twilight。 As the light upon the leaves of trees； as the voice of clear waters； as the stars above the mists of the world； such
was her glory and her loveliness； and in her face was a shining light。
But she vanished from his sight； and he became dumb； as one that is bound under a spell； and he strayed long in
the woods； wild and wary as a beast； seeking for her。 In his heart he called her Tinúviel； that signifies Nightingale；
daughter of twilight； in the Grey…elven tongue； for he knew no other name for her。 And he saw her afar as leaves in the
winds of autumn； and in winter as a star upon a hill； but a chain was upon his limbs。
There came a time near dawn on the eve of spring； and Lúthien danced upon a green hill； and suddenly she
began to sing。 Keen； heart…piercing was her song as the song of the lark that rises from the gates of night and pours its
voice among the dying stars； seeing the sun behind the walls of the world； and the song of Lúthien released the behind
the walls of the world； and the song of Lúthien released the bonds of winter； and the frozen waters spoke； and flowers
sprang from the cold earth where her feet had passed。
Then the spell of silence fell from Beren； and he called to her； crying Tinúviel； and the woods echoed the
name。 Then she halted in wonder； and fled no more； and Beren came to her。 But as she looked on him； doom fell upon
her； and she loved him； yet she slipped from his arms and vanished from his sight even as the day was breaking。 Then
Beren lay upon the ground in a swoon； as one slain at once by bliss and grief； and he fell into a sleep as it were into an
abyss of shadow； and waking he was cold as stone； and his heart barren and forsaken。 And wandering in mind he groped
as one that is stricken with sudden blindness； and seeks with hands to grasp the vanished light。 Thus he began the
payment of anguish for the fate that was laid on him； and in his fate Lúthien was caught； and being immortal she shared
in his mortality； and being free received his chain； and her anguish was greater than any other of the Eldali？ has known。
Beyond his hope she returned to him where he sat in darkness； and long ago in the Hidden Kingdom she laid her
hand in his。 Thereafter often she came to him； and they went in secret through the woods together from spring to
summer； and no others of the Children of Ilúvatar have had joy so great； though the time was brief。
But Daeron the minstrel also loved Lúthien； and he espied her meetings with Beren； and betrayed them to
Thingol。 Then the King was filled with anger； for Lúthien he loved above all things； setting her above all the princes of
the Elves； whereas mortal Men he did not even take into his service。 Therefore he spoke in grief and amazement to
Lúthien； but she would reveal nothing； until he swore an oath to her that he would neither slay Beren nor imprison him。
But he sent his servants to lay hands on him and lead him to Menegroth as a malefactor； and Lúthien forestalling them
led Beren herself before the throne of Thingol； as if he were an honoured guest。
Then Thingol looked upon Beren in scorn and anger； but Melian was silent。 'Who are you'； said the King； 'that
e hither as a thief； and unbidden dare to approach my throne？'
But Beren being filled with dread； for the splendour of Menegroth and the majesty of Thingol were very great；
answered nothing。 Therefore Lúthien spoke； and said： 'He is Beren son of Barahir； lord of Men； mighty foe of Morgoth；
the tale of whose deeds is bee a song even among the Elves。'
'Let Beren speak！' said Thingol。 'What would you here； unhappy mortal； and for what cause have you left your
own land to enter this； which is forbidden to such as you？ Can you show reason why my power should not be laid on you
in heavy punishment for you insolence and folly？'
Then Beren looking up beheld the eyes of Lúthien； and his glance went also to the face of Melian and it seemed
to him that words were put into his mouth。 Fear left him； and the pride of the eldest house of Men returned to him； and
he said： 'My fate； O King； led me hither； through perils such as few even of the Elves would dare。 And here I have found
what I sought not indeed； but finding I would possess for ever。 For it is above all gold and silver； and beyond all jewels。
Neither rock； nor steel； nor the fires of Morgoth； nor all the powers of the Elf…kingdoms； shall keep from me the treasure
that I desire。 For Lúthien your daughter is the fairest of all the Children of the World。'
Then silence fell upon the hall； for those that stood there were astounded and afraid； and they thought that Beren
would be slain。 But Thingol spoke slowly； saying： 'Death you have earned with these words； and death you should find
suddenly； had I not sworn an oath in haste； of which I repent； baseborn mortal； who in the realm of Morgoth has learnt to
creep in secret as his spies and thralls。'
Then Beren answered： 'Death you can give me earned or unearned； but the names I will not take from you of
baseborn； nor spy； nor thrall。 By the ring of Felagund； that he gave to Barahir my father on the battle field of the North；
my house has not earned such names from any Elf； be he king or no。'
His words were proud； and all eyes looked upon the ring； for he held it now aloft； and the green jewels gleamed
there that the Noldor had devised in Valinor。 For this ring was like to twin serpents； whose eyes were emeralds； and their
heads met beneath a crown of golden flowers； that the one upheld and the other devoured； that was the badge of Finarfin
and his house； Then Melian leaned to Thingol's side； and in whispered counsel bade him forgo his wrath。 'For not by
you；' she said； 'shall Beren be slain； and far and free does his fate led him in the end； yet it is wound with yours。 Take
heed！'
But Thingol looked in silence upon Lúthien； and he thought in his heart： 'Unhappy Men； children of little lords
and brief kings； shall such as these lay hands on you； and yet live？' Then breaking the silence he said： 'I see the ring； son
of Barahir； and I perceive that you are proud； and deem yourself mighty。 But a father's deeds； even had his service been
rendered to me； avail not to win the daughter of Thingol and Melian。 See now！ I too desire a treasure that is withheld。
For rock and steel and the fires of Morgoth keep the jewel that I would possess against all the powers of the Elf…
kingdoms。 Yet I hear you say that bonds such as these do not daunt you。 Go your way therefore！ Bring to me in your
hand a Silmaril from Morgoth's crown； and then； if she will； Lúthien may set her hand in yours。 Then you shall have my
jewel； and though the fate of Arda lie within the Silmarils； yet you shall hold me generous。'
Thus he wrought the doom of Doriath； and was ensnared within the curse of Mandos。 And those that heard these
words perceived that Thingol would save his oath； and yet send Beren to his death； for they know that not all the power
of the Noldor； before the Siege was broken； had availed even to see from afar the shining Silmarils of F？anor。 For they
were set in the Iron Crown； and treasured in Angband above all wealth； and Balrogs were about them； and countless
swords； and strong bars； and unassailable walls； and the dark majesty of Morgoth。
But Beren laughed。 'For little price；' he said； 'do Elven…kings sell their daughters： for gems； and things made by
craft。 But if this be your will； Thingol； I will perform it。 And when we meet again my hand shall hold a Silmaril from the
Iron Crown； for you have not looked the last upon Beren son of Barahir。' Then he looked in the eyes of Melian； who
spoke not； and he bade farewell to Lúthien Tinúviel； and bowing before Thingol and Melian he put aside the guards
about him； and departed from Menegroth alone。
Then at last Melian spoke； and she said to Thingol： 'O King； you have devised cunning counsel。 But if my eyes
have not lost their sight； it is ill for you； whether Beren fail in his errand； or achieve it。 For you have doom either your
daughter； or yourself。 And now is Doriath drawn within the fate of a mightier realm。' But Thingol answered： 'I sell not to
Elves or Men those whom I love and cherish above all treasure。 And if there were hope or fear that Beren should e
ever back alive to Menegroth； he should not have looked again upon the light of heaven； though I had sworn it。'
But Lúthien was silent； and from that hour she sang not again in Doriath。 A brooding silence fell upon the woods；
and the shadows lengthened in the kingdom of Thingol。
It is told in the Lay of Leithian that Beren passed through Doriath unhindered； and came at length to the region of
the Twilight Meres； and the Fens of Sirion； and leaving Thingol's land he climbed the hills above the Falls of Sirion；
where the river plunged underground with great noise。 Thence he looked westward； and through the mist and rains that
lay upon those hills he saw Talath Dirnen； the Guarded Plain； stretching between Sirion and Narog； and beyond he
descried afar the highlands of Taur…en…Faroth that rose above Nargothrond。 And being destitute； without hope or
counsel； he turned his feet thither。
Upon all that plain the Elves of Nargothrond kept unceasing watch； and every hill upon its borders was crowned
with hidden towers； and through all its woods and fields archers ranged secretly and with great craft。 Their arrows were
sure and deadly； and nothing crept there against their will。 Therefore； ere Beren had e far upon his road； they were
aware of him； and his death was nigh。 But knowing his danger he held ever aloft the ring of Felagund； and though he
saw no living thing； because of the stealth of the hunters； he felt that he was watched； and cried often aloud： 'I am Beren
son of Barahir； friend of Felagund。 Take me to the King！' Therefore the hunters slew him not； but assembling they
waylaid him； and manded him to halt。 But seeing the ring they bowed before him； though he was in evil plight； wild
and wayworn； and they led hi northward and westward； going by night lest their paths should be revealed。 For at that
time there was no ford or bridge over the torrent of Narog before the gates of Nargothrond； but further to the north；
where Ginglith joined Narog； the flood was less； and crossing there and turning again southward the Elves led Beren
under the light of the moon to the dark gates of their hidden halls。
Thus Beren came before King Finrod Felagund； and Felagund knew him； needing no ring to remind him of the
kin of B？or and of Barahir。 Behind closed doors they sat； and Beren told of the death of Barahir； and of all that had
befallen hi in Doriath； and he wept； recalling Lúthien and their joy together。 But Felagund heard his tale in wonder and
disquiet； and he knew that the oath he had sworn was e upon him for his death； as long before he had foretold to
Galadriel。 He spoke then to Beren in heaviness of heart。 'It is plain that Thingol desires your death； but it seems that this
doom goes beyond his purpose； and that the Oath of F？anor is again at work。 For th