14. From Angband to Doriath

'What then? What then? Of Beren and of Luthen?'
The name of Beren bursting slipped
Past all limits, through his lips
And languished, lingered on the air
- so that she stopped, suspended -
- in his care. -

Suspended, in the pulse that throbbed against his throat.
Suspended,in the poise he held against all hope.
She stared with fingers pressed to face
With cheeks on which the dawn awoke
- Then found her balance, -
- Breathed again, and spoke. -

'Beneath them sudden thunder stirs,'
'The clamor of confusion. Above unbroken
'Soaring space, a spiral silence.'
'Below them beat of deep-voiced drums,'
'Above them blow the watchful winds.'
'Below, unleashed the hell-hounds howl,'
'Bell, and bay:'
- 'above an eagle stoops,' -
- 'and bears them both away.'

'Away, unbound, in boundless space,'
'From hell to hope in a rushing race
'Of wings and wind and sun and sky
'Where day and darkness fleeting fly
'They pass, and gain the ground
- 'by the waiting feet -
- 'of Huan the Hound.' -

'But Beren writhing gasps, groans,'
'Cries unconscious moaning mutters;'
'Waking works for stillness, so
'Tendons tense and strain
- 'as if he walked unwilling -
- 'through the palaces of pain.' -

'So Lúthien looks for healing herbs.'
'With tender touch she bathes his brow,'
'And wraps his wound. She whispers words
'And gently tends him;'
- 'without a wedding,' -
- 'still would wed him.' -

Nèhaléni bit her lip, looked up,
Stricken, but Daeron did not stir.
His thoughtful eyes
- regarded her inscrutably, -
- silent as the skies. -

She paused, her pulse resumed its pace,
But she told her tale in hurried haste
As if eager for an end she feared to face,
As though each murmured word
- bore poison whose antidote -
- was to be heard. -

'Should Lúthien outlawed wander wild,'
'A pauper princess with a landless lord?'
'Should Beren relish, hoard her love?'
'Without her father's favor wed
- 'by sharing shelter,' -
- 'board and bed?' -

'Beren refuses. Wiser to win
'Her father's favor,'
- 'to act in faith,' -
- 'and open honor.' -

'So to Doriath where dubious their hopes now hinge,'
'To Doriath where dolorous lush gardens grow
'Deserted, silent, they go through flowers
'Where Thingol stands and stares the hours away.'
'Gaunt and gray he turns:'
- 'his features are shadowed,' -
- 'but his grim gaze burns.' -

'I see you survive. Is your quest complete?'
- 'We live, lord king. You judge the gem
'My hand holds even now:'
- 'Decide, answer if -
- 'the price has paid my vow.' -

'Beren lifts his fist, unfolds it.'
- 'This is not the hand that holds it.' -
'Beren lifts the other arm.'
- 'This is the hand, that past all harm
'Still holds the bride-price you demanded.'
- 'So call me now -
- 'the empty-handed.' -

'Elu Thingol laughed aloud!'
'So this is how you end your quest,'
'With gay defiance and a grim jest?'
'Come tell your tale, each feat confess,'
'And teach me that madness is happiness!'
- 'I've a suit to consider,' -
- 'A daughter to bless!' -