Thorondor is the Lord of Manwe’s giant eagles. He watches over the Noldor, frequently interfering to remove elves from dangerous situations in Middle-earth. He and his eagles rescue Fingon, Maedhros, Beren, Lúthien, Húrin, Huor, and the bodies of Fingolfin and Glorfindel. Thorondor also scratches Melkor’s face and leads the eagles against the dragons during the Great Battle.
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Thorondor Character Timeline in The Silmarillion
The timeline below shows where the character Thorondor appears in The Silmarillion. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 13. Of the Return of the Noldor
...them. Manwë has great eagles stationed in the mountains to watch over the Noldor, and Thorondor, their king, grabs Fingon and flies him up to Maedhros. Fingon can’t break the chain...
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Chapter 18. Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin
...elves to sing about, but it’s carried by the great eagles to Gondolin and Hithlum. Thorondor files down and scratches Morgoth’s face before rescuing Fingolfin’s body. The pain of Morgoth’s wounds...
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...orcs, they’re cut off from their company and protected by a mist from Ulmo before Thorondor carries them to safety in the city of Gondolin.
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Chapter 19. Of Beren and Lúthien
...her fading powers as Angband wakes up from her spell. The giant eagles, led by Thorondor, carry Beren and Lúthien through a thunderstorm back to Doriath.
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Chapter 22. Of the Ruin of Doriath
...him to leave Angband. He wanders near Gondolin, where the great eagles spot him, and Thorondor tells Turgon that he’s nearby. Turgon assumes that Húrin has finally surrendered and become Morgoth’s...
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Chapter 24. Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath
...suddenly drive the Valar back. Eärendil sails in with all the great birds led by Thorondor and battles the dragons in the sky. He kills the dragon Ancalagon and throws him...
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