First Line Fridays: Unfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle Earth by J.R.R Tolkien

 I have not participated in First Line Fridays in over a year. FLF is a hosted by Carrie over at Reading is My Superpower and involves sharing the First Line of a book you are currently reading. 

I've been wanting to get back into doing First Line Friday posts for ages, and now just seems the best time. For a little bit of context, I've joined a movement that has decided to respond the the release of the Rings of Power series with a little bit of a protest. 

Call it a literary protest. Instead of watching the show, we're going to read or listen to something by J.R.R Tolkien. Don't let that put you off! I have nothing against anyone who decides to watch the series, its just I have chosen not to. 

There just seems to be something disrespectful about releasing it on the anniversary of the day that Tolkien passed away (September 2nd, 1973). 

So today, I am sharing the first line of the one of the only major works of Tolkien's that I have not yet read: 

                          Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth

 

The name is self - explanatory. Its a collection of unfinished stories which were edited by J.R.R Tolkien's son Christopher and published posthumously.

I have skipped the Introduction for my First Line, and taken in from the first section of the Book.  A Tale entited Of Tuor and his Coming To Gondolin.

 

 Don't be put off again by all that, these are just the names of some characters from the First Age of Tolkien's world. Huor was a human warrior, Rian was his wife and they had a son called Tuor. 

This Tuor was tasked with going to a hidden Elf city called Gondolin to warn them of impending danger. He eventually ended up falling in love with and marrying the daughter of the King of Gondolin, an Elven Princess called Idril. 

To cut a long story short, Gondolin was besieged by the Dark Lord Morgoth, the satan figure in Tolkien's world. He was led there by a turncoat Elf called Meaglin.
The story of the Fall of Gondolin is awesome. There's an army of dragons and Balrogs, there's an Elf warrior callled Glorfindel who duels a balrog (I know!). 

Oh, and the Elven princesss dons armour in defense of her people. Idril and Tuor were also the grandparents of Elrond!

I also have the audiobook of this title, narrated by Timothy and Samuel West. What a treat! 

What's your first line? Do you think me a showoff for reading Tolkien?