Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or any of the Lord of the Ring's characters.

Chapter 4

(Gimli POV)

Whatever could possibly be taking Aragon so long!

Darn that blasted elf for bring us into this ghastly situation in the first place! Everywhere that I turn I see elves, elves, and then even more elves!

I am trapped here with only a terrifying, horrendous, dreadful meeting with King Thranduil of Mirkwood to look forward to, this being the very same man to imprison my father so many years ago.

Oh the stories I have heard of the atrocious acts committed here in Mirkwood by there horrid king as told by the other imprisoned dwarfs who by their account, barely escaped with their lives.

Now truthfully I never really believed these tales to be completely true but I also never wished to be at risk for finding out for myself!

Curse that pointy eared princeling for making me become friends with him!

No good ever comes from being friends with an elf as my father would tell me, but did I listen no, and now here I am facing the consequences for my actions.

A gentle but persistent pull on my armor snapped me out of my anxious thoughts. Looking down I saw it to be the young hobbit Pippen.

"Master Gimli, I was wondering sir, why have you and Strider been so worried? Every since we have neared this realm you both have seemed terrified! I mean I really do not see a given reason, this place is beautiful and everyone seems quite nice, besides this is our friends Legolas's home! Yet you look as though you are about to faint and you are wearing a hole in the magnificent rug beneath us from all of your pacing back and forth".

Aye this hobbit is too curious and observant for his own good, though truthfully I am very impressed that he had managed to stay quiet for so long! I do not believe it to be in Pippen's nature to hold back any questions or comments that come to his mind.

"My friend, do not let the beauty of this place sooth you into a sense of calm and safety, for looks can be very deceiving, especially where the elves are concerned".

"Funny for I was under the impression that it is the dwarves who are known for trickery and deceit".

Turning around slowly I was met with the face of one of the elves who I believe to be called Beleguron.

You have got to be kidding me. How is it that every single time I seem to say something against these accursed elves in there realm they seem to be there to hear it and ready with a quick witty response.

First in the halls of Rivendell by the Lord Elrond's pesky twin sons then in the woods of Lorien with that snotty caption and now here!

It would seem that this happens in every elven realm that I travel to. Man I really just have got to stop doing that all together!

Problem solved!

Before I could even think of an appropriate comeback to knock this elf down a few pegs the golden doors before us swung open. Out sauntered Ariern, and I was doused with a new kind of fear.

"Gimli, the king will see you now" Oh how I wanted to just wipe the smirk right off that elf's fair face, but I was sadly given no such opportunity.

Walking through those doors I felt as though I was walking once more through the Black Gates of Mordor. Really this is ridicules a dwarf, a one of the great and the proud, trembling in fear at the prospect of meeting an elf! Oh the shame….

I shuddered involuntarily as the large doors sealed shut trapping me to my fate inside.

It was dark inside, that is what first drew my attention. The curtains were drawn and no outside light flittered through. In other words no one from the outside could see in.

As my eyes adjusted to the darkness within the room my ears picked up on certain sound I knew all too well.

The sound of one sharpening a sword.

It took all of my self-control not to bolt out of there like a prisoner escaping from Mordor, but I refused to give this elf the satisfaction. So with great trepidation I ventured further in to the chamber.

"Well, well, well, whatever do we have here? A dwarf so far from home in an elven stronghold none the less. Even better a son of Gloin, oh how I remember him and his little party".

I nearly passed out from shock as the fair voice resounded around the open room but I could not for the life of me pinpoint where it was coming from.

Traveling farther into the room I was vaguely able to make out the distinct shape of an arm chair seated at the far end of the hall.

"A dwarf, gallivanting around with my son, corrupting his mind, whatever shall I do"?

"Please my lord, my king, I mean no harm, Legolas, he, we, I mean, well, you see". How shameful, a member of the greatest race, a proud dwarf, reduced to a stuttering, groveling fool before the very king who had my father and kind imprisoned in his vile dungeons.

I took an unconscious step back as the chair swung around and I was met with the face of none other than King Thranduil himself. I could feel all color fade rapidly from my face as I saw just what he was holding in his fine hands.

A sword, a very large sward I might add, one that would be just right for punishing a poor helpless dwarf as myself.

"Why is it that all seem to be reduced to stuttering, wordless fools before me I must ask. First the twins, then Estel and now you, my, my I must have a greater effect on you all then I realized"!

"No matter know down to business. I must inquire what hidden motive a dwarf such as yourself has to go to all the trouble of tricking an elf into believing you're a friend. Money, revenge, tell me master dwarf what is it".

How dare this elf speak to me in such a manner! If anything Legolas is at fault for our unlikely friendship! Really, it is not my problem that the elf is so darn likeable. Gathering back my courage I faced the king voice full of indignation.

"EXCUSE ME. HOW DARE YOU SUGGEST THAT I WOULD DO SUCH A THING! THERE IS NOTHING IN ALL MIDDLE EARTH THAT I WOULD WANT SO BAD AS TO SUBJECT MYSELF TO THE FATE OF BEING IN THE PRESENCE OF AN ELF! A MIRKWOOD ELF AT THAT! IF I HAD HAD IT MY WAY LEGOLAS WOULD HAVE NEVER EVEN BEEN ON THE QUEST TO BEGIN WITH! REALLY I AM NOT TO BLAME THAT, THAT ELF IS SO EASILY LIKEABLE! IF ANYTHING THAT IS YOUR PROBLEM, YOU SHOULD HAVE RAISED A LESS KIND ACCEPTING ELFLING"!

Taking a much needed breath I realized just who I was yelling at and just what he was holding.

"I am sorry, my lord I meant no disrespect, really, umm, yes it is all my fault, I uh".

Holding up his hand I stopped my poor attempt to fix my words at once. "Peace master Gimli", with some relief I saw that a smile flitted across his features, though really that could mean so many bad things for me.

"I see that you speak the truth. To true is it that my dear elfling does seem to befriend all in sight. I swear he could make an orc his friend if he truly was insane enough to do so. Even the trees bend at his will". "And I suppose that you were the first and only being to attempt to persuade dear Legolas away from that fools journey for which I am oh so grateful. Besides just seeing how you tremble before me it is no wonder that you were unable to stop him, so I guess that I cannot really hold that against you either. It is not your fault you are so weak willed".

Oh how I wished to show him just how weak willed I was, give me my ax, and said elf would not be quite so cocky!

"I reckon that I am a bit overprotective of Legolas".

"A bit"? I scoffed

Blatantly ignoring my little comment he continued on, "He always has been a troublemaker, as an elfling I swear it was his ambition to scare me to an early grave. Being captured by orcs, spider, bandits, all in a days work for Legolas".

Gosh and my father thought that I was bad.

"My son is my life; he is what I live for. Valar only help me if something was to happen to him. You must understand Gimli; I would do anything to protect my elfling, anything".

"Aye and me to sire; that elf has by some incredible feat won me over. I would do all in my power to keep him from harm".

"You may leave, return to your friends, do enjoy your time in Mirkwood I think that you will find that elves can be rather gracious hosts"!

Nearly tripping over my over feet in my hast to escape this grim room I was brought to a halt mere feet from the door of my salvation.

"Oh and Gimli keep in mind that if you ever do anything to hurt my son I am coming after you personally and I will not stop not once until I have found you and punished you to the appropriate measures. Have a good day".

A shudder ran down my spine and this point I gave not care for my dignity and bolted out of there as fast as dwarvenly possible.

One thing is for sure I was NEVER facing that Father's Wrath ever again!

A/N: And there you have it Chapter 4! I am sorry that it took so long! I was really struggling with writing Gimli's POV. I hope that you all enjoyed! Thank you so much to everybody who have either followed, favorited, or reviewed this story! I cannot tell you how much that means to me. Please I am having some trouble thinking of what I want to write for the next chapter. Any ideas would be very much appreciated! Thank-you!