Chronicled in Celondim in Ered Luin of Eriador,
On this the 40th day of Rhîw in the Year 3018 of the Third Age.*
And so it is nigh three enquier since my return to Falathlorn, and it came to pass that I met with Master Curubrannon in Celondim, and the tales of Gróin the Hadhod were proven true. For Curubrannon was indeed among the Gwaith-i-Mírdain during that time when Sauron in his malice descended upon Eregion and laid waste to that Elven realm.
Now the Gwaith-i-Mírdain was a brotherhood of Elven master craftsmen of the Second Age, founded by Celebrimbor son of Curufin son of Fëanor together with those Noldor of Lindon who removed to Eregion nigh the West Gate of the mines of Durin's Folk at Khazad-dûm; this they did because they learned that mithril had been discovered in Hadhodrond, for the Noldor were great craftsmen and thus had much love for the making of arms and jewels, and were less unfriendly to the Dwarves than the Sindar; and the friendship that grew up between the people of Durin and the Elven-smiths of Eregion was the closest that there has ever been between the two kindreds. For it was in Moria (as it was named by the Gwaith-i-Mírdain) that the Nogothrim, delved deep into the earth for mithril, that most precious of metals, which when forged was light and yet harder than tempered steel, and the polished beauty of which did not tarnish or grow dim with age. And the Golodhrim of Eregion learned to craft an alloy thereof that they named ithildin, which is visible only by starlight or moonlight and oft adorned hidden gateways and portals; and thus the followers of Celebrimbor became famous for their works of art and craft.
And Curubrannon was there when the fell host of Sauron descended upon Ost-in-Edhil, chief city of Eregion, during the War of Sauron and the Elves. It was there that the House of the Mírdain stood for nigh a thousand years and during the strife that city was utterly destroyed by Sauron's dark forces, but its ruins yet survive into the present Age. Those few who survived found refuge in either Lindon or Lothlórien, while others led by Elrond Peredhel founded Imladris nigh the Ford of Bruinen, but well hidden in the moorlands and foothills of the Hithaeglir.
This bitter history Master Curubrannon told to me while I toiled in the red heat of the forge of Celondim, as I learned from him the ancient mystery of his art. But the lore of edhel weaponcraft is yet held secret by its masters, and so I shall commit naught of his teachings in ink upon these pages.
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* ((By pure coincidence, according to the Encyclopedia of Arda Interactive Calendar, this is also the date that the Company of the Ring entered the land of Hollin in T.A. 3019 -- call it serendipity, if you will, but sometimes Eru blows my mind!))
