getting emotional at how inseperable legolas and gimli are the entirety of return of the king…tolkien probably just didnt want to bother with them anymore but its so cute how its always legolas and gimli as a single unit
aaaaa this is late but here’s my full piece for @lotr-zine!!!!!! this was such fun to work on and if u haven’t already go check out the full zine to see all the other lovely pieces by some fantastic artists and writers!! ✨
tiny previews of my piece for @lotr-zine which should drop like tonight!!! it’s a free digital zine w/ a lot of fantastic pieces by some gr8 artist and writers so be sure to check it out!!! ✨
Forever obsessed with the fact that even the in-universe annotation in the appendices talking about how Legolas brought Gimli along to Valinor with him is like “We don’t actually know how they managed this. By all accounts, it doesn’t make any sense”
Gimli: So you know I’m on board with this, obviously, but like. If the world is flat for you, and it’s NOT flat for me, and the boat is only supposed to be able to get there the flat way…
Legolas:?
Gimli:What happens if we’re both on the boat?
Legolas:I don’t know, but we’re gonna find out
[Insert title card reading MYTHBUSTERS: ARDA EDITION]
For reference:
Appendix A:
“Gimli Gloin’s son is renowned, for he was one of the Nine Walkers that set out with the Ring; and he remained in the company of King Elessar throughout the War. He was named Elf-friend because of the great love that grew between him and Legolas, son of King Thranduil, and because of his reverence for the Lady Galadriel.
After the fall of Sauron, Gimli brought south a part of the Dwarf-folk of Erebor, and he became Lord of the Glittering Caves. He and his people did great works in Gondor and Rohan. For Minas Tirith they forged gates of mithril and steel to replace those broken by the Witch-king. Legolas his friend also brought south Elves out of Greenwood, and they dwelt in Ithilien, and it became once again the fairest country in all the westlands.
But when King Elessar gave up his life Legolas followed at last the desire of his heart and sailed over Sea.
Here follows one of the last notes in the Red Book
We have heard tell that Legolas took Gimli Gloin’s son with him because of their great friendship, greater than any that has been between Elf and Dwarf. If this is true, then it is strange indeed: that a Dwarf should be willing to leave Middle-Earth for any love, or that the Eldar should receive him, or that the Lords of the West should permit it. But it is said that Gimli went also out of a desire to see again the beauty of Galadriel; and it may be that she, being mighty among the Eldar, obtained this grace for him. More cannot be said of this matter.”
Appendix B:
“1541 – In this year on March 1st came at last the Passing of King Elessar. It is said that the beds of Meriadoc and Peregrin were set beside the bed of the great king. Then Legolas built a grey ship in Ithilien, and sailed down Anduin and so over Sea; and with him, it is said, went Gimli the Dwarf. And when that ship passed an end was come in Middle-Earth of the Fellowship of the Ring.”
Several Notes:
Firstly: Gimli was named Elf-friend because of the great love and friendship that grew between him and Legolas, ‘greater than any that has been between Elf and Dwarf’
Secondly: It is, indeed, considered absolutely baffling to everybody that Legolas could have successfully managed to smuggle a dwarf into elf heaven, and that Gimli would have been willing to go (that a dwarf would go ‘for any love’)
Thirdly: Best guess anyone has is that they maybe flattered Galadriel enough for her to successfully bully gods into letting them in
Fourthly:Legolas built the ship. Legolas. The landlocked forest elf who’s never sailed an ocean or seen the Undying Lands in his life, and neither have any of his people. Now, granted, there was about a hundred years between the Quest and them sailing, so probably, hopefully, there was enough time for Legolas to learn ship-building and navigation and all that, but still. Legolas learned how to build himself and Gimli a ship, from scratch, to sail across an unknown ocean to an elf heaven that mortals cannot reach in hopes of staying together
Fifthly:Gimli went along with this. Gimli son of Gloin got into Legolas’ homemade boat and sailed across an ocean neither of them knew on the hope that Legolas could somehow smuggle him into elf heaven against all precedent and history at the end of it. Like, either Gimli just had complete and utter faith in Legolas and in the elves he’d known who’d gone before them, OR Gimli considered it worth it to die lost on the ocean just to accompany Legolas as much of the way as he could
I love these two so much, because on the one hand I’m crying about the faith and friendship, and on the other hand I’m just reconsidering once again that, in Gimli’s old age, when pretty much all their other friends were dead or gone west, this pair of idiots decided to build a ship from scratch, sail an ocean, and smuggle a dwarf into elf heaven, because fuck it, what’s the worst that could happen? Gimli’s going to die eventually regardless. Might as well at least attempt the impossible on the way, you know?
They were resolutely ridiculously right up to their literal (un)dying day, and I adore them
Enjoying the image of galadriel successfully bullying gods to get gimli into elf heaven
I don’t know what’s funnier, that Legolas tries to solve Gimli’s “I will NOT have a horse under any circumstances!!” with “What if the horse was technically mine?”…… or that it actually works
gimli: i do not like Horse
legolas: will you feel better if you can hug me while you ride the horse
gimli: Yes
[ID: An excerpt from LotR, reading:
‘It may be well enough for this lord of the race of Gondor, as he claims,’ he said, 'but who has heard of a horse of the Mark being given to a Dwarf?'No one,’ said Gimli. 'And do not trouble: no one will ever hear of it. I would sooner walk than sit on the back of any beast so great, free or begrudged.’ But you must ride now, or you will hinder us,’ said Aragorn. 'Come, you shall sit behind me, friend Gimli,’ said Legolas. 'Then all will be well, and you need neither borrow a horse nor be troubled by one.’ A great dark-grey horse was brought to Aragorn, and he mounted it. `Hasufel is his name,’ said tomer. 'May he bear you well and to better fortune than Garulf, his late master!’ A smaller and lighter horse, but restive and fiery, was brought to Legolas. Arod was his name. But Legolas asked them to take off saddle and rein. 'I need them not,’ he said, and leaped lightly up, and to their wonder Arod was tame and willing beneath him, moving here and there with but a spoken word: such was the Elvish way with all good beasts. Gimli was lifted up behind his friend, and he clung to him, not much more at ease than Sam Gamgee in a boat.
Happy Holidays! At last it’s time to post for @officialtolkiensecretsanta and I have some soft Gigolas for @guileheroine, with Legolas taking a moment to realize how he feels while they’re on a break during a hike in the woods. I hope it brings you joy, and that your New Year is a promising one!
