Beren and Luthien: Love Beyond Death

Beren and Luthien: Love Beyond Death

Author: Alex Holmgren August 30, 2026 Duration: 13:14

So there may have been peace and joy in Doriath, but Carcharoth was discovered, and a hunting party composed of Thingol, Beren, Beleg Cúthalion, Mablung, and Huan was sent to slay the beast. During the hunt, Thingol was nearly slain, but Beren saved him, at the cost of a mortal wound. Huan then slew Carcharoth, but was himself fatally wounded. Coming to Beren, Huan spoke for the third and final time, bidding him farewell. There died Huan, hound of the Valar. The Silmaril was cut from Carcharoth's burned flesh, and Beren presented it at last to Thingol, saying "Now the Quest is achieved". Lúthien bade Beren await her beyond the Western Sea. Looking upon her one last time, Beren died of his wounds, and his spirit found its way into the west, to the shores of the Outer Sea. Through grief, the spirit of Lúthien fled its body at the first breaking of Spring in F.A. 467 and came to the Halls of Mandos. There she sang a song of such woe, and beauty, and lamentation, that even Mandos was moved to pity. He summoned Beren's spirit, and there the two were reunited. But it was not within the power of Mandos to change the fates of the Children of Ilúvatar, so he went to Manwë, who sought counsel from Eru in his innermost thought, where the will of Ilúvatar was revealed to him...


Join Alex Holmgren for A Leisurely Stroll Through Middle-Earth, a series designed for those who love to dwell in the rich details of Tolkien's world rather than rush through it. Think of it as a companionable walk with a fellow enthusiast, where the pace is slow enough to appreciate the scenery. Each episode immerses you in the text, treating chapters like an audio play to savor the language and atmosphere. Along the way, Alex pauses to discuss the themes, characters, and lingering questions that arise, turning a solitary read into a shared conversation. The podcast also keeps an ear on the wider world of Middle-earth, touching on relevant news and adaptations, ensuring the discussion feels connected to both the timeless books and our current moment. It’s a welcoming space for both seasoned scholars and first-time visitors to the Shire, built on the idea that the greatest stories reveal more with every return. This isn't a lecture or a recap, but an invitation to experience the legendarium with fresh eyes and a curious mind, one deliberate step at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

A Leisurely Stroll Through Middle-Earth
Podcast Episodes
The Seige of Gondor prt 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:56
The Board is set and the pieces are moving.....
The Seige of Gondor prt 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:56
We come to it at last....the great battle of our time. Here the hammer stroke will fall the hardest...
Seige of Gondor prt 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:49
Now we are back with Pippin and Gandalf in the besieged city of Minas Tirith- however they may at last hear word of their friends far afield....
Muster of Rohan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:52
Now we are back with Merry and the Rohirrim- Theoden, Eomer and Eoywn have important decisions that will change the course of middle earth.
The Passing of the Grey Company prt 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:34
Now we rewind back to Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Meriadoc Brandybuck. They are still with the company of King Theoden- we see how events lead them on the path to Minas Tirith...and war....
Minas Tirith prt 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:53
Resuming our introduction to the largest kingdom of men in the third age- Pippin has been brought before the seat of Denethor, son of Ecthelion Lord and Steward of Gondor and also the father of Boromir.....
Minas Tirith prt 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:46
Gandalf and Pippin are riding away from Theoden's company after the winged shadow passed over their camp- now they are at last on their way to the city that Boromir hailed from, Minas Tirith- City of Kings and Tower of G…