I don't own Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Lord of the Rings.

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Chapter One

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March, 2, 3019, Third Age

They were on their way to Helm's Deep. Gimli personally thought Théoden King was a fool for running instead of fighting, but Aragorn had asked him to stay silent - well, as silent as a dwarf could be, of course. He still voiced his displeasure, but he did not use his axe, and for Gimli, son of Gloin, that was a great feat.

Gimli turned his head back toward Legolas. "I have to say, Master Elf, I would've liked more dwarves fighting in this battle. There's nothing better than fighting with kin by your side. I'd welcome my sisters especially. They're warriors unlike any you have ever seen. Swifter then any elf, stronger than any dwarf, and more courageous than anyone I've ever laid eyes upon. Aye, my sisters are without a doubt the greatest warriors the world has ever known," he boasted, rather proudly.

Eowyn, who was riding next to him, turned towards him immediately. "You would allow your sisters to fight, Master Dwarf?" she asked, surprise coloring her tone of voice.

Gimli laughed uproariously. "Allow my sisters?" he questioned incredulously. "Baah," he spat swatting his hand as if to chase away a particularly bothersome fly. "My sisters do as they please, and I'd welcome their presence for they'd surely turn the tide to our favor."

Aragorn looked incredulous. Legolas, catching Aragorn's eye, looked at him with an amused smirk. "Why Gimli," Legolas said. "This is the first time I have ever heard of you having sisters. Why have you not spoken of them before?"

Gimli shrugged casually. "I am full of surprises, Master Elf."

"I have never seen a female dwarf before. I didn't think they existed," Eowyn said hesitantly.

"That, my Lady, is because you don't see many dwarf women. In fact, we are so alike in voice and appearance, that they're often mistaken for dwarf men."

Eowyn turned to glance at Aragorn. "It's the beard," he mock-whispered. Eowyn laughed and turned back to Gimli.

"...And this in turn has given rise to the belief that there are no dwarf women, and that dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground."

Eowyn laughed cheerfully bringing a fond smile to Théoden's face. While Legolas and Aragorn chuckled softly at the dwarf's antics.

"Do you have any brothers, or only sisters?" Eowyn asked curiously. She liked talking to Gimli, he was interesting and she would love to hear more about his life, especially about his sisters. She could tell Gimli was a good-hearted dwarf that tended to hide his heart from the rest of the world. He made Eowyn laugh, and he, unlike so many others, did not believe it was wrong for a woman to fight in a war. He obviously had no qualms about his sisters fighting, and Eowyn couldn't help but envy them. What would it be like, she wondered, to have a brother who would not only let you fight in a battle, but would welcome you greatly? Eowyn knew that was the kind of brother she would like to have.

"Nay," Gimli answered, shaking his head. "Just two sisters, but I assure you my lady, those two are trouble enough."

Aragorn smiled. "I would like to meet them someday, Master Gimli. These warriors you speak of so highly."

"Yes," Legolas said mischievously."The way you speak of them, they sound as if they are ten feet tall."

"Ha! You laugh now, Master Elf. You will meet them soon enough and they will make you eat your words, I promise you."

Eowyn smiled at the love and pride she could hear in the dwarf's voice when talking about his sisters. "Are they truly such great warriors, Master Gimli?" she asked softly.

"Oh yes, my Lady, the greatest. You wouldn't know it by looking at them, but they are aware of that fact, and use it to their advantage. Why, people underestimating them has gotten them out of trouble many times before," his cheerful face turned into a scowl, "Especially with our father," he grumbled, making Eowyn giggle.

"They love hunting orcs; they call it soothing for the nerves," he added grinning widely.

Eowyn choked. "Soothing for the nerves?" she asked incredulously.

Aragorn and Legolas gave him a perplexed look. "They are obviously just as mad as you are," Legolas told Gimli, jokingly.

Gimli smiled proudly. "I daresay that they are, Master Elf," his face held a faraway look. "Watching them fight is the most wonderful thing I've ever experienced. Seeing two innocent-looking girls face a legion of orcs, and then watch as they kill them all, without breaking a sweat, is pure art. The way they move, the way they kill..." he shook his head as to clear it from a memory. "It's a thing of beauty. It's a good thing they can take care of themselves too. Otherwise, I would've been forced to follow them around Middle Earth, filling my days with protecting them from lust-filled men."

This time, Aragorn was the one who choked. "Lust-filled men, Gimli?" he asked skeptically, trying, but failing to imagine two dwarven females being chased around by amorous men..

"Yes Aragorn, lust-filled men. While they are the greatest warriors the world has ever seen, they are also the epitome of beauty."

He frowned thoughtfully. "Even if they don't have beards," he added with a grumble, stroking his beard.

Legolas turned to look at Aragorn, and silently repeated the word 'beards', with a confused frown on his face. Aragorn shrugged, and turned back to Gimli.

"...I could name them in the same sentence as the Lady Galadriel herself," Gimli continued, "And I would not feel shame."

He frowned. "Of course, that has brought them their fair share of trouble. According to my youngest sister Faith, men can't seem to grasp the concept of the word 'no', but she enjoys teaching it to them by using her fists. That's why it's a good thing they are so strong, otherwise I would have to have kept them behind lock and key in order to protect them, and knowing them they would've turned my life into a living nightmare."

Legolas could not believe his ears, for the Lady Galadriel was the most beautiful elf he had ever seen, and he did not think there was anyone more fair...especially not a dwarven female. Even if they didn't have beards. He wondered what these sisters of Gimli looked like, and how strong they really were. If they were anything like Gimli, they would be strong warriors indeed, but the best the world had ever known - he highly doubted it.

Aragorn cleared his throat. "Do they look anything like you, Master Gimli?" he asked hesitantly, not sure if the Dwarf would take offense.

Gimli turned to look at Aragorn and snorted. "No! I did say they were beautiful, did I not? Do not trouble yourself Aragorn, Legolas. You'll meet them soon enough, and you will see the truth of my words," he grumbled, looking quite smug.

"You have said that twice now. How can you be so sure we will meet them soon?" Legolas asked curiously.

"They will turn up sooner or later. When they return home and father tells them where I am and what I'm doing, they'll track me down, I am certain of that. They're probably on their way as we speak. I just hope they will arrive before there's any fighting to be done. For if they miss any chance to kill orcs, they will be in a foul mood for days," he smiled fondly.

"But on the other hand, I find myself wishing they won't arrive until after the battle."

"Why is that?" Eowyn asked with a frown. She thought Gimli was different then everyone else, but now here he was wishing his sisters would arrive after the battle. Was he worried for their safety?

Gimli laughed. "If my sisters arrive before the battle, they will kill all the orcs before I have the chance to do some damage, and sisters or not, they'll not be allowed to steel my prey."

Legolas gaped at Gimli in disbelief and Eowyn smiled, "We could use all the help we can find Master Gimli, so I for one would gladly bid them welcome."

Aragorn nodded thoughtfully. "They sound intriguing, these sisters of yours."

Gimli grinned. "Intriguing?" he asked carefully as if tasting the word. "That they are Aragorn, that they are."

He turned in his saddle, spooking his horse. The horse ran wild and threw Gimli off. Eowyn followed him laughing.

"I'm alright! I'm alright!" Gimli yelled. "Nobody panic...It was deliberate!"

Aragorn and Legolas looked at each other and burst out in laughter. Aragorn watched Gimli fondly. He wondered about the sisters Gimli spoke of so lovingly but he also knew that if they were anything like their brother, he would like them instantly.

With a smile, he followed his friends, but he couldn't help but wonder if this was the last time they would all laugh like this.