I: Of the Creation of the Dwarves

In the designs of Eru, the great Over-Ruler, there figured only two races: Elves, the Firstborn, and Men, the Followers. And it was appointed that the Valar, the Lords of the World, should await the arrival of the Firstborn, yet the time and place of their coming was not foretold. And so the Lords of the World waited, while long years came and went.

It came to pass that Aulë, who was ever foremost in the shaping and making of things, became impatient with this long waiting, which seemed to him interminable; for he desired to teach others of his work, and to share the joy he felt in creation, and the finding of things hidden. So it came into his heart to fashion a thinking peoples, to whom he should teach his love of making, and who would fashion things, even as he did, after their own manner.

Aulë determined to fashion his race after the style of the children of Illúvatar, who had not yet come to be in all of Eä. His knowledge of them was imperfect, but he formed in his mind a shape not unlike them, and yet with the mark of his ideas upon them; for the design which was in his mind was of a race strong and unyielding, so that they should withstand Melkor and not be swayed by his lies, and who would share his joy in the creation of new things. The people he thought to fashion would love the earth, and would be to mountains and caverns as shepherds are to their flocks, ever caring for that which is their charge.

So began the creation of the Dwarves; and the order of their making, and the material of their bodies, and the names which they were given are here recorded.

Aulë knew that the Valar were charged to await the coming of the Firstborn, and so did not wish the others of his kin to know of his desire, fearing their disapproval. So he left Valinor for Middle-Earth, desiring for his work to be secret. Aulë's first thought was to form his creations out of clay, and so he knelt down by a great river, which legend holds was the same water which was in later days called the Anduin, and there fashioned the first of the seven Fathers of the Dwarves.

And it chanced that Ulmo was in the waters there, and came to see what it was that Aulë labored at. But Aulë was so engrossed in his work that he did not notice the Lord of the Waters, until he spoke. And Ulmo said, "My friend, I can see that all your thought is bent on your work, yet I do not perceive its nature. What is it you fashion, here by my banks?" For Aulë's work was not yet full-wrought, and Ulmo did not recognize it as a thing in the shape of the Children of Illuvitar.

Then Aulë felt a sudden shame, and covered his work, saying, "It is but a trifle, friend, and not one worthy of your attention." To which Ulmo replied, "Yet my attention it has earned; will you not then let me see it?" And though Aulë did not wish to show his work, he would not deny his friend, and so handed him the half-finished creation of his thought.

Ulmo studied it, but still did not recognize it for what it was. And so he handed it back to Aulë, saying, "Your designs are hidden from me, it seems; yet I know your power and skill, and doubt not that this thing, though you name it a trifle, shall yet be of great value. Therefore, I put my blessing upon it, and leave you to your work." And with those words, Ulmo departed back to his ocean haunts.

Then Aulë quickly finished his work, and fled deep into the mountains, seeking a place far from the light of the stars in which to work his thought. And so he came to a great cavern, and there, deep under the mountains, he thought to be alone.

Aulë set his first work to dry, and then gave it thought. He desired to create more, but it came to his mind that of better things could his works be fashioned than rude clay. Moreover, he did not wish to go near the waters again while yet he labored at his project, for fear that Ulmo might come again, and this time guess nearer the truth. So Aulë secretly took all the things from his great work-house, and brought them to his hidden caverns. There, he took a block of granite that sat near his workbench, and taking up tools, he carved the second of the seven Fathers of the Dwarves.

He set this by his first work, and it seemed better to him, but still rude and unlovely compared to the beauteous vision of the Children of Illuvitar. So, taking up a rock of shear black marble, he fashioned the third of the seven Fathers of the Dwarves.

This he set by the others, and it seemed good, but it was in his heart to work finer still the vision which now burned in his mind's eye. He thought long and hard, pondering what rock he could use to convey his thought best, but ever he rejected them, one by one, until after many hours he determined that no stone was fit, but only worked and finished metal of the highest quality would suffice. Therefore, he fashioned of silver the fourth of the seven Fathers of the Dwarves, and his heart rejoiced at the beauty of his work. And even as he put the final polishing on his creation, it came into his heart to put a like work into gold; and so he fashioned the fifth of the seven Fathers of the Dwarves, even as the fourth sat still on his work table.

He set these two beside the others, and was filled with pride, and thought his work done. So, he went out from the cavern to rest under the stars, planning then to return and set about teaching his creations.

And as he wandered the lands of Middle-Earth, it chanced that he ventured up into the north of that land. Standing there, he heard from far off fell cries, and the twang of bowstrings. And though he knew not whether it was a foreboding only, or if in truth the sounds of Ossë and his hunt now carried to the very place where he stood, Aulë now perceived his pride, and was humbled. He returned to the cavern where he worked, and looking at his creations said, "Truly, I am come nearer my goal, and I may count these last two my greatest works yet. But beauty alone will not withstand the shadow which covers all lands save Valinor, and even the wisest may fall if he hath not also a measure of strength." With those words, Aulë returned to his forge, and from strongest steel did he fashion the sixth of the seven Fathers of the Dwarves.

He set this beside the others, and then he sat, examining each of them closely, ever thinking of the image in his heart. And after long thought, he spoke, saying, "This yet can be bettered, but it will need a substance yet unmade; strong, yet delicate, and of both great potency and great beauty." Therefore did Aulë labor long and hard, and after much effort did he create the metal which he sought; and it was the greatest metal ever to be, and has never again been produced by any, human, elf, dwarf, or Vala. And with this new substance did Aulë fashion the seventh and final Father of the Dwarves. But whereas he had with the first six fashioned each a twin in make, he was now greatly wearied, and had used all of the new metal on this one work. So, setting the last of his creations alone beside the others, he spoke, and said, "Now it is truly finished, and I shall never make another work greater than this." And with those words, Aulë fell into a deep sleep.

After long rest, Aulë awoke, and his slumber had refreshed him, so that he looked upon his creations with new joy. And he said, "Truly am I happy, for now I have before me a people to whom I may teach such things as they will learn." And then, by Aulë's power, the dwarves all began to move; but they did not know words nor craft, and they stood before Aulë, as if unsure what to do. And with glad heart did Aulë teach them the language which he had devised for them; and those words were like unto the dwarves themselves, for though the language was cumbrous, and full of sounds difficult for the tongue to master, yet it was also rich in its words, and is said to convey more of the thought of its user in its speaking than any language of elves or men; only the ents have words more expressive, and their language is beyond the ken of any save themselves.

But Aulë wondered, for the words he taught the dwarves stuck in their minds without fail; he had only to speak once, and instantly they perceived, and did not forget. "How could it be," he thought, "that my creations seem to know my mind, even as I speak it?"

Now Illuvitar had perceived the every thought of Aulë, and seen his every action, however secret he might have thought it. Yet he had waited, for reasons known only to the Great Over-Ruler himself, until this doubt began to grow in Aulë's mind; and then Eru came down, and he spoke even as is recorded by the elves. And their tale tells how Eru challenged Aulë, and showed him that the dwarves had no souls of their own, but were constructs controlled by Aulë's own thoughts and desires. And they tell how Aulë begged for pardon, and offered to destroy his own works; yet the Great Over-Ruler took the dwarves to be his own, and set in them souls like unto those which Aulë had envisioned for them. Then Illuvitar commanded that the dwarves be made to sleep until the coming of the elves, who were to be the Firstborn; but he granted to Aulë that he should first speak with them, and then go lay them down to rest where he would.

And Aulë spoke then to the dwarves, saying, "Now you must think me cruel, for you have come to life only to be laid in long sleep. Though this was not my intention, I will not say it was not my doing." Then the seventh of the Fathers of the Dwarves stood, and named Aulë Mahal, which in the tongue of the dwarves means Master; and it is thus that not even the greatest of dwarf-lords or kings have ever taken that title, for it is given to he before whom dwarves both great and small would bow low.

And the seventh of the Fathers of the Dwarves spoke, saying, "But for you, we would know no life, and be even now naught but rude elements lying in the earth, unknown and unloved. To you, Mahal, is all our love given, and your will shall ever be our only guide." Then he bowed down low, and all the other dwarves bowed likewise, and Aulë's heart was gladdened. And he named each of them in their tongue, but gave to them also other names, which are written here.

His first work, made in clay, he named Fergon, and his mate he named Brís. His second work, made in granite, he named Ergon, and his mate he named Frís. His third work, made in black marble, he named Bergon, and his mate he named Nís. And of these first three of his works were to come the three Lesser Houses of the Dwarves.

His fourth work, made in silver, he named Imbult, and his mate he named Hann. His fifth work, made in gold, he named Kimbult, and his mate he named Mann. His sixth work, made in strongest steel, he named Dimbult, and his mate he named Fann. And of these second three of his works were to come the three Greater Houses of the Dwarves.

And lastly Aulë named his seventh creation, made in the secret metal created only for this purpose, and he called him Durin, and Durin stood alone.

I----------

Next Chapter:

II: Of the Laying and Slumber of the Dwarves