The Seven Fathers of the Dwarves were the first of their race and the founding fathers of the Dwarven race. It is told in The Silmarillion that the Vala Aulë created the Dwarves because he was impatient for the arising of the Children of Ilúvatar (Elves and Men). He created seven Dwarves, and was teaching them the language he had devised for them (Khuzdul) when Ilúvatar confronted him, Aulë offered his creations to Ilúvatar, who accepted them and gave them life.