Dwarves were chthonic creatures associated with the mysteries of the blacksmith’s forge
Apart from the gods, the Anglo-Saxons believed in many other classes of supernatural beings, including elves and dwarves. These beings were regarded with wary respect; they could occasionally be helpful to people, but they were more likely to do them harm. This was something particularly associated with elves (‘ælf’ in Old English). There were charms against ‘elf shot’, the invisible darts the elves could shoot into people that caused sudden illnesses, and propitiatory rituals that were practised near sites associated with elves.