Quenta 22 — Of the Ruin of Doriath
Chapter 22 of the Quenta Silmarillion
Summary
Morgoth, feigning release of Húrin, let him go free to sow despair, and the embittered Húrin brought to Thingol at Menegroth the remaining treasure of Nargothrond in a wagon-load of gold. Thingol, in his pride, bade the Dwarves of Nogrod set the Silmaril into the great necklace the Nauglamír, but the Dwarves, coveting the jewel, slew their host and fled, and in the vengeance that followed the necklace passed from hand to hand until it came into the keeping of Melian. The exceeding beauty of the Silmaril burned her, and in sorrow Melian withdrew to her own far kindred, and the Girdle of Melian, no longer upheld, withered about Doriath. Beren and Lúthien, dwelling in their isle of Tol Galen, were the last to wear the Nauglamír; and their child Dior took up the kingship of Doriath with the Silmaril shining upon his breast. The sons of Fëanor, bound by the Oath, came at last to Menegroth and in the Second Kinslaying slew Dior and his people, though his daughter Elwing escaped with the jewel into the night and the ruin of the realm was complete.