#gorlim

It makes me wonder: maybe Sauron and Thû aren’t meant to be taken as exactly the same character after all. Maybe it’s more like Sauron eventually took his place — just as Thû once took Tevildo’s.

Or maybe Tolkien just wanted to give Sauron a more extended role in the plot, and it was probably easier to rewrite Gorlim’s scene than to come up with something entirely new. Either way, I’m not complaining.

So here’s the first version, with Melkor, and it’s relatively short.

"And thus sad Gorlim, led away unto those dark deep-dolven halls, before the knees of Morgoth falls and puts his trust in that cruel heart wherein no truth had ever part. Quoth Morgoth: ‘Eilinel the fair thou shalt most surely find, and there where she doth dwell and wait for thee together shall ye ever be, and sundered shall ye sigh no more. Thus guerdon shall he have that bore these tidings sweet, O traitor dear! For Eilinel she dwells not here, but in the shades of death doth roam widowed of husband and of home — a wraith of that which might have been, methinks, it is that thou hast seen! Now shalt thou through the gates of pain the land thou askest grimly gain; thou shalt to the moonless mists of hell descend and seek thy Eilinel’ Thus Gorlim died a bitter death and cursed himself with dying breath, and Barahir was caught and slain, and all good deeds were made in vain."

And here’s the rewritten part with Gorlim and Sauron, who is no longer called "Thû". It’s much longer, but I want to quote it in full.

There Morgoth's servants fast him caught and he was cruelly bound, and brought to Sauron captain of the host, the lord of werewolf and of ghost, most foul and fell of all who knelt at Morgoth's throne. In might he dwelt on Gaurhoth Isle; but now had ridden with strength abroad, by Morgoth bidden to find the rebel Barahir. He sat in dark encampment near, and thither his butchers dragged their prey. There now in anguish Gorlim lay: with bond on neck, on hand and foot, to bitter torment he was put, to break his will and him constrain to buy with treason end of pain. But naught to them would he reveal of Barahir, nor break the seal of faith that on his tongue was laid; until at last a pause was made, and one came softly to his stake, a darkling form that stooped, and spake to him of Eilinel his wife. 'Wouldst thou,' he said, 'forsake thy life, who with 'few words might win release for her, and thee, and go in peace, and dwell together far from war, friends of the King? What wouldst thou more?' And Gorlim, now long worn with pain, yearning to see his wife again (whom well he weened was also caught, in Sauron’s net), allowed the thought to grow, and faltered in his troth. Then straight, half willing and half loath, they brought him to the seat of stone where Sauron sat. He stood alone before that dark and dreadful face, and Sauron said: 'Come, mortal base! What do I hear? That thou wouldst dare to barter with me? Well, speak fair! What is thy price?' And Gorlim low bowed down his head, and with great woe, word on slow word, at last implored that merciless and faithless lord that he might free depart, and might again find Eilinel the White, and dwell with her, and cease from war against the King. He craved no more. Then Sauron smiled, and said: 'Thou thrall! The price thou askest is but small for treachery and shame so great! I grant it surely! Well, I wait: Come! Speak now swiftly and speak true!' Then Gorlim wavered, and he drew half back; but Sauron's daunting eye there held him, and he dared not lie: as he began, so must he wend he all must answer as he could, betray his lord and brotherhood, and cease, and fall upon his face. Then Sauron laughed aloud. 'Thou base, thou cringing worm! Stand up, and hear me! And now drink the cup that I have sweetly blent for thee! Thou fool: a phantom thou didst see that I, I Sauron, made to snare thy lovesick wits. Naught else was there. Cold 'tis with Sauron's wraiths to wed! Thy Eilinel! She is long since dead, food of worms less low than thou. And yet thy boon I grant thee now: to Eilinel thou soon shalt go, and lie in her bed, no more to know of war- or manhood. Have thy pay!' And Gorlim then they dragged away, and cruelly slew him; and at last in the dank mould his body cast, where Eilinel long since had laid in the burned woods by butchers slain. Thus Gorlim died an evil death, and cursed himself with dying breath, and Barahir at last was caught in Morgoth's snare; for set at naught by treason was the ancient grace that guarded long that lonely place, Tarn Aeluin: now all laid bare were secret paths and hidden lair.

The major difference is that in the original draft, Gorlim comes to Melkor of his own will, already intending to betray his lord in hopes of saving Eilinel. But in the later version, he’s captured and tortured, and only afterward does Sauron begin talking to him about his wife. This makes it much more understandable why he gave in. He simply didn’t have the strength to resist after everything he’d endured — and hearing that there might be a way to end the pain and save his wife must’ve been an incredibly tempting offer.

Everything feels so much darker and harsher now — I’d even say brutal. The way Gorlim was tortured and deceived, then killed and buried in the same place as Eilinel, just to make it look like Sauron kept his promise… but in the very twisted way. I was honestly speechless when I read it for the first time. Ugh, Tolkien YOU REALLY COOKED HERE.

And specifically comparing Melkor and Sauron, it actually surprises me that, even though Gorlim willingly betrayed Barahir, Melkor doesn’t insult him. He seems calm and only addresses him with "O traitor dear!" It’s mockery, of course, but not an insult. Especially compared to what Sauron says to Gorlim: "mortal base", "thou thrall", "cringing worm", "fool". Sauron seems so much more aggressive and arrogant than Melkor, even though, again, Gorlim was caught and tortured, and didn’t come to him willingly. And he's so triumphant when his plan works — he laughs and fully revels in his victory.