Disclaimer: I do not own The Silmarillion or "The Rose".
A/N: Thank you to all of you who read this fic, so far. As I mentioned, this will cover all areas of Middle-earth history, in no particular order. Updates for this fic will be very erratic, as some characters are harder to write for than others. That said, here is the second installment.
Some say love, it is a razor that leaves your soul to bleed.
Doriath, c. 463 FA:
Beren looked at King Thingol in amazement when he heard the demanded bride price for the Elf-king's daughter, Lúthien. He was shocked that the great elf would send anyone on such a perilous quest as the Silmarils of Fëanor. All knew that Morgoth guarded them most fiercely of anything in his lands. Anyone who sought them would need to pass through many dangers to even glimpse them. To attempt to capture even one would mean death to the one who attempted it.
Why so high a price for even so beautiful an elf maiden as Lúthien? Beren decided that he didn't care about that. Whatever Thingol demanded, he would do for love of Lúthien. She was all that mattered to him. Beren was all that remained of his family. His mother died years ago. His father was dead four years, killed by Orcs when he was betrayed by poor Gorlim, whose desire for his lost wife led to his capture by Morgoth's servants.
With no one else left to him, Beren had nothing to lose by doing as Thingol demanded. If he failed, he would rejoin all those he had lost in the Wars. If he succeeded, he would gain as his wife the most beautiful woman to have ever lived in Middle-earth. Desperation and love gave him the answer. If Thingol wanted to have a Silmaril in order for him to have Lúthien, he would get one, even if Beren died getting it for the king.
