For fans of The Lord of the Rings, it’s a well-established fact that the races of Elves and Dwarves harbor a great deal of resentment towards one another. This tension is exactly what makes the friendship between Gimli the Dwarf and Legolas the Elf so memorable. Against all odds, the unlikely duo became an inseparable pairing that transcended the long-standing feud of their kinds. Easier to forget, however, is Gimli’s bond with Lady Galadriel, and the importance of the kindness she shows him during the series.
The relationship between Gimli and Galadriel is certainly hinted at throughout Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but their mutual respect is far better explored in the original text. On a cursory viewing, it may seem as if Gimli simply has an unrequited crush on The Lady of the Wood, but their actual relationship is far more nuanced and impactful than any sort of romantic interpretation. From their first meeting in The Fellowship of the Ring, Gimli harbors a deep-seated reverence for the Queen of Lothlórien, and Galadriel returns the favor by imparting a great deal of trust to the dwarf and his quest.
LOTR: Why Do Dwarves Dislike Elves So Much?
The rivalry between races is featured in The Lord of the Rings, but Tolkien doesn’t spend a lot of time on it. What was it that caused such a rift?
Why Dwarves and Elves Don’t Get Along
The feud between the Elves and the Dwarves of Middle-Earth dates all the way back to the First Age, millennia before the events of The Lord of the Rings. From the earliest days of their civilizations, Dwarves and Elves maintained an uneasy stalemate. Unfortunately, the two races came into cataclysmic conflict over the re-forging of the Nauglamír. The Nauglamír was a cherished Elven artifact, a bejwelled necklace forged by the Dwarves of Nargothrond for the Elven King Finrod. The necklace was thought to be lost to the hoard of the dragon Glaurung, but it was later re-discovered and presented to Thingol, the Elven King of Doriath, by Húrin Thalion. Thingol had recently come into posession of a Silmaril, and his love of it had begun to consume his thoughts. Thingol sought to combine his gem with the Nauglamír, and he thusly asked the Dwarves of Nargothrond to re-forge the necklace with the brilliant stone attached.
The Dwarves did as Thingol requested, but during their toils, they developed a similar love for the Silmaril, and when it was eventually completed, they refused to hand it over to Thingol. Thingol perceived their greed and bade them to leave his halls without payment, but the Dwarves instead slew the King, and attempted to steal the Nauglamír for themselves. The murderers were apprehended and the necklace was returned to Doriath, but the damage had already been done: the Dwarves of Nargothrond soon marched on the Elves of Doriath in an act of war. The conflict ended with the defeat of the Dwarves, and the two races forever harbored a distrust and disdain for each other as a result of such bloodshed.
Gimli and Galadriel
By the time of The Lord of the Rings, the relationship between Elves and Dwarves is still relatively hostile, but these tensions are predicated on tradition and heritage rather than any contemporary wrongdoings. With this in mind, when the Fellowship ventures into the Elven realm of Lothlórien, Gimli is instantly antagonistic to the Elves that greet them. When the Elves ask him to be blindfolded, he strongly objects, but with the coaxing of Aragorn, he eventually gives into their wishes. The Fellowship is introduced to the Lord and Lady of Lórien, Celeborn and Galadriel, and tell them the terrible news of Gandalf’s death in Moria.
Even in the face of such a tragedy, Celeborn scolds the Fellowship for journeying into Moria, and disparages the Dwarves and their folly for awakening the Balrog. Instantly, however, Galadriel rebukes his insult, and turns to Gimli with kind words for both his loss and his people. She names the wonders of Moria in the Dwarven tongue, and admonishes her husband’s dismissal of the Dwarves and their accomplishments. Celeborn heeds her words, and apologizes to both the Fellowship and Gimli.
Gimli is unbelievably moved by the words of Galadriel. He rises to his feet and bows to her, praising the beauty of both her and her kingdom. Galadriel is touched by his gesture, and perceives within him a pureness of heart that brings her great joy. When it comes time for the Fellowship to depart Lothlórien, they are each offered gifts by Galadriel, such as Frodo’s Light of Earendil and Sam’s rope. Galadriel asks Gimli what it is he desires, and twice he refuses her offer. On her third inquiry, he finally relents, revealing that he desires only to have a single strand of her hair, which he promises to cherish and one day crystalize into a jewel that would symbolize the goodwill between the races of Elves and Dwarves. Galadriel accepts his request, and grants Gimli not one, but three stands of her hair.
How Did Galdriel Affect Gimli’s Journey?
Without a deeper understanding of the lore of Tolkien’s mythology, the importance of Galadriel’s gift to Gimli can be quite easy to overlook. In actuality, giving anyone — let alone a Dwarf — her hair is a massive gesture on Galadriel’s part that symbolizes a great deal of trust and compassion. Galadriel is one of the Eldar, that is to say Elves who once dwelt in Valinor, and she has seen the light of the Two Trees which once lit the world. It is said that her hair holds within it the very light of these Trees, and shines eternally with their warmth and radiance. In the First Age, the great Elven smith Fëanor, Galadriel’s cousin, thrice asked for a strand of her hair in order to fashion a jewel worthy of the beauty of Valinor. Sensing a darkness within him, Galadriel denied his requests, a decision that proved to be quite foresightful. The hair of Galadriel is not a gift to be given lightly, and a single strand of it would bear the sheen of Valinor itself.
During the events of The Lord of the Rings, Gimli continues to harbor a great deal of reverence for Galadriel, as well as the race of Elves as a whole. When Gandalf returns in The Two Towers, he delivers a message to Gimli on behalf of Galadriel:
“To Gimli, son of Gloin, give his Lady’s greeting. ‘ Lock-bearer, where thou goest my thought goes with thee. But have a care to lay thine axe to the right tree.'”
The relationship between Gimli and Galadriel bears far more importance than merely being a playful romantic interest or unexpected friendship; it is a turning point for the races of both Elves and Dwarves. Gimli is truly pure of heart, and when Galadriel perceives this quality within him, she fosters his fiery passion with her own trust and support. This gesture heartens Gimli, and harbors a fondness within him that allows him to overcome the prejudices of his people. Gimli remains a fierce friend to the Elves, so much so that he is eventually offered passage to Valinor at the end of his life, where he is reunited with Legolas, his closest companion.
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is one of the most iconic names in entertainment. The franchise started with novels from J. R. R. Tolkien before being adapted onto the big screen by Peter Jackson in one of the most critically-acclaimed film trilogies of all time. There have also been numerous The Lord of the Rings video games of varying quality.
