Silmarillion Storybook

Tuor Marries Idril

Tuor Reaches the Hidden City of Gondolin Tuor stood outside his house, looking down on the city of Gondolin. He had lived there for seven years now, in the surrounding mountains, so that he could look out over the valley as he had done when first he came to Gondolin. What beauty he saw there! But he believed the words of Ulmo; he believed that Gondolin would be destroyed. He saw future sorrow and great loss: the entire valley covered in flames, crawling with hideous dragons and balrogs. It broke his heart, and he could hardly stand to look upon it any longer. He most likely would have left Gondolin by now, had it not been for Idril.

Idril Celebrindal Idril. The Noldorin princess. The daughter of King Turgon. She had been at the king's side that day, seven years ago, when the king had rejected Ulmo's message. Her beauty had captivated him at that moment. He saw deep wisdom in her eyes. The music of her voice had filled him with longing, just as the music of the sea. He loved her at that first meeting and knew that he would always love her.

Gondolin and the Vale of Tumladen The king was holding a feast this night, to celebrate freedom from Morgoth within the surrouding mountains; the whole city had been invited. Tuor knew he would see the princess there; he had arranged to sit next to her at the banquet table. He was very nervous about this night, as he made his way down into the valley and into the banquet hall. Idril had already arrived, and she smiled at Tuor when he took his seat next to her. Turgon proposed many toasts throughout the evening; one he proposed for Tuor, who had "come from Vinyamar and spoken the words of Ulmo."

Tuor paid hardly any attention to the toast made in his honor; he was instead gazing upon Idril. Their eyes met; she smiled at him and blushed, as her father spoke such words of praise. He saw in her smile a happines, richly mingled with sorrow. They both had known for some time that they shared feelings for each other. When the toast was over and the applause died down, Tuor asked Idril to walk with him. As they left the great banquet hall, Turgon smiled. He knew his daughter had fallen in love with Tuor the first day they met, and he wanted her to be happy. He had already given Tuor his blessing for what he planned that night.

Tuor Reaches the Hidden City of Gondolin Tuor and Idril walked out of the city, down to the great fountain. They sat there and talked, as they had done for years. "I love this fountain," said Idril. "It reminds me of the sea."

"Years ago I saw the sea," said Tuor, "in all its splendor. I forever hear it calling to me."

"I have not seen it since I lived in Vinyamar. I could hear Ulmo's voice singing to me then, ever so softly, and I still hear it in my dreams."

Gondolin "I can tell you are happy here," Tuor said, "but I see a deep sorrow weighing on your heart. What saddens you?"

"I was born in Valinor," Idril began, "Though I was only a child at the time, I was happy there. Mother was with me then."

"Where is she now?" asked Tuor.

Fingolfin Leads the Host Across the Helcaraxe "She died crossing the Helcaraxe," she said. She paused as tears began to fall upon her cheeks. "She died trying to protect me from the cold. All my joy in Middle-Earth is marred by that loss. Gondolin is beautiful, I know; Father takes great pride in it. But we should never have come here; I should never have lost Mother."

"But that is not all that troubles you, is it?"

"I also see the destruction of Gondolin in my dreams. I have seen it for years, long before you came," she said. "I know I will lose Father then. I wish Father had heeded Ulmo's warning."

"Ulmo knew Turgon would reject the message, I believe. He told me that I was more than just a messenger and that hope for the Noldor lies within me. My coming here was not in vain."

"No, it was not in vain," said Idril, "at least not for me. When I first heard you speak, I knew that we shared the same happiness and the same longing -- and the same sorrow."

"I have loved you since I first heard your voice," said Tuor, "like the singing of the sea. We have so much to share, so many ways to enrich the other's life. I want to share my joys, no matter how short-lived, with you. I want to help you bear your sorrows and to have your help in bearing mine. The world is a beautiful place -- no less beautiful because of its sorrow -- and I want to share that beauty with you all of my days. Idril, will you marry me?"

She smiled at him, and took his hand in hers. "Of course I will, Tuor of Gondolin." She reached over and hugged him, and they walked hand in hand back to the city. Tuor had never known such joy in all his life.

The Fall of Gondolin Tuor and Idril were married shortly after. They lived in that house, up in the surrounding mountains. Together they would look down upon the city of Gondolin. Together they would climb to the tops of the mountains and look west towards the sea in longing. The following spring, Idril gave birth to a son; they named him Earendil. The days of Earendil's youth -- before Morgoth learned the location of the hidden city and prepared an assault to destroy it -- were happy days for Tuor and Idril, and indeed for the entire city of Gondolin. Though neither Tuor nor Idril knew it, Earendil was the "last hope" of which Ulmo had spoken.

Bibliography Gondolin