Celebrimbor: 30-Day Character Study by cloudyhymns

Day 25: An Atlas of Everyday Life

A map of Ost-in-Edhil's primary tower.

Well, if you looked at Day 18, you're probably aware that art and I do NOT mix. So I'll be doing a written sketch of a map instead.

Hold onto the observatory walls; do not let go. The telescopes are above the sky-light, tucked against the dome of the roof during the day. There are palantíri, of course, but why use seeing stones when lenses do the trick? Leave your hand against the wall and step down the stairs--the spiral staircase is rimmed in glass to block smoke and allow the light. Come into the living quarters, built around the stairs and stretching into archives, and trace over the red woods with which Celebrimbor has built his own furniture. Redwood and walnut and cherry and mahogany, similar in nature but disparate in color from the future furnishings of Imladris. None survive the flames, save for in the memories of the Gwaith and Elrond--there are far more pressing things to save.

The hearth is well-used, and the brazier lit all winter. Celebrimbor keeps a kettle; it is enameled, herb-green, but all his teaware is mismatched pieces, so it stands on its own. His cabinet of tea leaves tucks in against the wall beside the hearth, where it stays toasty and dry even during the flooding months. The logs on the fire are beech, as beech trees are prevalent and native across Eregion. Careful not to trip as you cross towards the library and archives--he leaves his boots on the landing, ever dusted in soot, and wears a different set of not-quite-slippers in his living quarters.

The table, however, was recovered from the flames. Whether it is the original table later used by the Council of Elrond or the inspiration for the Council's replica is not easy to distinguish, although there have always been theories. The stools that accompany it stack into a tower of their own to save space; funny, isn't it, how Celebrimbor refused to move after being instated as the ruler of Eregion? His existing home suits him just fine, even if it can be a bit cramped when entertaining.

(Careful not to stub your toe on the tomes scattered on the floor--he's been meaning to clean those up, he really has, but he hosted a dinner party last rest day, and there's simply not been enough thought in the day....)

Continue straight and you'll reach one of the cathedral-style windows. In front of the bed, of course, because every Fëanorian has been Like That, and Celebrimbor is no exception. The stained glass is on the outer layer of glass, however, and can be pulled back in the warmer summer months. Birds like to perch on the balcony; Celebrimbor keeps suet and sugar-water at the ready, and takes records in tiny hand of the different species that visit throughout the year. It is the perfect way to spend the second rest day, he has found, since he keeps his records and a fountain-pen close enough that he does not even have to leave the bed to start making field notes.

The bed itself is walnut and constructed without metal joinery, not unlike a puzzle box. It was the first, and is the last time, he directly used his shipwrighting knowledge since he left Celeborn's side.

The rest of the living quarters stretch into his personal workbench and archives. The workbench is stocked with his personal essentials; Celebrimbor's primary forge is not far, so many of his materials for the day-to-day live there permanently. His living quarters workbench is far more eclectic--set for small-scale jewelry rather than weaponry. His latest project, decorative porcelain corsets, wait beside his brushes for their gilding. It is a "cheat," perhaps, compared to the fire-gilding he does with the Gwaiths' workshops down below, but is far more suited to the confined spaces where Celebrimbor lives.

[The workshops themselves begin a level below, and connect to the staircase with wrought iron doors. Perhaps they would not hold in case of fire, even if Celebrimbor had time to shut them, but the initial concept is there, and will be fine-tuned by many Elven-smiths in the years to come.]

At the off-side of the workbench begin the bookshelves. They stretch about the perimeter of the tower, carved painstakingly to fit precisely to the curved walls, and help keep the quarters warm when the external stone is cold. Celebrimbor sorts his records by author or scribe, followed by chronology, so as long as he remembers the first few pieces of the creator's name, he can find what he seeks. (Most of the time. Some of his visitors are sloppy when they replace scrolls or books on the shelves, and Celebrimbor always forces himself to be kind, it is not their archive, they do not have to put as much time and thought into it as he must. If he didn't know Annatar's penchant for orderliness, Celebrimbor would say he disorganizes the writings on purpose, but if there is one point they always stand united on, it is in their contest against entropy.)

Tucked in amongst the many volumes and blank blueprint papers and ink bottles is a day bed. It folds out from the wall, an early prototype of Celebrimbor's wood-joined bed, and is likewise only a portion of the size, but there is nothing that feels better on one's aching back and blurry eyes than being able to fall where stands--or, er, sits? It is plenty warm and home to thick furs and pillows, including one meant for the lap with a book-shaped cutout for ease of reading.

Spiral back in and find the stairs leading down; below is the entrance to the workshops, then another level down to the street. The isolation suits Celebrimbor just right--he is close enough to the action of Ost-in-Edhil, but raised up enough that he can enjoy his peaceful and quiet mornings.

Until he decides he wishes to play his instrument, of course. The pipes for the organ rise in the secondary tower at the side of Celebrimbor's, and her water-pouches are tucked into the side room of the ground floor. She is not quite as tall as the observatory, so that her pipes do not get in the way of viewings, but she is plenty powerful to shake the buildings of Ost-in-Edhil.

Not a fan? There's a market down the street on the off-days of the Gwaith, and a public bath-house towards the market square. Go ahead and take your pick, and don't worry about the lead pipes--those are all underground.

Chapter End Notes

Hopefully there isn't too much repetition