I'm sorry this took me so long to write but here is chapter 11, written with the help of tigersmeleth. Thank you, mellon nin.
Aragorn led the way into one of the larger dining halls. The elves and dwarves were already there, having been shown the way by Faramir and Eowyn. Arwen and the children were also there, but there were three open seats for the king and his friends.
Aragorn introduced the children to Legolas and Gimli, and noted that Canden and Nath were fighting down grins for some reason. He could guess why, though, because he had told them over the course of winter the entire story of the War of the Ring as he knew it. Of course that included the antics of his friends, and the children would now probably not be so respectful as they would have if he had not told them the tale. But it was for that reason that he did not regret it because he wanted them to be friends.
Legolas looked over at Aragorn as he noted the amusement on several faces, and he caught the gleam in his friend's eye. "Have you been telling tales on me, mellon nin? Shall I tell them the ones I know on you?"
Aragorn laughed unrepentantly. "You are welcome to do so some other time, but for now how about you tell Arwen what you were telling me earlier."
Legolas looked over at his friend's wife and thought he caught something different about her but her eyes warned him not to ask. Instead he gave her a light embrace before taking his seat. "My la—"
"Little Leaf," she said warningly. "I shall call you that if you dare try to call me lady."
He cringed back playfully. "No, anything but that, Arwen!" Everyone chuckled, dwarves included. He started again, "Arwen, I was telling Aragorn about our trip down from Lasgalen. It was uneventful in that there were no outside attacks, but as for the inside…let's just say I did not think we were all going to make it down alive. Everyone knows that elves and dwarves don't get along.
"So there were Gimli and I trying to keep them from killing each other off. Therefore this silly dwarf and I had some nice innocent conversations…"
Flashback
(Three days after Legolas had arrived in Lasgalen with Gimli in tow)
Legolas tried to sit still, through yet another one of Gimli's renditions of his interactions with the Lady of the Wood. As amusing as he found Gimli's infatuation, twenty times was about eighteen too many times to hear about it.
"...She was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. After laying my eyes upon her coming down those stairs, I knew that I could not love another," Gimli was saying.
Thranduil chuckled. "I find it rather odd that a dwarf can love a being with such beauty as Galadriel."
Gimli harrumphed. "Careful, Master elf, I am a dwarf," At that, he thumped his chest loudly. "We dwarves have a great eye for beauty. Were we not the ones who helped the elves perfect the craft of metal refining and molding?"
"I beg to differ. 'Twas the elves with their gentle hands and eyes that formed delicate patterns on the metals that perfected that craft," Thranduil said.
"All right, Ada, Gimli" burst out Legolas. "How many times have we gone over this? Will the two of you please just accept that you will never agree?"
"Aye, laddie, I'll agree with ye on that one." said Gimli.
"Well then, shall we move on to pleasanter topics?" Thranduil said with a merry sparkle in his eye. "How about some of our prized Mirkwood wine, Master Dwarf? Nothing can be better than that," he said as he poured Gimli a cup.
Gimli took a sip, and his face took on an expression of pleasant surprise. "Aye, that is good wine, but Dwarven ale is heartier and more filling than any wine found on Middle earth!"
Legolas sighed as he drank his wine, watching his father gear up for another argument. *Will this ever end?* He thought to himself. *Remind me never to be in the same area with the two of them again.*
(Two weeks later)
Gimli and Legolas exchanged an annoyed glance. They had been on the road for two days and still the elves and dwarves could not manage even a polite comment about or to each other. Gimli thought hard and then gave an evil grin that made Legolas raise an eyebrow.
"You know, laddie," the dwarf began in a carrying voice, "I still think dwarven ale is better than any of your elvish drink. In fact, I am sure I could drink any champion you choose under the table, witness the time in Rohan…"
Legolas made abortive motions with his hands. He really did not want to be reminded of Rohan. On the other hand, he could tell that both of the parties following them were listening intently so he couldn't say that this was all in vain. He did have an ace up his sleeve though.
"Oh, that time. But let me remind you of a certain cave in Rohan, a rather dark one, with some rather interesting friends…"
Gimli groaned loudly. He was quite sure he never wanted to hear that topic raised again. From the corner of his eye, though, he could see slight grins on a few faces, so he kept his end of the duel up.
"Heh, sure, that cave. But remember our nice firey friend in a certain other cave?"
Legolas snorted contemptuously. "Was that what you meant when you said roaring fires and meat fresh off the bone? How about your lovely little run across the hills of Rohan? I seem to recall your boasts about how great a sprinter you are, but you seemed to have a bit of trouble keeping up. Your short legs perhaps slowing you? Or was it just the weight of your orc-hewers since you certainly wouldn't dare get near a tree with them, would you?"
Gimli grunted, "Well, Aragorn stayed ahead of you as well. Your long legs still couldn't pass him up, and your elf eyes missed Pippin's brooch."
He and Legolas turned mock-glares on each other in order to see what effect all of this was having on their respective friends. To the relief of them both, and the concealed amusement, a few of the dwarves and elves could be witnessed to smirk at each other in not-so-malevolent humor. Not quite everyone but it was an improvement, so they started the banter up again.
End Flashback
Aragorn and Arwen and their foster children were both rolling with laughter by the time the two friends had finished their tale. In point of fact, it had actually taken several days before all of the elves and dwarves had been won over, but it had been worth it.