Hey, everybody. Welcome to the story.

So, I decided to write this story after re-reading the Silmarillion, and realizing how abridged the story of Tuor and Idril was, and the the Fall of Gondolin. So, I decided to write it out here.

Let's get to it. Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters or locations described.


Chapter 1

The wind blows relatively slow and calm over the shore of Nevrast. Light waves wash upon the shore, the sound heard across the landscape. Little life can be found near the shore, save for a few animals grazing not far from the shore, oblivious to the cares of the world.

However, along the shore, there is one there with purpose. Walking at great speed along the coast is a single figure. A Man, tall and strong, but somewhat youthful, for he is not yet very old. His clothes suggest someone who has been living poorly in the wild, but his face suggest a Man of greatness.

He is Tuor, son of Huor of the House of Hador. He had been led to Nevrast, and now follows seven swans southwards, not knowing for what purpose they are leading him south, but recognizing them as a sign from the Valar, and intends to follow them so long as he must.

AS Tuor comes around a corner of a massive rock extending outwards to the sea from the coast, Tuor suddenly spies in the distance a city. Abandoned, but not yet in decay. This is the city of Vinyamar, the city once inhabited by Turgon and his people before the building of Gondolin. Though long abandoned, it's buildings and monuments stand undisturbed.

Tuor stands still for several long moments, looking at the distant city. Looking up after several moments, he sees the swans flying into the city, and realizes that this is where the swans had been leading him. Resolving to enter the city, he resumes walking, determined to find what exactly he had been brought to Vinyamar to find.

After a short time, Tuor finally enters Vinyamar. As he walks along the streets of the city, his footsteps on the stones of the streets echo around him, the only other sound being the distant sound of the waves. Tuor looks all around him, his mind wandering to imaginations of what this city must have been like when it was inhabited.

As he scans the city, Tuor sees a brilliant building rising above all others. Tuor quickly recognizes this must have been the house of the king. A feeling arises in him, and he decides that there must be something there for him to find. He turns towards the building and begins walking in its direction.

It doesn't take Tuor long to reach the citadel. Entering it with caution, Tuor makes his way into the throne room. As he enters the throne room, Tuor sees something along the far wall behind the throne. Making his way across the throne room, Tuor sees that hanging on the wall behind the throne is a set of mail armor, a great sword, and a shield emblazoned with a swan on a field of blue. All of these items are of very fine make, and Tuor recognizes them instantly as of Elven make, thanks to his time with Elves as a youth.

"Curious. Why a single set of armor and sword?" Tuor wonders aloud as he examines them. Tuor glances around, as if to see someone coming forward to claim the armor and sword, or some hint as to why they are there, but sees nothing.

Returning his attention to the items before him, Tuor decides to claim it as his own. The city has long been abandoned, that much is clear, and whoever left it clearly isn't coming back for it. In addition, it is much superior to the armor and weapon he currently has. Tuor takes the armor and sword down from the wall and slowly dons the armor. Once he has fully donned the armor, he belts the sword at his waist, slings his pack onto his back, and takes up the shield. He then turns and leaves the throne room, heading back out of the citadel.

As Tuor exits the citadel, he suddenly feels a distance. The air has changed. Something is different. Tuor looks up and sees that the sky has changed. Clouds have moved in and blotted out the sun. Wind has picked up as well.

Tuor scans the sky, wondering what has brought about this change in the weather. Then, to his surprise, he sees the swans overhead again, flying in the direction of the coastline. Knowing that the swans had lead him here already, Tuor follows them again, making his way down to the sea.

It doesn't take Tuor long to reach the beach outside Vinyamar. By the time he's reached the beach, the weather has gotten even worse. The clouds have darkened, the wind is blower fiercer, and force waves are beginning to beat upon the shore.

Tuor scans the sea, wondering if something could be causing this. Then, he sees something in the waves. Something sticking up out of the water in the distance, big enough for him to see.

Then, the water begins to part, frothing and foaming as something begins to rise out of the water. Tuor's eyes begin to widen as a massive figure rises out of the water.

Before his eyes, the first eyes of Men to ever behold this sight, the Vala Ulmo rises from the sea. Tuor's eyes widen as he beholds the majesty of Ulmo for the first time. Ulmo towers over Tuor. He is wearing armor that looks as if it is made with fish scales, with clam shells over his knees and elbows, but with a grey cloak surrounding him. His skin is blue-ish, his hair is like sea foam, and his beard is encrusted with barnacles. He wears a helm crowned with seashells and trailing what looks like strands of kelp, but with two wings that look like the wings of a swan. A massive conch shell lies on his waist. In his hand, he wields a great trident, decorated with pearls.

Tuor watches as Ulmo strides towards him, then drops to his knee, planting his new sword in the ground, reverencing Ulmo as he recognizes he is the presence of one of the Valar. Ulmo stops in the breaking surf just yards from the sand and stares down at Tuor for a moment. When he finally speaks, it with the sound of a voice of rushing waves and fierce winds.

"Tuor, son of Huor, rise," Ulmo says to Tuor. The Man rises to his feet, looking with awe upon the Vala.

"Thou art one of the Valar," Tuor says.

"Indeed, hero among Men. I am Ulmo, Lord of Waters, King of the Sea. I have called you to his place beside the sea on an errand. For I am in need of you, Tuor. You are to deliver my errand," Ulmo declares to Tuor.

"What could such a mighty Lord of the Valar desire with me?" Tuor asks in awe.

"Far to the north, in lands bordering the desert of Anfauglith, lies the last great city of the Noldor. The city of seven names, but known to many as Gondolin, ruled by Turgon, son of Fingolfin. It is my errand for you that you should tary no longer in Nevrast, but make your way north to Gondolin. A guide shall I give you to escort you there in secret, to protect you from the eyes of Melkor. I will give you a message to give to the Gondolodrim, and there you shall abide awhile. Yet may you one day return to the sea," Ulmo declares to Tuor.

Tuor bows his head to Ulmo and declares, "Your messenger, I shall be, Lord Ulmo. What is the message you wish me to deliver to the people of Gondolin?"

Ulmo is quiet for a moment before he says, "Say unto the king this: 'Thus says Ulmo, Lord of the Waters. Mighty is fair Gondolin, which stands as the beacon of hope against Morgoth. Yet the Doom of Mandos draws nigh. None of the Noldor, nay, not even the Gondolodrim, may escape it. Soon, all works of the Noldor will perish and the Doom of Mandos be fulfilled. The shadow of evil lies upon Gondolin. To the king of Gondolin, I say, thou must leave behind that which holds your heart. Abandon thy city, and take thy people down to the Havens of Sirion. Do this, and all they people shall live, and perhaps thou shalt even come to the Blessed Realm once more. If thou stay in thy walls, the wrath of Morgoth shall come upon thy city, and it shall be no more. Thus saith Ulmo, Lord of Waters."

Ulmo ceases speaking, and Tuor bows before him again. "It shall be done, Lord Ulmo," he says.

"Go in courage and strength of will, Tuor, son of Huor, and deliver this message to Turgon of Gondolin. And one day, thou shalt return to the sea, and be numbered among the greatest of men," Ulmo says. Then, before Tuor's eyes, Ulmo begins to walk backwards into the sea before the waves swallow him up and he is gone.

Tuor remains where he is, still in awe at meeting one of the Valar. There he remains for several hours, marvelling at the meeting and the errand he had received from Ulmo.

Finally, after several hours, the storm that had arisen at Ulmo's coming ceases. As the sun breaks through the clouds and the winds cease, Tuor stands again, ready to begin his quest. However, one of the lines of Ulmo returns to him. Ulmo's promise of a guide.

Tuor scans the beach, and in the distance, at the base of the walls of Vinyamar, Tuor sees a figure. Feeling strongly that this can't be a coincidence, Tuor makes his way back to the walls.

As Tuor reaches the walls of the abandoned city, he sees that the figure is an Elf. Dressed in somewhat plain traveling clothes (for an elf) and lightly armed, the Elf is seemingly looking around confused. Knowing the tongue used by the Noldor, Tuor raises his new sword in greeting and cries out in the Elven tongue, "Hail, friend!"

The Elf notices Tuor approaching. Relieved to find another living soul in this place, even if it is a Man and not and Elf, the Elf raises his hand in greeting and responds, "Hail, traveller!"

Tuor walks up to the Elf. He inclines his head respectfully and says, "I am Tuor, son of Huor of the House of Hador. What is your name, Elf?"

"I am Voronwe, son of Aranwe of Gondolin. Well met, Tuor," he says. He well remembers the name Huor from when the Lord of Men and his brother Hurin briefly visited Gondolin prior to the Nirnaeth Arnoediad.

Tuor perks up at the mention of Gondolin. "You hail from Gondolin?" he asks.

"Yes, I do," Voronwe responds to the question.

"Good Elf, I have been tasked by Lord Ulmo of the Valar himself to deliver a message to the king of Gondolin. I must hurry to the city, for it is of great urgency. I was promised that a guide would be provided to me, and then you appeared here on this beach. Would you be willing to be my guide to Gondolin so that I may deliver Lord Ulmo's message?" Tuor asks.

Voronwe looks at Tuor in surprise at his claims. However, he quickly realizes that Tuor is arrayed in the arms that Turgon left behind in Vinyamar. Seeing this, he chooses to believe Tuor, and says, "Very well, friend Tuor. I will guide you to Gondolin. Let us depart quickly."

Tuor agrees, and the pair set off for Gondolin, knowing they have to move quickly, for they do not know exactly how fast the city's doom is approaching.


And, I'll end the first chapter there. I hope you liked this.

I'm going to skip their actual travels to Gondolin, so next chapter will show them arriving at the hidden gates and reaching Gondolin. It'll be up within a week or two. Until it is up, please leave a review, and stay tuned!