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Morgoth, I will let Lúthien wed thee, if she will. And Beren vowed to achieve this, and went from
Doriath to Nargothrond bearing the ring of Barahir. The quest of the Silmaril there aroused the oath
from sleep that the sons of Fëanor had sworn, and evil began to grow from it. Felagund, though he
knew the quest to be beyond his power, was willing to lend all his aid to Beren, because of his own
oath to Barahir. But Celegorm and Curufin dissuaded his people and roused up rebellion against him.
And evil thoughts awoke in their hearts, and they thought to usurp the throne of Nargothrond, because
they were sons of the eldest line. Rather than a Silmaril should be won and given to Thingol, they
would ruin the power of Doriath and Nargothrond.
So Felagund gave his crown to Orodreth and departed from his people with Beren and ten faithful
men of his own board. They waylaid an Orc-band and slew them, and disguised themselves by the aid
of Felagund’s magic as Orcs. But they were seen by Thû from his watchtower, which once had been
Felagund’s own, and were questioned by him, and their magic was overthrown in a contest between
Thû and Felagund. Thus they were revealed as Elves, but the spells of Felagund concealed their
names and quest. Long were they tortured in the dungeons of Thû, but none betrayed the other.
The oath referred to at the end of this passage was sworn by Fëanor and his seven sons, in
the words of the Quenta, ‘to pursue with hate and vengeance to the ends of the world Vala,
Demon, Elf, or Man, or Orc who hold or take or keep a Silmaril against their will.’ See pp.
117–18, lines 171–80.