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==The Quest==
==The Quest==


After Beren was brought before Thingol in [[Menegroth]], and Beren declared his love for Lúthien, Thingol demanded a Silmaril from the Iron Crown of Morgoth.  Beren went off to his friend Finrod Felagund, who owed Beren much because of the service of [[Barahir]] Beren's father. Therefor with ten companions they set out, disguised as [[Orcs]], and were promptly captured by [[Sauron]].
After Beren was brought before Thingol in [[Menegroth]], and Beren declared his love for Lúthien, Thingol demanded a Silmaril from the Iron Crown of Morgoth.  In return he would allow Beren to receive Luthien as his bride, although Thingol deemed the task impossible, and thought rather that Beren would fail. Beren went off to his friend Finrod Felagund, who owed Beren much because of the service of [[Barahir]] Beren's father. Therefore with ten companions they set out, disguised as [[Orcs]], and were promptly captured by [[Sauron]]. Suaron sent a wolf devour his prisoners one by one, until only Finrod and Beren were left. When the wolf came for Beren, an enraged Finrod fought tooth and nail with the wolf and killed it with his bare hands, which cost him his own life. After some time, Luthien grew restless and approached her mother Melian for council. Melian told her that Beren was held captive in Sauron's fortress. Luthien resolved to go and free him, but Thingol forbade this, and ordered for Luthien to be guarded in a house built for her. But Luthien used her magic to weave a cloak of enchantment, and she escaped from Doriath.
 
Luthien encountered many perils along the way, running into the wolf hound Huan. The wolf brought her before his masters, Celegorm and Curufin. When she declared herself to them, the two sons of Feanor were filled with wonder and feigned friendship to her. But they betrayed and restrained Luthien, and she was held captive. Celegorm then sent intended to take Luthien as his wife, and he sent emissaries to Thingol, demanding his allegiance. As Celegorm planned, the allegiance of Doriath would enhance the power of the Noldor, and further the war effort against Morgoth. Celegorm desired to unite all of the Elves of Middle-Earth before he could attack Angband. But Huan took pity on Luthien, having liked her from their first meeting. Eventually this prompted Huan to speak for the first of three times. He gave Luthien advice, and freed her from captivity. He bore Luthien away, and humbled his pride by becoming her steed.
 
They came at last to Sauron's fortress, and Sauron was aware of them. He sent wolf after wolf to the gate, but Huan slew them one by one. Then Sauron, who knew of Huan's fate, imagined that he himself could be the one to end Huan. Sauron came forth himself in the shape of a terrible wolf, and both Luthien and Huan quailed before him. But as Sauron advanced, Luthien flung her cloak over Sauron's face, and he was struck by the blinding enchantment of weariness. Huan used the opportunity to take Sauron by the throat. Sauron tried to escape by shape shifting, but Huan held him down. Luthien then demanded Sauron to yield the mastery of the tower to her, less Huan should destroy his mortal form. Sauron yielded, and fled the scene. Luthien, having received mastery of the tower, laid waste to the fortress with her magic. The walls were destroyed and the prisons were broken. Luthien found Beren and healed him.
 
United once more, they were later ambushed by Celegorm and Curufin, who knew of Beren's intentions to wrest a silmaril from Morgoth. But Huan turned against them, and with his aid Beren defeated the sons of Feanor. While they fled, Curufin shot an arrow at Luthien, but Beren stood in its path and was stuck in the chest. Huan chased the princes away, and returned with herbs to cure Beren. With some effort, Luthien healed Beren. But Beren resolved to carry on his quest without Luthien, but she denied him this. Huan spoke for a second time, advising that they were now bound together, whether Beren will it or not. Therefore the two of them headed for Angband, and were brought before the throne of Morgoth himself. Luthien was undaunted by Morgoth, and she offered to dance and sing for him in the manner of a minstrel. Morgoth beheld her with lust, of which came a secret desire to do some unspeakable evil to Luthien. Morgoth accepted for this reason, but Luthien sang a song of such enchantment that Morgoth and his court fell into a deep sleep.
 
Beren then used the opportunity to cut a silmaril from Morgoth's crown. The silmaril did not burn him, and Beren thought of going beyond his vow and retrieving all three of the silmarils. But as he began to cut a second one loose, the knife broke, and a shard struck Morgoth in the face. Morgoth and his court stirred, and Luthien and Beren fled for their lives. At the gate however they were ambushed by Carcharoth, Morgoth's wolf. Beren tried to ward him off with the light of the silmaril, but Carcharoth desired it and bit off Beren's hand. But the silmaril burned the wolf's innards, and caught in excruciating pain, Carcharoth fled. In his madness he passed through the Girlde of Melian into Doriath, thanks to the power of the silmaril.
 
Beren was nursed too health once more by Luthien, and they returned to Doriath. Thingol was amazed to see Beren alive, but he still disliked him for the doom he had brought on Doriath. But Beren told him of his tale, and that a simaril was in his other hand. Thingol's mood towards Beren then changed, and at last he yielded Luthien to him. Eventually Carcharoth was discovered by Thingol's warriors, and the wolf was attacked. Thingol was nearly slain, but Beren saved him and was mortally wounded. Huan then fought with Carcharoth and slew him, with both wolves dying. The silmaril was cut from Carcharoth's burned flesh, and Beren presented it at last to Thingol before he died. Thingol then held Beren with respect, but Luthien commanded Beren to wait for her in the undying lands. Luthien passed away in greif, and her spirit came to the halls of Mandos. There she sang a song of woe and lamentation, and Mandos himself was moved to pity. He then summoned Beren's spirit, and the two were reunited. But though Mandos pitied them, Luthien was faced with a choice; to remain in Valinor and its eternal bliss, or for her and Beren to return to Middle-Earth as mortals, after which they would die a second death. Luthien chose the latter, and she and Beren returned to Doriath.
 
Many rejoced at their return. But when Melian saw her daughter again, by virtue of being an Ainur, she foresaw that a parting beyond the world was now due. Melian was grieved, knowing that Luthien would soon vanish forever. But the Quest was completed; Thingol had receivd the simaril, and Beren had won Luthien.


[[Category:Quest for the Silmaril]]
[[Category:Quest for the Silmaril]]

Revision as of 13:15, 18 June 2015

"...there is much else that may be told." — Glóin
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Quest for the Silmaril was the quest of Beren Erchamion for a Silmaril from Morgoth's Iron Crown, as Thingol's bride-price for his daughter Lúthien. He was aided in the Quest by Lúthien herself, King Finrod of Nargothrond and Huan the Hound of Valinor. It was immortalized in the elvish poetic epic, the Lay of Leithian.

The Quest

After Beren was brought before Thingol in Menegroth, and Beren declared his love for Lúthien, Thingol demanded a Silmaril from the Iron Crown of Morgoth. In return he would allow Beren to receive Luthien as his bride, although Thingol deemed the task impossible, and thought rather that Beren would fail. Beren went off to his friend Finrod Felagund, who owed Beren much because of the service of Barahir Beren's father. Therefore with ten companions they set out, disguised as Orcs, and were promptly captured by Sauron. Suaron sent a wolf devour his prisoners one by one, until only Finrod and Beren were left. When the wolf came for Beren, an enraged Finrod fought tooth and nail with the wolf and killed it with his bare hands, which cost him his own life. After some time, Luthien grew restless and approached her mother Melian for council. Melian told her that Beren was held captive in Sauron's fortress. Luthien resolved to go and free him, but Thingol forbade this, and ordered for Luthien to be guarded in a house built for her. But Luthien used her magic to weave a cloak of enchantment, and she escaped from Doriath.

Luthien encountered many perils along the way, running into the wolf hound Huan. The wolf brought her before his masters, Celegorm and Curufin. When she declared herself to them, the two sons of Feanor were filled with wonder and feigned friendship to her. But they betrayed and restrained Luthien, and she was held captive. Celegorm then sent intended to take Luthien as his wife, and he sent emissaries to Thingol, demanding his allegiance. As Celegorm planned, the allegiance of Doriath would enhance the power of the Noldor, and further the war effort against Morgoth. Celegorm desired to unite all of the Elves of Middle-Earth before he could attack Angband. But Huan took pity on Luthien, having liked her from their first meeting. Eventually this prompted Huan to speak for the first of three times. He gave Luthien advice, and freed her from captivity. He bore Luthien away, and humbled his pride by becoming her steed.

They came at last to Sauron's fortress, and Sauron was aware of them. He sent wolf after wolf to the gate, but Huan slew them one by one. Then Sauron, who knew of Huan's fate, imagined that he himself could be the one to end Huan. Sauron came forth himself in the shape of a terrible wolf, and both Luthien and Huan quailed before him. But as Sauron advanced, Luthien flung her cloak over Sauron's face, and he was struck by the blinding enchantment of weariness. Huan used the opportunity to take Sauron by the throat. Sauron tried to escape by shape shifting, but Huan held him down. Luthien then demanded Sauron to yield the mastery of the tower to her, less Huan should destroy his mortal form. Sauron yielded, and fled the scene. Luthien, having received mastery of the tower, laid waste to the fortress with her magic. The walls were destroyed and the prisons were broken. Luthien found Beren and healed him.

United once more, they were later ambushed by Celegorm and Curufin, who knew of Beren's intentions to wrest a silmaril from Morgoth. But Huan turned against them, and with his aid Beren defeated the sons of Feanor. While they fled, Curufin shot an arrow at Luthien, but Beren stood in its path and was stuck in the chest. Huan chased the princes away, and returned with herbs to cure Beren. With some effort, Luthien healed Beren. But Beren resolved to carry on his quest without Luthien, but she denied him this. Huan spoke for a second time, advising that they were now bound together, whether Beren will it or not. Therefore the two of them headed for Angband, and were brought before the throne of Morgoth himself. Luthien was undaunted by Morgoth, and she offered to dance and sing for him in the manner of a minstrel. Morgoth beheld her with lust, of which came a secret desire to do some unspeakable evil to Luthien. Morgoth accepted for this reason, but Luthien sang a song of such enchantment that Morgoth and his court fell into a deep sleep.

Beren then used the opportunity to cut a silmaril from Morgoth's crown. The silmaril did not burn him, and Beren thought of going beyond his vow and retrieving all three of the silmarils. But as he began to cut a second one loose, the knife broke, and a shard struck Morgoth in the face. Morgoth and his court stirred, and Luthien and Beren fled for their lives. At the gate however they were ambushed by Carcharoth, Morgoth's wolf. Beren tried to ward him off with the light of the silmaril, but Carcharoth desired it and bit off Beren's hand. But the silmaril burned the wolf's innards, and caught in excruciating pain, Carcharoth fled. In his madness he passed through the Girlde of Melian into Doriath, thanks to the power of the silmaril.

Beren was nursed too health once more by Luthien, and they returned to Doriath. Thingol was amazed to see Beren alive, but he still disliked him for the doom he had brought on Doriath. But Beren told him of his tale, and that a simaril was in his other hand. Thingol's mood towards Beren then changed, and at last he yielded Luthien to him. Eventually Carcharoth was discovered by Thingol's warriors, and the wolf was attacked. Thingol was nearly slain, but Beren saved him and was mortally wounded. Huan then fought with Carcharoth and slew him, with both wolves dying. The silmaril was cut from Carcharoth's burned flesh, and Beren presented it at last to Thingol before he died. Thingol then held Beren with respect, but Luthien commanded Beren to wait for her in the undying lands. Luthien passed away in greif, and her spirit came to the halls of Mandos. There she sang a song of woe and lamentation, and Mandos himself was moved to pity. He then summoned Beren's spirit, and the two were reunited. But though Mandos pitied them, Luthien was faced with a choice; to remain in Valinor and its eternal bliss, or for her and Beren to return to Middle-Earth as mortals, after which they would die a second death. Luthien chose the latter, and she and Beren returned to Doriath.

Many rejoced at their return. But when Melian saw her daughter again, by virtue of being an Ainur, she foresaw that a parting beyond the world was now due. Melian was grieved, knowing that Luthien would soon vanish forever. But the Quest was completed; Thingol had receivd the simaril, and Beren had won Luthien.