Beren then came to Nargothrond, seeking the aid of King Finrod Felagund, who gave Beren’s father the Ring of Barahir. Finrod, to fulfill his oath to Barahir, agreed to help Beren on his quest to retrieve a Silmaril. In thier camp, Finrod and Beren were captured by orcs and brought to Sauron. As the companions lay in the pits of Sauron, Sauron sent a wolf to kill Beren. To save Beren, Finrod put forth all his power to break his bonds and he killed the wolf. Finrod died there in the gloom, fairest and most beloved of the House of Finwe. In that hour, Lúthien came against her father's will to save Beren. With the help of Huan, a hound from Valinor, Lúthien defeated Sauron and drove him from his fortress. She then sought for Beren, and found him mourning over Finrod. They then departed in the woods together to Doriath.
Beren, percieving that he had to keep his oath to Thingol, left Lúthien with Huan, and journeyed to Angband. Lúthien would not be left behind, and caught up with him. Putting on a wolf disguise, Beren and Lúthien came to the Gates of Angband. Lúthien put forth her power and felled Carcharoth, the great wolf that guarded the gates. They then entered the throne of Morgoth. Lúthien was stripped of her disguise, and began to sing and dance for Morgoth. Suddenly, as Morgoth took pleasure in his evil thoughts, Lúthien cast herself in shadows and vanished from his sight. She then sang a song of such beauty that Morgoth's court fell into an enchanted sleep. Then she cast a dream upon Morgoth as dark as the Void, and he fell. Lúthien awoke Beren from his slumber, and using the knife, Angrist, he cut a Silmaril from the crown of Morgoth. Morgoth stirred in his sleep, and Beren and Lúthien fled in terror. As they fled from the gate, the wolf Carcharoth awoke. Beren attempted to daunt the beast with the beauty of the Silmaril, but instead the evil wolf bit the hand holding the Silmaril, and the Holy Jewel burned his inner flesh so that Carcharoth fled howling in pain.
Lúthien cured Beren of the wolf's venom and they passed into Doriath. In the halls of Menegroth, Thingol saw that Beren had held the Silmaril, and he realized that no power could ever withhold Lúthien from Beren. Therefore, he permitted their marriage. Carcharoth entered into Doriath, and was persued by Beren, Thingol, Huan, and other Elves. The wolf lept upon Thingol, but Beren saved him. Beren was mortally wounded by the wolf. Huan and Carcharoth then fought, and both were killed. After taking the Silmaril from the wolf, they bore Beren back to Menegroth. Before he died, Lúthien begged him to await her beyond the Western Sea.
When Lúthien came to the halls of Mandos, she sang a the fairest song that has ever been heard of the sorrows of Elves and Men and moved Mandos to pity. After speaking to Manwe, Lúthien was granted the choice to live with Beren again in Middle-earth as mortals, or to live with the Valar in internal bliss. She chose a mortal life with Beren, and died first of the Eldar. The Elves lost Lúthien, fairest of all beings.
