"Of Beren and Lúthien"
by J. R. R. Tolkien
It chanced that Celegorm and Curufin went on a hunt through the Guarded Plain; and this they did because Sauron, being filled with suspicion, sent forth many wolves into the Elf-lands. Therefore they took their hounds and rode forth; and they thought that ere they returned they might also hear tidings concerning King Felagund. Now the chief of the wolf hounds that followed Celegorm was named Huan. He was not born in Middle-earth, but came from the Blessed Realm; for Orome had given him to Celegorm long ago in Valinor, and there he had followed the horn of his master, before evil came. Huan followed Celegorm into exile, and was faithful; and thus he too came under the doom of woe set upon the Noldor, and it was decreed that he should meet death, but not until he encountered the mightiest wolf that would ever walk the world.
Huan it was that found Lúthien flying like a shadow surprised by the daylight under the trees, when Celegorm and Curufin rested a while near to the western eaves of Doriath; for nothing could escape the sight and scent of Huan, nor could any enchantment stay him, and he slept not, neither by night nor day. He brought her to Celegorm, and Lúthien, learning that he was a prince of the Noldor and a foe of Morgoth, was glad; and she declared herself, casting aside her cloak. So great was her sudden beauty revealed beneath the sun that Celegorm became enamoured of her; but he spoke,e her fair, and promised that she would find help in her need, if she returned with him now to Nargothrond. By no sign did he reveal that he knew already of Beren and the quest, of which she told, nor that it was a matter which touched him near.
Thus they broke off the hunt and returned
to Nargothrond, and Lúthien was betrayed; for they held her fast, and too,k
away her cloak, and she was not permitted to pass the gates or to speak
with any save the brothers, Celegorm and Curufin. For now, believing that
Beren and Felagund were prisoners beyond hope of aid, they purposed to let the King perish, and to keep Lúthien , and force Thingol to give her the
mightiest of princes of the Noldor. And they did not purpose to seek the
Silmarils by craft or war, or to suffer any others to do so, until they had
all the might of the Elf-kingdoms under their hands. Orodreth had no power to withstand them, for they swayed the hearts of the people of Nargothrond; and Celegorm sent messengers to Thingol urging his suit.
But Huan the hound was true of heart, and
the love of Lúthien had fallen upon him in the first hour of their meeting;
and he grieved at her captivity. Therefore he came often to her chamber;
and at night he lay before her door, for he felt that evil had come to
Nargothrond. Lúthien spoke often to Huan in her loneliness, telling of
Beren, who was the friend of all birds and beasts that did not serve
Morgoth; ad Huan understood all that was said. For he comprehended the
speech of all things with voice; but it was permitted to him thrice only
ere his death to speak with words.
Now Huan devised a plan for the aid of
Lúthien; and coming at a time of night he brought her cloak, and for the
first time he spoke, giving her counsel. Then he led her by secret ways
out of Nargothrond, and they fled north together; and he humbled his pride
and suffered her to ride upon him in the fashion of a steed, even as the
Orcs did at times upon great wolves. Thus they made great speed, for Huan was swift and tireless.
In the pits of Sauron Beren and Felagund lay, and all their companions were now dead; but Sauron purposed to keep Felagund to the last, for he perceived that he was a Noldo of great might and wisdom, and he deemed that in him lay the secret of their errand. But when the wolf came for Beren, Felagund put forth all his power, and burst his bonds; and he wrestled with the werewolf, and slew it with his hands and teeth; yet he himself was wounded to the death. Then he spoke to Beren, saying: 'I go now to my long rest in the timeless halls beyond the seas and the Mountains of Aman. It will be long ere I am seen among the Noldor again; and it may be that we shall not meet a second time in death or life, for the fates of our kindreds are apart. Farewell!' He died then in the dark, in
Tol-in-Gaurhoth, whose great tower he himself had built. Thus King Finrod Felagund, fairest and most beloved of the house of Finwe, redeemed his oath; but Beren mourned beside him in despair.
In that hour Lúthien came, and standing
upon the bridge that led to Sauron's isle she sang a song that no walls of
stone could hinder. Beren heard, and he thought that he dreamed; for the
stars shone above him, and in the trees nightingales were singing. And in
answer he sang a song of challenge that he had made in praise of the Seven
Stars, the Sickle of the Valar that Varda hung above the North as a sign
for the fall of Morgoth. Then all strength left him and he fell down into
darkness.
But Lúthien heard his answering voice, and
she sang then a song of greater power. The wolves howled, and the isle
trembled. Sauron stood in the high tower, wrapped in his black thought ;
but he smiled hearing her voice, for he knew that it was the daughter of
Melian. The fame of the beauty of Lúthien and the wonder of her song had
long gone forth from Doriath; and he thought to make her captive and hand
her over to the power of Morgoth, for his reward would be great. Therefore he sent a wolf to the bridge. But Huan slew it silently.
Still Sauron sent others one by one; and one by one Huan took them by the
throat and slew them. Then Sauron sent Draugluin, a dread beast, old in
evil lord and sire of the werewolves of Angband. His might was great; and the battle of Huan and Draugluin was long and fierce. Yet at length
Draugluin escaped, and fleeing back into the tower he died before Sauron's
feet; and as he died he told his master: 'Huan is there!' Now Sauron knew
well, as did all in that land, the fate that was decreed for the hound of
Valinor, and it came into his thought that he himself would accomplish it.
Therefore he took upon himself the form of a werewolf, and made himself the mightiest that had yet walked the world; and he came forth to win the passage of the bridge.
So great was the horror of his approach
that Huan leaped aside. Then Sauron sprang upon Lúthien; and she swooned
before the menace of the fell spirit in his eyes and the foul vapour of his
breath. But even as he came, falling she cast a fold of her dark cloak
before his eyes; and he stumbled, for a fleeting drowsiness came upon him. Then Huan sprang. There befell the battle of Huan and Wolf-Sauron, and howls and baying echoed in the hills, and the watchers on the walls of Ered Wethrin across the valley heard it afar and were dismayed.
But no wizardry nor spell, neither fang nor
venom, nor devil's art nor beast-streangth , could overthrow Huan without
forsaking his body utterly. Ere his foul spirit left its dark house,
Lúthien came to him, ghost be sent quaking back to Morgoth; and she said:
'There everlastingly thy naked self shall endure the torment of his scorn,
pierced by his eyes, unless thou yield to me the mastery of thy tower.'
Then Sauron yielded himself, and Lúthien took the mastery of the isle and all that was there; and Huan released him. And immediately he took the form of a vampire, great as a dark cloud across the moon, and he fled, dripping blood from his throat upon the trees, and came to Tar-nu-Fuin, and dwelt there, filling it with horror.
Then Lúthien stood upon the bridge, and declare
her power: and the spell was loosed that bound stone to stone, and the
gates were thrown down, and the walls opened, and the pits laid bare; and
many thralls and captives came forth in wonder and dismay, shielding their eyes against the pale moon light, for they had lain long in the darkness of
Sauron. But Beren came not. Therefore Huan and Lúthien sought him in the isle; and Lúthien found him mourning by Felagund. So deep was his anguish that he lay still, and did not hear her feet. Then thinking him already dead she put her arms about him and fell into a dark forgetfulness. But Beren coming back to the light out of the pits of despair lifted her up, and they looked again upon one another; and the day rising over the dark hills shone upon them.
They buried the body of Felagund upon the
hill-top of his own isle, and it was clean again; and the green grave of
Finrod Finarfin's son, fairest of all the princes of the Elves, remained
inviolate, until the land was changed and broken, and foundered under
destroying seas. But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the
trees in Eldamar.
Now Beren and Lúthien Tinuviel went free
again and together walked through the woods renewing for a time their joy; and though winter came it hurt them not, for flowers lingered where Lúthien went, and the birds sang beneath the snowclad hills. But Huan being faithful went back to Celegorm his master; yet their love was less than before.
There was tumult in Nargothrond. For
thither now returned many Elves that had been prisoners in the isle of
Sauron; and a clamour arose that no words of Celegorm could still. They
lamented bitterly the fall of Felagund their king, saying that a maiden had
dared that which the sons of Feanor had not dared to do; but many perceived that it was treachery rather than fear that had guided Celegorm and Curufin. There fore the hearts of the people of Nargothrond were released from their dominion, and turned again to the house of Finarfin; and they obeyed Orodreth. But he would not suffer them to slay the brothers, as some desired, for the spilling of kindred blood by kin would bind the cures of Mandos more closely upon them all. Yet neither bread nor rest would he grant to Celegorm and Curufin within his realm, and he swore that there should be little love between Nargothrond and the sons of Feanor there after.
'Let it be so!' said Celegorm, and there
was a light of menace in his eyes; but Curufin smiled. Ten they took horse and rode away like fire, to find if they might their kindred in the east. But none would go with them, not even those that were of their own people; for all perceived that the curse lay heavily upon the brothers, and that evil followed them. In that time Celebrimbor the son of Curufin repudiated the deeds of his father, and remained in Nargothrond; yet Huan followed still the horse of Celegorm his master.
Northward they rode, for they intended in
their haste to pass through Dimbar, and along the north marches or Doriath, seeking the swiftest road to Him ring, where Maedhros their brother dwelt; and still they might hope with speed to traverse it, since it lay close to
Doriath's borders, shunning Nan Dungortheb and the distant menace of the
Mountains of Terror.
Now it is told that Beren and Lúthien came in their wandering into the Forests of Brethil, and drew near at last to the borders of Doriath. Then Beren took thought of his vow; and against his heart he resolved, when
Lúthien was come again within the safety of her own land, to set forth once
more. But she was not willing to be parted form him again, saying: 'You
must choose, Beren, between these two: to relinquish the quest and your
oath and seek a life of wandering upon the face of the earth; or to hold to
your word and challenge the power of darkness upon its throne. But on
either road I shall go with you, and our doom shall be alike.'
Even as they spoke together of these things, walking without heed of aught else, Celegorm and Curufin rode up, hastening through the forest;
and the brothers espied them and knew them for afar. Then Celegorm turned
his horse, and spurred it upon Beren, purposing to ride him down; but
Curufin swerving stooped and lifted Lúthien to his saddle, for he was a
strong and cunning horseman. Then Beren sprang from before Celegorm full
upon the speeding horse of Curufin that had passed hi; and the Leap of
Beren is renowned among that had passed him; and the Leap of Beren is
renowned among Men and Elves. He took Curufin by the throat from behind,
and hurled him backward, and they fell to the ground together. The horse
reared and fell, but Lúthien was flung aside, and lay upon the grass.
Then Beren throttled Curufin; but death was near him, for Celegorm rode upon him with a spear. in that hour Huan forsook the service or
Celegorm, and sprang up[on him, so that his horse swerved aside, and would
not approach Beren because of the terror of the great hound. Celegorm
cursed both hound and horse, but Huan was unmoved. Then Lúthien rising
forbade the slaying of Curufin; but Beren despoiled him of his gear and
weapons, and took his knife, sheathless by his side; iron it would cleave
as if it were green wood. Then Beren lifting Curufin flung him from him,
and bade him walk now back to his noble kinsfolk, who might teach him to
turn his valour to worthier use. 'Your horse,' he said, 'I keep for the
service of Lúthien, and it may be accounted happy to be free of such a
master.'
Then Curufin cursed Beren under cloud and sky. 'Go hence,' he said, 'unto a swift and bitter death.' Celegorm took him beside him on his
horse, and the brothers made then as if to ride away; and Beren turned away
and took no heed of their words. But Curufin, being filled with shame and
malice, took the bow of Celegorm and shot back as they went; and the arrow
was aimed at Lúthien. Huan leaping caught it in his mouth; but Curufin
shot again, and Beren sprang before Lúthien, and the dart smote him in the
breast.
It is told that Huan pursued the sons of Feanor, and they fled in fear; and returning he brought to Lúthien a herb out of the forest. With
that leaf he staunched Beren's wound, and by her arts and by her love she
healed him; and thus at last they returned to Doriath. There Beren, being
torn between his oath and his love, and knowing Lúthien to be now safe,
arose one morning before the sun, and committed her to the care of Huan;
then in great anguish he departed while she yet slept upon the grass.
He rode northward again with all speed to the Pass of Sirion, and coming to the skirts of Taur-nu-Fuin he looked out across the waste of
Anfauglith and saw afar the peaks of Thangorodrim. There he dismissed the
horse of Curufin, and bade it leave now dread and servitude and run free
upon the green grass in the lands of Sirion. Then being now alone and upon
the threshold of the final peril he made the Song of Parting, in praise of
Lúthien and the lights of heaven; for he believed that he must now say
farewell to both love and light. Of that song these words were part:
Farewell sweet earth and northern sky,
for ever blest, since here did lie
and here with lissom limbs did run
beneath the Moon, beneath the Sun,
Lúthien Tinuviel
more fair than mortal tongue can tell.
Though all to ruin fell the world
and were dissolved and backward hurled
unmade into the old abyss,
yet were its making good, for this-
the dusk, the dawn, the earth, the sea-
that Lúthien for a time should be.
And he sang aloud, caring not what ear should overhear him, for he was desperate and looked for no escape.
But Lúthien heard his song, and she sang in answer, as she came through the woods unlooked for. For Huan, consenting once more to be her
steed, had borne her swiftly hard upon Beren's trail. Long he had pondered
in his heart what counsel he could devise for the lightning of the peril of
these two whom he loved. He turned aside therefore at Sauron's isle, as
they ran northward again, and he took thence the ghastly wolf-hame of
Draugluin, and the bat-fell of? Thuringwethil. She was the messenger of
Sauron, and was wont to fly in vampire's form to Angband; and her great
fingered wings were barbed at each joint's end with and iron claw. Clad in
these dreadful garments Huan and Lúthien ran through Taur-nu-Fuin, and all
things fled before them.