Gimli slowly awoke, finding himself staring at a cold grey rock floor,
littered with small brown pebbles. As he came to his senses, he realised he
was in a cave. Dwarfs were often found in caves, digging for treasures and
creating kingdoms.but few were in the compromising position Gimli was in
now. Lying, his legs submerged in a puddle that had formed due to the
constant drip from above, his upper body sandwiched between two huge
stalagmites growing high into the blackness. The old dwarf freed his left
arm and grumpily scratched his beard; he hadn't shaved in months.so quickly
added that to his mental list of priorities as soon as he found a way to
escape.
Though he had not yet been fortunate enough to physically test its
strength, he could feel that some damage had been done to his left knee.
The feel of drying blood caked to his trousers was present.
In addition, his nose was sore and blood was still trickling from deep
within, memories of an Orc's threats came flooding back as Gimli struggled
to stand, but quickly remembered that he was pinned down by the tall coned
rocks on either side.
How did he get here? His last memories were of marching Orcs, dozens of marching Orcs making their way out of the forest, and to the edge of a great valley, but suddenly swords clashed and metal met flesh as the weapons of industry met with the creation of nature, though Gimli saw Orcs as not the creation of nature, but as the creation of evil, a viewpoint encouraged by his most recent encounter. Strange nonetheless though, any recollections of the events of the last few hours had vanished from Gimli's memory. How did he get inside a cave? And most unusually of all, who were the group who came into conflict with the Orc's holding him?
Such questions would have to wait for their answers to be found, as Gimli put his intentions in order, escape being high on his list. He bent his free arm backwards, as far as it would reach until he could feel his fingertips making contact with the thick leather belt where he stored a small hatchet on each side of his waist. Soon he had one such hatchet firmly in his grip, and carefully began work hacking away at the stalagmite, which was crushing his right shoulder. Metal against rock is usually a pointless exercise, but we must remember that Gimli and his people are skilled in mining and construction using specially made tools. Within twenty minutes of beginning, Gimli had cut a notch 4 inches deep into the stalagmite, and with a mighty heave managed to knock it to the side and scramble to his feet. It was only now he truly realised the significance of the injury to his knee. As he stood, he could sense the splinters of bone finding their way out through the skin. He also found the source of the injury, a small bent arrow head embedded into the back of his leg. The force had shattered his kneecap and ripped the bone away from the cartilage, causing it to exit through his skin. Gimli bared the pain well considering, and gritted his teeth as he removed the arrowhead. It wasn't the arrow of an Orc, but those used by the Woodland Elves. Why did Gimli have an elf arrow in his leg? Since the fall of Sauron, dwarfs relationships with elves had improved greatly.Legolas friendship with our heroic dwarf a shining example.
A dwarf in such a dire situation though worries little about matters this trivial, so Gimli calmly pocketed the arrowhead and staggered over to the cave wall.where a rotting log of wood approximately three foot high lay. Using the log as a support, Gimli began his journey away from this place, not knowing how long it might take or who he may encounter en route.
How did he get here? His last memories were of marching Orcs, dozens of marching Orcs making their way out of the forest, and to the edge of a great valley, but suddenly swords clashed and metal met flesh as the weapons of industry met with the creation of nature, though Gimli saw Orcs as not the creation of nature, but as the creation of evil, a viewpoint encouraged by his most recent encounter. Strange nonetheless though, any recollections of the events of the last few hours had vanished from Gimli's memory. How did he get inside a cave? And most unusually of all, who were the group who came into conflict with the Orc's holding him?
Such questions would have to wait for their answers to be found, as Gimli put his intentions in order, escape being high on his list. He bent his free arm backwards, as far as it would reach until he could feel his fingertips making contact with the thick leather belt where he stored a small hatchet on each side of his waist. Soon he had one such hatchet firmly in his grip, and carefully began work hacking away at the stalagmite, which was crushing his right shoulder. Metal against rock is usually a pointless exercise, but we must remember that Gimli and his people are skilled in mining and construction using specially made tools. Within twenty minutes of beginning, Gimli had cut a notch 4 inches deep into the stalagmite, and with a mighty heave managed to knock it to the side and scramble to his feet. It was only now he truly realised the significance of the injury to his knee. As he stood, he could sense the splinters of bone finding their way out through the skin. He also found the source of the injury, a small bent arrow head embedded into the back of his leg. The force had shattered his kneecap and ripped the bone away from the cartilage, causing it to exit through his skin. Gimli bared the pain well considering, and gritted his teeth as he removed the arrowhead. It wasn't the arrow of an Orc, but those used by the Woodland Elves. Why did Gimli have an elf arrow in his leg? Since the fall of Sauron, dwarfs relationships with elves had improved greatly.Legolas friendship with our heroic dwarf a shining example.
A dwarf in such a dire situation though worries little about matters this trivial, so Gimli calmly pocketed the arrowhead and staggered over to the cave wall.where a rotting log of wood approximately three foot high lay. Using the log as a support, Gimli began his journey away from this place, not knowing how long it might take or who he may encounter en route.