Robin downed the shots one after the other ignoring the burn as the amber liquid raced down her throat, burning like a racing fiah! Redundancy! Bombur could feel the heat of the air. It felt sticky with sweat. Dwarf sweat, which is way worse than normal sweat. Because let's face it, it kind of collects in all that body hair, steaming and waiting to kill unsuspecting sniffers. The crowd was going nuts: their excitement was almost palpable on the air, like a tangy Valencia orange. Full of excitement and zestyness! It was a real party this week in Rum Club. Bombur shot up from the table sending his chair flying back into the crowd. Dwarves went down like bowling pins. "Ten points to Gryffindor!" Lily screamed. She had a manic look in her eye that you knew wasn't going to lead to puppies and rainbows, but rather axes and hard metal rock! Bombur started running and the crowd parted willingly. His chubby little arms pumped at his side and from behind he looked like a cute little waddling duckling. Robin got up a millisecond after Bombur and followed in his wake through the crowd. She could feel the warm flush in her cheeks and new she wouldn't last much longer. Robin was close to passing Bombur but a group of dwarves suddenly blocked her off from the side so she could only run right behind him. The two passed Ted and Barney's table. Ted and Barney stared at the young attractive hobbit. A ring of light haloed Robin's luscious brunette locks. Drool ensued from the two rival dwarves onto their short braided beards. Then she passed and they snapped out of it, looking confused and a little ashamed at their reactions. The competitors were three quarters around the room and Bombur had begun a battle cry that echoed through the dwarves. Lily and Marshall especially were loudest. Suddenly as if a great dwarven king had commanded it to be so an opening occurred just to the left of Bombur. Robin, with her stealthy hobbit instincts, darted for the opening and was in the lead. The battle cry didn't lessen as she passed Bombur but became louder and more enthused. An unexpected feeling of acceptance rushed through Robin. She threw her fist in the air and echoed their cry. Bombur knew if he didn't do something this moment Robin would win. The crowd had given her enough encouragement to get past the effects of the dwarven liquor. He rushed back into the crowd just behind Robin going for the chairs. One last burst of speed, he thought. He concentrated on channeling his pork roast and potato dressed afternoon snack into speed. His stubby legs went just a hair faster and he came almost close enough to tough Robin's flowing hair. Out of nowhere the ground rose at Bombur's face. His big toe had caught on a loose floor board. This was it. The hobbit would win. His full poundage slammed into the ground causing wood to crack and silence to fall. Everything moved slowly as Bombur lay there. It was only a moment but it lasted a thousand painful heartbeats. "NOOOOO!" Bombur roared. "I will not be defeated!" His voice shook the hall and Robin stumbled as she reached her chair from the force of it. Bombur leapt faster than any had seen before including himself. The crowd gasped and one even fainted at the sheer amazingness. His footsteps thundered and Bombur sat down in his chair just as Robin did. Clouded fear flashed through Robin's eyes like lightening. She spared no time however, to fear defeat. Balin had already poured the last shot and Robin and Bombur downed them in the same moment. Lily was practically hyperventilating at this point. She grasped Marshall's arm so tightly she ripped a few manly hairs out. Marshall was too involved in the competition he wouldn't notice his missing arm hair until much later. Ted and Barney had joined the crowd and stood with wide eyes tugging on their beards in anticipation. Even Gimli was enjoying himself. He happily commanded the other's to clear a path so the two could get a clear shot towards the fireplace. Who would win? Who would gain the glory? The honor? The status of top drinker amongst the dwarves in the Iron Hills? Who would it be? The alcohol seared the flesh in their throats. Sweat dripped from their brows into their eyes and stung. The sweat of the room beat at them smelling of excitement and anticipation. The acrid taste clung to their taste buds and Robin licked her lips to relieve them of dryness. Each heartbeat of every dwarf pounded in synchronized expectancy. Bombur spit into his glass but his mouth had gone dry. His feat before had caught up to him and it had taken all the breath out of him. There was no saliva to complete is last task before the final throw. He glanced up and stared in horror as Robin spit a clean gob into her glass. She threw it clumsily but with force. In that moment he knew. He had been defeated by the hobbit. His head fell slowly to the table and he let himself go. A millisecond before his skull cracked into the table he relinquished consciousness and felt no pain. Robin's glass sailed across the room headed directly towards the fireplace. The room held its breath as every eye watched the tiny shot glass. It flew glinting in the light from the fire like a kaleidoscope. The colors flashed across the captivated faces of the dwarves and the hobbit. The room became completely silent and breathless as the glass crashed into the stone of the mantel. The pieces clung to the stone, slowly sliding down, and Robin's head fell to her hands as she realized she had failed. It had missed the fire. That was it. She had lost. Murmurs went through the gathering. "What does it mean?" "Who won?" Gimli stepped forward. "It doesn't matter, Robin made it the farthest." Robin felt a hand on her hand and then she looked to see Gimli. "The Winner." He raised her hand into the air and the Rum Club went ballistic. Hoots, hollers, catcalls, everyone celebrated. Everyone except Bombur who was sleeping peacefully and dreaming of towers of succulent feasting food. Robin looked towards Gimli and he gave a toothy smile that made his well-cared for beard waggle. She smiled back and Gimili couldn't help but stare at how it transformed her already pretty face into something brilliant. It was at that moment that Robin's stomach churned and she upchucked all over Gimili's impressive beard.