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.She was the messenger of Sauron, and was wont to fly in vampire's form to Angband; and her greatfingered wings were barbed at each joint's end with and iron claw.Clad in these dreadful garments Huan and Lúthien ran through Taur-nu-Fuin, and all things fled before them.Beren seeing their approach was dismayed; and he wondered, for he had heard the voice of Tinúviel, and he thought it now a phantom for his ensnaring.But they halted and cast aside their disguise, and Lúthien ran towards him.Thus Beren and Lúthien met again between the desert and the wood.For a while he was silent and was glad; but after a space he strove once more to dissuade Lúthien from her journey.'Thrice now I curse my oath to Thingol,' he said, 'and I would that he had slain me in Menegroth, rather than I should bring you under the shadow of Morgoth.'Then for the second time Huan spoke with words; and he counselled Beren, saying: 'From the shadow of death you can no longer save Lúthien, for by her love she is now subject to it.You can turn from your fate and lead her into exile, seeking peace in vain while your life lasts.But if you will not deny your doom, then either Lúthien, being forsaken, must assuredly die alone, or she must with you challenge the fate that lies before you--hopeless, yet not certain.Further counsel I cannot give, nor may I go further on your road.But my heart forebodes that what you find at the Gate I shall myself see.All else is dark to me; yet it may be that our three paths lead back to Doriath, and we may meet before the end.'Then Beren perceived that Lúthien could not be divided from the doom that lay upon them both, and he sought no longer to dissuade her.By the counsel of Huan and the arts of Lúthien he was arrayed now in the hame of Draugluin, and she in the winged fell of ThurIngwëthil.Beren became in all things like a werewolf to look upon, save that in his eyes there shone a spirit grim indeed but clean; and horror was in his glance as he saw upon his flank a bat-like creature clinging with creased wings.Then howling under the moon he leaped down the hill, and the bat wheeled and flittered above him.They passed through all perils, until they came with the dust of their long and weary road upon them to the drear dale that lay before the Gate of Angband.Black chasms opened beside the road, whence forms as of writhing serpents issued.On either hand the cliffs stood as embattled walls, and upon them sat carrion fowl crying with fell voices.Before them was the impregnable Gate, an arch wide and dark at the foot of the mountain; above it reared a thousand feet of precipice.There dismay took them, for at the gate was a guard of whom no tidings had yet gone forth.Rumour of he knew not what designs abroad among the princes of the Elves had come to Morgoth, and ever down the aisles of the forest was heard the baying of Huan, the great hound of war, whom long ago the Valar unleashed.Then Morgoth recalled the doom of Huan, and he chose one from among the whelps of the race of Draugluin; and he fed him with his own hand upon living flesh, and put his power upon him.Swiftly the wolf grew, until he could creep into no den, but lay huge and hungry before the feet of Morgoth.There the fire and anguish of hell entered into him, and he became filled with a devouring spirit, tormented, terrible, and strong.Carcharoth, the Red Maw, he is named in the tales of those days, and Anfauglir, the Jaws of Thirst.And Morgoth set him to lie unsleeping before the doors of Angband, lest Huan come.Now Carcharoth espied them from afar, and he was filled with doubt; for news had long been brought to Angband that Draugluin was dead.Therefore when they approached he denied them entry, and bade them stand; and he drew near with menace, scenting something strange in the air about them.But suddenly some power, descended from of old from divine race, possessed Lúthien, and casting back her foul raiment she stood forth, small before the might of Carcharoth, but radiant and terrible.Lifting up her hand she commanded him to sleep, saying: 'O woe-begotten spirit, fall now into dark oblivion, and forget for a while the dreadful doom of life.' And Carcharoth was felled, as though lightning had smitten him.Then Beren and Lúthien went through the Gate, and down the labyrinthine stairs; and together wrought the greatest deed that has been dared by Elves or Men.For they came to the seat of Morgoth in his nethermost hall that was upheld by horror, lit by fire, and filled with weapons of death and torment.There Beren slunk in wolf's form beneath his throne; but Lúthien was stripped of her disguise by the will of Morgoth, and he bent his gaze upon her [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]