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Post by Maeglin on Jan 20, 2005 9:31:35 GMT -5
SCENE 28
(Luthien rides the white horse, Celegorm leading it, Curufin the black one. The hounds throng around. The brothers and their "guest" travel through the underground streets of Nargothrond, beautiful, cold, and grey. Melancholy music should play.)
CELEGORM: How do you find our city, Lady?
LUTHIEN: Nargothrond is fair.
CELEGORM: Do not say so! Nothing is fair when you are present...
LUTHIEN: Lord Celegorm, why did you ask me to keep my cloak and hood around me? Surely there is nothing to fear here?
CELEGORM: Oh, no. But it would not be right for you to be seen by the common populace before you are presented to King Orodreth.
LUTHIEN: King? What of his noble brother, Finrod?
CURUFIN: (quickly) He left his title to Orodreth ere he left...as if he feared the worst...
(Luthien shivers and is silent.)
CURUFIN: Ah...here is our house. Come in...make yourself quite at home.
(The "house" is a tasteful but well-fortified palace of grey stone. We flash to the brothers and Luthien entering a courtyard. Celegorm helps Luthien dismount as Curufin bars the gate.)
CELEGORM: Let me take your cloak, Lady Luthien. You won't need it for a while. We'll escort you to...Orodreth shortly.
(Curufin, unseen by Luthien, nods, rather threateningly, at Celegorm in approval. Younger he may be, but he is the mastermind behind this scheme.)
LUTHIEN: If you insist...though I am fond of it. I wove it of my own hair.
(Celegorm handles it with a new reverence, folding it up.)
CURUFIN: Grooms! Look to the horses.
(Three Elves in grey step from a collonade and lead away the horses. The hounds follow another group of servants out of the courtyard. Huan is left behind, though.)
CELEGORM: Now, let me show you where you may rest tonight.
LUTHIEN: Tonight? But surely I won't stay the night here. I thought we'd set out to free Beren and the King this evening.
CURUFIN: (abruptly) Beren and the King are dead, girl, and wolves have eaten them.
CELEGORM: They are beyond rescue. (He kneels.) Will you not stay here, in safety and comfort? Accept my love, Lady Luthien, as proxy for your fallen knight.
(Luthien has become extremely pale.)
LUTHIEN: Liars...just like Daeron...liars and traitors...can I trust none of my own race?
CELEGORM: Speak not so harshly.
LUTHIEN: Let me out.
CURUFIN: Guards! Escort the maid to the guest room.
LUTHIEN: (pleading with the guards, advancing on her) No...no...you cannot...
FEANORIAN GUARD: We are loyal to the eldest line of the Noldor. To no others do we owe allegiance, girl.
(Huan whines. Luthien relents, and is marched off by the guards.)
CELEGORM: (devastated) She would not accept me.
CURUFIN: She is only a Dark-elf, brother. The little hoyden will learn better, in time.
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Post by Maeglin on Jan 22, 2005 10:35:27 GMT -5
SCENE 29
(A room in Celegorm and Curufin's palace. It is long and bare, containing a table and three chairs. The table is covered in maps and piles of paper. Celegorm sits at the head, flanked by Curufin and Celebrimbor, dark like his father, and sullen-looking.)
CELEGORM: She'll marry me willingly in the end, certainly, after she's got over all this...human...folly.
CURUFIN: Aye, brother. Think of the power and glory that will bring our line! The blood of Melian the Maia in your son's veins...
CELEBRIMBOR: (sarcastic) And Thingol and Melian will be pleased, won't they, when they hear you've locked up their daughter and married her? Or are you going to ask Thingol's consent in a letter?
CURUFIN: As a matter of fact, my son...yes. I've written...ah, I mean, Celegorm has written a letter and I have assisted him.
CELEGORM: (smug) Couched in terms I don't think Thingol will have the courage to refuse.
(Celebrimbor is speechless with shock and horror. Curufin takes up a sheet of parchment and reads.)
CURUFIN: "To Elu Thingol of Doriath, from Celegorm, King of Nargothrond, greeting..."
CELEBRIMBOR: Hardly a very persuasive start. Thingol knows Celegorm has no such title.
CELEGORM: Ah...but I will by the time the letter reaches Doriath. The people weary of Orodreth's indecision and insipidity. We will throw him from his own gates as we did his brother, within a week, at the latest!
CELEBRIMBOR: You're mad, both of you.
CURUFIN: So are you. You cannot deny your blood, boy. We sons of Feanor are sworn to do anything to recover the Silmarils. Anything.
CELEBRIMBOR: You won't get away with this! Maedhros is the head of the clan. He won't let you usurp Nargothrond, nor steal Luthien from her father. And the others will back him.
CELEGORM: You're young, Celebrimbor. You don't understand.
CURUFIN: For the Silmarilli...no price is too high, no deed too dark.
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Post by Maeglin on Jan 27, 2005 10:04:51 GMT -5
SCENE 30
(Luthien sits in a well-furnished, yet austere, chamber, on a bed, weeping.)
LUTHIEN: Just as I thought help had come...that I was among loyal friends...my countenance proves a curse again. Cruel lust has suborned Celegorm against me. I can never take he or any other as my lord...and Beren is dead. I am alone.
(A whimper is heard. Huan enters. Luthien smiles weakly.)
LUTHIEN: I cannot blame you for your master, hound. You at least are good to me.
(She strokes him, and he wags his vast tail.)
LUTHIEN: I am sure you would have preferred to serve Beren...for he was a friend to all birds and beasts, Huan.
(Huan looks soulfully into her eyes.)
LUTHIEN: They even took my cloak. Every solace, every hope they have stolen...
(Huan abruptly walks off.)
LUTHIEN: Even you abandon me?
(Huan reenters with the cloak in his mouth. Luthien gasps.)
LUTHIEN: How can I thank you, hound? Oh, I wish you had been gifted with speech.
HUAN: But I have been, lady. Hush. All the house is abed. Be not afraid. Mandos decreed that I should speak three times before my death, and that I should not be killed save at the hands of the greatest wolf of Middle-earth. Now we must go. Celegorm lied-Beren may yet live. We can save him, and King Finrod too, if we hurry. Climb on my back, and I shall lead thee from these lands.
LUTHIEN: I...er...
(Huan is silent. Luthien slips on her cloak, and deftly mounts Huan.)
(We flash to Huan and Luthien running across the Guarded Plain, with stirring music playing.)
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Post by Huinesoron on Jan 27, 2005 13:57:34 GMT -5
Oh, I didn't notice this before, but... the way you have it written, Nargothrond seems like an aboveground city. It isn't. It's a cave system, like Menegroth. I can't quite tell if that was what you meant by this, but... well. [Shrugs] Good scenes nontheless.
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Post by Maeglin on Jan 27, 2005 14:05:15 GMT -5
Of course you're right. Oops. I knew that, honest...
I'll go back and modify things.
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Post by Maeglin on Jan 29, 2005 8:15:05 GMT -5
SCENE 31
(The pit beneath the Tower of Tol-in-Gaurhoth. It is no longer pitch black-our heroes' eyes have adjusted to the lack of light. We can see Beren and Finrod, chained as before. Around them lie the mutilated carcasses of their companions, still shackled.)
BEREN: All is lost. I was a fool to invoke your oath, Lord Finrod. I have needlessly brought your realm to ruin. Will you forgive me?
FINROD: None of that, son of Barahir...do not...despair. I still live...and still hold myself in thy service...I shall not let them conquer us, yet.
(Flash to Sauron's throneroom. Draugluin lies before him.)
SAURON: Let your wolf take the human this time, Draugluin. It is strange that he should be travelling with Eldar...and I thought his resolve would break sooner...but never mind that. The Noldo leader, the one who defied me, hides a far greater riddle, and in him I deem the whole secret of the errand lies. Save him till last.
(Draugluin gives a short howl of assent, and stalks out.)
(Flash back to the pit. There is a moment of agonising silence. Then a howling begins, and a werewolf leaps down towards Beren. Beren closes his eyes.)
BEREN: Farewell, Finrod...
FINROD: No!
(There is a dazzling flash of light around the Elvenking, and the wolf stops, blinded. The sound of Elvenesse-gulls, haunting music-that we heard earlier plays, and the chain crumbles. Finrod leaps up.)
FINROD: In the name of my father, Finarfin; of Manwe, Varda, and Eru himself; take death as a gift from me, misshapen and malign spirit!
(He leaps upon the wolf, even as the wolf was about to leap on Beren, catching it in a grip. They wrestle, while Beren struggles with his own chain and gasps in fear and amazement. At last the werewolf makes one last whimper, and falls silent, fading away till only a dark wolf-hame is left. Finrod is slashed across the chest and bitten in many places.)
FINROD: It...is...done. I go now...to my long rest...in the timeless halls beyond the seas...and the Mountains of Aman. It will be long ere I am seen among the Noldor again...it may be, Beren, that we shall meet never again, neither in death...nor life...for the fates of our kindreds lie apart. Farewell.
(He collapses in Beren's arms. Beren weeps unrestrainedly.)
VO of GALADRIEL: Thus King Finrod Felagund, fairest and most beloved of the house of Finwe, redeemed his oath.
VOICE OF LUTHIEN: A Elbereth! Gilthoniel!
BEREN: (in disbelief) Luthien? (He sings.) The Sickle tells of Morgoth's Fall...(He faints.)
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Post by Maeglin on Jan 31, 2005 10:00:09 GMT -5
SCENE 32
(Luthien and Huan are at the far side of a bridge connecting Tol-in-Gaurhoth to the banks of the Sirion.)
LUTHIEN: A Elbereth! Gilthoniel!
VOICE OF BEREN: The Sickle tells of Morgoth's Fall...
LUTHIEN: (softly) Beren lives! (Singing louder than before) A Elbereth! Gilthoniel!
(Flash to the throneroom of Sauron. Draugluin and Sauron are there; Draugluin seems tense.)
VOICE OF LUTHIEN: A Elbereth! Gilthoniel!
(Sauron flinches, and Draugluin recoils at the sound with a whine. But Sauron quickly recovers.)
SAURON: I know that voice. So, the daughter of Melian has ventured out to challenge me? I shall send her as a dainty to Morgoth. Draugluin-make ready your whelps! Send them across the bridge one by one, until they bring me Luthien alive!
DRAUGLUIN: (in a deep, hoarse voice) It will be done, Master. (He howls.)
(Flash to the bridge. A werewolf gallops across it. Huan leaps upon him, killing him instantly. More follow. Huan slays them all, Luthien laying hands on his wounds and healing them. We return to the throneroom.)
DRAUGLUIN: Master, all the full-grown werewolves of the isle have been dispatched. None have returned.
SAURON: (frowning) Go yourself, Draugluin. Have a care.
(Draugluin charges out of the room, growling. We see him leaving the gate of the Tower and crossing the bridge. Then Huan leaps. They struggle for some time, and Huan seems to be failing, but suddenly bites deep into Draugluin's throat. The mortally wounded wolf turns and flees. We flash to him entering the throneroom, collapsing at Sauron's feet.)
DRAUGLUIN: Huan...hound of Valinor...is here. Only the greatest wolf...in Middle-earth...can kill him. (He dies, leaving only his ravaged hame.)
SAURON: The greatest wolf in Middle-earth? Then I shall become that wolf!
(His form shifts to that of a drooling wolf larger even than Draugluin-though not as large as Carcharoth will be. We flash to him attempting the passage of the bridge.)
WOLF-SAURON: Your bane is come now, hound!
(Huan cowers back, and Sauron leaps on Luthien, who, terrified, flails her cloak at him. He hesitates, and Huan pounces. They growl and snarl for a long time, but Sauron is soon in Huan's grip. He becomes a dark, writhing serpent, but is still pinioned; then at last his hooded, robed self. Luthien approaches.)
LUTHIEN: Thou shalt be stripped of thine vile raiment of flesh and sent back to thy Dark Lord, there to endure the everlasting torment of his scorn in nakedness, unless thou yield unto me the mastery of thy tower!
SAURON: I would not have it so! The mastery is yours, girl.
(Spirits rise from the Tower and are scattered on the winds. Orcs pour from the Tower, crowding aboard boats and rowing north. At last Huan releases Sauron; he becomes a vampire and flees, spreading a shadow across the moon.)
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Post by Maeglin on Feb 1, 2005 10:21:52 GMT -5
SCENE 33
(Luthien watches Sauron's flight, and then, as dramatic music plays, she and Huan step onto the bridge.)
LUTHIEN: Isle of Werewolves no longer! Be Tol Sirion again; be cleansed!
(There is groan and the Tower crumbles utterly, even its rubble smashed to small stones upon the green isle. A warren of pits scar the ground.)
WASTED VOICE: What miracle is this?
STRONGER VOICE: They've gone! We're free...
(Elves, ragged and disbelieving, crawl out of their prisons, their eyes vast and pale. A slightly more healthy looking one approaches Luthien.)
CAPTIVE: Lady, I know not who you are, but you have delivered us. We shall return to Nargothrond, and spread the tale of your heroism.
LUTHIEN: It is nothing, nothing. But you are of Nargothrond? Where is your King?
CAPTIVE: King? King Finrod, here? I did not know of that.
LUTHIEN: (desperate) Surely he came here...with eleven companions? A...a human among them?
CAPTIVE: I cannot tell you, Lady...but my wishes are with you. In the meantime, we long for our homes. We wish you good fortune, but we must away south.
LUTHIEN: (pale and trembling) Farewell...
(There is a sound of barking. Huan is at the edge of one of the pits. As the thralls rush across the bridge, Luthien joins the hound.)
LUTHIEN: What have you found?
(Silence. Then there is a sound of weeping.)
LUTHIEN: Beren? Beren?
(The weeping continues. We cut to Luthien in the pit, sorrowful music playing. She approaches Beren from behind. He is still chained, weeping over Felagund's body in his arms. Luthien touches the chain and it loosens, falling away; then she takes Beren's arm, also weeping. At last Beren recognises her, and they embrace. The sun rises in the east, and the pit is filled with light at last.)
(Flash to a view over the isle, verdant, heathered and free. A standing stone is at the top of the hill. The pits have been filled in.)
VO of ELROND: They buried the body of Felagund upon the hill-top of his own isle, and it was clean again; and that green grave remained inviolate, until the land was broken and foundered under destroying seas.
(We see Beren and Luthien walking arm in arm upon the isle, Huan running beside them. Then we flash to a beauteous wood; Finrod and Finarfin are walking together, also arm in arm.)
VO of GALADRIEL: Yet Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees of Eldamar.
(We cut to Celegorm riding with Huan, looking stern and angry.)
VO of ELROND: But Huan, being faithful, went back to Celegorm his master; yet their love was less than before.
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Post by Maeglin on Feb 6, 2005 5:22:39 GMT -5
SCENE 34
(The Guarded Plain. About thirty Elves, garbed in black, are riding across it. They are the former captives of Tol-in-Gaurhoth.)
VOICE: Halt, strangers!
CAPTIVE: Strangers?
(Grey-cloaked wardens of the Plain materialise around the riders. The captive leader approaches the Captain of the Guarded Plain.)
CAPTIVE: Do you not remember my face?
ELF CAPTAIN: Why...brother...this is a miracle. How came you to be freed from the Isle of Werewolves? And why do you wear such grim apparel?
CAPTIVE: We are in mourning for the true king of Nargothrond, Finrod, son of Finarfin.
(Cut to a corridor. Celegorm, Curufin, and Celebrimbor are walking briskly towards the hall.)
CELEGORM: Now is the time for us to strike. I shall take the crown.
CELEBRIMBOR: I beg of you...abandon this cursed, mad scheme...
CURUFIN: Silence, child.
(Cut to the King's hall. Orodreth sits on the throne upon the dais. The crown is on his lap. A small assortment of counsellors face him. Suddenly Elves burst in, as Celegorm, Curufin, and Celebrimbor move towards the dais, Celebrimbor reluctantly.)
CELEGORM: People of Nargothrond! What use is a King who durst not wear his crown?
CURUFIN: Orodreth has shown himself unworthy of power in a dozen ways. Much as it pains me, for the good of the realm, I must declare my lack of confidence in my cousin's abilities. Allow me to recommend my brother-a great warrior and a wise statesman.
ORODRETH: But this is utter...complete...treason.
CURUFIN: (smiling) Well observed.
ELVES OF NARGOTHROND: Celegorm! Celegorm! Celegorm...
(The captives in black enter.)
CAPTIVE: (shouting) A great warrior? Why then did Celegorm not rescue King Finrod from death?
ORODRETH: Finrod is dead? Truly? You lay burden after dark burden on my heart.
CELEGORM: Alas, the liberation of the Isle of Werewolves is a task beyond all our valour.
CAPTIVE: Coward, you lie. The Isle has been liberated-by Luthien, daughter of Thingol. A maid has done what you did not dare to do.
ORODRETH: No one could ever call the sons of Feanor cowards. A blacker motive drove them.
CURUFIN: Cousin...
ORODRETH: Silence. (He puts on the crown.) Ride from my halls, unhappy brethren, and do not return.
CAPTIVE: Do not let the traitors escape! Let them be slain!
ORODRETH: Little love indeed have I for them, but I would not bind the doom of Mandos closer upon us all. Yet I will grant neither bread nor rest nor friendship to them.
CELEGORM: Let it be so!
(Curufin smiles. The three Feanorians exit, Celebrimbor lagging behind. We cut to the courtyard of their mansion. Celegorm and Curufin are mounted on the white and black horses respectively. Both have bows and quivers of arrows, and are wearing suits of galvorn, girded with a longsword for Celegorm and a knife, Angrist, for Curufin. Celegorm also carries a tall spear. The hounds, led by Huan, are assembled.)
CURUFIN: Celebrimbor, you accursed boy? Where are you? We must to horse!
(Celebrimbor and about thirty Feanorian guards move from positions in the cloisters, looking grim.)
CELEBRIMBOR: I'm not following you, Curufin.
CURUFIN: Curufin? I am your father, boy!
CELEGORM: Insolent rogue...
CELEBRIMBOR: Any claim you might once have had to me is lost. I am Celebrimbor, a smith of Nargothrond; and I do not ride in the company of traitors.
CELEGORM: Enough. You've birthed a milksop, brother. We have leagues to ride.
(He blows a hunting horn and the brothers ride out of the portcullis with their pack of hounds before them.)
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Post by Huinesoron on Feb 6, 2005 11:15:37 GMT -5
Hmm... bits of that last scene seemed a little rushed, especially Curufin's dismissal of Celebrimbor. I dunno, perhaps you need to work on that.
Also, something I've forgotten to mention -- have you worked in the Awakening of Men anywhere? Because I've just noticed that I missed it out of FotN, so it really needs to show up in here.
If not, can I suggest that you have Beren telling Luthien the legends on the way to the Anfauglith? Or even Luthien telling Beren, to explain the differences between their peoples, at some point.
I mean, it could go anywhere -- Finrod to Beren, Thingol to Beren, Daeron to Luthien, Thingol to Luthien, Namo to Luthien, there's lots of choices -- but... yeah. It needs to be mentioned, I'm thinking.
If you already put it in, and I forgot, please ignore me.
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Post by Maeglin on Feb 22, 2005 10:32:31 GMT -5
Well, I tacked on a Feanorian parting of the ways. How do you like it?
Is the Awakening of Man that necessary? As long as the differences between Elves and Men are emphasised, surely I don't have to cinematise all the Hador/Haleth/Beor stuff? I have the Fingolfin/Morgoth flashback to put in already...
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Post by Huinesoron on Feb 27, 2005 14:39:01 GMT -5
I like it. It's nice. Yay 'Brim!
I don't know whether we need the Awakening of Men. I also don't know whether we need the story of Thingol and Melian's meeting, or indeed whether you already put it in. But if it's not there, you might want to consider it.
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Post by Maeglin on Feb 27, 2005 15:04:56 GMT -5
Thingol and Melian would be the very first scene if I did an extended prologue. Such a prologue would also include Fingolfin's fall and at least a shot of men coming west (maybe meeting Finrod). But I like my no frills prologue, and Morgoth/Fingolfin is cinematically useful where I'm going to put it to emphasise, now Sauron's out of it, who the baddy really is. We've only seen Morgoth once in this film so far.
The casualties of all this will be, sadly, Thingol/Melian and, to my mind less sadly, the Awakening of Men. (I always found it a bit genealogical...)
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Post by Huinesoron on Feb 27, 2005 21:22:41 GMT -5
Well, if you end up with a bit of space, you could let Luthien tell Beren about how her parents met. It'd establish their -- Beren and Luthien's -- relationship a bit, and also point out the utter hypocrisy in Thingol's attitude -- he did the same thing.
Or not. I dunno. Maybe the Awakening of Men can be moved to Turin?
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Post by Maeglin on Mar 1, 2005 8:30:37 GMT -5
SCENE 35
(The Forest of Brethil. Beren and Luthien, holding hands, walk through the woods. Lighthearted music plays, but it gradually, ideally, should become more melancholy.)
BEREN: We draw near to the borders of your homeland, Tinuviel. You will be safe in Doriath.
LUTHIEN: Safe? What do you mean? I'll be safe with you.
BEREN: My vow is unfulfilled. I cannot live with you in full conscience till I have taken a Silmaril from Morgoth's iron crown. Only then will your father be satisfied. Once I have seen you to your realm, I must set out again...
LUTHIEN: But Beren...you are insane, rash. You will go to your death. What good will that achieve? Finrod will have died for nothing...
BEREN: I cannot break my vow.
LUTHIEN: Then let me come with you.
BEREN: I will not bring the fairest flower of Arda into Morgoth's power!
LUTHIEN: Yet I will not be parted from you. Think on this. Either you must relinquish your quest, your oath, and wander over the earth; or hold to your word, and challenge the power of darkness on its throne. On either road I shall follow. Our common danger, our doom, shall be alike.
SCENE 36
(The music is now decidedly menacing. We cut to Celegorm and Curufin, with their pack, on the border of the forest.)
CURUFIN: These are the woods of Brethil. They lie in our path, unless you would have us tread the Nan Dungortheb, brother.
CELEGORM: Aye, we will take the woods, and the north marches of Doriath. On, hounds! (He blows his hunting-horn again, and the pack and hunters plunge into the forest.)
(Cut to Beren and Luthien. The blast is still going, though it is faint.)
BEREN: Whist, love! A moment...what was that?
LUTHIEN: A hunter's horn...and, I fear, a familiar one...
(Cut to Celegorm and Curufin. Huan is wagging his tail and barking excitedly.)
CELEGORM: Why...it's them!
CURUFIN: The lovebirds who've caused so much trouble...Huan recognises them well enough...
CELEGORM: Orome the Vala remembers me and sends me a chance for sweet, sweet vengeance...ware, hounds. Stay.
(Most of the pack slink back. We cannot see Huan at present.)
CELEGORM: Now, brother...on them...
(Cut to Beren.)
BEREN: What...
(The horn sounds again, and the horsemen charge into the small clearing, Celegorm with his spear pointed straight for Beren. Luthien shrieks as Curufin, who has both his arms free, hoists her into the saddle in front of him...)
BEREN: You'll regret that...
(He leaps out of Celegorm's way and onto the reeling black horse, grapping Curufin's neck. The horse rears up, and Luthien lands on soft grass before the horse, neighing, stumbles to the ground; Beren and Curufin, still grappling, sail over its tail. Celegorm is momentarily dumbstruck, opening and closing his mouth. Beren lands on top of Curufin, and starts to throttle him. Celegorm at last stirs from his amazement, and rides on Beren, spear lifted high to plunge into the human's back. But there is a sudden baying, as Huan emerges from a bush and intercepts Celegorm's horse, which swerves aside in fear.)
CELEGORM: Curse thee for false and ungrateful slaves, both horse and hound!
BEREN: (to Luthien) I have here the meddling viper that held you captive. I will make him pay.
LUTHIEN: (getting up) Do not murder him! He is a son of Eru, as well as Feanor.
BEREN: (reluctant) Very well. But I know the Noldor have great love for things of craft. (He leans close to Curufin.) I shall leave you nothing but the armour on your back. (He ungirds Angrist casually.)
CELEGORM: Vermin! How dare you pollute my brother's hunting knife with your gross touch?
CURUFIN: (weakly, but dangerously) Have a care, child of Men. That is no mere dirk-Telchar forged it in Nogrod, and it is wound about with words of power. It will cleave iron as though it were green wood.
BEREN: Boast of your trinkets to someone who cares. To me, this is a weapon, fit for the killing of fell things-no more, no less.
(Huan growls as Celegorm tries to approach again. Beren takes the bow and arrows, and picks up Curufin, pushing him back towards Celegorm. The battered Noldo leans on Celegorm's white horse.)
BEREN: Walk back to your noble kinsfolk, Lords Maedhros and Maglor, who may teach you to put your valour to better use than banditry and abduction. Your horse I keep for the service of Luthien-it may be accounted happy to be free of such a master.
CURUFIN: (evenly) Under cloud and sky I hold thee accursed, son of Barahir. Go hence...(in an undertone) unto a swift and bitter death.
(Celegorm deathstares Beren, as he heaves Curufin up to join him on the white stallion. They turn and start to ride away.)
BEREN: Luthien, Huan, let's waste no more time here.
(Luthien mounts the black horse, and they start to proceed north, Huan growling. Cut to the brothers.)
CURUFIN: I think I could put an arrow in him with ease, brother. Lend me your bow and a shaft or two.
CELEGORM: Here. Shoot truly.
(Curufin aims.)
CELEGORM: Wait! You're aiming at her. You can't. She's an Elf, our distant kin. And besides, I...love her...
CURUFIN: (chuckling) I never thought you capable of such tender thoughts.
(He shoots. We cut to Beren, Luthien, and Huan. Huan leaps up and catches the arrow in his mouth. A second arrow flies past the hound, about to hit Luthien. Beren steps into its way, and it sinks into his heart. Huan bays, before tearing after the brothers.)
CELEGORM: Ware, hounds! Ware...oh, confound it.
(He spurs the white horse and flees at a gallop.)
LUTHIEN: (weeping and caressing Beren's forehead) Beren!
BEREN: If this is the end, Curufin was only half right. It was swift...but sweet...so sweet. (His eyes close.)
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