VII: The False Peace, and the Trecher Wars

When Tilvë's warning was received, the messengers of the Marlië quickly sent word to all of the scattered Dwarf-kin, bidding them beware Tukulusku, who the Elves name Sauron. And from every House came back the same answer: that they would stand fast in the face of all deception, and be won over by no servant of the Black Shadow. With the warning given, and no sign of evil on any hand, Durin and Tilvë felt more at ease, and in time relaxed their vigil somewhat. There was indeed a long period of quiet, which is remembered by the dwarves as the False Peace. In this time no echo of the Black Shadow or his servants was heard, and a long age passed as the Fathers of the Dwarves grew old, content in their works or families. Also in this time was a long and cunning tunnel carved, stretching uncounted leagues beneath rock and grass, and spanning even between the halls of the Great Houses themselves. By these tunnels did Kimbult's great abode in the north of the mountains connect to Imbult's in the south, and from there it wound under valleys and grasslands to Kazad-dûm itself. Past Durin's halls it traveled still, stopping only at the foot of the encircling mountains which were the dwelling place of Dimbult. By these paths could the Dwarves travel in a small fraction of the time which it once had taken to traverse the distances between their Halls. Thereafter was trade and communication between those Houses made swifter and more common. And that tunnel was the great Stone Trackway of Dwarven song and legend.

To the three Lesser Houses were no tunnels built, but messengers came from them to Durin's halls, and from there could travel out to the others' lands by that shorter way. The Halls of the Dwarves expanded and grew in majesty, and soon were filled with the children and grand-children of the Seven Fathers. All prospered, and great hope and happiness filled each heart.

Yet beneath the joy and peace which abounded in that time lurked a seed of evil, and quietly it put forth roots long and deep, never showing its malignant bud upon the surface. For Tukulusku was aware of Tilvë at the moment of her arrival out of the Uttermost West, and her coming so enraged him that he emerged from his long hiding within the walls of ruined Angband and flew to the place where she abode. There, while lurking in the woods, he saw her, and with her was Durin. And Tukulusku knew even as he looked that Durin was a creation of his former Lord, moving now with life of its own in the mountains where in ancient days he himself had laid winding veins of silver and gold.

If the sight of Tilvë angered him, then the knowledge that there lived one such as Durin inspired in him a white-hot fury. Ever after his fall, the greatest fear and ire of Tukulusku was those of greater power than he. And to see Mahal, as it seemed, able to wield the power of life itself was more than he could bare. He stalked away in wrath, and in his path left a wake of disquiet and fear.

As he sulked he wandered to the south, his anger festering, until he swore to himself in his hate that he would destroy the people of Mahal. Yet he was fearful of the power of Tilvë, not knowing that she was as a mortal in strength. Therefore, he pondered how he might achive his hateful desire. And as he wandered, thinking hard on this matter, he chanced upon a rude cave, and within lived Ergon, together with his wife and their many children. And Tukulusku studied them at length, for he saw in them a weakness through which to both mar Mahal's works and to strike at Tilvë.

So it was that he took for himself a form like unto the Dwarves, yet possessed of greater stature and might than any of the mortal races could claim. And he came in this form to the cave of Ergon, and there spoke to both him and Frís. What words they shared are not known to any still alive on this world, yet two great evils were woven from their meetings. Firstly, Ergon swore to Tukulusku that he and his line would follow that one in his orders and instructions, in exchange for which they would be fitted with cruel weapons and armour from the mines of Angband. Yet perhaps even more tragic was that hateful act which soon followed.

It happened that soon after the messengers of Durin and Tilvë had come and delivered their warning, and had left reassured by the grinning promises of Ergon, Nárril¹ (for so was Tukulusku called by his servants at that time, nor would he suffer for that name or for Sauron to be uttered in his presence) returned, and spoke to Ergon once more. And Ergon said to him, "My lord Nárril, your gifts are marvelous, and my other kin know naught of you, as you commanded. But there is a boon I would ask of you: that you show me to great halls and dwellings, that I might be envied of my kind."

And Tukulusku answered him, saying, "Twenty leagues to the west there lies a small troupe of Elves, who have mined a cavern hall fit for your family. With the gifts I have given to you and your sons, you may take their hall in the mountains, and likewise that part of their people who survive your onslaught. Then shall they serve you, and you shall have what is rightfully yours." And even as Tukulusku said, so did it come to pass.

The Elves who lived in that place in the mountains called themselves the Ciri, the cleft, for they like the Marlië had turned aside from the great journey to the West, and had come to call the mountains their home. They had great skill with stone, but they did not know of metals, nor of weapons, for their isolation since they had settled the land had been complete. When Ergon and his sons attacked without warning from the east, many were slain, and the rest quickly rounded up and taken. In all, only three score survived, scarce half what they had been.

The False Peace stretched on, and the Ciri continued in their servitude, mining and carving new and ever larger halls for Ergon's people. They were cunningly hidden away from rare visitors, and even from the women of that line (lest they betray this secret to a husband of another house). In time, Ergon grew old and passed away, yet his son Palo took his place at the head of the House of Ergon, and was no less evil, either in his treatment of the Ciri or in his dealings with Tukulusku. In that time, Palo conspired to give him many of the captive Elves in excange for more and greater weapons. Of those who were sent to Angband, no word was ever again heard.

Upon Palo's death, his brother Ŋalo took leadership of the house, but he was himself aged, and passed away soon after he came to power. He was succeeded by his son Olboron, and under him the line of Ergon began to prepare for the war which Tukulusku soon planned to unleash. By the time of Olboron's ascension, most of the first, and a part of the second generation of Dwarves had passed away, yet Durin and Tilvë still reigned in Kazad-dûm, both seemingly ageless. So too did Dimbult still live, though his wife had passed away before that time.

It was not long after Olboron took power that the dark plots of Tukulusku were set in motion, for it was in that time that the Black Shadow returned from his long captivity. At the hour of his return, he recalled his servants, and among them Tukulusku, ordering them assemble in Angband. And Tukulusku dared not disobey, yet he thought through his long-delayed plan to wipe Mahal's race from the earth, even in his absence.

So it was that he waited until all were asleep, and he went to a certain one of the captive Ciri, known to his people as Edáni. And taking the form of a fellow Elf, he whispered to this one, naming himself Tonko, a wandering worker of spells. And he said, "I have seen the suffering of your people, and though my own magicks are not so great that I can save them, still I can help you escape this place, and even bring you to those with might enough to give aid." To this the desperate Edáni readily agreed, and Tukulusku put him in a deep sleep, and brought him to the halls of the Elf-king Celobinal. And when he awoke, the guards of that Hall took him to their King, that he might tell his tale.

Edáni, despite his many years of servitude, was of noble blood, and he spoke with the presence and command of a mighty leader when he told of his people's sufferings, and he implored Celobinal to give him aid in avenging his folk. His stories of grueling labor and vicious torture brought gasps from the assembled court, and as he concluded with a call for vengeance, the crowd which listened took up his call at once.

Seeing this, and all of it going in accordance with his plans, Tukulusku next went to Olboron, and said to him, "And Elf of your mines, on Edáni, has escaped your servitude, and even now is almost come to the Hall of your kin, the dottering Avon². It is too late already to take him before he reaches them, and your kin will surely revolt when they learn this secret of your people." And seeing Olboron in doubt, and ready to accept desperate guidance, he continued, "Yet there is a way out of this predicament. Gather all who can fight, and go swiftly to Avon's halls. Kill all assembled there, and leave no trace of your coming. Then shall none be the wiser, and may even claim his lands for your own in the aftermath, once you have wept and gnashed your teeth sufficiently to allay suspicion." At this advice, Olboron brightened, and said, "Your words are wise, o lord Nárril. I shall do as you have said at once!" And with a low bow, he hurried out to gather his army.

Only when he saw the grey banners of the house of Ergon did Tukulusku depart for Angband, and his heart was light as he pondered the imminent destruction of the Dwarven race.

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¹Nárril: Quenya for "Fire of Brilliant Light."

²Avon: First son of Fergon and Brís

Next Chapter:

VIII: The Trecher Wars, and the First Sunrise