Mathoms

Coronation Gift: A Double Drabble

For Adaneth

“Thank you, Gimli…it’s a very interesting gift,” Éomer stammered. “Em, I imagine Dwarves use these all the time to...to…”

“Comb hair?” Éothain muttered.

“Of course we use them all the time!” Gimli’s voice boomed. “We eat, don’t we?”

“Oh! Yes…of course…to eat with,” Éomer shrugged, handing the box of metal objects to Éothain. “What do you think of these…um?”

“Me!?” Éothain hissed under his breath. “I use my fingers.”

“Explain the origin of your gift, Gimli.” Legolas smiled.

Gimli leaned back in his tall chair and sat cross-legged. “A wealthy Dwarf of Belegost once had a legendary beard braided in the fashion of our kindred, except that it grew so thick that it forked in four places. Upon his death, his brothers encased the beard in gold, then made miniature tributes to sell to the guests, of course, as Dwarves are expensive to feed. Ingenuity being a strong Dwarvish trait, the guests quickly discovered the practical use of pronged instruments for eating solid food. Thus the smiths of that land devoted themselves to the fork as well as mail.” He laughed wickedly. “The profit they made selling the former to the Elves afterwards is as legendary as the beard itself.”

oOoOo

Thanks, Haarajot, for catching the elusive "a".