Carcharoth

Carcharoth's History

character origin

Werewolves first appear inJ. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium as a corruption of men by the first Dark Lord Morgoth. During the First Age, some men who allied with Morgoth's forces were cursed or bred by him to take wolf-like forms under the light of the moon. These were among the earliest lycanthropic being or "werewolves", in Middle-earth in year 1330 of the Age of Starlight. After hearing of the Fall of Tol-in-Gaurhoth, where Huan had defeated Draugluin and Sauron, Morgoth decided to create a werewolf to kill Huan, who could only be killed by the greatest wolf to have ever lived. Carcharoth became involved with the Quest for the Silmaril when Beren and Lúthien had to pass him on their way into Angband. He stopped them, suspicious of Draugluin, (Beren in disguise) as he had heard of Draugluin's death. Lúthien enchanted him with her magic, but on their way out Carcharoth attacked before Lúthien could enchant him again. Beren held out the captured Silmaril in an attempt to stay the beast, but Carcharoth bit off Beren's hand at the wrist with Silmaril and all. Huan's Leap by Ted Nasmith The Silmaril burnt away Carcharoth's insides, and he became crazed with pain. A terror to Eldar, Men and Orcs alike, he passed south through Beleriand, consumed with an overpowering thirst. From this comes his name of Anfauglir, meaning 'Jaws of Thirst'. He arrived in Doriath where Beren, King Thingol, Beleg Cúthalion and Mablung joined with Huan the Hound in the Hunting of the Wolf. At last, he was discovered within the borders of Doriath itself, where he fought his last fight with Huan: the wolf and the hound took one another's lives in that combat. Both Beren and Huan were mortally wounded. When Mablung cut open the belly of the beast, he found there the Silmaril with Beren's hand still around it, but when he touched the flesh it was no more.