Do Not Go Gentle

Three Graves in the Ground

Hi, Readers! 

Thank you all for your support! All of the votes, comments, messages, and kindness given from you have made this journey so much more amazing than I'd ever expected! Cause that's what writing is- a journey. Let's be real. However, I do apologize for the late update, I've had a horrible migraine for the past few days that's knocked me off my feet. 

But away with that, here is the chapter! As always, let me know what you think, and I'll try to get back to you ASAP!

-Ally Layne.

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The water healed my wounds, which was nice. Not that I had many wounds that needed tending to, but it helped to not have anything nagging at me on the ride back to Imladris. However, along the ride all I could think about was Maris.

Maris's funeral was a sad affair. Varis explained that when dwarves, or dwarrow, as she refers to her people, die they return to stone. I understood it as being buried in carven tombs in the mountains, but because of where they were Varis wanted her mother to be sent off to Aulë's halls on a funeral pyre.

As Varis was inconsolable and seemed to allow herself to fade into the memories of her mother as she burnt to ash, Geoffry helped explain a few things to me.

Aulë, the member of the Valar who was much like Melkor, had many different Maiar associated with him. "One of those Maiar who were most associated with Aulë was Mairon," Geoffry explained as we stood watching the flames eat away in the middle of the day.

Varis was on her knees closest to the fire, and there were two other women kneeling next to her and offering their condolences. I knew she wasn't listening to them. Not really.

"Mairon was the name of Sauron before he became all evil and stuff, right?" I asked.

Geoffry nodded stiffly. "Unfortunately, yes. The white wizard, Saruman, was also closely associated with the two at the time."

I turned to Geoffry in shock. "You mean Salamander the Wizard was best buds with Sauron? What a small world."

He shrugged. "They are immortal. Time passes differently for use blessed with eternal life."

I let out a low sigh, turning back to the dwarrowdam mourning in front of us. "That is very true."

"After the betrayal of Mairon and losing the white wizard on the hunt for Sauron and Melkor, Aulë himself crafted the first dwarrow out of stone and created his people after waiting for Illvutar to create the secondborn."

"Secondborn?"

He raised a brow. "Elves are the firstborn, the first children of Illvutar. Humans, including the Númenóreans, they are the secondborn."

I grimaced and rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. "And who are the Numenori-whats?"

He let out a huff of what could have been laughter if we were not witnessing a funeral. "They are those who bridge the differences between Humans and the Eldar. They are not half-elves, yet they have characteristics of the Eldar. They live longer than Humans, but do not have the immortal lifespan of my people."

I squinted toward the fire. "So basically dwarves were made because Aulë had no patience?"

He let out another huff. "I suppose that is one way to look at it. However, the dwarrow are extremely good at mining and have something called the stone-sense. From what I recall, the Line of Durin obtains this sense to its full extent as well as other things that come with it."