Disclaimer: I own nothing but my mediocre ideas.

A/N: Okay, I'm not doing any real research on any of this other than what I already know, so if everything is not entirely accurate, please forgive me. Hope ya'll enjoy! BTW, Kheled means 'glass' in Khuzdul. Also, I made Gimli roughly the human equivalent of 15, no idea how old that would be in dwarf years or if there would be any difference at all. I figure it didn't matter much seeing as how this is nearly 100 years before the Council of Elrond.

The Life of a Dwarf

Chapter 1 - The Lonely Mountain

The young dwarf looked in awe at the huge mountain. He couldn't believe it. They were finally there. When his father had left with Thorin and the rest of the party, most thought their mission suicidal. But here they were, able to reside under the Lonely Mountain once more. Gimli felt pride swell within him at the thought that Gloin, his father, had helped make all of this possible. His mother would have loved to be here.

A pang of sadness shot through him at the thought of his mother. Kheled had never been very strong. She was a very beautiful woman, by dwarfish standards at least. As her name implied, she had always been as fragile as glass. Through the years, her strength had dwindled until she eventually faded away. His father had raised him the best he could, but he didn't exactly know how to deal with his young son. Dwarf men were not really known for their open affection, and Gloin was no exception.

He shook these depressing thoughts out of his mind. It was a day of celebration! They were finally were they belonged, and there was no dragon around to drive them away! The Lonely Mountain and all of the treasures it contained were theirs!

* * * * *

Gloin saw his son among the throng of dwarves celebrating their return to the Lonely Mountain. He smiled and made his way toward Gimli. They clasped arms in greeting.

"You finally made it. What do you think of our magnificent home that we got back from that infernal Smaug?" Gloin asked.

"It is everything I've heard and more," Gimli replied, still in awe of the huge mountain.

Gloin smiled fondly at his son. "Someday, you'll be a great lord of our people. I expect great things from you, and I know you will not let me down."

Gimli forced a smile at his father's words. He had heard all of these things before. That was how his father had always been. Gimli knew that it was just his way of expressing his affection and interests in his son, but he also feared that if he did not do something great with his life, he would be a failure in his father's eyes. His father was his only family left, and he desperately wanted him to be proud of him.