Beleg is a welcome addition to the Gaurwaith, using his Elven knowledge to heal and support the fellowship in battle. The only people who resent him are Mîm and Andróg, both of whom are jealous of Beleg’s close relationship with Túrin.

In the following year, Morgoth turns his attention to the hidden Elf cities. He sends larger armies of Orcs to seek out and assault Norgothrond. They are unable to pass Amon Rûdh, however, as Túrin and the Gaurwaith attack and resist their advances. Andróg breaks his vow to Mîm and is wounded by a poisoned arrow, which Beleg heals. In defying the curse Mîm placed on Andróg, Beleg causes Mîm’s hatred of the Elf to grow.

News of the Gaurwaith’s success inspires many Elves and Men to come to Amon Rûdh. Meanwhile, the kings at Nargothrond and Doriath remain hidden, refusing to send additional soldiers to strengthen the outlaws. Those who do come, however, build a number of camps around the hill, awaiting Túrin’s orders from the summit. Túrin claims the surrounding land as a new territory called Dor-Cúarthol, which he rules under the name Gorthol, the Dread Helm.

Túrin’s new status seems to sadden Beleg. When Túrin asks, Beleg worries that they will soon lose the advantage of secrecy that their previously small number gave them. He also worries that the surrounding land cannot support them, especially as their number continues to grow. Túrin disregards this counsel.

Morgoth learns of Túrin’s presence at Amon Rûdh but fears that he may have grown too strong to be affected by the curse. He makes immediate plans to capture Túrin and subject him to the same torture as his father. Spies surround Amon Rûdh to gather information, which provokes Mîm to betray Túrin. The Dwarf demands iron, gold, and noninterference from the Orcs and additionally asks that Beleg be left to him as a prisoner while Túrin is released. The Orcs pretend to agree to his conditions, keeping Mîm’s son, Ibun, as a hostage to guarantee the Dwarf’s end of the deal.

The Orcs infiltrate the House of Ransom, forcing Túrin and Beleg to retreat into the cave. Andróg uses Mîm’s hidden staircase to bring the Gaurwaith to the summit of the hill, where they push back the invading Orcs. Andróg is fatally wounded by an arrow, and Túrin and Beleg are captured as the only remaining survivors of the summit defense. The Orcs leave the hill, taking Túrin with them but leaving Beleg behind. Mîm comes to the bound Beleg with a knife. Just before the Dwarf can kill the Elf, Andróg uses the last of his strength to attack Mîm and free Beleg.

After he realizes that Túrin has been taken to Angband, Beleg leaves the hill to pursue them. While passing through the Forest Under Night, Beleg finds a sleeping Elf, whom he learns is Gwindor. Having been captured during the Battle of Unnumbered Tears, Gwindor is revealed to have escaped the labor camp at Angband, losing one of his hands in the process.

Soon after, the Orc convoy bearing Túrin passes through the forest. Gwindor discourages Beleg from chasing after the Orcs, but Beleg refuses to let Túrin go. They trail the convoy out of the forest, where the Orcs set up camp. Beleg and Gwindor sneak in to rescue Túrin, freeing him from a tree. They bring Túrin to a thicket, accidentally injuring him in the process. Túrin wakes and mistakes Beleg for an Orc. He reaches for Beleg’s sword, Anglachel, and kills Beleg in a single strike.

Túrin quickly realizes his mistake, alerting the Orcs to his escape. However, the Orcs are too terrified by an oncoming storm to pursue them. Túrin sits unresponsive beside the corpse of Beleg, weeping over his mistake. The following morning, the Orcs leave and Gwindor prompts Túrin to help him in burying Beleg’s body, taking Anglachel and Beleg’s supply of lembas.

Gwindor brings Túrin to a spring that helps him to recover. Túrin composes a song for Beleg, and Gwindor observes that Anglachel seems to be grieving as well. Gwindor then introduces himself and tells Túrin that he is bringing him to Nargothrond, where Gwindor is a lord. When he learns that Gwindor was imprisoned at Angband, Túrin asks for news of his father. Gwindor is only able to provide rumors of Húrin’s continued defiance, as well as the curse that Morgoth placed on him and his family. Túrin trusts in the rumor, and the two of them continue their journey to the Elf city.

Upon arriving in Nargothrond, Gwindor isn’t recognized by anyone until he encounters his betrothed, Finduilas, the daughter of Orodreth, who rules over Nargothrond. Túrin tells Gwindor to introduce him as “Agarwaen, the son of Úmarth (which is the Bloodstained, son of Ill-fate)” (159). However, after Anglachel is reforged by the Elven smiths, Túrin receives other nicknames, like Mormegil, which means the Black Sword, and Adanedhel, which means the Elf-man. Anglachel is likewise renamed Gurthang, or the Iron of Death.

Orodreth welcomes Túrin into his council, and Túrin argues against Nargothrond’s use of stealth in favor of open battle. Gwindor disagrees, saying that the Elves no longer have the strength to fight Morgoth as they did during the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. He would rather rely on the Valar to liberate them. Nonetheless, Túrin rises to the position of Orodreth’s chief counsellor and convinces the Elves of Nargothrond to adopt his approach to the war. Gwindor, who can no longer participate in battle due to the physical effects of his captivity, falls out of favor with his peers.

Túrin and Finduilas become close to one another. They start meeting in private, and Túrin shares details of his late sister. Finduilas confesses that his given names seem unfit, so she starts calling him Thurin, which means the Secret. Túrin quickly distances himself from that name. Meanwhile, he notices Gwindor becoming more distant from him, having noticed that Finduilas now prefers Túrin (something Finduilas herself agonizes over). Túrin talks to Gwindor to try to resolve the coolness between them, but he doesn’t understand Gwindor’s meaning when Gwindor alludes bitterly to Finduilas’s love for Túrin.

Realizing that Morgoth’s curse is real and has affected Túrin, Gwindor approaches Finduilas to discourage her from pursuing Túrin. He reveals Túrin’s true name to her, as well as the curse on his family. Finduilas defends Túrin while also claiming that he does not love her. Later, Finduilas confronts Túrin about his identity. In turn, Túrin confronts Gwindor for revealing his name, to which Gwindor replies, “The doom lies in yourself, not in your name” (170).

As Túrin bolsters the defense of the woods, Morwen and Niënor finally leave Dor-lómin for Doriath to seek refuge with King Thingol. There Morwen quickly learns of Túrin’s absence, as well as that of the Helm of Hador.