Gimli

by Boddah

Gimli was a Dwarf and the son of Glóin. Gimli is also related remotely to Durin the Deathless (one of the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves). Gimli is the first cousin once removed of Balin, the Lord of Moria. We first meet Gimli at the Council of Elrond, which he is attending with his father to bring news of the horseman that brought Sauron’s demands to Erebor. He ends up accompanying the Fellowship of the Ring on their quest to destroy the Ring.

He immediately clashes with the Elf, Legolas; the Elves dislike the Dwarves for sacking their city of Doriath. Even though their races are predisposed to hate each other, they create a bond of mutual respect as time passes.

The Fellowship is forced to enter the mines of Moria, and Gimli is quit excited, hoping to find a colony of his people led by Balin. This hope is crushed as they soon find out that the mines are infested by Orcs. After Gandalf falls into the darkness with the Balrog, they escape the mines, and enter the Elven realm of Lothlórien. The Elves of Lothlórien are not exactly hospitable to Gimli or any Dwarf. He is told he must be blindfolded if he wishes to enter the forest. He refuses, but escapes violence when Aragorn says they all will go in blindfolded.

After meeting Galadriel, Gimli’s opinions of Elves change. Her understanding, beauty, kindness, and hospitality impress him so much that when he is given the chance to receive anything he wants, he asks for a hair of Galadriel. His love and respect for her is further shown when he first meets Éomer of Rohan. Éomer speaks wrong of Galadriel’s name, and Gimli uses harsh words in her defense, but Aragorn defuses the situation again. His friendship with Elves is even further solidified at the Battle of the Hornburg. Gimli and Legolas have an Orc slaying contest which he wins by one kill.

Gimli describes the Glittering Caves of Aglarond, and Legolas promises he will go see it once the war is over. He does fulfill his promise, and Gimli in turn visits Fangorn Forest with Legolas.

After the war Gimli leads, a great number of Durin’s Folk to the Glittering Caves, and settles there where he became the first Lord of the Glittering Caves. The Dwarves there would rebuild much of war ravaged Middle-Earth; they rebuilt the gates at Minas Tirith, and reinforced it with mithril and steel.

Gimli was 139 years old when he set out with the Fellowship. His date of death is not known, but according to the Red Book of Westmarch; after Aragorn died he traveled with Legolas to the Undying Lands, becoming the first Dwarf to do so.

References
Wikipedia
The Thain’s Book