Act II, Part III: Hinneneth
Of the early days of Ost-in-Edhil is told that it was ruled by Galadriel and Celeborn, wise and fair in spirit and countenance. Under their rule, and that of their successor, the Noldor enjoyed an unprecedented friendship with the Dwarves; trade went freely between these peoples and both realms prospered. But Tinnurion grew a jealous mind and, as was his way, he tried to sour each deal so that the Noldor came out worse for it. But his efforts, even if they bore fruit, moved no hearts and undid little, and the friendship between them endured, much to Tinnurion’s dismay. In those days, Tinnurion made his lair in a cave in the Misty Mountains, as many there were, and here he made anew a forge of great craftsmanship and he set his mind again on the making of things, for the beating of steel brought his mind to rest, and much of his hatred for the Noldor was poured into his works.
But one day, something happened he had not foreseen. Upon the road to Khazad-Dûm, he espied a group of Elves from Ost-in-Edhil who were on their way to meet with the Dwarves and in his heart was kindled the desire to waylay them, and all manner of mischievous thoughts turned to him, but as he prepared to act upon his longing, in view came an elf maiden with long delicate brown hair, braided in such fashion that it seemed as if she bore a crown, and her eyes were a fierce blue, and about their edges they were white like the crest of waves coming ashore, and all of this Tinnurion saw and to him she came as a spell cast upon the unwary, and all his anger and malice was traded but for a single tear.
Thus it happened that he revealed himself to them, and he called himself by his old name, Aeglirion, ambassador to the Dwarves, and he offered them as friendly a gestures as he could muster, though a sense of distrust was never too far off. He guided them to the halls of the Dwarves, and all the while his hatred made room for desire, desire for the elf maiden named Hinneneth.
His love for Hinneneth grew with every moon, and though he returned to his lair in the mountains, his thoughts were ever with her. These feelings were new to him, so that little did he know how to control them, and they opened his mind to doubt; ceaseless pondering the like he had suffered in days long passed for the fate of Eöl. Once more he grew ill at ease and rough in speech, until at last he told his brethren he was going away for a while, but he told them not where to, and they feared madness had taken him.
But in truth, he had worked day and night to control his mind, and to quell the feelings of his heart, so that he may willingly present himself at the city of Ost-in-Edhil as Aeglirion, a novice weaponsmith seeking to learn great craftsmanship. And so cunningly had he hidden his grievances that they doubted him not, save only his appearance, which they soon learned to accept, for he was humble and kind and spoke highly of the craftsmanship of the Noldor. But not all were convinced. Hinneneth’s father saw him for who he truly was, and he wished to have no dealings with him, but his daughter, though she too had shown little interest in his countenance the day they met, now looked at him in wonder, and Tinnurion, knowing this, spent many days in her company and he taught her much of the Dwarves and of things in the wild and in almost all his ways he appeared as if he were still Aeglirion of Doriath.
Perhaps, if he were still Aeglirion of Doriath, he could have remained there and have forgotten all his hatred and sorrow and taken Hinneneth’s hand in marriage. But he was not Aeglirion of Doriath, but Tinnurion of Nan Elmoth, and his fate lay elsewhere. For within that very year, the rulership of Eregion was passed onto Celebrimbor, son of hated Curufin of Himlad. Tinnurion despised Celebrimbor, last of the House of Fëanor, for he bore his father’s token. This feeling was mutual, and because of this the city's hospitality diminished and his entrance to it was made more difficult. Hinneneth became wary of him also, for his mood had changed and he appeared no longer the elf she had grown to love.
In the following years, someone else came to Eregion by the name of Annatar, and he brought the skill of ring making with him. The Gwaith-i-Mírdain forged many great things in those days, but it was Celebrimbor who forged the greatest of them all. Many of the lesser rings the jewel-smiths made found their way outside their halls, for they were but trifles to them in the forging of greater works. Thus it passed that, upon one of his visits to the city, Tinnurion came by one of these lesser rings and he took it for his own.
But Annatar, as is told in greater tales, was but Sauron in disguise, and when this was at last revealed, the city fell and Celebrimbor was taken. War was waged like it had not for many scores of Men, and when Tinnurion learned of the fall of Ost-in-Edhil, he feared for Hinneneth’s life. But as if the very thought of her had set in motion a greater scheme, he came upon her in the wild, fleeing the destruction of the orcs in Eregion, and she was in the company of many survivors who now sought sanctuary elsewhere. Tinnurion cared not for the refugees, but his heart went out to Hinneneth, and he beckoned her to come with him and live a life away from the sorrows of war. But she could not leave her kindred behind, and she refused, saying:
‘Of all the things that have befallen me, you may not be the worst, Aeglirion of Doriath, and while your words to me have not all proven truthful, I would have joined you in your wanderings, if not for the warning of my heart. For I sense a shadow lies over you, and always will, even if by my love attended. Hence, this is farewell.’
This embittered Tinnurion, but angered him also, and he said:
‘You speak to me of truth, yet honest were not all the words of Hinneneth if her love is so easily forfeited. Go then if it pleases you, but one truth I will relay to you ere you go, I am not Aeglirion of Doriath. I am Tinnurion Turwath, master over shadows, for I leave these lands knowing no greater shadow ever gripped my heart than the one you cast over it.’
And with those words she turned from his sight and the anguish of Hinneneth’s departure would haunt him for many years, and deprive him of the pleasure in things.
Thus came to a swift end the love between Tinnurion and Hinneneth.
