This is the first of a series of one-shots. It follows a young Gimli on his mother's birthday. Gimli being one of my favourite characters was, for me, an obvious choice to start with.

The rest will be looking at as many of the other characters as possible. I will be putting them in a range of funny, sad, possibly slightly cheesy and maybe even scary situations.

But without further ado...

"If you just hold that there… No. Left a little. You don't want to catch you're fingers…"

Gimli was working with his father in the workshop nearby the Blue Mountain's newest chamber. He was working on a piece of stone work.

But this wasn't any old stone work, oh no. This was the first piece he had ever done!

For years he had begged Glóin to let him start the craft dwarves were so well known for, and finally, he gave in.

But even for his first time it would be no ordinary life of art. It was a birthday gift for his mother, and that ment it would be perfect.

Owing to the fact that this was an entirely new experience, Gimli wasn't surprised when his father told him that they, sorry, he would be making a simple engraving in a stone tablet. It was square, approximately 10 cm in length, and thus far had his mother's initial in the centre and the starts of an easy to do design around the edges.

His father had helped him through most of it and was currently teaching him how to finish the edges off smoothly.

"There, now if you keep going like that… Perfect!"

They had been working all day and Glóin was very proud of how his son was doing.

Feeling certain that he was doing well, he just about felt confident enough to leave Gimli on his own whilst he was called out to help with the new cavern.

Pleased that he was trusted enough to work without supervision, Gimli worked on.

Working hard through the remainders of the day, it got late before he was called back home.

Gimli, being nearly finished and determined to complete the tablet before the rising of the new day, and his mother's birthday, he had to be practically dragged away. Before leaving though, he managed to extract the promise from his father that allowed him to return after they had eaten.

All throughout the meal Gimli was occupied: for the edges he would use the method Glóin taught him to make the edges curved and rounded, after that all he would have to do was make the stone smooth and wrap it up for the morning.

It would be perfect.

After being excused from the table he rushed back to his masterpiece.

Upon seeing it he dropped to his knees, nearly breaking down and weeping.

Marring the surface of the tablet was a deep crack. It was strewn on the floor and someone had evidently thrown their tools down carelessly, causing the laceration.

After watching the young dwarf for a while Hirén, the owner of the workshop and longtime friend to Glóin's family, walked over to him.

"What's wrong. Why are you here so late."

Without making a sound he picked up the tablet to show Hirén.

The pain he felt was reflected in the elder dwarf's eyes as understanding dawned on him.

"It's for your O'mid isn't it." (Mother)

Gimli nodded numbly in response, feeling a single tear run down his cheek.

Feeling an arm guiding him to his feet he looked up.

"Well in that case we must fix it hadn't we."

Eyes wide in surprise, he allowed himself to be pulled over to the worktop.

There he watched in amazement as the other dwarf assembled various items from around the room. Once that was done Hirén turned to him.

"I'm going to need your help."

TALES OF HOME

Over the next few hours Gimli helped with melting iron, casting it, setting it, making sure it did what was desired.

Water steamed, fire spluttered and Gimli was hot and exhausted.

By the time he got back home, parcel under his arm, Glóin was sitting on a chair waiting, long after his wife had went to bed.

Upon seeing the expression on his son's face he ushered him straight to bed.

Before leaving the room, Glóin went to remove the package. But it didn't take long for him to realise that it wouldn't be happening.

Gimli was not letting it out of his sight. He wouldn't allow it to go any further then beside his bed where he could make sure it remained safe.

As the sun rose so did Gimli. The smells of breakfast were already drifting from the kitchen. Sitting on his bed he weighed the parcel in one hand before switching to the other.

What if she didn't like it?

Did he really think that their patch up job would reduce the damage?

Even then did his work really merit the worth of a gift?

Overcome with nerves he stepped out and into the kitchen.

Both mother and father there waiting for him.

Going over to the latter he produced the package.

"Happy birthday O'mid." (Mother)

"Âkminrûk zu!" (Thank you)

As he handed it over and she unwrapped it Gimli's eyes never moved from their fixed position.

Upon opening his mother was silent.

"Sorry O'mid, it broke. I did what I could but-"

His words were cut off as she flight her arms around him.

The tablet, where before had the scar running through it, now had an iron river running through it, small streams then meant it had run into his previous engravings, making the patterns and the initial stand out in a cool silver.

Gimli was surprised to find tears falling down her face.

"I love it. It's the perfect gift."

Their embrace lasted several more minutes.

Even when their family relocated to the Lonely Mountains many years later it still remained it a location where everyone could see it. A position of pride and joy.

I hope that was satisfactory! Though admittedly, it was a bit shorter then I would've liked.

I hope the dwarvish was accurate as in all honesty I have no idea. I just searched various sites tilling found something suitable.

I hope this will be the first of many but there won't be a regular posting schedule. I will be posting whenever I have time or an idea. You could help with this by asking for things you may want to see. If could be anything from elves to the shire!

Don't be afraid to review and maybe give my story 'A Warm Welcome' a try.

Sorry this was so long and thank you for reading!