[MLD-Grounds-Keeper-Willie]

It really wasn't friendship all that much I don't think. It was more peace as Tarthang said. The dwarves and the elves were grudging each other in The Hobbit, but there was a clear and present danger. The goblins came, and both elves and dwarves hated the goblins, so instead of fighting against each other, they took care of the goblins first. It was an alliance or actually like a treaty, coalition, or pact. They fought together to get rid of the goblins. After that, everything was settled, it wasn't like they fought. I mean that would be so awkward. They very well could have fought after that. Take for example WWII. The U.S. and the USSR did not like each other one bit, but they put their ifferences aside to fight against Hitler, which at the time was the clear and present danger. After that, they got into the cold war. But the point is that, the elves and dwarves based their 'friendships' on a clear and present danger.

After that, they didn't get into a war, but it was highly possible. Trade would obviously benefit them more than war would. They lived peacefully in their area, benefiting off each other, rather than fighting. And besides, the person (dwarf) who was the most stubborn as to giving the elves any treasure was Thorin, who died during the battle of the five armies. So with Thorin gone, I think the other dwarves were willing to comprimise and appease rather than to fight again.

And even if they were peaceful, they could still hold grudges. They don't forget age old things like that. Take for example the Irish and the English. That war went on for about a thousand years. They are not fighting now, but that doesn't mean that they like each other. The elves and the dwarves could very well still hate each other, but rather than fight, they use peace and trade too their advantage. Also, if Gimli and Legolas knew of what happpened, it is most likely that they were brought up by their parents knowing that the other race is wrong and that they started it and all that other stuff. So, even though there was peace, that doesn't mean they forgot the age old grudge.

[ January 12, 2003: Message edited by: MLD-Grounds-Keeper-Willie ]