The guards of Gondor reporting to their posts that fine May morning looked upon the three persons sitting on a bench, overlooking the Pellenor, with puzzlement. And not without reason. They knew the three by sight, for who wouldn’t, but it still intrigued them to see the unlikely companions sitting easily with each other where common sense told that at least one of them should feel very uncomfortable.

It was widely known that Dwarves and Elves did not mix well, so the thought that the daughter of Men sitting with them should feel nervous wasn’t very farfetched. But to the guards astonishment she kept them company as easily as if they were her own brothers. Which in a manner of speaking they indeed were.

She was born and raised in Dale, the daughter of Finrod son of Fingon who was a member of the King’s of Dale council, and Melian daughter of Edrahil who was a healer of both Dale and Erebor, as she herself was. She used her mothername Dís far more often than her fathername Aredhel out of her fondness of her "uncles" as she called the surviving companions of Thórin Oakenshield. She had known Gimli practically all her life and Legolas just slightly shorter than that. Therefore she had realized that something had changed between Gimli and Legolas as soon as she had laid eyes on them after their arrival in Gondor.

"You have changed" She calmly stated and looked at them both. After giving her a sharp glance it was Gimli who finally answered.

"After the things we have seen, and the things we have done even the strongest creature shouldn’t have remained unchanged."

"I am aware of that" she responded. "But there is something else that is different. Something that has nothing to do with the war. I have spoken with some of the people of Minas Tirith and Rohan and they told me that the two of you are never separated anymore. Where one of you is the other can be found as well. And that, even though a few months ago you couldn’t even stay in the same room. Something has definitely happened and I want to know what."

Another sharp glance at her, this time from Legolas, and then a secret shared look full of understanding between the two of them. A decision on what to reveal had been made in barely a moment and without a word spoken.

"Indeed it is so" Gimli answered and Legolas added

"We have come to see past all of what we thought to know about each other. The truth of it is, Dís, daughter of Finrod, that I love Gimli and I know that he loves me as well." Looking from one to the other, she saw that Legolas had spoken the truth and she was astonished to see the changes that had taken place since the previous autumn, now after their confession even more clearly on their faces.

//

//The council of Elrond had just finished and those who had taken part in it had been served a belated lunch. She had been sitting with her father facing Glóin, Gimli, Gandalf, Bilbo and Frodo talking with them about tidings they had shared as Legolas had entered the room, overhearing the last part of a comment made by Glóin about the Elves and the creature Gollum.

"They let that creature take daily walks outside the Castle. Do you know when I first set foot outside the dungeon after those Elves had thrown me in? The day Bilbo rescued us, that is when, and not a moment earlier."

"I’m not saying that this injustice didn’t happen" Legolas startled them all as they hadn’t even heard him approach. "But there is nothing I could have done about that. It was, as Gandalf said, a misunderstanding." Glóin, Gimli and Dís stared at him with hard, unforgiving eyes. *Your father hurt my "uncles". Do you expect me to forget that?* Neither of them was willing to just forget what happened and there was great tension in the room. But Gandalf spoke to them all and ordered them to listen carefully.

"We are dealing here with a far more powerful evil than anyone of you could possibly imagine. And if you all can’t cooperate with each other, then Middle Earth is doomed." Ashamed at their behavior they all agreed, much to the relieve of both Gandalf and Finrod, to lay aside their wrath while the matter of the Ring was still dealt with. *The Dwarves and Melian forget nothing, they say in Dale, and neither do you, my daughter.*

"But when that has been done, this will have to be sorted out" Glóin added and nothing more was said of it.//

//

"That was how matters still were as we left Rivendell" Legolas continued his narrative. "But during the quest things began to change. I started to see Gimli as a valuable member of the company, as a brother in arms and later even as a friend. But it was only during the battle of Helms Deep that I finally realized how deep my feeling for him really were."

"The Battle of Helms Deep" Dís repeated quietly and one could hear the grief in her voice for the many lives lost that day. "I have heard that it was a most terrible night indeed. Could you please tell me about it?"

"I will" Legolas answered "and I am certain that Gimli will do so as well".

**********

We reached Helms Deep and the Hornburg in the evening after riding from Edoras with King Théoden and the host of Rohan. Gandalf had left us suddenly in the afternoon of that day with orders to protect the King and await him at Helms Deep.

We came with enemies hard on our heels, as we were told when we reached the Dike, but we also brought hope to the people of the Westfold who had taken shelter there.

When we reached the Burg we were also met with joy by the people there, who hadn’t expected to see their King at the head of the host, as his mind had been poisoned by Grima for so long. But Gandalf had freed the King from Grima's influence and poisoned tongue and Théoden had decided to lead the host, while the people of Edoras went to Dunharrow with the Lady Éowyn leading them. I sat on the parapet of the Deeping Wall while Gimli stood beside me looking out and stamping on the wall with his boots.

"This is good stone" he finally said, finishing his inspection of the wall. "This country has tough bones. Give me a year and a hundred of my kin, and I will make this a place where hosts break like water." I told him that I believed him, but also that this place made me uneasy.

"You comfort me" I said to him, "and I am glad to have you nigh. I wish that there were more of your kin here. But I would give more for a hundred good archers of Mirkwood. We need them." Gimli answered rightly that there was little light for archery now and that we better get some sleep. Riding was tiring work for a Dwarf and yet the axe was restless in his hand.

"Give me a row of Orc-necks and room to swing", he told me, "and all weariness will fall off me."

**********

The host of Saruman was approaching fast, as was a thunderstorm that had followed us during the day. "A storm of Mordor" Gandalf had called it and I did not doubt it.

As the evening went we could see the first fighting, as the remaining Westfold men were forced inside the wall. They said that they had filled the Dike with Orcs and also taught them not to carry torches. But we all knew that it was just the beginning of what looked to become a very long night.

When the enemy finally came over the Dike and approached the Deeping Wall the ground below looked like it was moving, so packed was it with Orcs. The battle and the thunderstorm both, started at the same time, the flashes of lightning gave the archers enough light to do their work and on both sides many fell, killed by arrows.

The enemy came for the wall. Suddenly we heard a dull thudding at the gate. Aragorn and Éomer gathered a group of skilled swordsmen and went out through a postern door.

Unbeknown to them and to me Gimli followed them and attacked the Orcs, who were trying to take down the gates with them. They were able to stop the attack on the gates but couldn’t stay outside the wall any longer and soon started to return. It was then that I saw a group of Orcs coming after them. They tripped Éomer and for a moment it looked like he was done for. But them Gimli went for them yelling a Dwarven battlecry "Baruk Khazâd, Khazâd ai-menu" on the top of his lungs. He slew two, while the rest of them fled.

After Gimli, Aragorn and the swordsmen had returned inside the keep they piled up stones behind the wall to keep the Orcs, Uruk-hai and Men in Sarumans service out.

Gimli returned to our place on the wall and patted his axe, telling me that he had killed two. Teasingly I replied that I believed my count to be twenty. "But that is but a few leaves in a forest" I said.

I was relived to see Aragorn and Éomer back on the wall, Éomer apparently unhurt after his close call with the Orcs. Unfortunately the sortie had stopped the host of Saruman only for a while. They soon were back against the gate and were also trying to climb the wall.

Suddenly I felt that Gimli was missing. I started to wonder where he had gone to as I heard his voice again crying out "Khazâd ai-menu". Soon after I heard him call out to me that there were Orcs, enough for both of us, behind the wall. Gamling, the commander at the Deeping Wall also heard him and gathered a group of Westfoldmen to come to his aid. Together they slew the Orcs and the enemy’s bodies littered the ground behind the wall.

After a while I saw that the Deeping Stream had started to flood the banks. Apparently they were blocking the outlet through which the Deeping Stream went under the wall, in order to keep the host of Saruman out. Finally Gimli and Gamling came back to where I stood. Gimli had heightened his score to twenty-one while I had an even two dozen under my belt. It had been mostly knife-work up on the wall, which meant fighting hard for every kill.

There was a lull in the fight after the attempt to go through the culvert failed and we could hear voices. To most of us it sounded like beasts bellowing but Gamling understood the words. They were in the Dunland tongue and speaking about the king of Rohan. They were going after him. According to Gamlings description the Dunlendings hadn’t forgotten their anger, caused by the fact that Cirion, Steward of Gondor, had given this area to Eorl in return of his aid. Saruman had fuelled their anger and then set them loose on Helms Deep.

"They're a fierce people when roused" Gamling said, "they will not stop until they either have gotten the King or have been slain themselves. And even though dawn is just a short while away it will not help us either as the Uruk-hai do not quail in sunlight."

"Nonetheless, day will bring hope to me" Aragorn said. "Is it not said that no foe has ever taken the Hornburg, if Men defended it?" Éomer confirmed that this was indeed said among the minstrels and even though it could just as well have been an old wives tale it gave us hope for the coming dawn.

It was then that the wall shook and a huge hole was broken into it by a strange device. Devilry of Saruman, no doubt. Aragorn called out that the Orcs had lit "the fire of Orthanc" under our feet.

The host spilled through the gap and came with long ladders over the wall. As many of us as possible ran to the Hornburg, Aragorn and I aided them all to get there safely. When everyone who had been able to reach the keep was in, I called out to Aragorn, telling him to follow as well.

He stumbled as he raced up the steps but I and a man on the wall beside me helped him to get inside the Hornburg and the safety of the wall. It was then I realized that Gimli was no longer with us.

I asked Aragorn for his whereabouts but he could only tell me that he had seen Gimli fighting on the ground. He tried to reassure me that my Gimli could have made it to the caves of which Aragorn thought they should be to the Dwarf’s liking. But I still wished that his paths had taken him inside the Burg. I wanted to be sure that he was all right but what I said aloud was only that I wanted him informed that my score had reached thirty-nine dead Orcs.

"He will beat your score if he makes it to the caves" Aragorn answered, "I have never seen an axe wielded like that before". Later still, one of the Westfoldmen told me that he had seen Gimli with Éomer, Gamling and a group of Men, defending the Deep. So I still had hope then and barely a worry for my trusted friend.

But then I suddenly felt a deep ache, just where my heart lay, and I feared that the enemy had killed Gimli. Orcs carry a deep hate for Elves but they also despise the Dwarves. Especially Durins Folk which is also Gimlis kin. I knew that if Gimli had been taken captive by the foul band they would torment him to his death.

It was then that I realised that, if such a fate had befallen Gimli, I did not wish to live any longer myself. I understood that sometimes during our travels I had truly come to love Gimli and that if he was dead it would be better for me to die in battle too, instead of wasting away in grief later. The remainder of the battle I fought as if I didn’t care whether I lived or died.

The Rohirrim confessed later that they had thought that I had been called by death. As a result of my feelings, or lack of them, I slew all Orcs in my way until my very approach was enough to cause them to retreat and thus be slain by others. In the morning, after dawn, Gandalf finally came to the Deep with Erkenbrand and the Westfoldmen and ha also brought a strange force with him. A forest had grown overnight in the Vale and the enemy was trapped between the host of Rohan and the trees. The hostile Hillmen and Dunlendings surrendered while the Orcs fled into the forest. That was the last anyone ever saw of them.

**********

I met up with Gandalf and Erkenbrand of Westfold at Helms Dike. Aragorn was with me as was Théoden King and the Lords of the Golden House.

But even though I was relived to see the host of Saruman defeated, I still couldn’t rejoice, for my heart was heavy with fear of finding among the heaps of dead bodies also the lone corpse of my beloved Dwarf. As I had not fallen in battle I would surely waste away from grief now.

But then I heard a shout behind me and one of the Lords said in amazement

"They are returning".

I looked with my keen eyes and saw indeed a group of people coming our way. I saw Éomer son of Eomund, and Gamling the Old but I paid them barely any heed as I was solemnly concentrating on Gimli walking on Éomers side.

He had chosen a helm from the Kings armory before the battle, to replace the leathercap and hood he usually wore. But now it wasn’t on his head but in his hand instead and a linen band of cloth had replaced it. As he drew nearer I could see that it was stained with grime and blood. But his voice was loud and strong as he told me that he had slain 42 Orcs so I didn’t worry overly much.

I think I may have bested him in our little contest, but I had stopped counting Orcs while I had feared him dead. So it wasn’t exactly a lie when I gave him victory by one Orc, and anyway, I was far to happy to see him on his legs to care for much else. I felt tears in my eyes as I told him so.

While Éomer and Théoden spoke with Gandalf about the journey to Isengard, Aragorn and I spoke with Gimli. Aragorn wanted Gimli to rest as he was injured but he dismissed it as a scratch and refused to be left behind. When Aragorn said that he would tend it while Gimli rested he simply nodded, a sure sign that it was more serious than he wanted to let on about. After we had had a meal and Aragorn had treated the cut on Gimli’s forehead, I embraced him.

He looked a bit surprised at first but then he returned the embrace in a way that caused Aragorn to smirk.

"Did the two of you really expect me not to notice that you love each other?" he asked us. No doubt we both looked dumbfounded, as Aragorn laughed and said "I was aware of your feelings for each other since we began going after Merry and Pippins captors, though you were still blind to it. I have waited for you to finally realize the truth."

At Aragorn's words I gathered my courage and turned to Gimli.

"When I feared that you were dead I felt empty. I knew for certain that I didn’t want to live if you were no longer with me." He looked at me and finally I found the strength to say "I love you Gimli". To my astonishment I heard him answer in return

" And I love you Legolas". We lay side by side then as we rested and I felt at peace, for I knew that Gimli would always be at my side.

**********

The tale of Gimli

There is no need to retell our journey from Rivendell to Parth Galen again. I did not like Legolas one bit as we went south, all I could see in him was the son of the King who had held my father prisoner.

When we fought the Wargs in Eregion though I began to see that there was more to him than that. He was also a skilled warrior and he soon became my brother in arms. To that also came that Gandalf asked us to befriend each other, as he needed both our strength and unity.

I began feeling suspicious when no sign of my kindred could be found during our journey through the mines. And I grieved as we reached the chamber of Mazarbul and I found my cousin Balin´s Tomb and the remains of his people.

Gandalf read in the book of records to find out about their fate as the Orcs attacked. During the following fight and our escape from the mines my feelings about Legolas were confirmed. He fought hard and his aim was sure, he could be trusted in battle.

As we reached the forest of Lothlorien, a place I would rather have avoided, I saw that both Aragorn and Legolas looked happy while Boromir´s frown seemed to reflect more my own feelings. It didn’t exactly add to my feeling of safely when we met three of the Elves of Lorien.

They asked Frodo and Legolas to come up to them on their platform, or talan as the Elves called it, and while we waited I could hear Legolas and Frodo speak with Haldir, as the leader had introduced himself.

Haldir spoke louder than he most likely intended to when he refused to let me enter Lothlorien with the rest of the fellowship and I could hear him clearly. Thankfully Frodo defended my honor from his accusations and finally Legolas climbed down again. He told the remaining Hobbits, Pippin and Merry, as Sam had gone unbidden with Frodo, to climb up to the Talan. The rest of us were going to sleep on another similar platform nearby, and while I didn’t feel very comfortable so high up in a tree, I did feel safer than I would have sleeping on the ground.

I did not regret my decision as the following morning I was told that a group of Orcs had passed under our group of trees during the night. Haldir assured us that they would not leave Lorien alive as we were brought to the river Men call Silverlode.

The Elves crafted a bridge with three ropes and we were able to cross the river, though admittedly some more nervously than others. It was when we had all crossed that I found out the most outrageous thing. Haldir was going to blindfold me, "as agreed" he said. Well, that was an agreement made without my consent and I told him so in no uncertain terms. The dispute between us ended when Aragorn told the Lorien Elves to blindfold all members of the Fellowship, Legolas included. This caused him to get angry but in the end he gave in and it was done. I threatened Haldir that I would claim amends for every fall and stubbed toe, but he reassured me that it wouldn’t be necessary. And he turned out to be right, as we were all lead through the woods safely.

The following day we reached a clearing meeting up with other Elves, one of them bearing a message from the Lady of the Wood. The message stated that we all, myself included, were to walk freely and the blindfolds were removed from our eyes.

Haldir bade me look at them with friendly eyes, as I was the first Dwarf to ever set foot into this realm since the days of Durin. Upon reaching Caras Galathon we were welcomed by the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien. Galadriel spoke to me about my Folk’s ancient dwellings in Khazad-Dûm. As I heard her use manes in my own ancient tongue I looked up and into her eyes. And saw to my wonder love and understanding in what I believed to be the heart of an enemy. So I rose to my feet and bowed before her, declaring her beauty to be above even the jewels under the earth.

I then heard her voice inside my head, she tempted me with the powers of the Ring but I refused and stayed true to my heart. What she said next though, concerning Legolas, was what gave me food for thought.

It was during our stay in Lorien that I first began to make friends with Legolas, as the Lady had encouraged me to do. We made it a habit to take long walks with each other through the country just talking and making an effort to understand each other better.

The others in the Fellowship thought our new-found friendship strange, but they were relived that our animosity had finally ceased. When we left we were presented with many gifts, food and drink, hooded cloaks sewed by the Lady and her maids, especially made to keep us from the enemies eyes. And one special gift for each of us suited for our needs.

When the Lady asked me what kind of gift I would ask for, I answered that it was enough for me to have seen the Lady of the Galadhrim and hear her gentle words. But when she demanded that I should ask her for a gift I asked for one strand of her hair. The other Elves who were there looked amazed but the Lady gave me not one, but three, strands of hair. She asked me what I would do with them, and I told her that I would treasure them and put them in imperishable crystal. I wept when we left Lorien and told Legolas that no longer could I call anything, other than her gift, fair no longer.

**********

While we went down the Anduin we had plenty of time to talk with each other. We spoke of our families, our people and also our memories of Gandalf. It was clear that each of us regarded Gandalf as a friend. He had always been there when his aid was most needed, and both of us felt sad about the fact that we had been unable to help him.

After we were attacked by Orcs and Uruks at Parth Galen we began hunting those who had taken Merry and Pippin captive. It was during that chase that we met the Rohirrim. Éomer, their leader and nephew to the King of Rohan, insulted the Lady Galadriel and threatened to take my head off after I tried to defend her honor. Legolas in turn tried to protect me and threatened to kill Éomer. Fortunately Aragorn stopped what would most likely become a bloodbath and we received news and aid from the Rohirrim.

As we parted I told Éomer that I would have to teach him gentle speech and he answered that it wouldn’t be a great surprise, considering all the things he had learned already.

Soon after our parting we came upon the pile of burnt Orcs and Uruks the soldiers of Rohan had slain, and the following morning we went in search of the Hobbits. We found their trail, leading into Fanghorn Forest, and while it made me feel very uneasy indeed, it made Legolas feel young again.

To our surprise and wonder we met Gandalf again in the Forest. No longer Grey but White instead we were in the beginning quite frightened as we believed we were meeting Saruman. But Gandalf forgave us for our mistake, as he had always advised us not to trust even our own hands when dealing with the enemy.

Upon reaching Edoras we found something very strange going on there. Gandalf spoke with the Captain of the gate-guards and in the end we were allowed to enter if we left all our weapons with the Doorwarden. His name was Hama and Legolas and Gandalf gave him their weapons willingly but Aragorn hesitated. It took some soothing words from Gandalf to make him leave the great sword Anduril in Hamas keeping. When he did so I as well could lean my axe at the wall without shame. Hama also wanted to take the staff but Gandalf convinced him that he needed it for support and finally Hama decided that we could enter.

We met Théoden King in the Hall as well as his sister´s daughter Éowyn. The third present in the hall was a Man the others called Wormtongue. He spoke with Gandalf and named him Lathspell, meaning Ill news. But Gandalf threw him down on the floor and released the King from the spell Wormtongue had been binding him with for several years.

Éomer was sent for and the decision to fight Saruman was made. Everybody was happy to find that the King was himself once more and when the people of Rohan heard that Théoden would go out with the host we could hear the joy that they felt. When we rode from Edoras, Éomer asked if we could lay aside our quarrel for the time being and also asked me to ride with him. I accepted after he promised that Aragorn and Legolas would be riding beside us.

Reaching the Deeping Coomb, Helms Deep and the Hornburg, made me feel at ease while Legolas began feeling uncomfortable. But I have always felt most delighted near, or in a mountain and I told Legolas so.

I followed Aragorn, Éomer and the swordsmen to shake of sleep as riding is very tiring work but the Hillmen were overlarge for me so I sat on a stone, watching their swordplay. Still, it turned out to be good that I had done so as I could stop a group of Orcs from killing Éomer when they returned inside the wall.

They also tried to sneak through the culvert but with the aid of Gamling and a group of Westfoldmen I was able to stop them. Gamling asked me to aid them to block the culvert so the enemy wouldn’t be able to use it, and even though I cant cut stone with either my battleaxe or my fingernails we were still able to make sure that no one would be able to get through.

Legolas and I had started a friendly competition on how many Orcs each of us could kill. After the attempt to get through the culvert I had twenty-one Orcs and Legolas had twenty-four, so I wasn’t all that far behind when the wall was torn down and we were separated. I couldn’t reach either Aragorn or Legolas so I went to Éomer and Gamling who were gathering people around them to protect the Deep. The enemy drove us into the caverns and for a while it felt as if they were going to cause a cave-in but after a while all of them had turned to the Keep, except a few archers who were posted to keep us from joining our friends.

"We can’t stay here" Éomer said and everyone agreed with him but Gamling said

"We can’t go out through the entrance. The archers will have us if we do." I asked them if they knew another way and they said that we might go through the caverns "but we don’t know the way".

I told them that I have walked through more caves than I care to remember and that I would take them through the mazes to the Keep. So I led them through the Glittering Caves of Aglarong.

I have never seen more astonishing caves anywhere, they are truly magnificent and it would be a great honor to show them to you. The Men however couldn’t see the beauty in them, they only thought about them as dark holes and were worried about their King and kin.

Suddenly I felt an ache in my heart and I was worried that the Orcs could have taken Legolas captive. The Orcs hate the Elves bitterly, not that they love us Dwarves either, particularly not my kin, the Folk of Durin, and if they had taken Legolas they would surely torment him to his death.

I finally realized that I had truly come to love Legolas, and I found the thought of living without him unbearable. So we made our way through the caverns, sometimes having to retrace our steps because we came to a dead end or an abyss but for the most part we went steadily in the right direction.

**********

At some point along the way to the caves one of the Orcs had given me a blow to the head, thankfully the helm I had been given took most of it. After a while I could feel blood trickling down my forehead and Éomer began looking at me worriedly. But I told him that it was but a scratch and after washing it with a damp cloth and wrapping a band of linen cloth around my head I assured him that I felt all right. I didn’t tell him that it felt worse than just a scratch as I didn’t want me to carry me, as Éomer, no doubt, would have insisted on doing, had he known the extent of my injuries.

When we came to the entrance we were seeking it was morning and we had been walking for a few hours. We were surprised to see that there were no enemies near the Keep, only friends who were most happy to see us. They told us that the others had gone to the Deep and so we went there.

I was still worried that we would find the lone body of Legolas somewhere in the heaps of bodies and was unable to truly enjoy the victory. But suddenly we saw the others and the Rohirrim gave a shout that echoed in the valley.

Then I saw Legolas turning and looking at me. He looked truly amazed to see me and I told him that I had killed 42 Orcs. He said that I had beaten him by one but that he was too glad to see me on my legs to begrudge me the victory in the game.

Some of the others who were with him looked doubtful but said nothing. The King also looked relived to see his sister’s son and the others. Gandalf said that he would be going to Isengard and wanted the King to come with him, since Saruman had done so much harm to Rohan and its people.

Aragorn wanted me to remain at the keep but I told him that it takes more than such an Orc-scratch to keep me back. But it did feel like more than a scratch and when Aragorn said that he would tend it I simply nodded. We had a meal and a bath, and then Aragorn treated the gash in my forehead, cleansing it and stitching it so it would heal properly.

Afterwards Legolas and I embraced each other, and Aragorn told us, while we, no doubt, looked most dumbfounded, that he had waited for us to realize that we truly love each other.

I was told by Legolas that he had found the thought of living without me unbearable and I told him that I had had the same feeling. When Legolas told me that he loves me I found the strength to tell him that I love him also. We rested that day and it felt good to be there because my beloved Legolas was at my side, and always would be.

**********

Dís listened to the tales and marveled at them. Finally she said

"I’m happy that you have found friendship and love with each other. It is truly a great gift to be given." Legolas smiled and asked

"I take it that you will look at me with friendly eyes from now on?" and she answered

"I have always regarded you with friendly eyes Legolas. Your father however I do not." Legolas sadly shook his head,

"I think he gave up the thought of trying to convince you a lone time ago."

//

//The regular meeting of the kings of Dale, Erebor and Mirkwood, and the Master of Esgaroth was well under way. All of them were invited to the wedding of Dís daughter of Finrod and Barahir son of Beren. The ceremony had been held by the King of Dale and had been most beautiful.

At the feast afterwards King Thranduil approached Finrod and said,

"I would truly like to convince your daughter that I am a true friend. Her husband knows that I am already but I would really like to make friends with Dís as well."

"My Lord," Finrod answered. "Even if you could, somehow, grant my wife and children immortality you would still be arguing about what happened and whose fault it was on the day of the last Battle. My wife was told about what happened by Thórin Oakenshield himself and has passed that tale on to our children. I fear that I must tell you that trying to earn my daughter’s friendship would be useless and a battle you can’t win. I think you are wise enough, my Lord, not to start it in the first place."//

//

Finally Gimli said to Dís

"Aragorn has asked us to help repair the City and return Minas Tirith to her former glory. Both of us have also thought about starting colonies nearby so we can stay in touch with our friends. Would you like to come with us?" Dís answered

"You know that you need not ask. I am willing to go with you, even to the ends of Middle Earth. I need only some time to prepare things and then we can go." Then Legolas added

"But right now I think we should go to our meal". And as if on cue, the midday bell tolled from the Tower of Echtelion and it was time to have a meal. Laughing they all rose and went to the table.

The End