AN: I'm really happy with the pace of this story, so far, how about you all? I mean, we all know what's going to happen, because of course I mentioned it in this story's description, but I hope you're all interested in how it happens, too. I honestly think dwarves would be really slow about this sort of thing. Especially Gimli, since he's so gruff! :)

For the next few days, Gimli couldn't seem to get Finna's words out of his head. It was not for lack of trying; he desperately wanted to dismiss her accusations as folly and maintain that he was doing the right thing. But the more he thought on it, the more he wondered if he really would be using Renna's hand in marriage as a means to an end. And if so, would he be in the wrong?

The next letter he received from Legolas brought Finna's words to mind once again. He felt that his friend could use a forceful advocate like Finna when dealing with his traditional father. Legolas' situation was getting so drastic that Gimli wrote back asking if his presence in Mirkwood had any potential to help matters. Seeing as he was a dwarf, probably not, but it was at least worth a try. Apparently, Niniel and her lover had been found, captured, and were being held in Mirkwood's dungeons (an unpleasant place, Gloin had told him). Elen had been forced to flee in case Thranduil fancied capturing her as well.

Finna could sing the praises of true love as loudly as she liked, but Gimli couldn't help thinking that being thrown into a dungeon was a heavy price to pay for forsaking one's duty and following the yearnings of the heart. He, certainly, as Lord of the Glittering Caves, would never give in to such foolish desires.

He rolled up the letter and handed it to Faerdhinen. It seemed the boy never tired of riding back and forth between Helm's Deep and Mirkwood. "Make sure he's well, all right, laddie?"

Faerdhinen shook his head. "He's not," he said sadly. "I don't know how to make it better for him, Lord Gimli. I just think everyone should be able to marry for love."

Gimli stopped short. Therein lay the answer to his dilemma. This young elf-child had just revealed to him his own hypocrisy. Faerdhinen looked strangely at him before packing up the letter and riding off on his horse. Gimli just stood there and felt his mind implode with the new truth that had filled it.

Poor Legolas, he thought, is far away in Mirkwood with a girl he loves and yet he is forbidden from marrying her. Yet here I am with a choice and I am about to choose to marry out of duty. And for the first time he realized that he did have a choice. All along it was Legolas who was not in control of his own destiny. How horrible it would be, then, for him to see his friend willingly walk into the same trap that he was already hopelessly ensnared in!

He knew then what he had to do; no, what he chose to do. He would tell Eomer that he could not marry Renna, nor any other Rohirric woman, nor anyone whom he did not love.

Decision made, he found his way through the winding cave passage to the weaving hall. It was the only place where he thought he might find her. Sure enough, she was there with the other weavers, hard at work on her favourite loom in the corner. Bits of coloured thread lay strewn about her: on the floor, on the bench, and even in her hair and beard. But her unfinished project was beautiful. Near the very top, it was a deep blue-black dotted with silver stars, but as it went down it faded into a lovely fiery sunset colour. Finna was currently weaving the sun.

"Looking good," said Gimli, coming up behind her.

She was startled; and dropped the shuttle with a clatter as she whirled around. "Oh!" she cried. "Thank you, Gimli! What are you doing here?"

He stroked his beard nervously. "Well," he began. "You said there were other options… I mean, er, other than marriage… for an alliance?"

She raised an eyebrow curiously. "Yes?"

"Well… do you have any suggestions?"

She stood up, a big grin on her face. "Do I ever!"

Before long, they were in Gimli's private chambers, sitting at his great table of oak. Finna had the hefty book of ledgers and Gimli was making notes on a scroll. "So far, we've managed to extract about 38 pounds of mithril, 26 pounds of rubies, 18 of jasper, and 2 of diamond..." she murmured, trailing off as she did calculations in her head. "I can't really estimate how much more we'll find, but we could probably set up a trade partnership in which we agree to pay for staple crops with precious metals and gems."

Gimli scribbled that on his scroll. "Aye, that's a good idea, but we have to make sure we won't run out of ore. What about carpentry? We have some skilled woodworkers here and we could trade our goods to the men of Rohan."

"A fine idea!" Finna exclaimed. "And what about military aid? What are your policies on that?"

"We are to stand and fight at Helm's Deep if under attack," he replied. "What if we were to also use our crafting skills as part of an alliance? We could forge weapons and armour!"

"And anything else that needs to be made of metal," Finna nodded excitedly. "Now you're finally thinking about this the right way!"

For the next hour, they drew up separate documents outlining a trade agreement and a military alliance.

"Do you really think Eomer will accept this?" he asked nervously.

Finna thought for a moment. "He seems reasonable. I see no reason why one form of an alliance would be better than the other. A marriage alliance is really just a piece of paper that allows you to exchange a woman for peace, and a trade alliance is really just a piece of paper that allows you to exchange goods for peace. So I think he might be surprised at first, but he'll warm up to it."

Gimli looked skeptical.

"Don't worry!" she said, laughing. "It'll be fine!"