Gimli Makes a Dubious Decision
"Yes, the mind tricks are vaguely sinister, but you must admit a certain cleverness in them," said Gimli.
"Yes. Of course," said Legolas, who would have much rather been concentrating on steering the boat, or watching the shore, or anything other than Gimli's conversation, really.
"And was her hair not the fairest golden color you have ever seen?"
Hurrrrrr, thought Legolas, but his mouth said, "Uh-huh."
"You know, lad, I did not realize Elves could be so interesting until I laid eyes on Lady Galadriel."
"Well," said Legolas, "you learn something new every day." Did I just get called "lad?" I must be at least thousands of years older than him.
"Ah, it is such a lovely day, is it not? Reminds me of her..."
That's it, thought Legolas. Next time we stop, I'm switching with Boromir. Even listening to Merry and Pippin jabber on about apples has got to be better than this.
"…and yet, I was glad to do one small thing for her. Oh, that I could be worthy in her…"
"Wait," interrupted Legolas, gladly cutting off Gimli before he went into raptures again, "what did you do for her?"
"Nothing much. I just left her a small token of my esteem."
"Which was…?"
* * * *
Galadriel was doing her damnedest to avoid rolling her eyes at her husband, who was still picking at his roasted bird. "It was very nice to see Legolas again," said Celeborn, desperately trying to make small talk.
Galadriel nodded her head absently, and Celeborn took this as a sign he should continue. "Maybe we should invite some of the Mirkwood Elves down for the summer months?"
"Providing, of course, darling, that there will continue to be summer months. Or any months at all."
"I was attempting to be positive, my dear."
"Very well, if by some miracle the world is not overrun by darkness and evil by next summer, we will invite the Mirkwood Elves to stay with us. In fact, why don't we hold a party? We can invite Elrond and all the good wizards we can find as well. Gandalf can make those spinach quiches you're always raving about."
"There's no need to be cruel, Galadriel. Besides, we both know Gandalf is no longer among the living."
Galadriel shot her husband a withering glance and said, "If you think Gandalf would let himself die after a single battle in the shadows, then you've obviously never played squash with him. Regardless, I refuse to believe Gandalf is dead until I behold his body. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to check my Mirror."
Galadriel gracefully rose and left the table, avoiding Celeborn's puppy dog stare. She idly wondered, should Celeborn meet an "unfortunate accident", if Elrond would interested in dating again. Also providing Middle Earth survived long enough to make it worthwhile. Which was why she figured she should check on the Fellowship. She picked up her water pitcher (wedding gift from Saruman. She should probably get rid of it now that he was evil), and wended her way down to the Mirror, musing all the while.
Pity Gandalf was indisposed. That meant Legolas was currently the oldest and wisest of the travelers. Galadriel had to repress a derisive snort. Good luck there, she thought. At least Aragorn had some common sense, at least enough to counterbalance Boromir. The Ringbearer would be relatively safe with Aragorn, especially since Elrond had had the good sense to send the other three decoy Hobbits along. And then there was the Dwarf. The creepy, stalker Dwarf who had asked for her hair.
Galadriel sighed, and poured the water into her Mirror. She probably shouldn't have given her hair to the Dwarf. But it would have been rude to refuse, for it was, after all, only hair. Weird, nonetheless.
It was about this moment when she realized her feet were getting wet. "What…?" Galadriel looked around, surprised, and checked to see if her Mirror was leaking or overflowing. She hadn't poured that much, had she? She saw the clear water running down the sides, and peered into her Mirror, only to discover it wasn't her normal bowl. It was flat. It was glass. It was…an actual mirror? "What the…?"
* * * *
"…and so I figured a lady as lovely as her shouldn't have to look into a wavering water mirror to view her breathtaking beauty," finished Gimli.
Legolas looked at him, slack-jawed with horror, amazement, and no little admiration. "You replaced her Mirror with an actual mirror? Where did you get…?"
"We Dwarves are master craftsmen, Elf. You should know that by now."