Disclaimer:  See the page before.  I don't like to repeat. 

Author's Note:       

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Tthank you to Little Gavroche and Kellen, Gimli is my favorite too as you will see!  As for Cannon Police this is a fanfic, so the details aren't perfect but hey, they aren't too bad.  I'm going to throw a twist in the story; I wouldn't like it to be mistaken for a Legomance!  I apologize for how long this took!   Also, sorry it's short, but hey I need to set up the next couple chapters so here it is.  Thanks go to Pinache, Starcraft and Legolas of Mirkwood.  You guys got this story going again.  Well I'll shut up now and let you enjoy…

            Gimli set about preparing breakfast.  Inana entered the room quietly behind him.  He jumped as she spoke. 

            "You know your elf friend is more than a little talkative." 

            Gimli shook his head, "You should not sneak up on me lass, if I had had my axe…"  He frowned, and then laughed at her comment, "He certainly is.  Why do you think I didn't want to just take him to Rivendell?" 

            "The weather perhaps."  Her hand searched for the chair and sat as she found it, picking up the worn apron she had been mending.  

            "No," Gimli leaned down conspiritaly, "The place is full of elves and they are all as bad as he is."  He nodded knowingly.  Though Inana could not see his expression she laughed at the tone of his voice.  Legolas had been somewhat trying for both of them.  Gimli cared deeply for his friend, but that didn't mean he couldn't enjoy a little humor.  Legolas certainly did.  They're solution to the elf had been to have bestowed upon him the task of watching Nodin.  The little one was very active and kept the elf's attention occupied. 

            The watery sunlight was a welcome relief after the night's storm.  So was the elf's return to consciousness.  Outside the wind tore across the barren field spotted with rocks and melting snow.     Gimli set the dish on the table and sat next to the girl. 

            "What are you doing out here lass?  This is no place for you."  He nodded at the empty field. 

            "I imagine it is because I am not able to back down."  She shrugged.  Gimli fell silent a moment, afraid to intrude on the past. 

            "But the little one…"  He started, but Inara cut him off her eyes darkening. 

            "Nodin is far safer here than anywhere else in Middle Earth."  Gimli watched her for a moment, but said nothing more.  He stood leaning on the table and gripped the tray. 

            "You will drop it, give it to me."  Inara reached towards him, running her hands down his arm until her fingers met the tray.  Gimli shook his head, then realizing she couldn't see him spoke. 

            "I'm fine lass.  It takes more than a scratch to stop a dwarf!"  He took a deep breath and limped to the room. 

            Behind him Inara called out, "A miracle has happened I've finally met someone as stubborn as myself."  Gimli grinned and set the tray down next to Legolas.   He reached over and picked up Nodin from the bed as he reached for the new toy that had presented itself. 

            "Now lad, a dwarf is not a child's toy."  Gimli shook his finger in front of the him.  Nodin reached for it giggling.  Legolas chuckled at them, but winced as it moved the wound in his side.  "How are you feeling?"  Gimli looked the elf over in concern.  Legolas was pale, but he managed to smile at the dwarf. 

            "I believe I once again owe you my life my friend.  My father certainly will not approve."  Gimli laughed, concern fading.   

            "If you can say that, you can eat your breakfast."  It took some time for him to eat even that.  Finally the elf pushed it away. 

            "I'm not a dwarf you know."  He pointed out smiling slightly. 

            "I have always pitied you for that."  Gimli responded smiling.  He stood taking the tray and turned to leave. 

            "Gimli…"  Legolas called after him.  He turned back.  "Is it safe here?  We won't harm Inara by being here?" 

            "It will be fine."  He paused a moment before responding to the elf's unasked question.  "We will be here for some time.  You were badly wounded."  He hated to say it so bluntly, but Legolas didn't say any more, closing his eyes as if to sleep.  Gimli knew better, this would be a failure in the elf's eyes.  He shook his head.  They had no choice to impose upon Inara for some time yet.  He would not do this by choice, but there was no other recourse.  Nodin stirred against his shoulder, reminding him of the infant's presence. 

            Gimli limped quietly to the door and shut it behind him, putting Nodin in the cradle near the fire.  Inara continued her sewing without looking up. 

            "You friend is very lucky." 

            "Aye, it seems all elves are, though not so much as dwarves."  Gimli said sitting next to her.  "Can we repay you for this?  We owe you much." 

            He looked down at his hands, her eyes could be almost disconcerting at times.  As the silence stretched out he looked up and caught an almost wistful smile on her face. 

            "Do not worry Master Dwarf.  You have no need to repay me.  Nodin and I live fairly quietly here."  As if to disprove that statement Nodin began to yell, demanding attention he obviously thought he ought to be receiving.  Inara followed the mantle of the fireplace to the cradle and began to rock him.  It took little time for him to become quiet again. 

            "But surely it isn't safe here.  Sauron is defeated but there are still many Orcs and even Uruk-hai.   Surely we attest to that." 

            Her eyes took on that dark look he had seen earlier.   "I can protect myself and my son, Master Dwarf.  What you say is true, many villains still roam Middle Earth whether they are Orcs or bandits they still plague many who might live in peace."  She carefully made her way back to her chair, settling Nodin against her shoulder.  "Heroes may destroy the greatest of the villains, but many still remain to trouble us." 

            "Of course, but why not go somewhere you might be protected?"  Distress crept into Gimli's voice.  Inara had been much kinder than many who lived in these hills might have been to an elf and a dwarf.  What she said made no sense to him.  There seemed to be something even more painful behind it, hidden by what seemed to be stubborn pride.  "But lass to wager your life for pride!"  As soon as he said it he knew those were the wrong words.

            "If you think I would risk Nodin's life for pride!"  She bit off the rest of her sentence, her voice raised.  Her head turned to the door of the bedroom for a moment, listening.  After she had reassured herself that they hadn't disturbed the sleeping elf she continued in a quieter tone.  "I do not believe you understand me much.  Yes, there are Orcs in the hills, but they've learned better than to trouble me."  Her smile was bitter. 

            Gimli reached out and touched her hand.  It troubled him to see this.  Inara flinched but didn't pull back.  Gimli's thoughts turned to his own family.  There had been a younger relative who as a girl had fought nearly everyone.  She hadn't shown weakness or let them close.  She had been the first to go down in an incursion of goblins.  The memory still pained him. 

            "If you need us, just ask.  Even my friend is helpful at times."  Gimli stood, leaving her sitting there, rocking Nodin. 

            "Someday."  She said as he walked toward the door.  He glanced at her before he pushed it open and stepped into the cold wind.  He turned his thoughts away from the slight woman barely more than a girl rocking a baby by the fire with a past shadowed by something he couldn't imagine.  They would need more firewood, and he hoped to check to make sure the house was sturdy and without problems.  There was a true storm coming.  He could feel it in the cold wind rolling off the mountains.