the story of beren and lúthien ~ finished by geoff zeiger
XV
Since that fair morn his daughter fled
King Thingol sat in awful dread
upon his throne and cursed the fate
that Beren brought from halls of hate
where starlight fails and shadows creep 4525
o'er every living heart, and deep
beneath the earth in caverns drear
there lies and waits the utmost fear.
Mablung, called the Heavy Hand,
with all his fell and fearless band 4530
of archers grey now roamed the wood
at Thingol's bidding, that they should
discover all the things that passed
along the woodland's marches vast.
Lúthien's flight had sorrow brought 4535
and Thingol's folk now wandering sought
with tearful eyes that lissom maid
through grassy glen and sunny glade.
Well-nigh all the woodland folk
hunted beneath the beech and oak, 4540
but found her not, for she was fled;
the trail since gone cold and dead.
But many strayed the Girdle past
and left the Guarded Realm at last,
and these were lost, their senses dazed 4545
by Melian's magic that amazed
the minds of all who thither sought.
The search was vain, yet dearly bought,
for thence came Dairon never more
to Menegroth upon the shore 4550
of the faëry stream where Beren came
with longing heart his love to tame.
He wanders ever down the years
which have no power to slake his tears
and, seeking still for Lúthien, 4555
far beyond the ways of Men
he pipes on shores and lands grown dim
that she might, hearing, come to him,
and in his song such anguish rings
that from the waking world it wings 4560
across the sea beyond the walls
of Valinor, to timeless halls,
where in memory ever-green
his music lives as it had been
in Doriath. Yet wanders he 4565
in Eastern lands now fitfully,
a doom on him to stay his quest,
nor end his journey, nor to rest
until he finds that Elvish maid
enchanted dancing glade to glade. 4570
Sudden from Nargothrond there came
upon a horse as swift as flame
a messenger from Celegorm
in cloak as dark as winter storm.
Before the king, still grieving sore, 4575
he said that sons of Fëanor
now held in bond fair Lúthien
and from the king her hand would win,
and if no blessing he would give
then shut in Narog might she live, 4580
but never thence would she return
'til Melian and Thingol learn
that Fëanor's house was mighty still
in arms and honour. 'Twas their will
that Thingol's quest in their despite 4585
should fail, and never Beren might
return alive from Northern lands
to scorn their oath. In other hands
their father's gem might not abide.
On such a house a seething tide 4590
of war and hate would ever pour
until in shame would they restore
to Fëanor's heirs the gems of light,
their thrice-enchanted jewels bright,
for Felagund had joined the quest 4600
of mortal frail who sought to wrest
a Silmaril from Morgoth's crown,
a quest in which his line should drown
for neither Elf nor Man returned,
and Orodreth the people spurned – 4605
in spite of crown he stood alone
while Celegorm claimed Narog's throne.
Now Thingol's wrath burned fierce and hot –
his daughter's hand would not be bought
by force or threat of force. In haste 4610
reply he sent that all to waste
he'd lay the land of Nargothrond,
its lords pursuing till beyond
the realms of Elfinesse he found
what way their harried flight had wound. 4615
And as the herald sped away
all strength of arms that gathered lay
in Menegroth were summoned forth
as once they marched against the North,
this time in feuds of Elfinesse 4620
to stain their hands, and honour less
to find in slaying kin by kin,
but glory still they hope to win,
and insult to avenge in war.
But Melian's heart misgave her sore 4625
and counseled Thingol that he wrought
an evil deed, and ruin sought,
and said she would forbid him fight
but that she saw with inner sight
that never would their armies meet 4630
while Thingol sat upon his seat
in Doriath. But warning now
he would not take, nor rest his vow
of vengeance swift on Narog's lord
and Fëanor's gem to lay in hoard. 4635
No more than this she laid revealed
before the king, and fate was sealed,
as stories tell, by haughty pride
that luck and valour turned aside,
for as the Elves set out to fight 4640
another army, black as night,
and marching under moon and star,
all veiled from Melian's gaze afar
by its captain's power on them fell.
The Elves there met the host of hell 4645
beneath the forest's eaves, and each
surprised at battle under beech
were scattered, and the fight was long
in doubt, for though the Elves were strong
their foes were many, fierce and grim 4650
and round their captain shadows dim
were wrapped, and thence a whip of flame
laid waste to all, and boastful claim
he made that back to Morgoth's lair
would willing go the daughter fair 4655
of Melian. This Thingol heard
and turned in wrath, without a word
to send an arrow winging true
to find that voice, still hid from view
by clinging dark, And in that hour 4660
it was said that by the power
of Ulmo of or Oromë,
whose thought through wood or water lay,
that shot was guided. Boldog falls
and never back to Angband's halls 4665
came news of errand under tree
for fought and fell there faithfully
the Elves, and with their captain dead
that host from out the northland dread
their will had lost, and scattered flew 4670
before their foes who following slew
them all, and never one returned,
but by these tidings Thingol learned
that Lúthien's wandering far was known
and rumour even to Morgoth flown 4675
of Elven maid so blinding-fair,
of perfume and of beauty rare.
Now Doriath's host prepared to go
in haste across the drifted snow
to march to Narog's aid at need, 4680
and thus at last doth Thingol heed
Melian's counsel – no avail
the sons of Fëanor to assail
while threat remained of Morgoth's power
snatching Lúthien from her bower 4685
as fought the lords of Elf and Gnome,
forgetting thus to guard their home.