General

Name Gamli

Nicknames foals call him 'Grand Gam'

Name meaning 'old one'

Age differs

Gender male (gelding)

Breed Icelandic Horse

Species Equine

Appearance

Color gray

Markings dappled

Mane gray

Tail gray

Eyes amber

Extras

Voice Donald Sutherland

Accent Brittish

Theme Song  Welcome by Phil Collins

Relation with the Movie  Gamli knows and is friends with both the grandson and great-grandson of Spirit and Rain after the Cimarron and White River herds were at peace with one another and later came to know Storm, the son of Spirit.

Relationships

Sire n/a

Dam n/a

Children none

Mate none

Friends Samba, Gunner, Taima, Colby, Dixie,

Piper, Shade, Ashwin, and Cupid

Enemies the Black Valley herd

Owner/ Herd

• Great Britian mining company (former)
• Fergus Burland (former)
• White River Herd (current)

Personality

Likes warm summer winds, the heat of the sun's rays, the smell of grass, calming walks around ponds

Dislikes  slippery ice, arid climates, being secluded, hostile humans and horses, dishonesty

Loves  being close to the ones he loves

Hates doesn't believe in 'hate', thinking it sours the soul

Good Traits the voice of reason, logical, intelligent, realistic, strong, loyal

Bad Traits too trusting

Happiness he seems to have his head held higher and lifts his legs in a prance. Even for as old as he is, he is still as nimble as he was back in his younger years.

Sadness his head and fluffy tail would be lowered and he would walk around in silence but assure others that there is nothing wrong, not wanting to weigh worry on them for him.

Anger preferring a peacful life with his new-found family, even the loveable Gamli is able to anger. He treats it just like his sadness but the one difference is that his movements seem stiff and his ears are flattened.

Fear alone he would turn and flee but with his herd, knowing safety and strength in numbers, he will gather the foals in the center of the herd and do his best to keep them calm.

Biography

Since he was just a young horse, Gamli has worked underground in one of Great Britain's small mining shafts with his old friend and partner, Fergus Burland. He has little memory of his homeland, Iceland. But he does claim to miss it and dreams of returning there to live happily till the end of his days. Serving as a pit pony, hauling loads of coal for over twenty years. Fergus would share his bread and water with Gamli and share stories of what he would read about America, promising that if he was to go there someday he would take Gamli with him. However, upon the announcement of the mine's end and the pit ponies were taken above ground either for the first time in years or for the first time of their lives. Most spooked at seeing the green grass and the blue sky and breathing the strangely clear air. But Gamli was interested in being introduced to this new world outside of narrow passages, damp lighting, and stuffy air and was the first to bend his knees to roll around in the bright grass when first introduced into a paddock and bathe in the warm sun. This was short-lived. Gamli and the others were rounded up for a place called "the stockyard". They were sold and awaited for their arrival of their transport which was to come early the next morning. When the moon was high in the sky, the old Gamli was woken by a familiar voice. Fergus stood at the fence of the paddock and Gamli went to greet his old friend. He was quickly hushed while the man opened the gate to slide a halter around his head and led the gray away from his demise and towards a new life. Keeping a low profile with a stolen horse was no easy task for the man but he believed with all his heart that he was doing the right thing. With his savings earned from the years of work in the mine, he and Gamli were to go to America.

Of course, the journey was not an easy one. Fergus never left Gamli's side, despite the lack of space and little food that could be spared between the two. The man was desperate to keep his promise to his elderly partner and wished to see him happy with a retirement he deserved. Luck was on their side when they began anew. A cabin with a single-stalled barn and a paddock just the right size for Gamli was where they called home. However, after a snow storm covered the roads to town Fergus had to rely on the same direction they always took over the short year they lived there that had etched into his memory. He knew he would be slightly off but he felt confident and Gamli trusted in his rider's decisions and pranced to his cheerful singing that was always his habit when he and the gray gelding were doing chores. In an instant everything turned upside down and it happened so fast before Gamli could grasp what was done.

Ice shattered, water splashed, both man and beast screaming for dear life. In the end, Gamli stood on the river bank, shaking and wet with labored breathing. His eyes locked on the broken ice, where dark water could be seen rushing just below the surface. When Gunner found him while making his way back home to his herd and love, the dappled gray was lying just feet away from the hole. At first, Gunner didn't think the old horse was alive until he blinked. Gamli had a light blanket of snow covering him, hinting that he has been there for a while. Gamli doesn't even remember the travel to the gray stallion's home or remembering a freckled mare removing his tack by chewing on the straps that held them in place. For a while, he wondered about the land, keeping close to the herd but he kept his place and only chewed a few mouthfuls. For weeks he mourned in silence over the loss of his dear friend. Samba, the first mare he met when brought into the herd was the only one who would talk to him and he soon learned that she was carrying Gunner's foal. The freckled mare was his first friend in the herd and soon became comfortable with grazing next to her and soon his happiness returned. During a summer storm when Samba was having a complicated birth to a grulla filly, born backwards, and lay unmoving. It was the clap of the first sound of thunder that seemed to jump her awake. Gamli was reminded of the word 'taima' that meant 'crash of thunder' in the Icelandic language. He shared his thought with Samba and she chose it as a name for the filly.

With the help of two other horses, Gamli moved the worn tack back to the cabin that he first called 'home' when he came to America. He left them at the door before saying his final goodbye and left with his new family.

Over the years he helped look after the young and became loved among many. He never liked to pick favorites but he always had a special place in his heart for Taima. He worried greatly for the young mare when she made a habit of wondering around without staying close to the herd or at least having somone acompany her during her little adventures. Gamli quickly discovered that she and a young stallion from the Cimarron herd met with one another during her explorations. He confronted her about it and promised to keep her secret, supporting the young in their blooming relationship. Gunner, however, saw it differently.
When the young stallion had been chased from the land a second time, Taima became distant from everyone and Gamli did what he could do to comfort her. Many seasons passed and the aging Gamli still walked with pride, even though it was slightly sluggish. A fire that broke out through their homeland made it a challenge for Gamli to keep up with the herd while escaping the deadly flames. Once safe, Gamli quickly checked on all the horses and quickly noticed that Taima was not among them and he had his mind set on going back out there to find her. Gunner refused his wishes and asked him to help Colby keep the herd together until he got back. Reluctantly, the older gray obayed orders.

It wasn't until the next day after the rains extinguished the wildfire when Gunner returned with Taima. Gamli's heart lifted with relief and happiness swelled when Ashwin, the Cimarron herd's newest leader, followed beside the two in peace.

Taima left with Ashwin as his mate and the new lead mare of the Cimarron herd and Gamli wished her the best of luck, knowing that saying goodbye would truely be a goodbye. Once every year, the two herds meet and Gamli is happy to see some young faces. Before gathering the foals to tell them stories of his travels across the sea and his own home where he was born, he would greet the older horses, bowing his head respectfully. The oldest former leader of the Cimarron herd, Storm, went beside Gamli as he sat in the grass before the young ones. He was almost as old as the dappled gray and the years of being an honest leader clearly showed. He lied beside the pony-sized gelding and swapped stories to the foals like they were old friends. Cupid, Ashwin's father and Storm's only offspring, would stand with Gunner as they watched over the two herds at the gathering as if all their years of argument never existed.

The third year of their reunion, Gamli quickly noticed Taima's thick belly. Wanting to be there for the birth of her foal like he was for the grulla mare, he asked to join and visit the Cimarron for the coming year. He did as he promised himself and the year seemed to have come and gone all too quickly. The fourth year of the reunion approached and Gamli, feeling stiff and slightly weak, convinced the others that he was fine. Storm was there to help support him through the long walk and shared stories of his younger life. Told Gamli of his father and what he could remember of the buckskin's heroic feats to keep their land free. Gamli himself wasn't very talkative but he listened with much interest and when they met the White River herd halfway, he greeted his old friends and went to lie in the shade under the closest tree. The oak tree provided just what he was looking for for his rest. When the young ones came to listen to him tell one of his stories but Samba gently nudged them away. He assured her that he just needed a moment's rest and he would be back on his hooves. The two exchanged smiles before the red dun departed to meet with her daughter.

Gamli looked towards the two herds, smiling to himself. The family he made during the years as a retired pit pony he cherished very dearly. He was happy that he didn't return to Iceland. If he did he never would have had the ones he cared for now. In the middle of his thoughts, a pale leg that almost glowed came into his view. Looking up, the most beautiful white horse gazed across the fields towards the band of horses with the most stunning blue eyes. Gamli looked back at his friends and the young ones, his eyes becoming heavy. A moment passed with the pale one, his voice deep but smooth and gentle, "Come along, Gamli..." were the last words the pale horse said before walking forward and began fading like mist once the sun touched his white coat. With one last look at the gathered herds, Gamli lied on his side and closed his eyes and counted his fainting breath.

One... two... three...

Cupid & Ashwin (C) CookieLoveXO