Of Beren and Lúthien: The Complete Tale of “The Lay of Leithian” by LuthienHuan

Chapter 22 Of the End of Beren and Lúthien's Tale

How does the Tale end?

Story text:

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. Upon their arrival 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 the kingdom of Doriath.

As for Beren and Lúthien, they returned to their everyday lives; but when she danced now her shining light gleamed so that it could be seen far away. Even Thorondor’s view from Crissaegrim of the Land of the Dead that Live was brighter and clearer.

Several months after Dior’s departure, in the year 502 of the First Age, Beren and Lúthien traveled away from their home and were never heard from again. Many tales have been written and songs have been sung regarding their deaths. But these tales and songs have raised more questions than answers; for their bodies were never found. Some say that they perished and went to where mortals go beyond the confines of the world. Others say that Ilúvatar’s heart changed and he allowed them to go to Valinor and be eternally with the Elves; whereas the meeting of Lúthien with Thingol and Melian, along with Beren, of course, was very joyful. Nevertheless, of their deaths and their destiny thereafter there is known no true end.

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Let it be said that this tale ends here with the only true previously recorded account regarding Beren and Lúthien’s disappearance: There came a night of autumn, and when it grew late, one came and smote upon the doors of Menegroth, demanding admittance to the King. He was a lord of the Green-Elves hastening from Ossiriand, and the door-wards brought him to where Dior sat alone in his chamber; and there in silence he gave to the King a coffer, and took his leave. In that coffer lay the Necklace of the Dwarves, wherein was set the Silmaril; and Dior looking upon it knew it for a sign that Beren Erchamion and Lúthien Tinúviel had died indeed, and, he believed, gone where go the race of Men to a fate beyond the world.

Long did Dior gaze upon the Silmaril, which his father and mother had brought beyond hope out of the terror of Morgoth; and his grief was great that death had come upon them so soon. But the wise have said that the Silmaril hastened their end; for the flame of the beauty of Lúthien as she wore it was too bright for mortal lands. Then Dior arose, and about his neck he clasped the Nauglamír; and now he appeared as the fairest of all the children of the world, of threefold race: of the Edain, and of the Eldar, and of the Maia of the Blessed Realm.

But now the rumor ran among the scattered Elves of Beleriand that Dior Thingol’s heir wore the Nauglamír, and they said: “A Silmaril of Fëanor burns again in the woods of Doriath”; and the oath of the sons of Fëanor was waked again from sleep. For while Lúthien wore the Necklace of the Dwarves, no Elf would dare to assail her; but now hearing of the renewal of Doriath and of Dior’s pride the seven gathered again from wandering, and they sent to him to claim their own.

But Dior returned no answer to the sons of Fëanor; and Celegorm stirred up his brothers to prepare an assault upon Doriath. They came at unawares in the middle of winter, and fought with Dior in the Thousand Caves; and so befell the second slaying of Elf by Elf. There fell Celegorm by Dior’s hand, and there fell Curufin, and dark Caranthir; but Dior was slain also, and Nimloth his wife; and the cruel servants of Celegorm seized their young sons and left them to starve in the forest. Of this Maedhros indeed repented, and he sought for them long in the woods of Doriath; but his search was unavailing, and of the fate of Eluréd and Elurín no tale tells.

Thus Doriath was destroyed, and the kingdom never rose again. But the sons of Fëanor gained not what they sought; for a remnant of the people fled before them, and with them was Elwing Dior’s daughter, and they escaped, and bearing with them the Silmaril they came in time to the mouths of the River Sirion by the sea, where they were joined with the survivors of Nargothrond.

And of the endings of Elwing, the remaining sons of Fëanor, Morgoth and Sauron, the one Silmaril and the other two still in the Iron Crown, and other occurrences regarding this tale and beyond are told elsewhere.

The End