Brandir the Lame
Lord of the House of Haleth. Brandir was born in the year 467 of the First Age. He was the son of Handir and Beldis. Brandir's father was of the House of Haleth and his mother was of the House of Beor. Their family lived in the Forest of Brethil.
Brandir could not walk because as a child, he had broken his leg and he became lame for life. Not being able to participate in warfare do anything else of a physical nature, Brandir became quite a wise man. He became an expert in varying topics including plant biology.
Brandir's father Handir was killed during an Orc invasion in 495. Though the folk of Haleth were able to fight off the invasion, the thought of warfare scared Brandir and he decided to resort his peoples' presence to secrecy.
As Lord of the House of Haleth, Brandir did not wish to risk contact with the great enemy Morgoth. Because of this, Brandir decided to remain as quiet as possible, using the Forest of Brethil to shield his peoples' presence from Morgoth. Brandir's people lived in the hidden settlement of Ephel Brandir on Amon Obel, the center of the forest.
One of Brandir's people, Dorlas, opposed Brandir's policy of secrecy and continued to hunt Orcs. In 496, Dorlas and a company of warriors were attacked by Orcs on the borders of Brethil and they were rescued by Turin. Turin was in search of Finduilas, an Elf-maiden who had been kidnapped by Orcs from Nargothrond. Dorlas informed Turin that Finduilas had been slain at the Crossings of Teiglin. Distraught by the news, Turin went to Ephel Brandir. There, Brandir was able to heal Turin, but Turin decided to stay in Brethil for a time. He joined Dorlas's hunting companies and they kept Brethil free of Orcs.
After a skirmish at Teiglin, Turin saw Niniel, a beautiful woman who had amnesia at the time. Because of her amnesia, Niniel did not recall her true identity or where she came from. Turin invited her to live in Ephel Brandir to be taken care of by Brandir. As time passed, both Brandir and Turin fell in love with her. Brandir would walk with Niniel through the gardens of Ephel Brandir and share with her his knowledge of plants.
Turin proposed to Niniel in 497. Brandir was not only jealous because of his own love for Niniel, but also concerned about the ill fate he believed that Turin would suffer. However, Niniel finally accepted Turin's marital request and they were married in 498.
The dragon Glaurung sent Orcs to attack the Forest of Brethil in 498, but they were defeated by Turin. Turin began receiving much more respect than Brandir, and the folk of Haleth began only taking commands from Turin.
In 499, Glaurung arrived in Brethil. Turin counseled the men to remain in Ephel Brandir but prepare to flee if Glaurung should attack. Turin himself was going to fight off Glaurung accompanied by Dorlas, who made fun of Brandir for not being able to come. Brandir's cousin Hunthar offered to go in Brandir's stead.
Niniel accopmanies her husband to battle, and she convinced many of the folk of Haleth to go with her. Brandir abandoned his position as Lord of the Folk of Haleth, seeing as no one heeded his command, and he walked fifteen miles after Niniel using his crutch. Brandir found Niniel at the falls of Nen Girith. Brandir tried to save Niniel, but she ran away from him to find Turin.
Niniel found Turin and Glaurung at Deer's Leap and they both appeared to be dead. But Glaurung awoke and told Niniel that she was in truth Turin's sister Nienor, and with that news and the belief that har brother was dead, she thrust herself off of Deer's Leap and committed suicide. Brandir watched in horror as this occurred, and he rushed back to his people to tell them that Glaurung, Turin, Niniel, and Hunthor were all dead.
As it happened, Brandir came across Dorlas on his way back to Ephel Brandir. He realized that Dorlas had abandoned Turin and Hunthor and allowed Glaurung to kill them. Deeply angered, Dorlas hit Brandir and he fell. This inspired a rage that Brandir had never felt before, and he drew his sword and slew Dorlas. This was the only time Brandir ever killed another.
When Brandir led his people to bury Turin and Niniel, they found that Turin was in fact not dead. When Brandir told Turin that Niniel was his long lost sister Nienor, Turin killed Brandir with his sword Gurthang in disbelief. But soon after, he realized to his horror that Brandir had not lied to him. With Brandir's death on his conscience, Turin killed himself.
Brandir was succeeded as Lord of the House of Haleth by his cousin Hardang.
Brandir could not walk because as a child, he had broken his leg and he became lame for life. Not being able to participate in warfare do anything else of a physical nature, Brandir became quite a wise man. He became an expert in varying topics including plant biology.
Brandir's father Handir was killed during an Orc invasion in 495. Though the folk of Haleth were able to fight off the invasion, the thought of warfare scared Brandir and he decided to resort his peoples' presence to secrecy.
As Lord of the House of Haleth, Brandir did not wish to risk contact with the great enemy Morgoth. Because of this, Brandir decided to remain as quiet as possible, using the Forest of Brethil to shield his peoples' presence from Morgoth. Brandir's people lived in the hidden settlement of Ephel Brandir on Amon Obel, the center of the forest.
One of Brandir's people, Dorlas, opposed Brandir's policy of secrecy and continued to hunt Orcs. In 496, Dorlas and a company of warriors were attacked by Orcs on the borders of Brethil and they were rescued by Turin. Turin was in search of Finduilas, an Elf-maiden who had been kidnapped by Orcs from Nargothrond. Dorlas informed Turin that Finduilas had been slain at the Crossings of Teiglin. Distraught by the news, Turin went to Ephel Brandir. There, Brandir was able to heal Turin, but Turin decided to stay in Brethil for a time. He joined Dorlas's hunting companies and they kept Brethil free of Orcs.
After a skirmish at Teiglin, Turin saw Niniel, a beautiful woman who had amnesia at the time. Because of her amnesia, Niniel did not recall her true identity or where she came from. Turin invited her to live in Ephel Brandir to be taken care of by Brandir. As time passed, both Brandir and Turin fell in love with her. Brandir would walk with Niniel through the gardens of Ephel Brandir and share with her his knowledge of plants.
Turin proposed to Niniel in 497. Brandir was not only jealous because of his own love for Niniel, but also concerned about the ill fate he believed that Turin would suffer. However, Niniel finally accepted Turin's marital request and they were married in 498.
The dragon Glaurung sent Orcs to attack the Forest of Brethil in 498, but they were defeated by Turin. Turin began receiving much more respect than Brandir, and the folk of Haleth began only taking commands from Turin.
In 499, Glaurung arrived in Brethil. Turin counseled the men to remain in Ephel Brandir but prepare to flee if Glaurung should attack. Turin himself was going to fight off Glaurung accompanied by Dorlas, who made fun of Brandir for not being able to come. Brandir's cousin Hunthar offered to go in Brandir's stead.
Niniel accopmanies her husband to battle, and she convinced many of the folk of Haleth to go with her. Brandir abandoned his position as Lord of the Folk of Haleth, seeing as no one heeded his command, and he walked fifteen miles after Niniel using his crutch. Brandir found Niniel at the falls of Nen Girith. Brandir tried to save Niniel, but she ran away from him to find Turin.
Niniel found Turin and Glaurung at Deer's Leap and they both appeared to be dead. But Glaurung awoke and told Niniel that she was in truth Turin's sister Nienor, and with that news and the belief that har brother was dead, she thrust herself off of Deer's Leap and committed suicide. Brandir watched in horror as this occurred, and he rushed back to his people to tell them that Glaurung, Turin, Niniel, and Hunthor were all dead.
As it happened, Brandir came across Dorlas on his way back to Ephel Brandir. He realized that Dorlas had abandoned Turin and Hunthor and allowed Glaurung to kill them. Deeply angered, Dorlas hit Brandir and he fell. This inspired a rage that Brandir had never felt before, and he drew his sword and slew Dorlas. This was the only time Brandir ever killed another.
When Brandir led his people to bury Turin and Niniel, they found that Turin was in fact not dead. When Brandir told Turin that Niniel was his long lost sister Nienor, Turin killed Brandir with his sword Gurthang in disbelief. But soon after, he realized to his horror that Brandir had not lied to him. With Brandir's death on his conscience, Turin killed himself.
Brandir was succeeded as Lord of the House of Haleth by his cousin Hardang.
Names & Meanings
The name Brandir may derive from the Sindarin words brand, which means "noble," and dîr, which means "man." Brandir shared his name with his mother's brother.
References
The Silmarillion: "Of Turin Turambar," pages 212, 216-225
The Unfinished Tales: "Narn I Hin Hurin," pages 110-12, 123-148, 150
The Children of Hurin: "The Coming of Turin into Brethil," pages 193-197; "Nienor in Brethil," pages 216-220; "The Coming of Glaurung;" "The Death of Glaurung," pages 240-247; "The Death of Turin," pages 249-256
The History of Middle-earth, Volume V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies"
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XI, The War of the Jewels: "The Grey Annals," pages 89-102, 148-152, 155-161, 163-164; "The Later Quenta Silmarillion," pages 231, 234, 237; "The Wanderings of Hurin," pages 256-257, 263-270, 278, 285, 297-299, 302, 304-305, 309
The Unfinished Tales: "Narn I Hin Hurin," pages 110-12, 123-148, 150
The Children of Hurin: "The Coming of Turin into Brethil," pages 193-197; "Nienor in Brethil," pages 216-220; "The Coming of Glaurung;" "The Death of Glaurung," pages 240-247; "The Death of Turin," pages 249-256
The History of Middle-earth, Volume V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies"
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XI, The War of the Jewels: "The Grey Annals," pages 89-102, 148-152, 155-161, 163-164; "The Later Quenta Silmarillion," pages 231, 234, 237; "The Wanderings of Hurin," pages 256-257, 263-270, 278, 285, 297-299, 302, 304-305, 309
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