Last Act of Love (Sequel to The Last One)

Chapter 21

"Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country."Théoden began.

"Hail the victorious dead!"

"Hail!" The crowd cheered, each drinking from their mugs to honour their fallen brothers.

The crowd dispersed around the hall drink, and celebrating their hard earned victory. Ruive wandered over to Gimli, and Éomer who were standing, or in Gimli's case sitting around a keg of ale.   

"Gentlemen." Ruive greeted.

"Aye, lassie have drink! Ye earned it well enough!" Gimli cheered.

Éomer poured Ruive a mug of ale and handed it to her, all the while watching the woman whose legends he grew up on. Having been told by his sister that this was the legendary Ruive, he could barely contain his curiousity.

 "You are more than just a Ranger, are you not?"

"Perhaps." Ruive replied, taking a swig of her drink. 

"My sister tells me that you are a legend, the legend we grew up on as children. Ruive of the Dagnir, the Dragon Slayer."Éomer announced.

"Hardly a legend worth remembering, if you ask me." Ruive muttered.

"Your feats in battle would say otherwise, my Lady."

As Éomer and Ruive continued to talk, Legolas watched from a distance. He could not help but feel jealous, although there was nothing to be jealous of, it was just a harmless conversation. At least, that's what Legolas hoped it was. Legolas walked over to join them just as Gimli proposed a drinking game, it seemed as though he had been nominated to participate. 

"No pauses. No spills."Éomer instructed, handing a mug to Legolas.

"And no regurgitation." Gimli added, holding his mug eagerly.

"So it's a drinking game?" Legolas observed.

Ruive and Éomer nodded in confirmation.

"Last one standing wins." Gimli said before gulping down his first mug.

Legolas gingerly raised the mug to his lip, having never tasted ale before he took his first sip. To him, the taste wasn't so bad, of course it was not the fine Elvish wine that he was used to, but it was not undrinkable.

Gimli and Legolas had both downed several mugs each, Gimli a few more than Legolas, and it could be seen in Gimli the liquid was taking affect.

"Here, here. It's the Dwarves that go swimming with little, hairy women." Gimli belched. 

Legolas looked down as his hand curiously, feeling something he had not felt before.

"I feel something. A slight tingle in my fingers. I think it's affecting me."

Ruive looked at Legolas with a combination of shock and amusement, was Legolas really getting drunk?

"What did I say? He can't hold his liquor." Gimli slurred.

The dwarf paused for a moment, going cross-eyed before falling back off his chair.

Everyone watching the game was silent for a moment before Legolas looked up with a smug smile. 

"Game over."

The men when back to their own drinking and celebrating while Ruive had to laugh at a slightly stumbling Legolas.

"Oh come on ye drunk Elf." Ruive drawled, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

"Lets get you some fresh air."

Ruive managed to walk Legolas outside the hall before his legs eventually gave way making her stumble into the wall.

"You are making this very difficult for both of us, Legolas."

The Elf only murmured under his breath as his weight practically fell on top of Ruive, leaving her trapped between a drunk Elf and a wall.

"Legolas?"

"You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen." He slurred.

Ruive paused for a moment, not entirely prepared for that, but he was drunk, he didn't know what he's saying... did he? Instead of replying to his drunken statement she tried to push him upright again.

"Legolas-"

"No!" Legolas cut off.

He buried his face in her hair as slow tears began to fall down his cheeks and onto her neck.

"Why won't you let me love you? I love you more than the stars above, why won't you let me?"

"Legolas, don't do this, not now." Ruive pleaded, trying to stand him up again.

"You used to love me. But you don't anymore."

Ruive closed her eyes, a lone tear rolling down her cheek. Legolas passed out in her arms, his slow breathing in her ear.

"Legolas? Legolas?"

But there was no response. Instead she moved his body and slid them both to the ground. Legolas' head fell lightly against her's, their foreheads pressed together.

"You are wrong, Legolas..." She whispered.

"I still do."

I'm alive!!!! Sorry this took a while I was tossing between adding more or not but I feel like this is a good spot to finish the chapter. Isn't drunk Leggy adorable!!! Next chapter I aim to have up over the weekend depending on uni and stuff. Tell me what ya thought!! Bye!!