Serafina the Grey (Book 3 of the Daughters of Durin Trilogy)

Chapter 2: Never Forget

"Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country. Hail the victorious dead!"

"Hail!" Théoden's people toasted, raising their own goblets in response to the King's guard. The feast had officially begun back in Edoras; the noblefolk had provided food, drinks, and accommodations for the men and women attending. The Fellowship members laughed at the people happily mingling with each other as they feasted to honor those who had fallen. The fire roared behind them in the Great Hall where everyone resided. It was truly a merry gathering, despite the King's absence for the war.

At one of the long tables housing everyone, Legolas and Gimli sat opposite of each other. In between them, standing at the end of the table was Éomer, who was stating the rules. "No pauses, no spills,"

"And no regurgitation!" Gimli finished his sentence. He lifted the tankard to his mouth with laughter, his chuckling echoing through the wood.

"So, it is a drinking game?" Legolas questioned. In the Mirkwood, the prince had never taken part in such a notion. The Elves rarely drank wine, let alone ale. With the constant darkness encasing the forest, the Elves always needed to be on their guard. All they did was train. After all, the rest of earth did describe them as less wise- and more dangerous.

"Aye!" The man beside him laughed.

"Last one standing wins!" The red-headed dwarf chugged his whole mug with one go, letting out a loud belch at the end.

"Let's drink to victory! To victory!" A general shout echoed throughout the crowd as he drank, then they returned to their mirthful mingling. Legolas began to sip from his tankard lightly, a small smile creeping on his lips at the sight of the men's joy.

Hours later, Gimli drank another tankard of ale, across to Legolas, who was also downing another mug. Now, about twenty cups littered the table, and between just the two of them. And to everyone's surprise, the dwarf let out a small fart, causing all around him to giggle at his drunken state. He was really looking worse for wear, burping and laughing all over the place. He wasn't even making any sense!

"Here, here." He took another tankard, gulping parts of it down as he giggled. "It's the dwarves that go swimming with little, hairy women, haha!" He belched and drank some more. If anything and everything else was a mystery in the world, the one thing that was clear was that Gimli was drunk!

The Elf, however, was still acting completely sober, until now. "I feel something... a slight tingle in my fingers. I think it is affecting me." He looked up to Éomer, concerned, who only raised an eyebrow at his innocence.

Gimli was still chuckling like a child would, slurring his next words. "What did I say? He can't hold his liquor!" But then, the dwarf fell backwards off of his stool with his eyes crossed, proving that he was really the one who could not hold his liquor. Legolas watched in amusement, still completely unaffected by the alcohol.

"Game over!" He simply stated to Éomer, who laughed in response. Gimli and Legolas' banter was more than amusing for anyone around them. Atop the table from whence Gimli had keeled over, Merry and Pippin were singing, and quite obnoxiously at that. They were square dancing, just like they did back home. The very tune they sang was from the Shire, and was more than entertaining for the men.

"Oh you can search far and wide,
You can drink the whole town dry
But you'll never find a beer so brown,
But you'll never find a beer so brown
As the one we drink in our hometown,
As the one we drink in our hometown."

They began to stomp on the table, the men clapping and some singing along. Gandalf was watching and smiling along. It reminded them of how the dwarves behaved in taverns, and even in a certain Baggins' home. Remembrance sparkled in his eyes as he thought of that quest sixty years ago, amidst their joyous tune and song.