Gimli, son of Gloin, is a Dwarf warrior and a member of the Fellowship of the Ring in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. He represents the Dwarves at the Council of Elrond and volunteers to accompany Frodo on the quest to destroy the One Ring. He is known for his fierce combat ability with his axe, his initially antagonistic but eventually profound friendship with the Elf Legolas, and his devoted admiration of Galadriel. In Peter Jackson's films, he is portrayed by John Rhys-Davies.

What Is Gimli's Relationship With Legolas?

Gimli and Legolas begin as representatives of races with centuries of mutual distrust. Their relationship evolves from hostility to rivalry to deep friendship over the course of the quest. They engage in a friendly orc-killing competition during battles. After the War of the Ring, Legolas and Gimli travel together to visit the Glittering Caves (which Gimli loves) and Fangorn Forest (which Legolas loves). In Tolkien's appendices, Gimli eventually sails to the Undying Lands with Legolas — the only Dwarf ever to do so.

What Is Gimli's Request to Galadriel?

When the Fellowship visits Lothlorien, Galadriel offers each member a gift. Gimli, deeply moved by her beauty and kindness, asks only for a single strand of her golden hair. She gives him three. This is significant in Tolkien's mythology: the Elf lord Feanor, the greatest craftsman in Elvish history, asked Galadriel for her hair three times and was refused. A Dwarf succeeds where the greatest Elf failed because his request came from genuine admiration rather than desire for possession.

How Strong Is Gimli?

Gimli is one of the most formidable warriors in the Fellowship. He wields a battle axe and is particularly effective against heavily armored opponents. During the Battle of Helm's Deep, he kills 42 orcs (one fewer than Legolas's 43). He is also shown to be physically durable, able to run for days alongside Aragorn and Legolas while wearing heavy Dwarven armor.

Can You Talk to Gimli?

Gimli is available as an AI companion on HoloDream. His axe is ready and his loyalty is absolute. He has opinions about caves.