How does a female blacksmith manage to pick up a heavy sword
Apart from the fact that in no way would they have a female blacksmith in this period of time, how on Earth would she be able to pick up those heavy swords.
The swords they used in those days would be held by huge muscle bound warriors, and even they had to use two hands to hold these heavy weapons.
The blacksmith in the story has no muscles at all. She wouldn't be able to pick up a sword let alone work with it.
However I would believe it if Brigitte Nielsen played the part. Now she has the muscles to do blacksmithing.
I think the actress should be replaced by someone huge and muscle bound, and then the part would be believable.