The Barrows of Arnor

When the world was young many deeds were done.

But the tale of the silmarrilion, can be matched by none.

The Lord Fëanor did craft his mighty work,

Filled with pride and arrogance, and so would share it not

so this great creation did do much hurt.

The fabled jewels were stolen, and then were lost.

Then the tools of there making were stolen to,

Where they were hidden?

Only the chosen knew.

The mountain would find them and bring them over the sea,

And Valinor would once again, bathe in the light of the ancient tree.

In the years that passed since the wars of the ring, peace settled on the world evil had been vanquished and the time men had finally come. King elessar's kingdom grew in splendor and its subjects were proud and its cities grand and filled with happiness. Middle earth was reunited in peace and although evil creatures still stalked the lands, the people were safer than ever before in the history of middle earth. Although there was much to be happy and grateful for the sorrow at elessars and the death of his wife arwen the people looked to his son Eldarion to lead them into the new prosperous age of men.

As the years went on it seemed to many that the light of the world seemed to dimish as more and more elves left middle earth never to return. With Elessar dead the only remaining members of the fellowship left were nimble elf Legolas and the hearty dwarf Gimli. The two became knights of the kingdom of gondor and Arnor and pledged themselves to serving this new kingdom in honor of king Elessar.

Several years passed and Gimli could tell that Legolas would be leaving middle earth soon his people were all but gone and whenever he though of this he winced at the pain in his heart. The thought of being alone unsettled him and so he took out his anger upon his enemies.

"Come Legolas" shouted Gimli "For a long legged elf, you move slower than an Ent".

Legolas gave a smile at his grumpy companion and continued to glide gently through the forest, easily managing to stay along side his short legged companion. Legolas however was becoming more anxious and as they continued through the dense Forrest a sudden urge to question the dwarf came to Legolas.

"Gimli you asked me to come here my friend, and here I am. We are looking for orcs once again, though we've had no signs for many a day"

Gimli stopped mid step and turned towards his friend and bellowed, "Bah my axe can feel them." He replied in a determined tone, "and by the stones on the ground and the stone I'm made of, there's orcs here alright" at that the dwarf gave a huge sniff into the air, and let cry, "bah ya can smell the buggers from minas tirith, and in this fragrant little Forrest of yours, what nose couldn't." and the dwarf continued his march,

"Though the birds and water say both say neigh as well, master dwarf?"

"Birds are to far high to tell, and the water moves to swift. It carries there filthy stench far down" the dwarf replied with a grunt.

"Give this needless chase up my friend." Legolas then turned to the sky and looked at the crimson son which was setting swiftly. He let out a soft sigh and continued.

"You've earned the rest Gimli, let us make camp and recover your strength. Or is there more to this than it seems my friend?"

"Rest? a dwarf rest ? HA." Gimli spat, and he frowned and with all the modesty of a dwarf he boasted. "I could go on for a score of miles still, and carry more burden than your horse could. Come here and bend down so my voice does not have to carry far. I DON'T NEED REST!" and at this announcement Legolas was taken back suddenly wondering where his friends anger had come from. His fair eyes began searching the dwarf looking through him like glass, and perceived his heart. When he had looked he knew no anger towards his companion.

"After 3 moons and a score of miles why do we continue Master dwarf. I bid us to stay when we arrived from our journey from the shores of the anduin. Though I followed you out of friendship, I did not follow out of wisdom."

"Now see hear Elf. The orcs that fled from the battle of pelannor fled north and weren't seen again, where do you suppose they went?"

"They did flee north, but my people in Mirkwood felled the survivors"

"Your people's arrows are true and sharp good friend, but there sight is not so in the boughs of this Forrest. Even Eldarion's dúnedain cannot scout the Forrest well enough to ensure its safe."

"Then why have we had no sign for weeks?" Legolas exclaimed. "And why Gimli are we almost at the western edge of the Forrest? With not even a deer to stain my arrows. I know you my friend, what is it you are truly seeking? You're restless. I see it day by day, growing and hacking away at the tree of your soul." Legolas turned to Gimli and at the sight of those perceptive elven eyes that beheld everything as it was, Gimli could not lie.

"Your elven eyes see much my friend, I long to see the lady Galadriel again, though I shall never again behold her. What cruel powers that be make a dwarf long for the beauty of an elf, never a lad I was to turn away a bearded lass."

"Her beauty brings awe even among my people, but surely you cannot long for her as much as this, it would bring madness to even a wizard to dwindle on that which is beyond you now."

"I have seen many things young elf, none can rival her beauty. No thrill of battle, neither joy of smithing. Even smell of meat cannot lift my spirits anymore. My eyes have seen paradise and want none else."

"So this is why you seek battle? To lose yourself among it and to forget your desires but for a moment?"

"Aye. When I hew my enemies down, it strikes down my desires as well. What shall I do Legolas? I only desire to see her beauty, to craft many things that might adorn her to enhance here beauty even more. I want all of her people to see her in here splendor and witness the works of the dwarves."

"No dwarf has ever come to Valinor and few men have ever seen here shores. Those that have did so through great deeds and few could rival the trials of the mighty dwarf Gimli. My heart longs for the sea as well, I want to dwell on the shores of the undying lands to be with my people and I would bid you to join me, were it not for the futileness of it."

"Now that's an idea travel west with you, HA! The land of the blessed would sink with the weight of a dwarf. If I knew I could see the lady one more time id do anything to go there then. Woe to me that I should be denied to dwell in the sight of her beauty. Is there anyway Legolas, through speech or deed that I'd be able to get the lords graces to pass over the sea?"

Gimli's face filled with remote hope. He seemed to be searching for the drink that would quench the thirst of his soul, and so Legolas filled with duty, sat down on a nearby stump in deep thought thinking of anything that might be able to help them. He began to think of everything his father told him, his mind filled with legends stories and myths of tales from long ago. He searched the forests of his mind until he came upon the tree he sought.

"The great elf Fëanor was the mightiest crafter of all and created many things that rivaled the rings of power. In betrayal by ancient evil his work was lost and the tools and knowledge that wrought them were taken. Few knew of where the tools were hidden but my farther entrusted me with the knowledge and it is said that the mountain will forge them anew. If we could recover them the lords of the west would surely grant us permission to come and bring them back."

"By Durins beard lad, I think that's it !" The little dwarf let out a great laugh of joy and clicked his fingers. "Well get those little elven hammers of there's, but where are they?"

"In the barrow downs of Arnor." The elf said without pause and at this the blood drained from Gimli's face, though he tried his best to hide it.

"After the trials of the paths of the dead, ghosts scare me not. Lets us be off this night my friend, Adventure awaits us lets not keep it waiting."