element, made up meaning
thor || “storm” || real element, made up meaning

Chapter Text

Halthor was a leader of the second group of Men to cross over the Blue Mountains and into Beleriand. This people, known as the Haladin, moved toward the west in small groups, a portion of which befriended the Drûghu in the White Mountains. Some of these groups lingered in those mountains, becoming herd-tenders, while others pressed on to the lands of Beleriand. They were a hardy and wary folk, often in strife among themselves, and entered Ossiriand in secret where they were met by the unfriendship of the Laegrim.

The largest group of Haladin who arrived in Beleriand, led by their chieftain Halthor the Hunter, chose not to settle in Estolad as the peoples of Bëor and Marach did, instead dwelling in the south of Thargelion. They chose this land without the leave of its elven lord, Caranthir the Dark, who largely ignored their presence. Halthor was a strong-willed and charismatic chieftain, and under his rule several of the smaller Haladin tribes pledged themselves to his service, creating for the first time a more centralized leadership.

Three years after his arrival in Beleriand, Halthor’s partner Hardeth bore him a child. Though seen as a woman for the first part of his life, Halthor’s heir declared his manhood as he came of age and took the name Haldad for his love of hounds. The Haladin were traditionally matrilineal, passing leadership from mother to daughter, but in cases where a chieftain had only male heirs a man could ascend to leadership. This had been the case for Halthor, the only child of his mother, and the pattern now repeated with Haldad.

Chapter Text

Haldad was the son of Halthor the Hunter, and a chieftain of the Haladin. He was not the lord of all his people, but led the largest group of them in the region of Thargelion. Haldad was a strong and brave man, but his focus was less on warfare and more on providing for his people through a pastoral lifestyle. He bore his husband Danhar identical twin children, Haleth and Haldar: the elder a girl, and the younger a man like himself who expressed his true gender as he came of age.

The Haladin lived in relative peace for many years, until one day a swarm of orcs descended upon their settlement without warning. Danhar was one of the first to fall in this assault, and the loss of his husband drove Haldad to act decisively so he might prevent further deaths. This attack came at a time of feasting and gathering for the Haladin, and nearly all their tribes had gathered at the convergence of the rivers of Gelion and Ascar for a festival. Haldad rallied his people, and even those who did not claim him as their chief obeyed his commands.

The battle was fierce and soon turned ill, forcing Haldad into a retreat. At the suggestion of his daughter Haleth, Haldad built a defensive stockade across the rivers just south of the dwarf-ford of Sarn Athrad, where the Haladin endured a bitter siege. At last, their supplies exhausted and no relief in sight, Haldad led a sortie against the attacking orcs, desiring to die in battle rather than starvation. Here he fell, and when his son Haldar rushed out into the field to recover his father’s body, he was slain in turn.

But Haldad’s death would not be in vain, for Haleth his heir remained. She was a woman of great heart and strength, keeping her people alive for seven days, though some gave into despair and cast themselves into the rivers to drown. On the seventh day, Haleth prepared for her own last stand against the orcs as they breached the stockade’s defenses, but just as the Haladin were about to be overwhelmed, a music of trumpets was heard from the north.

At last aid had arrived, unlooked for: Caranthir the Dark, the elven-lord of Thargelion to whom the Haladin paid no tribute, had come riding into battle. He and his warriors slaughtered the remaining orcs, rescuing the surviving Haladin from certain death. Then at last Caranthir saw the valour of Men and extended to Haleth an offer of allegiance and recompense for her fallen kin, if they would but follow him to his estates in the north.

But to Haleth this seemed far too little, far too late. She was proud, unwilling to be guided or ruled, and rejected him, declaring that she would lead her people west as had the other Houses of Men. Offended by her bluntness and yet impressed by her strength of will, Caranthir began a correspondence with Haleth that would lead to further dealings between them.

Haleth led her people to Estolad, the once-great encampment of Men where now only a fraction of Marach’s House dwelt. Here she was proclaimed Chieftain of all the Haladin, and from thence forth they were known also as the House of Haleth in her honor. She took no spouse in all her days, instead raising her young nephew Haldan as her heir, for both his fathers had perished in the battle.

Soon Haleth desired to move further westward, and though most of her people were uneager to leave their new lands they were devoted to their Chieftain and followed her across the rivers of Celon and Aros and into the perilous lands between the Mountains of Terror and the Girdle of Melian. They were unaided by the elves, and despite suffering hardship and loss along the dreadful path Haleth urged her people forward by the strength of her will, until they crossed the Brithiach into the woods of Talath Dirnen.

Some of the Haladin bitterly regretted this journey, but there was no returning by the path they came. Those who could not bear Haleth’s pride left for other lands, some wandering as far as Nargothrond; but those who loved Haleth and remained loyal to her followed her to the Forest of Brethil between the rivers Teiglin and Sirion. In later days many of her scattered folk would return, but the House of Haleth was ever the most disparate of the Edain.

Brethil was in the dominion of King Thingol of Doriath, though it was not within the Girdle of Melian, and unlike Caranthir he was not content to let the Haladin dwell in his realm without leave. But Finrod Felagund, who loved Men, interceded on Haleth’s behalf and obtained the grace of Thingol his kinsman for her, should she and her people defend the Crossing of Teiglin against the orcs. At this condition Haleth laughed bitterly, for she hated orcs more than any other mortal, desiring revenge against those who had devoured her father and brother.

Haleth lived a long and storied life, a proud Chieftain and formidable warrior to the last. She perished in a skirmish against orcs on the banks of the Teiglin at the age of seventy-nine, and the Haladin raised a green mound over her body in the heights of the forest: Tûr Haretha, the Ladybarrow; and it was said at times that a tall shadow would rest flowers on her grave, disappearing like an elf if any mortal dared approach its mourning.

Chapter Text

Haldar was the son of Haldad and the twin brother of Haleth. Like his father, Haldar declared his manhood as he came of age, though in his youth he had been seen as a girl like his sister. As the younger twin, he had not been raised as his father’s heir, and Haleth remained the more forward and stronger-willed of the siblings, while Haldar was quicker to laugh and to play. Haldar wed the warrior Thordan at a young age, contrasting his sister who did not marry at all, and bore his husband a son, Haldan.

At the Battle of the Gelion-Ascar Stockade, Haldar lost first his father Danhar and then his husband Thordan. Unlike Thordan, he was inclined more to farming than to war, but in the midst of his grief Haldar took up a sword and threw himself into battle. The final blow to his heart was the death of Haldad, the father who bore him, and going mad with grief he rushed to rescue Haldad’s body and was cut down himself.

But Haleth his sister stood firm, rallying her people through seven more days of a dreadful siege. When at last the elven-lord Caranthir rode to their aid, the fallen heroes were given a solemn funeral: Haldad, Danhar, Haldar, Thordan, and many other warriors were all buried together in a great mound held sacred to the Haladin.

Now orphaned, Haldar’s young son Haldan found himself in the care of his formidable aunt, Chieftain Haleth. She led her people from Thargelion to Estolad and then to Brethil, all the while raising up her nephew as her heir. Along the long and difficult journey to Brethil, Haldan, now a young man, courted and wed the maiden Aveth, who bore him a son not long after the Haladin settled in their new lands.

This was Halmir, and as he had no siblings, he was the only heir of his father when Haldan took up lordship of his people. In the past, the Haladin had passed leadership from mother to daughter, but after a series of several men being the only available heirs, and mingling with the elves and the other Houses of the Edain, who were traditionally patrilineal, this custom fell away. By the time of Halmir’s own children it was assumed that his son Haldir would inherit even though he had sisters who under the old customs would have taken his place in the line of succession.

Chapter Text

Halmir was the son of Haldan, and the fourth Chieftain of the Haladin. He wed the wise-woman Fendis, named for her unusual pale appearance and held as holy and mystical by her people. Fendis bore Halmir four children: two sons, Haldir and Hundar, and two daughters, Hareth and Hiril. Halmir encouraged his children to foster friendships with the heirs of the House of Hador, eventually leading to a great feast celebrating the union of the two Houses when Haldir and Hareth each wed children of Lord Hador. Hundar also wed outside of his House, though he met his wife while on a diplomatic visit to Ladros; alone of her siblings, Hiril married a man of the Haladin.

While the Battle of Sudden Flame did not directly affect the Haladin, Haldir was Chieftain when the House of Bëor was scattered and a portion of them fled to Brethil. He welcomed Emeldir the Man-hearted and the refugees she led out of Ladros, including the family of Astoriel, the Bëorian wife of his second son Hundar. At this time, he also fostered his young grandsons Húrin and Huor, children of Hareth and Galdor, and was deeply grieved when they disappeared amid a skirmish with orcs. For a year he held himself accountable for their loss, and was relieved and overjoyed when they miraculously returned to their homeland of Dor-lómin.

In the wake of the Dagor Bragollach, orcs began to roam unhindered across the lands of West Beleriand, and Halmir called on King Thingol of Doriath for aid. Thingol sent many stout marchwardens under the command of Beleg Cúthalion, and together the Sindar and the Haladin destroyed a legion of invading orcs, giving the southern lands a respite from the defeats of the north.

Halmir continued to fight against the Enemy for the rest of his reign, joining the Union of Maedhros and bringing his people into the wider sphere of Beleriandic politics, but he would pass away before the next great battle of the First Age, leaving his eldest son Haldir to lead the Haladin.

Chapter Text

Haldir was the son of Halmir, and the fifth Chieftain of the Haladin. When he was twenty-two years of age, a great feast was held between his people and the House of Hador where both he and his younger sister Hareth wed the children of Lord Hador. Hareth married Hador’s heir Galdor, and Haldir took to wife Hador’s daughter Glóredhel, a golden-haired woman with the beauty of an elf.

Glóredhel passed her golden hair to Haldir’s son Handir, who grew into a man of noble heart and great prowess in battle. Handir followed his father into the Fifth Battle, marching under the banner of High King Fingon, and when Haldir was slain covering an attempted retreat across the Anfauglith, Handir took command of the surviving Haladin and led them in a flight from the battlefield. Upon learning of her husband’s death, Glóredhel’s heart broke and she died of grief.

The wife of Handir was Beldis, daughter of Bregil of the House of Bëor and Arachon of the Noldor. Though her father and brother were slain amid the Sudden Flame, Beldis and her aging mother had fled to Brethil with Emeldir the Man-hearted, and though she was many years older than Handir she was yet fair and youthful thanks to her elven blood. Handir admired Beldis for her kindness and quiet strength and knew from his youth that he wanted to marry her; Beldis, who had assumed her heritage would complicate any chance she had at love, was quickly won over by his eager attempts at courting.

Beldis bore Handir one son, whom she named Brandir after her fallen brother. Brandir was a wayward and inquisitive child, prone to wandering off into the woods and driving his parents mad with worry. On one such misadventure, Brandir fell into the River Taeglin and badly broke his leg; he would have been swept downriver to his death had not Beldis discovered him and leapt into the waters to save him. Though Beldis managed to get her son to shore, she herself succumbed to the deadly waters of the Taeglin, leaving Brandir shivering and alone on its banks for hours. When at last Handir tracked him down, it was too late for proper healing to set in, and Brandir was left lame and motherless thereafter.

Due to his injury and his gentle mood, Brandir was never a man of war and instead took delight in all things that grew in the earth, becoming a healer so he might aid those who suffered similar mishaps to himself. But when his father was slain by orcs in the north of Brethil, Brandir became the Chieftain of the Haladin despite never wishing for such a responsibility. His cousin Hardang attempted to usurp his leadership, claiming he was unfit to rule, but seeing that his people needed his wisdom more than Hardang’s brashness, Brandir took charge despite his earlier hesitation.  In order to protect his people, Brandir sought silence and secrecy, closing the borders of Brethil and retreating from the remaining realms of Beleriand.

But despite his efforts, the Haladin would not remain isolated from the Shadow. When Nargothrond fell, the woodmen of Brethil attempted to rescue the elven prisoners of the retreating orcs, but failed to save Princess Finduilas, whom they buried in the mound of Haudh-en-Elleth. In the spring of the next year, the marchwardens encountered a strange man carrying a black sword who fell into a swoon upon discovering the death of Finduilas. He was carried to Amon Obel upon a bier and taken to the Chieftain, but when Brandir saw him a shadow darkened his heart.

Still, Brandir resolved to heal the stranger, and tended to him until he woke and cast off his darkness. Alone of the Haladin, Brandir learned that this was Túrin son of Húrin, his kinsman and a man under the Curse of Morgoth. Túrin determined to renounce his past, taking the name Turambar to symbolize his new life, but soon he began to ignore Brandir’s orders to remain in stealth and led the woodmen of Brethil in hunting orcs.

On one such hunt, Turambar discovered a feverish young woman lying upon the Haudh-en-Elleth and carried her to Brandir for healing. Turambar gave her the name Níniel, but it was Brandir who cared for her, and soon both men had fallen in love with her. Níniel’s heart was given to Turambar, and when he asked for her hand, Brandir urged her to postpone her decision and revealed the truth of Túrin’s lineage. Níniel did consider Brandir’s words, for he was a dear friend to her if not her beloved, but in the end she did marry Turambar at Midsummer the following year, and soon was expecting his child.

Turambar grew ever bolder until Brandir had lost the respect of his people. When Turambar’s deeds of valour drew the attention of Glaurung, Turambar asked for volunteers to accompany him on a quest to slay the dragon, and only Dorlas stepped forth. Seeing the others hold back, Dorlas scorned them and demanded to know if none would take the place of Brandir the Lame so that the House of Haleth would not be put to shame. Though his kinsman Hunthor took up the task and upbraided Dorlas for his cruelty, Brandir, who had long been unheeded, was now subjected to the derision of his people and became bitter at heart.

Not long after her husband’s departure, Níniel declared that she must follow her husband and ignored Brandir’s counsel to wait for their return. In despair, Brandir renounced his lordship and his people, but resolved to hobble after the woman he loved. He did not catch up to her until it was too late and the malice of Glaurung had revealed that she was in truth Niënor daughter of Húrin and the brother of her husband. Choked on horror and dread, Niënor Níniel ran to the waters of Cabed-en-Aras and cast herself into the Teiglin as Brandir called after her in vain, watching another woman he loved be devoured by the river.

Utterly defeated, Brandir limped away and soon encountered Dorlas, who had quailed from the fight and fled. Blaming his cowardice in part for Níniel’s demise, Brandir struck Dorlas down and continued on to give the awful tidings to those who had once been his people. But as he told the dreadful story, Túrin Turambar appeared though he was thought to have perished, and in his wrath at Brandir’s “lies,” Túrin slandered his name and slew him.

Yet soon after Mablung the Hunter arrived confirming Brandir’s words, for he had been tracking Niënor and had arrived too late. Túrin, now full of guilt and remorse, fled from the scene and killed himself upon his black sword in penance for the blood of Beleg, killed by accident, and Brandir, killed unjustly.

Chapter Text

Hundar was the son of Halmir and the brother of Haldir, Hareth, and Hiril. In his youth he mingled with the other Houses of the Edain, and on a visit to Ladros met and married the woman Astoriel of the House of Bëor. Astoriel returned with him to Brethil and bore him two children, Hunleth and Hundad, but in time she would reunite with her family when Ladros was destroyed and they fled to Brethil for safety.

Astoriel was an herb-woman, and passed her skill onto her daughter Hunleth. They both accompanied the host of the Haladin to the Fifth Battle, and witnessed the disaster that became known as the Nírnaeth Arnœdiad. There Hundar was slain, and Hunleth also as she tended to the wounded, but Hundad fled the battle early and took his mother with him back to Brethil.

Hundad was not a man of mark or gallantry, and though he justified his retreat by claiming he needed to stay alive for the sake of his young son Hardang, those who had lost fathers and brothers in the war resented him for his desertion. But his wife Brognil was glad of his survival, and together they were one of very few couples who were able to raise their child together.

When Chieftain Handir was killed by orcs, Hardang attempted to usurp the leadership of the Haladin from his cousin Brandir the Lame, the rightful heir. Though many believed Brandir was unfit to rule, he persevered in the end, further embittering Hardang against him. When Turambar rose to power among the Haladin, Hardang was displeased, for he was reluctant to join the other woodmen in orc-hunts and could not prove his valour.

Thus Hardang was glad when Turambar and Brandir both perished, leaving the leadership of the Haladin uncertain. An election was held between the two remaining heirs of Halmir: Hardang and Manthor, the grandson of Hiril. Though Manthor was the more popular choice, his claim was weaker as he was descended from the youngest of Halmir’s children who was also a woman, and thus finally Hardang rose to the Chieftainship. Not wishing to anger those of his folk who would have preferred Manthor as a leader, Hardang promoted him to Captain of the Guards at the Crossings of Teiglin, a move which appeased Manthor for the time being.

Two years into Hardang’s rule, the marchwardens discovered a group of Hadorian outlaws who spoke of the return of Húrin Thalion. This was ill news for Hardang, who had no love for Húrin’s son Túrin, and he accused the wanderers for being spies of Angband. He stripped them of their weapons and ordered them expelled from his borders, warning them to count themselves lucky he spared them their lives, and that he would not be so generous if they trespassed a second time.

Some days later, Húrin arrived in Brethil and was taken to see Hardang, who did not rise to greet him nor to offer him a chair, forcing the old man to sit on the ground. Only after Manthor rebuked him did Hardang grudgingly offer Húrin food and rest, and his weak courtesy so offended Húrin that he threw a stool at Hardang, cutting his head. Avranc, one of Hardang’s lackeys, arrested and imprisoned him and advocated for his execution.

At this Manthor protested, having sympathy for Húrin, and quit Hardang’s service to summon the People of Haleth to a Folkmoot. Húrin was put on trial for his assault of the Chieftain, but with Manthor’s support and counsel he soon won the Haladin over to his side. Yet instead of justice being served, a riot broke out between the followers of Hardang and the followers of Manthor, culminating in the burning of the Hall of the Chieftains. Though Hardang attempted to flee the fire, he was hit in the back with a spear and perished.

Thus ended the last Chieftain of the Haladin, for in this conflict Manthor was slain also, and the ruin of the House of Haleth was completed.

Chapter Text

Hiril was the daughter of Halmir, and the sister of Haldir, Hundar, and Hareth. Alone of her siblings, she married within her House, wedding the Haladin hunter Enthor. Together they had one daughter, Meleth, who herself wed the warrior Agathor and bore him two sons, Hunthor and Manthor. Both Enthor and Agathor were slain in the Nírnaeth Arnœdiad, leaving Meleth to raise her children on her own.

When Glaurung came to Brethil, the great warrior known as Turambar asked for volunteers to accompany him on a quest to slay the dragon. At first only Dorlas stepped forth, and seeing the others hold back, he scorned them and demanded to know if none would take the place of the diminished Chieftain Brandir the Lame so that the House of Haleth would not be put to shame. It was Hunthor who rebuked Dorlas for his cruelty and volunteered in Brandir’s stead, following Turambar into danger.

Yet despite his harsh words, Dorlas soon proved cowardly and fled from the battle, leaving Hunthor and Turambar alone. They were nearing the belly of the beast when the heat and stench of the dragon caused Turambar to slip and nearly fall into the River Teiglin, but Hunthor seized him and saved his life. Turambar proclaimed him to be of great heart, but in that very moment a stone fell from the cliffside and struck Hunthor’s head, and he fell and was lost in the waters below. Hunthor’s death left his wife Himmeth a widow, and though his younger brother Manthor resolved to care for her, there was never love between them as there had been with her and Hunthor.

As both Brandir and Turambar perished on the day the dragon came, the leadership of the Haladin was now uncertain. An election was held between the two remaining heirs of Halmir: Manthor and Hardang, the grandson of Hundar. Though Manthor was the more popular choice, his claim was weaker as he was descended from the youngest of Halmir’s children who was also a woman, and thus Hardang rose to the Chieftainship he had long desired. Not wishing to anger those of his folk who would have preferred Manthor as a leader, Hardang promoted him to Captain of the Guards at the Crossings of Teiglin, a move which appeased Manthor for the time being.

Two years into Hardang’s rule, Manthor and his subordinates discovered Húrin Thalion at the Haudh-en-Elleth. Though there was some debate between them as to what they should do with the old man, Manthor woke him and offered him rest and food. When Húrin found he could not keep his food down, he agreed to go with the party to see the Chieftain.

Hardang was ill-pleased to see Húrin, and did not rise to greet him nor to offer him a chair, forcing the old man to sit on the ground. Only after Manthor rebuked him did Hardang grudgingly offer Húrin food and rest, and his weak courtesy so offended Húrin that he threw a stool at Hardang, cutting his head. Avranc, one of Hardang’s lackeys and the son of Dorlas, arrested and imprisoned him and advocated for his execution.

At this Manthor protested, having sympathy for Húrin, and quit Hardang’s service to summon the People of Haleth to a Folkmoot. That night he offered his aid to Húrin, winning his friendship, and discovered that Húrin’s food had been poisoned. The following morning, Húrin was put on trial for his assault of the Chieftain, but with Manthor’s support and counsel he won the Haladin over to his side.

Yet instead of justice being served, a riot broke out between the followers of Hardang and the followers of Manthor, culminating in the burning of the Hall of Chieftains, in which Hardang perished. Amid the chaos, Avranc shot twice at Manthor and missed both times. Manthor and Húrin escaped the ruins of Obel Halad, but before they could flee entirely Avranc fired an arrow a third time, killing Manthor. Thus ended the last of the Chieftains of the Haladin, and the ruin of the House of Haleth was completed.

Chapter Text

Dorlas was a woodman of Brethil. He was among the Haladin warriors who waylaid an orc-host leading captive elves from Nargothrond to Angband, but their attempts at a rescue failed and Princess Finduilas was pinned to a tree with a spear. They buried her in a mound known later as the Haudh-en-Elleth, and the following spring they discovered a strange man in a swoon upon the mound.

This man was carried to Chieftain Brandir for healing, and when he woke he declared his name was Turambar. He remained in Brethil for some years, until his deeds of valour drew the attention of Glaurung. At first Turambar refused to fight the dragon as he had promised his wife Níniel he would not go to battle unless their homes were assailed, but Dorlas was eager for war and shamed him into heading into the field, revealing their location.

When Turambar asked for volunteers to accompany him on a quest to slay the dragon, only Dorlas stepped forth. Seeing the others hold back, Dorlas scorned them and demanded to know if none would take the place of Brandir the Lame so that the House of Haleth would not be put to shame. Then Brandir’s kinsman Hunthor took up the task and upbraided Dorlas for his cruelty, but in the end both men set out with Turambar to face Glaurung.

Yet despite his boldness and harsh words, Dorlas quailed when they came to the ravines of the River Teiglin. Overwhelmed with fear of the rocks and rushing water, he fled even before encountering the dragon. He abandoned his companions and hid in the forest, but soon he was discovered by Brandir, who shamed him for his cowardice. In anger, Dorlas struck at him, but Brandir was possessed by rage and grief at the death of Níniel, for which he held Dorlas partially guilty, and slew him before Dorlas could land a blow.

Dorlas’ wife Daneth was furious when she heard of her husband’s death, and was one of the most outspoken critics of Hunthor’s brother Manthor when he attempted to claim the Chieftainship of the Haladin, arguing that somehow it was Hunthor’s fault that Dorlas had perished. Her son Avranc was fiercely loyal to Manthor’s opponent Hardang, and became one of his chief supporters.

Between the death of his father and the arrival of Húrin Thalion to Brethil, Avranc wed the huntress Nachiel, who like him was an excellent archer. Avranc was among the party led by Manthor who discovered Húrin, and he suggested immediately killing the old man since trouble followed him from Angband. Manthor rebuked him, and against his command Avranc sped to Hardang bearing the news. Hardang was ill-pleased to see Húrin, and did not rise to greet him nor to offer him a chair, forcing the old man to sit on the ground. Only after Manthor upbraided him did Hardang grudgingly offer Húrin food and rest, and his weak courtesy so offended Húrin that he threw a stool at Hardang, cutting his head. Avranc promptly arrested and imprisoned him and again advocated for his execution.

At this Manthor protested, and quit Hardang’s service to summon the People of Haleth to a Folkmoot. Avranc spread rumors among the woodmen about Húrin’s dark intentions, and was appointed by Hardang to defend his cause at Húrin’s trial. But with Manthor’s support and counsel, the Haladin were won over to Húrin’s side.

Yet instead of justice being served, a riot broke out between the followers of Hardang and the followers of Manthor, culminating in the burning of the Hall of Chieftains, in which Hardang perished. Amid the chaos, Avranc shot twice at Manthor and missed both times. Manthor and Húrin escaped the ruins of Obel Halad, but before they could flee entirely Avranc fired an arrow a third time, killing Manthor.

The remnant of the Haladin erupted into yet more rioting, and in the end, Avranc claimed the Chieftainship of the Haladin, as the descendants of Haldad were no more. But only a few men heeded Avranc’s orders, and most of the Haladin forsook Brethil and began to make their way south to the Havens of Sirion. While Daneth remained loyal to her son, Avranc’s wife Nachiel held him responsible for the ruin of her people and abandoned him for the love of Himmeth, the widow of Hunthor whom Avranc so despised.

Chapter Text

Larnach was a woodman of Brethil who lived in a homestead outside of the main settlements of the Haladin. He and his family were harried by the Gaurwaith, and amid one such assault two outlaws separated Larnach’s daughter Thoriel from her parents and chased her into the woods. As she ran through a hazel-thicket in fear, another man suddenly appeared and rushed to her defense, killing one of her pursuers. Thoriel was glad for his aid, but astonished when the man appeared to recognize the corpse as Forweg, one of his companions. Her second pursuer then appeared, shocked at the scene.

Overhearing their conversation she learned their names were Andróg and Neithan. Thoriel demanded Neithan kill Andróg as well, but he refused her and sent her home, promising the Gaurwaith would harass them no longer. Frustrated and shaken, Thoriel returned home, where her parents were relieved to see her unharmed. Her mother, Doreth, marveled at her miraculous rescue, while Larnach was suspicious of Neithan’s true intentions.

When Beleg Cúthalion appeared on their property some months later, Larnach and Thoriel told him of her harrowing experience, allowing him to realize that Neithan was none other than his friend Túrin, whom he had been tracking ever since his flight from Doriath. Thanking them for their information, he warned that the orcs were growing ever bolder and that to protect his family Larnach ought to remove to Ephel Brandir where most of the Haladin dwelt. Though Larnach was reluctant to abandon his homestead, in the end Doreth convinced him to leave, for even if wolf-men such as Neithan could find pity in their hearts toward girls like Thoriel, orcs would have no thoughts of mercy.

Chapter Text

Ebor was the chief henchman of Manthor, utterly loyal to his lord and rewarded by a promotion to the Captain of the Guards at the Ford of Brithiach. It was Ebor who discovered Asgon and his companions trespassing in Brethil, and though he was reluctant to arrest them he knew he must follow the orders of Chieftain Hardang in the absence of his own lord. After Hardang cast Asgon and his men out of Brethil, Ebor followed Manthor’s example of kindness and returned their weapons to them against Hardang’s commands.

At the same time, Manthor was guarding the Crossings of Teiglin with three subordinates. One of these was Sagroth, who was the first to spot the sleeping Húrin upon the Haudh-en-Elleth. His companion Forhend remarked that Sagroth could always be trusted to find trouble, as they knew that Hardang would be ill-pleased by Húrin’s presence, and he suggested that they thrust the old man out of Brethil immediately. Avranc, the third guard, went a step further and insisted they kill him, but at this point Manthor stepped in and showed Húrin mercy, waking him and offering him food. Avranc ran ahead to warn Hardang of Húrin’s arrival, while Manthor and Forhend guided Húrin to Ephel Brandir and Sagroth was left behind to guard the Crossings.

Following Húrin’s arrival in Brethil, chaos erupted among the in Ephel Brandir and many of the Haladin forsook their homeland and fled south to the Havens of Sirion. Among these refugees were the family of the child Glírhuin, who would grow to manhood by the sea, dreaming of the forests of his youth. Glírhuin was gifted with foresight, an uncommon trait in mortal men, and as an old man he was granted a vision of his homeland. He put his prophecy to song, saying that the Stone of the Hapless where Húrin’s family were buried would never be defiled by Morgoth nor sink below the sea. Indeed, after Beleriand was drowned beneath the waves of Belegaer, the isle of Tol Morwen stood alone above the waters.