All the Mithril in the World

Legolas and Gimli have an argument. Pre-Helm's Deep.

Disclaimer: I own my fingers.

"Ah, 'tis the dwarf!" Legolas mocked as Gimli entered, sporting chain mail that was slightly too long. "And what a ball gown he is wearing!"

"Damn elf," Gimli grumbled, trailing the chain mail over to Aragorn. "I hate them, curse their immortal…" He said something faintly insulting in dwarvish.

Legolas shrugged it off. "I can't be bothered to argue with children."

"I can't be bothered to argue with elves, deceptive, slimy little rats they are. Their palaces are too cold and their food unpalatable."

This was too much of an insult for Legolas to bear and Aragorn automatically tensed back.

"Dwarves were never meant to exist in the first place. If Iluvatar had not been so lenient you would have been flung to your deaths, and I would have been spared this dwarf's arrogant comments. Elves are the First-born, you… are just a spin off."

"AH!" Gimli reveled in Legolas' anger. "You can't take your insults, can you, Master Elf? Ha! You and your kindred offer the dwarves much merriment, especially the Mirkwood elves, who have no decency."

Legolas seemed to ignore this, "I have never noticed any dwarf-women when I have been around Dale."

Gimli flushed with anger. "There are dwarf-women."

"Maybe there aren't. Maybe the Lady Eowyn was misinformed."

"Are you calling me a liar, elf?" Gimli launched himself at Legolas, but the mail shirt made him trip headlong. "Augh!"

Aragorn started to laugh.

"Materialistic dwarf!" Legolas commented. "You have never looked upon the stars and been glad for their beauty! All you see is mithril – I expect your idea of happiness is owning all the mithril in the world."

Gimli looked up and went very quiet. "No. All the mithril in the world would not give me life and I value that above… a thousand words with mithril for the taking. I value love. I value things that you cannot dream about, Legolas. But, am I any more materialistic than you? I admire gold, you trees, and the stars. They are Arda's gift to us."

Legolas was very quiet. "I have misjudged you, Gimli," he said quietly. "I'm sorry."
"It's nothing," Gimli said kindly. "Now, let us go to battle! My axe yearns to stick in an Orc's neck!"

And together, they went out to certain death.

-End-