Chapter 19
Gandalf was getting a headache, a big headache. This Merin was very
determined to get his way. He put his hand to his brow resolved once more
to explain to the young dwarf why Gimli's memories will remain intact.
"Merin, Gimli needs his memories and I do not have the power to take them
from him. Even if I did I wouldn't." Merin's brow grew dark, "Then you
are no wizard!" he spat, "leaving my brother, your friend to suffer like
this! That is the worst disservice, you malicious, old-" Gandalf stood
up, his wrath at last taking hold the lights in the chamber seemed to go
darker, "Merin son of Glön do not presume to know my motives!" He calmed
down and the lights brightened up again, "if I took away his memory it
would not take away his feelings and he would be in love and in pain and
not know why. It would drive him mad." Merin closed his mouth and bowed
low, "forgive me Gandalf the white." Gandalf smiled, patted his shoulder,
sat down took up his pipe again and resumed gazing peacefully into the
fire.
Gimli was up the next day moving around and constantly followed by Nalin and Mundin. The two had collaborated while Gimli slept and had decided that they would force Gimli to eat and rest at least until he reached Helm's Deep where hopefully he would heal on his own there. The two didn't discuss the possibility that even the healing presence of the caves wouldn't cure Gimli. So Gimli found himself doing little other than eating, drinking, and sitting talking to the two and anyone else who happened to come by. Dori also did his best to keep Gimli entertained. One night Dori burst in on Nalin joking with Gimli, his broad face was shining with happiness. In his hands was what looked like shining, liquid silver. Gimli and Nalin stopped their discussions and turned to face this normally imposing dwarf now looking quite ready to do a jig. Nalin spoke first, "Dori! What do you have there?" Dori smiled even broader, his even his mustache seemed to smile, "It's finished!" He shook out the silver in his hands to reveal a shirt of Mithril. It was expertly made, the designs upon it weren't of the normal block squares of the dwarves but as a direct result of Gimli's friendship with Legolas, Dori choose to use the more flowing, graceful style that proclaimed elvish craftsmanship. Gimli nodded approvingly, "It is indeed a fine shirt for you to wear in battle if ever we have need." Dori smiled, "or for you Gimli. This was to be your coronation gift from me but with your father the way he is I think he may yet outlive us all so maybe you ought to take it now!" Gimli smiled and accepted the gift with a bow and then put it on. "Oh Gimli you must wear that tonight!" Gimli frowned at Nalin, "tonight?" Nalin rolled her eyes, "Oh you know Gimli someone's coming to visit tonight . . . like maybe ARAGORN??????" Gimli's eyes widened in shock, Nalin stifled a giggle. Dori sighed, "Let's get you ready." Nalin couldn't suppress a giggle as she left to let the dwarves prepare. It's better anyway she thought to herself, still got to plan a few things
An hour later Gimli knocked on Nalin's door. She answered the door and stopped in shock. Now Nalin wasn't in any way attracted to Gimli but seeing him in his finest made her take a step back and appreciate how handsome her cousin really looked. His Mithril shirt faintly glimmered underneath his shirt of fine red linen. On his breast rested the family crest of Gimli's family, the Iron hills depicted in all their glory, it shone like it was newly minted and yet it had been in the family for over 900 years. Around his waist a gold belt was clasped studded with sapphires and superb craftsmanship. Gimli smiled at his cousin's reaction, "ready to go meet my friend?" Nalin regained her dignity and smiled sweetly as she said, "I've been ready for some time, and the entire banquet however is waiting for you to lead them into the banqueting hall." Nalin's grin widened as Gimli hid his embarrassment by taking her hand and putting it on his arm. Nalin picked up her shimmering gray dress and allowed herself to be led down a wide staircase to the main hall. There she left him to greet his friends. Nalin hugged her friends and chatted, but mainly she watched Gimli, Tonight he is shining Nalin thought with relief as he solemnly bowed to Aragorn before Aragorn kneeled down and grasped him in a tight hug. Nalin looked to the doors of the banquet halls, just one more thing Gimli as she thought this Gimli, with his closest friends about him opened the doors to the hall to officially begin the feast.
She looked up with uncertainty as the doors opened. There he was at the head of a group of dwarves, laughing and smiling. Just like in the dream Tarin thought as he looked up at her. He froze in his tracks as he saw Tarin standing there in front of the feasting table gazing at him her red wine dress fitting her form perfectly and her hair done up in intricate knots. His smile froze and slowly fell off of his face in disbelief. Tarin almost cried at that simple act of his once smiling face now staring intently at her. She ran up to Gimli with no other thought in her mind other than to be with him again. She hit Gimli and grabbed him around the waist whispering, "I'm so sorry Gimli." Nalin, who had pushed her way to the front held her breath, then slowly released it as Gimli's arms wrapped around her and held her tight. For the first time that night Nalin relaxed and took a sip of wine. Tarin had come in earlier that afternoon looking quite awful, really I did do a good job with her she congratulated herself. She took another sip of wine and appreciated her handiwork from a distance. The rest of the dwarves however seemed to be in a state of shock and from a corner Mundin's expression grew dark.
Gimli was up the next day moving around and constantly followed by Nalin and Mundin. The two had collaborated while Gimli slept and had decided that they would force Gimli to eat and rest at least until he reached Helm's Deep where hopefully he would heal on his own there. The two didn't discuss the possibility that even the healing presence of the caves wouldn't cure Gimli. So Gimli found himself doing little other than eating, drinking, and sitting talking to the two and anyone else who happened to come by. Dori also did his best to keep Gimli entertained. One night Dori burst in on Nalin joking with Gimli, his broad face was shining with happiness. In his hands was what looked like shining, liquid silver. Gimli and Nalin stopped their discussions and turned to face this normally imposing dwarf now looking quite ready to do a jig. Nalin spoke first, "Dori! What do you have there?" Dori smiled even broader, his even his mustache seemed to smile, "It's finished!" He shook out the silver in his hands to reveal a shirt of Mithril. It was expertly made, the designs upon it weren't of the normal block squares of the dwarves but as a direct result of Gimli's friendship with Legolas, Dori choose to use the more flowing, graceful style that proclaimed elvish craftsmanship. Gimli nodded approvingly, "It is indeed a fine shirt for you to wear in battle if ever we have need." Dori smiled, "or for you Gimli. This was to be your coronation gift from me but with your father the way he is I think he may yet outlive us all so maybe you ought to take it now!" Gimli smiled and accepted the gift with a bow and then put it on. "Oh Gimli you must wear that tonight!" Gimli frowned at Nalin, "tonight?" Nalin rolled her eyes, "Oh you know Gimli someone's coming to visit tonight . . . like maybe ARAGORN??????" Gimli's eyes widened in shock, Nalin stifled a giggle. Dori sighed, "Let's get you ready." Nalin couldn't suppress a giggle as she left to let the dwarves prepare. It's better anyway she thought to herself, still got to plan a few things
An hour later Gimli knocked on Nalin's door. She answered the door and stopped in shock. Now Nalin wasn't in any way attracted to Gimli but seeing him in his finest made her take a step back and appreciate how handsome her cousin really looked. His Mithril shirt faintly glimmered underneath his shirt of fine red linen. On his breast rested the family crest of Gimli's family, the Iron hills depicted in all their glory, it shone like it was newly minted and yet it had been in the family for over 900 years. Around his waist a gold belt was clasped studded with sapphires and superb craftsmanship. Gimli smiled at his cousin's reaction, "ready to go meet my friend?" Nalin regained her dignity and smiled sweetly as she said, "I've been ready for some time, and the entire banquet however is waiting for you to lead them into the banqueting hall." Nalin's grin widened as Gimli hid his embarrassment by taking her hand and putting it on his arm. Nalin picked up her shimmering gray dress and allowed herself to be led down a wide staircase to the main hall. There she left him to greet his friends. Nalin hugged her friends and chatted, but mainly she watched Gimli, Tonight he is shining Nalin thought with relief as he solemnly bowed to Aragorn before Aragorn kneeled down and grasped him in a tight hug. Nalin looked to the doors of the banquet halls, just one more thing Gimli as she thought this Gimli, with his closest friends about him opened the doors to the hall to officially begin the feast.
She looked up with uncertainty as the doors opened. There he was at the head of a group of dwarves, laughing and smiling. Just like in the dream Tarin thought as he looked up at her. He froze in his tracks as he saw Tarin standing there in front of the feasting table gazing at him her red wine dress fitting her form perfectly and her hair done up in intricate knots. His smile froze and slowly fell off of his face in disbelief. Tarin almost cried at that simple act of his once smiling face now staring intently at her. She ran up to Gimli with no other thought in her mind other than to be with him again. She hit Gimli and grabbed him around the waist whispering, "I'm so sorry Gimli." Nalin, who had pushed her way to the front held her breath, then slowly released it as Gimli's arms wrapped around her and held her tight. For the first time that night Nalin relaxed and took a sip of wine. Tarin had come in earlier that afternoon looking quite awful, really I did do a good job with her she congratulated herself. She took another sip of wine and appreciated her handiwork from a distance. The rest of the dwarves however seemed to be in a state of shock and from a corner Mundin's expression grew dark.