Chapter 17
Twelve days of hard travel later Gimli, son of Glön, exhausted in body and spirit stood at the break in forest gazed upon the first mountain of the Iron Hills. "Only another day," he said to himself trying to encourage himself on. He took a deep breath and jogged on. An hour later he found a suitable place to spend the evening. Making up a fire, eating some lembas, and lying out his bedroll. Only one thing left to do before sleep could claim him. Concentrating Gimli reached out towards his Tarin, no not his anymore. Trying to feel her again before she left. This had been his nightly ritual, before he could sleep he had to feel her presence and reassure himself that she hadn't left yet. Steadily however her presence had been moving further away and fading from his conscience. Tonight he reached out far, using all of his effort he reached out past the Misty Mountains . . . he couldn't feel her. He closed his eyes in concentration and with all of his dwindling strength reached out again. His eyes slowly opened, defeat was startlingly clear in his brown eyes. No, his eyes hardened, he would not accept defeat she is out there and he would confirm this fact tonight. He ate more lembas, closed his eyes and tried again.
That was how he was found two days later. Unable to sleep and unwilling to give up hope (how's that for dwarven stubbornness?) he had stayed there continually reaching out. It was his childhood friends Lóin, a cousin of Gimli with a fairly long face and light brown hair and beard, Dori, a dwarf highly renowned for both his fierce bravery and fiery red hair and beard, and Mundin, a dwarf skilled in healing with black, straight hair and beard, (most unusual for a dwarf) that had gone out together to search for a possible new mine in the first of the Iron Hills. They fortunately stumbled upon their friend at his campsite. Lóin saw him first and rushed to his friend's side calling out to Dori and Mundin. Dori came next and turned Gimli over, "Gimli! Gimli!" Dori shook his friend and began to panic at the lack of life in his unblinking eyes. Mundin sprinted across the meadow and fell to his knees beside Gimli. "He is not dead," Mundin pronounced, "But he is very weak, we must take him to Lord Glön immediately. While Mundin looked around for any possible reason as to his friend's illness Lóin and Dori quickly crafted a makeshift stretcher. They came back to the camp sight of Gimli to discover to their relief that Gimli was blinking now, at least that was a slight improvement. Mundin came over and met his comrades, "I think for the first time in a millennia we have the elves to thank for Gimli's being alive." He held up half eaten cakes of lembas, "it seems that this is all he had for food and if it weren't for their nourishment . . . " He didn't have to continue but his eyes darkened as he stated, "we will also need to determine if the cause of Gimli's state of health is also the fault of the elves." Lóin met Mundin's eyes, Mundin never trusted anybody but his own kind and so tended to blame the troubles of the world on other beings, especially the elves.
Mundin and Dori had been carrying Gimli for only 15 minutes when Gimli began to stir and wake up. Guffaws, grunts, and other charming noises alerted his friends to this fact. They set him down so Mundin could see if he could be of help. Gimli sat up, "What is going on????" He blinked a few times, "Mundin? Dori, and Lóin!" Lóin came to his cousin's side, "Gimli, we're going home, we found you and. . . Well you'll be fine now." Realization slammed into Gimli, he wasn't able to feel her, she was gone. He stared at the ground, as the realization became clear to him. He only stirred when he felt the stretcher lift again, "stop," he rumbled without taking his eyes from their spot on the ground. When the stretcher was put down again he slowly got to his feet, "I'll walk, I'm not injured." Dori and Lóin looked at each other, skepticism in their eyes but Mundin allowed it and he was the healer. Anyway Lóin thought to himself with a slight smile, try telling him to do anything.
The walk to the hall of Glön consisted of Mundin solemnly leading the way, and Dori along with Lóin marched behind Mundin speaking quietly in dwarvish having taken all of Gimli's gear and divided between them. Gimli trudged behind the three not looking at anything other than the ground in front of him. The evening star had risen by the time that Glön met the tired party at the doors to his hall. The three dwarves bowed to their lord, "Lord, we have found Gimli," Mundin slowly stated, at the sight of Glön's face breaking into a gruff smile he quickly continued, "he is very weak with some unknown ailment." Glön glanced back at his son who stood staring at his father, his expression was vacant. The noble dwarf moved toward his son and clasped his shoulder; "welcome home Gimli." Gimli nodded and moved into his home.
Later that night after a private dinner with his closest friends he sat at the fireside in his private rooms. Not only did Lóin, Dori, and Mundin join him but also Merin, his younger brother, just beginning to grow a full beard that was promising to match his brothers, and Nalin, his female cousin that always had her own opinions and had a wit that matched any other in the room. Gimli quietly drank his mulled wine when Merin broke the comfortable silence, "Gimli, what happened on that trip? I've never seen you so quiet." Gimli just shook his head. Mundin backed up Merin, "Gimli," he stated matter-of-factly, "What did that elf do to you?" He gripped his ever-present axe. "Nothing," Gimli snapped, "Legolas gave me a great present. It was my own weakness." Gimli stared into the fire. Nalin, by far the most observant moved to sit next to him quietly saying, "Gimli, you're in love." All of the dwarves stopped what they were doing and stared at Nalin and then at Gimli. Gimli didn't react in the slightest; he stared at the fire. Nalin tried again, "what was her name?" "Tarin." Now everyone was staring intently at Gimli, Dori rubbed his ears to make sure he heard correctly. Nalin sat next to him and Dori moved to his other side as Gimli felt compelled to continue and tell his closest friends all about the human-dwarf girl that captured his heart.
The night was almost over by the time Gimli finished, he left out no detail for here among his family he could conceal nothing nor would he ever wish to try. Nalin, Dori, and Lóin were sympathetic, Merin was very confused, but Mundin was seething. "A HUMAN??? She was a human??? I knew that a dwarf would never do such a heartless act, now I understand. The races of men were always deceitful and now one of them has found a way to take on dwarven form and penetrate the heart of our fiercest warrior! Well if she were still here I would make her pay for this injury!" Gimli looked up, his eyes for the first time his eyes reveled his true warrior nature, "Do not speak of things you know nothing of Mundin." He stood up, all traces of former weariness gone in the silent, seething wrath that enveloped him now, "if ever I hear you slander Tarin again you shall answer to me." Without waiting for a response he quit the room and tried to sleep. While sleep refused to come to him that night his body, desperate for rest, left him in a trance-like state in which Tarin's face floated before his face throughout the night.
The following days consisted of Glön convincing his son to regain the nourishment he lost. His friends were the most helpful, although he did not know it. It was on his fifth day of recovery while he was sitting at breakfast Nalin sat opposite him. "Gimli we need to talk," Gimli grunted, secretly glad for her company; Nalin never was one for concealing her thoughts, "yes Nalin?" Nalin took a mouthful of mead before she spoke again, "you aren't getting much better here so you need to go where you can heal." Gimli's interest was perked now as he turned fully towards his cousin, "and where would that be?" Nalin shrugged as she ate some meat, "Helm's Deep, where else?" Gimli stared at her, a journey all the way to Rohan wasn't a thing to do on a whim, and it took at least a week of planning and provisions and. . Then he looked at his cousin who was staring at him with a shrewd eye, he then realized she and his friends had already made the plans for him. One of the few times in his life, he was truly touched at his dear friends, "thank you," he simply said. Nalin didn't say anything; she didn't need to.
Twelve days of hard travel later Gimli, son of Glön, exhausted in body and spirit stood at the break in forest gazed upon the first mountain of the Iron Hills. "Only another day," he said to himself trying to encourage himself on. He took a deep breath and jogged on. An hour later he found a suitable place to spend the evening. Making up a fire, eating some lembas, and lying out his bedroll. Only one thing left to do before sleep could claim him. Concentrating Gimli reached out towards his Tarin, no not his anymore. Trying to feel her again before she left. This had been his nightly ritual, before he could sleep he had to feel her presence and reassure himself that she hadn't left yet. Steadily however her presence had been moving further away and fading from his conscience. Tonight he reached out far, using all of his effort he reached out past the Misty Mountains . . . he couldn't feel her. He closed his eyes in concentration and with all of his dwindling strength reached out again. His eyes slowly opened, defeat was startlingly clear in his brown eyes. No, his eyes hardened, he would not accept defeat she is out there and he would confirm this fact tonight. He ate more lembas, closed his eyes and tried again.
That was how he was found two days later. Unable to sleep and unwilling to give up hope (how's that for dwarven stubbornness?) he had stayed there continually reaching out. It was his childhood friends Lóin, a cousin of Gimli with a fairly long face and light brown hair and beard, Dori, a dwarf highly renowned for both his fierce bravery and fiery red hair and beard, and Mundin, a dwarf skilled in healing with black, straight hair and beard, (most unusual for a dwarf) that had gone out together to search for a possible new mine in the first of the Iron Hills. They fortunately stumbled upon their friend at his campsite. Lóin saw him first and rushed to his friend's side calling out to Dori and Mundin. Dori came next and turned Gimli over, "Gimli! Gimli!" Dori shook his friend and began to panic at the lack of life in his unblinking eyes. Mundin sprinted across the meadow and fell to his knees beside Gimli. "He is not dead," Mundin pronounced, "But he is very weak, we must take him to Lord Glön immediately. While Mundin looked around for any possible reason as to his friend's illness Lóin and Dori quickly crafted a makeshift stretcher. They came back to the camp sight of Gimli to discover to their relief that Gimli was blinking now, at least that was a slight improvement. Mundin came over and met his comrades, "I think for the first time in a millennia we have the elves to thank for Gimli's being alive." He held up half eaten cakes of lembas, "it seems that this is all he had for food and if it weren't for their nourishment . . . " He didn't have to continue but his eyes darkened as he stated, "we will also need to determine if the cause of Gimli's state of health is also the fault of the elves." Lóin met Mundin's eyes, Mundin never trusted anybody but his own kind and so tended to blame the troubles of the world on other beings, especially the elves.
Mundin and Dori had been carrying Gimli for only 15 minutes when Gimli began to stir and wake up. Guffaws, grunts, and other charming noises alerted his friends to this fact. They set him down so Mundin could see if he could be of help. Gimli sat up, "What is going on????" He blinked a few times, "Mundin? Dori, and Lóin!" Lóin came to his cousin's side, "Gimli, we're going home, we found you and. . . Well you'll be fine now." Realization slammed into Gimli, he wasn't able to feel her, she was gone. He stared at the ground, as the realization became clear to him. He only stirred when he felt the stretcher lift again, "stop," he rumbled without taking his eyes from their spot on the ground. When the stretcher was put down again he slowly got to his feet, "I'll walk, I'm not injured." Dori and Lóin looked at each other, skepticism in their eyes but Mundin allowed it and he was the healer. Anyway Lóin thought to himself with a slight smile, try telling him to do anything.
The walk to the hall of Glön consisted of Mundin solemnly leading the way, and Dori along with Lóin marched behind Mundin speaking quietly in dwarvish having taken all of Gimli's gear and divided between them. Gimli trudged behind the three not looking at anything other than the ground in front of him. The evening star had risen by the time that Glön met the tired party at the doors to his hall. The three dwarves bowed to their lord, "Lord, we have found Gimli," Mundin slowly stated, at the sight of Glön's face breaking into a gruff smile he quickly continued, "he is very weak with some unknown ailment." Glön glanced back at his son who stood staring at his father, his expression was vacant. The noble dwarf moved toward his son and clasped his shoulder; "welcome home Gimli." Gimli nodded and moved into his home.
Later that night after a private dinner with his closest friends he sat at the fireside in his private rooms. Not only did Lóin, Dori, and Mundin join him but also Merin, his younger brother, just beginning to grow a full beard that was promising to match his brothers, and Nalin, his female cousin that always had her own opinions and had a wit that matched any other in the room. Gimli quietly drank his mulled wine when Merin broke the comfortable silence, "Gimli, what happened on that trip? I've never seen you so quiet." Gimli just shook his head. Mundin backed up Merin, "Gimli," he stated matter-of-factly, "What did that elf do to you?" He gripped his ever-present axe. "Nothing," Gimli snapped, "Legolas gave me a great present. It was my own weakness." Gimli stared into the fire. Nalin, by far the most observant moved to sit next to him quietly saying, "Gimli, you're in love." All of the dwarves stopped what they were doing and stared at Nalin and then at Gimli. Gimli didn't react in the slightest; he stared at the fire. Nalin tried again, "what was her name?" "Tarin." Now everyone was staring intently at Gimli, Dori rubbed his ears to make sure he heard correctly. Nalin sat next to him and Dori moved to his other side as Gimli felt compelled to continue and tell his closest friends all about the human-dwarf girl that captured his heart.
The night was almost over by the time Gimli finished, he left out no detail for here among his family he could conceal nothing nor would he ever wish to try. Nalin, Dori, and Lóin were sympathetic, Merin was very confused, but Mundin was seething. "A HUMAN??? She was a human??? I knew that a dwarf would never do such a heartless act, now I understand. The races of men were always deceitful and now one of them has found a way to take on dwarven form and penetrate the heart of our fiercest warrior! Well if she were still here I would make her pay for this injury!" Gimli looked up, his eyes for the first time his eyes reveled his true warrior nature, "Do not speak of things you know nothing of Mundin." He stood up, all traces of former weariness gone in the silent, seething wrath that enveloped him now, "if ever I hear you slander Tarin again you shall answer to me." Without waiting for a response he quit the room and tried to sleep. While sleep refused to come to him that night his body, desperate for rest, left him in a trance-like state in which Tarin's face floated before his face throughout the night.
The following days consisted of Glön convincing his son to regain the nourishment he lost. His friends were the most helpful, although he did not know it. It was on his fifth day of recovery while he was sitting at breakfast Nalin sat opposite him. "Gimli we need to talk," Gimli grunted, secretly glad for her company; Nalin never was one for concealing her thoughts, "yes Nalin?" Nalin took a mouthful of mead before she spoke again, "you aren't getting much better here so you need to go where you can heal." Gimli's interest was perked now as he turned fully towards his cousin, "and where would that be?" Nalin shrugged as she ate some meat, "Helm's Deep, where else?" Gimli stared at her, a journey all the way to Rohan wasn't a thing to do on a whim, and it took at least a week of planning and provisions and. . Then he looked at his cousin who was staring at him with a shrewd eye, he then realized she and his friends had already made the plans for him. One of the few times in his life, he was truly touched at his dear friends, "thank you," he simply said. Nalin didn't say anything; she didn't need to.