Author's Notes: Thank you everyone who reviewed the first couple of
chapters to this story! It meant a lot especially as this is the first
thing that I posted. Shirebound was kind enough to proofread this for me.
So that cut down on a lot of punctuation and grammar errors for me. I hope
you enjoy this chapter as well! Thank you!
Part III Gimli:
Gimli stumped through the halls of Rivendell. The place seemed so fragile, like it would not hold up for 20 years much less a Century! Yet here it was, everlasting home of the elves, at least so long as the elves dwelt in Middle-earth. On closer inspection, even he would not let his pride get in the way; he had to admit the stone work was good.
He passed the Lady Arwen on the way to his own rooms. She smiled and inclined her head as they passed one another, and he did the same. Of all the elves here she alone seemed not to be mocking when she showed signs of respect.
He entered the rooms he shared with his father, Glóin. They were not the best nor the worst in Rivendell, and there had been no cause for complaint, as much as he had tried to find one.
"Where have you been?" demanded Glóin from one of the back rooms.
"Everywhere and nowhere," replied Gimli, noticing that his father seemed to be dressed in a more relaxed outerwear.
"I would have preferred you had come back sooner. My dear friend, Bilbo, has invited us to dine with him this afternoon. He requested you come along and I would not deny him," huffed his father. "Come along, hobbits do not like to be kept from their meals."
Gimli saw his father's beard twitch -- an indication that he found some amusement in his comment. Gimli himself had had no interaction with hobbits besides listening to their tale earlier in the week recounting the finding of the Ring. Soon after the Council, Lord Elrond had approached him asking if he would join the Ringbearer on the Quest of Mount Doom. He had accepted, but since then had seen neither hide nor hair of the hobbits.
They walked together down the halls on the ground level and soon stopped at one of the doors facing one of the many gardens. Glóin raised his hand and knocked -- more like banged -- on the door.
"Get that would you, Sam-lad?" called a voice, and the door soon swung open.
Gimli recognized him as the hobbit that had been at the Council but apparently had not been invited. He was also supposed to go on this journey of theirs. "Come in, sirs." he said, stepping aside.
These rooms were much cozier if a tad messier then their own. Gimli supposed these were Bilbo's as an odd assortment of things were placed all about the room -- things that one could only have collected if he had been here a while.
"Glóin! And you must be Gimli. Come in! Come in!" cried the elderly hobbit rushing to tidy up one of the tables. "Must get some things put away so that we may eat, it has been a while since I ate in here. And with the lads here they are usually in their own rooms or the Great Hall, you know. Frodo!" he called into one of the rooms.
"Please, please take a seat, food will be here in a moment. Fro-! Gracious, there you are lad. I want you to meet, Glóin, son of Gróin and his son Gimli."
"Yes," said Frodo executing a small bow to Glóin. "I believe I met you in the Great Hall, sir." He turned to Gimli. "And although I did not meet you, Gimli son of Glóin, I did see you in at the Council."
Glóin smiled and his eyes twinkled as he watch Bilbo bustle around. "Yes, yes, Bilbo I met your nephew," he said. "I believe I told you that."
"Yes, now that you mention it I believe you did," replied Bilbo sweeping many papers off the table into his hands. But most of them ended up on the floor. "This is Samwise Gamgee, expert gardener you know," said Bilbo as Sam bent to retrieve the fallen papers. Sam blushed slightly then he also bowed to them.
"Then we are only waiting on Merry and Pippin, and the food of course, then we shall be ready," said Bilbo.
"Uncle, Merry said they would not be joining us for luncheon. They had already made plans of some sort with Aragorn," said Frodo.
The food arrived and in short order they were all arranged around the table. Gimli was amazed at how much food one of these small folk could put away. He listened mostly as his father told Bilbo about all the doings of the Dwarfs and where those Bilbo had known were at now. The younger two didn't speak much and Gimli noticed that Frodo did not seem to have quite the appetite as his uncle or the young gardener.
Frodo looked up suddenly as though feeling Gimli's gaze and smiled. Rather than try to deny that he had been albeit rudely, staring he nodded in recognition. "Master Gimli, you are heading out with us?"
"Yes, I will be joining you. I know now who else is headed on this Journey, but I shall be glad to represent my folk -- and do my part for you." replied Gimli.
Frodo nodded. "I do not know who else for sure is to accompany us, I believe some members of our party are yet to be decided." He paused. "So you are staying here until we leave or are you going back to your home first?"
"I will remain here, though my father will be leaving in a few days time. I do not fancy making the trip back to the Lonely Mountain then here again, just to set out once more on a long trip," replied Gimli.
"No, I can see that would be tiring." Frodo glanced at Sam and smiled a bit sadly. "If I could go back for a bit I would, or at least that some with me would go."
Sam looked up and frowned slightly, but Frodo had already looked back at Gimli and continued. "Is it far to the Lonely Mountains? What do they look like? I have never seen mountains, as the Shire is made up mostly of rolling hills and green grass."
Gimli found himself talking to a rather rapt audience as he described his home as best he could. He realized as the conversation lulled that Frodo had quite expertly drawn him into talking and he had actually enjoyed it as the two younger hobbits had in turn described their own homes. He was not one for talking, and now they had spent over an hour discussing a topic of common interest.
The door banged open after the lunch things had been taken away, and two more hobbits entered. Gimli immediately noticed that these two seemed to have boundless energy and were not weighed down by the Shadow and things that were to come. These two seemed to live in the moment, where Frodo and Sam had both been melancholy and somewhat quiet -- as though their minds were some place else.
"Frodo! You have to come with us and see the garden outside of Strider's rooms!" exclaimed the smaller, green eyes dancing and hair standing pretty much on end. "Did you know that he grew up here, with the elves?"
Frodo smiled and his eyes were not quite so dark for a moment. "Yes, I knew that, but Pippin, you have been quite rude. This is Gimli son of Glóin." Bilbo and Glóin had retired to the balcony for a smoke.
The smaller hobbit turned around and grinned. "Pippin Took at your service!" He bowed as Frodo and had done.
"And your family's," replied Gimli returning the bow.
"Merry Brandybuck," said the other as he quickly glanced over Gimli, while making a bow.
Gimli had the distinct impression that he was under fierce scrutiny as he looked at the other hobbit. He looked back, blue eyes meeting his own. Merry must have been satisfied with whatever he had seen, for he smiled and took a cup off the table and went to fill it with tea.
That rest of their time spent in the hobbits' rooms was not quiet. The two younger hobbits had a lot to say about their latest excursions about Rivendell. They seemed to lighten Frodo's mood and he smiled and laughed along with them. Sam laughed too though Gimli was getting the impression that he was perhaps a lower class -- however the others didn't seem to treat him differently than they did one another.
It was an hour until dinnertime when Glóin decided it was best to leave. "Will we be seeing you in the Hall of Fire tonight?" he asked Bilbo.
"Perhaps, it is most likely as these lads haven't heard many of the tales that are to be told there." replied Bilbo walking them to the door.
Merry and Pippin were also leaving though they were only going a couple of doors down. "See you at dinner!" said Pippin as they entered their own rooms.
Gimli didn't see how they could be hungry, as they had a proper tea and then they had seemed to eat incessantly since then. His father and he were going back to their own rooms to get ready for dinner.
After a while Glóin looked at his son critically and asked, "What did you think of the hobbits? Quite eccentric creatures, are they not?"
Gimli harumphed for a bit considering. "I would say that they are not concerned -- at least not until recently -- with the things of this world. Not the evil of it anyway; they seem to be content with food and a pipe."
Glóin nodded. "Yes, it does not take much to please them. I visited Bilbo once in his own home, after the fall of Smaug, and I could see why the trip had been so rough for him, especially in the beginning. He was content with the simplest of things yet there he was on an adventure he very much did not want to be a part of! That is what concerns me about this new Quest. I would not see any of those happy folk exposed to the Shadow. They do not seem to be made for it."
"Yet, at the same time I think they are. What better beings than them to bear such a burden, if all that was disclosed in the Council is true? That Ring is evil and to hand it over to anyone that is not the purest of hearts would be folly," replied Gimli.
He thought of the Hobbits he had just met. Frodo definitely had a pure heart -- that was obvious in the way he interacted with the other hobbits. He seemed to grasp the situation the best, to understand what was going on. He was sure that was why the young hobbit's eyes were turned so often inwards, thinking perhaps about the things to come.
Sam, although he too was often not very focused on the here and now, was preoccupied with watching over the others -- particularly Frodo. If Sam could keep Frodo comfortable and an eye on him (for he would surely know if his master was having any trouble with It), just maybe this foolish Quest could be fulfilled. Others in their Company would have other things to worry about.
Merry had been quick to judge Gimli and he had a feeling that he had not wholly that one's favor. Perhaps time would allow him a chance to prove himself. After all, if they were to travel together they should trust one another.
Pippin had been cheerful and talkative the whole afternoon. Gimli wondered if the talking would be annoying on this endeavor. Yet, he had drawn the most smiles and laughs from Frodo. That was what Frodo needed, laughter to hold the darkness at bay.
"I think they will be quite fitting for the task," said Gimli. "although it is wise that stronger warriors be sent along with them as protection. I believe they are adequate for the task of bearing such evil and supporting one another in that."
He did not say it out loud, but Gimli was not so proud that he did not realize what this Quest might cost. He knew that no dwarf possessed the strength to carry that Ring for the length it must be endured. He knew that they would be corrupted by It. No, the Wise had chosen correctly -- the Ring was placed in the right hands. If this Quest had a chance at all, this was it.
Part III Gimli:
Gimli stumped through the halls of Rivendell. The place seemed so fragile, like it would not hold up for 20 years much less a Century! Yet here it was, everlasting home of the elves, at least so long as the elves dwelt in Middle-earth. On closer inspection, even he would not let his pride get in the way; he had to admit the stone work was good.
He passed the Lady Arwen on the way to his own rooms. She smiled and inclined her head as they passed one another, and he did the same. Of all the elves here she alone seemed not to be mocking when she showed signs of respect.
He entered the rooms he shared with his father, Glóin. They were not the best nor the worst in Rivendell, and there had been no cause for complaint, as much as he had tried to find one.
"Where have you been?" demanded Glóin from one of the back rooms.
"Everywhere and nowhere," replied Gimli, noticing that his father seemed to be dressed in a more relaxed outerwear.
"I would have preferred you had come back sooner. My dear friend, Bilbo, has invited us to dine with him this afternoon. He requested you come along and I would not deny him," huffed his father. "Come along, hobbits do not like to be kept from their meals."
Gimli saw his father's beard twitch -- an indication that he found some amusement in his comment. Gimli himself had had no interaction with hobbits besides listening to their tale earlier in the week recounting the finding of the Ring. Soon after the Council, Lord Elrond had approached him asking if he would join the Ringbearer on the Quest of Mount Doom. He had accepted, but since then had seen neither hide nor hair of the hobbits.
They walked together down the halls on the ground level and soon stopped at one of the doors facing one of the many gardens. Glóin raised his hand and knocked -- more like banged -- on the door.
"Get that would you, Sam-lad?" called a voice, and the door soon swung open.
Gimli recognized him as the hobbit that had been at the Council but apparently had not been invited. He was also supposed to go on this journey of theirs. "Come in, sirs." he said, stepping aside.
These rooms were much cozier if a tad messier then their own. Gimli supposed these were Bilbo's as an odd assortment of things were placed all about the room -- things that one could only have collected if he had been here a while.
"Glóin! And you must be Gimli. Come in! Come in!" cried the elderly hobbit rushing to tidy up one of the tables. "Must get some things put away so that we may eat, it has been a while since I ate in here. And with the lads here they are usually in their own rooms or the Great Hall, you know. Frodo!" he called into one of the rooms.
"Please, please take a seat, food will be here in a moment. Fro-! Gracious, there you are lad. I want you to meet, Glóin, son of Gróin and his son Gimli."
"Yes," said Frodo executing a small bow to Glóin. "I believe I met you in the Great Hall, sir." He turned to Gimli. "And although I did not meet you, Gimli son of Glóin, I did see you in at the Council."
Glóin smiled and his eyes twinkled as he watch Bilbo bustle around. "Yes, yes, Bilbo I met your nephew," he said. "I believe I told you that."
"Yes, now that you mention it I believe you did," replied Bilbo sweeping many papers off the table into his hands. But most of them ended up on the floor. "This is Samwise Gamgee, expert gardener you know," said Bilbo as Sam bent to retrieve the fallen papers. Sam blushed slightly then he also bowed to them.
"Then we are only waiting on Merry and Pippin, and the food of course, then we shall be ready," said Bilbo.
"Uncle, Merry said they would not be joining us for luncheon. They had already made plans of some sort with Aragorn," said Frodo.
The food arrived and in short order they were all arranged around the table. Gimli was amazed at how much food one of these small folk could put away. He listened mostly as his father told Bilbo about all the doings of the Dwarfs and where those Bilbo had known were at now. The younger two didn't speak much and Gimli noticed that Frodo did not seem to have quite the appetite as his uncle or the young gardener.
Frodo looked up suddenly as though feeling Gimli's gaze and smiled. Rather than try to deny that he had been albeit rudely, staring he nodded in recognition. "Master Gimli, you are heading out with us?"
"Yes, I will be joining you. I know now who else is headed on this Journey, but I shall be glad to represent my folk -- and do my part for you." replied Gimli.
Frodo nodded. "I do not know who else for sure is to accompany us, I believe some members of our party are yet to be decided." He paused. "So you are staying here until we leave or are you going back to your home first?"
"I will remain here, though my father will be leaving in a few days time. I do not fancy making the trip back to the Lonely Mountain then here again, just to set out once more on a long trip," replied Gimli.
"No, I can see that would be tiring." Frodo glanced at Sam and smiled a bit sadly. "If I could go back for a bit I would, or at least that some with me would go."
Sam looked up and frowned slightly, but Frodo had already looked back at Gimli and continued. "Is it far to the Lonely Mountains? What do they look like? I have never seen mountains, as the Shire is made up mostly of rolling hills and green grass."
Gimli found himself talking to a rather rapt audience as he described his home as best he could. He realized as the conversation lulled that Frodo had quite expertly drawn him into talking and he had actually enjoyed it as the two younger hobbits had in turn described their own homes. He was not one for talking, and now they had spent over an hour discussing a topic of common interest.
The door banged open after the lunch things had been taken away, and two more hobbits entered. Gimli immediately noticed that these two seemed to have boundless energy and were not weighed down by the Shadow and things that were to come. These two seemed to live in the moment, where Frodo and Sam had both been melancholy and somewhat quiet -- as though their minds were some place else.
"Frodo! You have to come with us and see the garden outside of Strider's rooms!" exclaimed the smaller, green eyes dancing and hair standing pretty much on end. "Did you know that he grew up here, with the elves?"
Frodo smiled and his eyes were not quite so dark for a moment. "Yes, I knew that, but Pippin, you have been quite rude. This is Gimli son of Glóin." Bilbo and Glóin had retired to the balcony for a smoke.
The smaller hobbit turned around and grinned. "Pippin Took at your service!" He bowed as Frodo and had done.
"And your family's," replied Gimli returning the bow.
"Merry Brandybuck," said the other as he quickly glanced over Gimli, while making a bow.
Gimli had the distinct impression that he was under fierce scrutiny as he looked at the other hobbit. He looked back, blue eyes meeting his own. Merry must have been satisfied with whatever he had seen, for he smiled and took a cup off the table and went to fill it with tea.
That rest of their time spent in the hobbits' rooms was not quiet. The two younger hobbits had a lot to say about their latest excursions about Rivendell. They seemed to lighten Frodo's mood and he smiled and laughed along with them. Sam laughed too though Gimli was getting the impression that he was perhaps a lower class -- however the others didn't seem to treat him differently than they did one another.
It was an hour until dinnertime when Glóin decided it was best to leave. "Will we be seeing you in the Hall of Fire tonight?" he asked Bilbo.
"Perhaps, it is most likely as these lads haven't heard many of the tales that are to be told there." replied Bilbo walking them to the door.
Merry and Pippin were also leaving though they were only going a couple of doors down. "See you at dinner!" said Pippin as they entered their own rooms.
Gimli didn't see how they could be hungry, as they had a proper tea and then they had seemed to eat incessantly since then. His father and he were going back to their own rooms to get ready for dinner.
After a while Glóin looked at his son critically and asked, "What did you think of the hobbits? Quite eccentric creatures, are they not?"
Gimli harumphed for a bit considering. "I would say that they are not concerned -- at least not until recently -- with the things of this world. Not the evil of it anyway; they seem to be content with food and a pipe."
Glóin nodded. "Yes, it does not take much to please them. I visited Bilbo once in his own home, after the fall of Smaug, and I could see why the trip had been so rough for him, especially in the beginning. He was content with the simplest of things yet there he was on an adventure he very much did not want to be a part of! That is what concerns me about this new Quest. I would not see any of those happy folk exposed to the Shadow. They do not seem to be made for it."
"Yet, at the same time I think they are. What better beings than them to bear such a burden, if all that was disclosed in the Council is true? That Ring is evil and to hand it over to anyone that is not the purest of hearts would be folly," replied Gimli.
He thought of the Hobbits he had just met. Frodo definitely had a pure heart -- that was obvious in the way he interacted with the other hobbits. He seemed to grasp the situation the best, to understand what was going on. He was sure that was why the young hobbit's eyes were turned so often inwards, thinking perhaps about the things to come.
Sam, although he too was often not very focused on the here and now, was preoccupied with watching over the others -- particularly Frodo. If Sam could keep Frodo comfortable and an eye on him (for he would surely know if his master was having any trouble with It), just maybe this foolish Quest could be fulfilled. Others in their Company would have other things to worry about.
Merry had been quick to judge Gimli and he had a feeling that he had not wholly that one's favor. Perhaps time would allow him a chance to prove himself. After all, if they were to travel together they should trust one another.
Pippin had been cheerful and talkative the whole afternoon. Gimli wondered if the talking would be annoying on this endeavor. Yet, he had drawn the most smiles and laughs from Frodo. That was what Frodo needed, laughter to hold the darkness at bay.
"I think they will be quite fitting for the task," said Gimli. "although it is wise that stronger warriors be sent along with them as protection. I believe they are adequate for the task of bearing such evil and supporting one another in that."
He did not say it out loud, but Gimli was not so proud that he did not realize what this Quest might cost. He knew that no dwarf possessed the strength to carry that Ring for the length it must be endured. He knew that they would be corrupted by It. No, the Wise had chosen correctly -- the Ring was placed in the right hands. If this Quest had a chance at all, this was it.
