Maidens of Middle-earth V: Turin's Women - “Aerin, Indor’s daughter, of the people of Haleth”

Poem by Thom Foy

Aerin is a kinswoman of Morwen’s husband, Húrin. When Dor-lómin is invaded, the House of Húrin bears the brunt of the destruction. Aerin is taken as a thrall-wife by the leader of the invaders, Brodda, but as the new leader’s wife, she has some power. She tries to aid Morwen, but Morwen takes her daughter, Nienor, and flees – hoping to join Túrin in Doriath. Arriving there, she learns that Túrin has left and determines to go after him. Nienor follows her; they get separated and lost. Meanwhile, Túrin returns to Dor-lómin only to find that his family is no longer there. He curses his fate, wipes out the invaders, raises an army of erstwhile slaves, and leaves Aerin to clean up the mess. Comrades of the invaders learn of the devastation and come to wreak their vengeance upon Aerin – but “ere they bring Aerin to the sword or the stake, she fired the hall and all that were in it.”

***

The black foe of the world
Unnumbered tears did bring,
When the Incomers of the East
Debased Dor-lómin,
And plundered the house
Of the Lady Morwen.
Aerin, her kin, thieved as thrall-wife,
Secretly sent help to the Lady proud.
But Morwen fled to find her son.

Aerin, deep river was she,
Her strength in patience.
For what she waited
Even she did not know.
Still she believed
And still she boasted:
Their iniquity before us,
Our own at our backs.

Túrin, the errant son of Morwen,
Sought his family again in Dor-lómin.
Aerin told of their parting
To seek for him in the Elvish kingdom.
Túrin in black rage cried,
“Awry! Awry! As crooked as Morgoth!
All has gone awry!”
And destruction he wreaked upon that hall.

Aerin, deep river was she…

The thralls rose up, reborn by boldness.
Hope was rekindled,
though many were killed.
Aerin, afraid, bid Túrin flee,
His wrack to forgive if Morwen he found.
With many men Túrin did flee
To raise up an army perhaps.
Aerin, deep river was she…

Túrin brought death
to Dor-lómin with his rashness.
The Incomers sought
Vengeance for his violence
But ere they bring Aerin
to the sword or the stake,
She fired the hall and all that were in it.

Aerin, deep river was she,
Her strength in patience.
For what she waited
Even she did not know.
Aerin was made
for a kinder world.
Snow fell on ash,
and the sun went down.