the story of beren and lúthien ~ finished by geoff zeiger
IV
He lay upon the leafy mould, 825
his face upon earth's bosom cold,
aswoon with mingled grief and bliss,
enchanted of an Elvish kiss,
seeing within his darkened eyes
the light that for no darkness dies, 830
the loveliness that doth not fade,
though all in ashes cold be laid.
Then folded in the mists of sleep
he sank into abysses deep,
drowned in overwhelming grief 835
for parting after meeting brief;
a shadow and a fragrance fair
lingered, and waned, and was not there.
Forsaken, barren, cold as stone,
the daylight found him cold, alone. 840
"Where art thou gone? The day is bare,
the sunlight dark, and cold the air!
Tinúviel, where went thy feet?
O wayward star! O maiden sweet!
O flower of Elfland all too fair 845
for mortal heart! The woods are bare!
The woods are bare!" he rose and cried.
"Ere spring was born, the spring hath died!"
And wandering in path and mind
he groped as one gone sudden blind 850
who seeks to grasp the hidden light
with faltering hands in more than night.
And thus in anguish Beren paid
for that great doom upon him laid,
the deathless love of Lúthien, 855
too fair for love of mortal Men;
and in his doom was Lúthien snared,
the deathless in his dying shared;
and Fate them forged a binding chain
of living love and mortal pain. 860
Beyond all hope her feet returned
at eve when in the sky there burned
the flame of stars; and in her eyes
trembled the starlight of the skies,
and from her hair the fragrance fell 865
of elven-flowers in elven-dell.
Thus Lúthien, whom no pursuit,
no snare, no dart that hunters shoot,
might hope to win or hold, she came
at the sweet calling of her name; 870
and thus in his her slender hand
was linked in far Beleriand;
in hour enchanted long ago
her arms about his neck did go,
and gently down she drew to rest 875
his weary head upon her breast.
A! Lúthien, Tinúviel,
why wentest thou to darkling dell
with shining eyes and dancing pace,
the twilight glimmering in thy face? 880
Each day before the end of eve
she sought her lover, nor would him leave,
until the stars were dimmed, and day
came glimmering eastward silver-grey.
Then trembling-veiled she would appear 885
and dance before him, half in fear;
there flitting just before his feet
she gently chid with laughter sweet:
"Come! dance now, Beren, dance with me!
For fain thy dancing I would see. 890
Come! thou must woo with nimbler feet
than those who walk where mountains meet
the bitter skies beyond this realm
of marvelous moonlit beech and elm."
In Doriath Beren long ago 895
new art and lore did learn to know;
his limbs were loosed; his eyes alight,
kindled with new enchanted sight;
and to her dancing feet his feet
attuned went dancing free and fleet; 900
his laughter welled as from a spring
of music, and his voice would sing
as voice of those in Doriath
where paved with flowers are floor and path.
The year thus on the summer rolled, 905
from spring to a summertime of gold.
Thus fleeting fast their short hour flies,
while Dairon watches with fiery eyes,
haunting the gloom of tangled trees
all day, until at night he sees 910
in the fickle moon their moving feet,
two lovers linked in dancing sweet,
two shadows shimmering on the green
where lonely dancing maid had been.
"Hateful art thou, O Land of Trees! 915
May fear and silence on thee seize!
My flute shall fall from idle hand
and mirth shall leave Beleriand;
music shall perish and voices fail
and trees stand dumb in dell and dale!" 920
It seemed a hush had fallen there
upon the waiting woodland air;
and often murmured Thingol's folk
in wonder, to their king they spoke:
"This spell of silence who hath wrought? 925
What web hath Dairon's music caught?
It seems the very birds sing low;
murmurless Esgalduin doth flow;
the leaves scarce whisper on the trees,
and soundless beat the wings of bees!" 930
This Lúthien heard, and there the queen
her sudden glances saw unseen.
But Thingol marveled, and he sent
for Dairon the piper, ere he went
and sat upon his mounded seat – 935
his grassy throne by the grey feet
of the queen of beeches, Hirilorn,
upon whose triple piers were borne
the mightiest vault of leaf and bough
from world's beginning until now. 940
She stood above Esgalduin's shore,
where long slopes fell beside the door,
the guarded gates, the portals stark
of the Thousand echoing Caverns dark.
There Thingol sat and heard no sound 945
save far off footsteps on the ground;
no flute, no voice, no song of bird,
no choirs of windy leaves there stirred;
and Dairon coming no word spoke,
silent amid the woodland folk. 950
Then Thingol said: "O Dairon fair,
thou master of all musics rare,
O magic heart and wisdom wild,
whose ear nor eye may be beguiled,
what omen doth this silence bear? 955
What horn afar upon the air,
what summons do the woods await?
Mayhap Lord Tavros from his gate
and tree-propped halls, the forest-god,
now rides wild stallion golden-shod 960
amid the trumpets' tempest loud,
amid his green-clad hunters proud,
leaving his deer and friths divine
and emerald forests? Some faint sign
of his great onset may have come 965
upon the Western winds, and dumb
the woods now listen for a chase
that here once more shall thundering race
beneath the shade of mortal trees.
Would it were so! The Lands of Ease 970
hath Tavros left not many an age,
since Morgoth evil wars did wage,
and ruin fell upon the North
and Gnomes unhappy wandered forth.
But if not he, who comes, or what?" 975
And Dairon answered: "He cometh not!
No feet divine shall leave that shore
where the Shadowy Seas' last surges roar
till many things be come to pass,
and many evils wrought. Alas! 980
The guest is here. The woods are still,
but wait not, for a marvel chill
them holds at the strange deeds they see,
but kings see not – though queens maybe
may guess, and maidens, maybe, know. 985
Where one went lonely, two now go!"
"Whither thy riddle points is plain"
the king in anger said, "but deign
to make it plainer! Who is he
that earns my wrath? How walks he free 990
within my woods amid my folk,
a stranger to both beech and oak?"
But Dairon looked on Lúthien,
and would he had not spoken then,
and no more would he speak that day, 995
though Thingol's face with wrath was grey.
Then Lúthien stepped lightly forth:
"Far in the mountain-leaguered North,
my father," said she, "lies the land
that groans beneath King Morgoth's hand. 1000
Thence came one hither, bent and worn
in wars and travail, who had sworn
undying hatred of that king;
the last of Bëor's sons, they sing,
and even hither far and deep 1005
within thy woods the echoes creep
through wild mountain passes cold,
the last of Bëor's house to hold
a sword unconquered, neck unbowed,
a heart by evil power uncowed. 1010
No evil needst thou think or fear
of Beren son of Barahir!
If aught thou hast to say to him,
then swear to hurt not flesh nor limb,
and I will lead him to thy hall, 1015
a son of kings, no mortal thrall."
Then long King Thingol looked on her
while hand nor foot nor tongue did stir,
and Melian, silent, unamazed,
on Lúthien and Thingol gazed. 1020
"No blade nor chain his limbs shall mar"
the king then swore. "He wanders far,
and news, mayhap, he hath for me,
and words I have for him, maybe!"
Now Thingol bade them all depart 1025
save Dairon, whom he called: "What art,
what wizardry of Northern mist
hath this ill-comer brought us? List!
Tonight go thou by secret path,
who knowest all wide Doriath, 1030
and watch that Lúthien – daughter mine,
what madness doth thy heart entwine,
what web from Morgoth's dreadful halls
hath caught thy feet and thee enthralls? –
that she bid not this Beren flee 1035
back whence he came. I would him see!
Take with thee woodland archers wise.
Let naught beguile your hearts or eyes!"
This Dairon heavyhearted did;
the woods were filled with watchers hid; 1040
yet needless – Lúthien that night
led Beren by the golden light
of mounting moon unto the shore
and bridge before her father's door;
and starlight silent looked within 1045
the waiting portals yawning dim.
Downward with gentle hand she led
through corridors of carven dread
whose turns were lit by lanterns hung
or flames from torches that were flung 1050
o'er dragons hewn of living stone
with jeweled eyes and teeth of bone.
Then sudden, deep beneath the earth
the silences with silver mirth
were shaken and the rocks were ringing, 1055
the birds of Melian were singing;
and wide the ways of shadow spread
as into archéd halls she led
Beren in wonder. There a light
like day immortal and like night 1060
of stars unclouded, shone and gleamed.
A vault of topless trees it seemed,
whose trunks of carven stone there stood
like towers of an enchanted wood
in magic fast forever bound, 1065
bearing a roof whose branches wound
in endless tracery of green
lit by some leaf-emprisoned sheen
of moon and sun, and wrought of gems,
and each leaf hung on golden stems. 1070
Lo! there amid immortal flowers
the nightingales in shining bowers
sang o'er the head of Melian,
while water forever dripped and ran
from fountains in the rocky floor. 1075
There Thingol sat. His crown he wore
of green and silver, and round his chair
a host in gleaming armour fair.
Then Beren looked upon the king
and stood amazed; and swift a ring 1080
of elvish weapons hemmed him round.
Then Beren looked upon the ground,
for Melian's gaze had sought his face,
and dazed there drooped he in that place,
and when the king spake deep and slow: 1085
"Who are thou stumblest hither? Know
that none unbidden seek this throne
and ever leave these halls of stone!"
no answer made he, filled with dread.
But Lúthien answered in his stead: 1090
"Behold, my father, one who came
pursued by hatred like a flame!
Lo! Beren son of Barahir!
What need hath he thy wrath to fear,
foe of our foes, without a friend, 1095
whose knees to Morgoth do not bend?"
"Let Beren answer!" Thingol said.
"What wouldst thou here? What hither led
thy wandering feet, O mortal wild?
How hast thou Lúthien beguiled 1100
or darest thus to walk this wood
unasked, in secret? Reason good
'twere best declare now if thou may,
or ne'er again see light of day!"
Then Beren looked in Lúthien's eyes 1105
and saw a light of starry skies,
and thence was slowly drawn his gaze
to Melian's face. As from a maze
of wonder dumb he woke; his heart
the bonds of awe there burst apart 1110
and filled with fearless pride of old;
in his glance now gleamed an anger cold.
"My feet hath fate, O king," he said,
here over the mountains bleeding led,
and what I sought not I have found, 1115
and love it is hath here me bound.
Thy dearest treasure I desire;
not rocks nor steel nor Morgoth's fire
nor all the power of Elfinesse
shall keep that jewel I would possess. 1120
For fairer than are born to Men
a daughter hast thou, Lúthien."
Then silence fell upon the hall;
like graven stone there stood they all,
save one who cast her eyes aground, 1125
and one who laughed with bitter sound.
Dairon the piper leant there pale
against a pillar. His fingers frail
there touched a flute that whispered not;
his eyes were dark; his heart was hot. 1130
"Death is the guerdon thou hast earned,
O baseborn mortal, who hast learned
in Morgoth's realm to spy and lurk
like Orcs that do his evil work!"
"Death!" echoed Dairon fierce and low, 1135
but Lúthien trembling gasped in woe.
"And death," said Thingol, "thou shouldst taste,
had I not sworn an oath in haste
that blade nor chain thy flesh should mar.
Yet captive bound by never a bar, 1140
unchained, unfettered, shalt thou be
in lightless labyrinth endlessly
that coils about my halls profound
by magic bewildered and enwound;
there wandering in hopelessness 1145
thou shalt learn the power of Elfinesse!"
"That may not be!" Lo! Beren spake,
and through the king's words coldly brake.
"What are thy mazes but a chain
wherein the captive blind is slain? 1150
Twist not thy oaths, O elvish king,
like faithless Morgoth! By this ring –
the token of a lasting bond
that Felagund of Nargothrond
once swore in love to Barahir, 1155
who sheltered him with shield and spear
and saved him from pursuing foe
on Northern battlefields long ago –
death canst thou give unearned to me,
but names I will not take from thee 1160
of baseborn, spy, or Morgoth's thrall!
Are these the ways of Thingol's hall?"
Proud are the words, and all there turned
to see the jewels green that burned
in Beren's ring. These Gnomes had set 1165
as eyes of serpents twined that met
beneath a golden crown of flowers,
that one upholds and one devours:
the badge that Finrod made of yore
and Felagund his son now bore. 1170
His anger was chilled, but little less,
and dark thoughts Thingol did possess,
though Melian the pale leant to his side
and whispered: "O king, forgo thy pride!
Such is my counsel. Not by thee 1175
shall Beren be slain, for far and free
from these deep halls his fate doth lead,
yet wound with thine. O king, take heed!"
But Thingol looked on Lúthien.
"Fairest of Elves! Unhappy Men, 1180
children of little lords and kings
mortal and frail, these fading things,
shall they then look with love on thee?"
his heart within him thought. "I see
thy ring," he said, "O mighty man! 1185
But to win the child of Melian
a father's deeds shall not avail,
nor thy proud words at which I quail.
A treasure dear I too desire,
but rocks and steel and Morgoth's fire 1190
from all the powers of Elfinesse
do keep the jewel I would possess.
Yet bonds like these I hear thee say
affright thee not. Now go thy way!
Bring me one shining Silmaril 1195
from Morgoth's crown, then if she will,
may Lúthien set her hand in thine;
then shalt thou have this jewel of mine."
Then Thingol's warriors loud and long
laughed, for wide renown in song 1200
had Fëanor's gems o'er land and sea,
the peerless Silmarils; and three
alone he made, and kindled slow
in the land of the Valar long ago,
and there in Tûn of their own light 1205
they shone like marvelous stars at night,
in the great Gnomish hoards of Tûn,
while Glingal flowered and Belthil's bloom
yet lit the land beyond the shore
where the Shadowy Seas last surges roar, 1210
ere Morgoth stole them and the Gnomes
seeking their glory left their homes,
ere sorrows fell on Elves and Men,
ere Beren was, or Lúthien,
ere Fëanor's sons in madness swore 1215
their dreadful oath. But now no more
their beauty was seen, save shining clear
in Morgoth's dungeons, vast and drear.
His iron crown they must adorn,
and gleam o'er Orcs and slaves forlorn, 1220
treasured in hell above all wealth,
more than his eyes, and might nor stealth
might touch them, or even gaze too long
upon their magic. Throng on throng
of Orcs with reddened scimitars 1225
encircled him, and mighty bars
and everlasting gates and walls
who wore them now amidst his thralls.
Then Beren laughed more loud than they
in bitterness, and thus did say: 1230
"For little price do elven-kings
their daughters sell – for gems and rings
and things of gold! If such thy will,
thy bidding I will now fulfill.
On Beren son of Barahir 1235
thou hast not looked the last, I fear.
Farewell, Tinúviel, starlit maiden!
Ere the pale winter pass snowladen,
I will return, not thee to buy
with deed of strength or guile or spy 1240
nor any jewel in Elfinesse,
but to find my love in loveliness."
Bowing to Melian and the king
he turned, and thrust aside the ring
of guards about him, and was gone, 1245
and his footsteps faded one by one
in the dark corridors. "A guileful oath
thou sworest, father! Thou hast both
to blade and chain his flesh now doomed
in Morgoth's dungeons deep entombed," 1250
cried Lúthien, and welling tears
sprang in her eyes, and hideous fears
clutched at her heart. All looked away,
and later remembered that sad day
whereafter Lúthien no more sang. 1255
Then clear in silence cold words rang
of Melian: "Counsel cunning-wise,
O king!" she said. "Yet if mine eyes
lose not their power, 'twere well for thee
that Beren failed his errantry. 1260
Well for thee, but for thy child
a dark doom and a wandering wild."
"I sell not to Men those whom I love"
said Thingol, "whom all things above
I cherish; and if hope were there 1265
that Beren should ever living fare
to the Thousand Caves once more, I swear
he should not ever see the air
or light of heaven's stars again."
But Melian smiled, and there was pain 1270
as of far knowledge in her eyes;
for such is the sorrow of the wise.