three houses of the edain ➴ house of haleth ➴ headcanon disclaimer
Dorlas was a woodman of Brethil. He was among the Haladin warriors who waylaid an orc-host leading captive elves from Nargothrond to Angband, but their attempts at a rescue failed and Princess Finduilas was pinned to a tree with a spear. They buried her in a mound known later as the Haudh-en-Elleth, and the following spring they discovered a strange man in a swoon upon the mound. This man was carried to Chieftain Brandir for healing, and when he woke he declared his name was Turambar. He remained in Brethil for some years, until his deeds of valour drew the attention of Glaurung. At first Turambar refused to fight the dragon as he had promised his wife Níniel he would not go to battle unless their homes were assailed, but Dorlas was eager for war and shamed him into heading into the field, revealing their location. When Turambar asked for volunteers to accompany him on a quest to slay the dragon, only Dorlas stepped forth. Seeing the others hold back, Dorlas scorned them and demanded to know if none would take the place of Brandir the Lame so that the House of Haleth would not be put to shame. Then Brandir’s kinsman Hunthor took up the task and upbraided Dorlas for his cruelty, but in the end both men set out with Turambar to face Glaurung. Yet despite his boldness and harsh words, Dorlas quailed when they came to the ravines of the River Teiglin. Overwhelmed with fear of the rocks and rushing water, he fled even before encountering the dragon. He abandoned his companions and hid in the forest, but soon he was discovered by Brandir, who shamed him for his cowardice. In anger, Dorlas struck at him, but Brandir was possessed by rage and grief at the death of Níniel, for which he held Dorlas partially guilty, and slew him before Dorlas could land a blow. Dorlas’ wife Daneth was furious when she heard of her husband’s death, and was one of the most outspoken critics of Hunthor’s brother Manthor when he attempted to claim the Chieftainship of the Haladin, arguing that somehow it was Hunthor’s fault that Dorlas had perished. Her son Avranc was fiercely loyal to Manthor’s opponent Hardang, and became one of his chief supporters. Between the death of his father and the arrival of Húrin Thalion to Brethil, Avranc wed the huntress Nachiel, who like him was an excellent archer. Avranc was among the party led by Manthor who discovered Húrin, and he suggested immediately killing the old man since trouble followed him from Angband. Manthor rebuked him, and against his command Avranc sped to Hardang bearing the news. Hardang was ill-pleased to see Húrin, and did not rise to greet him nor to offer him a chair, forcing the old man to sit on the ground. Only after Manthor upbraided him did Hardang grudgingly offer Húrin food and rest, and his weak courtesy so offended Húrin that he threw a stool at Hardang, cutting his head. Avranc promptly arrested and imprisoned him and again advocated for his execution. At this Manthor protested, and quit Hardang’s service to summon the People of Haleth to a Folkmoot. Avranc spread rumors among the woodmen about Húrin’s dark intentions, and was appointed by Hardang to defend his cause at Húrin’s trial. But with Manthor’s support and counsel, the Haladin were won over to Húrin’s side. Yet instead of justice being served, a riot broke out between the followers of Hardang and the followers of Manthor, culminating in the burning of the Hall of Chieftains, in which Hardang perished. Amid the chaos, Avranc shot twice at Manthor and missed both times. Manthor and Húrin escaped the ruins of Obel Halad, but before they could flee entirely Avranc fired an arrow a third time, killing Manthor. The remnant of the Haladin erupted into yet more rioting, and in the end, Avranc claimed the Chieftainship of the Haladin, as the descendants of Haldad were no more. But only a few men heeded Avranc’s orders, and most of the Haladin forsook Brethil and began to make their way south to the Havens of Sirion. While Daneth remained loyal to her son, Avranc’s wife Nachiel held him responsible for the ruin of her people and abandoned him for the love of Himmeth, the widow of Hunthor whom Avranc so despised.
