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A FURTHER EXTRACT FROM THE QUENTA
In the meanwhile Lúthien, learning by the far sight of Melian that Beren had fallen into the power of
Thû, sought in her despair to fly from Doriath. This became known to Thingol, who imprisoned her in
a house in the tallest of his mighty beeches far above the ground. How she escaped and came into the
woods, and was found there by Celegorm as they hunted on the borders of Doriath, is told in The Lay
of Leithian. They took her treacherously to Nargothrond, and Curufin the crafty became enamoured of
her beauty. From her tale they learned that Felagund was in the hands of Thû; and they purposed to let
him perish there, and keep Lúthien with them, and force Thingol to wed Lúthien to Curufin, and so
build up their power and usurp Nargothrond and become the mightiest of the princes of the Gnomes.
They did not think to go in search of the Silmarils, or suffer any others to do so, until they had all the
power of the Elves beneath themselves and obedient to them. But their designs came to nought save
estrangement and bitterness between the kingdoms of the Elves.
Huan was the name of the chief of the hounds of Celegorm. He was of immortal race from the
hunting-lands of Oromë. Oromë gave him to Celegorm long before in Valinor, when Celegorm often
rode in the train of the God and followed his horn. He came into the Great Lands with his master, and
dart nor weapon, spell nor poison, could harm him, so that he went into battle with his lord and saved
him many times from death. His fate had decreed that he should not meet death save at the hands of the
mightiest wolf that should ever walk the world.
Huan was true of heart, and he loved Lúthien from the hour that he first found her in the woods and
brought her to Celegorm. His heart was grieved by his master’s treachery, and he set Lúthien free and
went with her to the North.
There Thû slew his captives one by one, till only Felagund and Beren were left. When the hour for
Beren’s death came Felagund put forth all his power, and burst his bonds, and wrestled with the
werewolf that came to slay Beren; and he killed the wolf, but was himself slain in the dark. There
Beren mourned in despair, and waited for death. But Lúthien came and sang outside the dungeons.
Thus she beguiled Thû to come forth, for the fame of the loveliness of Lúthien had gone through all
lands and the wonder of her song. Even Morgoth desired her, and had promised the greatest reward to