You
got a friend in me
You
got a friend in me
You
got trouble, then I got ‘em too
There
isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you
We
stick together, we can see it through
Yeah,
you got a friend in me
-
Toy Story
With all that had happened, it was little
wonder that the Fellowship was reluctant to leave the sanctuary of
Lothlorien. It was a respite that
Aragorn allowed them, to everyone’s relief.
It seemed that everyone felt some sense of responsibility for Gandalf’s
death. Frodo for choosing to go into
the mines… Gimli for suggesting them… Pippin for knocking that skeleton over…
Kate for panicking in the face of the Balrog… Legolas for saving her rather
than Gandalf… Aragorn for not seeing the wizard’s plight until it was too late…
Boromir for holding Frodo back and not rushing to Gandalf’s aid.
Could’ve…
Would’ve…
Should’ve…
The serene forests of Lothlorien offered them
all both solace and comfort, things they were in dire need of if they were to
ever finish their quest. Guilt and
self-doubt at this point would surely kill them all. They had to be sharp-witted and quick to react… both qualities
that grief had stolen for the time being.
Few of them spoke of it, preferring to
confront their fears and worries alone.
The four hobbits discussed things among themselves certainly, assuring
each other that they could and would succeed.
The same could be said of Jason and Boromir… the two felt no more need
to hide their relationship, much to Kate’s relief. They were not obvious in any way… but passing looks between them
were no longer shadowed and brief touched were not hidden. It was Aragorn’s nature to brood on his own
and the rest left him to it. Kate,
naturally, clung to Legolas…but oddly longed for Gimli’s company as well.
The stout, good-hearted dwarf reminded her
comfortably of some sort of paternal grandfather. Gimli, on the other hand, seemed distinctly distressed by Kate’s
Elvish transformation. He unconsciously
avoided her, claiming to prefer solitude in which to sort his thoughts.
“I don’t understand.” She confided to Legolas
during an informal lesson in archery.
“I thought Gimli liked me.”
“He did.” Legolas replied, pulling an arrow
from their makeshift target. “You were
a human then… you are an elf now.”
“Should that make a difference?” she frowned,
taking aim once Legolas had stepped off from her line of fire.
Legolas looked at the ground pensively. “I have hope that he is asking that very
question of himself.”
“Why do the Dwarves and Elves hate each other
so much anyway?” she asked, letting the arrow fly, striking the target keenly
in the center.
“We do not hate each other exactly, we
are on the same side after all. But
there is a good amount of distrust between us.” He explained.
“Well… why?” she insisted, leaning on her bow.
“It is because…” he drifted off. “I know not how it all started. It has always been this way. Dwarves… they find us too magical… too vain. According to them, we should just stay in
the trees we love so much. They care
little for anything other than their gold and jewels, mining in their dreary
mountains.”
“So… all of this… is because you have
differing opinions about what is pretty?” she scoffed.
“That is an overly simplified explanation,
Katyrial.” He frowned. “There have been
many instances through the millennia… on both sides.”
“Well… tell me this… do you think everything
is a joke? Does the fate of Middle
Earth mean nothing to you beyond your beloved trees?” she asked gently.
“Of course not!” he exclaimed.
“Okay… now… do you think Gimli is on this
quest with us just to protect his own pile of wealth under his mountain?” she
asked just as gently as before, her hands on his shoulders.
He paused, eyes flicking guiltily to the ground.
“No… he wants to save Middle Earth as I do.”
“And as I do.” She nodded, tugging at his
sleeves. “Come on… archery lessons can
wait until later. Let’s go find Gimli.”
He gave her a half-smile. “Two elves seeking the friendship of a
dwarf… we had best not let this rumor break out.”
They found the surly Gimli leaning against a
tree near the small pool that lead into the Anduin river. A few of the Lorien Elves watched him
suspiciously from a distance, but the dwarf remained pensive, staring at the gentle
waters in the waning sunlight.
“Hey, Gimli!” Kate called cheerfully.
He looked up, startled by the merry
greeting. “Good evening, lady elf.” He
nodded in bare acknowledgement before turning back to the water.
“Lady elf?” Kate repeated in hurt disbelief. “Gimli, it’s me… Kate. Remember? I pelted you with paintballs three weeks ago
and you threatened to cleave my dog in half.”
“I remember…” he nodded dully.
“Good.
Because I don’t like you giving me the cold shoulder just because I have
pointy ears now.” She sat next to him, placing a hand on his arm.
“Cold shoulder?” he asked.
“You’ve been avoiding me since we got here,
Gimli.” She sighed. “You’ve barely said
three words to me. Why?”
“You are an elf… I am a dwarf…” he pointed
out.
“Aragorn’s a human… Pippin’s a hobbit… and Max
is a min pin. What’s your point?” she
asked point-blank, meeting his eyes firmly.
He looked up at Legolas grimly. “Dwarves and elves do not mix well
together.”
“Says who?”
“Well…”
“I think what Katyrial is trying to say is
that our ingrained distrust of each other is no longer appropriate, not that is
ever truly was. In this case, it may be
dangerous.” Legolas explained, sitting to Gimli’s other side. “We will find it difficult to fight for each
other if we cannot trust each other, can we?”
Gimli looked at the ground. “True enough.”
“Besides… I’m still the same person who goofed
around with you in Ocean City… I just have pointy ears now, that’s all.” Kate smiled, rising. “Come on, both of you… we need a little
bonding activity… something fun. We’ve
all be sulking for too long.”
“Dwarves do not sulk.”
“Nor do Elves.”
Kate rolled her eyes. “See?
You’ve got more in common than you think. Now let’s have a little fun?”
“How?” Legolas asked tentatively.
“Well… like this.” She grinned before dashing
off and jumping, fully clothed into the pool with a tremendous splash.
It seemed like it had been a lifetime since
she last felt the cool embrace of water surrounding her. She could almost tangibly feel her worries
being eased away by watery fingers.
Things would be all right… they had to be… the alternative was
unthinkable.
She surfaced to take a breath, only to find
neither Gimli nor Legolas on the shore where she expected them to be. She didn’t see them at all in fact.
“Ai!” Legolas’ shout startled her as he jumped
at her from behind, pushing her under the water briefly. “That, elfling, is for teasing me in
Ocean City.”
“Hey!” she protested, splashing him. “Not fair!
I didn’t sneak up on you!”
Gimli chuckled, apparently reassured by the
elves’ good humor. “To think that any
dwarf should see two elves bickering.”
Kate stuck out her tongue at him in a
blatantly unelvish manner. “Come over
here and say that, shorty.”
With a grin, he did just that. Kate pounced on him and tried desperately to
shove him underwater. He didn’t budge
an inch, not even when she threw most of her weight down on his shoulders. Legolas swam back, laughing at her antics.
“It is no good, Katyrial. H will not move unless he wants to.”
“Rasanfrackin, stubborn dwarves…” Kate
muttered, firmly put in her place.
Gimli laughed outright. “Built like a rock.”
“And just as hard-headed.”
“That too.”