For many long years he had laboured, long in thought and in action. Each figure was meticulously chiseled, each word was meticulously pronounced until both sounded nearest to perfection. In secret he had worked, hoping to finish this Great Work in peace. Strong they were to be, undaunted by fire, friend, or foe, unyielding to the death and strong even in defeat. For this aim he had worked. But even as he lay down his tools and thought to himself, “These are good,” a great sound came from the deeps of the cave in which he and his children sat.
“AULE!” the voice thundered.
The Smith fell silent.