Chapter Eleven

The dining hall of Minas Tirith was great, but their wine cellar was even greater. Bottles lined the walls, and many assorted tables were scattered across the room. And there the many friends sat, aimlessly chatting, when an idea was had.

"Drinking contest, anyone?" asked Gimli.

Most everyone backed down; the dwarf's reputation in drink was well known. But there were some that could not resist.

"I'll take ye!" said Pippin.

"And I!" said Merry. "We're the best in the Shire!"

Diamond and Estella rolled their eyes. "We're getting out of here," Diamond said disgustedly. "We know what they get like when their drunk." She turned to Eowyn and Arwen. "Care to join us? It is more of a manly thing..." She said manly with a tone of contempt.

"Indeed," said Arwen. "I will show you to your rooms."

"And I've seen them all drunk before," said Eowyn. "It's nothing new to me."

The four girls left. Sam looked to Rosie. "Would ye like to go with them?"

"No...but the kids are definitely going to have to leave."

Sam smiled. "I could never out-drink a Brandybuck and a Took. We'll all go." He turned to the rest of them. "Merry drinking."

"Indeed!" Merry said with a grin. The Gamgee family left.

Meanwhile, the terms of the contest were set up. Last one left conscious wins. The contestants were Merry, Pippin, and Gimli. Legolas had tried to join, but Gimli had cunningly pointed out that he was an elf and did not feel the effects of ale. So thus he ended up being the server of the drinks. Faramir and Aragorn were the judges, though it was not really needed, it's a simple task to tell who's conscious and who is not.

The first five rounds went unnoticed. These were seasoned drinkers, after all. By the tenth they were suitably drunk; by the fifteenth they were falling out of their chairs.

Gimli had ale streaming down his beard. Pip was the one who noticed this. "Ay! You're s'posed to drink it, not pour it down yer face!"

"I am drinking it, laddie!" Gimli roared.

"And I'm an elf."

Gimli could not think of a suitable comeback, so they continued on. On round seventeen, Gimli passed out under the table.

Leaving the hobbits to do what they had done so many times before.

"So, who do you say wins this time, Pip?" asked Merry.

"I did last time - you can," Pip said reasonably.

"Okay."

Aragorn and Faramir looked taken aback. "I thought we were the judges," Faramir objected.

Merry looked at him with a serious face. "We have contests like this back in Hobbiton all the time. And every time Pip and I are the last ones left. To save us even worse of a hangover, we take turns winning after everyone else has lost. We're not stupid."

Aragorn smiled. "Indeed. Well, it's getting late. I suggest you two get in bed, and we'll take care of the poor dwarf."

"Rather, you and Faramir shall," said Legolas. "He's beginning to smell a bit too strong for my taste."

Pip and Merry entered into the corridors of the castle and headed for the guest corridors, which they had been shown earlier. "Are ye gonna sleep with Diamond?" asked Merry.

Pip's face was pensive. "I don't know. Do ye suppose it's proper?"

"I know it's more proper fer ye than it is fer me to sleep with Estella - not bein' engaged yet an' all."

"Maybe I should ask her," Pip said thoughtfully.

"If she's still awake. It must be past midnight."

"Yes," Pip said. "I'll check on her. I'll see ye in the morning, Merry."

"G'night, Pip."

"G'night."

Pip tried to gain some composure about him and entered the room where Diamond would be. She was sitting on the bed, idly reading a book.

"Who'd ye let win this time?"

"Merry - twas his turn."

"I thought it was," Diamond said, setting the book on the table.

Pip looked at the book curiously. "What are ye reading?"

Diamond blushed. "The Lord of the Rings, by Mr. Frodo..."

Pip smiled and sat on the bed next to her. "What part are ye at?"

"Where ye are in the service of the Steward of Gondor," she said. "Was he really that insane?"

"Aye," said Pip. "Burned himself alive in the end, and would've burned Faramir too, if I hadn't saved him. I could even show you where."

Diamond's face blanched. "I think I'll pass."

"Good point, not the best event to connect with a place."

Diamond smiled. "Pip...when do we plan to get married?"

Pip was taken aback. "Well I dunno. Whenever ye suppose it necessary."

"Can we get married here? In the same hall in which Aragorn and Arwen were wed?" Her tiny hand took his. "You've seen it...it's so beautiful. We have naught like it in the Shire."

"Would ye like an indoors wedding, then?"

"Yes I would. I've been to too many weddings in Hobbiton that were rained out to be altogether secure with the idea."

"All right then, we'll ask Aragorn first thing in the morning so we can begin planning," said Pip decisively. "I suppose I'll be off to bed now."

"Ye can stay in here, if ye'd like," Diamond said, hopefully.

Pip smiled. "All right. I shall."

Diamond nodded, blew out the lantern, and climbed beneath the covers. "G'night Pip."

"G'night, Diamond..."