Bearded

Chapter 8

Gudrun rushed through the streets towards the palace. If she was lucky, she would only need to gain access to the administrative areas and give the name of her workshop, saying she needed to speak with Gloin urgently. They had done enough business with the palace for it not to be outside the realms of possibility that she had business there. She was wearing the uniform of her workshop, and the hungover guard let her through without protest and she was led to Gloin's office.

Gloin gave a piercing look. "I hadn't scheduled any appointments this morning, what did you wish to speak to me about?"

By the time she reached Gloin's office her words had dried up. "It's important." Her eyes shifted sideways to his assistant at the desk beside him. She lowered her voice, "about the Elf."

In Inglishmek Gloin asked for privacy and soon they were in the room alone together.

She lifted her beard and showed him the crude rune of protection. She handed him the charcoal and pigment. He hesitated but then took them and he drew the mark onto his own chest. The lines did not quite meet, and the blue was slightly outside the lines, she wasn't sure it would still work but she was not about to take such a liberty with Gloin as to draw on his chest.

Gudrun took a deep breath and began, hoping not to sound deranged. "The Elf had cast an enchantment on Gimli. I'm not talking of rumour. I saw it with my own eyes and know it to be true."

"I know, lass."

Well that poured water on her forge.

"Then, why don't you do anything about it?"

Gloin looked tired, like he was collapsing into himself. He tugged on his beard the way Gimli did. "Tell me what can I do? What know I of enchantments? Shall I ask that meddler Tharkûn to help? For all I know it is of his design. Did they not all travel many months together?"

"Am I to return to Elrond for counsel once again? That elf has married the king of Men to his daughter, though he brought them up together! Incest! What knows he of decency and honour? For all we know he helped with the enchantment himself."

"Am I to speak to the Elvenking? He will sever the enchantment by severing Gimli's head from his shoulders if he would have it ended. What would you have me do?"

Gudrun sat back in her chair and chewed at her lip. She had not thought further than coming here. She did not know what to do. It wasn't really any of her business anyway.

"Besides, that is what all the rumours are saying. What made you seek me with such urgency. I did not know you and Gimli were close friends?"

Gudrun felt a blush creeping across her face. "No, it's just that -, I had thought to ask Gimli to sire a Dwarrowling on me."

Mahal, she was speaking of this with his father before even he knew. "I would not ask for a relationship or to be wed if he did not wish it." She continued, feeling a bit shaky inside, but so far still determined to go on with things.

"I had not yet had the chance to discuss it with him. I had offered him - companionship, but he refused, then I saw him with the Elf. With. The Elf."

She whispered. "With."

Gloin put his face in his hands, again an unconscious echo of Gimli. "I would be happy for Gimli to find a nice Dwarrowdam like you. Even just an arrangement for Dwarrowlings. I don't know how to help him either." The previous evening Gloin had invited Berir to their home. He thought she would be just Gimli's type, but Gimli had only paid her polite attention and ignored all the subtle manoeuvres that were intended to get him to agree to spend more time together with her.

"Maybe if he were to sire young, the connection to them would be enough to break the enchantment. Or even the act itself..." These were serious matters and unnecessary delicacy in speaking of them would not produce a solution.

"You may be right, lass. You may be right."

Gloin was silent for a moment. "Dwarrowlings," he murmured, "and a breaking of the enchantment. But I know that it cannot be forced." He looked up, and it seemed that he had made some decision; his face was less troubled.

Gudrun walked back to the workshop and continued her day in a contemplative silence.

Notes: Arwen and Aragon were not raised as siblings. My understanding is that she was away from Rivendell during his formative years. It is an example of twisted facts filtering down to the public.

If you've made it this far into the story please consider leaving a comment. Positive or negative, I just want to know how people feel about it.