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they told all the tale of the Quest； while all there listened and were filled with amazement。 And it seemed to Thingol that
this Man was unlike all other mortal Men； and among the great in Arda； and the love of Lúthien a thing new and strange；
and he perceived that their doom might not be withstood by any power of the world。 Therefore at the last he yielded his
will； and Beren took the hand of Lúthien before the throne of her father。
But now a shadow fell upon the joy of Doriath at the return of Lúthien the fair； for learning of the cause of the
madness of Carcharoth the people grew the more afraid； perceiving that his danger was fraught with dreadful power
because of the holy jewel； and hardly might be overthrown。 And Beren； hearing of the onslaught of the Wolf； understood
that the Quest was not yet fulfilled。
Therefore； since daily Carcharoth drew nearer to Menegroth； they prepared the Hunting of the Wolf； of all
pursuits of beasts whereof tales tell the most perilous。 To that chase went Huan the Hound of Valinor； and Mablung of
the Heavy Hand； and Beleg Strongbow； and Beren Erchamion； and Thingol King of Doriath。 They rode forth in the
morning and passed over the River Esgalduin； but Lúthien remained behind at the gates of Menegroth。 A dark shadow
fell upon her and it seemed to her that the sun had sickened and turned black。
The hunters turned east and north； and following the course of the river they came at last upon Carcharoth the
Wolf in a dark valley； down the northern side whereof Esgalduin fell in a torrent over steep falls。 At the foot of the falls
Carcharoth drank to ease his consuming thirst； and he howled； and thus they were aware of him； But he； espying their
approach； rushed not suddenly to attack them。 It may be that the devil's cunning of his heart awoke； being for a moment
eased of his pain by the sweet waters of Esgalduin； and even as they rode towards him he slunk aside into a deep brake；
and there lay hid。 But they set a guard about all that place； and waited； and the shadows grew long in the forest。
Beren stood beside Thingol； and suddenly they were aware that Huan had left their side。 Then a great baying
awoke in the thicket； for Huan being impatient and desiring to look upon this wolf had gone in alone to dislodge
him。 But Carcharoth avoided him； and bursting form the thorns leaped suddenly upon Thingol。 Swiftly Beren strode
before him with a spear； but Carcharoth swept it aside and felled him； biting at his breast。 In that moment Huan leaped
from the thicket upon the back of the Wolf； and they fell together fighting bitterly； and no battle of wolf and hound has
been like to it； for in the baying of Huan was heard the voice of the horns of Orom？ and the wrath of the Valar； but in the
howls of Carcharoth was the hate of Morgoth and malice crueller than teeth of steel； and the rocks were rent by their
clamour and fell from on high and choked the falls of Esgalduin。 There they fought to the death； but Thingol gave no
heed； for he knelt by Beren； seeing that he was sorely hurt。
Huan in that hour slew Carcharoth； but there in the woven woods of Doriath his own doom long spoken was
fulfilled； and he was wounded mortally； and the venom of Morgoth entered into him。 Then he came； and falling beside
Beren spoke for the third time with words； and he bade Beren farewell before he died。 Beren spoke not； but laid his hand
upon the head of the hound； and so they parted。
Mablung and Beleg came hastening to the King's aid； but when they looked upon what was done they cast aside
their spears and wept。 Then Mablung took a knife and ripped up the belly of the Wolf； and within he was well nigh all
consumed as with a fire； but the hand of Beren that held the jewel was yet incorrupt。 But when Mablung reached forth to
touch it； the hand was no more； and the Silmaril lay there unveiled； and the light of it filled the shadows of the forest all
about hem。 Then quickly and in fear Mablung took it and set it in Beren's living hand； and Beren was aroused by the
touch of the Silmaril； and held it aloft； and bade Thingol receive it。 'Now is the Quest achieved；' he said； 'and my doom
full…wrought'； and he spoke no more。
They bore back Beren Camlost son of Barahir upon a bier of branches with Huan the wolfhound at his side； and
night fell ere they returned to Menegroth。 At the feet of Hírilorn the great beech Lúthien met them walking slow； and
some bore torches beside the bier。 There she set her arms about Beren； and kissed him bidding him await her beyond the
Western Sea； and he looked upon her eyes ere the spirit left him。 But the starlight was quenched and darkness had fallen
even upon Lúthien Tinúviel。 Thus ended the Quest of the Silmaril； but the Lay of Leithian； Release form Bondage does
not end。
For the spirit of Beren at her bidding tarried in the halls of Mandos； unwilling to leave the world； until Lúthien
came to say her last farewell upon the dim shores of the Outer Sea； whence Men that die set out never to return。 But the
spirit of Lúthien fell down into darkness； and at the last it fled； and her body lay like a flower that is suddenly cut off and
lies for a while unwithered on the grass。
Then a winter； as it were the hoar age of mortal Men； fell upon Thingol。 But Lúthien came to the halls of
Mandos； where are the appointed places of the Eldali？； beyond the mansions of the West upon the confines of the world。
There those that wait sit in the shadow of their thought。 But her beauty was more than their beauty； and her sorrow
deeper than their sorrows； and she knelt before Mandos and sang to him。
The song of Lúthien before Mandos was the song most fair that ever in words was woven； and the song most
sorrowful that ever the world shall ever hear。 Unchanged； imperishable； it is sung still in Valinor beyond the hearing of
the world； and the listening the Valar grieved。 For Lúthien wove two themes of words； of the sorrow of the Eldar and the
grief of Men； of the Two Kindreds that were made by Ilúvatar to dwell in Arda； the Kingdom of Earth amid the
innumerable stars。 And as she knelt before him her tears fell upon his feet like rain upon stones； and Mandos was moved
to pity； who never before was so moved； nor has been since。
Therefore he summoned Beren； and even as Lúthien had spoken in the hour of his death they met again beyond
the Western Sea。 But Mandos had no power to withhold the spirits of Men that were dead within the confines of the
world； after their time of waiting； nor could he change the fates of the Children of Ilúvatar。 He went therefore to Manw？；
Lord of the Valar； who governed the world under the hand of Ilúvatar； and Manw？ sought counsel in his inmost thought；
where the will of Ilúvatar was revealed。
These were the choices that he gave to Lúthien。 Because of her labours and her sorrow； she should be released
from Mandos； and go to Valimar； there to dwell until the world's end among the Valar； forgetting all griefs that her life
had known。 Thither Beren could not e。 For it was not permitted to the Valar to withhol