arrows wild。
Thereafter for four years more Beren wandered still upon Dorthonion； a solitary outlaw； but he became the friend
of birds and beasts； and they aided him； and did not betray him； and from that time forth he ate no flesh nor slew any
living thing that was not in the service of Morgoth。 He did not fear death； but only captivity； and being bold and
desperate he escaped both death and bonds； and the deeds of lonely daring that he achieved were noised abroad
throughout Beleriand； and the tail of them came even into Doriath。 At length Morgoth set a price upon his head no less
than the price upon the head of Fingon； High King of the Noldor； but the Orcs fled rather at the rumour of his approach
than sought him out。 Therefore and army was sent against him under the mand of Sauron； and Sauron brought
werewolves； fell beasts inhabited by dreadful spirits that he had imprisoned in their bodies。
All that land was now bee filled with evil； and all clean things were departing from it； and Beren was pressed
so hard that at last he was forced to flee from Dorthonion。 In time of winter and snow he forsook the land and grave of
his father； and climbing into the high land of Doriath。 There it was put into his heart that he would go down into the
Hidden Kingdom； where no mortal foot had trodden。 Terrible was his southward journey。 Sheer were the precipices of
Ered Gorgoroth； and beneath their feet were shadows that were laid before the rising of the Moon。 Beyond lay the
wilderness of Dungortheb； where the sorcery of Sauron and the power of Melian came together； and horror and madness
walked。 There spiders of the fell race of Ungoliant abode； spinning their unseen webs in which all living things were
snared； and monsters wandered there that were born in the long dark before the Sun； hunting silently with many eyes。 No
food for Elves or Men was there in that haunted land； but death only。 That journey is not accounted least among the
great deeds of Beren； but he spoke of it to no one after； lest the horror return into his mind； and none know how he found
a way； and so came by paths that no Man nor Elf else ever dared to tread to the borders of Doriath。 And he passed
through the mazes that Melian wove about the kingdom of Thingol； even as she had foretold； for a great doom lay upon
him。
It is told in the Lay of Leithian that Beren came stumbling into Doriath grey and bowed as with many years of
woe； so great had been the torment of the road。 But wandering in the summer in the woods of Neldoreth he came upon
Lúthien； daughter of Thingol and Melian； at a time of evening under moonrise； as she danced upon the unfading grass in
the glades beside Esgalduin。 Then all memory of his pain departed from him； and he fell into an enchantment； for
Lúthien was the most beautiful of all the Children of Ilúvatar。 Blue was her raiment as the unclouded heaven； but her
eyes were grey as the starlit evening； her mantle was sewn with golden flowers； but her hair was dark as the shadows of
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