A little later that night, Aragorn, descending the staircase from his tower room, heard an incredible noise coming from a little-used room on the west corridor. Curious, he went to investigate. The noise sounded like...bagpipes. And drunken hobbit voices. Aragorn narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Something was not right about this. He opened the door, and to his horror, found the room filled with partiers! The soldiers he had commanded from the recent battle were all there, as were many of the noblemen of Gondor—and they all seemed to be drunk! And there were wenches actually dancing on the tables—barely clad, no less! The King could hardly believe his eyes. Why in the name of Eru was this going on in his palace?
"Surprise!" yelled Merry, from the corner where he was being "entertained" by a pair of lovely blondes. "Yesh...shurprishhh, Sharagornnn!" slurred Frodo, saluting the king with a bottle of Elven Moonshine and sloshing the precious liquor liberally on the floor.
Aragorn's jaw dropped. Never in his life had he seen such a spectacle! Except maybe for that one time when Elladan and Elrohir had persuaded him to come to one of their keggers...but he put the unpleasant memory hastily from his mind. It was time to be stern with these carousers. "What is the meaning of this?!?!" he thundered.
Legolas grinned unabashedly at his friend. "The hobbits decided to honor you on the night before your wedding with a quaint little tradition of theirs. They call it a 'bachelor party'."
Aragorn frowned. "Just tell me one thing, Legolas. Just one thing for the sake of our friendship."
The elf quirked a blond brow. "What's that?"
"WHY WAS I NOT INVITED TO MY OWN PARTY?!?!"
Legolas turned to glare at Frodo. "Wasn't that YOUR job, short guy? You were supposed to bring him down here, you intoxicated excuse for a Ring-bearer!"
Frodo smiled blissfully. "Uh-huh." Just as he gurgled out his reply, his curly head hit the table, and he was out for the duration.
Aragorn rolled his eyes. "Forget it. I'll even forgive the fact that you tried to have a party in my honor without me and stay a little while. I suppose a little drop couldn't hurt. Come on, Gimli, pour me a shot of that Elven Moonshine..."