Gimli was born in the year 2879 of the Third Age. When Gandalf and Thorin Lécudechesne developed the Erebor expedition in 1941, Gimli was deemed too young to join Thorin’s companions, among whom was his father, Glóin.

In late 3018, Glóin and Gimli travel to Rivendell for advice: a Mordor messenger, the Mouth of Sauron, showed up in Erebor, offering the Rings of Power to Dwarves in exchange for information about Bilbo Baggins and the Hobbits. Following Elrond’s Council, Gimli is chosen to represent the Dwarves in the Ring Community.

During the passage of the Brotherhood in the Lothlórien, Gimli falls under the spell of Galadriel, who presents him with a lock of his hair. He then continues to praise the beauty and charms of the Lady of Lórien, especially with Éomer, which triggers a frank but courteous quarrel between them. Gimli’s stay in Lórien also gave rise to a deep friendship between him and Legolas.

After the War of the Ring, Gimli leads a colony of Dwarves in the caves of Aglarond, Rohan. His friendship with Legolas enabled him, through Galadriel’s intercession, to leave for Tol Eressëa at the same time as the latter, on the death of Aragorn, in the year 120 of the Fourth Age.