Chapter 21
Well quite a bit happened afterwards. Tarin found herself safely and warmly wrapped in Gimli's arms. But unfortunately that only lasted for a few brief happy moments. Tarin was happily hugging him when she felt a heavy hand come to rest upon her shoulder. Reluctantly she turned to face a noble, ancient dwarf. This dwarf had the air of a chief and a leader, he looked at her as if trying to weigh her, in such a way that convinced her that she was standing in front of Glön, father of Gimli. He spoke like a chief used to getting straight forward answers, "what do you want with my son?" Tarin opened and closed her mouth, she looked around the room. Everyone had stopped talking and were gazing at the strange situation unfold about them. Tarin looked around, Mundin had taken a place at Glön's shoulder, and he glared at her with a cold gaze. Tarin melted back into Gimli's erect frame thankfully he spoke for her, "father this is Tarin." Glön nodded, "I shall take care of this then; we shan't be long." He took Tarin's arm, she looked back at Gimli silently begging him to help her but he just watched them go.
Glön guided her out of the banqueting hall, down a hallway and into what looked like an antechamber; silently Mundin followed and stood by the door to watch what would unfold. A fire burned cheerily and Glön led her to a simple but surprisingly comfortable chair. Tarin looked up at the great dwarf waiting for him to begin, he didn't disappoint her, and "So you are the she-dwarf that has caused my son such grief?" Tarin hung her head, "yes." Glön continued bluntly but not unkindly, "why have you come here?" Tarin met the old dwarf's eyes, "I am in love with Gimli, and I was only too foolish to realize it until I thought it was too late." Glön's face began to show a smile as he proclaimed his thoughts, "you would not have been able to get in here without having an ally here. I think Nalin has taken you in but be aware that she is fiercely protective of her cousin, do not upset her on that score, many would advice against it. Tarin's face broke into a grin and she rose, "don't worry, she has already threatened me quite a bit!" Glön allowed a small smile to escape his lips before he coughed to hide it, "then let us get back to the dinning hall." He glanced up at Tarin's tear-streaked face, "perhaps you'd like to take a moment for yourself first?" Glön marched out of the room and Tarin moved over by the fire to collect her thoughts and wipe her face before she reentered the banquet room. A shadow detached itself from the shadows and crept closer to Tarin. Tarin's sharp ears picked up the heavy treads and whirled around to face a scowling Mundin, He stalked up to her menacingly, Tarin found herself involuntarily taking a step backwards even before he sneered, "and what are you really doing here human? Are you here to capture some other dwarfs heart and then crush it?" Tarin stiffened, whispering, "I never wanted to hurt him." Mundin's face broke into another mocking sneer, "well I won't let you spread your poison any more around here. Get out of here witch and leave us to our own, I won't see Gimli hurt more, he was almost killed by you, he came home and now we care for him. Did you come back to kill him? Get out!"
That did it; Tarin flew out of the room as if her feet were on fire. All she felt however was the ice that gripped at her heart. She almost killed him? Tarin ran as fast as she could through the hallways and whipped around a corner, straight into Aragorn. "What?-" the king of Gondor had the air knocked out of him by the flying dwarf. He recovered quickly and shot out a hand to stop her as she attempted to dart by him. "Tarin! What happened? You're missed at the feast." Tarin stammered, "I . . . I can not. . . .Aragorn, I can't stay here." Tarin tried once more to dodge by him but he held her fast and he made her meet his gaze, his face was serious, dark even. "I have just come from seeing Gimli go from miserable to euphoria; you would have him die of grief over a whim of yours? No you are going to that hall and you will not be selfish anymore." He spoke calmly but his words carried weight, he would take her back to that hall if he had to bind her, gag her and sling her over his shoulder. Tarin gave in and slowly took Aragorn's offered arm. The pair made their way back into the room.
Gimli looked up from his conversation with Dori when Tarin reentered the room. Without even bothering to excuse himself he marched straight to Tarin and Aragorn. Tarin gratefully went from Aragorn's arm to Gimli's. Once she was safely on his arm Gimli asked, "Where have you two been?" A sparkle danced in his eyes, "First you leave Tarin and then the guest of this feast mysteriously disappears, and no one can seem to find Mundin." Tarin smiled, relaxing now that she was once more with Gimli. "Your father wanted to talk with me and then I got lost. Aragorn found me." Gimli smiled and gave her knuckles a bushy kiss then addressing Aragorn, "If the king of Gondor and Aronor pleases the feast awaits him." Aragorn smiled at this mock formality and jogged up to the head table. He went around the long table and then, upon reaching his seat raised his goblet high and proclaimed, "To Glön and the dwarves of the Iron Hills!" He was greeted with shouts of approval, he drained his goblet and then sat down. Slowly everyone took their places and the feast began.
Tarin hadn't eaten so much in her life. But even she couldn't match the appetite of Gimli. When he wasn't eating he was talking with Tarin. Determined not to break down and cry in the middle of the banquet she answered his questions as straightforward as she could. Finally she asked after him. Gimli took a bite of bread, "I wasn't well Tarin." She looked at his gaunt, pale frame, she gasped from the shock of it. "Don't leave again Tarin." Mundin was right, she had nearly killed him. Slowly one tear fell from her eye, "I am so sorry Gimli." He was about to respond but Lóin drew his attention away with a question. Sighing Tarin turned to Aragorn. The king was silently watching her and she cocked her head to the side, "what is it?" Aragorn smiled and took a sip of wine as he asked, "what were you running from just now?" The smile that had played on her lips dwindled, "I. . . . " Aragorn interrupted, "Tarin you were running away from someone or something, what was it?" Involuntarily her eyes were drawn to a laughing dwarf down the table. Mundin had found something very funny, but when his eyes met hers all jovialness disappeared from them and he scowled at her. Tarin paled, Aragorn followed her gaze, "a skilled dwarf with a well known prejudice against anyone not of dwarven blood." Aragorn murmured. Tarin looked up at Aragorn and back at Mundin's scowling face, she squared her shoulders like hell if I'm going to be told where my heart should lie she raised her goblet to her lips and sipped it. Mundin's face grew even more dark if possible, he got up abruptly and stormed out of the hall. Gimli watched his friend leave in a rage, he wondered what had happened for the normally calm dwarf to loose his famous patience. He turned back to what he had been thinking of all evening, Tarin, the one who had returned to him. Tarin smiled at Gimli and took his hand, watching Mundin disappear, score one, me.
Mundin stomped down the halls until he got to his own chamber. Going against this dwarf was rarely thought to be a good idea. He stormed and raged around his own chamber, he threw his chairs across the room. Not satisfied with this destruction he threw one on the fire, he watched it burn. . . as he watched it burn a smile slowly began to spread on his long features. He would protect his friend from this temptress. Tomorrow he would show him he was better off without her. Tomorrow, life would be normal again and the outsiders would be gone. He fell asleep before his fire, a smile curling up the sides of his mouth.
Well quite a bit happened afterwards. Tarin found herself safely and warmly wrapped in Gimli's arms. But unfortunately that only lasted for a few brief happy moments. Tarin was happily hugging him when she felt a heavy hand come to rest upon her shoulder. Reluctantly she turned to face a noble, ancient dwarf. This dwarf had the air of a chief and a leader, he looked at her as if trying to weigh her, in such a way that convinced her that she was standing in front of Glön, father of Gimli. He spoke like a chief used to getting straight forward answers, "what do you want with my son?" Tarin opened and closed her mouth, she looked around the room. Everyone had stopped talking and were gazing at the strange situation unfold about them. Tarin looked around, Mundin had taken a place at Glön's shoulder, and he glared at her with a cold gaze. Tarin melted back into Gimli's erect frame thankfully he spoke for her, "father this is Tarin." Glön nodded, "I shall take care of this then; we shan't be long." He took Tarin's arm, she looked back at Gimli silently begging him to help her but he just watched them go.
Glön guided her out of the banqueting hall, down a hallway and into what looked like an antechamber; silently Mundin followed and stood by the door to watch what would unfold. A fire burned cheerily and Glön led her to a simple but surprisingly comfortable chair. Tarin looked up at the great dwarf waiting for him to begin, he didn't disappoint her, and "So you are the she-dwarf that has caused my son such grief?" Tarin hung her head, "yes." Glön continued bluntly but not unkindly, "why have you come here?" Tarin met the old dwarf's eyes, "I am in love with Gimli, and I was only too foolish to realize it until I thought it was too late." Glön's face began to show a smile as he proclaimed his thoughts, "you would not have been able to get in here without having an ally here. I think Nalin has taken you in but be aware that she is fiercely protective of her cousin, do not upset her on that score, many would advice against it. Tarin's face broke into a grin and she rose, "don't worry, she has already threatened me quite a bit!" Glön allowed a small smile to escape his lips before he coughed to hide it, "then let us get back to the dinning hall." He glanced up at Tarin's tear-streaked face, "perhaps you'd like to take a moment for yourself first?" Glön marched out of the room and Tarin moved over by the fire to collect her thoughts and wipe her face before she reentered the banquet room. A shadow detached itself from the shadows and crept closer to Tarin. Tarin's sharp ears picked up the heavy treads and whirled around to face a scowling Mundin, He stalked up to her menacingly, Tarin found herself involuntarily taking a step backwards even before he sneered, "and what are you really doing here human? Are you here to capture some other dwarfs heart and then crush it?" Tarin stiffened, whispering, "I never wanted to hurt him." Mundin's face broke into another mocking sneer, "well I won't let you spread your poison any more around here. Get out of here witch and leave us to our own, I won't see Gimli hurt more, he was almost killed by you, he came home and now we care for him. Did you come back to kill him? Get out!"
That did it; Tarin flew out of the room as if her feet were on fire. All she felt however was the ice that gripped at her heart. She almost killed him? Tarin ran as fast as she could through the hallways and whipped around a corner, straight into Aragorn. "What?-" the king of Gondor had the air knocked out of him by the flying dwarf. He recovered quickly and shot out a hand to stop her as she attempted to dart by him. "Tarin! What happened? You're missed at the feast." Tarin stammered, "I . . . I can not. . . .Aragorn, I can't stay here." Tarin tried once more to dodge by him but he held her fast and he made her meet his gaze, his face was serious, dark even. "I have just come from seeing Gimli go from miserable to euphoria; you would have him die of grief over a whim of yours? No you are going to that hall and you will not be selfish anymore." He spoke calmly but his words carried weight, he would take her back to that hall if he had to bind her, gag her and sling her over his shoulder. Tarin gave in and slowly took Aragorn's offered arm. The pair made their way back into the room.
Gimli looked up from his conversation with Dori when Tarin reentered the room. Without even bothering to excuse himself he marched straight to Tarin and Aragorn. Tarin gratefully went from Aragorn's arm to Gimli's. Once she was safely on his arm Gimli asked, "Where have you two been?" A sparkle danced in his eyes, "First you leave Tarin and then the guest of this feast mysteriously disappears, and no one can seem to find Mundin." Tarin smiled, relaxing now that she was once more with Gimli. "Your father wanted to talk with me and then I got lost. Aragorn found me." Gimli smiled and gave her knuckles a bushy kiss then addressing Aragorn, "If the king of Gondor and Aronor pleases the feast awaits him." Aragorn smiled at this mock formality and jogged up to the head table. He went around the long table and then, upon reaching his seat raised his goblet high and proclaimed, "To Glön and the dwarves of the Iron Hills!" He was greeted with shouts of approval, he drained his goblet and then sat down. Slowly everyone took their places and the feast began.
Tarin hadn't eaten so much in her life. But even she couldn't match the appetite of Gimli. When he wasn't eating he was talking with Tarin. Determined not to break down and cry in the middle of the banquet she answered his questions as straightforward as she could. Finally she asked after him. Gimli took a bite of bread, "I wasn't well Tarin." She looked at his gaunt, pale frame, she gasped from the shock of it. "Don't leave again Tarin." Mundin was right, she had nearly killed him. Slowly one tear fell from her eye, "I am so sorry Gimli." He was about to respond but Lóin drew his attention away with a question. Sighing Tarin turned to Aragorn. The king was silently watching her and she cocked her head to the side, "what is it?" Aragorn smiled and took a sip of wine as he asked, "what were you running from just now?" The smile that had played on her lips dwindled, "I. . . . " Aragorn interrupted, "Tarin you were running away from someone or something, what was it?" Involuntarily her eyes were drawn to a laughing dwarf down the table. Mundin had found something very funny, but when his eyes met hers all jovialness disappeared from them and he scowled at her. Tarin paled, Aragorn followed her gaze, "a skilled dwarf with a well known prejudice against anyone not of dwarven blood." Aragorn murmured. Tarin looked up at Aragorn and back at Mundin's scowling face, she squared her shoulders like hell if I'm going to be told where my heart should lie she raised her goblet to her lips and sipped it. Mundin's face grew even more dark if possible, he got up abruptly and stormed out of the hall. Gimli watched his friend leave in a rage, he wondered what had happened for the normally calm dwarf to loose his famous patience. He turned back to what he had been thinking of all evening, Tarin, the one who had returned to him. Tarin smiled at Gimli and took his hand, watching Mundin disappear, score one, me.
Mundin stomped down the halls until he got to his own chamber. Going against this dwarf was rarely thought to be a good idea. He stormed and raged around his own chamber, he threw his chairs across the room. Not satisfied with this destruction he threw one on the fire, he watched it burn. . . as he watched it burn a smile slowly began to spread on his long features. He would protect his friend from this temptress. Tomorrow he would show him he was better off without her. Tomorrow, life would be normal again and the outsiders would be gone. He fell asleep before his fire, a smile curling up the sides of his mouth.