

In a still pool in that vale, he saw a reflection of himself with a crown of seven stars.

Durin I, on the other hand, wandered into a vale in the Misty Mountains which he named Azanulbizar. Belegost and Nogrod were built in the Blue Mountains, and the Dwarves of these holds formed alliances with the Ñoldor and fought in their wars. Three major holds are known to have been built in this period. Each of Seven Fathers became a king of his own clan, and each built his own great hall. Of them, only the name of one is known, Durin I, who was called "the deathless". Years of the TreesĪbout a century after the Elves awoke in Cuiviénen, the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves were roused.

Ilúvatar willed that the Dwarves would not emerge before the Firstborn ( Elves), and so he decreed that the Seven Fathers should sleep underground, and come forth after the Firstborn had awakened. But Eru intervened, adopting the Dwarves as his own Children, so that when Aulë picked up his great hammer to smite the Seven Fathers and destroy his presumptuous creations, they cowered in fear and begged for mercy. After being reprimanded by Ilúvatar for creating them, and realizing his error, Aulë prepared to destroy his creations. It was, however, not within Aulë's power to create life. "Aulë Prepares to Destroy His Children" by Ted Nasmith Therefore, he made the first seven Fathers of the Dwarves in secret, in a hall under the mountains of Middle-earth. The Dwarves were made by Aulë, whom they themselves called Mahal, meaning “maker.” Aulë was unwilling to await the coming of the Children of Ilúvatar, for he was impatient and desired to have someone to teach his lore and crafts. Dwarves were a race of Middle-earth also known as the Khazâd (in their own tongue) or Casari, Naugrim, meaning ' Stunted People', and Gonnhirrim, the ' Masters of Stone'.
