NOTE: So sorry I didn't upload a new chapter yesterday! I was away in NYC the whole day with dad delivering our veggies to five CSAs. Hope this is good!
Chapter Fifteen: Gimli's Gift
The older Dwarf's initial shock lasted a few seconds before he found himself lifted off of his feet and swept into a powerful embrace that knocked the wind out of him. He could not believe his eyes that he the maiden behind them was none other than Síriel. How he missed her!
His son watched with amusement as the maiden embraced his father.
When Síriel put Glóin back on the ground, the Dwarf spent the next few moments regaining his breath. Then he smiled gruffly at her.
"Síriel, daughter of Gil-celeb, many years have passed since last we met. I have never forgotten you." he said.
The maiden smiled warmly at him.
"Neither have I. Whenever I pass through the corridors in the palace, I remember when I would sneak down and visit with you." she said. "Sixty-one years ago it was, and here we meet again!"
She was crouched down, and she embraced him once more.
"This is my son, Gimli." Glóin said, indicating the younger Dwarf.
Síriel bowed her head.
"Pleased to meet you." she said kindly.
"Gimli, this is Síriel, the maiden I told you about." Glóin said.
Síriel frowned. She had heard Gimli's name before.
"I trust it was all good things?" she said.
Gimli smiled at her.
"It was, my lady." he replied.
At that moment, Gil-celeb emerged from the dining hall. Upon seeing his daughter with the Dwarves, he smiled widely.
"Ah, I see you have found them, then." he said. "We met earlier in the day at the marketplace and the first thing he asked me was, 'Where is Síriel?' You were late, so I sent them to look for you."
Síriel rose.
"It was quite busy. There were so many people about. I spent most of my day standing in long lines." she replied. "I have finished now."
"Good. The food is ready. Let us eat." Gil-celeb told her.
He picked up the wrapped rolls of material and led the way to the dining hall. Síriel washed her face and hands carefully in the small washing room before she joined her sire and the two Dwarves at the table. A large table was set, and seated around it were all of the guests of Lake-town: the Elves of Mirkwood and the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain. Síriel thought it strange that none were not objecting to this, since there was a well-known feud between the two races.
'Perhaps the feud is over, then.' she thought. 'A fine thing it will be if it is not. The Ring is destroyed, and still we detest each other!'
A grand meal was prepared in their honor, and all enjoyed it immensely. Síriel, seated between her sire and Glóin, spent most of her time conversing with the older Dwarf. She lost her appetite for food since she had met up with her old friend. She listened intently as Glóin informed her of the work the Dwarves were doing in the Mountain, and she pictured before her everything he spoke of. She was surprised to find the other Elves who accompanied herself and her sire speaking with the Dwarves. Perhaps they were attempting to break the past hatred.
After the meal, the guests thanked their host profusely and went to their rooms. However, Síriel did not, and she joined the Dwarves as they went back to their guest hall, after taking permission from her sire. She wanted to spend as much time with Glóin as she could.
They spoke of what happened to them since last they saw each other. The Dwarves were busy mining, and they were prospering fairly. Síriel had little to say. It was the same thing mostly: she helped her sire rafting, and in her spare time went to the woods or by the riverside. However, she did not fail to tell him of her most recent adventures involving Legolas, but keeping to herself the part about their developing love. At this, Gimli took interest and listened closely.
"So you know Legolas, then?" he asked.
Síriel looked at him. It was the first time he had spoken to her since they were introduced to each other.
"I do. He is my Prince. Do you know him?" she said.
Gimli nodded.
"We were together on the Quest." he replied.
"I remember now! Legolas mentioned you once. He told me that you are his dear friend." she exclaimed suddenly.
Gimli smiled. He knew Síriel. Since their parting at the borders of Mirkwood, the Elf and Dwarf had been exchanging letters as they had promised each other. Legolas had written to him in detail of everything that had happened since he had met Síriel at the feast, including about the conspiracy he planned with Celebrindal, so Gimli knew exactly what was happening between his elven Prince friend and the maiden before him. In one of his letters, he had actually encouraged Legolas to speak to her and see if he could find out more about her past. He was glad that Legolas had done so. Now that Gimli could see Síriel, he pitied her. He hoped Legolas would love her passionately. She desperately needed it.
"Well, I must be off. It is late, and we will be leaving early tomorrow morning. This day has tired me quite a bit." Síriel said, rising.
Gimli stood.
"Wait! I have something for you!" he called to her.
She followed him to his room with a slightly puzzled expression on her face. After making sure no one had followed them, Gimli shut the door quickly. He wanted to speak to her privately.
"I know what is really happening between you and your beloved Prince Legolas. We exchange letters, and he has told me everything in detail, and I can almost feel I have witnessed it all." he said.
Síriel was shocked and slightly embarrassed.
"If you knew how much he loves you, Síriel. Half of my letters he is describing how he feels just when his glance falls on you once, so you can only begin to imagine what I have to read. When will you wed him and end my misery?" he joked with her, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Síriel blushed.
"I…do not know. He has not asked me. I did not know that he loves me this much, if you speak the truth." she said quietly.
Gimli laughed in his warm, gruff dwarfish manner.
"He is deeply in love with you, Síriel, deeply in love. You must believe me. He has told me much about you, and I have encouraged him to speak with you. Did you know he was hesitant to speak with you, afraid he would further injure your feelings? If I did not judge him, he would never have plucked up the courage to speak with you. A mighty warrior in the face of enemies, but weak at heart when it comes to women. Yet, all true warriors are like that. It shows that they truly care.
"However, I did not beckon you here to lavish generous praise on Legolas, though I would gladly spend the rest of my life doing so. I called you here because there is something I wish to give you, a gift." he said.
Síriel gave a small laugh.
"A gift? You wish to give me a gift?" she said quietly.
"I do. I have wanted to do so by way of Legolas. I wanted to send it to him and then have him give it to you, but since we have met, I think it is proper that I give it to you myself." he told her.
She watched as he took a small box from within his belongings. He turned to her, and with a small bow, placed the box in her hands.
"Well, open it." he said.
With trembling hands, Síriel lifted the lid slowly. On a padded velvet cushion there lay a golden necklace, and from it hung a single pendant. It was a jewel, a garnet, dark red. With it was a thick pair of matching bracelets. Gimli meant it for the feast she would attend with Legolas. She closed the box, leaned down, and kissed his forehead.
"You do not know how much this means to me, Gimli! You have been so kind to me! I thank you with all my heart!" she whispered.