Huor

Lineage

Huor was born in F.A. 444, the younger son of Galdor the Tall, lord of Dor-lómin, and Hareth of the House of Haleth. His elder brother was Húrin. Huor took after his father's people: he was the tallest of all the Men of the Edain save his own son, fair-haired and long-limbed, while Húrin was short and broad. The two brothers were inseparable from childhood.

Gondolin

In F.A. 458, when Huor was thirteen, the brothers were staying in Brethil with their mother's kin and went out with the woodmen against Orcs. Cut off at the Crossings of Teiglin, they were hidden by a mist that Ulmo sent up from the Sirion and then carried by the Eagles of Thorondor into the hidden valley of Gondolin. King Turgon received them kindly, for Ulmo had told him that the house of Hador would one day bring him help, and they lived in the city for nearly a year. When they asked leave to return, Turgon granted it, though it was against the law of Gondolin, on their oath of silence. Maeglin, Turgon's nephew, resented the exception. The Eagles set them down in Dor-lómin, and Huor never told anyone where he had been.

Marriage

In F.A. 471 Huor married Rían, daughter of Belegund of the House of Bëor and cousin of Húrin's wife Morwen. Rían was gentle and loved music, and their marriage lasted only two months before the muster for war took Huor away. She never saw him again; their son Tuor was born in the winter after his death.

The Nirnaeth Arnoediad

Huor went with Húrin and the Men of Dor-lómin to the great battle of midsummer F.A. 472. When the western host was broken and Fingon slain, Turgon's army of Gondolin was in danger of being surrounded on the plain. Húrin and Huor with the Men of Hador held the Fen of Serech behind him so that he could withdraw to the hidden pass of Sirion. It was Huor who spoke the words that persuaded Turgon to go: that Gondolin must stand a while longer, and that if it did, out of Turgon's house and Huor's own a star would rise that would be the hope of Elves and Men. Turgon answered that Gondolin would not stand long, and Huor said that if it stood only a little while, that would be enough. Turgon went, and the brothers stayed.

Huor was killed that evening by a poisoned arrow in the eye. All the Men of Dor-lómin died around him and around Húrin, who was taken alive at the end.

Legacy

Huor's prophecy came true in every particular. His son Tuor, born in his absence and raised by Elves, came to Gondolin with Ulmo's message, married Turgon's daughter Idril, and led the survivors out when the city fell. Their son Eärendil sailed to Aman with a Silmaril on his brow and became the star of which Huor had spoken. Huor is remembered as the gentler and more far-seeing of the two brothers, whose short life closed the First Age's greatest defeat with its greatest promise.

Slain by a poisoned arrow at the Fen of Serech in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, F.A. 472.