Chapter Text
Gimli walked through the woods of Lorien, with Legolas at his side. They had spent many days thus employed, and had found surprising points of agreement, both in aesthetics and philosophy. Their growing friendship was cemented when Legolas solemnly attempted to apologize for an insult given years before, when Gimli’s father was captured in Mirkwood. He was shocked when Gimli responded with a roar of laughter that caused several nearby birds to take flight.
“Ah, lad, I could hardly hold a grudge for that, now could I? That story has made you the punchline of jokes in most of the Dwarven kingdoms! My mother, who you so casually dismissed, is considered one of the great beauties of our age!”
Legolas stared at him blankly, trying to puzzle out the response. After a few moments, understanding dawned, and he began to chuckle. “So, that is why there is so much whispering when I visit Erebor. I started avoiding envoy duty decades ago, thinking I had done something wrong.”
Gimli continue to laugh, and clouted him on the shoulder. They continued to walk, but most of the tension between them was gone.
A few days later, Legolas stopped Gimli when they had wandered far enough from the rest of their companions to avoid being overheard. “My friend, I wonder if you would explain something to me.”
“Depends on the question, doesn’t it? I’ll do what I can, but there are things I cannot explain to one who is not a Dwarf, and things that I simply don’t know the answer to.”
Legolas smiled faintly. “I understand. It concerns Frodo. After we emerged from Moria, you insisted on taking him to gaze into the Mirrormere. I know that it is a place sacred to your people, and wondered that you wished to show it to him.”
Gimli sighed deeply. “I had a feeling it wouldn’t be an easy question. Let us walk, and I will see what I can tell you.”
The two began to stride along paths now familiar, but turned onto quiet, unused ways. Gimli remained silent for a long time, then began to speak quietly.
“I know that you were there, at Erebor, after the dragon was slain. You saw the conflict before the battle. King Thorin’s madness, and his treatment of Master Baggins. What you may not have known was that King Thorin was courting the hobbit, and had been since before his stay in your father’s dungeons.”
Legolas shook his head. “I had no idea.”
“Well, that was rather the point. In the dungeons, they didn’t want to provide additional leverage. Their reasoning in Laketown was similar. Thorin’s position was a bit precarious, and he didn’t want to cause any additional scandal by openly courting one who was not of our people. And…well, from what I’ve been told, the dragon sickness was creeping in already.”
“Was he trying to hoard Bilbo away, or push him away in favor of the treasure?” Legolas asked.
“I truly don’t know. I’ve asked many questions over the years, but this is considered one of the most shameful things my line has ever done. I wasn’t there, and those who were are loathe to speak of it.”
Legolas stopped, and stared at him in shook. “Your line? You are of the House of Durin?”
A spark of humor came into Gimli’s eyes. “A Prince who introduces himself as merely ‘of Mirkwood’ has no room to talk. Most of the members of Thorin’s company were his kin. Actually, I’m technically sixth in line for the throne of Erebor.”
He shook his head slowly. “No, I suppose that’s no true anymore. With Balin and Uncle Oin gone, I would be fourth.”
Legolas watched him quietly, as grief settled over his friend like a cloak.
“You know, when the Company set out, I was eighth, and there were three young, vibrant heirs in front of me. Mahal, how I pleaded to be included. And look at me now. If Stonehelm can’t get some bloody heirs of his own, they’ll start hounding me to marry and settle down.”
Gimli passed a hand over his eyes, then rose to his feet and began to walk again.
“Ah, bugger that. You wanted to hear about Thorin’s muck up, not my domestic issues. In any case, Thorin was rather quickly going mad. He remembered enough to give Bilbo Baggins that pretty mithril shirt that young Frodo is currently sporting. Now, that happened to be the most valuable item in the hoard at that moment, since the Arkenstone was conveniently missing. According to traditional courting rituals, the giving and acceptance of that gift could be considered a battlefield marriage.”
Legolas glanced over at Gimli, then looked ahead. “So, when Thorin tried to kill Master Baggins, and then banished him?”
“It was an utterly heinous act, and probably would have kept him from every taking the throne of Erebor. Allowances might have been made for Master Baggin’s lack of knowledge, and Thorin’s sickness, but it would have undermined his entire rule.”
Legolas nodded slowly. “That explains a great many things. The charge from the gate held a desperation I never fully understood. And the air of relief at Thorin’s death was puzzling.”
“It did solve a great many problems. He lived long enough to rescind the banishment and make amends with Master Baggins, so he was buried with full honors, but no one had to worry about the full repercussions of a king who deserved to be cast out from polite company.”
“But I return to the original question, my friend. What does all of this have to do with Frodo?”
“Bilbo Baggins was, however briefly, the King’s Consort. What’s more, the entire Line of Durin owed him a debt of honor that could never be repaid. He had no desire to remain in Erebor. Maybe if Fili or Kili had survived, but with all of them dead? He fled for his home, and never returned to a Dwarven settlement, despite all of our entreaties. When he named Frodo his heir, he wrote to my cousin Balin, asking his advice. Balin visited him and explained all of the rights and protections that he and Frodo were entitled to. And after Elrond’s Council, he decided to invoke a few of them.”
Legolas held up a hand. “You’re telling me that you joined the Fellowship because of your family’s debt to Frodo?”
“No, no, nothing like that. I would have joined regardless of all that. My honor, however, is tied up in taking care of Frodo. Master Baggins made sure of that.”
“Why did you show Frodo the Mirrormere?”
Gimli slowly shook his head. “He is the heir of Thorin’s Consort. He does not fully understand the importance of it, but I do. He would have been raised in great honor at Kind Dain’s court. I simply wanted to show him a small piece of it, of our heritage.”
“Do you resent him?”
“Frodo? Never. As in so many things, he is so, so innocent.”
Legolas nodded. “And Bilbo Baggins?”
Gimli gazed at him intently. “Bilbo Baggins saved my people. He restored my home. He was wronged horribly, but still tried to save us. If all I can do for him is watch over Frodo, I will.”
Legolas looked into his eyes, then turned to walk down the path back to their friends. Without a word, he placed a hand on Gimli’s shoulder, and they began to walk together.