Unfinished Tales - Part One - I - Of Tuor and His Coming to Gondolin

[Boromir88]

Going back to this quickly:

Originally Posted by Boromir88

And I can't seem to find a smaller part that stuck out to me. I believe it was Voronwe who commented how the courage of Men, who's fate is to die, would spend their limitted years risking death and fighting Morgoth. It's a pondering question in the difference between Elves and Men.

I realized why I couldn't find it, because I was looking at the wrong person. It's actually Ulmo who says how the Eldar will always remember the courage of the Edain:

"For the valour of the Edain the elves shall ever remember remember as the ages lengthen, marvelling that they gave life so freely of which they had on earth so little."~Of Tuor

Mr. Underhill's post reminded me what I thought through most of the chapter, which actually reminded me of one of your old threads, Esty.

Not all those who wander are lost.

Here in this post-apocalyptic Hithlum, Tuor is an outlaw. He is a thrall in the very place that should be The House of Hador's. He's forced out of Hithlum and the tale is all of Tuor's wanderings. However, it's wandering with a purpose, a purpose forseen from the outset. We don't know why, and Tuor doesn't even seem to be able to explain it, but he is drawn to Gondolin. He feels spiritted by hearing Turgon's name and seeking out the Hidden City. Reaching Gondolin, the place that Tuor is continually told no Man would ever be permitted entrance to. It gives his wandering a purpose, otherwise he'd probably spent more of his days hiding in Androth.

The last thing, I don't know what you call it, but it struck me as one of those wise Elven sayings, Tolkien loved creating, from Gelmir:

"Through darkness one may come to the light."

Nothing I can think of that would add any meaning or significance to Gelmir's words to Tuor. I just thought it interesting and sage Elven advice.