** Disclaimer: Jellogirl323 does not own LOTR and apologizes if the characters are out of character**

Gimli woke up feeling refreshed and happy. He walked through the halls of the citadel in Rohan whistling a dwarfish tune. He nodded to people as he walked by and was confused when they gave him funny looks. Some of them were even laughing at him openly. Wondering faintly what they were laughing at he walked into the main hall and over to where Aragorn and Legolas were talking.

Aragorn waved at him but then did a double take and was very clearly trying not to smile. "Gimli," he said by way of greeting.

"Aragorn," Gimli nodded then frowned at his friend's prolonged smiling and quiet chuckles. "What is the matter with you two?"

Deep laughter burst from Aragorn, his dark eyes twinkling with mirth."Gimli, you just look er...nice today."
He said with a mysterious smirk. Legolas was trying to hide his chuckles at this.

"Well, I do try to look good each day," Gimli said glancing to and from the ranger and elf suspiciously. "Why? Is there something in my beard?"

Legolas and Aragorn both started to laugh again. "Well, you could say that..." Legolas said chuckling.

Frowning, Gimli reached up to find what it was that was causing them to laugh and was shocked and horrified to find that his beard had been shaved.
His chin was bare and smooth as a baby's bottom. Now that he was aware of the loss of hair he felt quite naked without it.

"No! Not my beard!" he cried in dismay. "I just don't understand...how could this have happened?" He asked rubbing his hands across his face as if it would magically grow back.

Just as Aragorn was about to suggest something, Merry and Pippin came walking in the hall. Once they saw the beardless dwarf they burst into laughter.

"Gimli! How's the new hair cut treating you?" Pippin called across the hall.

Gimli looked at them in shock. "You did this?"

"I told you not to cross him." Merry said with a slight chuckle. "I warned you that there were consequences didn't I?"

"What's this about?" Aragorn asked looking at Gimli curiously "What are they talking about?"

"It seems," Legolas cut in with laughter in his voice. "That our dwarf friend here has managed to upset the hobbit. And has brought some unforeseen consequences upon himself."

"Well," Aragorn said smiling at Gimli as the dwarf glared at the half-lings. "It seems that you have learned a very good lesson today Gimli."

"Oh?" Gimli asked grimly.

"Never upset a hobbit."