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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 the Silmarils are cursed with an oath of
hatred； and he that even names them in desire moves a great power from slumber； and the sons of F？anor would lay all
the Elf…kingdoms in ruin rather than suffer any other than themselves to win or possess a Silmaril； for the Oath drives
them。 And now Celegorm and Curufin are dwelling in my halls； and though I； Finarfin's son； am King； they have won a
strong power in the realm； and lead many of their own people。 They have shown friendship to me in every need； but I
fear that they will show neither love nor mercy to you； if your quest be told。 Yet my own oath holds； and thus we are all
ensnared。'
Then King Felagund spoke before his people； recalling the deeds of Barahir； and his vow and he declared that it
was laid upon him to aid the son of Barahir in his need； and he sought the help of his chieftains。 Then Celegorm arose
amid the throng； and drawing his sword he cried： 'Be he friend or foe； whether demon of Morgoth； of Elf； or child of
Men； or any other living thing in Arda； neither law； nor love； nor league of hell； nor might of the Valar； nor any power of
wizardry； shall defend him from the pursuing hate of F？anor's sons； if he take or find a Silmaril and keep it。 For the
Silmarils we alone claim； until the world ends。'
Many other words he spoke； as potent as were long before in Tirion the words of his father that first inflamed the
Noldor to rebellion。 And after Celegorm Curufin spoke； more softly but with no less power； conjuring in the minds of
the Elves a vision of war and the ruin of Nargothrond。 So great a fear did he set in their hearts that never after until the
time of Túrin would any Elf of that realm go into open battle； but with stealth and ambush； with wizardry and venomed
dart； they pursued all strangers； forgetting the bonds of kinship。 Thus they fell from the valour and freedom of the Elves
of old； and their land was darkened。
And now they murmured that Finarfin's son was not as a Vala to mand them； and they turned their faces from
him。 But the curse of Mandos came upon the brothers； and dark thoughts arose in their hearts； thinking to send forth
Felagund alone to his death； and to usurp； it might be； the throne of Nargothrond； for they were of the eldest line of the
princes of the Noldor。
And Felagund seeing that he was forsaken took from his head the silver crown of Nargothrond and cast it at his
feet； saying： 'Your oaths of faith to me you may break； but I must hold my bond。 Yet if there be any on whom the shadow
of out curse has not yet fallen； I should find at least a few to follow me； and should not go hence as a beggar that is
thrust from the gates。' There were ten that stood by him； and the chief of them； who was named Edrahil； stooping lifted
the crown and asked that it be given to a steward until Felagund's return。 'for you remain my king； and theirs；' he said；
'whatever betide。'
Then Felagund gave the crown of Nargothrond to Orodreth his brother to govern in his stead； and Celegorm and
Curufin said nothing； but they smiled and went from the halls。
On an evening of autumn Felagund and Beren set out from Nargothrond with their ten panions； and they
journeyed beside Narog to his source in the Falls of Ivrin。 Beneath the Shadowy Mountains they came upon a pany
of Orcs； and slew them all in their camp by night； and they took their gear and their weapons。 By the arts of Felagund
their own forms and faces were changed into the likeness of Orcs； and thus disguised they came far upon their northward
road； and ventured into the western pass； between Ered Wethrin and the highlands of Taur…nu…Fuin。 But Sauron in his
tower was ware of them； and doubt took him； for they went in haste； and stayed not to report their deeds； as was
manded to all the servants of Morgoth that passed that way。 Therefore he sent to waylay them； and bring them
before him。
Thus befell the contest of Sauron and Felagund which