The Lay of Leithien Concludes

Beren and Lúthien made their way to Angband and encounter a foe that none had yet been unfortunate enough to meet. Carcharoth, the Red Maw or Jaws of Thirst, a wolf raised by Morgoth: "...he fed him with his own hand upon living flesh, and put his power upon him" (p. 180, The Silmarillion). Carcharoth was raised for one purpose: to defend Angband's gates from Huan. At the gates he saw Beren and Lúthien and denied them entrance. She unveiled herself before the  wolf putting an enchantment on him so that he fell in a deep sleep.

Once past Carcharoth Beren and Lúthien made their way to the throne of Morgoth. Beren was still in disguise but Lúthien was not. She was undaunted before Morgoth offering herself as muse to him and began to sing. "Then Morgoth looking upon her beauty conceived in his thought an evil lust, and a design more dark than any that had yet come into his heart since he fled from Valinor. Thus he was beguiled by his own malice, for he watched her, leaving her free for a while, and taking secret pleasure in his thought" (p. 180, The Silmarillion). As she sang the hosts of Morgoth fell asleep and suddenly Morgoth himself was overcome with blindness and a deep sleep.

Beren cut from Morgoth's Iron Crown a Silmaril and as he held it in his hand he was not harmed. He tried to go beyond his vow and take the other Silmarils but his knife broke striking Morgoth's cheek. Though he stirred he did not wake. In dread and terror Beren and Lúthien fled the halls of hell but when they reached the gates Carcharoth was awake. By now Lúthien had no strength to cast more enchantments. Beren stood bravely in front of the wolf holding aloft the flaming Silmaril bidding the him to flee.

"But Carcharoth looked upon that holy jewel and was not daunted, and the devouring spirit within him awoke to sudden fire; and gaping he took suddenly the hand within his jaws, and he bit it off at the wrist" (p. 181, The Silmarillion). Being himself unholy the Silmaril began to burn the inside of Carcharoth and away he fled howling in madness. Yet his great noise awoke all of Angband. Beren was near death as Carcharoth's fangs were poisoned. Lúthien withdrew the poison with her lips and tried to staunch the wound but she had little energy. However, all animals were aware of Beren's plight via Huan and Thorondor and his eagles swooped down and led Beren and Lúthien safely away as Angband's hosts issued forth.

They were taken to the borders of Doriath and there Lúthien, with the aid of Huan, tended Beren. At long last, by and the love of Luthien, Beren was brought back from the brink of death. After a time of peace together they returned to Thingol's halls. In Menegroth hard times had befallen. No joy was found after Luthien had escaped. Daeron the minstrel who had loved and betrayed her left the land. Melian would not provide Thingol with council insisting the doom he wrought must come to fruition. He had sent out messengers and learned Lúthien was hostage to Curufin and Celegorm and was very angry. Further reports told of her escape. Many of his messengers were killed in the north by the raging madness of Carcharoth. Only Mablung, chief captain of Thingol, returned.

In that hour that Beren and Lúthien came before the King unlooked for. Thingol still had little love for Beren as he announced his intention to claim his bride. Thingol asked about his vow and Beren responded a Silmaril was in his hand. Thingol demanded to see it. "And Beren put forth his left hand, slowly opening its fingers; but it was empty. Then he held up his right arm; and from that hour he named himself Camlost, The Empty-handed" (p. 184, The Silmarillion). Finally Thingol's heart softened and he listened to the Beren and Lúthien tell of the quest. Thingol then at last consented and Beren and Lúthien were married.

News of Carcharoth's march toward Menegroth continued and a hunting party was formed. Thingol, Beren, Mablung the Heavy Hand, Beleg Strongbow, and Huan the Hound from Valinor set out. The party found the area Carcharoth was residing. Carcharoth sprang at the Thingol but Beren stood in front taking a severe bite to his chest. At that moment Huan rushed to defense "...and they fell together fighting bitterly; and no battle of wolf and hound has been like to it, for in the baying of Huan was heard the voice of the horns of Oromë and the wrath of the Valar, but in the howls of Carcharoth was the hate of Morgoth and malice crueller than teeth of steel..."(p. 185, The Silmarillion).

Yet Thingol paid no mind to the battle around him seeing Beren wounded. Huan slew Carcharoth but not before receiving mortal wounds himself. Bringing himself to Beren he spoke a third and final time bidding Beren farewell. "Beren spoke not, but laid his hand upon the head of the hound, and so they parted" (p. 186, The Silmarillion). Mablung and Beleg were late coming to the battle and wept at what they found. Mablung cut open the wolf's belly and found the Silmaril with Beren's hand still clutching it. They gave the jewel to Beren who in turn presented it to Thingol: "'Now is the Quest achieved,' he said, 'and my doom full-wrought'" (p. 186, The Silmarillion).

They bore Huan and Beren back to Menegroth and there after looking into Lúthien's eyes Beren died. But the Lay of Lethian, Release from Bondage, did not end. Lúthien bid Beren to wait for her and her spirit fell into darkness and she too was taken to the halls of Mandos. There she knelt at Mandos' feet and sang a song of such beauty and sorrow that it remains unchanged and imperishable still sung in Valinor. "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" (p. 187, The Silmarillion).

Mandos was moved to pity, as never had happened before or since, that he brought Lúthien before Manwë. Manwë gave her two choices: to leave the Halls of Mandos and abide in Valinor with the Valar forgetting the sorrow of her time in Middle-earth or "...that she might return to Middle-earth, and take with her Beren, there to dwell again, but without certitude of life or joy..." (p. 187, The Silmarillion). Even though she would become mortal, estranged from the Elves, and face death she chose to return with Beren to Middle-earth. In her choice the Two Kindreds, Men and Elves, would be joined.

This is such a epic and tragic story. While there are many enchantments, shape-shifting, werewolves, and returns from death that are fantasy there are also other themes such as love, sacrifice, courage, integrity and their counterparts lust, murder, fear, and deception are present in the story. Morgoth being betrayed by his own lust struck me. Isn't that always the case? Lust may promise pleasure but it is always temporary and I have never not been betrayed by it. I love also the relationship between Beren, and Luthien. A pure sacrificial love was shared between them that empowered them to achieve deeds beyond what they could have achieved individually. If you want a glimpse at how dear to Tolkien's heart this love story of Beren and Lúthien was check out the picture of his tombstone here.

Middle-earth timeline: First Age 466-367
Today's reading comes from: The Silmarillion, pages 179-187