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followed still the horse of Celegorm his master。
Northward they rode； for they intended in their haste to pass through Dimbar； and along the north marches or
Doriath； seeking the swiftest road to Him ring； where Maedhros their brother dwelt； and still they might hope with speed
to traverse it； since it lay close to Doriath's borders； shunning Nan Dungortheb and the distant menace of the Mountains
of Terror。
Now it is told that Beren and Lúthien came in their wandering into the Forests of Brethil； and drew near at last to
the borders of Doriath。 Then Beren took thought of his vow； and against his heart he resolved； when Lúthien was e
again within the safety of her own land； to set forth once more。 But she was not willing to be parted form him again；
saying： 'You must choose； Beren； between these two： to relinquish the quest and your oath and seek a life of wandering
upon the face of the earth； or to hold to your word and challenge the power of darkness upon its throne。 But on either
road I shall go with you； and our doom shall be alike。'
Even as they spoke together of these things； walking without heed of aught else； Celegorm and Curufin rode up；
hastening through the forest； and the brothers espied them and knew them for afar。 Then Celegorm turned his horse； and
spurred it upon Beren； purposing to ride him down； but Curufin swerving stooped and lifted Lúthien to his saddle； for he
was a strong and cunning horseman。 Then Beren sprang from before Celegorm full upon the speeding horse of Curufin
that had passed hi； and the Leap of Beren is renowned among that had passed him； and the Leap of Beren is renowned
among Men and Elves。 He took Curufin by the throat from behind； and hurled him backward； and they fell to the ground
together。 The horse reared and fell； but Lúthien was flung aside； and lay upon the grass。
Then Beren throttled Curufin； but death was near him； for Celegorm rode upon him with a spear。 in that hour
Huan forsook the service or Celegorm； and sprang up＇on him； so that his horse swerved aside； and would not approach
Beren because of the terror of the great hound。 Celegorm cursed both hound and horse； but Huan was unmoved。 Then
Lúthien rising forbade the slaying of Curufin； but Beren despoiled him of his gear and weapons； and took his knife；
sheathless by his side； iron it would cleave as if it were green wood。 Then Beren lifting Curufin flung him from him； and
bade him walk now back to his noble kinsfolk； who might teach him to turn his valour to worthier use。 'Your horse；' he
said； 'I keep for the service of Lúthien； and it may be accounted happy to be free of such a master。'
Then Curufin cursed Beren under cloud and sky。 'Go hence；' he said； 'unto a swift and bitter death。' Celegorm
took him beside him on his horse； and the brothers made then as if to ride away； and Beren turned away and took no
heed of their words。 But Curufin； being filled with shame and malice； took the bow of Celegorm and shot back as they
went； and the arrow was aimed at Lúthien。 Huan leaping caught it in his mouth； but Curufin shot again； and Beren
sprang before Lúthien； and the dart smote him in the breast。
It is told that Huan pursued the sons of F？anor； and they fled in fear； and returning he brought to Lúthien a herb
out of the forest。 With that leaf he staunched Beren's wound； and by her arts and by her love she healed him； and thus at
last they returned to Doriath。 There Beren； being torn between his oath and his love； and knowing Lúthien to be now
safe； arose one morning before the sun； and mitted her to the care of Huan； then in great anguish he departed while
she yet slept upon the grass。
He rode northward again with all speed to the Pass of Sirion； and ing to the skirts of Taur…nu…Fuin he
looked out across the waste of Anfauglith and saw afar the peaks of Thangorodrim。 There he dismissed the horse of
Curufin； and bade it leave now dread and servitude and run free upon the green grass in the lands of Sirion。 Then being
now alone and upon the threshold of the final peril he made the Song of Parting； in praise of Lúthien and the lights of
heaven； for he believed that he must now say farewell to both love and light。 Of that song these words were part：
Farewell sweet earth and northern sky；
for ever blest； since here did lie
and here with lissom limbs did run
beneath the Moon； beneath the Sun；
Lúthien Tinúviel
more fair than mortal tongue can tell。
Though all to ruin fell the world
and were dissolved and backward hurled
unmade into the old abyss；
yet were its making good； for this…
the dusk； the dawn； the earth； the sea…
that Lúthien for a time should be。
And he sang aloud； caring not what ear should overhear him； for he was desperate and looked for no escape。
But Lúthien heard his song； and she sang in answer； as she came through the woods unlooked for。 For Huan；
consenting once more to be her steed； had borne her swiftly hard upon Beren's trail。 Long he had pondered in his heart
what counsel he could devise for the lightning of the peril of these two whom he loved。 He turned aside therefore at
Sauron's isle； as they ran northward again； and he took thence the ghastly wolf…hame of Draugluin； and the bat…fell of？
ThurIngw？thil。 She was the messenger of Sauron； and was wont to fly in vampire's form to Angband； and her
greatfingered wings were barbed at each joint's end with and iron claw。 Clad in these dreadful garments Huan and
Lúthien ran through Taur…nu…Fuin； and all things fled before them。
Beren seeing their approach was dismayed； and he wondered； for he had heard the voice of Tinúviel； and he
thought it now a phantom for his ensnaring。 But they halted and cast aside their disguise； and Lúthien ran towards him。
Thus Beren and Lúthien met again between the desert and the wood。 For a while he was silent and was glad； but after a
space he strove once more to dissuade Lúthien from her journey。
'Thrice now I curse my oath to Thingol；' he said； 'and I would that he had slain me in Menegroth； rather than I
should bring you under the shadow of Morgoth。'
Then for the second time Huan spoke with words； and he counselled Beren； saying： 'From the shadow of death
you can no longer save Lúthien； for by her love she is now subject to it。 You can turn from your fate and lead her into
exile； seeking peace in vain while your life lasts。 But if you will not deny your doom； then either Lúthien； being
forsaken； must assuredly die alone； or she must with you challenge the fate that lies before youhopeless； yet not
certain。 Further counsel I cannot give； nor may I go further on your road。 But my heart forebodes that what you find at
the Gate I shall myself see。 All else is dark to me； yet it may be that our three paths lead back to Doriath； and we may
meet before the end。'
Then Beren perceived that Lúthien could not be divided from the doom that lay upon them both； and he sought
no longer to dissuade her。 By the counsel of Huan and the arts of Lúthien he was arrayed now in the hame of Draugluin；
and she in the winged fell of ThurIngw？thil。 Beren became in all things like a werewolf to look upon； save that in his
eyes there shone a spirit grim indeed but clean； and horror was in his glance as he saw upon his flank a bat…like creature
clinging with creased wings。 Then howling under the moon he leaped down the hill； and the bat wheeled and flittered
above him。
They passed through all perils； until they came with the dust of their long and weary road upon them to the drear
dale that lay before the Gate of Angband。 Black chasms opened beside the road； whence forms as of writhing serpents
issued。 On either hand the cliffs stood as embattled walls； and upon them sat carrion fowl crying with fell voices。 Before
them was the impregnable Gate； an arch wide and dark at the foot of the mountain； above it reared a thousand feet of
precipice。
There dismay took them； for at the gate was a guard of whom no tidings had yet gone forth。 Rumour of he knew
not what designs abroad among the princes of the Elves had e to M