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For the Elves die not till tile world dies； unless they are slain or waste in grief （and to both these seeming deaths they are
subject）； neither does age subdue their strength； unless one grow weary of ten thousand centuries； and dying they are
gathered to the halls of Mandos in Valinor； whence they may in time return。 But the sons of Men die indeed； and leave
the world； wherefore they are called the Guests； or the Strangers。 Death is their fate； the gift of Ilúvatar； which as Time
wears even the Powers shall envy。 But Melkor has cast his shadow upon it； and confounded it with darkness； and
brought forth evil out of good； and fear out of hope。 Yet of old the Valar declared to the Elves in Valinor that Men shall
join in the Second Music of the Ainur； whereas Ilúvatar has hot revealed what he purposes for the Elves after the World's
end； and Melkor has not discovered it。
Chapter 2
Of Aul？ and Yavanna
It is told that in their beginning the Dwarves were made by Aul？ in the darkness of Middle…earth； for so greatly
did Aul？ desire the ing of the Children； to have learners to whom he could teach his lore and his crafts； that he was
unwilling to await the fulfilment of the designs of Ilúvatar。 And Aul？ made the Dwarves even as they still are； because
the forms of the Children who were to e were unclear to his mind； and because the power of Melkor was yet over
the Earth； and he wished therefore that they should be strong and unyielding。 But fearing that the other Valar might
blame his work； he wrought in secret： and he made first the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves in a hall under the mountains
in Middle…earth。
Now Ilúvatar knew what was done； and in the very hour that Aul？'s work was plete； and he was pleased； and
began to instruct the Dwarves in the speech that he had devised for them； Ilúvatar spoke to him； and Aul？ heard his
voice and was silent。 And the voice of Ilúvatar said to him： 'Why hast thou done this？ Why dost thou attempt a thing
which thou knowest is beyond thy power and thy authority？ For thou hast from me as a gift thy own bring only； and no
more； and therefore the creatures of thy hand and mind can live only by that being； moving when thou thinkest to move
them； and if thy thought be elsewhere； standing idle。 Is that thy desire？'
Then Aul？ answered： 'I did not desire such lordship。 I desired things other than I am； to love and to teach them；
so that they too might perceive the beauty of E？； which thou hast caused to be。 For it seemed to me that there is great
room in Arda for many things that might rejoice in it； yet it is for the most part empty still； and dumb。 And in my
impatience I have fallen into folly。 Yet the making of thing is in my heart from my own making by thee； and the child of
little understanding that makes a play of the deeds of his father may do so without thought of mockery； but because he is
the son of his father。 But what shall I do now； so that thou be not angry with me for ever？ As a child to his father； I offer
to thee these things； the work of the hands which thou hast made。 Do with them what thou wilt。 But should I not rather
destroy the work of my presumption？'
Then Aul？ took up a great hammer to smite the Dwarves； and he wept。 But Ilúvatar had passion upon Aul？
and his desire； because of his humility； and the Dwarves shrank from the hammer and wore afraid； and they bowed down
their heads and begged for mercy。 And the voice of Ilúvatar said to Aul？： 'Thy offer I accepted even as it was made。 Dost
thou not see that these things have now a life of their own； and speak with their own voices？ Else they would not have
flinched from thy blow； nor from any mand of thy will。' Then Aul？ cast down his hammer and was glad； and he gave
thanks to Ilúvatar； saying： 'May Eru bless my work and amend it！'
But Ilúvatar spoke again and said： 'Even as I gave being to the thoughts of the Ainur at the beginning of the
World； so now I have taken up thy desire and given to it a place therein； but in no other way will I amend thy handiwork；
and as thou hast made it； so shall it be。 But I will not suffer this： that these should e before the Firstborn of my
design； nor that thy impatience should be rewarded。 They shall sleep now in the darkness under stone； and shall not
e forth until the Firstborn have awakened upon Earth； and until that time thou and they shall wait； though long it
seem。 But when the time es I will awaken them； and they shall be to thee as children； and often strife shall arise
between thine and mine； the children of my adoption and the children of my choice。'
Then Aul？ took the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves； and laid them to rest in far…sundered places； and he returned to
Valinor； and waited while the long years lengthened。
Since they were to e in the days of the power of Melkor； Aul？ made the Dwarves strong to endure。 Therefore
they are stone…hard； stubborn； fast in friendship and in enmity； and they suffer toil and hanger and hurt of body more
hardily than all other speaking peoples； and they live long； far beyond the span of Men； yet not for ever。 Aforetime it
was held among the Elves in Middle…earth that dying the Dwarves returned to the earth and the stone of which they were
made； yet that is not their own belief。 For they say that Aul？ the Maker； whom they call Mahal； cares for them； and
gathers them to Mandos in halls set apart； and that he declared to their Fathers of old that Ilúvatar will hallow them and
give them a place among the Children in the End。 Then their part shall be to serve Aul？ and to aid him in the remaking
of Arda after the Last Battle。 They say also that the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves return to live again in their own kin
and to bear once more their ancient names： of whom Durin was the most renowned in after ages； father of that kindred
most friendly to the Elves； whose mansions were at Khazad…d？m。
Now when Aul？ laboured in the making of the Dwarves he kept this work hidden from the other Valar； but at last
he opened his mind to Yavanna and told her of all that had e to pass。 Then Yavanna said to him： 'Eru is merciful。
Now I see that thy heart rejoiceth； as indeed it may； for thou hast received not only forgiveness but bounty。 Yet because
thou hiddest this thought from me until its achievement； thy children will have little love for the things of my love。 They
will love first the things made by their own hands； as doth their father。 They will delve in the earth； and the things that
grow and live upon the earth they will not heed。 Many a tree shall feel the bite of their iron without pity。'
But Aul？ answered： 'That shall also be true of the Children of Ilúvatar； for they will eat and they will build。 And
though the things of thy realm have worth in themselves； and would have worth if no Children were to e； yet Eru
will give them dominion； and they shall use all that they find in Arda： though not； by the purpose of Eru； without respect
or without gratitude。'
'Not unless Melkor darken their hearts；' said Yavanna。 And she was not appeased； but grieved in heart； fearing
what might be done upon Middle…earth in days to e。 Therefore she went before Manw？； and she did not betray the
counsel of Aul？； but she said： 'King of Arda； is it true； as Aul？ hath said to me； that the Children when they e shall
have dominion over all the things of my labour； to do as they will therewith？'
'It is true；' said Manw？。 'But why dost thou ask； for thou hadst no need of the teaching of Aul？？'
Then Yavanna was silent and looked into her own thought。 And she answered： 'Because my heart is anxious；
thinking of the days to e。 All my works are dear to me。 Is it not enough that Melkor should have marred so many？
Shall nothing that I have devised be free from the dominion of others？'
'If thou hadst thy will what wouldst thou reserve？' said Manw？。 'Of all thy realm what dost thou hold dearest？'
'All have their worth；' said Yavanna； 'and each contributes to the worth of the others。 But the kelvar can flee or
defend themselves； whereas the olvar that grow cannot。 And among these I hold trees