Théoden, Gandalf, Legolas, Aragorn, Nira, Haldir, and an assortment of other soldiers rode toward Isengard within hours of their victory at Helm's Deep.
"Sauron's wrath will be terrible," Gandalf said, "his retribution swift. The battle to Helm's Deep is over. the battle for Middle Earth is about to begin. All our hopes now lie with two little hobbits, that are somewhere in the wilderness."
They rode out of the forest to find Merry and Pippin sitting in front of Isengard. when Pippin found the Seein Stone, Gandalf took the orb and wrapped it in a blanket. Not long after, they returned to Edoras. Nira put on one of her elven dresses and joined the men in the main hall.
The men who had fought in the Battle of Helm's Deep from Edoras stood in the main hall. Théoden stood in front of the crowd. Nira, Haldir, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli stood in the front row.
"Tonight," Théoden said loudly, "we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country, hail the victorious dead"
"HAIL!" everyone yelled.
The drinking started quickly. Gandalf handed Nira a bag and she smiled. Legolas gave her an odd look as she found Aragorn, and then Gimli challenging Haldir to a drinking game. Éomer handed both of them a glass of alcohol.
"Stop," Nira ordered.
Gimli and Haldir paused waiting for her to continue. Éomer rolled his eyes at her.
"Can't we watch a simple drinking game without a woman stepping in?" Éomer asked bitterly.
Nira snapped her fingers at Haldir and motioned for him to clear the table. He did so as she told Aragorn and Legolas to stand around the table.
"You want a drinking game?" Nira asked sweetly. "You play my way."
She pulled five shot glasses out of the bag in her hand. The men around the table laughed at her.
"That will take all night," Éomer said, joining in the laughing.
Nira pulled out a crystal bottle and poured the drink into each of the glasses. She handed the bottle to Éomer telling him to give them refills. She pushed a glass to each Haldir, Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli. She picked hers up and smiled.
"Shots of water?" Gimli asked.
Nira drank the shot quickly and exhaled, breathing out a line of smoke.
"Merlin, I missed this stuff," she sighed.
The men around the table looked at her.
"Come on, boys," she urged. "You don't want to be out-drunk by a woman, do you?"
Haldir, Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli looked at each other before throwing their heads back, drinking the liquid. They all turned their heads and spit out the drink, gagging.
"What is that?" Aragorn asked. "It burns."
"Did you think the smoke was for show?" Nira asked laughing. "It's call firewhiskey, best drink there is, especially Rosemartta's. I've been drink this since I was fourteen, just don't tell Gandalf."
They all looked at someone behind her. She closed her eyes knowing what they were looking at, or more specifically who. She put on an innocent smile before turning to look at Gandalf.
"I know what went on in my school, dear," Gandalf told her. "Some lessons are better learned out of experience than out of avoidance. Carry on. It should be interesting to see who wins."
Nira turned back to the table of men and grinned evilly.
"First one was free," she said. "Éomer, refills please. In my rules, you can bow out because firewhiskey is really strong."
She took the second shot, exhaling the smoke again, as the men did the same. After ten shots, Aragorn looked around the table and put down his next shot, staggering backwards.
"Told you it was strong," Nira laughed.
After thirty-nine shots, Legolas and Haldir looked like the liquor was beginning to affect them, as Gimli passed out. After fifty-six, Haldir took his leave, not wanting to act too much a fool. Legolas and Nira looked at each other across the table, challenging each other. The number of shots had doubled to one hundred twelve before Legolas gave up. He fell backwards into the chair one of the men pushed up behind him.
"So," Nira said to Éomer, her words slurred slightly, "still think a woman is any weaker than a man?"
"The question is: how will you handle the hangover in the morning?" he replied.
"I'll get to that in the morning," she giggled before taking the bottle from his hand.
She took a long swig of it before putting it back in her bag. She walked over to Legolas and pulled him to his feet. They walked to their room and Nira let Legolas fall on the bed. He pushed himself up onto an arm as she unbuttoned his shirt, taking it off his shoulders. She smiled at him and pushed him down on the bed. She changed her clothes and when she returned he was asleep. She shook her head before laying down beside him, snuggling into his warm side.
Nira woke the next morning with a killer headache. She groaned and reached into the bag with the firewhiskey in to. She found five vials in the bottom and pulled them out. she drank one of them and instantly felt better. She changed into a dress and danced out to find Éomer.
"How's the hangover?" he asked, grinning.
"What hangover?" she asked innocently.
She walked over to Gimli as he sat up and handed him a vial of hangover potion. He looked at the gray liquid, not doing anything.
"It'll help," Nira told him before turning back to Éomer. "Part of being a witch. Potions help a lot of things, including hangovers."
She swept away to find Haldir and Aragorn. Haldir was sitting outside against the wall of the castle. She stood in front of him, grinning. He looked at her and glared.
"I hate you," he growled.
"Fine," she replied, shortly. "I won't give you a potion to take away the hangover."
She turned to walk away, but he caught her hand.
"That's not very nice," he snapped irritably.
She laughed and handed him the vial which he drank without complaint. She found Aragorn in his room, looking even worse than Haldir and Gimli. She handed him the potion, and he drank it, not even asking what it was. He thanked her as it took effect. She went back to find Legolas still asleep. She sat down on the bed beside him and brushed his hair out of his face. When he woke she gave him the vial and sighed. She knew it would be a long day.
So, a bit of fun there. I couldn't resist. Review and tell me what you think.