Into the Wardrobe

I was reading in LotR, Chapter Breaking of the Fellowship looking for a quote for the quote game, and I was struck by something.

Reading through that bit, I'm surprised once more that Aragorn suggests that Sam, Gimli, and himself accompany Frodo to Mordor; while the others go with Boromir to Minas Tirith.
Strange that he should choose Gimli to go with him and not Legolas. He seems so much closer to Legolas since they can both speak Elven. Aragorn grew up amongst elves. So why choose Gimli? What was in Aragorn's mind when he suggested the splitting of the fellowship like that?

Granted dwarves might be hardy folk who could withstand the tribulations of Mordor, and Gimli's axe is indeed formidable. But then Legolas is hardy too, and light on his feet for traversing mountain and swamp.

Any thoughts?

I'm with Lirinel here. But maybe the elvish belief you mentioned was one that Aragorn subscribed to, in respect for the influence (or lack thereof) of Sauron's rings on the dwarven mind. Remember that he made the Seven, too, but none of the dwarves became his pawns or his slaves. (as Poggin's compatriots cry in The Last Battle :wink: "The Dwarves are for the Dwarves!")

Good point about Aragorn considering who should go with Boromir. Perhaps Legolas would have been more quickly accepted as a legitimate friend and a useful warrior in Minas Tirith, and he probably would have gotten along with Boromir a little better than Gimli. Gimli has his tense moments and tends to be easily offended, tends to pick-a-fight rather than try to find a compromise. That's why we love him!