May 31, 2003

Gimli Going to Valinor
G

Lilly, the reason Gimli was allowed to travel West to Valinor is that Galadriel herself made a plea to the Powers on his behalf.

As one of the few Elves of Middle Earth old enough to have been born in Valinor, and as daughter to Finarfin (who is assumedly still Lord of the Noldor in Tirion in Valinor), and granddaughter of Finwe, who awoke at Cuivienen, Galadriel is a person of extreme importance in Valinor and therefore it is unlikely that her reques would be denied by the Valar.

Also, unlike Men (to whom Hobbits are related) the Dwarves have never made war on the Valar so they may have looked more favourably upon Gimli because of this.

I certainly don't think Tolkien would have altered his story by having characters make decisions that he considered out of characer for them simply to engineer a happier ending, especially having read the Silmarillion.