by Maeglin, his son.
But as Thingol turned the hilt of Anglachel towards Beleg, Melian looked at the blade; and she said: 'There is malice in this sword. The dark heart of the smith still dwells in it. It will not love the hand it serves; neither will it abide with you long.'
'Nonetheless I will wield it while I may,' said Beleg.
'Another gift I will give to you, C?thalion,' said Melian, 'that shall be your help in the wild, and the help also of those whom you choose.' And she gave him store of lembas, the waybread of the Elves, wrapped in leaves of silver, and the threads that bound it were sealed at the knots with the seal of the Queen, a wafer of white wax shaped as a single flower of Telperion; for according to the customs of the Eldali? the keeping and giving of lembas belonged to the Queen alone. In nothing did Melian show greater favour to T?rin than in this gift; for the Eldar had never before allowed Men to use this waybread, and seldom did so again.
Then Beleg departed with these gifts from Menegroth and went back to the north marches, where he had his lodges, and many friends. Then in Dimbar the Orcs were driven back, and Anglachel rejoiced to be unsheathed; but when the winter came, and war was stilled, suddenly his companions missed Beleg, and he returned to them no more.
Now when Beleg parted from the outlaws and returned into Doriath, T?rin led them away westward out of Sirion's vale; for they grew weary of their life without rest, ever watchful and in fear of pursuit, and they sought for a safer lair. And it chanced at a time of evening that they came upon three Dwarves, who fled before them; but one that lagged behind was seized and thrown down, and a man of the company took his bow and let fly an arrow at the others as they vanished in the dusk. Now the dwarf that they had taken was named M?m; and he pleaded for his life before T?rin, and offered as ransom to lead them to his hidden halls which none might find without his aid. Then T?rin pitied M?m, and spared him; and he said: 'Where is your house?'
Then M?m answered: 'High above the lands lies the house of M?m, upon the great hill; Amon R?dh is that hill called now, since the Elves changed all the names.'
Then T?rin was silent, and he looked long upon the dwarf; and at last he said: 'You shall bring us to that place.'
On the next day they set out thither, following M?m to Amon R?dh. Now that hill stood upon the edge of the moorlands that rose between the vales of Sirion and Narog, and high above the stony heath it reared its crown; but its steep grey head was bare, save for the red seregon that mantled the stone. And as the men of T?rin's band drew near, the sun westering broke through the clouds, and fell upon the crown; and the seregon was all in flower. Then one among them said: 'There is blood on the hill-top.'
But M?m led them by secret paths up the steep slopes of Amon R?dh; and at the mouth of his cave he bowed to T?rin, saying: 'Enter into Bar-en-Danwedh, the House of Ransom; for so it shall be called.'
And now there came another dwarf bearing light to greet him, and they spoke together, and passed swiftly down into the darkness of the cave; but T?rin followed after, and came at length to a chamber far within, lit by dim lamps hanging upon chains. There he found M?m kneeling at a stone couch beside the wall, and he tore his beard, and wailed, crying one name unceasingly; and on the couch there lay a third. But T?rin entering stood beside M?m, and offered him aid. Then M?m looked up at him, and said: 'You can give no aid. For this is Kh?m, my son; and he is dead, pierced by an arrow. He died at sunset. Ibun my son has told me.'
Then pity rose in T?rin's heart, and he said to M?m: 'Alas! I would recall that shaft, if I could. Now Bar-en-Danwedh this house shall be called in truth; and if ever I come to any wealth, I will pay you a ransom of gold for your son, in token of sorrow, though it gladden your heart no more.'
Then M?m rose, and