Disclaimer: I do not own Legolas, Gimli, or any other recognizable characters from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. I merely wish to play with them a bit and put them back in (more or less) one piece:) I'm not making any money off this.

(*) indicates thought

"Do not look so worried, Elf! I assure you, my plans for you are completely painless." Gaila's smile was broad, and reminded Legolas of Gimli. She led Legolas to a table that just cleared his knees, near the forges.

"Worried? No, no Gaila, I am sure it was anticipation you saw, not worry." Gaila snorted in disbelief, but her smile returned.

"I desire your assistance with the plans for the gates."

"I thought the plans were completed? Construction begins as we speak."

"Aye, for the gates themselves," Gaila gestured to parchments with sketches of trees, stars, and copied text. "Not only will these gates be strong, they will be beautiful. I am working on the inscriptions and etchings. I will present my ideas to King Elessar later this night. I want them well in order. I wish to have the inscription in the languages of the Dwarves, Men, and the Elves. That is where you can help me, Master Elf. I will need assistance with the translations. That is, if you find my task of interest, or course." A raised eyebrow was all that moved on her waiting face.

"An honor, Mistress Dwarf, to help in any way I can," intoned Legolas with great seriousness, before returning Gaila's growing smile.

The morning was worn away by hammerings and scrapings and much talk. Legolas sat on a barrel beside Gaila's work bench, commenting for time to time on her work, but for the most part, the silence was companionable. Legolas drew his knees up to his chin and surveyed the work being done. The dwarves had leveled the earth at the gate site, measuring heights and widths, reinforcing the surrounding walls. Great slabs of steel were being heated and hammered and quenched, all to be done again. Gimli had stopped by a time or two, but for the most part remained busy. Legolas could see him not far off, bare-chested, merrily swinging a hammer, surrounded by his kinsmen doing the same. The elf also saw something that had been troubling him for some time.

"Gaila?"

"Hmmm?"

"That dwarf. Who is he?" Gaila looked up from her papers, and put down her pencil.

"Which dwarf? The one with the beard? The one that is shorter than you?" teased Gaila. "I fear you shall have to be more specific, Legolas."

"That one there, near the wall. He is holding a pick-axe." Legolas lowered his voice, though no one stood near enough to hear them. "The one who seems to have naught but contempt for Gimli. Or you." Gaila's sapphire eyes followed Legolas' line of sight, but looked down at her workbench again. Her brow furrowed for a moment before she answered, with a slight sigh.

"That dwarf is Thror." When it seemed that Gaila had no intention of going on, Legolas pressed her again.

"Why does he glare at you and Gimli so?"

"Long ago, ere I can remember, Thror's father and my father were part of a group digging a fresh tunnel in one our mines. There was a earthshake and the tunnel collapsed, with Thror's father inside. By the time they dug him out, it was too late. Thror blamed Gloin for the collapse, he claimed the braces in the tunnel were not sound. Both my father and his father constructed those support beams, together." Gaila smiled wryly, but it did not reach her eyes. "If there is anything my father knows well, it is supports. There was nothing wrong with the braces, both Gloin and Thror's father were cleared of responsibility, but Thror refused to accept this. He vowed to make my father pay. He challenged Gimli. They battled, according to custom, and Gimli won. According to those same customs, the matter was ended at that moment and Thror was honor-bound. He has no more claim or right to vengeance." Gaila shook her head, as if throwing off foul thoughts. "There has been no more talk of retribution since. But it does not take the sight of an elf to see how he dislikes us."

"Why did Gimli bring him here, if such a grudge exists?"

"He is talented. There are few dwarves anywhere with his gifts of foundations and support systems," an iron cord sounding in her voice, though Legolas could not tell from anger or conviction. "Old feuds should not stand in the way of quality, or so says Gimli."

"And what do you say, Daughter of Gloin?" Gaila hissed and roughly pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. She crossed her arms over her chest and turned to watch the work progressing at the gate site. Legolas looked at her rigid stance and wondered if perhaps he had overstepped his bounds. He remained perched on his barrel and waited. After a while, Gaila turned back to Legolas. She did not seem angry to the elf, but he could not readily gauge what he saw.

"I want to believe Gimli is right. He says it is over," Gaila began evenly. "Thror is good at what he does, even so...," her voice stiffened again. "Hate dies hard. You know that as well as I, given the history of our peoples." She turned back to her work, pencil in hand. Her final remark was so low, only an elf could hear it. "And I feel the hate of his glares." Legolas felt a chill at her words, and once again sought out the glowering Thror. The dark haired dwarf continued on in his work, but Legolas felt a new wariness of him. *Hate dies hard.*

"Speaking of beards," spoke Legolas lightly, turning the conversation, "I have a question that has burned for some time."

"Yes?"

"It is said all dwarves have beards, but you do not." Gaila barked a short laugh, her eyes never leaving the paper before her.

"No, I do not Legolas. That is very observant of you." Gaila smiled, her hand never ceasing it's steady motions. "Most female dwarves do not have beards, no matter what you have heard."

"Are there so few she-dwarves, as is said? You are the first I have know to be more than legend."

"We are fewer than the males, it is true, but fear not Master Elf, the dwarven race will continue on." Legolas chuckled lightly. His next question was interrupted by the clear ringing of trumpets. The elf leapt from his barrel and quickly climbed to peer over the wall.

"The Elves! My people have come at last, finally no more of this numbing racket of hammers," exclaimed Legolas, jumping down.

"Have I been such a bore, Legolas? Gimli will be furious, I did promise to keep you occupied," teased Gaila.

"Not at all, dear dwarf, you have entertained me well! I merely wish to make some contributions of my own. I shall speak with you later, to see what Aragorn says of your inscriptions." With that, Legolas was gone.