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Húrin Thalion； the captive of Morgoth； but he greeted him fairly and showed him honour。 Húrin made no answer to the
King； but drew forth from beneath his cloak that one thing which he had taken with him out of Nargothrond； and that
was no lesser treasure than the Nauglamír； the Necklace of the Dwarves； that was made for Finrod Felagund long years
before by the craftsmen of Nogrod and Belegost； most famed of all their works in the Elder Days； and prized by Finrod
while he lived above all the treasures of Nargothrond。 And Húrin cast it at the feet of Thingol with wild and bitter words。
'Receive thou thy fee；' he cried； 'for thy fair keeping of my children and my wife！ For this is the Nauglamír； whose
name is known to many among Elves and Men； and I bring it to thee out of the darkness of Nargothrond； where Finrod
thy kinsman left it behind him when he set forth with Beren son of Barahir to fulfil the errand of Thingol of Doriath！'
Then Thingol looked upon the great treasure； and knew it for the Nauglamír； and well did he understand Húrin's
intent； but being filled with pity he restrained his wrath； and endured Húrin's scorn。 And at the last Melian spoke； and
said： 'Húrin Thalion； Morgoth hath bewitched thee； for he that seeth through Morgoth's eyes； willing or unwilling； seeth
all things crooked。 Long was Túrin thy son fostered in the halls of Menegroth； and shown love and honour as the son of
the King； and it was not by the King's will nor by mine that he came never back to Doriath。 And afterwards thy wife and
thy daughter were harboured here with honour and goodwill； and we sought by all means that we might to dissuade
Morwen from the road to Nargothrond。 With the voice of Morgoth thou dost now upbraid thy friends。'
And hearing the words of Melian Húrin stood moveless； and he gazed long into the eyes of the Queen； and there
in Menegroth； defended still by the Girdle of Melian from the darkness of the Enemy； he read the truth of all that was
done； and tasted at last the fullness of woe that was measured for him by Morgoth Bauglir。 And he spoke no more of
what was past； but stooping lifted up the Nauglamír from where it lay before Thingol's chair； and he gave it to him；
saying： 'Receive now； lord； the Necklace of the Dwarves； as a gift from one who has nothing； and as a memorial of Húrin
of Dor…lómin。 For now my fate is fulfilled； and the purpose of Morgoth achieved； but I am his thrall no longer。'
Then he turned away； and passed out from the Thousand Caves； and all that saw him fell back before his face；
and none sought to withstand his going； nor did any know whither he went。 But it is said that Húrin would not live
thereafter； being bereft of all purpose and desire； and cast himself at last into the western sea； and so ended the mightiest
of the warriors of mortal Men。
But when Húrin was gone from Menegroth； Thingol sat long in silence； gazing upon the great treasure that lay
upon his knees； and it came into his mind that it should be remade； and in it should be set the Silmaril。 For as the years
passed Thingol's thought turned unceasingly to the jewel of F？anor； and became bound to it； and he liked not to let it rest
even behind the doors of his inmost treasury； and he was minded now to bear it with him always； waking and sleeping。
In those days the Dwarves still came on their journeys into Beleriand from their mansions m Ered Lindon； and
passing over Gelion at Sam Athrad； the Ford of Stones； they travelled the ancient road to Doriath； for their skill in the
working of metal and stone was very great； and there was much need of their craft in the halls of Menegroth。 But they
came now no longer in small parties as aforetime； but in great panies well armed for their protection in the perilous
lands between Aros and Gelion； and they dwelt in Menegroth at such times in chambers and smithies set apart for them。
At that very time great craftsmen of Nogrod were lately e into Doriath； and the King therefore summoning them
declared his desire； that if their skill were great enough they should remake the Nauglamír； and in it set the Silmaril。
Then the Dwarves looked upon the work of their fathers； and they beheld with wonder the shining jewel of F？anor； and
they were filled with a great lust to possess them； and carry them off to their far homes in the mountains。 But they
dissembled their mind； and consented to the task。
Long was their labour； and Thingol went down alone to their deep smithies； and sat ever among them as they
worked。 In time his desire was achieved； and the greatest of the works of Elves and Dwarves were brought together and
made one； and its beauty was very great； for now the countless jewels of the Nauglamír did reflect and cast abroad in
marvellous hues the light of the Silmaril amidmost。 Then Thingol； being alone among them； made to take it up and clasp
it about his neck； but the Dwarves m that moment withheld it from him； and demanded that he yield it up to them；
saying： 'By what right does the Elvenking lay claim to the Nauglamír； that was made by our fathers for Finrod Felagund
who is dead？ It has e to him but by the hand of Húrin the Man of Dor…lómin； who took it as a thief out of the
darkness of Nargothrond。' But Thingol perceived their hearts； and saw well that desiring the Silmaril they sought but a
pretext and fair cloak for their true intent； and in his wrath and pride he gave no heed to his peril； but spoke to them in
scorn； saying： 'How do ye of uncouth race dare to demand aught of me； Elu Thingol； Lord of Beleriand； whose life
began by the waters of Cuiviénen years uncounted ere the fathers of the stunted people awoke？' And standing tall and
proud among them he bade them with shameful words be gone unrequited out of Doriath。
Then the lust of the Dwarves was kindled to rage by the words of the King； and they rose up about him； and laid
hands on him； and slew him as he stood。 So died in the deep places of Menegroth Elw？ Singollo； King of Doriath； who
alone of all the Children of Ilúvatar was joined with one of the Ainur； and he who； alone of the Forsaken Elves； had seen
the light of the Trees of Valinor； with his last sight gazed upon the Silmaril。
Then the Dwarves taking the Nauglamír passed out of Menegroth and fled eastwards through Region。 But tidings
went swiftly through the forest； and few of that pany came over Aros； for they were pursued to the death as they
sought the eastward road； and the Nauglamír was retaken； and brought back in bitter grief to Melian the Queen。 Yet two
there were of the slayers of Thingol who escaped from the pursuit on the eastern marches； and returned at last to their
city far off in the Blue Mountains； and there in Nogrod they told somewhat of all that had befallen； saying that the
Dwarves were slain in Doriath by mand of the Elvenking； who thus would cheat them of their reward。
Then great was the wrath and lamentation of the Dwarves of Nogrod for the death of their kin and their great
craftsmen； and they tore their beards； and wailed； and long they sat taking thought for vengeance。 It is told that they
asked aid from Belegost； but it was denied them； and the Dwarves of Belegost sought to dissuade them from their
purpose； but their counsel was unavailing； and ere long a great host came forth from Nogrod； and crossing over Gelion
marched westward through Beleriand。
***
Upon Doriath a heavy change had fallen。 Melian sat long in silence beside Thingol the King； and her thought
passed back into the starlit years and to their first meeting among the nightingales of Nan Elmoth in ages past； and she
knew that her parting from Thingol was the forerunner of a greater parting； and that the doom of Doriath was drawing
nigh。 For Melian was of the divine race of the Valar； and she was a Maia of great power and wisdom； but for love of
Elw？ Singollo she took upon herself the form of the Elder Children of Ilúvatar； and in that union she became bound by
the chain and trammels of the flesh of Arda。 In that form she bore to him Lúthien Tinúviel； and in that form she gained a
power over the substance of Arda； and by the Girdle of Melian was Doriath defended through long ages from the evils
without。 But now Thingol lay dead； and his spirit had passed to the halls of Mandos； and with his death a change came
also upon Melian。 Thus it came to pass that her power was withdrawn in that time from the forests of Neldoreth and
Region； and Esgalduin the enchanted river spoke with a different voice； and Doriath lay open to its enemies。
Thereafter Melian spoke to none save to Mablung only； bidding him take heed to the Silmaril； and to send word
speedily to Beren and Lúthien in Ossiriand； and she vanished out of Middle…earth； and passed to the land of the Valar
beyond the western sea； to muse upon her sorrows in the gardens of Lórien； whence she came； and this tale speaks of her
no more。
Thus it was that the host of the Naugrim crossing over Aros passed unhindered into the woods of Doriath； and
none withstood them； for they were many and fierce； and the