The Tale of Beren and Luthien

A Play

by Fingon-(V)
February 4, 2005
Stories > Authors > Fingon's stories

Narrator:
I welcome you, people of the present, to hear a tale of the past, so I will introduce myself to you. I am a power of old before the world was changed. I lived in an almost forgotten time that only lives in story now. I was young in those days and had set myself on a high place to watch the events of the world unfold. The people of that time lived in a world of little peace and great evil. There were men and elves that lived side by side under the shadow of a dark lord. Many great tales came from these dark times on what was called Middle-earth. Yet among the tales of sorrow and of ruin that come down to us from those dark days there are yet some in which, amid weeping, there is joy and under the shadow of death, light endures. Of these histories, most fair still in the ears of men and elves is the tale of Beren and Luthien. I see by the blank look in your eyes that you do not know this story, very troubling indeed. Well, a story such as this should not be forgotten, and so I will tell it for you.
During the First Age of Middle-earth, a great war had taken place among the elves and their allies, men, against the Dark Lord Morgoth and this tale begins after the last great battle. Barahir, the lord of the men from Dorthonion, had lost their country but would not forsake it. Barahir's son would be the last of these brave men defending their realm, and his name was Beren.

Enter Beren

Beren:
My father, I am sorry that I must abandon our land with the betrayal of my cousin and your death and our followers. I must leave, for an evil army has amassed against me.

Narrator:
So it was that Morgoth had indeed raised an army to put an end to Beren, whose deeds were heard throughout Middle-earth, and had put a price on his head no less than that of the King of all the High elves. For four years Beren had wandered the land as a solitary outlaw, and he fled south in the face of this great army. He climbed high into Gorgoroth, the mountains of terror. From afar he descried the land of Doriath, where no mortal man's foot had trodden before.

Beren:
This land looks fair to me. I shall come to it no matter the cost, and the ill look of these mountains shall not bar my way.

Narrator:
There was nothing in the region of Gorgoroth but death and decay, and Beren's journey through this land was not accounted among the least of his feats. For dark was the path that brought him out from the mountains into Doriath. And he would never speak of this journey to anyone, lest the horrors return to his mind. So he came to the forbidden realm of Doriath, and of Thingol, the King of the Sindar elves, and Melian a power from the West. There, wandering these woods, Beren came upon their daughter, Luthien, singing in the woods, and all his pain and memories left him.

Luthien:
Lotesse ea ndune elen caluva nan lye.
Lotesse ea ve mornie lantar lya hon Selma na sanda.
Sanda ramba eressea tea a manen haira sandanar ho mar.
Morniat lantia voronda ar sanda Selma hir lya tie.
Morniat lantia vanda cuile yassen lye si.

Beren:
What is this wonder? Should I speak to this vision? I know her not. My heart fails. I must. Tinuviel!
Beren collapses to the ground in pain as Luthien flees from him. He hears her song again and goes to her.

Luthien:
Lotesse ea ndune elen caluva nan lye
Lotesse ea ve mornie lantar lya hon Selma na sanda
Sanda ramba eressea tea a manen haira sandanar ho mar
Morniat lantia voronda ar sanda Selma hir lya tie
Morniat lantiavanda cuile yassen lye si

Beren comes to her again and they meet. Nothing is said as Beren approaches her. They take each other's hands, but fear overcomes Luthien and she flees from him and he collapses on the stage.

Narrator:
Great was Beren's pain when she left. Empty was his heart and dark were the days. He lay on the hill where he had met her for many days in anguish. Then she came to him and brought him from his darkness and placed her hands in his.

Luthien:
Luthien is my name and you are Beren, the son of Barahir.

Narrator:
Never in the history of Middle-earth did two beings enjoy so much happiness in the brief time given them. For they were betrayed by one who had loved Luthien as well, and Beren was forced to come before Thingol, the father of Luthien, but Luthien would not have him dragged through Doriath, but had him walk in honor beside her.
top