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none withstood them； for they were many and fierce； and the captains of the Grey…elves were cast into doubt and despair；
and went hither and thither purposeless。 But the Dwarves held on their way； and passed over the great bridge； and
entered into Menegroth； and there befell a thing most grievous among the sorrowful deeds of the Elder Days。 For there
was battle in the Thousand Caves； and many Elves and Dwarves were slain； and it has not been forgotten。 But the
Dwarves were victorious； and the halls of Thingol were ransacked and plundered。 There fell Mablung of the Heavy
Hand before the doors of the treasury wherein lay the Nauglamír； and the Silmaril was taken。
At that time Beren and Lúthien yet dwelt in Tol Galen； the Green Isle； in the River Adurant； southernmost of the
streams that falling from Ered Lindon flowed down to join with Gelion； and their son Dior Eluchíl had to wife Nimloth；
kinswoman of Celeborn； prince of Doriath； who was wedded to the Lady Galadriel。 The sons of Dior and Nimloth were
Eluréd and Elurín； and a daughter also was born to them； and she was named Elwing； which is Star…spray； for she was
born on a night of stars； whose light glittered in the spray of the waterfall of Lanthir Lamath beside her father's house。
Now word went swiftly among the Elves of Ossiriand that a great host of Dwarves bearing gear of war had e
down out of the mountains and passed over Gelion at the Ford of Stones。 These tidings came soon to Beren and Lúthien；
and in that time also a messenger came to them out of Doriath telling of what had befallen there。 Then Beren arose and
left Tol Galen； and summoning to him Dior his son they went north to the River Ascar； and with them went many of the
Green…elves of Ossiriand。
Thus it came to 。pass that when the Dwarves of Nogrod； returning from Menegroth with diminished host； came
again to Sarn Athrad； they were assailed by unseen enemies； for as they climbed up Gelion's banks burdened with the
spoils of Doriath； suddenly all the woods were filled with the sound of elven…horns； and shafts sped upon them from
every side。 There very many of the Dwarves were slain in the first onset； but some escaping from the ambush held
together； and fled eastwards towards the mountains。 And as they climbed the long slopes beneath Mount Dolmed there
came forth the Shepherds of the Trees； and they drove the Dwarves into the shadowy woods of Ered Lindon： whence； it
is said； came never one to climb the high passes that led to their homes。
In that battle by Sarn Athrad Beren fought his last fight； and himself slew the Lord of Nogrod； and wrested from
him the Necklace of the Dwarves； but he dying laid his curse upon all the treasure。 Then Beren gazed in wonder on the
selfsame jewel of F？anor that he had cut from Morgoth's iron crown； now shining set amid gold and gems by the
cunning of the Dwarves； and he washed it clean of blood in the waters of the river。 And when all was finished the
treasure of Doriath was drowned in the River Ascar； and from that time the river was named anew； Rathlóriel； the
Goldenbed； but Beren took the Nauglamír and returned to Tol Galen。 Little did it ease the grief of Lúthien to learn that
the Lord of Nogrod was slain and many Dwarves beside； but it is said and sung that Lúthien wearing that necklace and
that immortal jewel was the vision of greatest beauty and glory that has ever been outside the realm of Valinor； and for a
little while the Land of the Dead that Live became like a vision of the land of the Valar； and no place has been since so
fair； so fruitful； or so filled with light。
Now Dior Thingol's heir bade farewell to Beren and Lúthien； and departing from Lanthir Lamath with Nimloth
his wife he came to Menegroth； and abode there； and with them went their young sons Eluréd and Elurín； and Elwing
their daughter。 Then the Sindar received them with joy； and they arose from the darkness of their grief for fallen kin and
King and for the departure of Melian； and Dior Eluchíl set himself to raise anew the glory of the kingdom of Doriath。
There came a night of autumn； and when it grew late； one came and smote upon the doors of Menegroth；
demanding admittance to the King。 He was a lord of the Green…elves hastening from Ossiriand； and the door…wards
brought him to where Dior sat alone in his chamber； and there in silence he gave to the King a coffer； and took his leave。
But in that coffer lay the Necklace of the Dwarves； wherein was set the Silmaril； and Dior looking upon it knew it for a
sign that Beren Erchamion and Lúthien Tinúviel had died indeed； and gone where go the race of Men to a fate beyond
the world。
Long did Dior gaze upon the Silmaril； which his father and mother had brought beyond hope out of the terror of
Morgoth； and his grief was great that death had e upon them so soon。 But the wise have said that the Silmaril
hastened their end； for the flame of the beauty of Lúthien as she wore it was too bright for mortal lands。
Then Dior arose； and about his neck he clasped the Nauglamír； and now he appeared as the fairest of all the
children of the world； of threefold race： of the Edain； and of the Eldar； and of the Maiar of the Blessed Realm。
But now the rumour ran among the scattered Elves of Beleriand that Dior Thingol's heir wore the Nauglamír； and
they said： 'A Silmaril of F？anor burns again in the woods of Doriath'； and the oath of the sons of F？anor was waked
again from sleep。 For while Lúthien wore the Necklace of the Dwarves no Elf would dare to assail her； but now hearing
of the renewal of Doriath and of Dior's pride the seven gathered again from wandering； and they sent to him to claim
their own。
But Dior returned no answer to the sons of F？anor； and Celegorm stirred up his brothers to prepare an assault
upon Doriath。 They came at unawares in the middle of winter； and fought with Dior in the Thousand Caves； and so
befell the second slaying of Elf by Elf。 There fell Celegorm by Dior's hand； and there fell Curufin； and dark Caranthir；
but Dior was slain also； and Nimloth his wife； and the cruel servants of Celegorm seized his young sons and left them to
starve in the forest。 Of this Maedhros indeed repented； and sought for them long in the woods of Doriath； but his search
was unavailing； and of the fate of Eluréd and Elurín no tale tells。
Thus Doriath was destroyed； and never rose again。
But the sons of F？anor gained not what they sought； for a remnant of the people fled before them； and with them
was Elwing Dior's daughter； and they escaped； and bearing with them the Silmaril they came in time to the mouths of the
River Sirion by the sea。
Chapter 23
Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin
It has been told that Huor the brother of Húrin was slain in the Battle of Unnumbered Tears； and in the winter of that
year Rían his wife bore a child in the wilds of Mithrim； and he was named Tuor； and was taken to foster by Annael of the
Grey…elves； who yet lived in those hills。 Now when Tuor was sixteen years old the Elves were minded to leave the caves
of Androth where they dwelt； and to make their way secretly to the Havens of Sirion in the distant south； but they were
assailed by Orcs and Easterlings before they made good their escape； and Tuor was taken captive and enslaved by
Lorgan； chief of the Easterlings of Hithlum。 For three years he endured that thraldom； but at the end of that time he
escaped； and returning to the caves of Androth he dwelt there alone； and did such great hurt to the Easterlings that
Lorgan set a price upon his head。
But when Tuor had lived thus in solitude as an outlaw for four years； Ulmo set it in his heart to depart from the
land of his fathers； for he had chosen Tuor as the instrument of his designs； and leaving once more the caves of Androth
he went westwards across Dor…lómin； and found Annon…in…Gelydh； the Gate of the Noldor； which the people of Turgon
built when they dwelt in Nevrast long years before。 Thence a dark tunnel led beneath the mountains； and issued into
Cirith Ninniach； the Rainbow Cleft； through which a turbulent water ran towards the western sea。 Thus it was that Tuor's
flight from Hithlum was marked by neither Man nor Orc； and no knowledge of it came to the ears of Morgoth。
And Tuor came into Nevrast； and looking upon Belegaer the Great Sea he was enamoured of it； and the sound of
it and the longing for it were ever in his heart and ear； and an unquiet was on him that took him at last into the depths of
the realms of Ulmo。 Then he dwelt in Nevrast alone； and the summer of that year passed； and the doom of Nargothrond
drew near； but when the autumn came he saw seven great swans flying south； and he knew them for a sign that he had
tarried overlong； and he followed their flight along the shores of the sea。 Thus he came at length to the deserted halls of
Vinyamar beneath Mount Taras； and he entered in； and found there the shield and hauberk； and the sword and helm； that
Turgon had left there by the mand of Ulmo long before； and he arrayed himself in those arms； and went down to the