three houses of the edain ✾ house of bëor ✾ headcanon disclaimer
Baragund and Belegund were the sons of Bregolas of Ladros. When their father fell in the Dagor Bragollach, they remained in Dorthonion to fight the Enemy alongside their uncle Barahir, though they sent away their own young families to safer lands. Their elder sister, Beleth, guarded over their children along the perilous journey, as both Baragund’s wife and Belegund’s husband perished in battle before they could escape. In happier times, Baragund had wed Reniel, the youngest daughter of a large family who secretly resisted the role of “gentle maiden” that was expected of her. Baragund discovered the fierceness that lay within her and encouraged her to learn the sword, coaching her into becoming a fearsome warrior. Reniel took the name Angren, the Grinning Maw, for she rushed into battle against orcs with wild laughter and delight in the freedom she had achieved for herself. Angren passed her stubborn independence and firm will onto her only child, Morwen. Angren fought valiantly to her death, refusing to abandon her husband and homeland, and was slain in a burst of dragonfire. Belegund was similar to his brother in many ways, but he chose a very different partner for his life. He married Redoron, a kind and practical fisherman who bore him two children, Rían and Orlin. Rían adored her elder cousin Morwen, who enjoyed having someone to order around, and as they grew they became fast friends just like their fathers. Little Orlin was only a year old when the Sudden Flame descended upon the place of his birth, and was raised mostly by Rían and his aunt Beleth, never truly knowing his fathers. Redoron was no warrior, but he held the rearguard of his fleeing people, and was killed by an orc just before they crossed the Mountains of Shadow into the relative safety of Hithlum. Even as Baragund and Belegund joined Barahir’s band of outlaws, their children settled into a new home in Dor-lómin, welcomed and sheltered by the House of Hador. Indeed, both their daughters would wed lords of that House, bearing sons whose great deeds would shape the fate of Arda. But Orlin, the son of Belegund, grew into a shy young man who never claimed the leadership that could have passed to him after the destruction of the rest of his family; only when he saw his home conquered a second time in the aftermath of the Nírnaeth did he harden his resolve and nurse a secret anger against the Incomers who ruled over him in cruelty. Upon the return of Morwen’s son Túrin to Dor-lómin, threatening violence against any who would stand in his way, Orlin stepped forth to confront his cousin’s child, but Túrin struck him down in blind rage without any regard for their long-forgotten kinship.