Barahir

Barahir was a lord of the Edain during the First Age, most noted for his loyalty to the Noldor and as the father of Beren. He was the last lord of his House in Dorthonion, and his defiance of Morgoth in the aftermath of the Battle of Sudden Flame became legendary.

Barahir became lord of his people after the death of his elder brother. During the Battle of Sudden Flame (F.A. 455), when Morgoth broke the Siege of Angband and unleashed fire and ruin across Beleriand, Barahir fought alongside his brother and the Elves of Dorthonion. Barahir's brother and many of their kin were slain in the fighting, but Barahir survived.

Amid the battle, Barahir and his men came to the aid of Finrod Felagund, who had been cut off and surrounded by enemies. Barahir saved the Elven king's life, and in gratitude Finrod swore an oath of friendship to him and all his kin. As a token of this vow, Finrod gave Barahir his ring, later known as the Ring of Barahir. This heirloom would become an important symbol passed down to Barahir's son, Beren, and through him to the kings of Númenor and Gondor.

After the battle, Dorthonion was overrun and corrupted into Taur-nu-Fuin. Barahir gathered the remnants of his people and led them as outlaws in the wilds of the highlands. For years he and his companions harried Morgoth's forces, living in secrecy and hardship. His wife gathered the surviving women and children of their house and led them away to Brethil, saving them from destruction.

Ultimately, Barahir and his twelve companions were betrayed by a spy, who was ensnared by Sauron. Morgoth's forces fell upon their hideout beside Tarn Aeluin, slaying Barahir and all his men save for his son Beren, who returned too late to rescue them. Beren buried his father and companions and thereafter lived on as a solitary outlaw, before his fateful meeting with Lúthien.

Barahir's memory endured as a symbol of loyalty and defiance against Morgoth. The Ring of Barahir became one of the most treasured heirlooms of the Edain, carried by his descendants and ultimately preserved through the royal lines of Númenor and Arnor. His sacrifice and his oath with Finrod Felagund directly shaped the later deeds of his son Beren, whose union with Lúthien became one of the central tales of the First Age.