Chapter Nineteen: Of Beren and Lúthien

Beren, the Wandering Outlaw

Barahir and his companions were pursued to the death by the servants of Morgoth and dwelt in the wilderness as wandering outlaws. Eventually, all were killed except Beren. Beren pursued the orcs that had killed his father and retrieved his father’s ring. After that, he wandered in the wilderness for about four years.

Beren Meets Lúthien

He came to the land of Doriath and stumbled upon Lúthien as she danced in the grass. Upon seeing her, he was unable to speak as he had fallen under some kind of spell. Lúthien vanished.

In the spring, Beren found her again, and the spell of silence was lifted from him. He called to her, naming her Tinúviel. She came to him and loved him, but she slipped away once more, and Beren fell deep into grief. However, after a time she returned to him, placing her hand in his. After that, they spent a lot of time together in secret.

Daeron the Minstrel also loved Lúthien and was jealous that she was hanging out with Beren, so he told Thingol about their meetings. As you might guess, Thingol, who wouldn’t even allow Men into his service, was pretty mad.

Lúthien wouldn’t tell Thingol anything about Beren until he swore not to harm or imprison him. So after he agreed, Lúthien led Beren before the throne of Thingol. Beren declared to Thingol that he loved Lúthien and would like to marry her. Thingol was very offended and regretted his oath to Lúthien.

Thingol gave Beren a deal: If you bring me a Silmaril, I will give you permission to marry Lúthien. Beren laughed, accepting the quest and setting off at once.

Beren’s Quest Begins

Beren passed through Doriath and sought out Felagund, who felt bound to help him. But Celegorm and Curufin, who had been living with Felagund, were furious to hear that someone else was seeking a Silmaril, and they refused to help.

Felagund gave the crown of Nargothrond to his brother Orodreth and left with Beren. The companions disguised themselves as orcs and were eventually brought before Sauron. Sauron stripped them of their disguise, but he was unable to learn their names or purpose, so he imprisoned them in a deep pit. Every so often, a werewolf would come and devour one of the companions, but all of them were faithful. Eventually, one by one were slain until only Felagund and Beren remained. At last, Felagund was also killed.

Lúthien Joins Beren

Lúthien learned that Beren was held captive by Sauron and decided to run away to help him. She asked Daeron for help, and he betrayed her. Thingol built a tree-house in which to hold Lúthien captive, but she wove a cloak and rope from her own hair and escaped.

Huan, the great hound of Valinor, found Lúthien and brought her to Celegorm and Curufin. Lúthien asked them for help, but they betrayed her, instead scheming to force Thingol to give her in marriage to Celegorm. However, Huan was pure of heart and loved Lúthien, and he helped her escape.

Sauron’s Isle

In the hour of Felagund’s death, Lúthien came to Sauron’s isle. Sauron recognized the voice of Lúthien and was eager to capture her and bring her to Morgoth for a reward. Sauron sent out wolves, but Huan slayed them one by one until Sauron himself came as a great werewolf. Huan held wolf-Sauron, and Sauron was unable to escape without forsaking his body entirely, which he wanted to avoid because it would have been humiliating to return to Morgoth without it. Lúthien demanded Sauron yield the mastery of his tower and isle, which he agreed to, and then he shapeshifted into a vampire and fled away.

Lúthien found Beren and they buried Felagund together. Beren resolved to take Lúthien back to Doriath and finish his quest, but she was unwilling to be parted from him.

Of Celegorm and Curufin

Huan returned to Celegorm, and there was tumult in Nargothrond as the people grieved the loss of Felagund. They suspected Celegorm and Curufin of treachery. Celegorm and Curufin left Nargothrond; however, Celebrimbor, the son of Curufin, remained.

In the Forest of Brethil, Celegrom and Curufin came upon Beren and Lúthien and tried to kill him. However, Lúthien used her power to heal him. Once again, after this, Beren tried to leave Lúthien behind. However, Huan and Lúthien pursued him, and Beren finally understood that he could not dissuade Lúthien.

Beren and Lúthien disguised themselves in the raiment of two of Sauron’s servants, putting on the wolf-hame of Draugluin and the bat-fell of Thuringwethil, and came to the Gate of Angband.

Of Morgoth

Carcharoth, Morgoth’s hound, was set before the doors of Angband. Lúthien commanded him to sleep, and they were able to walk past him.

Together they came before the throne of Morgoth, but Beren, still disguised as a wolf, lay before the throne. Lúthien was stripped of her disguise but was not daunted.

Lúthien’s song lulled everyone in Morgoth’s court to sleep, and when she cast her cloak before Morgoth’s eyes, he fell to the ground, and the iron crown rolled from his head. Beren drew Angrist and cut one of the Silmarils from the crown. Beren tried to free a second Silmaril, but the knife snapped and a shard smote the cheek of Morgoth. After this, they fled.

Carcharoth met them at the gate, and he bit off Beren’s hand as it held the Silmaril. The Silmaril burned the hound from inside, and he went forth in rage and madness, killing anything that crossed his path. The great eagles came and carried Beren and Lúthien away, just as the forces of Morgoth were awakening.

“Even Now a Silmaril is in my Hand”

After Beren was healed, he and Lúthien returned to Doriath and came before the throne of Thingol.

“But Beren knelt before him, and said: ‘I return according to my word. I am come now to claim my own.’ And Thingol answered: ‘What of your quest, and of your vow?’ But Beren said: ‘It is fulfilled. Even now a Silmaril is in my hand.’” After this Beren showed that his right hand was gone, which softened Thingol’s mood.
Together they told Thingol of their journey and everything that happened, and Thingol finally agreed to allow them to marry. However, Carcharoth was still on the loose, and so they prepared to hunt him. Huan slew Carcharoth but also died in doing so. And Beren was mortally wounded after protecting Thingol.

Lúthien’s Choice

As Beren died, Lúthien bade him to “await her beyond the Western Sea,” and his spirit tarried in the halls of Mandos. Lúthien’s spirit also faded. Lúthien came to the Halls of Mandos and sang before his throne, and he was moved to pity (which had never happened before and never happened again).

Mandos offered Lúthien a choice: to go to Valimar and dwell in the Blessed Realm, free from all grief; or to return to Middle-earth, taking Beren with her, and becoming mortal. Lúthien chose mortality.