Deaths of Beren and Lúthien

At the time of the fall of Menegroth Beren and Lúthien still lived. They had a son, Dior whose wife was Nimloth, kinswoman to Celeborn, Galadriel's husband. Together they had two sons Elured and Elurin, and one daughter Elwing. News reached Beren and Lúthien of what had befallen for the Elves of Ossiriand were aware of the Dwarven army and some messengers had come from Doriath. Beren and Dior, aided by the Green-elves assailed the Dwarves killing nearly all and reclaiming the Nauglamir/Silmaril.

Lúthien, though grieved, wore that necklace and her beauty was more fair then ever and the land became akin to Valinor. Dior, Thingol's heir, relocated to Doriath and sought to rebuild it. Around 504 the lord of the Green-elves bore a coffer to Dior inside was the Nauglamir and Dior knew the time on Middle-earth for Beren and Lúthien was now ended. "Then Dior arose, and about his neck he clasped the Nauglamir; and now he appeared as the fairest of all the children of the world, of the threefold race: of the Edain, and of the Eldar, and of the Maiar of the Blessed Realm" (p. 236, The Silmarillion). Quite the lineage for Dior and one I think that will be important in events to come.

Before long it was known among many that Dior possessed and wore the Silmaril. And the oath of Fëanor was waked. His seven sons gathered from wandering and demanded the Silmaril be given to them but Dior made no answer. Celegorm stirred his brothers to action and by stealth they attacked Doriath in the winter. The second slaying of Elf by Elf occurred. Celegorm, Curufin, and Caranthir, sons of Fëanor, were killed in the fight along with Dior and his wife Nimloth. Servants of Celegorm took there young sons and left them in the woods to starve and no certain news of their fate is known. Of this act Maedhros repented. Doriath was destroyed never to be rebuilt again but the Silmaril was not recovered by the sons of Fëanor. For a small remnant took Elwing, daughter of Dior, son of Beren and Lúthien to the mouth of the Sirion River by sea along with the Silmaril.

Middle-earth timeline: First Age, 503-504

Today's reading comes from: The Silmarillion, pages 234-237