Why We’re So Obsessed With Tales Of True Crime

 Water the root, not the fruit!

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Why We’re So Obsessed With Tales Of True Crime

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Glaurung was the first of the dragons 🐉 🐉 and one of the foremost lieutenants of Morgoth during the First Age. He had four legs, and a fiery breath, but no wings and could not fly. He was sentient and could talk and understand speech.

History

The forces of Fingon against Glaurung by David Greset

Exactly when Glaurung was created is not known, but he first emerged from Angband in F.A. 260, during the Siege of Angband. Although he was still young according to the long life of Dragons, and not grown to his full strength, his initial assault pushed the Noldorfrom Ard-galen, which he took and defiled, to Dorthonion and the Ered Wethrin.

This victory was short-lived, however, and Glaurung was forced back to Angband when Fingon rode against him with a company of mounted archers. Morgoth was not pleased that Glaurung had revealed himself while still immature, and did not allow any more forays from Angband for some two hundred years.

Two major battles

The siege of Angband was broken in F.A. 455 in the Dagor Bragollach, the Battle of Sudden Flame. Glaurung, now grown to his full might, led the largest army of balrogs and orcs yet assembled against the leaguer of the Noldor and overthrew it. He then pressed against the people of Fëanor and, defeating a contingent of their riders upon the plain of Lothlann and forcing Maglor's Gap, burned all the land between the arms of Gelion.

The counter-attack came in F.A. 472, when the Union of Maedhros marched in force against Angband in the decisive battle of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, the Unnumbered Tears. Glaurung and his brood entered the battle in the early hours of the third morning, when Morgoth loosed his last strength against the combined forces of Fingon, Turgon and Maedhros:

The strength and terror of the Great Worm were now great indeed, and Elves and Men withered before him; and he came between the hosts of Maedhros and Fingon and swept them apart. 

Quenta Silmarillion, "Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad"

But the Dwarves of Belegost with their great war masks withstood him. Surrounded and hewed at by their axes, Glaurung was driven into a rage and slew Azaghâl the Lord of Belegost. But with his last stroke the Dwarf-lord dealt Glaurung a grievous wound to the belly and the dragon and his brood fled back to Angband, leaving the final victory over the Union to Gothmog and his balrogs.