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saying： 'By what right does the Elvenking lay claim to the Nauglamír； that was made by our fathers for Finrod Felagund
who is dead？ It has e to him but by the hand of Húrin the Man of Dor…lómin； who took it as a thief out of the
darkness of Nargothrond。' But Thingol perceived their hearts； and saw well that desiring the Silmaril they sought but a
pretext and fair cloak for their true intent； and in his wrath and pride he gave no heed to his peril； but spoke to them in
scorn； saying： 'How do ye of uncouth race dare to demand aught of me； Elu Thingol； Lord of Beleriand； whose life
began by the waters of Cuiviénen years uncounted ere the fathers of the stunted people awoke？' And standing tall and
proud among them he bade them with shameful words be gone unrequited out of Doriath。
Then the lust of the Dwarves was kindled to rage by the words of the King； and they rose up about him； and laid
hands on him； and slew him as he stood。 So died in the deep places of Menegroth Elw？ Singollo； King of Doriath； who
alone of all the Children of Ilúvatar was joined with one of the Ainur； and he who； alone of the Forsaken Elves； had seen
the light of the Trees of Valinor； with his last sight gazed upon the Silmaril。
Then the Dwarves taking the Nauglamír passed out of Menegroth and fled eastwards through Region。 But tidings
went swiftly through the forest； and few of that pany came over Aros； for they were pursued to the death as they
sought the eastward road； and the Nauglamír was retaken； and brought back in bitter grief to Melian the Queen。 Yet two
there were of the slayers of Thingol who escaped from the pursuit on the eastern marches； and returned at last to their
city far off in the Blue Mountains； and there in Nogrod they told somewhat of all that had befallen； saying that the
Dwarves were slain in Doriath by mand of the Elvenking； who thus would cheat them of their reward。
Then great was the wrath and lamentation of the Dwarves of Nogrod for the death of their kin and their great
craftsmen； and they tore their beards； and wailed； and long they sat taking thought for vengeance。 It is told that they
asked aid from Belegost； but it was denied them； and the Dwarves of Belegost sought to dissuade them from their
purpose； but their counsel was unavailing； and ere long a great host came forth from Nogrod； and crossing over Gelion
marched westward through Beleriand。
***
Upon Doriath a heavy change had fallen。 Melian sat long in silence beside Thingol the King； and her thought
passed back into the starlit years and to their first meeting among the nightingales of Nan Elmoth in ages past； and she
knew that her parting from Thingol was the forerunner of a greater parting； and that the doom of Doriath was drawing
nigh。 For Melian was of the divine race of the Valar； and she was a Maia of great power and wisdom； but for love of
Elw？ Singollo she took upon herself the form of the Elder Children of Ilúvatar； and in that union she became bound by
the chain and trammels of the flesh of Arda。 In that form she bore to him Lúthien Tinúviel； and in that form she gained a
power over the substance of Arda； and by the Girdle of Melian was Doriath defended through long ages from the evils
without。 But now Thingol lay dead； and his spirit had passed to the halls of Mandos； and with his death a change came
also upon Melian。 Thus it came to pass that her power was withdrawn in that time from the forests of Neldoreth and
Region； and Esgalduin the enchanted river spoke with a different voice； and Doriath lay open to its enemies。
Thereafter Melian spoke to none save to Mablung only； bidding him take heed to the Silmaril； and to send word
speedily to Beren and Lúthien in Ossiriand； and she vanished out of Middle…earth； and passed to the land of the Valar
beyond the western sea； to muse upon her sorrows in the gardens of Lórien； whence she came； and this tale speaks of her
no more。
Thus it was that the host of the Naugrim crossing over Aros passed unhindered into the woods of Doriath； and
none withstood them； for they were many and fierce； and the captains of the Grey…elves were cast into doubt and despair；
and went hither and thither purposeless。 But the Dwarves held on their way； and passed over the great bridge； and
entered into Menegroth； and there befell a thing most grievous among the sorrowful deeds of the Elder Days。 For there
was battle in the Thousand Caves； and many Elves and Dwarves were slain； and it has not been forgotten。 But the
Dwarves were victorious； and the halls of Thingol were ransacked and plundered。 There fell Mablung of the Heavy
Hand before the doors of the treasury wherein lay the Nauglamír； and the Silmaril was taken。
At that time Beren and Lúthien yet dwelt in Tol Galen； the Green Isle； in the River Adurant； southernmost of the
streams that falling from Ered Lindon flowed down to join with Gelion； and their son Dior Eluchíl had to wife Nimloth；
kinswoman of Celeborn； prince of Doriath； who was wedded to the Lady Galadriel。 The sons of Dior and Nimloth were
Eluréd and Elurín； and a daughter also was born to them； and she was named Elwing； which is Star…spray； for she was
born on a night of stars； whose light glittered in the spray of the waterfall of Lanthir Lamath beside her father's house。
Now word went swiftly among the Elves of Ossiriand that a great host of Dwarves bearing gear of war had e
down out of the mountains and passed over Gelion at the Ford of Stones。 These tidings came soon to Beren and Lúthien；
and in that time also a messenger came to them out of Doriath telling of what had befallen there。 Then Beren arose and
left Tol Galen； and summoning to him Dior his son they went north to the River Ascar； and with them went many of the
Green…elves of Ossiriand。
Thus it came to 。pass that when the Dwarves of Nogrod； returning from Menegroth with diminished host； came
again to Sarn Athrad； they were assailed by unseen enemies； for as they climbed up Gelion's banks burdened with the
spoils of Doriath； suddenly all the woods were filled with the sound of elven…horns； and shafts sped upon them from
every side。 There very many of the Dwarves were slain in the first onset； but some escaping from the ambush held
together； and fled eastwards towards the mountains。 And as they climbed the long slopes beneath Mount Dolmed there
came forth the Shepherds of the Trees； and they drove the Dwarves into the shadowy woods of Ered Lindon： whence； it
is said； came never one to climb the high passes that led to their homes。
In that battle by Sarn Athrad Beren fought his last fight； and himself slew the Lord of Nogrod； and wrested from
him the Necklace of the Dwarves； but he dying laid his curse upon all the treasure。 Then Beren gazed in wonder on the
selfsame jewel of F？anor that he had cut from Morgoth's iron crown； now shining set amid gold and gems by the
cunning of the Dwarves； and he washed it clean of blood in the waters of the river。 And when all was finished the
treasure of Doriath was drowned in the River Ascar； and from that time the river was named anew； Rathlóriel； the
Goldenbed； but Beren took the Nauglamír and returned to Tol Galen。 Little did it ease the grief of Lúthien to learn that
the Lord of Nogrod was slain and many Dwarves beside； but it is said and sung that Lúthien wearing that necklace and
that immortal jewel was the vision of greatest beauty and glory that has ever been outside the realm of Valinor； and for a
little while the Land of the Dead that Live became like a vision of the land of the Valar； and no place has been since so
fair； so fruitful； or so filled with light。
Now Dior Thingol's heir bade farewell to Beren and Lúthien； and departing from Lanthir Lamath with Nimloth
his wife he came to Menegroth； and abode there； and with them went their young sons Eluréd and Elurín； and Elwing
their daughter。 Then the Sindar received them with joy； and they arose from the darkness of their grief for fallen kin and
King and for the departure of Melian； and Dior Eluchíl set himself to raise anew the glory of th