Love Can Fight Any Battle (Legolas/Hermione Love Story

Chapter 28: Victory Feast and Drunkenness

They arrived at Edoras just in time for the Victory Feast. The whole city had gathered in the Great Hall.

Autheil wore a beautiful purple gown as Legolas wore a silver tunic.

Éwoyn presented a golden goblet to the King. Théoden took the cup from his niece who then joined him at his side. Théoden raised his glass as everyone stood to their feet, Aragorn, Legolas, Auhtiel and Gimli in the front row.

"Tonight we remember the Men and Elves who gave their blood to defend this country." Théoden said looking at Autheil and Legolas as he said 'Elves'. Legolas took Autheil's hand to hold for support. They all the raise their glasses "Hail the victorious dead."

"Hail!" the people sound off and drink their wine but both Autheil and Aragorn hesitate for a brief moment, thinking Haldir, a dear friend they had lost. Autheil sighed ant brought her drink to her lips as did Aragorn.

There was a moment of silence that followed before the people began to move and start to feast at the tables. Autheil however needed a moment so she quietly slipped out of the Great Hall and down the Hall where no one could see her being concealed by the shadows. Authiel stood back against the wall as she took in a deep breath trying to erase the horrors of her friend being killed. A silent tear falling dwon her face. Autheil heard soft footsteps coming down the hall but paid no heed to it figuring they wouldn't see her. The footsteps stopped as she wiped the stray tear from her face. She stood there trying to regain her composure when a voice came from across the hall.

"He wouldn't want you to grieve him, you know that don't you?" said Legolas as he walked over to her. Autheil nodded her head

"I know I just wish..." but Autheil didn't finish her sentence. Legolas brought his hand to her cheek.

"I'm sorry about earlier..." she started again but Legolas just shook his head knowing she was referring to her behavior at Isengard and Saruman's death.

"I understand, you were grieving. There's nothing to condemn for that. I would have wanted the same if it were you." he told her. Autheil nodded her head as Legolas brought his forehead to lay on hers.

"I'm hear if you need to talk." he told her. Autheil smiled at him and the kissed his lips. "Thank you but I think right now we need to get back before people notice that were gone and start getting naughty ideas." Autheil replied. Legolas laughed butl ook her hand and lead her back to the party.

They were immediately called over by Gimli and Éomer.

Éomer then hands Legolas a pint of ale. "No pauses. No spills." he tells them. Autheil already picking up on the game rolls her eyes at the men.

"And no regurgitation." Gimli said.

"Oh please don't do that." Autheil said. "This isn't my dress." Autheil told them making them laugh.

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

The men around them cheer. "Last one standing wins." Gimli says. They then start to laugh as Gimli starts to drink his pint. Legolas turns to Autheil "I'll catch you if you fall over." she informed him. Legolas smiles back at Autheil as he starts to hesitantly drink his pint.

Not five minutes later, the elf and the dwarf had piled up their empty pints. Autheil could see the effects of the alcohol wearing on Gimli but it had yet to show on Legolas, who was easily downing the beverages given to him by Éomer.

Éomer then passes Autheil a pint "Come on, live a little." he told her. Autheil smirk and took the ale from the man and sipped on it as she continued to watch he companions. Aragorn soon joined her side. "How's it coming?" he asked. "I think Gimli's going to fall over any minute now. Why don't you go over there and try to catch him." she suggested. Aragorn chuckled but did as she suggested.

Gimli then let out a gross fart, causing everyone to look at him in disgust and Aragorn to move away from his side.

"Hehehe." laughs the Dwarf "It's the Dwarfes that go swimming with little hairy women." he slurs in his drunk state.

Legolas then looks down at his hand "I feel something. A slight tingle in my fingers. I think it's affecting me." Legolas said with something in his voice that made him sound a little off.

Gimli slams his empty glass down "I told you, he can't hold his liquor." he said. Suddenly his eyes go cross and Gimli falls backwards, Aragorn forgetting that he was supposed to catch the intoxicated Dwarf stiffs a laugh as does Autheil. Legolas looks up at the others "Game over." he say and turns to walk away nearly falling over in the process. Autheil grabs Legolas and steadys him before she wraps his arm around her neck, allowing him to lean on her for support.

"I'm fine, Autheil." he told her. "No, you're not your drunk." she corrected him.

"You sober up Legolas, I'll take care of Gimli." Aragorn tells her as he tries to lift Gimli.

"Good luck." she says.

"Well thanks for the encouragement." he yells back as Legolas laughs at the two of them.

Autheil leads Legolas outside of the Great Hall as the women eye Legolas earning sharp glares from Legolas.

A women who seemed slightly intoxicated walked up to the two "Need help sweety?" she asked more to Legolas than Autheil. "Not if you want to end up with broken bones." Autheil threatened and glared at the women who sacredly ran off. Legolas stiffed a laugh as Autheil dragged him outside and laid his back against the castle walls.

"You are really pretty when you're protective." he said.

Autheil rolled her eyes and conjured up a wet towel and wiped Legolas head. She knew he wasn't that intoxicated and thanks to their Elf ability the drunkenness would wear off soon. "Yeah yeah." Autheil replied. "You know I love you and everything about you." he said and leaned forward to kiss her but Autheil pulled back.

Legolas wore a look of disappointment on his face "Why not?" he asked.

"I'll kiss you when your sober." she told him, making him smile.

Legolas sat his head on her shoulder "I love you more than I love anything else. I wanna spend forever with you." he said. Autheil's eyes widen, she didn't know his it was the alcohol speaking or it was him.

"Legolas you're drunk." she said deciding to take to safer route. "I'm not completely out of it, I'm just a little tipsy, but that doesn't mean I didn't mean what I said." he told her looking her dead in the eye in all seriousness.

Autheil smiled, tears of joy in her eye "I love you, Legolas and I wanna spend for ever with you as well." she said. She moved and kissed his cheek, keeping by her word of kissing him when he was sober. Legolas put his head back on to her shoulder while she wiped his face with the wet towel.

They stayed like that until she pronounced Legolas sober and as promised she gave him his kiss.