The Glittering Caves were quite a sight to look upon, and an even better place to visit, should you be a friend among the dwarven colony there. The spectacular jeweled caverns were now filled with magnificent halls and pillars, giant stone quarters for many dwarves, and room for their mining. The steady banging of metal upon stone rang through the halls, echoing off the walls of stone and drifting to every ear of every dwarf that now dwelled within those caves.
But it wasn't such an odd sound to hear, or such a painfully annoying noise to bear… but rather, it was music to the ears. Namely because of the outcome of each mining project, but that's another story.
Past the seventh hall… down a row of pillars, and to the left, down yet another hall.. A stream of golden light flooded through the opening of a doorway. And several feet into the doorway, sat Gimli Elf-friend upon a throne of gold. The throne itself was three times as big as the dwarf, and twice as wide, with jewels embedded on the very top and in the arm rests. The Lord of the Glittering Caves he was now called, having led a party of dwarves from Erebor to Aglarond after the downfall of Sauron, and occupied the Glittering Caves of the White Mountains behind the fortress of Helm's Deep. There they founded their own colony and proceeded to do great things for those around them. For instance, during the Siege of Minas Tirith, the gates had been smashed by Grond the battering ram. Not too long ago the dwarves of the Glittering Caves made brand new gates for King Elessar, forged out of mithril and steel.
Gimli was in a particularly good mood this summer day as he listened to the distant clanging of the mining that was taking place a few levels below him. However, for a while now he had missed his father, who had remained at the Lonely Mountain while he founded the colony at the Glittering Caves. A trip to Erebor had already been planned, and the date set was in fact today. The dwarven colony were happy to be going on a trip back home for a little while, even if the realization that they'd have to travel back to the Glittering Caves came sooner than expected.
Standing from his seat, Gimli gazed around at the two piles of treasure on either side of his throne. His usual urge to feel the gold pieces slip through his fingers was suddenly gone, and he felt a different urge, a different wanting. He missed his home, and his father Gloin. However he knew he must realize that his father, like himself, would not be around forever. And eventually he would have to deal without him. Walking out of the doorway and down the hall, he stopped at the end and waved over one of his most trusted companions, Tirnoh Mountainhelm.
Tirnoh was one of the most trusted dwarves from Erebor, and was one of the tallest of the dwarves. He was heavy set as most of his kind, and his beard hung low to his chest, its golden color blending in colorfully with the jewels of the caverns. A great battle hammer was strapped across his back, and he was quite the intimidating figure, and not one you would want to run into on the battlefield.
"Ah, my lord. How can I help you?"
Gimli had to look up to Tirnoh, but he didn't feel the slight bit intimidated. After all, the two were friends, and need not worry about hostilities.
"Aye, the trip to Erebor is approaching. And if by some chance I am not able to lead the party, then I have chosen you to lead them." Putting a hand on Tirnoh's shoulder, the dwarf smiled brightly. It was an honor to be chosen to lead such a party, should the leader fall astray for some reason. Tirnoh smiled back in response, placing his strong hand on Gimli's shoulder in return. "I would lead them well Gimli Gloin's son, for your's and their sake."
"I would hope that to be so, my friend." Gimli moved away from the other dwarf, and proceeded to the opening of the cave. At the very mouth of the Glittering Caves there lied a natural stone gate, that had been carved by Gimli's party of dwarves into the shape of a giant door. And on the front of the door there was the carving of a horse and a rider, a white tree with seven stars surrounding it, and an elven ship of some kind. The outline of the carvings seemed to glow faintly in the sunlight, and even brighter so when the moon shone brightly at night.
The stone door was open wide, and Gimli passed under the high arch. Climbing upon a nearby boulder, he looked far ahead at the distant outline of Helm's Deep and the figures of Rohirrim, and even some dwarves from his own colony, that were helping rebuild the Deeping Wall of Helm's Deep. Gimli smiled faintly in remembrance of the Battle of Helm's Deep.
Suddenly, a horn sounded from inside of the caves. It was Tirnoh. The quest back to Erebor was about to begin.