The Twelve Days of Tolkien - Drabble Series

On the fourth day of Christmas, my dear muse sent to me
Gimli's first axe

Glóin smiled indulgently as his young son reached out in awe to take the gift. The child’s fingers brushed against his callused palm, and he swelled with pride, for already they were rough and worn from much smith-work.

“It’s blunt,” complained the child, fingering the blade.

“’Course it is! Can’t have you chopping off your own head, can we?”

“But you can’t kill orcs with a blunt axe,” protested Gimli, swinging the weapon about experimentally. He had a natural feel for it, and Glóin knew he’d make a fine warrior some day.

“’Course you can,” he grinned. “Want to learn?”