What Every Major Character Did After The Lord Of The Rings

One of the more unlikely friendships in The Lord of the Rings is between Legolas and Gimli. Both begin by distrusting each other but eventually develop a respect for their fighting ability, even engaging in a contest during the Battle of Helm's Deep to see who can kill the most orcs. They were both fierce warriors and were an indispensable asset to the Fellowship with their friendship continuing after the destruction of the Ring.

In spite of their initial distrust, they gained an interest in each others culture. Legolas fulfilled a promise to Gimli to journey through Fangorn Forest with him to show the dwarf the beauty of the ancient wood and try to dispel his fears that it was haunted. Later he brought a settlement of Silvan Elves from Mirkwood to live in Ithilien.

Gimli never forgot his meeting with Galadriel or the gift she gave him, setting her three strands of hair in crystal. After Aragorn's coronation he returned to the Lonely Mountain to find it had been devastated in the war. He later rebuilt the gates of Minas Tirith from the precious metal mithril. He also founded a dwarf realm in the Glittering Caves of Aglarond.

After Aragorn's death, Legolas built a ship and he and Gimli sailed into the west, this gave Gimli the distinction of being the only dwarf to do so.