Gimli''s POV

I smile as it becomes clear by the tears that pour down my lad's face that he has been touched by my gesture, though I suspect part of it may be that he is relieved that there is nothing to worry over, even though Mam and I both have been telling him so time and again that everything was fine. Still I should have heeded Mam's advice and spoken up earlier to ease his mind, for I know his nature and his tendency to let worries grow out of proportion. I can also see he is holding himself in check to prevent himself leaping into my arms, so I shake my head and laugh and then reach toward him, pulling him close. He is careful to lay his head on my right shoulder, staying carefully away from the left and when I look up at Mam I can see she is dabbing at her eyes as well.

"Did I not say there was nothing wrong?" She gently chides. "And here I am a teary mess and the dishes still need washing. Nay I will finish them on my own so the two of ye can talk," she holds up a hand when Legolas starts to rise to follow her. "Ye needn't worry, I'll be happy to let ye do them on your own tomorrow."

We all chuckle at this and then I am left alone with my elfling, who is now seated at my feet. I am happy to see that my surprise has pleased him, though for some reason he feels the need to apologize again.

"I am sorry I ruined your plans," he says. "I was afraid something was wrong between us."

I let a hand run over his hair, shaking my head once again.

"Listen to me, lamb. Ye have done nothing at all wrong. Ye had reason to be concerned, so it was right for ye to speak of that. I should have noticed ye were worried and eased your mind sooner, so there is no reason whatsoever that ye should be apologizing to me. Ye need to learn not to apologize and take blame on yourself when there is no reason for it. Is that plain?"

"Yes, Gimli. It is plain. I'm s…" he begins, but then changes it when I tug a lock of his hair. "ow! Sure you are right!"

"Ye better believe it, laddie! I am always right," I say, ignoring my traitorous mother's snort from the kitchen. "And something else for ye to remember: if I have an issue with ye, I will never leave ye in any doubt about it and once it has been settled and dealt with, we will not revisit it again. There are no grudges between us. Understand?"

He nods

"Good lad!," I say, and then lift his chin so that he must look into my face and see how serious I am. Speaking softly I add, "Furthermore, we are all as we were designed by our maker, meaning we all grow and mature at different rates and that is perfectly agreeable to me. I wouldn'a change a thing about ye even if I could so ye needn't worry that. I will never tire of ye, child, no matter how much bother ye manage to get into or how prone ye are to youthful foolishness."

"Really?" he asks, as two fresh tears leak down his face, causing my own vision to blur with unshed tears.

"Nay, I've changed my mind," I tease, handing him Mam's dishrag to wipe his eyes. "I'd toughen ye up a bit if I could, ye sappy thing."

He let's out a sudden burst of laughter, as I run a sleeve over my own eyes.

"You should talk," he makes fun, "some terrifying dwarven warrior you are! Besides you started this with your sentimental family tattoos."

Here he becomes serious again adding, "It is a beautiful work of art, and a beautiful gesture as well and one of the most touching things anyone has ever done for me. Thank you Elvellon."

"Ye are most welcome lamb, though there is no need for thanks. It is what needed to be done to properly acknowledge our special relationship. It is a dwarven tradition after all."

"Then it is a lovely tradition and I appreciate being included in it. Did you create the design yourself?"

"That I did," I tell him. "Here now lamb, let me get the original sketch and I'll tell ye the significance of each part."

I go into my office where I originally drafted the design and bring it out to show him. I point out each element and the thoughts behind them beginning by saying that I chose elven and dwarven weapons combined as the main theme because of the way we began our time together and how we were able to combine our fighting skills to make a nearly unbeatable team with the axe head being on bottom symbolizing my constant support and stability. The leaf on the dagger hilt is a play on his name and the vine coming from it and wrapping around the axe means his acceptance of me as a parent in an honorary way. The small design near the top of the dagger blade is a dwarven eternity knot, meaning our relationship will never end, even at death.

The basic shape of the whole thing is meant to resemble an anchor-one that will be set in the far west eventually. It is a promise to sail with the lad if the time for him to do so comes before I go to my long rest, but I keep that thought to myself for now. There will be time enough to discuss that later if it becomes too apparent that he is no longer able to endure in Middle Earth, but now is not that time.

He seems fascinated by the many facets that have been included in the design, and the whole idea of symbolic tattooing in general.

"Did Lord Gloin have a mark done when you were born? And what about Dorbryn?"

"Aye he did, for both of us," I answer, "but only I have the corresponding mark. Females are not normally inked for fear of the ink causing problems with the development of an unborn child should she choose to bear children."

"Besides that, pregnancy and child birth mark a woman's body in a way no ink master can," Mam says having returned from her task in the kitchen.

Legolas smiles at her jest and passes her a freshly filled pipe, but continues with the questions.

"What is a corresponding mark?" he asks.

"It just means that a son would have a matching mark done when he comes of age only done somewhere on the arms or back rather than over the heart as a promise to care for his parents in their old age. Ye have seen mine before. The family ones that are on my lower back."

"It is just like the one Lord Gloin had when you were born?"

"It is," I say. "That is the custom."

He looks so thoughtful then, that a thought comes to mind that hadn't occurred to me until just now, so I add, "In our case, that practice will have to be suspended since it is not the custom of your people. Besides that, we do not know how safe such a thing would be for ye or if it would even work with your softer skin and rapid healing. Besides, lad, ye are not yet of age."

A brief look of disappointment crosses his features so I reach out to pat his cheek.

"Never mind, Lamb. Ye don't need to be marked to prove your commitment to me. Ye have already shown it to me in a thousand other ways, and that is enough for me."

Mam smiles in approval of my words, and reaches out to pat my hand.

"Well said lad. Now how about we raise a tankard in celebration of this occasion before we head off to bed? If the two of ye intend to work at the locks tomorrow, ye'll be wanting to get an early start."

She starts to rise to get it, but Legolas leaps up first and places a staying hand on her shoulder. Again Mam shares a look with me, and nods in approval, for this action shows that my elfling knows the customs of his dwarven family. It is proper that a youngster should pour ale for his elders, serving himself last, especially on formal occasions such as this has turned out to be even though it was not planned that way. Any well brought up dwarfling would know this, and for my lad to recall this ritual and choose to participate in it shows his great respect for our family and our culture.

He returns finally, with three tankards and a pitcher of ale, setting them on a small table beside Mam's chair. Mam is served first, as is her right as the matriarch of our clan, and me second to give tribute to my role as his honorary father. After that he pours for himself and we all raise our tankards.

"To family," is Mam's simple toast, and then we sit back to enjoy the fine black ale, and then Legolas seems to remember something.

"Don't tell Greirr about this," he snickers, almost to himself.

"Eh?"

"This is my third tankard of ale today," he explains, "Greirr didn't think that was a good idea earlier."

"Why ever not?" I ask, perplexed, but he only shrugs and I decide to let it go for now. Instead we enjoy the ale and the companionship and Mam again suggests that we call it an early night if we intend to go to the locks in the morning, reminding me that I had meant to speak of my plans for tomorrow.

"I have a task tomorrow that I could use your help with, Lamb," I tell him.

"That is if it is agreeable to ye to spend the day working with me."

"Indeed it is, Elvellon," he says, "I'm happy to help in any way I can."

"Then let us get some rest," I say. "As Mam says we'll want to be getting an early start."

He nods, and then picks up the parchment with my original sketch on it.

"May I keep it?" he asks shyly.

"Of course ye may keep it," I tell him, leaning to kiss him on top of the head. "I have no need for it anymore. "Sleep well, lamb."

The next morning we watch the sun rise from the top of the locks having been joined by Greirr who was keen to join us in our endeavors for the day. Once the sun has risen, I point down to the canal and to a small path that runs along beside it.

"That, lads, is a towpath," I inform them. "It is where a horse, mule or pony, or even a person will walk to tow a loaded raft down the canal. With the goods being loaded on a raft in the water rather than a wagon, I estimate that an animal will be able to pull up to fifty times more weight than it would over land."

"Meaning fewer trips need to be made," Greirr states. "It really is a clever design."

"It is indeed," Legolas agrees, "but the animals will have to be trained to pull it, for it will be different than pulling a wagon that they are used to."

"Exactly right lamb," I say, "which is where ye come in. Ye'll know better how to talk to those beasties than I would so I'd like ye to take the lead in showing us how to best go about it. Greirr and I will be your assistants."

We spend the day working with a couple of horses that have been brought here for that purpose, beginning by getting the animals used to the new harness and the long tow rope. My elfling has no trouble at all convincing them to cooperate and accomplishes in half a day what would have likely taken me a week to manage. By the end of the day we are able to all three ride on the raft as one of the horses pulls us on the canal with only a few simple commands from my lad.

Greirr is completely amazed at this feat, and I laugh and clap my lad on the back as we make our way back home.

"I knew I kept ye around for a reason!" I tell him. "That was brilliant, lad."

He flushes at the compliment but it is easy to see that he is pleased. Over the next several days Greirr and Legolas continue their work with the animals while I have to attend to other less interesting aspects of running a successful demesne. Still it is good to see the two or them getting on well and evidently over any rifts that might have come between them earlier on in this visit. That is why I am surprised when Greirr comes to me right in the middle of a meeting with some trade advisors interrupting our talks over how to begin negotiations with the folks of Edoras.

It is clear to see he very concerned over something, so I call a brief halt to the meeting and step into the corridor.

"Whatever is amiss lad?" I ask, worry beginning to set in, for I can see Greirr is quite upset.

"It is about Legolas," he begins, clearly in turmoil, "I should have said something sooner, but…"

"Said something about what Greirr?" I say, starting to panic now.

"You must come, Uncle," he urges. "hurry!"