to return。 But the
spirit of Lúthien fell down into darkness； and at the last it fled； and her body lay like a flower that is suddenly cut off and
lies for a while unwithered on the grass。
Then a winter； as it were the hoar age of mortal Men； fell upon Thingol。 But Lúthien came to the halls of
Mandos； where are the appointed places of the Eldali？； beyond the mansions of the West upon the confines of the world。
There those that wait sit in the shadow of their thought。 But her beauty was more than their beauty； and her sorrow
deeper than their sorrows； and she knelt before Mandos and sang to him。
The song of Lúthien before Mandos was the song most fair that ever in words was woven； and the song most
sorrowful that ever the world shall ever hear。 Unchanged； imperishable； it is sung still in Valinor beyond the hearing of
the world； and the listening the Valar grieved。 For Lúthien wove two themes of words； of the sorrow of the Eldar and the
grief of Men； of the Two Kindreds that were made by Ilúvatar to dwell in Arda； the Kingdom of Earth amid the
innumerable stars。 And as she knelt before him her tears fell upon his feet like rain upon stones； and Mandos was moved
to pity； who never before was so moved； nor has been since。
Therefore he summoned Beren； and even as Lúthien had spoken in the hour of his death they met again beyond
the Western Sea。 But Mandos had no power to withhold the spirits of Men that were dead within the confines of the
world； after their time of waiting； nor could he change the fates of the Children of Ilúvatar。 He went therefore to Manw？；
Lord of the Valar； who governed the world under the hand of Ilúvatar； and Manw？ sought counsel in his inmost thought；
where the will of Ilúvatar was revealed。
These were the choices that he gave to Lúthien。 Because of her labours and her sorrow； she should be released
from Mandos； and go to Valimar； there to dwell until the world's end among the Valar； forgetting all griefs that her life
had known。 Thither Beren could not e。 For it was not permitted to the Valar to withhold Death from him； which is
the gift of Ilúvatar to Men。 But the other choice was this： that she might return to Middle…earth； and take with her Beren；
there to dwell again； but without certitude of life or joy。 Then she would bee mortal； land subject to a second death；
even as he； and ere long she would leave the world for ever； and her beauty bee only a memory in song。
This doom she chose； forsaking the Blessed Realm； and putting aside all claim to kinship with those that dwell
there； that thus whatever grief might lie in wait； the fates of Beren and Lúthien might be joined； and their paths lead
together beyond the confines of the world。 So it was that alone of the Eldali？ she has died indeed； and left the world long
ago。 Yet in her choice the Two Kindreds have been joined； and she is the forerunner of many in whom the Eldar see yet；
thought all the world is changed； the likeness of Lúthien the beloved； whom they have lost。
Chapter 20
Of the Fifth Battle： Nirnaeth
Arnoediad
It is said that Beren and Lúthien returned to the northern lands of Middle…earth； and dwelt together for a time as living
man and woman； and they took up again their mortal form in Doriath。 Those that saw them were both glad and fearful；
and Lúthien went to Menegroth and healed the winter of Thingol with the touch of her hand。 But Melian looked in her
eyes and read the doom that was written there； and turned away； for she knew that a parting beyond the end of the world
had e between them； and no grief of loss has been heavier than the grief of Melian the Maia in that hour。 Then Beren
and Lúthien went forth alone； fearing neither thirst nor hunger； and they passed beyond the River Gelion into Ossiriand；
and dwelt there in Tol Galen the green isle； in the midst of Adurant； until all tidings of them ceased。 The Eldar
afterwards called that country Dor Firn…i…Guinar； the Land of the Dead that Live； and there was born Dior Aranel the
beautiful； who was after known as Dior Eluchíl； which is Thingol's Heir。 No mortal man spoke ever again with Beren
son of Barahir； and none saw Beren or Lúthien leave the world； or marked where at last their bodies lay。
In those days Maedhros son of F？anor lifted up his heart； perceiving that Morgoth was not unassailable； for the
deeds of Beren and Lúthien were sung in many songs throughout Beleriand。 Yet Morgoth would destroy them all； one by
one； if they could not again unite； and make new league and mon council； and he began those counsels for the
raising of the fortunes of the Eldar that are called the Union of Maedhros。
Yet the oath of F？anor and the evil deeds that it had wrought did injury to the design of Maedhros； and he had
less aid than should have been。 Orodreth would not march forth at the word of any son of F？anor； because of the deeds
of Celegorm and Curufin； and the Elves of Nargothrond trusted still to defend their hidden stronghold by secrecy and
stealth。 Thence came only a small pany； following Gwindor son of Guilin； a very valiant prince； and against the will
of Orodreth he went to the northern war； because he grieved for the loss of Gelmir his brother in the Dagor Bragollach。
They took the badge of the house of Fingolfin； and marched beneath the banners of Fingon； and they came never back；
save one。
From Doriath came little help。 For Maedhros and his brothers； being constrained by their oath； had before sent to
Thingol and reminded him with haughty words of their claim； summoning him to yield the Silmaril； or bee their
enemy。 Melian counselled him to surrender it； but the words of the sons of F？anor were proud and threatening； and
Thingol was filled with anger； thinking of the anguish of Lúthien and the blood of Beren whereby the jewel had been
won； despite the malice of Celegorm and Curufin。 And every day that he looked upon the Silmaril the more he desired to
keep it for ever； for such was its power。 Therefore he sent back the messengers with scornful words。 Maedhros made no
answer； for he had now begun to devise the league and union of the Elves； but Celegorm and Curufin vowed openly to
slay Thingol and destroy his people； if they came victorious from war； and the jewel were not surrendered of free will。
Then Thingol fortified the marches of his realm； and went not to war； nor any out of Doriath save Mablung and Beleg；
who were unwilling to have no part in these great deeds。 To them Thingol gave leave to go； so long as they served not
the sons of F？anor； and they joined themselves to the host of Fingon。
But Maedhros had the help of the Naugrim； both in armed force and in great store of weapons； and the smithies
of Nogrod and Belegost were busy in those days。 And he gathered together again all his brothers and all the people who
would follow them； and the Men of Bór and Ulfang were marshalled and trained for war； and they summoned yet more
of their kinsfolk out of the East。 Moreover in the west Fingon； ever the friend of Maedhros； took counsel with Himring；
and in Hithlum the Noldor and the Men of the house of Hador prepared for war。 In the forest of Brethil Halmir； lord of
the People of Haleth； gathered his men； and they whetted their axes； but Halmir died ere the war came； and Haldir his
son ruled that people。 And to Gondolin also the tidings came； to Turgon； the hidden king。
But Maedhros made trial of his strength too soon； ere his plans were full…wrought； and though the Orcs were
driven out of all the northward regions of Beleriand； and even Dorthonion was freed for a while； Morgoth was warned of
the uprising of the Eldar and the Elf…friends； and took counsel against them。 Many spies and workers of treason he sent
forth among them； as he was the better able now to do； for the faithless Men of his secret allegiance were yet deep in the
secrets of the sons of F？anor。
At length Maedhros； having gathered all the strength that he could of Elves and Men and Dwarves； resolved to
assault Angband from east and west； and he purposed to march with banners displayed in open force over Anfauglith。
But when he had drawn forth； as he hoped； the armies of Morgoth in answer； then Fingon should issue forth from the
passes of Hithlum； and thus they thought to take the might of Morgoth as between anvil and hammer； and break it to
pieces。 And the signal for this was to be the firing of a great beacon in Dorthonion。
On the appointed day； on the morning of Midsummer； the trumpets of the Eldar greeted the rising of the sun； and
in the east was raised the standard of the sons of F？anor； and in the west the standard of Fingon； High King of the
Noldor。 Then Fingon looked out from the walls of Eithel Sirion； and his host was arrayed in the valleys and the woods
upon the east of Ered Wethrin； well hid from the eyes of the Enemy； but he knew that it was very great。 For there all the
Noldor of Hithlum were assembled； together with Elves of the Falas and Gwindor's pany from Nargothrond； and he
had great strength of Men： upon the right were the host of Dor…lómin and all the valour of Húrin and Huor his brother；
and to them had e Haldir of Brethil with many men of the woods。
Then Fingon looked towards Thangorodrim； and there was a dark cloud about it； and a black smoke went up； and
he knew that the wrath of Morgoth was aroused； and that their challenge was accepted。 A shadow of doubt fell upon
Fingon's heart； and he looked eastwards； seeking if he might see with elven…sight the dust of Anfauglith rising beneath
the hosts of Maedhros。 He knew not that Maedhros was hindered in his setting…forth by the guile of Uldor the accursed；
who deceived him with false warnings of assault from Angband。
But now a cry went up； passing up the wind from the south from vale to vale； and Elves and Men lifted their
voices in wonder and joy。 For unsummoned and unlocked for Turgon had opened the leaguer of Gondolin； and was
e with an army ten thousand strong； with bright mail and long swords and spears like a forest。 Then when Fingon
heard afar the great trumpet of Turgon his brother； the shadow passed and his heart was uplifted； and he shouted aloud：
'Utúlie'n aur？！ Aiya Eldali？ ar Atanatári； utúlie'n aur？！ The day has e！ Behold； people of the Eldar and Fathers of
Men； the day has e！' And all those who heard his great voice echo in the hills answered crying： 'Auta i lóm？！ The
night is passing！'
Now Morgoth； who knew much of what was done and designed by his enemies； chose his hour； and trusting in his
treacherous servants to hold back Maedhros and prevent the union of his foes he sent a force seeming great （and yet but
part of all that he had made ready） towards Hithlum； and they were clad all in dun raiment and showed no naked steel；
and thus were already far over the sands of Anfauglith before their approach was seen。
Then the hearts of the Noldor grew hot； and their captains wished to assail their foes upon the plain； but Húrin
spoke against it； and bade them beware of the guile of Morgoth； whose strength was always greater than i