After a brief period spent in my workshop, curious to learn more about new techniques not necessarily related to alchemy, I set off for the city of Ost-In-Edhil in Eregion, the emblematic place of Elven blacksmiths. Metalwork intrigued me, although I had already worked with it in the past using my own methods. I started making friends with a few craftsmen on the site, and eventually managed to join a small group working with Celebrimbor. I had plenty of time to watch them at work, taking notes in a corner of the room and wandering from one forge to another. Their way of transcending matter was of great interest to my practice of alchemy.
A few days after I began these observations, I heard of an invitation to the Elves to visit the forges of Khazad-Dum, the legendary underground city of the Dwarves. In those days, relations between the Elves and the Dwarves were surprisingly peaceful, the two races feeding off each other's knowledge. I managed to join the expedition without too much difficulty and we set off a few days later.
***
Once we arrived at the gates of the Underground Kingdom, we were given a friendly welcome by our hosts, who led us into the heart of their own forge, showing us part of their city in the process. From the long galleries to the high halls, we were able to admire the quality of their architecture and be amazed at the astonishing luminosity of some of these spaces, even though they were located underground. As the road continued, it wasn't long before we could feel the air getting warmer: we were approaching the forge.
As we passed through the large doors that bounded the entrance, we were immediately drawn into the intense, vibrant atmosphere. The acrid smell of molten metal wafted through the air, mingled with that of soot and smoke. The sound of hammers striking steel echoed around us and in our ears, deafening at first, then seeming to create a kind of metallic symphony filling every corner of the forge. It was easy to feel the raw energy emanating from the place. The intense heat radiating from the blazing braziers made a few beads of sweat bead on my forehead, while the flames, coming to life in the heart of the braziers, illuminated the concentrated faces of the dwarves working around the anvils. There was something mesmerising and impressive about their skill and precision, each gesture being the product of unrivalled mastery. The sparks flew like fleeting stars, casting new flashes of light before dying out in the ashes.
***
We stayed there for a few days, learning a great deal, exchanging ideas with the blacksmiths, observing them and also helping out. Observation soon became demonstration and joint work, to the point where I eventually abandoned my notes to join the craftsmen and work with them, in their own way, but also using my favourite field: alchemy. We decided to combine our skills to create unique pieces. Using various ores from the mountain and a few ingredients I'd brought with me, we set about making four dragon eggs. The work took many hours, spread over several days, but we achieved a convincing result: covered in deep black scales, the dragon eggs each revealed silver, gold, copper or emerald green reflections in the light. Reflecting the fusion of our combined expertise, you could feel the solidity of some of the materials used and the power of others. Anyone who held them in their hands could feel the slight warmth emanating from them, even though they had long since left the forge, a sign of the life that was growing inside them.
Although I had planned to entrust these creations to the Dwarf and Elf blacksmiths, they decided to leave them to me, giving me the task of finding them a worthy home where they could continue to symbolise the happy era of understanding between these two races.
The collection will be released on Wednesday 15 November 2023 at 8.30pm.
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