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of old； and their land was darkened。
And now they murmured that Finarfin's son was not as a Vala to mand them； and they turned their faces from
him。 But the curse of Mandos came upon the brothers； and dark thoughts arose in their hearts； thinking to send forth
Felagund alone to his death； and to usurp； it might be； the throne of Nargothrond； for they were of the eldest line of the
princes of the Noldor。
And Felagund seeing that he was forsaken took from his head the silver crown of Nargothrond and cast it at his
feet； saying： 'Your oaths of faith to me you may break； but I must hold my bond。 Yet if there be any on whom the shadow
of out curse has not yet fallen； I should find at least a few to follow me； and should not go hence as a beggar that is
thrust from the gates。' There were ten that stood by him； and the chief of them； who was named Edrahil； stooping lifted
the crown and asked that it be given to a steward until Felagund's return。 'for you remain my king； and theirs；' he said；
'whatever betide。'
Then Felagund gave the crown of Nargothrond to Orodreth his brother to govern in his stead； and Celegorm and
Curufin said nothing； but they smiled and went from the halls。
On an evening of autumn Felagund and Beren set out from Nargothrond with their ten panions； and they
journeyed beside Narog to his source in the Falls of Ivrin。 Beneath the Shadowy Mountains they came upon a pany
of Orcs； and slew them all in their camp by night； and they took their gear and their weapons。 By the arts of Felagund
their own forms and faces were changed into the likeness of Orcs； and thus disguised they came far upon their northward
road； and ventured into the western pass； between Ered Wethrin and the highlands of Taur…nu…Fuin。 But Sauron in his
tower was ware of them； and doubt took him； for they went in haste； and stayed not to report their deeds； as was
manded to all the servants of Morgoth that passed that way。 Therefore he sent to waylay them； and bring them
before him。
Thus befell the contest of Sauron and Felagund which is renowned。 For Felagund strove with Sauron in songs of
power； ad the power of the King was very great； but Sauron had the mastery； as is told in the Lay of Leithian：
He chanted a song of wizardry；
Of piercing； opening； of treachery；
Revealing； uncovering； betraying。
Then sudden Felagund there swaying；
Sang in a song of staying；
Resisting； battling against power；
Of secrets kept； strength like a tower；
And trust unbroken； freedom； escape；
Of changing and shifting shape；
Of snares eluded； broken traps；
The prison opening； the chain that snaps。
Backwards and forwards swayed their song。
Reeling foundering； as ever more strong
The chanting swelled； Felagund fought；
And all the magic and might he brought
Of Elvenesse into his words。
Softly in the gloom they heard the birds
Singing afar in Nargothrond；
The sighting of the Sea beyond；
Beyond the western world； on sand；
On sand of pearls on Elvenland。
Then in the doom gathered； darkness growing
In Valinor； the red blood flowing
Beside the Sea； where the Noldor slew
The Foamriders； and stealing drew
Their white ships with their white sails
From lamplit havens。 The wind wails；
The wolf howls。 The ravens flee。
The ice mutters in the mouths of the Sea。
The captives sad in Angband mourn。
Thunder rumbles； the fires burn…
And Finrod fell before the throne。
Then Sauron stripped from the their disguise； and they stood before him naked and afraid。 But though their kinds
were revealed； Sauron could not discover their names or their purposes。
He cast them therefore into a deep pit； dark and silent； and threatened to slay them cruel； unless one would betray
the truth to him。 From time to time they saw two eyes kindled in the dark； and a werewolf devoured one of the
panions； but none betrayed their lord。
***
In the time when Sauron cast Beren into the pit a weight of horror came upon Lúthien's heart； and going to
Melian for counsel she learned that Beren lay in the dungeons of Tol…in…Gaurhoth without hope of rescue。 Then Lúthien；
perceiving that no help would e from any other on earth； resolved to fly from Doriath and e herself to him； but
she sought the aid of Daeron； and he betrayed her purpose because he would not deprive Lúthien of the lights of heaven；
lest she fail and fade； and yet would restrain her； he caused a house to be built from which she should not escape。 Not far
from the gates of Menegroth stood the greatest of all the trees in the Forest of Neldoreth； and that was a beech…forest and
the northern half of the kingdom。 This mighty beech was named Hírilorn； and it had three trunks； equal in girth； smooth
in rind； and exceeding tall； no branches grew from them for a great height above the ground。 Far aloft between the shafts
of Hírilorn a wooden house was built； and there Lúthien was made to dwell； and ladders were taken away and guarded；
save only when the servants of Thingol wrought her such things as she needed。
It is told in the Lay of Leithian how she escaped from the house in Hírilorn； for she put forth her arts of
enchantment； and caused her hair to grow to great length； and of it she wove a dark robe that wrapped her beauty like a
shadow； and it was laden with a spell of sleep。 Of the strands that remained she twined a rope； and she let it down from
her window； and as the end swayed above the guards that sat beneath the house they fell into a deep slumber。 Then
Lúthien climbed from her prison； and shrouded in her shadowy cloak she escaped from all eyes； and vanished out of
Doriath。
It chanced that Celegorm and Curufin went on a hunt through the Guarded Plain； and this they did because
Sauron； being filled with suspicion； sent forth many wolves into the Elf…lands。 Therefore they took their hounds and rode
forth； and they thought that ere they returned they might also hear tidings concerning King Felagund。 Now the chief of
the wolf hounds that followed Celegorm was named Huan。 He was not born in Middle…earth； but came from the Blessed
Realm； for Orom？ had given him to Celegorm long ago in Valinor； and there he had followed the horn of his master；
before evil came。 Huan followed Celegorm into exile； and was faithful； and thus he too came under the doom of woe set
upon the Noldor； and it was decreed that he should meet death； but not until he encountered the mightiest wolf that
would ever walk the world。
Huan it was that found Lúthien flying like a shadow surprised by the daylight under the trees； when Celegorm
and Curufin rested a while near to the western eaves of Doriath； for nothing could escape the sight and scent of Huan；
nor could any enchantment stay him； and he slept not； neither by night nor day。 He brought her to Celegorm； and
Lúthien； learning that he was a prince of the Noldor and a foe of Morgoth； was glad； and she declared herself； casting
aside her cloak。 So great was her sudden beauty revealed beneath the sun that Celegorm became enamoured of her； but
he spoke her fair； and promised that she would find help in her need； if she returned with him now to Nargothrond。 By
no sign did he reveal that he knew already of Beren and the quest； of which she told； nor that it was a matter which
touched him near。
Thus they broke off the hunt and returned to Nargothrond； and Lúthien was betrayed； for they held her fast； and
took away her cloak； and she was not permitted to pass the gates or to speak with any save the brothers； Celegorm and
Curufin。 For now； believing that Beren and Felagund were prisoners beyond hope of aid； they purposed to let the King
perish； and to keep Lúthien ； and force Thingol to give her the mightiest of princes of the Noldor。 And they did not
purpose to seek the Silmarils by craft or war； or to suffer any others to do so； until they had all the might of the Elf…
kingdoms under their hands。 Orodreth had no power to withstand them； for they swayed the hearts of the people of
Nargothrond； and Celegorm sent messengers to Thingol urging his suit。
But Huan the hound was true of heart； and