A/N: Any thing, one, or place that you may recognize belongs solely to Kristen Britain.

Prompt: A hungover Rider is force fed some version of castor oil.

Fergal Duff was dying. At least, that's how he felt. He really should know better by now than to go out drinking with Tegan and Garth. The two Riders could hold their combined weight and then some. He didn't know how they did it. He had seen both of them this morning looking all bright and cheerful. Garth had even had the nerve to be whistling in the hallway. There was a very distinct possibility that his head may just shatter into a thousand pieces, the pounding in his head was so fierce. Fergal groaned and thumped his head on to his arms folded on the table.

Someone chuckled and set their plate of food down on the table and took the seat across from him. Fergal winced as the sound clanged around in his skull. He lifted his head to glare at the offending person and found Karigan sitting there cheerfully chewing on a piece of bacon.

"Morning, rough night?"

Fergal simply looked at her.

"You went out with Tegan and Garth again didn't you?" she asked with an ill-concealed grin.

Fergal merely grunted in affirmation as he placed a hand on either side of his head to hold it together.

Karigan chuckled again as she shook her head at him, "You really sh-"

"Should know better by now, I know," he moaned as he cut her off.

She eyed him speculatively for a moment before catching one of the passing kitchen maids and asking her for something he didn't catch. A moment later the girl reappeared with a steaming mug of something. Karigan took it from her with a nod of thanks before shoving it at Fergal. He smelled the distinct bitter smell of Kauv, the drink from the Cloud Islands that was popular with the nobles. Some of his fellow Riders enjoyed it, but he had never quite developed the taste for it. He didn't know why Karigan was offering him some.

"Drink," Karigan said, nodding at the mug. Fergal's stomach roiled at the smell of the drink.

"I can't," he said pushing the mug away. Karigan pushed the mug back and fixed him with a look that he was very familiar with having seen it many times when they were on the road.

"Drink."

Fergal just looked at the mug and hoped his stomach wouldn't continue to try to climb up his throat.

"If you don't drink it, I'll get Fastion here to help me pour it down your throat." She nodded to the space next to him that was now taken up by an imposing figure in black.

Fergal jumped. He hadn't even realized that the Weapon was now sitting next to him. He glanced pleadingly over at the imposing man who merely arched an eyebrow at him. Realizing he was not going to get any support from Fastion Fergal turned back to Karigan and resigned himself to the fact that he was outnumbered. Even if it was just Karigan he'd have still been outnumbered.

"Drink up," she said her mirth written all over her face.

"You're evil, you know that right?" he told her as he took hold of the mug.

Karigan just grinned, "Trust me; you'll be thanking me for it later. Go on, bottoms up."

Fergal grimaced as he raised the mug to his lips and drank. The hot liquid and acidic taste scorched his mouth. He slammed the mug on the table as he coughed and sputtered and tried not to gag. Fastion slapped him on the back while Karigan sat there eating her breakfast. Knowing his fellow Rider wouldn't be satisfied until he had consumed the whole mug, Fergal braced himself before tossing the rest of the vile concoction down his throat. He slammed the mug back onto the table with a hollow thud as he valiantly fought to keep his stomach from revolting against him.

"That wasn't so bad was it?" Karigan said as she turned to grab another plate of food from a nearby kitchen maid. She set the plate down in front of him, "Now eat something, so that your face will stop matching your uniform."

A/N: So I know coffee isn't exactly a gross alternative to castor oil, but I honestly couldn't think of anything else. Thanks to emmalilly5 for helping me figure out what it was called in the books. As always I would love to know that you think. Leave me a message after this note. ~Naomi