tidings of Felagund and Turgon。 For they had vanished out of knowledge； and yet were not dead； and he feared what
they might yet acplish against him。 Of Nargothrond he knew indeed the name； but neither its place nor its strength；
and of Gondolin he knew nothing； and the thought of Turgon troubled him the more。 Therefore he sent forth ever more
spies into Beleriand； but he recalled the main hosts of the Orcs to Angband； for he perceived that he could not yet make
a final and victorious battle until he had gathered new strength； and that he had not measured rightly the valour of the
Noldor nor the might in arms of the Men that fought beside them。 Great though his victory had been in the Bragollach
and in the years after； and grievous the harm that he had done to his enemies； his own loss had been no less； and though
he held Dorthonion and the Pass of Sirion； the Eldar recovering from their first dismay began now to regain what they
had lost。 Thus Beleriand in the south had a semblance of peace again for a few brief years； but the forges of Angband
were full of labour。
When seven years had passed since the Fourth Battle； Morgoth renewed his assault； and he sent a great force
against Hithlum。 The attack on the passes of the Shadowy Mountains was bitter； and in the siege of Eithel Sirion Galdor
the tall。 Lord of Dor…lómin； was slain by an arrow。 That fortress he held on behalf of Fingon the High King； and in that
same place his father Hador Lórindol died but a little time before。 Húrin his son was then newly e to manhood； but
he was great in strength both of mind and body； and he drove the Orcs with heavy slaughter from Ered Wethrin； and
pursued them far across the sands of Anfauglith。
But King Fingon was hard put to it to hold back the army of Angband that came down from the north； and battle
was Joined upon the very plains of Hithlum。 There Fingon was outnumbered； but the ships of Círdan sailed in great
strength up the Firth of Drengist； and in the hour of need the Elves of the Falas came upon the host of Morgoth from the
west。 Then the Orcs broke and fled； and the Eldar had the victory； and their horsed archers pursued them even into the
Iron Mountains。
Thereafter Húrin son of Galdor ruled the house of Hador in Dor…lómin； and served Fingon。 Húrin was of less
stature than his fathers； or his son after him； but he was tireless and enduring in body； lithe and swift after the manner of
his mothers kin； Hareth of the Haladin。 His wife was Morwen Eledhwen； daughter of Baragund of the house of B？or； she
who fled from Dorthonion with Rían daughter of Belegund and Emeldir the mother of Beren。
In that time also the outlaws of Dorthonion were destroyed； as is told hereafter； and Beren son of Barahir alone
escaping came hardly into Doriath。
Chapter 19
Of Beren and Lúthien
Among the tales of sorrow and of ruin that e down to us from the darkness of those days there are yet some in which
amid weeping there is joy and under the shadow of death light that endures。 And of these histories most fair still in the
ears of the Elves is the tale of Beren and Lúthien。 Of their lives was made the Lay of Leithian； Release from Bondage；
which is the longest save one of the songs concerning the world of old； but here is told in fewer words and without song。
It has been told that Barahir would not for sake Dorthonion； and there Morgoth pursued him to his death； until at
last there remained to him only twelve panions。 Now the forest of Dorthonion rose southward into mountainous
moors； and in the east of those highlands there lay a lake； Tarn Aeluin； with wild heaths about it； and all that land was
pathless and untamed； for even in the days of the Long Peace none had dwelt there。 But the waters of Tarn Aeluin were
held in reverence； for they were clear and blue by day and by night were a mirror for the stars； and it was said that
Melian herself had hollowed that water in the days of old。 Thither Barahir and his outlaws withdrew； and there made
their lair； and Morgoth could not discover it。 But the rumour of the deeds of Barahir and his panions went far and
wide； and Morgoth manded Sauron to find them and destroy them。
Now among the panions of Barahir was Gorlim son of Angrim。 His wife was named Eilinel； and their love
was great； ere evil befell。 But Gorlim returning from the war upon the marches found his house plundered and forsaken；
and his wife gone； whether slain or taken he knew not。 Then he fled to Barahir； and of panions his he was the most
fierce and desperate； but doubt gnawed his heart； thinking that perhaps Eilinel was not dead。 At times he would depart
alone and secretly； and visit his house that stood amid the fields and woods he had once possessed； and this became
known to the servants of Morgoth。
On a time of autumn he came in the dusk of evening； and drawing near he saw as he thought a light at the
window； and ing warily he looked within。 There he saw Eilinel； and her face was worn with grief and hunger； and it
seemed to him that he heard her voice lamenting that he had forsaken her。 But even as he cried aloud the light was blown
out in the wind； wolves howled； and on his shoulders he felt suddenly the heavy hands of Sauron's hunters。 Thus Gorlim
was ensnared； and taking him to their camp they tormented； seeking to learn the hidings of Barahir and all his ways。 But
nothing would Gorlim tell。 Then they promised him that he should be released and restored to Eilinel； if he would yield；
and being at last worn with pain； and yearning for his wife； he faltered。 Then straightaway they brought him into the
dreadful presence of Sauron； and Sauron said： 'I hear now that thou wouldst barter with me。 What is thy price？'
And Gorlim answered that he should find Eilinel again； and with her be set free； for he thought Eilinel also had
been made captive。
Than Sauron smiled； saying： 'That is a small price for so great a treachery。 So shall it surely be。 Say on！'
Now Gorlim would have drawn back； but daunted by the eyes of Sauron he told at last all that he would know。
Then Sauron laughed； and he mocked Gorlim； and revealed to him that he had only seen a phantom devised by wizardry
to entrap him； for Eilinel was dead。 'Nonetheless I will grant thy prayer；' said Sauron； 'and thou shalt go to Eilinel； and
be set free of my service。' Then he put him cruelly to death。
In this way the hiding of Barahir was revealed； and Morgoth drew his net about it； and the Orcs ing in the
still hours before dawn surprised the men of Dorthonion and slew them all； save one。 For Beren son of Barahir had been
sent by his father on a perilous errand to spy upon the ways of the Enemy； and he was far afield when the lair was taken。
But as he slept benighted in the forest he dreamed that carrion…birds sat thick as leaves upon bare trees beside a mere；
and blood dripped from their beaks。
Then Beren was aware in his dream of a form that came to him across the water； and it was a wraith of Gorlim；
and it spoke to him declaring his treachery and death； and bade him make haste to warn his father。 Then Beren awoke；
and sped through the night； and came back to the lair of the outlaws on the second morning。 But as he drew near the
carrion…birds rose from the ground and sat in the alder…trees beside Tarn Aeluin； and croaked in mockery。
There Beren buried his fathers bones； and raised a cairn of boulders above him； and swore upon it an oath of
vengeance。 First there for he pursued the Orcs that had slain his father and his kinsmen； and he found their camp by
night at Rivil's Well above the Fen of Serech； and because of his wood craft he came near to their fire unseen。 There
their captain made boast of his deeds； and he held up the hand of Barahir that he had cut off as a token for Sauron that
their mission was fulfilled； and the ring of Felagund was on that hand。 Then Beren sprang from behind rock； and slew
captain； and taking the hand and the ring he escaped； being defended by fate for the Orcs were dismayed； and their
arrows wild。
Thereafter for four years more Beren wandered still upon Dorthonion； a solitary outlaw； but he became the friend
of birds and beasts； and they aided him； and did not betray him； and from that time forth he ate no flesh nor slew any
living thing that was not in the service of Morgoth。 He did not fear death； but only captivity； and being bold and
desperate he escaped both death and bonds； and the deeds of lonely daring that he achieved were noised abroad
throughout Beleriand； and the tail of them came even into Doriath。 At length Morgoth set a price upon his head no less
than the price upon the head of Fingon； High King of the Noldor； but the Orcs fled rather at the rumour of his approach
than sought him out。 Therefore and army was sent against him under the mand of Sauron； and Sauron brought
werewolves； fell beasts inhabited by dreadful spirits that he had imprisoned in their bodies。
All that land was now bee filled with evil； and all clean things were departing from it； and Beren was pressed
so hard that at last he was forced to flee from Dorthonion。 In time of winter and snow he forsook the land and grave of
his father； and climbing into the high land of Doriath。 There it was put into his heart that he would go down into the
Hidden Kingdom； where no mortal foot had trodden。 Terrible was his southward journey。 Sheer were the precipices of
Ered Gorgoroth； and beneath their feet were shadows that were laid before the rising of the Moon。 Beyond lay the
wilderness of Dungortheb； where the sorcery of Sauron and the power of Melian came together； and horror and madness
walked。 There spiders of the fell race of Ungoliant abode； spinning their unseen webs in which all living things were
snared； and monsters wandered there that were born in the long dark before the Sun； hunting silently with many eyes。 No
food for Elves or Men was there in that haunted land； but death only。 That journey is not accounted least among the
great deeds of Beren； but he spoke of it to no one after； lest the horror return into his mind； and none know how he found
a way； and so came by paths that no Man nor Elf else ever dared to tread to the borders of Doriath。 And he passed
through the mazes that Melian wove about the kingdom of Thingol； even as she had foretold； for a great doom lay upon
him。
It is told in the Lay of Leithian that Beren came stumbling into Doriath grey and bowed as with many years of
woe； so great had been the torment of the road。 But wandering in the summer in the woods of Neldoreth he came upon
Lúthien； daughter of Thingol and Melian； at a time of evening under moonrise； as she danced upon the unfading grass in
the glades beside Esgalduin。 Then all memory of his pain departed from him； and he fell into an enchantment； for
Lúthien was the most beautiful of all the Children of Ilúvatar。 Blue was her raiment as the unclouded heaven； but her
eyes were grey as the starlit evening； her mantle was sewn with golden flowers； but her hair was dark as the shadows of
twilight。 As the light upon the l