now brethil was claimed as part of his realm by king thingol , though it was not within the girdle of melian , and he would have denied it to haleth ; but felagund , who had the friendship of thingol , hearing of all that had befallen the people of haleth , obtained this grace for her : that she should dwell free in brethil , upon the condition only that her people should guard the crossings of teiglin against all enemies of the eldar , and allow no orcs to enter their woods .