[Legendarium, The Silmarillion] – Background Information Lord of the Rings – History of the Legendarium Part 9 – Beren and Luthien, Beren’s quest for the Silmaril
Years of the Sun – First Age
Hurin and Huor witnesses Gondolin, Easterlings arrival at Beleriand
Hurin and his brother Huor were rescued by the Valar Ulmo and Thorondor, the king of the great eagles after they were surrounded by orcs. By the visions of the Valar Ulmo, Hurin and Huor visits the secret Noldor elf kingdom Gondolin by Thorondor.
However, Hurin and Huor would leave Gondolin with Thorondor’s help and Turgon didn’t halt them as they didn’t know the secret passage to Gondolin as they flew in by Thorondor. Under Sauron’s command orcs would sporadically attack the elves and the orcs.
Fingon, the new Noldor king repels the orcs with the reinforcements of Cirdan. Easterlings called the Swarthy men arrive at the east of Beleriand and pledges loyalty to Maedhros.
Sauron takes place at Minas Tirith (Yet again, this is not Minas Tirith of Gondor) that he captured from Orodreth and named it Tol Sirion or Tol-in-Gaurhoth which became known as the island of werewolves.
Beren and Luthien - Death of Barahir and the Love of Beren and Luthien
Barahir and the members of House Beor continue guerrilla warfare in Dorthonion. Sauron makes a trap and kills Barahir and almost annihilates the House of Beor. Barahir’s son Beren manages to escape and heads south to Doriath.
Beren manages to enter the Girdle of Melian and discovers the secret kingdom of Doriath. Melian has foreseen this long ago and by destiny, Beren falls in love at first sight with Luthien, the daughter of Thingol and Melian when Luthien was dancing in the forests of Doriath.
Luthien was the most beautiful being among the children of Iluvatar that could even heal the physical pain of one who takes a glimpse at her. Luthien also fell in love like destiny with Beren which was the first love between human and elf in the Legendarium history.
Beren and Luthien – Beren’s quest for the Silmarils
Thingol, who was once called Elwe, one of the first elf-lords and the king of the Sindar elves of Doriath was furious that a mere human would dare try to marry his daughter Luthien.
Thingol demanded Beren and Luthien to separate and gave Beren an impossible quest to retrieve the Silmaril on the Iron Crown of Morgoth if Beren wanted to marry his daughter Luthien.
Thingol who has heard of the Silmarils once by Galadriel wanted Beren to back off as no one would ever succeed on such a quest Beren replies to Thingol that he would dare trade his daughter with a mere toy and accepts the quest by Thingol.
Melian, the wife of Thingol, however foresaw an omen of Thingol’s quest and objected to Thingol’s quest to Beren but Thingol insists and Beren prepares the journey to recover a Silmaril from the Iron Crown of Morgoth for his love of Luthien.
Beren and Luthien – Finrod joins Beren’s quest, Orodreth becomes the second king of Nargothrond
Finrod the king of the Realm of Nargothrond hears the news of Beren’s impossible task to recover the Silmaril from Morgoth.
Finrod was aware of the Oath of Feanor and feared that the quest by Thingol to recover a Silmaril itself was almost impossible but even if Beren recovered a Silmaril, the sons of Feanor would also take unpredictable measures.
Finrod was also bound to an oath that he gave to Beren’s father Barahir who once saved Finrod’s life during Dagor Bragollach. Eventually Finrod decides to bring forces to join Beren’s quest and Finrod inherits the place as the king of Nargothrond to his nephew Orodreth.
By the propaganda of Celegorm and Curufin, only about 10 elves would join Finrod together with Beren.
Beren and Luthien – Celegorm and Curufin’s foul misdead
After Celegorm and Curufin retreated from the Pass of Aglon during Dagor Bragollach, Celegorm and Curufin with many refugees took refuge at the Realm of Nargothrond led by Finrod. However, Celegorm and Curufin while they took refuge at Nargothrond would commit many foul acts and crimes that irritated the kingdom of Nargothrond and Doriath.
The consequences of Celegorm and Curufin costed the failure of the Union of Maedhros later as Doriath and Nargothrond refused to take command from a son of Feanor after both kingdoms were disgusted at Celegorm and Curufin.
At first Celegorm and Curufin, the sons of Feanor and elves that have witnessed the light of the Two Trees of Valinor would boast of their royalty to the people of Nargothrond and asserts the necessity of powerful leadership.
Celegorm and Curufin claim that they should inherit the leadership of Nargothrond for the sake of the Nargothrond
. The propaganda by Celegorm and Curufin were so powerful that only a few elves would join Finrod to help Beren’s quest to retrieve the silmarils. Celegorm and Curufin even threatened Finrod that the silmarils were rightfully bound to the sons of Feanor.
After Orodreth became the second king of the Realm of Nargothrond, Celegorm and Curufin undermined Orodreth and constantly threatened Orodreth politically.
Beren and Luthien – Capture of Beren and Finrod by Sauron and Finrod’s death
By the power of Finrod, Beren and the elves were disguised as orcs and attempted to pass through the Tol Sirion or Tol-in-Gaurhoth which was formerly Minas Tirith but became the home of werewolves by Sauron.
Sauron yet notices this suspicious group of disguised orcs and captures them. Beren’s party haven’t revealed their identities to Sauron and Sauron would torture each by Sauron’s wolves.
Sauron couldn’t guess what this party was and more importantly couldn’t get a grasp of the purpose of this party. Sauron did sense that there was a powerful elf within this party without knowing it was Finrod.
When Sauron’s wolf tried to torture and kill Beren, Finrod broke out from captivity and killed the wolf while Finrod was also fatally wounded by the wolf and died.
Beren and Luthien – Curufin and Celegorm’s Attempt to kidnap Luthien and Huan
While Luthien adventured to retrieve the Silmaril from Morgoth, Luthien was locked up by Thingol. However, Luthien senses darkness in her heart and by her mother Melian’s advice Luthien realizes that Beren was captured by Sauron and escapes from Doriath.
While Luthien was passing by the plains, she meets Celegorm, Curufin and Celegorm’s wolf Huan. Celegorm who saw Luthien and fell in love at first sight attempts to kidnap and marry Luthien with the help of his brother Curufin.
Huan, the Hound of Valinor and who was once the hunting hound of the Valar Orome who served Celegorm also fell with the beauty of Luthien. Yet, Huandespised the crimes of his owner Celegorm and his brother Curufin and breaks his oath to serve Celegorm and helps Luthien escape from Celegorm and Curufin.
Huan, the great hound pledges loyalty to Luthien and together they arrive at Tol-in-Gaurhoth and rescues Beren who managed to live thanks to Finrod’s sacrifice.
