Chapter 3: Victory Celebration
After the dead bodies of all the soldiers had been gathered and buried, there was a great celebration in the tavern of Barad Draug. All the surviving soldiers and the Fellowship gathered in Kira's tavern. Kira walked up onto the balcony of the second level of the tavern with a pint of ale. All the rest of the soldiers were sitting at tables below on the first level.
"Tonight, there is feasting and peace across our land, but the war has not ended, but tuck away your bloodlust for now. Tonight, we celebrate a great miracle of a victory. Tonight, we remember those who gave their blood to defend this fortress. Hail, the victorious dead!" Kira said.
"HAIL!!" all the soldiers yelled in agreement.
And so the celebration began; there was food, ale, singing, dancing, and a few drinking contests between some of the soldiers. A tall, Elvish soldier walked over to Kira, who was drinking a pint by the bar. The Elvish soldier had long, black hair, blue eyes, fair skin, and a handsome, masculine face. His name was Lothrindel. He was one of the finest captains of the Elvish army. He thought Kira was very beautiful and had eyed her for a long time, wanting to make her his bride.
Kira was arrayed in a simple, manish outfit. She had on tight, black pants, brown, animal-skin boots that came up to her knees, an off-white tunic with sleeves that came down to just below her elbows and was down to just above her knees and split up to the groin for riding, and a tick but soft, brown jerkin-like garment over the tunic. Her long dreadlocks were pulled back into a thick ponytail, like always.
"You fought very bravely, milady." Lothrindel said, taking her hand and kissing it.
"Thank you; so did you." Kira said.
Lothrindel bowed his head in respect and walked off.
"I am happy for you. He is an honorable Elf." a voice said from behind her.
Kira turned around and saw her father, Elrond, standing there. Kira smiled, but she knew she had absolutely no interest in Lothrindel...her love lay hundreds of miles away with a brave, little Hobbit.
Frodo and Sam sat at the other end of the bar with a pint of ale each and a hot meal in front of them. Recently, Frodo's shoulder had been healing quite nicely.
"I sure wish Merry and Pippin were here to see all this." Sam said, referring to the massive, beautiful fortress.
"Yeah. I hope they're doing all right." Frodo said.
"Oh, they'll be fine." Sam said.
As he took a drink from his pint, he heard Frodo sigh. He looked over and saw Frodo had his chin propped on his hand, looking sad.
"Is something wrong, Mr. Frodo?" Sam asked in concern.
"It's nothing." Frodo said.
"It's something." Sam said.
"It's just that I thought that after the Ring was destroyed, everything would go back to normal, and all this has happened and I never wanted anyone else, especially Merry to have to endure what I endured with the Ring." Frodo said.
"It'll be fine; he's got Mr. Pippin with him." Sam said.
Frodo smiled as he picture Merry and Pippin going on a dangerous quest alone, what troubles could they get into?
A/N: I know, kind of a short chappy. The 'jerkin-like garment' that I described Kira wearing is exactly like the one Eowyn wore in ROTK when Theoden was talking to her at Dunharrow the morning they were to leave for Minas Tirith. If any of you know what that is called, I would appreciate it if you would tell me in your next review.