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Blodren

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Blodren was an Easterling who was notable for betraying Túrin and Gaurwaith during the First Age.[1]

Biography

Blodren son of Ban was an Easterling who was taken by Morgoth and tormented because he was one of the faithful that had withstood Uldor. He entered into Morgoth's service and was released after becoming evil of heart,[2] being sent in search of Túrin.[1]

Blodren entered into the hidden company in Dimbar and, because of his love of blood[3] and plunder,[2] served Túrin faithfully for two years. However, after Túrin's encounter with Beleg and subsequent reformation, Blodrin became dissatisfied with the new life "in which wounds were more plentiful than booty" due to the outlaws only targeting Orcs.[2] In the end, he saw his chance and betrayed the hiding-places of Beleg and Túrin to the Orcs, bargaining with them for gold and thus completing his errand.[3] Thus, their camp[2] in Dimbar was surrounded and taken by surprise[2] and many Men were treacherously killed.[3] Túrin was captured alive and carried towards Angband while Beleg was left for dead beneath a pile of bodies. However, Blodren himself was slain by chance by a poisoned[3] Orc-arrow from his new evil allies[2] in the dark.[1]

The next morning, Blodren was seen held fastly to a beech tree by an arrow thrust in his throat, making it appear as if he was standing.[3]

Etymology

Blodren is a Mannish name with an unknown meaning.[4] The character's former name, Blodrin, is the plural form of the Sindarin adjective blodren ("arrogant"), which is derived from the suffix -ren[5] and the word blaud ("pride").[6]

In other versions

Blodren was the replacement of an earlier character, the Gnome Blodrin, son of Ban, of the House of Fëanor.[7] It is said in tales that Blodrin was "trapped as a child" by Dwarves, who dragged him to their deep mansions in Nogrod. Here he was nurtured and taught to hate his kin, and both Elves and Men. He had lived a long time with the Dwarves and developed a personality and greed similar to the wicked Dwarves he grew up among. Later in his life, he joined Túrin's outlaw-band for the greed for gold and lust for treasure.[3]

The story of Túrin's traitor went through several revisions, and apparently became the basis for the emergence of Mîm as the traitor of the outlaws who had lied with the orcs, and betrayed their location. However, in early writings Mîm and Blodrin were two seperate characters.[7]

In The Grey Annals Blodrin was emended to Blodren. These revisions took place after the publication of The Lord of the Rings.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The History of Middle-earth, Vol. XI: The War of the Jewels, "III: The Grey Annals", §265
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 The History of Middle-earth, Vol. IV: The Shaping of Middle-earth: The Quenta, The Ambarkanta, and The Annals, III: "The Quenta", pg. 123, 304
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 The History of Middle-earth, Vol. III: The Lays of Beleriand', I: The Lay of the Children of Húrin, II: "Beleg"
  4. ↑ "Blodren" on eldamo.org
  5. ↑ "-ren" on eldamo.org
  6. ↑ Parma Eldalamberon 13, p. 160
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 The History of Middle-earth, Vol. IV: The Shaping of Middle-earth: The Quenta, The Ambarkanta, and The Annals, III: "The Quenta", [section] 12