sumersprkl:

Legolas calling Gimli “Meleth” simply because he doesn’t know what it means

Legolas getting so used to calling Gimli that that when they go for a visit to an Elven kingdom, he forgets about his kind’s extremely sensitive hearing and says it in a hallway or something

An elf hears and just drops everything they’re holding and runs to inform the king

Legolas and Gimli getting called to a meeting which is really just an hour-long shouting match in Elvish

Gimli having absolutely no idea what is going on

After Legolas explains, there’s a heartfelt, teary-eyed acceptance (also in Elvish)

Gimli still not knowing what’s going on at all

And then THE EXACT SAME THING happening on their visit to the Dwarves when Gimli fucks up and calls Legolas “Ghivashel”.