The Barrow-Downs' Third Birthday Party and Downie Awards

[Mithadan]

The Grand Hall in Minas Anor was lit in a subdued fashion but was nonetheless the focus of much activity. Fabrics and banners were being draped upon the walls and a veritable spider's web of wiring ran from and across the stage. A small army of men and women were sweeping the floors and dusting the fixtures. An undercurrent of barely controlled panic ran through the room.

In a corner, around a conference table, sat several people speaking in loud voices, punctuated by wild gestures. At the head of the table sat member number 4. He shuffled through reams of paper and flipped through a pile of pads as the others spoke. His blue jeans looked as if he had slept in them and his gold t-shirt bore coffee stains and a small yellow post-it note which read "kick me".

"Mith," said one of the frantic managers. "Our lead act called. She says that she wants Lembas and Miruvor in her dressing room or she's not coming."

Mithadan glared at the worker. "Galadriel is the only one who knows how to make Lembas and she...is...in...VALINOR!" he shouted. "Call up our artist and tell her that, and remind her that she is under contract. Wait. Better yet, tell her fine, maybe we'll see her next year."

He picked up a cell phone and dialed a number rapidly. "George?" he said. "Its Mith. Yeah, I'm doing great. How's the kids? Good, good. Listen George, we'd like to move you up to open the show. Hmmm? OK, let me write this down. Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, Black and Red, Budweiser? OK, done. Just come an hour early for the sound check. Yeah. Ciao to you too dude."

An Elf spoke next. "Bywater Fabrics called," she said. "They have no red carpet. We called Pelargir Carpet and Tile and they sent over this sample." She handed over a swatch.

Mithadan groaned. "This is not red," he snapped. "This is burgundy. We need red. Who ever heard of an awards show without a red carpet?"

The speakers crackled to life. "Check, check. Two, two, two..." Then a lively tune began playing. On the stage, a line of Dwarves began dancing under the ministrations of a blonde Elf who was moving in time with the dancers. "...and one, and two, and spin..." A blue bearded Dwarf tripped on an electric cord and toppled over, knocking over three of her...his...her companions. "No, no, no!" screamed the Elf. "To the left, the left!" A klieg light crashed to the stage. The Elf turned to Mithadan, causing his impeccably coiffed hair to wave attractively. "I can't work like this," he screamed. "You promised me professionals!" Mithadan smiled and nodded. Under his breath, he said "Shut up Vogonwë."

A soldier wearing the black and silver livery of the tower ran up. "Mithadan?" he asked. Member number 4 nodded. The guard passed over a letter, then spoke. "The Hobbiton Garden Club is threatening to protest unless a retraction is run about Marileangorifurnimaluim's 'Hobbit Sex Ed' article. They are threatening violence..." At that moment, an explosion was heard. Through one of the windows, a plume of smoke could be seen and chanting could be heard. "Unfair to Hobbits, Unfair to Hobbits...!"

A second guard ran up. "Mister Mithadan, sir," he said. "The King would like to...see you...immediately."

Mithadan covered his face with his hands and slumped in his chair. "I am never, ever doing this again..." he muttered. He looked up at the wrecked stage and the line of people waiting to speak with him. Then he shook his head and reached for a bottle of aspirin. "I can't believe the show is in three days..."

[Bêthberry]

Bethberry pushed some of her hair out of her face and succeeded only in smudging her cheek with dirt. She tried to pile more leaves into the paper recycling bag, but the wind blew them back into her face and onto the garden bed from which she had just raked them. This wasn't working. Perhaps she should simply try to do one job at a time.

Frowning as the leaves scattered further, she sat at the table, doodling over the writing pad in a way she had not done since, well, since she had stopped writing longhand and used WordPerfect.


"Now there was a misnomer if ever there was one," she thought. "WordPerfect. The awards and the speeches will never be word perfect in time." She briefly wondered about creating a Most Cunningly Shrewd Delegator and Taskmaster Award for Mithadan but then decided that he would enjoy such an award too much. "Maybe the Kick Me Award would be more fitting. Except he probably already thought that one up himself," she said aloud to the squirrels who were digging up her tulip bulbs.

Member Number 3145 looked down at her list of nominees and their claim to infamy. "Most obnoxious poster," "Fastest Delete Record," 'Most Outrageous Spelling Atrocities," "Not Another Elf Character Award," "Go Get Contacts; We're tired of Green Eyes."
She sighed. There were too many candidates for the "I haven't read all this thread yet" award. And this wasn't getting the real list done; there were too many Downers whose posts she really loved and admired. It was going to be a long ceremony. She hoped Mithadan would have enough wine at the tables. Then she remembered.

The caterers. She had forgotten. Bucklebury TakeAway could not do tofu, tempeh or meatless dishes. Neither would Anduin Seafood Savouries or Brandywine Edibles.

She pulled out her cellphone and rang up the Lorien Salad Queen Deli. "Hi, Sally, Beth here. Yeah, I'm great. Listen, I've got a last minute request. We need appetizers and mains for about two hundred. Vegetarian. For May 1st. Can you do it?" Member Number 3145 frowned at the news and silently cursed. Salads only. Sally gave her two other numbers to ring. Ruffage Restaurant and The Prancing Vegetarian. Bethberry chose the latter; she'd eaten there several times; it was worth a try. The cellphone rang and she began, "Hey, Vinnie,..."

[Mithadan]

Piosenniel's Post

'I don't suppose we're allowed to bite anyone, are
we?'

Carchmoroth raised his head languidly from his crossed
paws and regarded his son for a moment. His yellow
eyes flicked to where Pio stood shoving her leotard in
her bag. 'If it were up to me, I'd say yes, but
you'ld better ask her.'

'No violence in the Hall, sweets.' came the reply.
'The admins won't like it.' She turned and grinned at
the despondent Warg. 'However, once they've left the
building, they're fair game.'

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ *+*

The Shire taxi service picked her up precisely at 3.
She took her laptop with her on the long ride. There
were 3 new RPG's to be put on the board and the mad
dutchman's was still in revision.

+++ Email to Mithadan: I wasn't kidding about that
cruise. I think it should be a perq for the mods. ~~
Pio +++

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ *+*

'We're here, Miss.' Halfred Whitfoot opened the door
and fished her equipment bag from the trunk. 'Pick me
up at 9, then,' she said counting out 5 silver pennies
into his outstretched hand.

'Come, gentlemen,' she said over her shoulder to the
two great Wolves, who loped along silently behind her.
'We've got five hours today to whip those dancers into
shape.'

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ *+*

[b]. . . 5 . snap! . 6 . snap! . a - 5 -
6 - 7 - 8 . . .[/i]

Pio put the Halfling chorus line through their paces.
They weren't perfect, but that could be solved by an
open bar as the guests entered. That and lowering the
lights.

The two Wolves sat in the shadows of the stage
curtain, ticking off the toothsome qualities of each
of the dancers. The smell of sweat and cheap
perfume mingled pleasurably in their nostrils.

'Should be nice and tired after the performance, don't
you think?' Dúgoroth looked approvingly at Pio as she
pushed the dancers through their routine again.

'Yesss,' said Carchmoroth, grinning a toothsome smile.
His sharp, yellowed fangs glinted in the harsh stage
light. 'Perhaps we should wait by the stage door after
their last number.' He curled his lips back in a wider
grin as on of the Hobbits tripped over her partner.
'That one's mine!' he growled low, watching her wince
as her ample ankle bent under her weight.

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ *+*

'Take 5!'

The dancers slumped to the floor in unison, muttering
under their breath. Pio shrugged off the comments, she
was used to them from her time in the Shire. Wiping
her brow with a towel, she walked over to where the
wolves sat, and plopped down beside them.

'Did you notice the carpet he's ordered, Pio?'
Carchmoroth nudged her arm with his muzzle, pointing
to the rolls of carpet ready to lay out on the runway.

'Mmmm . . . blood red, eh?! Right up your alley.' She
scratched the grizzled brow of the great beast beside
her, and took a long pull at her water bottle.
'Outside the building, though. Agreed?'

'Agreed,' came the reluctant reply, as she rose and
whistled sharply for the dancers to line up again.
'One more hour, ladies and gentlemen! And I'll have
you hoofing like Fosse . . .'

By the One! The budget for this party can't be that
small. Where did Mithadan find these rejects . . .
?!

[Mithadan]

"OK,3..2..1..we're live."

[Cut to camera 1 -- Newscaster behind desk]

"Good morning and welcome to the Channel 3 News. I'm Borodil, and today's top story focuses on the upcoming Downie Award Show. Just two days away and the Downies have hit their first major speed bump...one which threatens to upset the cart. The Hobbiton Garden Club, angry over a controversial article written by prominent Barrow-Downer, Dr. Marileangorifurnimaluim, entitled 'Hobbit Sex Ed' has organized a protest against the Downies, and threats of violence have been acted upon."

[cut to video clip of a small structure in flames surrounded by protesters]

"Yesterday, an explosive device was detonated in a Porta-Potty erected by Downies' workers. No one was hurt, although it was rumored that a Moderator was in the Potty just moments before the explosion. In addition, threats have been made upon the life of Marileangorifurnimaluim, who has reportedly gone into hiding. The King wasted no time in responding."

[cut to video of the King's Public Minister]

Minister: "The King has instructed Awards Show staff to secure additional security in order to ensure the safety of citizens and guests..."

[cut to Borodil]

"The security contingent arrived this morning and it appears that Mithadan has made a controversial selection of security agencies..."

[cut to video of the main gate of Minas Anor; citizens are fleeing the area shrieking as a column of Orcs mounted on Wargs enters the city chanting as they ride]

"Oh, we are the Uruks,
the Mighty, Mighty Uruks.
And everywhere we go,
people want to know,
who we are,
where we come from..."

[cut to Borodil]

"The captain of the security contingent, Gravlox Uruk, assures this reporter that the peace will be maintained."

[cut to close-up of Gravlox, a typically ugly Orc]

"We are here to provide a strong and visible security presence for the ceremony. (smiles toothily, exhibiting yellowish fangs) We don't anticipate trouble, but if the need arises, we are prepared to act quickly and effectively..."

[cut to Borodil]

"Additional security measures will be taken as well."

[cut to a very harried looking Mithadan]

"We will require all guests to check and surrender their weapons upon entering the Great Hall without exception. Only the security contingent and Barrow-Downs staff will be allowed to carry weapons. (close up of Mithadan's sword)"

[cut to Borodil]

"Will these precautions be enough to salvage the show? Only time will tell..."

[Mithadan]

Child of the 7th Age's post

Cami glanced up from her work and audibly sighed. She saw Mithadan fiddling yet again with his microphone as it gave off another high pitched squeal, causing everyone to grimace and plug their ears. She could never understand why the Big Folk were so enamored of their infernally complicated machines. Machines to play music, machines to wake up people who would be better off sleeping, even machines to carry Men from place to place, so they couldn't enjoy a civilized stroll. Cami swore Men spent more time with machines than they did with each other. She gave Mithadan a lingering look of pity and then went on with her list of of chores, checking them off one at a time.

As was often the case for such gatherings, her own people had been assigned the less desirable tasks. Hobbits scurried everywhere emptying trash barrels and disposing of other objects that the Big Folk no longer needed. Ever since the Ring quest, they'd been particularly in demand for services of that type. Mithadan had also given Cami the unenviable job of coming up with some menu alternatives for the Orcs and Balrogs, who were expected to attend in considerable numbers. Despite her best efforts, even Bethberry had failed to secure suitable provisions for either group from Bucklebury's Takeaway or The Prancing Vegetarian. As Cami caught sight of the large, unsightly Wargs who had accompanied Piosenniel to the party, she wondered if either of them could be persuaded to do a bit of hunting on the side to come up with something that Orcs might find palatable.

A flash of color caught Cami's eye, as she gazed out the window. The smoke and haze from the earlier explosion had finally lifted. Several friends from the Shire were still outside protesting Maril's most recent fiasco. But who was that behind them? The hobbit gasped in disbelief. No one, not even the Admins with all their wisdom, had anticipated anything like this.

Cami scurried over to Piosenniel, being careful to step around the slavering Wargs, and tugged insistently at the Elf's sleeve, "Please, come. One of us must warn Mithadan." She looked up beseechingly and pointed to a distant bevy of fair maidens who were striding onward atop high-spirited stallions. Each maid carried a long pointed spear in her right hand and a prominent sign in her left. The signs boldly proclaimed "Mithadan Unfair to Shield-Maidens," "Daughters of Rohan Unite," and "We Demand a Fair Share of RPGs." Cami gulped nervously and met Pio's eyes, wondering what their friends in the Green Dragon would think.

[Mithadan]

"...the Shield-Maidens?" shouted Mithadan. "What's their gripe?"

Cami avoided Mithadan's glare and answered quietly. "We construe 'Sheild-Maiden' as a term unique to the Rohirrim and don't allow Elvish Shield-Maidens. We also discourage the warrior princess persona as cliche."

"What next?" he sighed, rolling his eyes.

"The Half-Elves..." murmured Cami.

"What!" demanded Mithadan.

"We consider Half-Elves to be very rare in Middle-Earth, notwithstanding that Piosenniel is one, and don't allow them..."

Mithadan laid his head on the table with a groan. "I don't believe this," he muttered. Cami shuffled her feet uncomfortably and cleared her throat. He looked up at her reluctantly.

"The Canonites are also protesting that 98.7% of our RPGs are not Canon faithful and that we allowed a parody..."

Mithadan gritted his teeth, then fixed her with an icy stare. "Tell Lindil that if he wants us to provide space for his Translations from Elvish project he better rein his people in. And have security keep an eye on the other two groups."

"We did," said Cami uncomfortably. "The Shield-Maidens hung an Orc from a flagpole by his underwear...which leads me to this lawsuit..." She handed him a ream of papers. He thumbed through them quickly and his mouth dropped open. "Inadequate security for the security?"

Cami passed over another stack of papers. "And also there's this petition from someone who calls himself Chewbacca..."

[Mithadan]

Mithadan looked through the window overlooking the red carpet. Crowds of onlookers pressed close to the security lines on either side of the entryway. On the sidewalk stood a line of Uruks and Wargs, interspersed with a half dozen Olog-Hai who had been retained at the last minute to supplement the security force. The street was cordoned off and He could see a line of limousines, carts and horses forming at the far end. Across the street stood a second security line of black and silver clad Guards of the Tower. Beyond them, the protesters yelled and waved their placards.

He turned to Piosenniel, Cami and Bethberry with a rueful smile. “This is as good as its gonna get,” he said. “Let’s roll!”

Moving his mike in front of his lips, he said, “Cue spotlights.” Outside, the massive banks of spotlights lit up and began rotating. From the crowd came a rousing cheer. “Cue runway lights,” he added. Over the red carpet, many lights flickered and came on. He turned to the Mods. “Let’s go!”

They moved quickly down the stairs and headed to the door, inspecting the uniformed ushers and wait staff as they went. 20 yards from the door…”Open the cordon and let traffic in.” 15 yards from the door… “Cue music!” Outside the loudspeakers came to life and the lyrics began just as they reached the doorway.

I'm comin' up so you better you better get this party started
I'm comin' up so you better you better get this party started

Get this party started on a Saturday night
Everybody's waitin' for me to arrive
Sendin' out the message to all of my friends
We'll be lookin' flashy in my Mercedes Benz
I got lotsa style, got my gold diamond rings
I can go for miles if you know what I mean
I'm comin' up so you better you better get this party started
I'm comin' up so you better you better get this party started

Pumpin up the volume, breakin down' to the beat
Cruisin' through the west side
We'll be checkin' the scene
Boulevard is freakin' as I'm comin' up fast
I'll be burnin' rubber, you'll be kissin' my a**
Pull up to the bumper, get out of the car
License plate says Stunner #1 Superstar

I'm comin' up so you better you better get this party started
I'm comin' up so you better you better get this party started
Get this party started

Mithadan paused at the door to check his outfit. He smoothed his grey velvet jerkin and the white ruffled shirt beneath it. Then he examined his royal blue breeches for Warg hair and the shine of his new black boots. Looking up at his companions, he nodded and said, “Let’s go! Ladies first!”

The cheers were thunderous as Cami, Piosenniel and Bethberry stepped out onto the red carpet. He followed them with a wave and a smile for the cameras, which were now rolling.
----------------------
“Good day, this is Cathy Lee and with me is Joan and we’re coming to you from this year’s Downie Awards. In minutes the guests will be arriving…and there are the Barrow-Downs’ staff coming out from the hall to greet the guests!”

“Oh no,” barked Joan. “Look at Mithadan’s outfit. That jacket is just so last year. And his pants are too tight, hasn’t anyone told him that baggy is in? It leaves more to the imagination…”

“Here comes the first Limo, Joan,” said Cathy Lee. The valet opened the door and the crowd hushed for a moment. Then out popped a small grayish-brown animal, which stood up on its rear legs and waved. “Oooo, its none other than the Desert Skwerl himself, Mr. Underhill!”

“Yes, Cathy,” said Joan. “Stylish as always. You know it’s never too warm for fur.”
-------------------------
Mithadan’s earphone came alive even as he shook Underhill’s paw. “Sir,” said the voice. “The music…”

“Sounds fine to me,” responded Mithadan.

“Not the sound, sir. It’s the Orcs…. they’re dancing…”

[Annunfuiniel]

Four horses, black as night, passed the end of the red carpet. A carriage of the same colour followed…and followed…and followed… Flashlights started to sparkle and the Commentator began enthusiastically:

"Ladies and gentlemen, good evening and Welcome to our live show from the third annual Barrow-Downs Birthday Party and the Downie Awards! And what a splendid start we have, look at that Limo! I think we all know who arrives in such a style…"

The carriage stopped and a man in Gondor’s guard uniform opened its (last) door while the security Uruks tried to keep the curious folk in order. A rapturous sigh rose from the crowd and even the protesting Hobbits and Shield-maidens and Half-Elves forgot their slogans and indeed the frustrated Canonites stood in awe as a red high-heeled shoe and skirts of ruby red gown emerged from the wagon. "Eeeee!! Annun! We love you!" cries could be heard from the audience and someone tried to cross the security fence: but the guards knew their job and the rabid fan-boy got thwacked down by a nasty looking Uruk: "Eeeee-…"

"Wow! Look at that nec…I mean dress! Mistress Annunfuiniel has done it again! No question who shall adorn all the covers of tomorrow’s papers! But wait, she’s not alone…"

Annunfuiniel stepped elegantly down to the red carpet her almost black hair sparkling with rubies. She stood there greeting the spectators with an adorable smile and waited for her escort to come out from the carriage. When she felt the man standing beside her she hissed from behind her perfect white teeth "Smile and wave to the crowd!" Then she remembered to add "Wave, don’t do the wave!" Smile still on her face she continued "Now take my hand and behave yourself." Annunfuiniel took a look at her date. 'So handsome and boastful and…oh so witless!' she sighed 'Trust your maid and this is what happens! I knew I should have checked the backgrounds of that dating service myself…'

"What a beautiful…no…dazzling couple! Now I’m really hoping to get an interview with Miss A. later this evening! I believe you don’t want to miss that so please: Stay tuned!"

Another sigh and Annunfuiniel reached the front door, dragging her escort who was not at all willing to leave his place in the spotlight. 'Let the bar be already open...', she made a silent prayer.

[Cuthalion]

"Hello and Welcome to the Third Annual Barrowdowns Birthday Bash and First
Annual Downie Awards! Mouth of Sauron here for METV and everyone/thing who is anyone/thing is here! The paparazzi are going
wild as the members of the Downs begin arriving on the Red Carpet. And who is this I see? A magnificent black stallion has just cantered into view. Ah! It's Cuthalion, with the beautiful Maikadilwen in his arms. The elegant Paso Fino stallion is tacked out in a black leather bridle covered with hundreds of silver bells.

Cuthalion has dismounted and is now assisting Maika down. They are both dressed in black. He in tight-fitting black leather pants and thigh-high black boots, with a black silk tunic open at the front. And look at Maika! *Quick, Gorbag! Get me her number! She is dressed in a molded black leather bodice and a long skirt of blood-red silk with a black chiffon over-lay. She's also wearing what I am told is one of her favourite necklaces, a blood-stone on a delicate silver chain that nestles rather...provocatively in her decolletage...ahem! They both have matching silver circlets on their brows. Must be a nod to Elrond.


This couple should create quite a buzz! I've heard a rumour that they're sweet-hearts! We'll be sure the keep an Eye on them!"

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Cuthalion ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Cami's moment of glory was very short lived. Within a moment of stepping off the carpet, she was greeted by her husband Maura who had just come back from a hard day of fighting Orcs in Mirkwood. His clothes were torn and stained, his face haggard and tense, as he reached a hand out to his blood-splattered sword.

"I'm sorry Cami, but you're going to have to leave."

"Leave? I just got here. What are you talking about?"

Maura nervously eyed the Orcs who were dancing up on stage and explained that this was not the kind of place he wanted his wife to be. "I'm sorry, but it's too dangerous. You'll have to come home."

Cami turned on him and fiercely glared. “How can I leave? I’ve been working on the preparations for a whole week now. Mithadan expects me to help. He'll have a fit if I don’t stay. Anyways, you’re being ungrateful. You wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for the Barrow-downs birthday party.”

Maura sighed and shook his head, “Cami, we’ve been over this before. It’s too dangerous in your condition. Our son is coming, and you don’t even have a sword to defend yourself.”

“But I could borrow one,” she protested.

“Borrowing a sword and using it are two different things. You wouldn’t listen when I told you to be a mini Shield-Maid, just like all the other hobbit girls. Noooooo, you had to be different. Well, Middle-earth is a dangerous place, and now you’ll just have to pay for being different.”

“You’re not going to stay here, so put it out of your head. I don’t know how Mithadan could have been so foolish to put hobbits in charge of supplying provisions for the Orcs. A very dangerous business. And those slavering beasts Piosenniel has brought with her. I shudder to think. “

“I wish I could stay with you and act as an escort. Then we might consider it, but things are too hot in Mirkwood right now for me to get away. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, but we need to think about the safety of our family.” He went over to her and slid his arm about her shoulders, drawing her head close to his own.

Cami sighed. She found it difficult to be angry with her husband for more than two minutes at a time. Still, she was not going to give up easily on this one. There had to be a way that she could persuade him to let her stay.

She sat and pondered for several minutes, then grinned broadly. An escort! What she needed was an escort who was large and fierce and dangerous and would ease her husband’s mind. She took out her copy of Bilbo’s Elvish tales that she always kept handily tucked inside her belt and skimmed down the list of heroes of Arda who might be available for such duty. But none of them really seemed suitable, and their fees were quite steep. Cami sat back a moment, running over her list of friends. The instant she recalled the name and saw the face she knew it would be perfect.

She looked straight at her husband and smiled coyly, “Of course, you’re right, Maura. The party will be dangerous. Only a fool would stay without protection. Just let me get my things." Then she excused herself for a minute, and went to see Gandalf who was standing near the entrance tof the Hall waiting to come inside.

Cami whispered something to Gandalf who smiled and nodded. Then she took him by the hand and nudged him over to the spot where her husband was still standing, "Maura, dear Maura....I need to talk to you....."

[Trippo The Hippo]

Everyones heads turn. As Trippo the Hippo enters with his posse. They begin a congo line on the way in chanting, "Hungry hungry hippos. Hungry hungry hippos."

As the hippo enters the party, everyone looks to see what he is wearing. "That hippopotamus is wearing a tuxedo and an afro wig" screams a young girl as he walks past.

The hippo immediately heads over to the buffet line knocking a few people out of his way (accindently of course). He steps up and see all the trays of food. "Lembas, cram, and ale. Is... is that raw meat?" questions the hippo as he eyes the food for the orcs and wargs. "Well it doesn't matter" screams the hippo as he grabs a few dozen wafers of lembas.

Then hippo sits down at a table all alone, waiting for the action to really start.

[Bêthberry]

Bethberry, resplendent as always with a warm smile and eyes shining full of wicked merriment, waved as she stepped off the really, really red carpet. She waved in a manner least ressembling the patented, pallid Windsor family pattern of pleasant, passive pretence. In short, vivacity, fun, and wit emanated from her person.

On her arm she bore Wyrd, her pet falcon, who she knew from past experience could be counted on to rid her of any untoward advances which she did not want. Some untoward advances, of course, she might possibly consider, but they were not for her to speak of now and she was quite prepared to spend the party happily mingling. All this talk of coming with an escort she found, quite frankly, boring. Where was the fun in that?

Turning towards Mithadan, she smiled in a bland manner which he knew only too well. It meant she was on to him. Then, obtrusively unobtrusively she placed in the pocket of his grey velvet jerkin a handful of receipts, which she then patted quite patronizingly.

It seems there was a bit of a problem, Mith, with the billing from the caterers. The Prancing Vegetarian charged the food to you, but Bucklebury Takeaway for some reason charged me. So did Anduin Seafood Savouries. Don't worry, though. I've talked to them and they are happy to receive payment from you. Also, I'm sure that you and Child will be happy to hear that Urak Beef and Offal has contracted to provide snakpaks for the wargs and orcs.

Mithadan coughed with some embarassment.

Couldn't you have waited until tomorrow? This will ruin my party spirits.

Pshaw!, said Bethberry. Why have the problem hanging over my head?

The roar of the crowd and the popping of one of the kleig lights interrupted the next part of their conversation, which was thus lost forever to the narrative of events of the Third Birthday Party. However, readers perhaps can be counted on to provide their own inimitable version of events.

Bethberry beckoned Piosennial and Child over and quietly informed all of them that a temporary MASH unit was prepared and waiting behind the bar, with medical personnel ready to treat all manner of party mayhem-excluding wack and slash which of course had no place in Gondor--such as any effects from the notoriously incorrect conflict resolution between the Hobbiton Garden Club and this mysterious Dr. Mariletc. Medical attendants were also equipped to handle intoxication, impaired judgment, dehydration, acid indigestion, blisters, gout, and heartburn.

Heartbreak--and here Bethberry looked over at the ever so solicitous Maura--could be handled for a small fee by the counsellors in the Chapel of Moonlight, on the other side of the bar, who were also trained to witness elven vows in whatever form was finally determined by the Lonely Star, er, Lonely Hearts Club for Tolkien purity.

That final bit of party business out of the way, Bethberry then turned to welcome the guests.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Bethberry ]

[Durelin]

A loud bang was heard from far off, like a gunshot, but few in the crowd noticed with the music blasting and raucos security orcs milling around. A few more sounded, coming closer each time. In a few moments, a large red jalopy came putsing into view. It was like a box with wheels, grimy and without a windshield. Its coloring might have been red at one point, but it had faded to a sort of sickly orange with green patches where the paint had been chipped off. To everyone's dismay, it pulled up to the red carpet, coming centimeters close to hitting the reknowned Miss. Annunfuiniel's limo trying to drive away.

Out of the front of the car, where the windshield should have been, crawled a young woman with long brown hair with streaks of lighter coloring from the passenger's seat. She wore, to more undelightful surprise, a man's coat, dark green with a high collar and silver leaves in a vine pattern down the sleeves and around the collar, and moderately baggy tan pants, billowing out of black boots. A large black cape swirled around her, to the wanted affect. At least her pants were baggy.

The jalopy putsed away, banging and rattling, and Rytien strolled down the red carpet, ignoring the crowd as they ignored her. She came to the door, but not before being attacked by security orcs. It seemed there was an order that none of the guests were to have weapons. Rytien handed over her sword and dagger reluctantly, wishing she hadn't displayed her knife to the entire world. She was ready to sue if anything happened to them. Suddenly Rytien coughed to disguise a sound of disgust. She had just noticed the music. Well, you're used to it. You've been to parties before, you know they never play good music. It's the food you're here for. Going through the large front doors she began sniffing for the scent.

[the phantom]

Over the hill appears a black limo, made entirely of galvorn. It pulls up, the door opens, and a cloaked figure emerges. The mystery man walks swiftly past the throngs of onlookers and only when he reaches the door does he turn and remove his cloak. It is none other than The Phantom. He immediately turns and enters the building, but not before throwing his cloak onto the carpet behind him.

"I hate it when he does that" mutters one of the orc guards as he and his cronies try desperately to hold back the crowd, all crazed by the thought of touching (or possibly taking) a piece from one of The Phantom's cloaks.

The Phantom strolls in the doors casually with a playful grin on his handsome face and a bright fire in his stunning blue eyes, ignited by his passion for food, dancing, beautiful women, and the Barrow-Downs, all of which would be present at this single, glorious event.

He scans the long table to his left, which appears to be entirely filled with several types of bread. "Cram" he mutters darkly. But then, his spirits begin to climb as he detects the scent of roasted meat coming from the kitchens. He calls to a nearby waiter.

One minute later finds The Phantom staggering under an overlarge platter of drumsticks and dragon steak. But since an infinite amount of food was promised, no one seems to mind his greed.

His vision much impaired by the pile of meat in his arms, he takes a seat at the nearest table, oblivious to the "Reserved for Moderators" sign. The phantom leans back in his chair (which happens to have a "Reserved for The Barrow-Wight" sign on the back) and proceeds to nibble on a drumstick and eye the other guests as they arrive.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: the phantom ]

[the real findorfin]

The horses slowed as the carriage reached the top of the hill and the flat stone road levelled out. Polished to perfection, the overly large carriage trundled along, carrying its group of passengers, eager to reach the Party. The beautiful white horses slowed further as the Great Building came into site. The road passed by the building and wound further around the hill but the carriage stopped outside. From the edge of the road, all the way to the large flight of steps and the main entrance, a red carpet was laid. Velvet ropes flowed along beside the carpet, separating the path from the mass of media stood alongside. Tall trees rose above the reporters and into the heavens, making the path seem like a corridor of epic proportions.

The carriage door opened and out stepped a tall and elegant elf. He had short black hair and was dressed immaculately in a black suit, white shirt and gleaming silver tie. He was Fin, the well-known and flirtatious elf Lord of Mirkwood. He offered his hand back into the carriage and helped a fair maiden step onto the pavement.

It was the Lady Alatariel of Lothlorien, the first of Fin’s escorts. She was wearing a newly made purple dress, tailored especially for the occasion, and her black hair glistened in the sunlight. This was her first time at a Barrow Down’s anniversary, and she was slightly nervous, hoping that she wouldn’t do anything foolish, fair elvish maiden or not. They had arrived early, but already cameras had started clicking.

Following her came Thoriel, elf lady of Mirkwood. She wore a long dress that trailed behind her. Green it at first seemed, but on closer inspection the colours shimmered and changed like the skin of a dragonfly.

Lastly came Sophia, an elf from Mithlond, wearing a long red dress, and crowned with flowers. As Fin helped Sophia out of the carriage her eyes went wide. She’d known the party was going to be fantastic, but this was beyond what she’d thought possible. Her red slippers made no sound on the plush carpeting as she alighted on the pavement and fidgeted with excitement.

They all moved aside and surprisingly, another lord emerged from the carriage. He was Donlammenion, a tall and strong elf, and also resided in Mirkwood. He and Fin were long-time friends and were to regularly be seen around together.
He helped his lady step out of the carriage and the door shut behind her. She wore a white dress with diamonds in abundance. The sleeveless dress was long and tight to show of her slim figure and her hair was in a bun with more small diamonds accentuating it. She was Niluial, a Lady Elf of Rivendell. Donlammenion looked up at his lady with pride and she smiled sweetly at him.

“Ah, we seem to be early,” exclaimed Fin, with a smile, “more time for photos.”

He and his three stunning ladies step forward and cameras began to click wildly.

“Calm my friends,” Fin cried, raising his hands. “You will all get your turn.”

He turned to his escorts and whispered with a grin, “we’re sure to make the tabloids tomorrow.”

They posed for a several group photos and then one photographer called for couple shots.

“Of course my friend,” Fin answered, “Its Telkar, from the Gondorian Star isn’t it.”
“Yes, my lord,” cried the man, bobbing his head.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: the real findorfin ]

[the real findorfin]

Alatariel stepped up beside Fin, and smiled alluringly for the cameras, as he placed his hands around her waist. She then stepped down to let Thoriel have her turn, and Alatariel chatted with Sophia, then Thoriel, as they exchanged places. When it was Sophia’s turn, Fin took her hand and led her in front of the flashing cameras. Sophia grinned and shook her head, feeling her hair brush her shoulders.
“You just can’t wait for the party to start, can you?” her escort whispered in her ear, holding her waist a little tighter.

Finally Fin called out, “enough, my friends, enough. There will be other guests.” He laughed, a rich hearty laugh and, taking his escorts, began to make his way up the path toward the huge steps and the doorway beyond. Sophia looked up at the immense building and imagined what it would be like inside. There would be plenty of well-dressed lords and ladies and merry hobbit-folk. But most importantly there would be the dance floor; Sophia bit her lip, giddy with excitement, and tired of waiting. She was excited yet terrified of what the dancing would be like.

[Donlammenion]

Niluial and Donlammenion stayed behind also letting the cameras flash at them. However, Don showed much less bravado than his friend Fin had done, and stood calmly with a contented smile. The cameras took many shots of the lovely couple, until Donlammenion nodded to the photographers and pulled Niluial to the side.
“You look lovely tonight,” he said. Niluial said nothing but she blushed. Donlammenion handed Niluial a blood red rose. “Oh thank you,” Niluial exclaimed. Donlammenion took Niluial’s left hand gently in his and they both walked along the red carpet and up the steps. They turned one last picture, Donlammenion pulling Niluial closer and placing one hand around her waist. Niluial smiled happily for she knew this would be a night she would never forget. Donlammenion was in awe of his most magnificent escort. Even all of the shimmering diamonds on her dress looked ordinary to any one who beheld her, as her beauty was as natural as the earth.

[the phantom]

As a memeber of the security team enters, The Phantom catches a glimpse of Lord Fin and his company outside the door. "That's odd" he thinks. "Fin only has three young ladies on his arm. I wonder if he's ill."

The Phantom's gaze moves beyond Lord Fin's group to Donlammenion and Niluial. "That's a cute couple" he observes as he starts on his steak.

[Mithadan]

Joan shook her head in dismay. "Would you just look at Fin? I just can't believe it. A silver tie? Ugh! It must be twenty years old. He must think he's in a movie with Molly Ringwald. And the pads on his shoulder? *gasp* He looks like he's ready to fly away!"

"But his escorts are lovely, aren't they Joan?" asked Cathy Lee. "Yes," Joan answered. "But it takes more than an escort to make an outfit..."

[Durelin]

Rytien picked up the scent. Roasted meat! Seeing the Phantom had beat her to it, she screamed for a waiter, surprised that one actually came. She was equally surprised and immensely delighted to find that she was loaded with turkey, chcken, beef, pork, shark, and she was determined to try dragon meat. Oh, yes, and she took a carrot. All of the guests were busy conversing with one another, and all had 'escorts' she was dismayed to see. Disgusted, yes, that's the word. She was disgusted. Fin had three somehow. Nothing could ruin her apetite, though.

Rytien decided to join the only other guest eating at this point, the Phantom. Regardless of the signs, she sat down across from him. If he could sit there, so could she. Maybe the signs were a mistake? Didn't seem to matter. She sat down, and introduced herself, "Good day to you, sir! I'm Rytien, and you are the most reknowned, cloak flinging Phantom!" Rytien paused, smiling, "You have perfected it, haven't you?" She eyed the plate before him, it seemed he had attacked a waiter too. "I am glad to find a kindred spirit! How is the dragon meat?"

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Durelin ]

[Tinuviel the Nightingale]

Alatariel walked gracefully through the doors, in the company of Fin, Sophia, Thoriel, and of course the gorgeous couple Donlammenion and Niluial. They spent a few minutes searching for a comfortable table that would acommodate the six of them.

Once found, they all took their seats. Alatariel sipped on some water, and smiled and chatted with Sophia, who was sitting next to her. All the time she was glancing around the Hall. "Wow, it's even better than I expected." she thought.

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Sophia trailed the little party into the large hall. Donlammenion and Niluial were just ahead of her, giving each other googly eyes. Fin walked ahead of the group, chatting lightly with Alatariel and Thoriel, all three looking right at home in the party atmosphere.

She looked around, falling behind the group as she lost track of the speed of her feet, trying to take in the positions of the buffets and bars, and the tables scattered throughout the room. Her mind obviously elsewhere she stumbled over a small fold in the carpet. This would never do!

Regaining her composure she hastened to catch up with Fin and the others as they settled around a small table. She smiled at Lady Annunfuiniel and sent her a small wave, and sent a curious look toward another table where a hippopotomus was seated, gulping down lembas. Chatting with Lady Alatariel, Sophia grinned and twitched her feet under the table.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Sophia the Thunder Mistress ]

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Sophia the Thunder Mistress ]

[Arien]

Arien stepped out of the of her carriage and was met but crowds of people and flashes. The carrige was an elegant crimson, set with gold trimmings and wheels. It was lead by two strong black stallions whose mane’s gleamed with rubies and crystals. Her foot landed on the soft red carpet, and the other one was soon down to join it. She took a look around, brushed her dress down and sighed. Here we go, she thought. Her first party at the Downs and she had come with no date but her attire was stunning. Even she had to admit it.

Her long auburn hair flowed like velvet down to her curved hips and it was showered with rubies and crystals. Her eyelids were softly brushed with a gleam of red set with a few red gems. Her blackened eyelashes flickered softly against her soft tanned face. Her lips, coated in a pale red shimmer of lip gloss. From her neck delicately hung a single crystal that shone out like a star. Her nails twinkled with hardened candy polish. They clasped her bag, which contained her dagger. However she knew she would give it up at the door. Her dress was stunning, it hugged her rounded and slender figure. It was one single piece, no bodice it was plain but beautiful. It to, like the carriage was a crimson colour, except her dress was laced with rubies and crystals. It had no sleeves, but instead revealed Arien’s glistening arms. The neck line was low, but not too low as she wanted to keep her dignity. The dress swept across the floor and she walked almost as she was floating.

Cameras flashed into her eyes and she was not too sure of what to do. She did not want to seem too full of herself so, posed for a few pictures then made her into the hall.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Arien ]

[One Axe to Rule them All]

as the festivities were getting in gear, a small figure, opting for the silent entrance. Walked in the side door and was immediatley alerted by the sound of a metal detector

security guard: "Excuse me sir, but you have to check your weapons at the door"

Me(gimli): "ye can't take me axe!"

Guard: "but sir, the rules are the rules"

Me: "But... it's me axe....."

Guard: "I'm sorry sir, no exceptions..."

Me: "fine.. here you go" *hands over his axe*

Guard: "you may pass now"

Me: *whispering* "Sucker"

then, the dwarf slips into a table and watches the scene, brooding and waiting for the girl party to arrive...

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: One Axe to Rule them All ]

[the phantom]

"Perfected it? If by "it", you're meaning the art of being a ridiculously rich, eccentric, good looking, and famous resident of Middle Earth, then yes, I've perfected it" The Phantom replied, with a hint of a smile. "And the dragon steak is wonderful, the best I've tasted in many years. Are you enjoying yourself thus far, Rytien?"

Rytien did not answer immediately. She was a bit surprised by his voice. She had heard about it, but had never heard it in person. It was deep and powerful, yet extremely clear and pleasant at the same time. The Phantom waited patiently for a reply, in no hurry due to the still considerable pile of meat on his plate.

[Cuthalion]

As Maika and Cuthalion entered the hall, a sharp-eyed Orc stood in front of the couple, barring their way. He looked her up and down, consulting a photograph. "You must be Maikadilwen. We were told to be on the look-out for you...hand it over missy!" He held out his enormous hand, fingers waggling. She crossed her arms and fixed him with "the look". "So? What are you going to do, search me?"

Cuthalion bristled as the Orc's eyes lit up. "Hold on! Excuse us..." He took her by the arm and pulled her over to the side, trying to ignore the stares they were getting. "You had to do it...give it to me..please?" With an exasperated sigh, Maika reached down into the front of her bodice and withdrew a wicked looking breast-dagger. "Here! Happy?" Cuthalion led her back into the line and handed the dagger over to be tagged for retreival later. The Orc shook his head and wished Cuthalion luck.

Hoping fervently the rest of the evening would go smoothly, Cuthalion caught sight of Joan Rivers. Hastily he took Maika in his arms before she could set eyes on the person she despised most in all the world and kissed her soundly, then led her on through to the bar. "Another crisis averted!" he thought, sweating profuely.

[One Axe to Rule them All]

then the dwarf took to his feet and walked over to the phantom with a smile on his face.

Me: "hello friend"

The Phantom, slightly surprised, slightly confused, looked over the dwarf with a strange stare and then realized who he was speaking to..

[vanwalossien]

Vanwalossien also hoped for a quiet entrance, but the metal detector beeps at her as well. After removing a necklace she can walk in, and after giving the guard a charming smile he agrees that she can have it back. She slips into the party, and looks around, quite overwhelmed by the splendid decorations.

[Amanaduial the archer]

The cloaked figure reigned as she drew close to the party, pulling back her black steed, her eyes flashing. Seeing the huge crowd around the party, she strove to find a more low key entrance, her dark eyes flicking over the Hall. Another horsebacked figure moved his mount over beside her.

"Aman? We going in?" He inquired, his teeth white as he grinned. The female rider glanced across at him and lowered her riding hood, revealing a slim, unlined face framed by an elaborately done mass of hair. However, said slim, unlined face revealed more than a little panic.

"Ehm...the crowd is a little..." She struggled for words for the first time.

"Oh, Aman, what is it? Is it me? You dont want to be seen with me?!" Anuion's voice took on a note of mock panic, and Aman arched an eyebrow, before leaning over and pecking him on the cheek. Anuion blushed, but then sighed, a tad sulkily. "You didnt even want to ride in in my arms-" He stopped at a look from his partner, and mimed zipping his mouth closed.

"Thankyou." She looked critically down at the Hall, which was decked out elegantly and eleborately decked out, looking splendid. Well, Mith really has outdone himself this time... she thought, with the smile that always appeared when she thought of cool, calm Mithadan trying to organise an event as huge as this without getting stressed. Still, he would have handled it better than some. Pulling of her riding cloak and stuffing it in a bag, she revealed her outfit underneath; a light, figure hugging, but still moderately practical dress, the blouse-like neck of which sloped down quite low, but not ridiculously so, the collar only around the sides and back of her neck, rising slightly to sit against it. The dress was dove grey, with a black, Elizabethan style waist band, and sloping sleeves, falling about a foot down and sliding up at a slope, and around her pale neck she wore a linked silver necklace, with a small jet raven, wings outspread and no more than a centimetre square altogether on the end. She smoothed up the white collar of her dress- the only reason the young elven woman would ever ride side saddle- and braced herself. Then, turning to Anuion, also well decked out, for she had insisted he was smarter than usual, she grinned.

"Alright- lets get this show on the road!"

They rode at a smooth canter to the Hall, breaking so as not to crush any of the small hobbits under the horses hooves, and Aman smoothly dismounted. The cameras flashed and the *musical* strains of 'Get this Party Started' (Ah well, nothings perfect, Aman conceded silently) and Anuion raised his hand, letting Aman's rest on it gently in the style of the Elizabethan court. She pressed gently on his fingers three times with her slim ones. One, two, three.. and he bowed and she curtsied lightly.

Aman took another deep breath, let a smooth grin slide onto her lips, hoping she didnt look as nervous as she felt, and, with Anuion, the elf walked up the red carpet to the Hall...

[Durelin]

Rytien had heard about the voice before. Everyone talked about it like it was a big deal while she only scoffed. But, it caught her by surprise. It was pretty strange. She paused for only a moment, caught a bit off guard like when she realized she was talking to someone with something stuck in thei tongue. She quickly continued the conversation, though, and The Phantom didn't seem to care about the pause, cutting another chunk off his steak.

"Well, yes I had heard of your great fame, but I hope you understand that you never can know much for sure from rumors." Rytien twisted her lips in a smirk, then looked down to her plate, studying the large dragon steak. "I have never tried dragon steak before, but I have never found many foods I do not like." Cutting off a piece and popping it into her mouth she was delighted to find that she could add it to her list of meats to gorge herself with. "It really is delicious!" she said, grinning.

"Yes, this party looks grand, but, of course, it is fairly slow at this point. Few have arrived and especially not those accustomed to making a lot of noise. But, the food is excellent, and they have really out done themselves with the decorations. I impatiently await the Downie Awards. I have only the faintest idea as to what kind of awards they hand out. What about you? Is this party grand enough to please the ridiculously rich, eccentric, good looking, and most famous resident of Middle Earth?" She continued gobbling down the scrumptious dragon steak, grabbing the A-1 sauce from nearby.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Durelin ]

[Ainaserkewen]

"Greetings to one and all to the 3rd anniversery of our beloved site.
I'm Reesha Weathers reporting for "Action in Arda" magazine and I have a great show lined up for you today.
Later on the red carpet, I'll be doing interviews of some of our favorite members and maybe even the barrow weight himself!!
But for now, I wait anxiously for my first interview, oh and here she comes, wow what a ride!"
Reesha Weathers steps back as a huge white dragon, it's wings beating the air and blowing away some photographers.
Sitting, rather relaxed, on the back of this beast is a tall fair elf woman, dressed in simple white. Her hair is darker than ebony and her eyes are deep pools into space and time. She sits, staring at all who see her, then she nodds her head.
Reesha steps forward again and helps the woman from her dragon, who immediately flies away. People watch in awe, wondering who this could be.
"Everyone welcome...Ainaserkewen, priestess in Arda, prophet of her people." Then there is a fury of applause and camera flashes.
Ainaserkewen smiles.
"Ready for our interview?" Reesha asks.
"Oh course." Answers Ainaserkewen, in a low misty voice.
"Okay, first off, where did you get that dragon?"
"From another world and time." Replies Ainaserkewen. "Where beasts are trapped in cards and can be summoned at will. Behold the blue eyes white dragon."
"Friend of Setto Kiba, I guess." There is some mustered giggling.
"Tell me, my friend," Continiues Reesha, "What is your favorite forum on this site?"
"My favorite? Well, I love them all, but when I need some cheering up, I go to Middle earth mayham, which was my first love."
"And who might be your favorite administrator?"
"They are all wonderful, and I am happy that they keep us safe. However I cannot name any names because titling them would prove useless, they know who they are."
"What is your favorite thing about Tolkien's books?"
"Oh course, LOTR series is my favorite, it captures adventure, love, lust, loss, sadness and happiness in its pages, it is truly the best book of it's time."
"And what about this site? What is your favorite thing about the site."
"The forum of course, never have I found a more concentrated cluster of Tolkien lovers in one place, I feel very much at home here."
"Thank you very much Ainaserkewen, I hope you fair well at the downies." Reesha said as she finished to scribble down the last few notes.
"I will see you inside?" Ainaserkewen asked.
"Yes, but first I will have to find my other interviews."
So Ainaserkewen, priestess in Arda, prophet of her people, went inside to find her friends.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Ainaserkewen ]

[the real findorfin]

Fin smiled as they all sat down at their large table, everything was going well. He noticed that Phantom had not only found the biggest platter of food but was sat in the wrong place, and smirked, pointing it out to his companions.

"Now how about some food," Don exclaimed.
"And excellent idea," fin replied, rising from his chair. All of the ladies nodded their heads in agreement so the two lords walked over to the enormous buffet. Don picked up a large platter and Fin proceeded to fill it with a portions of everything! When they were done, they returned to the table and began to eat.

"This needs something to wash it down!" Thoriel exclaimed, inbetween mouthfuls of meat.

Fin clapped his hand to his head, "of course." He rose again and moved quickly over to the bar. He noticed Aman and Helka and waved, and smiled as Cuthalion strode past with Maika; he seemed to be sweating.

Fin managed to obtain several bottles of wine, and six glasses and returned to the table, juggling the large amount of glassware.

"Here we go," he exclaimed and popped the first cork.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: the real findorfin ]

[Frodo Baggins]

"Two hours later and the guests are still arriving." Frodo Baggins commented as he nimbly dismounted his pony "You see Cahira, I told you we'd be all right."

Maggie Cahira Weiss The young lady Frodo adressed was assisted from her grey horse by another of their companions "Well, I had a right to be worried didn't I?"

Cromthal of Rathcoe snickered as he helped Maggie "Don't mind her she's just paraniod."

"All right everyone, maintan a little decorum." said a calm voice near them. "We at least made it, traffic was terrible!"

Frodo meanwhile eyed the cameras, banners and such "My it certianly is...crowded!" he said at a loss for words. "I almost wish it could have been sweet and simple like last years.

"yes, Frodo, but remember how last years turned out" said the elven voice again. "Frodo you lead us in, I think Liqua Mire and Master Cromthal should folow side by side, I'll bring the rear."

"The rear? You aren't shy are you Elrond?" Maggie quipped.

"Shy? No! Just wanting to keep an eye on the three of you so you'll stay out of trouble. I'm just hoping those Uruks are ONLY security guards. None of us are armed."

The four of them proceeded gracefuly in, resplendent in the costumes they had been working with for days. Frodo wore basically what he wore last year, A white linen shirt, burgundy breeches, purple velvet waistcoat, and his maroon jacket with dark green trim. On his head was a mithril circlet, and around his neck was a dwarf chain set with emeralds, amethysts, rubies, and cat's eye. On his left hand he wore his mother's silver wedding ring (He always wore that) and on his right a sparkilng diamond. And of course he never went anywhere without the white gem that queen Arwen had given him around his neck.

Maggie looked lovely in a brilliant white floor length dress with a three foot train. The dress itself was embroidered with golden starbursts, the hem, neckline and middle upper arm of the sleeves were done in red and gold embroidery. The rest of the sleeves were pleated and they were long and wide, hanging down to below her knees. Maggie also wore white leather shoes that laced up to her knees with gold ribbon. On the forefinger of her left hand she wore an amethyst ring, on the same finger on her right was an opal, and she wore a small silver Celtic knot ont he ring finger of her right hand. Her unbound curly hair which flowed down her back was adorned with silver circlet carved like flowers, every three flowers was a ring of smaller flowers surrounding a sapphire.

Cromthal of Rathcoe, the brehon had good but eclectic taste, and this day was no exception. He was wearing a long, bright green silk damask gown, his usual gold neck-ring, and yellow satin shoes that tied with ribbons. He wore his bardic girdle, which was little more than a length of cotton ropes woven in a diamond pattern fringed on each end, he had woven a srting or two of pearls into and strung some jewels on it. He had braided the sections of his hair just on front of his ears and pulled thime back around his head in a circlet fashion and threaded ribbons throught the braids. The rest of his hair had a scattering of elven jewels in it. On the middle finger of his right hand he wore a gold ring set with an emerald. Over all this he wore a light grey velvet hooded mantle with wide sleeves.

Elrond seemd simply yet regally dressed at the same time. He was dressed in a silver grey silk robe over another briliantly white robe that had wide sleeves as well but was cather at the cuffs. The only part you saw of the under robe were the sleeves because the sleeves of the grey silk were open halfway. A great jeweled chain, silver slippers, his gold wedding band (yes still wearing it) Vilya, and a small silver circlet completed the ensemble.

They paraded in, Frodo in front, Maggie with her hand lightly resting on Cromthal's arm, and Elrond behind them.

[Arien]

Arien continued to walk down the carpet. It seemed as though it took her years. People shouted random things at her like. “we love what your wearing.” and “This must be your first time at a downs party, we would have noticed you last year.” Besides from embarrassing Arien, it kind of intimidated her was so much emphasis always put on the clothes? She carried on to walk down the carpet and as she turned around to talk to a reporter she saw Aman with he date. She gave a shy wave to her and continued to talk to the reporter.

“So, what is your name, you must be new here.” the she-elf asked thrusting a microphone into Arien’s face.

“Err….yes I am. This is my first attendance to a Party.”

“Well can I say, you surely came in style. The dress, your hair, make- up. Everything looks amazing!”

“Why thank you!” Arien smiled and continued to walk on, that little interview had given her confidence a boost. As she reached the door she handed over her dagger and took off her necklace. She walked through.. She collected her necklace off the security guard and signed a form for the secure baby sit of her dagger.

“Take good care of it.” she smiled at the guard and walked into the hall. It was adorned with extravagant displays and although not a lot of people were here yet it looked as though the buffet table had already been attacked. She laughed to herself and looked around for a seat.

[*Varda*]

Ignoring the cheering, the hobbit walked bashfully up the red carpet, turning pink.

“All these people...” Poppy Took murmured to herself, “and not a hobbit in sight yet.” Drifting into a reverie over attending such a glamourous party, she was abruptly stopped by an orc, who appeared to be security.

“Weapons?” he asked.

“Does it look like I could be hiding any weapons?” as Poppy turned round in her blue silky dress, conveniently covering her bare feet. The orc merely grunted and waved her on in.

Once inside, Poppy admired the work the decorators had done. The place was still rather quiet, but slowly filling up.

“Good ale, good food…this will be a party to remember!” although she felt that it would have to be a party of some magnificence to top Bilbo’s, and his strange disappearing act. She sat herself down at a table, and cast her gaze around the room to find someone she recognised.

[Cuthalion]

Cuthalion nodded to Fin as he ordered Maika's drink, recieving a knowing wink in return. Maika called out to Anuion and Archer as they entered the hall looking just a tad nervous. Archer looked wonderful and Anuion had a lop-sided grin on his face. Cuthalion wrapped his arm around Maika and waved the two of them over.

Meanwhile at the buffet, the hippo looked up in alarm as the magnificent Dragon entered. Hastily he stuffed the rest of the food on his plate into his mouth and edged over to a less brightly lit corner of the room.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Cuthalion ]

[Hanna_Gamgee]

Hanna follows Arien through the red carpet but sneaks past the reporter. She wears her best purple dress and black shoes. When she arrives at the front door she lets the guard look in her bag then gives the guard her weapon. Then she goes through the metal detector. When she gets inside she heads straight to the food table where she notices a hippo and some elves.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Hanna_Gamgee ]

[the phantom]

The Phantom greeted the dwarf with a friendly nod, and motioned for him to take a seat at his table. "I wonder where those girls are. Probably still primping. I was up this morning at 3:00 preparing myself for the party. I don't like arriving late, just in case there is a shortage of vittles, but by all appearances that will not be happening here."

The Phantom then turned back to Rytien. "Yes, the party may be slow now, but it is still very early. I will withhold my opinion until more guests have arrived and the entertainment has begun. It will have to be quite grand to top the birthday party I threw for myself last year, but my mind's voices are telling me that this party will indeed surpass all parties ever held in Middle Earth."

Both Rytien and the dwarf seated next to her raised their eyebrows at The Phantom's last remark. They guessed by "my mind's voices" he was referring to his uncanny mental abilities, which, after last year, were no longer doubted. Not only had he predicted the earthquake that had destroyed many of the castles in the area, but he had also increased his wealth in the stock market by roughly forty times, in a down year. With this in mind, The Phantom's two dinner companions knew beyond a doubt that this party would indeed be excellent.

The Phantom suddenly noticed the sign in the middle of the table, but merely dismissed it with a wave of his hand. "We'll move when they come. I'd actually like to thank them for their hard work, so staying in these seats will provide us with the perfect opportunity to do so."

[Trippo The Hippo]

I receive my odd look form Sopiha, and only smile, remembering what my mother used to tell me, "It's because you are special Trippo."

I eat my last wafer off lembas, and finish off my soda. I thought that the time was right to move around, as Fins colonge was gaging me.

So I get up and just then a warg comes runnning right in front of me, chasing a young girl. I dive out of the way right into Rytien who reaches for her sword luckily for me it is not there. I get up quickly apoligize and move on.

I wave at Gimli who is awaiting the infamous group of females.

[Galadriel9]

At the end of the red carpet a rather unusual mode of transport drew up, it could, perhaps have been a van, once upon a time, however, it had now been customised...interestingly. It was covered in highly polished axes, the security guards looked at it warily; unsure just how the strict safety regulations would apply to this particular....thing. There was an expectant hush among the press and The Dwarf with the Beard stepped out. He was, in fact, wearing the usual dwarf garb and carrying his finest axe. The cameras flashed and clicked with startling frequency. But where was the other half to this famous couple? The Elf who had married the Dwarf with the Beard was not present! The press picked up on this fairly quickly and shouted various questions at the dwarf, concerning his reasons for being alone....he did not answer, but walked gravely up the red carpet. This was unheard of, had The Dwarf with the Beard and the Elf who had married the Dwarf with the Beard had an arguement? They were rarely seen away from each others side. The dwarf handed over his axe to the security, as he had expected. He entered the hall, smelling those pleasant and distinctive smells of Malt beer and roasted meat..., Mith had really excelled this time...he smiled to himself, he and the Elf who had married the Dwarf with the Beard had their reasons for arriving seperately....

[Annunfuiniel]

Annunfuiniel headed for the bar and spoke in a soft tone, completely hiding her irritation: "Champagne, please." Before the waiter could act to carry out her order a voice came from right behind her. "Isn't it a bit early for that, my dear?" Annun didn't even turn to look at Bruce, her date, but instead addressed the waiter once more. "Make that a double Scotch..."

This wasn't going at all as she had planned. Of course, the entry had been a success but now Bruce had done his part. 'Think Annun, think!' she said to herself and looked around searching the guests that had already arrived in quite a great number. While watching a group of elves enter the Hall she suddenly saw a familiar figure waving at her. 'Sophia!' she recognised the fair but witty elf of Grey Havens and was greatly delighted. She returned to her greeting with a wave and a smile. And at that very moment she came up with an idea. "Bruce, sweetie" she began with voice thick of honey sweet "could you get me some entrees from the salad table? Please? I'll order you a drink while you're gone."

Bruce moved to the other side of the Hall where the buffets were placed. Annunfuiniel watched him go, then turned to face the waiter and ordered a glass of red wine. She took the drink and quickly followed Sophia to her table. "Dear friend, it's truly a pleasure to see you here!" Annun spoke and this time her words were true. Sophia rose from her seat and gave her a warm hug. "And you too, Annun! What a great party ahead!" said Sophia in turn. Then the elf introduced her friend to her company. Annun took a slightly dubious look at the male elf Fin and wondered what he was thinking coming with three escorts but then she smiled and winked at him. "You must feel like the luckiest guy on Middle-Earth" she said. Fin was dazzled but recovered soon. "There is still room in this table for one fair Lady", he replied in flirtatious manner which she could guess was quite typical of him.

Annun shook her head laughing and then turned to address Sophia once more. "Sophia, you always carry your bag of herbs with you, am I right?" She nodded giving her a questioning look. "I could use some of that powder which you make from the roots of galenas." The she-elf took a small pouch from her cleverly hidden pocket of her evening gown. 'Sweet Sophia! You can always trust on her!' Sophia hold out a tiny silver case containing brown powder. "You know that will make you..." Annun took the case and winked again. "Yes, I’m very aware of its effects. Thank you, you have done me a great favour! And now if you'll excuse me, my escort is probably wondering if I have dumped him. But if you wish I shall return to your company later." And with that she left, leaving the group to ponder what was going on.

On her way back to the bar Annun opened the silver case and poured its content to the wine glass she was carrying and stirred the mixture with her little finger. A hearty smile on her face she met Bruce who had already returned from the buffet and looked a bit irritated. "I'm so sorry I kept you waiting. I met an old friend and... But wait, now I'm boring you, silly me! Here, I ordered you some red wine, your favourite." Bruce took the glass Annun handed to him, murmuring something about liking white wine better, and drained it with one sip. He placed the glass on the counter and was about to open a conversation when his face suddenly twisted strangely and his hand flew to cover his mouth. Then he bent over his chair in obvious pain.

"Oh Bruce, what's wrong? Speak to me!" Annun screamed in a dramatic voice. "My...stomach...", he managed to breath and then howled in wrench. "This is terrible! Should I call for a doctor? What can I do?" Annun continued in faked terror. Then she decided they needed no more publicity and asked for the waiter to get someone to help. The party was well organised and a medical crew soon took Bruce in their professional care. Annun stayed beside her escort as he was carried to the ambulance and kissed him good-bye with a tear in the corner of her eye. She watched the ambulance leave from the back door and then returned to the Grand Hall ready for PARTY!

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Annunfuiniel ]

[Firondoiel]

A white horse daintily canters up to the red carpet. Firondoiel alights from her magnificent steed and nods to the cheering crowd. She is wearing green gown with a fitted bodice and a full skirt. On her head is a crown of spring flowers. She only pauses a moment to have her picture taken. Then she continues alone up the carpet.

As she reaches the door a great uruk approaches her. “Weapons?” He asks in a menacing voice. “Weapons?” Firondoiel repeats utterly confused. The uruk rolls his eyes and restates himself. “Do you have any weapons?” “Oh. Why didn’t you say so in the first place?” Firondoiel asks. The uruk gives Firondoiel an irritated look and says “Well do you?” “Of course. I always carry my twin daggers with me.” The uruk holds out his hand, “Then hand them over.” Firondoiel shakes her head, “I will not. If you say please I might consider it.” The uruk glares furiously but Firondoiel does not relent. “Please.” The uruk mumbles. “What? I didn’t quite hear.” Firondoiel lifts her hand to her ear. “Please!” The uruk yells. “No need to shout. I have elven hearing you know.” Firondoiel hands over her daggers. “There that wasn’t so difficult. If you would just mind your manners life would be easier for all of us.” The uruk backs out of Firondoiel’s way. “Just go in.” Firondoiel nods at the uruk and enters the Grand Hall.

Firondoilel spies Gimlie and the phantom and heads toward their table. “Hello guys.” She says, “I finally made it.” She sits at the table. “Have you seen the other girls yet?”

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Firondoiel ]

[Frodo Baggins]

The red carpet, it seemed so amazing to them all. None of them had ever benn in a situation like this before, especially young Maggie. (at 19 she was young in comparison to her companions) It was all so spelndid, the cameras, the reporters the.....


"Weapons?" Cromthal made no effort to hide the disgust in his tone as security searched his harp case. "Shall I demonstrate to you the worth of a bard's tongue?"

"Cromthal just let them search and make no fuss about it." Maggie replied to him. She and Frodo had no bags or anything, but Frodo had his pockets searched.

Elrond quickly dragged the other three together for a group pose for the cameras. Maggie snagged Cromthal's mantle off him before the flash, claiming that he looked better without it.

"So this is the great hall of Minas Anor." I must say it is even more magnificent that I thought it would be." Maggie commented, "though I think that I like the Hall of Fire better."

"You partial little snipe you!" Frodo said, playfully tugging her hair gently. If there was one thing that an outside observers learned about this group of four, it was that they teased each other mercilessly and loved every minute of it.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Frodo Baggins ]

[Trippo The Hippo]

I chuckle to myself and look back once more to make sure that the "kick me" sign I stuck to the back of The Phantom is still sticking. It is, and I turn and start heading in the direction of the little hippos room. Just then I hear him calling me "Trippo Trippo" he calls. I continue walking but its to late he has caught up to me. "Trippo you forgot your wallet you left it at our table" he says. "Oh" I say "Silly me." I have done it the sign remains while i sneak away.

(No offense Phantom just a bit of party fun.)

[Galadriel9]

The Elf who had married the Dwarf with the beard did not appear to have arrived...the Dwarf with the Beard sighed. He hated being parted from his love for any length of time..."ahh well." he thought, I might aswell make myself comfortable while I wait...he wandered over to a table and sat down, he felt rather uncomfortable being at a party where he knew virtually no one...he drummed his fingers on the table and surveyed the other occupants of the hall...hmmm, he felt a bit stupid, "I wish someone would come over and talk to me" he muttered under his breath...

[The Saucepan Man]

A sudden blinding flash of light illuminated the entire area, quickly followed by an enormous crash. Everyone’s immediate thought was that the Hobbiton Garden Club, or possibly even the League of Shieldmaidens, had managed to breach the security cordon. The Uruk guards readied themselves for action, while one or two of the Trolls almost turned to stone in the bright light, before realising that they were in fact Olog-Hai and therefore need not trouble themselves.

Fearing the worst, all eyes quickly turned to the end of the red carpet …

… where they saw what appeared to be a large pile of pots and pans. Slowly, the pile moved, and with a clinking and a clattering stood up. It was the Saucepan Man.

Having arrived unnoticed in an old, white, beaten up transit van, Saucepan had been spotted by the paparazzi the moment that he set foot on the red carpet. Since he had spent the past 5 days busily polishing each of his pans and kettles especially for the Barrow-Downs Party, the flashlights from hundreds of cameras had reflected off them with the brightness of a small sun, not only momentarily blinding the nearby crowd, but causing poor old Saucepan to collapse in a daze.

Looking somewhat embarrassed, the Saucepan Man blinked and looked round at the crowd of onlookers, themselves only just recovering from his unfortunate entrance. He was, of course, dressed in his finest kitchenwear. He was covered in saucepans, pots and kettles from head to foot and wearing on his head a particularly fine copper pan with a solid cast iron handle. After the thorough polishing that they had undergone over the last few days, the pots and pans shone brilliantly under the lights, so that he looked for all the world like a human mirrorball. Little could be seen, however, of what he was wearing underneath it all (which was a shame because he was really quite smartly dressed).

Saucepan picked up the two boxes that he had been carrying, inspected them to ensure that their contents were safe, and clattered on up the red carpet. Gaining in confidence, he started posing for the cameras. Few, however, were willing to take the risk, given the manner of his initial entrance. Disappointed, he made to disappear through the Main Door into the Great Hall, when a particularly large Uruk barred his way.

“’Scuse me, sir” the Orc said in the traditional South London accent of his kind. “I need to check them pans of yers to make shure yer not carrying no swords or nuffink”.

“Doors?” replied Saucepan. “Yes, I’d like to go through the doors, please.”

“Eh? No, I need to check u for weapons, mate. Y’know. Axes? Daggers? Spears?”

“No. There were no tears. I did take quite a tumble. But I am better now, than you.”

The Uruk let out a mighty roar in frustration, sending poor old Saucepan toppling again with another mighty crash.

“WEAPONS! W-E-A-P-O-N-S. I want yer weapons”.

“Oh, dreadfully sorry! I must have misheard you. Bit hard of hearing, you know. It’s these pots and pans. No, I don’t carry any weapons.”

And with that, having satisfied the Uruk that there were no weapons hidden in any of his various pots and pans, Saucepan eventually made it into the Grand Hall.

[ May 02, 2003: Message edited by: The Saucepan Man ]

[Galadriel9]

...he sat waiting for his wife for a brief moment, then stomped off to hide in the loos until she arrived. Much as he loved her, he did occassionally have his doubts about her punctuality.

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Sophia winked at her old friend Annunfuiniel as she came up and spoke to her. She laughed as Annun and Fin flirted back and forth playfully, before handing her the small case of powder and whispering, "No problem about the galenas, but leave my date alone, I already have to share him with too many beautiful women..." Annun gave a conspiratorial wink before heading back to her table. Sophia laughed, knowing just what she was up to.

She drained the rest of her glass of wine and held it up for Fin to refill. This was getting interesting. She grinned widely.

[Marileangorifurnimaluim]

A small, unassuming pony trap rolled into position at the end of the red carpet. Out of it stepped a plump hobbit, wearing an embroidered waistcoat with polished brass buttons. He daintily flicked a bit of lint off his sleeve, and then with a languid gesture, assisted his date down from the carriage.

She wore a rather badly-fitting shield-maiden’s breastplate and her legs were a thin, pallid white under her short studded-leather skit. She tugged down at it awkwardly as though she could make the skirt a little longer by doing so. A weighty shield dragged at her bare arms. She was rather short for a shield-maiden, barely a foot taller than her guest, despite the lace-up leather high-heeled boots. Oddest of all, she wore horn-rimmed spectacles. She shyly clutched a small backpack, and veered nervously towards her date when she took in the crowd. The scabbard at her hip hung empty. Clearly she had heard the ‘no weapons’ rule.

This had better work, Maril hissed under her breath. I feel ridiculous!

Nonsense, you look wooonderful, Trenton Hornblower murmurred as he beamed at the cameras. Maril knew he was completely full of it, and rolled her eyes as Trent basked in the glow of the limelight. He waved jauntily at a crowd that largely ignored him, and gave Joan a broad wink.

I’m going to make the worst-dressed list, Maril moaned.

She coughed at the fumes of the (orange? red? green?) jalopy which veered to their left, clearly having difficulty finding its way out of the parking lot. Everything was cordoned off, orange pylons overturned and the route was confused already. A few of the Uruk-hai were wearing pylons as hats. Another chewed absently on his.

Hmm. The Uruks are good fighters, but you can’t count on them for discipline, Maril thought, briefly thankful she didn’t have to organize this party.

Dr Marileangorifurnimaluim cringed, and prayed she could make it to the end of the runway with the remaining shards of her dignity intact. At the moment this seemed vastly more important than not being recognized by the irate Garden Club.

- Maril

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Marileangorifurnimaluim ]

[Amanaduial the archer]

Aman nodded back to Arien as she waved shyly, grinning at the other. She looked back and saw Maika and Cuthalion. Both took her breath away- it was like hells angels meets Gucci, and they both looked incredible. She glanced once more around the room- to be sure, Mithadan's advertising had not gone to waste. The whole downs had turned up by the look of things...

[Schmendrick]

A huge blue limo with a figure of a swan painted on it appears at the gates. The licence plates read “DOL- 111”. Music can be heard from the inside. “Sounds like Placebo”, comments one of the security-orcs (famous for his knowledge of modern music). The door swings open and a young woman (yet another!) steps out. Her dark hair is flowing freely and she’s wearing a simple, striking blue dress and sneakers (well, she prefers comfy shoes to stilettos, when it comes to dancing!).

She feels almost unbearably self-conscious as she makes her way to the doors. There’s no need for that, though, since everybody’s eyes are fixed on the amazingly beautiful elven ladies everywhere around. She sneaks in and starts looking for some familiar faces. She fails to see any, but finally notices that a crowd (consisting mainly of young men) has formed around somebody. “That must be Annunfuiniel”, she thinks to herself and starts making her way toward the spot. On her way there she grabs a glass of wine from the near-by table and drinks it with one gulp. That should help her to relax!

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Schmendrick ]

[Maikadilwen]

Her face mostly resembling a thundercloud, Maika swiftly emptied her drink and ordered another one, muttering to herself about having her precious dagger taken from her.
"It must have been Mith, I'm sure of it! Who else would suspect that I would bring any weapons? And where did he get that photo of me anyway? If I get my hands on him...."
Cuthalion only looked at her with a loving smile as he placed a hand over her glass.
"Remember, be careful with those! You promised there would be no table-dancing this time."

Eyes glinting mischievously, Maika looked at him and smiled innocently.
"Whatever do you mean?" she asked sweetly and adjusted her bodice a couple of strategic places, then turned to look over the crowd before Cuthalion had a chance to say another word.
Eyeing Fin and his rather large party, Maika gave him a wink and raised her glass in a toast.

[Cuthalion]

Upon hearing the crash, Cuthalion turned to see the Saucepan Man stealing the show. He grinned broadly and shook his head.
"Now that guy knows how to make an entrance!" he thought as he ordered some club soda, responsibly remembering that he was the designated rider for the evening.

He held out his hand to Maika and they made their way to the buffet in order to stop her belly rumbling. Maika grimaced at all the clattering so they headed for the far end of the line. Several Hobbits elbowed their way past and one tried to sneak a peek under Maika's dress. She slapped him soundly and snarled, "Watch it! It's lucky for you the Orc stopped me on the way in here or you'd have another orifice!" Cuthalion smiled nervously and went to look for a table with a couple of empty seats.

[the phantom]

Firondoiel calls to The Phantom "Hey, there's a kick-"

The Phantom silences her by putting a finger to his lips. "Don't mention it", he said returning to the table. "I'm going to keep it there until someone decides to kick me. Someone did this to me at one of Lord Fin's parties last winter, and no one kicked me the entire time. The guests had most likely heard of the little skirmish that took place two years ago when a band of trolls tried to steal one of my cloaks (to sell on E-bay of course)."

Everyone at the table turned a bit green, remembering what The Phantom had done, all by himself, to the dozen or so trolls. They knew he was a decent guy, but only to his friends.

Suddenly the dwarf darted around the table and gave The Phantom's leg a solid boot. "There, you can take it off now", the dwarf said with a grin. To the guests' horror, The Phantom's eyes suddenly turned a dull red, and a wind started swirling around the table. He rose out of his chair and reached behind his back. Everyone feared he had an unchecked weapon and started scrambling away from the table, but The Phantom merely pulled the sign off his back, and sat down with a hearty laugh as his eyes returned to normal and the wind subsided.

"You almost had me fooled", the dwarf said shaking his head and smiling.

[Hanna_Gamgee]

Hanna heard the crash from the buffett line but when she saw the saucepanman enter she just laughed and served herself some food. Then she looked around to see if she saw anybody she new. She noticed there werent many other hobbits there yet. She heard Frodo and friends had arrived so stood on a chair to see better.
While she was waiting she looked around at all the wonderful decorations. This was her first BD party and she wanted to remember it.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Hanna_Gamgee ]

[Niluial]

Niluial looked at Donlammenion. He came and put his arms around Niluial “hmm I see other Lords looking at you… probably saying Oh how I wish she was mine!” he said. “Oh you are to kind. I bet some lovely ladies are thinking the same, Oh how I wish that handsome Donlammenion was mine” Niluial said laughing. A new song played and Donlammenion asked “would you like to dance”. Niluial replied “why not, who would give up the opportunity to dance with you?”

Donlammenion took Niluials hand and pulled her closer. Everyone looked at them dancing, it looked like they were dancing in the air, floating across the dance floor. The song stopped and Donlammenion walked with his fair lady to the drink section pouring her a glass of wine. “Thank you” Niluial said. Donlammenion and Niluial spoke for a while and then Fin came around the corner “I hope you two are enjoying yourselves!” he said with a enormous smile.

Niluial saw Hanna and walked over to her. “Oh Hanna this is also your first party? Well it is my first, I am so excited!”

[Hanna_Gamgee]

Hanna looks at Niluial from her chair and says "Yes this is my first party here and so far it looks like great fun. Its as grand as Bilbos Birthday was." Then she gets down off the chair with her pint of ale and sits down. Then she looks up at Niluials friend and says "Nice to meet the both of you. I hope you have a good time also."
After Niluial leaves she walks over to the dance floor to listen to the music and drink her ale. While there she notices some other hobbits and decides to go up and talk to them. One of them asks her to dance so she starts dancing with him.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Hanna_Gamgee ]

[The Saucepan Man]

Surveying the Great Hall, wonderfully bedecked with party decorations, Saucepan spotted a few faces that he recognised. He waved cheerily at Sophia and Annun, his Quiz Room pals, and noted to himself how fetching they both looked. He must catch up with them later.

But, for now, he had to sort out his contributions to the party. He wandered over to an empty table and deposited on it the two boxes that he was carrying. From the first he brought out his prized mirrorball.

"Now, I wonder who might like to take charge of this" he thought to himself.

Putting the mirrorball to one side, he carefully removed from the other box a large, black, cast iron pot with a heavy lid. Again, he wondered who to entrust this with.

"It is after all a magic pot" he muttered under his breath.

The Fantastic Feastpot of the Fanatical Foodies was indeed a wonderous item. It could produce any type of food that the heart desired. All one had to do was place down the lid, name the desired food and say the magic word. Saucepan had written down the magic word and hidden it in one of his pans, in case he forgot it.

"Now, I wonder who I should entrust with the magic word", he thought.

Then, his forehead knitted into a frown. He wondered whether the Pot was magical because of the inherent power of the one who crafted it, or whether it was created by one tutored in the arcane arts. Or perhaps it was just modern technology so marvellous that it appeared to be magic.

"Hmm" Saucepan thought. "Must have a chat with Iarwain about that."

Then he clattered off to find himself a drink and mingle with the other guests.

[ May 02, 2003: Message edited by: The Saucepan Man ]

[Trippo The Hippo]

I get up from where I am sitting and go over to The Phantoms table. "I apoligize for that last prank Phantom. I dont what got into to me. Perhaps it was the spiked punch or the ale cake." I say to him. "Might I join you? I could provide a bit of merriement in payment for any pain I might have caused you." I say as I pull up a chair not giving him much choice in the matter at all.

[Annunfuiniel]

"Isil? Isilmë, is it really you?!" Annunfuiniel screamed over the music and loud conversations. She saw the young maiden clearing her way towards her. Annun excused herself and left the (fairly large) group of young men that had gathered around her after Bruce "had had a food poisoning or something! Oh poor me, now I'm all alone!" - as she had grieved.

"I was just wondering if you would show up." Annun said while enfolding her arms around another dear friend. "How was the trip from Dol Amroth? Hope Anduin wasn't too stormy?" She guided Isil to the bar and they ordered champagne. "Here's to your health! And to the Barrow-Downs!" And they drank to all the haunting spirits of the Downs. "Now tell me some news! I haven't been to the South in ages!"

[piosenniel]

They sat on one of the gurneys, behind a curtained area in the MASH unit. Pio was knocking back her second water glass of Bombay Sapphire and had thrown the olives to her companions.

‘I can’t believe you made us wear this.’ The three Wargs chafed at the bow ties and tiara they had gotten after a thorough cleansing at Doggie Sudz’n’Dudz. ‘And you, what kind of outfit is that?’

Pio flicked a stray piece of lint from the lapel of her black silk tux, and tugged at bottom of her midnight blue vest. ‘For your information it’s an Armani. Just meeting the demand, my dear. Or haven’t you heard? All females are to try out male roles.’

‘And which male role are you trying out?’ Carchmoroth watched her carefully as she stood up. No sign of swaying yet. He grinned, his yellow teeth an interesting contrast against his red gums.

‘Cary Grant, I think. With a dash of Jackie Chan.’

She glanced at her distorted image, in the shiny metal bottom of a small surgical basin. ‘Good enough!’ She threw her gloves into her top hat and stored it on a high shelf, next to the dart gun.

‘Let’s go, my dears. We should mingle.’ She pulled back the curtain and stepped out, grabbing some promising concoction from a passing server.

The three Wargs followed her out, trying their best to blend into the glitzy crowd.

[Niluial]

Niluial smiled at Hanna. Niluial played with her rose that was given to her by Don. Don and Niluial went to the buffet table and took some delicious food. They sat down and ate with many people coming to say hi and some to introduce themselves. Niluial was amazed to see all the beautiful dresses all the elves (and hobbits and dwarves) were wearing. She looked around at the beautifully decorated place. “Now Niluial what do you think of this party, isn’t it just great” Don asked. “Yea it is” Niluial replied staring in Dons hansom eyes.

She finished eating and saw the Saucepan Man and with his huge disco ball. “hey The Saucepan Man, we haven’t really met I don’t think.. anyway I am Niluial and this is Donlammenion my date!” she said with a big smile. “Its my pleasure” The Saucepan Man said looking at Niluial and Don. “Saucepan Man, are you a presenter?” Niluial asked with a curious face.

Edited: he he still cant spell..

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Niluial ]

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Sophia scraped the last of her pie onto her fork and swallowed with relish. Nothing beat Strawberry pie at a party with a nice glass of wine... She drained her glass. Spying the Saucepan Man across the room she stood up.

"I'll be right back," she said to her group. It was just Alatariel and Thoriel looking bored and Fin who was slowly emptying the contents of the wine bottle, first into his glass and then into his stomach. She laughed at him as she went past, making a mental note to stay sober as long as possible.

She found the Saucepan Man near the bar, looking curiously at a mirrorball and a large pot on the table in front of him. "Hello, friend!" she greeted him cheerily. She'd have hugged him, but she doubted it was possible to fight her way through all the saucepans.

"How goes the evening?" she asked him, puzzled as to the purpose of the mirrorball and the caldron.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Mithadan ]

[Arafangwen]

All the cameras paused when they saw what was approching the red carpet. It was Arafangwen, sitting in the lap of her husband Legolas! No one had expected him to accompany her. As they paused at the carpet entrance, everyone was dazzeled by the beauty of the magnificent white horse they were upon, Shantolé. Legolas quickly slipped from the saddle to help his wife from her seat and onto the red carpet which he noticed was a particularly beautiful bright sort of red. To everyones suprise, Legolas gave Arafangwen a quick kiss, an encouraging word or two in Sindarin, and then re-mounted Shantolé and rode off. Arafangwen was quite nervous (this bieng her first party at the Downs)but did not show it as she confidently proceded to walk down the aisle in her beautiful floor length lavender dress with silver trim. At the door she reluctantly checked her two daggers with the orc on guard and proceded to enter the main room.

As she entered the room she immedietly noticed the phantom and her "company" sitting at the wrong table. I should probably ask them to accompany me to our designated table, she though to herself as she walked over to greet them.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Arafangwen ]

[Maegaladiel]

A black limo pulls up to the red carpet. A well-dressed hobbit gent opens the door, bowing politely. Maegaladiel steps gracefully out of the vehicle, nodding to the hobbit and thanking her lucky stars that she could find such a cheap limo on such short notice.

She walks up to the entrance, and the guard eyes her suspiciously.

"Weapons," he grunts. Maegaladiel looks somewhat confused.

"Pardon?" she asks. The burly guard shifts his weight uncomfortably. These darn shoes really start to hurt after hours of standing.

"Weapons. Can't go in with any weapons." He repeats slowly, as though speaking to a small child. Maegaladiel frowns, but unbuckles her sword, removes the stiletto from her hair, gives up half a dozen daggers from somewhere up her sleeve, deposits seventeen throwing stars at his feet, pulls a mace out of her shoe, and takes an enormous battle axe out of her tiny pink evening handbag. The guard's jaw drops.

"Er... You can.. go in now" he stutters at last. Sniffing delacately in distaste, Maegaladiel enters the party. She didn't see why he was so surprised; a girl has to defend herself, doesn't she?

The hall is full of people. Magaladiel grins to herself. This may prove to be quite an interesting experience. A hippo wanders around in one corner of the room, a phantom in the other. Out of the corner of her eye, Maegaladiel sees her friend Sophia the Thunder Mistress. She dodges a couple of reporters and tries to manuver herself a bit closer to the refreshments table without being killed by the crowds.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Maegaladiel ]

[Schmendrick]

"The trip went well, thanks for asking. But look at you, Annunfuiniel - always so elegant!" Isilmë shakes her head, a bit envious. "How do you do that, I wonder?"


For a moment she feels terribly ashamed of her shoes and non-existant hairdo. She should really try to start acting more like a grown-up! She takes a sip of the champaigne and suddenly remembers something. "By the way, where is that escort of yours? Bruce wasn't it?" She asks innocently, although she has already heard the rumours...

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Schmendrick ]

[the phantom]

"Spiked punch, eh Trippo?" The Phantom said, not looking at the Hippo, but rather at the suddenly giggling dwarf across the table. "You wouldn't know anything about that, would you master dwarf?"

The Phantom had somehow finished his entire plate, and rose from his seat to get seconds. As he approached the table of specialties, he noticed a large crowd had gathered around one end of the table. He stood up on a chair to get look at what was going on, and there, to his delight, was a platter of shadowy, fiery Balrog wings!

Unfortunately, there was no way to reach them. A large, hostile crowd had gathered around, and were hotly debating whether or not the wings were real, and if they were, whether or not they could be used to fly. The Phantom sighed and called for a waiter.

"Waiter", he said, "I want you to bring my table the most unique dish you have in your kitchens."

The waiter ran off to comply and The Phantom returned to his chair with a glass of spiked punch. He watched Arafangwen arrive with Legolas, but was slightly disappointed when Legolas left. "I've been meaning to talk to him about doing some interior decorating work for me. Oh well, I'll just have to call him", he thought.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: the phantom ]

[Niluial]

Niluial squinted her eyes, for she thought she saw Sophia the Thunder Mistress. * Oh it is her* she thought to herself. She walked gracefully over to Sophia the Thunder Mistress. She tapped her on her shoulder “Hello How are you?” She said happy to see a good RPG friend!

She had left Don with Fin they were talking about some book of some sort. As she was talking to Sophia the Thunder Mistress she spotted GaladrieloftheOlden oh I must go say hello to her next she thought.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Niluial ]

[Airehiriel]

A plain white horse slows at the red carpet. On the horse sits the other half of the rather famous couple, The Elf who married the Dwarf with the Beard. She sits smiling at the assembled crowd. She wears a lovely white dress that isn't too dissimilar to one her great-aunt Galadriel might were. Her long blonde hair cascades down her back in little waves.

She light dismounts the horse and walks gracefully to the entrance of the Hall. As she enters, she spots her most beloved seated at a table. She glides over to him. The Dwarf looks up to her, his eyes shining.

"Sorry it took me so long, but I'm here now, my love."

They embrace in, what would appear to many to be, a very humourous hug, for the Dwarf only reaches the elbows of the Elf. But the pair seem oblivious to the snickers in the air. They sit and begin drinking mugs of malt beer, which the Dwarf graciously had waiting for the Elf. The chat for a bit, and watch as others entered.

[Nuranar]

Suddenly a carriage, apparently driven by a maniac, thundered up to the red carpet and miraculously, if somewhat tritely, stopped on the proverbial dime. The coachman, clad completely in black including his moustache, batwing-edged cape and top hat, clambered down from his seat and, chuckling sinisterly, opened the carriage door.

Out stepped a woman – no, a girl – well, someone in between those two categories. Of medium height, her slim figure was revealed by the strobe effect of camera flashes. Her black hair, braided and pinned up around her head, was accented with tiny white flowers and framed a face full of merriment at the coach’s eccentric behavior. Her gown, of a rich midnight blue silk, shimmered dully in the artificial light. Its sleeves were fitted to the elbow, then flared gracefully over white gossamer under sleeves. Obviously made for dancing, the dress’s skirt fell in smooth swirls to her ankles, revealing low-heeled slippers.

As she stepped forward shyly, her fair-haired fellow passenger exited the carriage. He wore a fine white cotton shirt with an old-fashioned black cravat. Over it his waistcoat, a heavy patterned silk, seemed also black, but was actually the darkest of navy blues. His black trousers – cut with just the right amount of bagginess, bowing to the dictates of the Fashion Police – were tucked neatly into highly-polished black boots.

His escape was none too soon, as the erstwhile coachman leapt to his seat with a loud "HAHAHAHA, HA HA!" and jerked the conveyance into motion. Unmoved, the young man observed the speeding vehicle negotiate a perilous bend in the road on two wheels, then vanish behind the city wall.

"Maybe I shouldn’t have asked Professor Fate to give us a lift," he confessed to his fair companion, blue eyes twinkling. "Shall I carry you home? I wouldn’t count on his getting back on time or even in one piece."

Luinien bit her slip to suppress a giggle. "Shush, there are all the cameras. Don’t worry about him, just behave yourself!" she hissed, punctuating her reprimand with a well-aimed but surreptitious elbow.

Rebuked, Tarondo immediately bowed to his sister. "O fair one, I pray, vouchsafe to thy unworthy servant the honor of escorting thee!" Eyes sparkling and lips twitching, Luinien took his proffered arm and the couple sedately trod the blood-red carpet into the Grand Hall.

[*Varda*]

Poppy eyed the wargs with some trepidation. However much they were trying to blend in with the crowd, it was impossible. As they came near, the hobbit jumped out of her seat and scurried off to the food table. Being eaten by some ravenous wargs was certainly not what she had in mind for this party.

[Maegaladiel]

Maegaladiel's sensitive ears pick up a sound that sends chills down her spine, and coats her heart in frost. The terrible sound draws nearer. Her heart pounds, her breathing quickens. Oh no! Its--

"Ms. Maegaladiel! Miss! Over here!" DARN! She found her! Maegaladiel tries to hide herself in the crowd, but the reporter grabs her elbow. Trapped. Like a rat.

"Maegaladiel, I'm with the Middle Earth Times, remember me? Sunny Day?" Gads, how could Maegaladiel forget the reporter Sunny Day. The most annoying woman on the face of the planet. Despite her loating, Maegaladiel forces a smile.

"If I could just have a moment of your time, Maegaladiel..." Here we go.

"Maegaladiel is dressed in a stunning green dress with flowing peasant sleeves, hair and nails by Galdriel's Mirror Fortune Telling, Salon, and Day Spa, shoes by--" Sunny Day stops her chatter momentarily to look at Maegaladiel's sneakers.

"Wal-Mart" supplied Maegaladiel. Sunny decides to cut the wardrobe description from her article.

"Miss Maegaladiel, you're usually in the Shire, how do you find Gondor?" She asks.

"Turn left at Rohan" cracks Mae. Sunny looks slightly confused, but writes this down.

"While you're here at the Downies, will you still be promoting your cause?" she prompts. Mae nodds, adjusting her glasses.

"Yes,"she says. "I'll be asking for donations for my Foundation for Nearsighted Elves from anyone who will listen. We are very close to finding a cure for Elf Myopsy, as this is sometimes called, and we need all the help we can get." She hands the annoying reporter a booklet. "I'm the founder and poster child!" she adds proudly, pointing at her glasses. Sunny nods.

"I just have a few more questions for you, Miss Mae..." Jees Louise, doesn't this lady ever shut up?!

Ever looking for an escape route, Mae continues her interview, making a mental note to boycott the Middle Earth Times.

[One Axe to Rule them All]

A little shaken after the fright with the kicking, and with a growling stomach, he declares; I'm so hungry I could eat Trippo at that a terrified look comes over Trippo's face, but it is calmed by Gimli's words, Just kidding friend! he says, laughing at his little joke. Then, he gets up and walks around, through, and under people to steal a handful of fiery blarog wings, sneaking them back to the table for phantom and his friends

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: One Axe to Rule them All ]

[The Saucepan Man]

The Saucepan Man smiled at Niluial and Donlammenion, happy to have made their acquaintance.

“Saucepan Man, are you a presenter?” Niluial asked with a curious face.

"Inventor? No, certainly not. What makes you think that?"

Niluial stared blankly at him as Sophia the Thunder Mistress came over and greeted them.

"My dear, Sophia! How on Middle Earth are you, my friend?" he said.

Noticing her eyeing the mirrorball and the magical pot doubtfully, he added "Oh, just my little way of contributing to the party. I am hoping to find someone to put the mirrorball up on the dance-floor, while the pot is always helpful when food supplies start running low. But only I know the magic word."

He tapped his nose with his finger conspiratorially, his pots and pans clattering mometarily as he did so.

[ May 02, 2003: Message edited by: The Saucepan Man ]

[Salix]

A beautiful gray horse canters up to the red carpet. On it, riding bareback, is the lovely Salix. She climbs down, and sends the horse off towards a nearby field, while looking distastefully at the fly swatters. She is wearing a dress of forest green, and her hair is being worn loose, though a forest green hairband keeps her hair from falling over her face. The only jewelry to be seen is a gold necklace with an emerald pendant. As she walks down the red carpet, she somehow avoids the paparazzi and makes her way to the door. Since she carries no weapons, she skillfully avoids the metal detector and enters the hall, heading for the buffet table.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Salix ]

[Airehiriel]

Dressed in a simple gown of sky blue, Airehiriel made her way to the red carpet. The tall and slender elf walked slowly. She had heels on, and she wasn't particularly graceful, unlike the vast majority of Elves. Somehow, the Elvish grace skipped her, leaving her with a bad tendency to trip, and to bump into things, as if she were an awkward human teenager. Of course she always made up for her lack of coordination with humor. She was always trying to brighten someones day with a laugh.

She surveyed the scene, looking for familiar faces. She watched as the Elf who married the Dwarf with the Beard walked in. She felt a brief flash of envy as the Elf glided in so elegantly. Airehiriel knew quite well no one would use the word 'elegant' to describe her. She heard the crowd cheer and fawn over other members as they arrived, and wished there might be some for her.

She stepped onto the bright red carpeting, but failed to notice the small fold of carpet that stuck up in the air. Her toe caught the fold, and she started to trip forward. She stuck her other foot out to catch herself, and pinwheeled her arms in the air. As her feet continued to stumble forward, and her arms whirl, she saw the flash of many bulbs going off.

~Oh no!~ She thought to herself. ~Now all the papers will have pictures of my grand entrance!~ After she gathered herself, she gave the crowd a smile as if she meant to do that, and her smile was meet with laughter. ~Silly ole Airehiriel, they all are probably thinking. Oh, well, best not let this ruin my fun.~

She hadn't made plans to meet anyone, and she didn't have a date, so Airehirel walked in, hoping to find someone who might talk to her.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Airehiriel ]

[Maegaladiel]

"...What do you call that hairstyle?" presses the reporter Sunny Day.

"Arthur." Mae grins, staying faithful to A HARD DAY'S NIGHT. George would be proud of her.

"Yes...I see." Sunny obviously did not, but that didn't stop her from finishing her interview. "How do you like your boyfriends to dress?" Mae just laughs. Sunny looks uncomfortable.

"Tell me about your childhood," she says, changing the subject. Mae looks serious. Sunny leans forward, ready for some good info.

"I was born at a very young age. I wanted to be born in the hospital, so I could be with my mother." Sunny sighs. Why couldn't she be assigned to a NORMAL person?!?

Mae's eyes land on a plate of spicy Balrog wings being served over at the food table. She licks her lips. There's gotta be some way to ditch this weirdo before all the good food runs out. She considers letting one of the wargs in ties eat her, but there might be some legal problems associated with that. She waves to Sophia the Thunder Mistress, hoping to show Sunny that she had other, more important things to do than talk with a reporter. Like eat. It's not working.

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Sophia smiled, as the Saucepan Man described the possible uses of a mirrorball. "Aaah," she sighed, "dancing! Are we going to be getting to that soon I wonder?" Lifting a glass of some unidentified liquid from a passing waiter's tray, she went to nudge the Saucepan Man playfully, but again, stopped herself, wary of the clanking pots. "Don't forget" she said in a rather subdued voice, "You're saving me a dance..." she suddenly began to feel a little skeptical about the possibilities of escaping such a dance unscathed.

The Saucepan Man clanked a little more, in something that looked like a small bow, and replied, "Certainly, certainly..." As he spoke, Sophia caught a glimpse of her dear companion Maegaladiel across the hall. Mae was stomping her foot at a small reporter who was busily chattering and following up with a bright green pen, the tengwar on her page quickly recording Mae's irritated answers.

"Do excuse me, I think I see a damsel in distress." she said to the Saucepan Man as she wandered over to where Sunny Day was harrassing Maegaladiel. As she approached Sunny Day's face lit up and her bright green pen waved in the air toward her. Sophia groaned.

"Miss Sophia!" she shrieked, " a few questions..." Talking aloud to her pad, she scribbled across a new page, "I'm now here with our friendly neighborhood Thunder Mistress, who is dressed all in red silk, and wearing a spectacular crown of red flowers..."

"Please!" Sophia snorted in exasperation, "could you excuse us?" Sunny Day looked up, startled by the suggestion. "We have important things to discuss, don't we Mae?" Sophia said firmly, casting a plea for help toward Maegaladiel, who nodded decisively toward the reporter. "If we don't discuss them now, they certainly won't make the front page tomorrow..." Sophia added coaxingly.

"Whew", Mae sighed, "Thanks, Sophia, I owe you for that one." They walked toward Sophia's table, where Fin was still sitting, looking rather dejected. She pulled out the chair and sat beside him.

"Fin, this is Maegaladiel, Mae, Fin- my date." She introduced them, then waved a hand toward Thoriel and Alatariel, "and these are Fin's other dates." Fin winked at her, as the three sat down for a good chat.

[Mithadan]

Mithadan wandered the party trying to engage the guests in conversation while simultaneously listening to his staff on his earpiece. So far so good. One very dispeptic Elf and a dozen or so broken glasses, but no major bodily injuries, fights or mayhem.

He spied a portly Hobbit accompanied by a petite shieldmaiden. Scowling, he reported the two to security, instructing that they be watched. They likely had nothing to do with the protesters but their dress fit the profile.

Slipping through a side door, he made his way backstage. The soundchecks had been completed and the lighting was being finalized. He walked across the stage and turned into the alcove holding the Downies, after first showing his badge to a Troll who was standing guard. Morgul Plaques and Trophies had done a splendid job preparing the gold tombstone shaped awards. He lifted one and read the inscription, "Most Bubbly and Outgoing". When he read the name of the honoree, he laughed.

Checking with the security center once more and confirming that all was well, he made his way back to the banquet hall and headed towards the bar.

[Annunfuiniel]

Something shiny twinkled in the far left of the Hall and Annun turned to face a somewhat curious sight. She had just been about to answer Isilmë's remark on her appearance but now she called "Look Isil, there's The Saucepan Man! I am not sure if you know him already but he's one of my dear Quiz Room pals. His riddles..." Annun shook her head. She replied to his wave and wondered then what in Middle-Earth he was carrying in addition to his pans and kettles. 'I surely need to talk to him tonight', she thought and turned back to Isilmë.

"Where were we? Oh yes, thank you but you're too kind! This is an old dress and these shoes... They are going to kill me, that's for sure! And to your inquiry about Bruce... Well, that's a sad story...or maybe not", she finished with a mischievious smile on her lips.

[Diamond18]

A Lamborghini Diablo pulled up to the red carpet, but it was not speeding as one would expect from a car of its caliber. Not to say that it had not been speeding up until that point, nay, its driver had been putting the proverbial petal to the magnificent metal in order to get to the party in some semblance of time. She knew she was late, but what is one to do when one sleeps till 11 in the morning? It was her day off of work, and the fact that there was a party had completely slipped her mind.

Now, the undeniably cool car crawled to a stop, nearly out of gas and in dire need of new tires. The front door opened, and out stepped the aforementioned driver herself. Standing at 5’6” in height, she made a tolerably attractive figure (so other have said, mind you, I make no claims). She was clad in a faded denim skirt, which ended just about her knees, and a white tank top under a denim jacket matching her skirt. Her feet were shod in sandals. Yes, her accoutrements were less than formal, but she was here to party, not promenade.

Now let me pause to tell you about her hair. It fell just past her shoulders, and was thick, wavy and silky. Its hue was a natural mix of light golden brown tinged with the slightest red hue, and as she shut the car door behind her, she smoothed her tresses down with unmistakable vanity. Yes, she was shamelessly vain about her hair, and had been known to react with vicious indignation when people asked if she dyed it. Her hazel eyes swept over the red carpet, noticing the Warg hair that lay in clumps all over. Drat, she thought, I was supposed to vacuum my house today. Oh well.

Now, before you die of absolute boredom, let me mention the last, and most interesting aspect of her appearance. Though her clothing was casual (yet chic) she wore an astoundingly gaudy necklace around her neck (as that is usually where one wears a necklace). Eighteen jaw-dropping diamonds were threaded on a mithril chain, and though there had been many other diamond-clad guests before her, none had matched the flashy fire of these diamonds. For it was indeed She of the Eighteen Diamonds who stood upon the hairy red carpet, thinking about the work she was supposed to be doing back home.

“Oh well,” she repeated out loud, and turned to open the back door of her Diablo. “We’re here!”

A small, round, fat, tubby, corpulent, obese, short, puny, diminutive, miniature, body fell out of the back seat. One sausage-like hand reached up and brushed away a graying mop of curly hair, and the middle-aged hobbit lady gasped, “I’m alive! Oh, sweet peas and ale, I’m alive! I thought it would never end! The speeding! The spinouts! The heinous music!”

“Hey,” Diamond objected, “Matchbox20 and 3 Doors Down rule, and they have numbers in their name, so don’t complain.”

Lousewort Chastitybelt stood up dizzily and looked around fearfully. “I want to go home!” she insisted.

“There’s someone here waiting to talk to you,” Diamond replied. “So waddle across this hairy carpet and find her, she’ll be wearing a breastplate.” She accompanied this directive with a shove, muttering, “Heinous music, indeed!”

Diamond then bent over (and the males in the area widened their eyes like the uncouth, bestial creatures they are) and picked a book up off the carpet, which had dropped out along with Lousewort. Dusting the Warg hair off her library copy of David Copperfield, she lamented the fact that it was due in a week and she was not yet halfway through it. She added this to the list of things she was neglecting to attend the party.

“Pimpiowyn, honey, aren’t you going to get out?” she asked gently, smiling fondly at the sweet and shy creature still sitting inside the car.

“There are so many people,” a high, piping voice chirped cutely.

“Come dear, they’ll all love you!” Diamond insisted. “And Vogonwë is somewhere around here, working with the dance troupe. If things get too intimidating, you can go over by him. Okay?”

“All right…” Pimpi agreed, and stepped out onto the still hirsute carpet. A collective gasp rippled through the area, as they looked upon Pimpiowyn Daughter of Éohorse, the only Half-Hobbit-Half-Human known to grace the Downs. Yet, to the untrained eye her Hobbit side was undetectable, as a recent incident with magic beans had caused her to reach 6’ in height. Therefore, she was a tall and slender Half-Halfing, and looked more like an Elf maiden despite having no Elven blood. Her hair put Diamond’s to shame—it was a long gorgeous mane of reddish golden curls that shone with the light of the Similars of Feeblenore. Her lithe frame was graced with an astoundingly beautiful black velvet dress with the most impractical and ridiculously stylish red sleeves. They draped along the ground (unfortunately picking up Warg hair in the process) and made for an all around stunningly stupendous attire.

Pimpi took a step forward, and tripped on her sleeves. She landed in a heap on the carpet, and Diamond, looking rather like a mother hen, quickly helped her back up.

“I’m such a klutz!” Pimpi lamented, tears forming on her rosy cheeks.

“It’s okay, Pimpi sweetheart,” Diamond assured her, and if people didn’t know better, they’d swear she sprouted feathers and started clucking. “Now, look over there! There’s the buffet table! Dragon’s meat and Balrog wings and Lembas cake, oh my!”

Seeing the resplendent food table, Pimpi picked up her skirts and flew across the carpet, her Hobbit side becoming readily apparent in the ravenous hunger that o’er spread her bonny countenance.

“Well,” Diamond said with smug satisfaction, “now for the mingling.”

[HerenIstarion]

The celebrations already clamouring on for several hours, a tall man appeared by the end of the red carpet. He came on foot, marks of tire on his face, though neatly dressed, his clothing all shades of grey, and sparks of irony in his eye. The Uruk guard stopped him:

-And what ye may be doing here?
-Well, I suppose I'm willing to enter
-And who yer may be, than?
-HerenIstarion must be the name
-Yer? Here? It can't be, yer never reach out of them Quotes and Books forums. And I hear him H-I even ain't coming there no more.
-Well, there are times, and I happen to be him H-I, as you name me. So let me in

That ringed true somehow. The Guard backed, and let the man through, who, entering the hall, immediately slipped to the bar, ordered the beer and quitely placed himself in the dark corner, unnoticed by the most of the crowd.
"It have to be a good show" thought the man and sipped at his beer

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: HerenIstarion ]

[One Axe to Rule them All]

As the dwarf stands there, thinking and eating spicy hot balrog wings, he asks the other occupants of the table if they know when the Disco Danceoff is going to begin. with answers such as "don't know" and "Mrrrchh mrmrmr i'm eating!" he decides to leave it alone for a while, switching the subject, he says to the phantom; "sure was funny, that kick me sign.."

Suddenly, the entire hall is filled with horrible screams and schreeching as a flock of RABID FANGIRLS! swarm into the hall screaming the words Legolas, Mirkwood! while anyone of movie importance runs for cover, all but one..
Elrond! he sits at the bar, taking shot after shot of straight vodka.. Suddenly, Arafangwen yells He's not here!
and just as suddenly as they came, they left, leaving scared actors in their wake.
And amidst it all, Elrond sits there muttering My guestbook*Downs another shot*They took it from me*Sobs silently* Then the dwarf points out to the others the situation that Elrond happens to be in and asks if we should help him out

[Ainaserkewen]

"Once more you are with Reesha Weathers, for Action in Arda Magazine.
Now I'm talking with none other than the Saucepan man! Hi Mr. Man."
"Hello, Miss Weathers. I would be delighted to answer your questions for your magazine."
"Okay then, How did chose such an inventive name?"
"Well, I didn't choose it as such. It just kind of stuck, on account of all these pots, pans and kettles. You can call me Saucepan for short, if you like. Everyone else does.

OOC: The Saucepan Man is a character from the Faraway Tree books by Enid Blyton, written for children. They are about a group of children who discover the Faraway Tree in the Enchanted Wood, which is populated by all kinds of strange folk. One of these is the Saucepan Man, a strange little fellow covered from head to foot in pans and kettles, with a saucepan for a hat."
"That's very interesting. And which is your favorite forum on the BDs?"
"Depending on my mood, I tend to spend most of my time in Books, Movies and the Quiz Room. But I always pop down to the Barrow-Downs forum, which is a nice, friendly place to be."
"Sounds like a good scramble. Who is your favorite administrator/moderator?"
"Estelyn Telcontar, for her kindness and tact in bringing order to the chaos of the Forums, although I find Sharku's ruthlessness amusing. And the Barrow-Wight himself, of course, for bringing us this great site in the first place."
"I agree. What is your favorite thing about the BD?"
"The sheer variety of wierd and wonderful people that haunt the place, all drawn together by a love for all-things Tolkien. In the short time that I have been here, my knowledge and appreciation of Tolkien's works has grown immeasurably."
"What is your favorite thing about Tolkien's books/movies?"

"The Books: I have always enjoyed the Hobbit and LotR since I first read them some 25 years ago. But recently, I read the Silmarillion and found the story of Turin Turambar amazing - such a tragic hero. And, at the moment, I am really enjoying reading the Hobbit to my young daughter and seeing the look of wonder on her face as the story unfolds.

The Films: It has to be the visualisation - the fantastic way that they bring ME to life in much the way I had imagined it all those years ago. Particular highlights for me, so far, have been the Shire, Moria, the Black Gate, Edoras and Helm's Deep. And the SFX are brilliant too, especially the Orcs, the Balrog and, of course, Gollum (although not those dreadful hyena-lemming hybrids that are supposed to be Wargs )."
"Thanks for your time Saucepan."
"I hope that you find my answers helpful."
"We'll be back later with more interviews!"

[the phantom]

"Thank you, Gimli" said The Phantom, as Gimli brought back yet another plate of Balrog wings. "Let's see how they taste".

"I've heard these are the best", said Gimli. "Apparantly, these wings actually came from Gothmog himself!"

Gimli, Trippo, Firondoiel, Arafangwen, and The Phantom all reached for the platter, but the wings were so hot that no one was able to pick one up, except The Phantom with the aid of his black leather gloves.

"No don't!!" cried Firondoiel as The Phantom moved the wing towards his lips.

"They haven't cooled off yet!" added Trippo as The Phantom took a bite.

His companions stared at him, waiting for some sort of reaction. His lips twitched twice and he blinked hard three times, and then he swallowed. As he opened his mouth to speak, a tongue of fire leapt out and lit the tablecloth on fire. Gimli swiftly smothered it.

"Wow, that was amazing!", said The Phantom, who was looking a bit more reddish in hue, but still smiling and able to speak intelligibly. "Does anybody want to try some of this?".

"No thanks" everyone replied in chorus.

"Me neither" returned The Phantom, pushing the platter in front of an empty chair and draining both his glass and Arafangwen's.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: the phantom ]

[Firondoiel]

Firondoiel turns to Arafangwen. "I thought you were leaving your husband at home."

"Well, I thought I was but I decided to at least let him escort me."

"Oh. Well lucky for us he was gone by the time the fan girls got here!" Firondoiel sighs with relief.

Firondoiel notices Airehiriel by herself and gestures for her to take a seat at their table.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Firondoiel ]

[Niluial]

Niluial stood talking to Varda about where both of them got there dresses from. She spoke to Varda because she had lost Don and he was no where to be seen. She saw a tall handsome man standing by the beverage section. His eyes were searching the room, with a worried look. “Don” she blurted out. “Ummm.. what..?” Varda asked looking at Niluial strangely. Niluial blushed feeling slightly embarrassed for the out burst. She smiled at Varda, “Please do forgive me but I need to excuse myself”. She walked up to Don with relief. Don spotted her and smiled also looking relieved. “Wow I thought I lost my date for a second” he said laughing. He handed her a glass of red wine, “thank you, well this is my third glass of wine and its only the beginning of the evening, I hope I don’t get tipsy” she said laughing.

Don put his arm around her shoulder almost she show everyone ‘look everyone, look who I brought to the Party’. Don took Niluials hand “come on we have only had one dance, you deserve another!” he said. They danced to the slow music. Don pulled Niluial closer “I don’t want to loose you again” he whispered in her ear. Niluial rested her head on Dons shoulder, because she felt relaxed sawing in his arms. She looked around seeing all the other dates dancing romantically. The romantic moment was spoiled by load music blasting through the speakers. Everyone faced the stage.

Elves were doing a dance with fire. Everyone watched in awe.. The cameras flashed, taking pictures of the amazing dance. Not a word was sad not even the Fan Girls spoke…

[Ainaserkewen]

Ainaserkewen is getting quite tired, after all the "predictions" She would like to sit down with friends.

Then, in the crowd she notices Firondoiel sitting across the room.

"Hey." she says. "Seen anyone else yet?"

[Firondoiel]

Firondoiel hears Ainaserkewen and replies, "I sure have. Arafangwen is sitting right here next to me. And here's The Phantom, Trippo, and Gimli. Come join us."

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Firondoiel ]

[Arafangwen]

Arafangwen jumped back at the sudden "outburst" on the phantoms part, then proceded to allow him to have her drink, she dosn't drink much but water and sweet tea anyways. She suddenly noticed that Airehiriel had entered the room and along with Firondoiel waves for her to come along and join thier merry group. "I wonder when they shall start presenting the awards", she said, as the rest of the group nodded thier heads in agreement.

[Child of the 7th Age]

"Poppy Took. Poppy Took!" Cami waved valiantly at the only other hobbit in sight. Cami had glimpsed Frodo with a friend, but he had disappeared without greeting her. She pulled Poppy into a corner so they could avoid the mob. Then she shook her head, "This is worse than last year. So crowded! And look what the Big Folk are wearing." Cami rolled her eyes. "By the way, I do like your dress."

Cami gazed admiringly at Poppy's blue silk gown, a simple but striking outfit which showed off the girl's figure to her singular advantage. Cami's own wardrobe had been dictated by circumstances. She had exactly one party dress hanging in her closet, an old-fashioned gown of green silk that Bilbo had given her. She was happy with her choice.

"Cami, why are you still sitting here instead of coming inside?"

Cami chuckled. "First, I had to take delivery on some snakpaks from Urak Beef and Offal. That's why it smells so bad. But I also promised Maura I'd stay till my escort arrives." Glancing up the corridor, she glimpsed fifty Uruk-hai bent under a massive metal box with tiny peepholes in the sides. They advanced and halted in front of Cami as she grabbed at the note:.

Dearest Cami,

Gandalf told me of your need, and I am pleased to make you a loan of Meneltarma's guardian to serve as your escort at the birthday bash. Make sure she behaves and doesn't fight with her kin. If I recall, the two of you met at last year's party.

Best wishes to you and Maura. Give my regards to Pio, Mithadan, and Bird. May you ever hear the horns of Ulumuri in your dreams.

Ulmo
Lord of the Waters

Cami smiled without explaining. "Could you help me pry off the lid?" Both hobbits picked up crowbars left by the Uruk and began to pull and strain.

[Lyra Greenleaf]

An understated, but bright pink car pulled up outside the venue for the party. With a squeak a Hobbit popped out- impatient to get partying she had used the window. As the cameras started flashing she fell over.
NO! They'll all have pictures of me on the floor. Red carpet nightmare! thought Lyra with a groan. Lyra? I could have sworn I was called Ellie a minute ago!
Pondering the strange things that can go in a feverish imagination, Lyra got up and began to run full tilt at the door, her dark green dress billowing behind her. At least I didn't change to Mara she thought with a shiver.

"Any weapons?" asked an ugly looking Orc at the door. Can't be... Lyra thought. There was something disturbingly familiar about him. The Orc turned to his bigger and uglier companion. "'Ows Courtney, bruv?" It is!
"Excuse me, Mr Orc is your name by any chance Phil?" The snarl reminded her why they were the most hated creatures in middle earth. Well, except Orli-lovers and shieldmaidens. Mental note: Pretend my name is Took... Casting a last stare around at the placard waving half-elf, orphaned shieldmaidens protesting for the use of magic in RPGs, she walked in.

Wow! Music, lights, colour, very strange people... It was a lot for the Hobbit to take in. She gazed around. Over here, a stereotypically good looking Elf with a gaggle of girls drooping all over him. Over there, a strange man covered in saucepans. Perhaps he's a descendent of the Gardners. I heard they all like to carry saucepans and frying pans around all the time... And all over, couples. Mumbling to herself under her breath about Elves who hit the big-time, got blonde wigs and started going out with Christina Ricci, Lyra stomped off to get a drink.

Happy couples everywhere and nobody talking to a poor deserted Hobbit. And I have to keep using these damn italics to show I'm thinking to myself! she mused angrily. I need to cheer myself up. I know! A conga! With a cheery smile, Lyra began a strange solitary conga to the dulcet tones of, err, Pink. Well you can't have everything!

[Niluial]

“Ah there is a old friend, do you mind if I go say hello” Don asked. “You can say hello to who you want I am not stopping you” Niluial said laughing. She saw Firondoiel. *hmm never speaking him but maybe I should introduce myself* she thought. She walked up to Firondoiel. “Hello I am Niluial” she said, her eyes twinkling in the light.

[Lush]

Amidst the rearing steeds, roaring car engines, ravishing wargs, and raging light-bulbs popping, Lush had more than a slight difficulty in making it to the red carpet relatively unmolested.

Clad in a white suit, with a smile of pure innocence on her face, sweet, gentle, certainly-without-a-doubt-not-intent-upon-any-sort-of-mischief Lush made her way down the red carpet.

"I don't know, she still comes off as a nymphomani...!!!" Shouted some voice, but it was stifled among the roars of approval that greeted the latest gorgeous Elven arrivals.

"Where's your date???" A reporter shouted in her (innocent) face.

"A girl needs a date about as much as a Wight needs a tanning bed." Lush grinned innocently in reply and walked on.

To the question regarding the presence of weapons on her persona (did we mention how utterly innocent that persona was?), she replied simply:

"Moi?"

The guards, overpowered by the overwhelming innocence shining out of every pore on her Slavic face, stood dumbfounded before her.

"Oh now, none of that!" Said Lush. "Let me in. I'll never be your tryst of burden. I've walked for miles, my feet are...Ok, my slippers are sensible, but that's beside the point."

Practically blinded by Lush's spotless innocence by then, the guards parted in front of her, just to be rid of the bright light and the annoying headache (largely reminiscent of the kind of headache you get after staying up all night slam-dancing and downing screwdrives, not that Lush would know anything about that) it brought on.

[Lalaith]

A grey-eyed female figure edged her way in through the door. She had only a very few minutes, but had heard there was free champagne to be had. Psst! Barman! Your best Bollinger, if you please...Sipping quickly but contentedly, Lalaith looked around her. It looked great fun. Later, perhaps, with more time on her hands, she could slip in again and mingle.

[Helkahothion]

Anuion almost sank to his knees. Aman caught him before he could and lifted him to his feet.

"What is wrong? You have not even touched a drink yet." She said worried.

"It's nothing sweetie. It's like someone was saying what I was doing without me doing it. You know that feeling?"

"Oh yeah, had it several times."

"Well, I think I'm fully in control again. Wait a sec, Ill be right back. Just be getting us a drink if you don't mind." He said while added a little wink.

The wink took much of his courage so he just went straight to the bar where he saw Maika and Cuthalion. He ordered the drinks before shaking Cuthalion's hand.

"Good to see you old man. Good to see you indeed. Love the clothes man. Good work. So Maika, you are not still pouting about the no-weapon rule right?" Anuion said cheerfully.

Maika smiled at Anuion and Anuion, gentle as always, kissed her hand. His left eye caught a glimpse of Fin and his posse. Fin was smiling. Why shouldn't he be? Anuion gave him a thumbs up. He did not mind. He was accompanied by the prettiest girl on the downs. Although, that is what he thought. Anuion smiled at the broad grin on Fin's face as he gave a thumbs up back and went back to find Aman.
She was still there. Tapping her foot on the ground with her arms in her side. Impatient little devil. He went over and gave her the drink. He could not have been happier. This party was going to be the best one ever.

"Note to self: Thank Mithadan gratefully." Anuion thought to himself while smiling to his lovely date.

[the phantom]

The Phantom casually glanced down at his pager (it was going off). "If you'll excuse me, I have some urgent business to attend to. I'll be back when I'm back."

The other guests at the table did not seem offended. This was typical of The Phantom. "So, do you think he's making some business calls or do you think he's off to divert some sort of disaster?" asked Gimli.

"Probably both", answered Trippo. "He's a busy guy".

[Arafangwen]

"Hello Airehiriel!" said Arafangwen as her aquaintent walked up to the table. "I was under the impression that a friend of yours was going to do an interview with me. If you see her, could you please inquire about that for me?" she asked innocently. Gimli meanwhile, proceded to wonder of the wherabouts of GaladrielOfTheOlden, she still owed him a dance....

[Arwen Evenstar the Fair]

A pair of silvery white horses trotted up to the red carpet surrounded by what seemed to be a dozen royal guards. The couple on the horses were dressed gloriously. Cameras turned to face the couple and the crowds stood in awe of the site. The High King and Queen of Gondor had arrived!!! The crowds started cheering and the cameras flashed wildly as the King and Queen dismounted and stepped onto the carpet. King Aragorn held out his arm to the Queen, she took and they began to walk towards the Hall, pausing for pictures and short interviews.
The Queen Arwen thought to herself,
"This will be a wonderful evening."
After a few more photos, she said to her husband,
"Shall we enter my Lord?"
Aragorn smiled and answered,
"We shall."

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Arwen Evenstar the Fair ]

[Niluial]

She left Firondoiel table, for nothing much was happening there. Niluial spotted Lyla a lovely hobbit friend to make. *I am sure I know that name from somewhere* she thought. The RPG! She really liked Lyla, Niluial remembered. Niluial didn’t move elegantly along the floor but hurriedly. She knocked over some weird looking animal, creature, well some thing. “Oh are you alright” Niluial asked the creature. The creature made a strange weird noise and snapped at her, and then it ran of. Then an elf stood on her foot “OUCH!” she shrieked. She glared at the elf for he did not even give an apology.

She stormed off feeling a little moody and her foot was in pain. *Ill be reporting that strange thing to the guards* she thought. She gave a little sigh and thought hard *now where was I going*. All the commotion made her blank. She stood in the crowd a little puzzled. She felt lost and a little tipsy but not too tipsy smilies/wink.gif. A waiter walked passed and turned back “are you ok Miss?” he asked. “Oh yes I am fine just enjoying the view…” she replied. The crowd just grew and grew, it would be impossible to find Don. So she stood there, looking around feeling a wee bit lonely.

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Aylwen strolled gracefully down the…blood red carpet. She had not planned on being fashionably late to the party, but school had dictated otherwise. Who in Middle-Earth plans the Superfit two Mile Run on the day of the Barrow-Downs Anniversary party? Aylwen kept asking herself, but dismissed the issue after deciding to enjoy herself at the party.

Aylwen had originally intended on wearing funeral-type clothing, after all, it was a death day party. But Aylwen later decided that black would not suit for all the people of Middle-Earth that had not been invited, whose season fashion was taken from the clothing of those lucky enough to be going to the party. Aylwen, used to more casual clothing and her teams’ sports uniforms, had declined the offer from Dunland Dresses to wear one of their newest gowns. Instead, the bard had decided to wear comfortable brown breeches. Used to the military life, Aylwen’s parents had taught her to keep her boots spit-shined so that one could see their reflection, and the boots she wore to the party were no exception. Her tunic was a beige color, for it matched every sash Aylwen had tied around her waist. The scarves were all bright and colorful, and one was black with pale green embroidery on it, in honor of the Barrow-Downs’ colors. Her black hair was in loose curls, adorned with the pale green that so often reminded her of the Barrow-Downs.

The horrible cook had tried the previous night to bake chocolate chip cookies, adding a drop of green food coloring to the mix in attempts to bring out the green in things. Aylwen was unsuccessful in three whole batches of cookies, except for a few single cookies for each batch, which in the end were sneakily stolen by Aylwen’s younger and older siblings. So, the girl brought only a letter of apology for her lack of a proper gift.

Time to party!

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Aylwen Dreamsong ]

[Arafangwen]

"I belive we were just refered to as boring Trippo!" Arafangwen said in shock.
"I belive it's nonensence" said Trippo, although in his current state it sounded more like "Eye leaf ins sence", or something like that. "Firondoiel, I belive our part in this party is quite dull at the moment. Does anyone have any random ideas?" asked Arafangwen in sincere hopefulness.

[*Varda*]

“Cami!” Poppy smiled warmly, while helping her prise off the lid, as she wrinkled up her nose at the smell of the snakpaks. “How are you? What’s this about an escort?"

"Ah, Maura doesn't feel it's safe," Cami shrugged. "Never mind, I think I have it sorted."

A few more minutes of fighting the lid with the crowbars, and it came flying off, the smell of the orcs' snakpaks even stronger.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: *Varda* ]

[Airehiriel]

Airehiriel took a seat at the table with Arafangwen and Firondoiel. She was happy to finally be with people she knew.

She surveyed the gathered group. She liked everyones clothing. She always loved going to nice events like these to see what people would wear, and her friends were nicely adorned.

She smiled at the group.
"I can't believe I tripped on my way in!"

"You tripped?" Asked Firondoiel?

"Yeah, right infront of the cameras. I think they have it all on film. You could probably assemble the pictures into a little flip book and see the whole thing recreated! What a dork!"

Arafangwen smiled, "Legolas dropped me off."
She sighed with the thought of her husband.

Airehiriel looked at her, "That was nice of him, I thought he wasn't coming."

"He was only here for minute." She smiled wistfully.

Airehiriel wished she had a husband like that. On second thought, she wished she could have any husband! She was such a clutz, most of the eligable Elves avoided her.

She sighed. ~Oh well.~ She sipped on water and listened to the conversations of her friends.

[Firondoiel]

Firondoiel got up from to table and followed Niluial. "Thank you for coming over and introducing youself. I'm sorry if we were boring to you. Where's you partner? I've seen you two on the dance floor a lot."

"He went to say hi to a friend." Niluial replied.

"Oh. Would you like to come back to our table? I'm sure we can liven things up a bit."

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Firondoiel ]

[Maegaladiel]

Free of Sunny Day, Maegaladiel sighs in releif. She grins boyishly at Sophia.

"You have saved my life!" she says. "I am eternally in you debt. I would get on the ground and kiss your shoes if I knew where they had been." She laughs and helps herself to some of the exquisite food being offered. "I'm afraid the Countess du Cianide won't stay at bay for long." She jabs over her shoulder with her thumb, pointing at the dissapointed-looking Sunny Day.

The reporter seems to perk up as Mae aknowledges her presence, but her face falls as the Uruk guard at the door asks her for her identification. After claiming that the green pen could be a hazardous weapon, the Uruk escorts Sunny Day outside.

Mae turns her attention to Sophia's handsome date. And his other 'dates'.

"Pleased to meet you all!" she says.

[Galadriel9]

Despite the obvious splendour of Arwen and Aragorn, and the excitement caused by their arrival among the other guests, the Dwarf with the Beard and the Elf who married the Dwarf with the beard were oblivious. They were in each other's arms on the dancefloor...the music wasn't slow, but they didn't care, they were dancing a slow dance anyway. They were also oblivious to the smirks and sneers that they were getting, and to the small hobbit dancing a solitary conga around them. They could've been part of a painting called "Matrimonial Bliss"...there could've been a song written about them called "Blissful in Oblivion"...there could've been a romance novel written about them called "Triumph in Adversity"...there could've been great sonnets and ballads written about them... but alack there was not, so, let us not muse on what could've been but on what there is: an elf and a dwarf, dancing slowly together and a small hobbit called Lyra doing the solitary conga around them...

[Diamond18]

“Lush? Lush, is that you?” Diamond exclaimed in wide-eyed surprise, suddenly appearing rather like an anime deer caught in the headlights of a Hummer. She made her way over to the purity-radiating white apparition, who was looking particularly fair and cold as she smiled with the utmost innocence.

The denim-clad diamond-studded Downer finally waded through the other guests to greet Lush’s arrival. “It’s amazing,” she gasped, kicking aside a scrawny looking Warg whose appearance smacked of his mother having had an illicit affair with a lemming. “The food and drinks are unending, how on Middle-earth did Mith managed to acquire it all? We should both find him and give him a kiss for his efforts.”

“Moi? Kiss an admin?” Lush laughed lightly, looking lovely in her prodigious purity. “Surely you mistake me for someone else!”

“Nonsense,” Diamond said, taking her by the arm. “Let’s find him. I also need to talk to him about his…er… questionable musical selection.”

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Diamond18 ]

[Arafangwen]

"Yes" said Arafangwen in her slightly dreamy state, "All here at this table surely do deserve a husband as good to them as mine is to me!".

"I also belive," she said, shaking her head and returning to a normal state(if you could ever call her normal),
"That you will all find your "prince charming" in due time. That's all it is, a matter of time."

She finished with another sigh as she wished she could have her husband by her side at that very moment.

[Arafangwen]

"I love that idea Firondoiel!" said Arafangwen from across the room, for it was true that things did seem to need a bit of "livening up", but she still had no middle earthly idea how to do just that....

[Helkahothion]

Anuion heared someone saying that the party was dull at the moment. What did they know? This party was already at his best. Aman was sipping her drink and glanced at the dancefloor a little. Anuion's heart skipped. He did admit he took a lot of dancing lessons when he heared about Aman going with him, but it was still scaring him to death. He would rather have to fight Pio's Wargs. Although they did not seem to give much of a threat with those nice decoratioins. Anuion sniggered at the Wargs who showed them their teeth. Anuion just smiled at them and sat himself closer to Aman, who had ran out of liquid.

"How about a little dance then?" He asked while going as red as Aman's hair.

She smiled back and waved her scarlet red hair. With an evil look on her face she grabbed Anuion's wrist, faced him very close and whispered: "Let's get it on elf boy. Let's see if you have swing."

Anuion allowed her to guide him to the dancefloor. They danced a little on the music from the band. Anuion understood why people found it a tincy bincy boring. He trew a tape to the DJ. After the song was done, the DJ inserted the tape and the flowing Mambo Nr. 5 bashed out of the boxes.
Anuion had practised hard on the steps. He grapped her on the hip and ran her arround the floor. He did not care for the others. He hardly crashed into another pare. He waved by and in the near accident he cought a glimp of Cuthalion. He waved along the floor with Aman in his footsteps. GOD! Did he love dancing.

[Niluial]

“Oh Firondoiel I would love to come join your table” Niluial replied feeling allot better.

[Firondoiel]

Firondoiel smiled and led Niluial back to their table. "Everyone, this is Niluial, and Niluial this is Arafangwen, Trippo, Ainaserkewen, Airehiriel, Gimli, and that..." She points to the retreating Phantom. "...Is The Phantom. He should be rejoining us soon. His pager went off. Though why he left it on at the party I have no idea."

Firondoiel and Niluial sit at the table. "Now," Firondoiel says, "To liven things up..."

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Firondoiel ]

[Arafangwen]

"I do belive that's Mambo # 5 I hear." said Arafangwen shaking her head in dismay.

"So Niluial, tell me a little about your self, as I don't really know anyone here that well, unless you count Gimli but he isn't even awake." she said as she pointed out the snoring and obviously drugged Gimli sitting next to a certain Trippo the hippo who was trying his hardest to look innocent, but was failing miserably.

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Sophia laughed as Maegaladiel offered to kiss her shoes. Bending down under the table she fished out one of the dainty red slippers she'd discarded earlier and held it out. "It hasn't been very many places..." she said, apologetically, as she offered it up to be kissed.

Mae laughed hysterically as she reached out and took the shoe between two of her fingers. "Oh my..." she said, looking the shoe over curiously. "it is rather clean." She went to set it down, but Fin stopped her.

"Aaah, you can't get out of it now!" he grinned wickedly and pushed the shoe toward Mae. Sophia laughed hysterically, but noted, out of the corner of her eye she saw Sunny Day creeping up on them. Suddenly she was accosted by the Uruk-guards and dragged out the door, all the while shrieking in the most undignified manner.

Mae, however was looking at the shoe Fin held up to her with slight distaste. She finally threw up her hands in mock frustration, and planted a dainty kiss on the red slipper. Sophia and company cheered. Fin had procured a second bottle of wine, and they prepared for a good toast.

[Arwen Imladris]

The door opened. In walked Arwen Imladris.

"Bartender, could I have one of those, on ice please."

Arwen sits down at a table and raises her glass.

"A Toast to the Barrow downs!"

Arwen Imladris throws her head back and tips some of the liquid down her throught.

"Ahh, that's the stuff!"

[Arwen Evenstar the Fair]

Aragorn and Arwen entered the Hall, music was playing, and everyone was eating or dancing and talking with one another, Mith came over and greeted them and moved on to welcome other guests. Arwen turned to see Frodo coming up with a wide grin on his face, Arwen tapped Aragorn and he turned around as well.
"Greetings my friend." said Aragorn.
Frodo gave a bow. "Greetings."

[The Squatter of Amon Rûdh]

Outside, behind the cordons, the swarming masses were calming down. The security Uruks were beginning to relax slightly, and liveried guards were considering the now rather stained carpet and asking one another whose fault this would be come the morning. Reporters for minor journals were pontificating wildly about events within in a desperate attempt to sound as though they had been invited there, and many of their sound crews had already gone for cigarette breaks regardless, an act of mercy to the general public that was destined to go unrewarded.

Into the midst of this maelstrom of anticlimax pulled a somewhat nondescript London black cab. From its open driver's-side window came the sound of an animated monologue:
"Like I said, Squire: 'angin's too good fer 'em. Dunno 'oo woz in charge of 'irin' 'em, but I call it a bleedin' disgrace: bloomin' Uruks on the door. It'll be Balrogs next. 'Ad one of 'em in me cab once. Filthy bleeder couldn't 'ardly get 'is wings in and then it took me a week ter clean the scorch marks off. 'Angin's too good fer 'em..."

The rear door of the unhandsome cab swung open rather hurriedly and its sole passenger handed over a few odd-looking notes, insisting that the cabbie, who was still in full swing and now complaining about Dunlendings, whom he accused against all the evidence to the contrary of wanting to steal his job, keep the rather substantial change. His thoughts at that moment were unprintable, but under his breath he was murmuring "O brave new world, That hath such people in't!"

Slamming the door behind him with a grateful sigh, the no-longer captive audience straightened the lapels of his black overcoat and tweaked a silk bow tie into a yet more geometrically perfect shape. Perching his wide-brimmed trilby at a jauntier angle and pulling his long pony-tail out from inside his coat, the Squatter of Amon Rûdh made his way past a pair of cameramen, who were arguing about which had got a better shot of that dress and round to a side entrance, where he handed a somewhat dog-eared ticket to the particularly large and brutish door-ward and was grudgingly admitted. The door-Uruk hated it when people had tickets.

Inside, the hat was removed and became a receptacle for a pair of black leather gloves and a white scarf. Removing his coat he wandered off in search of a flunky and eventually found one who didn't take him for a waiter. Tipping the man for his grudging service with a nine-shilling note, which bore the head of Edward VIII and the date 1982, he pulled his black dinner jacket so that it hung more comfortably, straightened his cummerbund and shot his cuffs. Then he made for the bar, muttering something about time zones and bloody-minded scripts.

Armed with a treble Macallan, a rather more relaxed Squatter located a seat somewhere near the middle of the audience that the cameras were ignoring and made a bee-line for it, deftly liberating a glass of champagne from a passing tray as he walked. A man may attend prestigious events for many reasons: to make career contacts; to rub shoulders with the great and the good; even simply to soak up the atmosphere. Squatter was in it for the free booze.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: The Squatter of Amon Rûdh ]

[Galadrie1]

A sleek black limousine pulled up to the red carpet. A murmur of excitement went through the crowd -- who could possibly be so fashionably uncouth to arrive so late in such a spectacular vehicle?

The door of the limo opened slightly. A three-inch heeled shoe, a perfectly groomed foot, a long, slender leg slipped gracefully to the red carpet. The crowd gasped as the remainder of the woman slid out of the vehicle. Her long, wavy, brown hair flowed flawlessly onto her tanned shoulders. Her rouged lips broke into a perfect smile as she saw the reactions to her long, blood red dress.

She glided gracefully down the carpet, managing to seem unbothered by the fact that she was seven hours late, and ignoring the reporters who were clamoring for and interview.

As she reached the doorway into the Hall, she turned and blew a kiss to her adoring fans who were screaming from the carpet. She entered and looked around. From somewhere in the crowd she heard an excited yell:

"Galad! You're here!"

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Galadrie1 ]

[Niluial]

“Hello, everyone” Niluial said trying to sound really happy.
“Now Niluial where do you come from?” Firondoiel asked with curiosity.
“Oh I come from Rivendell, well I’ve been to many places other than Rivendell but it is my home. And you? Niluial asked, but her eyes were searching the room as she spoke.

[Lush]

"Yes, the music is, *er*...Well, it's not entirely heinous. I've heard Vervet monkey calls that were much worse," Lush babbled, allowing herself to be lead by a path strewn with primroses by a very attractive-looking Diamnond (not that Diamond was unattractive on any other days, but on this particular day Diamond's extreme attractiveness could be constituted as a felony in several states).

"I must say, I'm a bit surprised by the, um, purity of your, ah, pantsuit," said Diamond as she looked Lush over more closely.

Diamond could have sworn that Lush winked at that precise moment, but it was most likely a trick of light caused by a shimmer off the disco ball reflecting off the shiny hair of the delicious wife of Legolas, whose name is too elaborate to pronounce by poor uneducated twerps such as we.

The decorous progress of the two really really really ridiculously good-looking young women was suddenly interrupted as Lush stumbled in her tracks, and sniffed the air, her eyes growing wide.

"S?" She muttered. "S?"

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Lush ]

[Firondoiel]

"I come from Mirkwood as does Arafangwen and..." Firondoiel notes how Niluial is searching the room. "Are you looking for someone?"

[Mithadan]

Mithadan stood by the bar near the entrance to the auditorium. He overheard several people asking when the awards would be presented and laughed. These people didn't know the Barrow-Downs very well. At the rate things were going, the presentation ceremony would begin sometime... he checked his watch... Monday, real time.

He snatched a glass of iced Stolichnaya from a table laden with shotglasses, crackers and caviar. He drained it, his first drink of the day, and grabbed a second to nurse for a bit. Then he grabbed a plate and filled it. All seemed well.

---------

In an alley behind the hall, an Orc stood guard in front of a service entrance. Suddenly a Hobbit appeared and aimed a rotten tomato at the Uruk. Hobbit aim being legendary for a reason, the tomato struck the Orc full in the face. With a roar, he raced off after the Hobbit.

No sooner had the Orc turned a corner than 6 figures dressed in black moved forward towards the door. Three were short and portly. The other three were tall, muscular and blonde. All were female and all were very determined. Looking about carefully, they opened the door and entered...

---------------------

Mithadan stopped by to greet Cuthalion and Maikadilwen. He complimented her striking outfit, then chatted with the two for a bit. He was about to turn away when he felt an overwhelming sensation of innocence radiating from behind him. Turning, he squinted at a nearby figure. His jaw dropped open. No, that was impossible. He sniffed at his vodka suspiciously, then drained it in a single gulp. He rubbed at his eyes, but the figure, and its aura of innocence, remained.

[Lady Alasse]

In the distance a faint spot appeared on the horizon, whatever it was, was approaching fast. Some of the Uruks strained there necks to look above as Lady Alasse arrived riding upon the Lord of the Eagles back. She slid off his back and then walked to his head.

"Thank you so much for giving me a ride." she said and then turned to walk down the hall, but was suddenly blinded by dozens of Cameras going off in her face. Blinking, and blushing at the attention she took one step forward.

She was dressed in a pure white dress that reached to the floor except in the front where it was slightly higher to show of her dainty white slippers- and to keep her from tripping on the gown.

Her waist length brown hair was swept back from her face, and her brown eyes sparkeled with delight as she walked toward the hall. in one hand she held her delicate reed flute. Maybe they would eventually turn of this racket. Oh well every thing was almost perfect.

She finally approached Mithadan.

"So sorry I'm late! something was wrong with our internet server and I couln't get online." she explained.

"thats quite all right." Mithadan replied.

Lady Alasse made her way delicatly over to the buffet. Large crowds always made her nervous. Hmm Balrog wings? yuck! she hated spicy food. Maybe just a quick lemba and a cup of cappuchino did they serve that here?

After gathering her plate of food she made her way over to the table where Frodo Baggins and Maggie where sitting.

"Excuse me, but is this seat taken she asked shyly." and when no one replied she slid into the seat.

"I hope I'm not to late" she thought nervously, "This is my first time at a Barrowdowns Birthday party!"

[Airehiriel]

Airehiriel smiles at Niluial who is searching the room.

"It's nice to meet you, Niluial, but I really must take my leave for a bit. I will be back soon everyone."

She begins to stand and realizes the heel of her shoe is on her dress. She stops mid-way up, looking rather awkward. She tries to be subtle, but the movement of trying to rearrange her feet causes her chair to fall over with a loud clack.

She gives a sheepish smile as she turns to pick up her chair.

"Sorry!" She says and then walks off before she can create another scene.

[Lush]

"Oops," said Lush, momentarily distracted from sniffing the air to try and figure out from where exactly the scent of Eau de Grumpy Bachelor was coming from, to focus in on the open-mouthed Mithadan.

"Take a picture it'll last lon...I mean, how do you do, good Sir?" Lush beamed a pure, naive, chaste, spotless, grin, hoping that he would close his mouth sooner or later, and offer her a drink.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Lush ]

[Arafangwen]

"Gimli here, well... I'm not quite sure where he's from. But I can tell you right now, that when he's asleep, is when you're happiest! I'm under the impression that Trippo here is a runnaway from a circus, but you can never be sure about these thigs..."

[Niluial]

“Well to be honest, yes I am looking for someone. I am looking for Don, my escort. He went to go talk to a friend and it has been half an hour but still he is not back. But it is fine! I am enjoying your company!” Niluial said. “Oh look at the fashion police, taking pictures at that poor dwarf. Well he doesn’t look to good does he?” Niluial said looking at a strange dwarf dressed in rags.

[Firondoiel]

Firondoiel watched Airehiriel walk away. "I'm going after her. I will return later" She told her companions and then went in search of Airehiriel.

[Salix]

As Salix walked towards the buffet table, she noticed the rather large crowd and decided to head for the strangely empty bar first. When asked for her order, she responded with a "Root beer, no ice." The barkeep was a bit miffed, but gave her the glass. Sipping her drink, she headed for a space in the crowd around the buffet table, and grabbed a piece of cake that mysteriously appeared. Looking around, she headed for an empty table in a corner. Nibbling at the cake, she couldn't help a smile. Boy was she glad that she had a substitute teacher for her last class! Then, almost choking on another mouthful, she noticed Antien, and attempted to slip into the shadows.

[HerenIstarion]

Grey-clad man yawned at the bar "well, things are not done hastily here, as usual" he thought. For the moment he considered the possibility of finding some cosy corner to sleep in, but caught the sight of six figures moving about with the corner of his eye.

"Hm, things are getting curioser and curioser. Are those part of the planned show, I wonder?

[Diamond18]

Diamond seized the awkward silence as if taking the proverbial bull moose by the antlers, and walked up to Mith. She forget the planned kiss and instead booked him with her copy of David Copperfield.

"Pink!" she exclaimed. "Of all the party music in the world, you pick a pack of pickled Pink? Explain yourself, good Sir."

[Belethfacwen]

A yellow taxicab pulled up to the red carpet, which contrary to the start of the party, was now not so congested with party-goers entering. No one took much notice of the plain-looking vehichle that pulled up.

Beleth tossed the driver a few crumpled bills from her black pocketbook before opening the door and gracefully stepping out, despite her ungainly-looking long limbs and delicate shoes she had about her feet. She tossed her deep, wine-red hair behind her shoulder, halfway hoping that that and the unaccustomed cosmetics applied to her face for this special occasion were still in place, though not caring much if they were not.

She was excited. This would finally be her chance to meet some of those seemingly godlike people who lived in this area, and behold their much talked-about beauty and intelligence. Perhaps, if her slightly shy self dared, even introduce herself to some of them?

She smiled as she made her way through the crowd, again, looking surprisingly graceful for her gangly-looking self as she dodged collisions with other party-goers, something inevitable in this crowded hall. She was eagerly looking forward to this celebration and considerably awed by the sheer spectacle of the hall itself and the people currently in it.

[Lyra Greenleaf]

Disgusted with all the boring people who wouldn't join in, Lyra stopped conga-ing and mooched back over to the bar. Hmmm- no headache, no guilt and I don't care if I act stupid. I'm getting plastered! she thought resignedly.
"Make it a biggun!" she said to the barkeep. Taking her drink she went and sat down, all alone. If I was drunker than I was I might start bursting into "All by myself..."

Now on her third drink, Lyra had a brainwave. I know! I'll have a conversation with- myself! After all, I'm now a Took, and everyone knows we're eccentric.
"So Lyra, how are you anjoying the party?"
"It's beautiful Lyra. I mean good."
Ooops, getting a little tipsy...

[Mattius]

Middle-earth's press had begun to talk amongst themselves about the magnitude of stars that had been ariving thus far at the party. Their muttering though slowly began to be drown out by a strange sound, similar to that of a dragon beating his wings.

As they looked skywards they saw a large black helicopter hovering above them and as it got closer they began to hold onto their hats and papers lest they fly off. The chopper landed on the road percfectly so that the door was in line with the red carpet. On the side of the black helicopter was written, in yellow, CHICKEN.

The gasps of the Legalos lovers went up a notch, they loved Orli but Chicken, he was simply something else! After a few moments the door clicked open and out he jumped.

Standing one foot seven inches and completely yellow bar his red head flap stood one of midddle-earths most dangerous, stunning and greatest heroes- Chicken. He wore black shades which only added to his celebrity look. Around his neck he wore a mithril collar which was attached to a leather leash which was held by his body guard and best friend Mattius who stood behind him.

As the two of them strolled in front of the fans and press Orcs dressed in doctors and nurses' uniforms began rushing in to pick up teenage girls who had fainted through the magnitude of the moment- this was Chicken after all.

Unable to speak Chicken allowed Mattius to do the talking,

"We are very happy to be here," said the spikey blond haired young man. "And Chicken loves you all!" This was followed by ear piercing screams and yet more fainting.

Chicken continued to lead Mattius down the red carpet and were greeted by the mods. When the human shook hands with Bethberry Chicken pushed his shades down his nose to take a look at the gorgeous falcon that resided on her arm. In an attempt to impress it he began to dance by doing the moon walk; it didn't seem to work.

As they approached the Orc guards they backed off slightly, Chicken was well known for killing Orcs at the drop of a hat with his bear beak. He gave them a sideways glance before Mattius unzipped his long leather jacket, an extra from The Matrix, and began to extract all of his weaponry. Five shotguns, twenty seven grenades, ten sub-machine guns and three pistols later the two of them wandered into the magnificant hall ready to meet the cream of Middle-earth.

[Hanna_Gamgee]

Hanna gets tired of dancing and heads back to the bar which is empty right now. At the bar she orders another pint of ale for herself and her 2 hobbit friends that she found. Then the three hobbits go to the baffett to get some more food. Then the three of them look around for a table near the music. When they get to the table hanna falls out of her chair and ends up on the floor. "I hope nobody else saw that." she thinks to herself. Then she gets up and sits at the table. Her friends put the mushroom pizza and ale on the table and they chat and watch the festivities.Then they start singing the hobbit drinking song rather loud:

Hey Ho to the bottle I go
To heal my heart and drown my woe
Rain may fall and wind may blow
But there still be many miles to go
Sweet is the sound of the pouring rain
And the stream that falls from hill to plain
Better than rain or rippling brook

Which annoys the elves sitting at the next table who stare at the three rather drunk hobbits.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Hanna_Gamgee ]

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Hanna_Gamgee ]

[Mithadan]

Remembering his manners (and smarting slightly from the 'take a picture' crack, as well as the booking), Mithadan smiled and greeted Lush and Diamond. "Diamond," he said. "Looking lovely as ever. Vogonwe worked out quite well as a choreographer. Thank you for the recommendation. I'll get the music changed for you."

Then he turned to her companion. "Lush," he said. "You look so..." "Lovely?" she prompted. "No. I mean yes, but you look so, uh, innocent," he stumbled. He blinked, and wondered if someone was putting him on...

Shaking his head a bit, he continued. "Ladies, the vodka bar is this way and the champagne bar is that way. All else is in the middle. What's your pleasure?"

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Mithadan ]

[Arafangwen]

"Guys, I think we're still boring." Arafangwen said with a big sigh.

"Firondoiel, do you have any ideas?" she asked her hopefully(man it's hard typing with one hand)

"Or how about you Trippo?" she asked as she looked over to see a giggling Trippo drawing on a still snoring Gimlis face.

"Trippo!" she exlaimed

"What?! What?!" said a funny looking hippo trying to hold back the constant fit of laughter he was in.

"May I join you?" she asked politely.

[Helkahothion]

Anuion was still waving along the dance floor. Aman tapped him on the shoulder and signalled for a break. Anuion stopped dancing and immediately the crowd came back. There where a lot of new people. He was delighted to see that the King and Queen had joined the fest. He went over to the bar to get some drinks, but when he got back, he saw a hobbit sitting by herself. Talking to herself. Anuion knew this Hobbit slightly. He had some conversations with it and liked the hobbit a lot.

"So Lyra, all alone as planned. Maybe Fin has a spare finger for you?" Anuion said while placing a hand on the Hobbit’s shoulder.

"Oh, don't mind me. Just getting myself drunk."

"Don't be silly. You will forget about the party when you’re boozed. Sorry I did not join in to your conga line. I saw it too late."

"It's okay. I was getting tired of the dance floor. So, here with Aman eh? I thought you where just bragging."

"No way Lyra, bless my luck, I got her for this. I am so glad. Just look at her over there. Isn't she just a perfect picture?"

"Aha, someone is developing a crush I should say!" Lyra exclaimed happily.

"Damn right I am. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a lady to attend.

[Diamond18]

Appeased by Mithadan’s unflappable politeness (not to mention the promise of a music change) Diamond smiled sweetly and said, “I think I’ll start out with a simple sample of Dr. Pepper. Shouldn’t really be imbibing alcohol this early in the day… not to say that, being under 21, I ever drink alcohol at all, of course, but… you know… Anyway, I’m glad Vogonwë has been satisfactory. If he gives you any problems I’ll straighten him out.” Diamond tapped her book and smiled. She glanced over to where Vogonwë and Pimpi were sharing a plate of Balrog wings. Or rather, Vogonwë was staring lovingly at his lovely love while she shared the Balrog wings with herself. All seemed ship-shape, and both of the forbidden half-breeds were apparently enjoying themselves.

“I wonder what Lousewort is up to…” Diamond mused, but then shook her head. The old sour-puss could take care of herself, she decided, and meandered over to the bar to get herself a drink.

[Ainaserkewen]

"Sorry about that guys. I had to step out for a minute. One of my teachers found me and I had to go back to class." Ainaserkewen said to her friends still sitting at the table.
"Plus I had to go find Reesha and tell her to hurry up with those interviews." she laughes a litte.
"She's still trying to find Mr. Underhill, oh well."
After having a bit more nectar, her foot starts to tap uncontrolably.
"Man! I'm just ichen ta dance!"

[Arafangwen]

Arafangwen stops doodling on Gimlis face when she relises that she is alone for her entire group has left her.
So, in an effort to entertain herself she draws up all her courage and walks over to Lyra and introduces herself.

"Hello, my name is Arafangwen, and I'm as bored as you look. Would you like to sit and talk with me?" she askes hopefully.

[Arafangwen]

"Ainaserkewen! Come join the only consious member of our little company!" Arafangwen called from across the room.

"Lyra, I'd like to introduce Ainaserkewen. You probably already know her though."

[Talon Stormcrow]

Out of the shadows came a horse that of royal lineage and riding it was an unfamiliar young woman. She had steely grey eyes and flowing raven hair. She is named Talon Stormcrow. Almost unrecognizable without her sword and boots she jumped down from her trusty steed in a very unlady-like fashion. She fixed her dress and paced herself down the red carpet in her black silk gown and black velvet cloak.

As she walked down a reporter asked," Hi Talon! May you grant us the pleasure of an interview?"

"Of course, well, this is my very first time to come to the anniversary! Im a bit nervous but Im expecting to have a great time!"

The reporter continued to ask questions and some Talon was very suprised at! So the reporter soon moved on to the next guest on the red carpet. Talon, making sure she doesnt trip and smiling for the cameras, finally came to the end of the carpet. The huge doors of the Grand Hall in Minas Anor swung open and she took a deep breath and ventured through.

[The Squatter of Amon Rûdh]

Squatter eyed the empty glasses ruefully. Good whisky never seemed to last long enough, and champagne was always a poor substitute. Rising, he deposited his two glasses on another tray, pausing for a moment to note the convenience of its bearer's timing, and made his way back to the bar. Unless he stood there, he reflected, the chances were that someone else with a taste for the water of life might beat him to it and guzzle the lot. Briefly he considered the prospect of watching a live awards ceremony sober and shuddered. "Same again, please," he said briskly. "And could you re-fill the glass if you see it empty? Thanks." A large note and a large glass of whisky changed hands, and Squatter breathed in the heady aroma. This was good stuff: he really ought to congratulate Mithadan on finding it once the Grey Man had finished chatting up the ladies.

And small wonder, he mused as he looked more closely at Number Four's companions and recognition slowly dawned. Some people, he reflected, might be born to run up bar tabs, but others were meant to dress for these events and he could see the poor fellow's reasoning. "What ho, L old thing!" he drawled in Wodehousean tones. "What ho, Diamond! I say, Mith, old boy: are you hogging all the decent girls over there? Excellent scotch, by the way."

Toasting the three figures in jocular fashion, Squatter took another sip of the single malt. The evening was shaping up to be rather fun.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: The Squatter of Amon Rûdh ]

[Ainaserkewen]

"Oh I've found you at last!" said Reesha, running up to her next interview.
"I'm here again folks with Arafangwen,
How did you chose that name?"

"My name is that of my birth name produced through the Name Generator here at our very own Barrow Downs!
"I believe that's how Ainaserkewen found hers too. And what is your favorite forum here?"

"I would have to say that my favorite forum here in the Barrow Downs is Middle Earth Mayhem, as it is the one where you can relax and not really worry about having 10,000 facts correct. It's mostly just plain fun, while also informative to an extent."
"My favorite, who's your favorite administrator?"
"I would have to say that the Barrow Wight is my favorite. I have not had a chance to really get to know any of them but from what I have seen he is the nicest."
"What's your favorite thing about the downs?"
"Obviously I love the fact that the Barrow Downs are a Tolkien based site! Also the refrences and all around programing are of excellent quality in my mind's eye(no pun intended)."
"And finally, what's your favorite thing about tolkiens books/movies?"
"My favorite thing about Tolkiens books are the relations from his characters to the ones in the Bible, and the way that he relates the entire story to Revelations and such."
"Thank you very much for your time."
"Thanx for the opportunity to do this!"
"More coming up, stay tuned!"
Reesha walks away.

[HerenIstarion]

"Why do all of this people keep calling this wonderful rabbit stew 'balrog wings'? Must be kind of a code, I s'ppose, as nobody expects real blood in Bloody Mary"

thought HerenIstarion still eyeing the grouped six.

"Must be some surprise for the ceremony. But what kind of?"

H-I yawned again. It's been a hard day, what with all this time zone differences. Desirable cosy corner was just around the bar, and attracted equal amounts of mental energy

"how long till the award giving? There must be a good sleeping on that sofa down there. Do not I want to be fresh at the time?"

Six were whispering, huddled together

"These gels are playing on my nerves. Call the Uruks? What for, they are dumb, and if it were to be a false alarm, I'll be called a fool myself. Still more never liked doing the thing, be it Uruks or Citywatch"

H-I yawned again

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: HerenIstarion ]

[Niluial]

“Bartender vodka (I don’t care if you don’t get vodka in middle-earth. Well now we do!) please! And just keep bringing it on… till my date comes back from wherever he is” Niluial said. Looking around for Don or Fin..

[Ainaserkewen]

Ainaserkewen gets up and walks over to where Arafangwen is waving at her.
"She's introducing me to someone." she thought to her herself.
Then, she noticed someone in the crowd, he is tall, blond and dreamy beyond belief and is talking with Reesha!!!
Ainaserkewen wants to go and meet him but she feels compelled to stay and meet this new person. All day, people have been coming and going, joining her, leaving her, it's become very confusing.
And she still wanted to dance.
Then that someone come's over.
"Hi, I'm Ainaserkewen. I'm a friend of Arafangwen." with her eyes still on the dreamy elf in the corner.

[Arafangwen]

"Well that was fun!" said Arafangwen as she asked the nearby waiter for a bottle of rootbeer.

"Ainaserkewen, I do belive you have not told me yet how I can find out more about this magazine your friend works for. Now what of it can you say?" she asked in a playfully scolding tone as she noticed the elf that Ainaserkewen was eyeing.

"Ainaserkewen, I do belive we have ourselves another person we need to be aquainted with." nods her head in the direction Ainaserkewen was previously engaged.

"How about it?" she asked with a hint of fun in her voice.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Arafangwen ]

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

It was a bit more than 8 hours after the party had started, and Menelien woke with a start to find that she had fallen asleep applying her make-up in the wee hours of the morning. After pinching herself to check whether she was awake or not, and groaning with displeasure upon finding that she was (to make herself feel better), she got heavily out of bed, stubbed her toe immediately, applied the rest of her make-up, and headed for the car.
* * *
15 minutes or so later, the (mostly drunk) party-ers were startled by a loud honk and the sound of a soft feminine elvish voice cussing with vehemence. Those still able to stand and walk witnessed a very annoyed Menelien stumbling out of the wreckage of her (once) nice BMW, having been in something of a hurry and crashed it into a wall of the building. Her cheeks burning furiously, Menelien hoped she wasn't the only extremely clumsy elf present as she hurried off to try and find her friends, leaving the problem of the car in the way to the Moderators, and hoping there weren't too many Uruks chasing her...yet.

[dragoneyes]

Thoriel was sitting at her table enjoying the goings on around her but not partaking in them very much. She sipped a little more from her glass of wine, how many she'd had already she'd promised herself she wouldn't count. She tapped her hand on the table in time with the rhythm of the music though in her not-quite-sober state she was singing the completely wrong tune. It was almost an improvement.

She gazed round at the rest of the hall, how was anyone supposed to dance in this crowd? Someone could bulldoze their way through she supposed. Fin tapped her on the shoulder and she turned to look at him.

"Yes?" She asked, quite forgetting her manners.

"I was just wondering if you would care for a dance my lady?" Said Fin, ignoring Thoriel's brusqueness.

"Why of course!" replied Thoriel as Fin took her by the hand and stood her up. It took Thoriel a little while to find her feet, she hadn't stood up since she first arrived and had a touch of pins and needles. A good fast dance should put an end to that! she thought.

[alaklondewen]

Her heart racing, Alaklondewen waited her turn to enter the Barrow Downs Anniversary Party. This was her first party of this caliber, and her only wish was to not make a fool of herself in from of the cameras.

Her long silver limo, finally, pulled up to the red carpet. She could already see lights flashing, and a sense of anticipation hung in the air. Her driver opened the door and offered his hand. "Here you go, Miss Alak."

"Thank you, Bergildur." She put her hand in his and stepped out of the vehicle. She was immediately overwhelmed by the lights, people, and music. She straightened her sleeveless gown. It was the color of midnight with delicate embroidery around the bottom of the straight skirt. Her long, dark-brown hair was pinned up over her pointed ears. Several pearls were placed throughout her hair, so that she looked like a clear night sky.

She paused for the cameras and was bombarded by shouts of, "Madame Elf! Over Here!", "Alak, we love you!", and "Alaklondewen, may we have a few words?" It was enough to make an Elf dizzy.

She headed toward the entrance to the Great Hall.

-----------------------------------------
"Joan, what do think of Alaklondewen's gown?" Cathy Lee asked enthusiastically.

"Well, Cathy Lee, it couldn't be more divine if Galadriel herself had made it."

[Arafangwen]

"Menelien! How nice of you to finaly join us! I'm sorry to say that your "escort" seems to have been drugged by a certain hippo, but you may join us in introducing ourselves to that elf over there if you would like." nods her head in the direction in which Ainaserkewen is still staring.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Arafangwen ]

[Annunfuiniel]

A word so familiar and dear drifted to Annun's ears: someone was talking about vodka! She turned around to face her soon-to-become new best friend and saw Mithadan who was just about to lead Lush and Diamond to get some drinks. She quickly excused herself and rushed after those aforementioned three in rather unladylike manner.

"Vodka? Did you say vodka?" She almost yelled and managed to get some slow looks. Mithadan turned to see who on earth was shrieking behind him and Annun almost barged into him. "Please add there the word Finlandia and I shall do anything for you!" Mithadan's eyebrow rose as he didn't quite know how he should take this sudden "attack".

Annun finally remembered her manners and introduced herself. "I'm so sorry, I got perhaps a bit carried away. We haven't really met earlier but my name is Annunfuiniel and your name is quite familiar to me, Mithadan. Great party you and the other mods have organised; thousand thanks!" Lush stood behind Mithadan but the radiance of her innocent whiteness seemed to glow through him; Annun was sure she was greatly disapproving her behaviour. And if it could have been possible Annun would have guessed that Diamond had been startled into speechlessness by her irruption. She fell into silence before these powerful, (innocent) and quick-witted characters...

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Annunfuiniel ]

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Mr. And Mrs. Bracegirdle arrive at the birthday party with gifts in hand. Hilde looks uncertain as she sees the elite posing for paparazzi stationed on the oh so very red carpet.

“Isn’t there a side door to this place?” she muttered eying the remains of a port a potty. Looks like things are already out of hand.

“Still we had better check it out. You don’t see this type of spectacle none too often and at any rate it is sure to prove an interesting time.” was Mr. B.’s reply.

Skirting the crowd, and a group of hobbits carrying shoves, rakes and hoes in a rather menacing manner, the couple gained entrance. Out of habit Hilde began looking around for a designated gift table, and Mr. B. wandered off to inspect the kitchen via the bar. It was a familiar routine, but the crowd was anything but ordinary. After locating a place to put her packages, Hilde positioned herself at the fringe of the stellar entourage, and wondered absently if see could nip out and walk around the city walls a bit before her husband returned. “Let see, if I hurry I could fit about 2 more miles before I lose the light.” She began to visualize the city and it’s sites…sunset on the wall….

She came back to reality as someone carrying a rather large helping of barbequed dragon crossed her line of vision. “Now there’s a rather perverse dish! Maybe I’ll just peek at the buffet table first.”

[Ainaserkewen]

"Uh, what? Who? Oh, um, the magazine right." Ainaserkewen snapped back to attention. Hoping that she would forget about that elf.
"Reesha is waiting for me, if I become a moderator, then we can run this online mag, Action in Arda, about the news and events that go one here, plus some gossip and jokes as well." she said quickly, hoping that was satifatory for Arafangwen.
"Oh, I saw your interview, very cool."
"Thanks, pretty standard questions though, I thought." Aranfangwen said.
"Yah, I think they where mostly the same questions for everyone, except the barrow weight. Look, she's still trying to find him." She watched Reesha walk away from the handsome elf and up to someone who resembled the barrow weight, then she turned away, embarrased.
Ainaserkewen laughed a little.
"Now, about that elf you were eying." Arafangwen said.
"What elf?" Ainaserkewen tried to sound confused.
"That one, over there, the good looking one, the one you've been staring at."
"Arafangwen, I don't have a clue who that is, it wouldn't be polite."
"Maybe not, we'll see."

[Firondoiel]

Firondoiel walked all over the Grand Hall searching for Airehiriel but couldn't find her. Firondoiel now wandered towards the back of the building. Up ahead she saw the service entrance. "Well I doubt Airehiriel came back here" Firondoiel thought aloud. She turned to head back to the party when she heard a noise. When she turned around she found herself face to face with six females in black. Firondoiel opened her mouth to ask their identity when the tallest female seized her arm. Firondoiel tried to jerk away but couldn't break the strong grip. "Don't struggle!" Ordered the female. Firondoiel gave a piercing scream that was abruptly cut off and left hanging in the air.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Firondoiel ]

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Sophia whirled around as she heard a frantic voice shouting VODKA! She looked, and surely enough, it was Annun, looking half crazed and begging Mithadan for something strong to drink. Guilty, perhaps? Sophia giggled. However, with Fin on the dance floor she thought it was an ideal time to go collect the remains of her brown powder from Annun. can't let that stuff get into the wrong hands. Sophia thought to herself.

Leaving Mae to her own devices for one moment she got up and shook the wrinkles out of her full skirt. "Annun!" she called across the floor. The woman's eyes rested on her face for a moment before returning to her petition. The others standing around failed to notice her in the shocked silence however. Sophia sighed heavily, she'd have to go retrieve it she supposed.

She approached the group hesitantly, slightly worried that Lush's extreme radience would burn if she got too close. However the temperature remained constant and she reached for Annunfuiniel's hand. Annun looked at her with slight annoyance, and Sophia wondered if she hadn't been unwise to come between an elf and her vodka. But then she smiled, hearing Sophia's request, and handed back the silver case, saying simply. "Ah, you're so good with herbs Sophia!"

[Mithadan]

Mithadan smiled tolerantly. "We have Stoli, Gray Goose and Finlandia. Follow me." When he reached the caviar table, he handed Annun a Finlandia and Lush a Stoli. After clinking glasses with all and sundry (Squatter being the sundry) he murmured into his microphone.

A few moments later, the music changed from 21st century pop to something a bit edgier. After the guitar intro, Joe Strummer screamed about the Number 8 Bus and Mick Jones began singing "Rudie Can't Fail."

[HerenIstarion]

Six misterious figures dissolved into the crowd

"oh, c'mon" thought H-I "I'm not in the wild any more, am I? It's supposed to be highly secured Award Ceremony. Why do I try to find something suspicious everywhere? Even banisters I don't trust, and what have those six done to me? And me being tired already"

He drank the last of his beer, left the glass on the bar and slided to the sofa.

"let us have some rest before the real fun begins"

the slightly self-mocking thoughts spinned lazily in the back of his mind

"hah, making so much buzz of it..."

He closed his eyes

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: HerenIstarion ]

[Diamond18]

Diamond surreptitiously spiked her Dr. Pepper with a smidgen of Scotch. She had no idea if Scotch went well with Dr. Pepper, but she decided to take advantage of the abundance of alcohol before Squatter drank the place dry.

She gave a cheery wave to the black-suited man in question. “Cheerio,” she said, to match the cheery wave, noting with interest a waiter who passed by, bearing a towering cake bedecked with cherries. She cheekily plucked one cheery cherry from off the cake and popped it into her mouth.

“You’re looking dashing, Decay,” she declared. “Definitely a dapper definition of swank styling.”

Then she turned back to Annun and said, redundantly, “Cheerio to you, Annun! You indeed rendered me momentarily speechless with your vivaciously vigorous love of Vodka. By the by, do you like cherries, too?”

[Arafangwen]

"I say we go over and introduce ourselves, if Menelien will ever reach us over here.... I wonder if she heard me at all. And do you have any idea where Findoroiel is? I'm about to be worried for her." she searched worriedly through the growing crowd for any site of Menelien of Findoroiel.

[Mattius]

Mattius and Chicken looked about with intent to drink. A large Uruk-hai approached Mattius,

"Take your coat guv'nor?"

Mattius handed him the leather jacket revealing his Rage Against the Machine T-shirt. Chicken took a look at him and sighed.

"Oh you can talk, your walking about nude except for those shades."

With that Chicken clipped off the glasses, folded them and placed them carefully in the seam of his yellow feathers. With his right wing he pointed to his collar. Mattius sighed at playing servant and untied his leash all the while Chicken pointed his nose/beak up in the air.

Mattius folded the leash and popped it into the pocket of his baggy jeans. Baggy, thank Eru Mattius had read up on What To Wear only two days prior.

Chicken must have still been seething at the nude comment as he walked off totally blanking Mattius. Fine, thought the young man, be that way you little McNugget. Chicken had made his way over to The Phantom who busilly taked away on a cell phone. The two had never met but Chicken had decided that the two, being as high and mighty as they each were, should.

Mattius stood around and searched for someone as lonesome and boarderline alcoholic as himself. Sat in the middle of the bar was a strange looking man knocking back drink like a production line.

Squatter... he thought to himself, making his way over to man taking full advantage of the free bar.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Mattius ]

[Ainaserkewen]

"Ah, I've found Airehiriel, and I, Reesha am ready for my next interview, let's get started. How did you chose your name?"
"I tried a lot of different combinations of my real name in the name generator for an elvish name, and didn't like any of them. So I tried putting in things that came into my mind. White Elf was one of them. It sounded elegant to me, and I liked Airehiriel, so I kept that...I seem to have strayed from being very elegant though, oh well."
"What is your favorite forum on the BDs?"
"That would definately have to be Middle Earth Mayhem!"

"Who is your favorite Administrator/Moderator?"
"Hmm, that could range on being a dangerous question to answer...I think I will say 'No comment' for that one! Playing it safe, you know."

"What is your favorite thing about the BD?"
"That there are so many like minded people in the world, and we can all congregrate in the same place and share our thoughts and feelings, even if some of us do get a bit silly sometimes. I also really love to laugh, and this place really fits the bill!"

"What do you like most about Tolkien's books/movies?"
"I think it would be difficult to summerize why I love them both. I have always loved fantasy stories that would draw me into the world and keep me interested. I enjoy loving the characters and following their adventures. His books are filled with wonderful images, and the best thing about it all, in my opinion, is that there is no sex and swearing, and it doesn't need these things to be good! (Of course, I don't think any book or movie needs those things to be good, but Hollywood apparently has a diffenet opinion.)

I love the movies for basically the same reasons, but I really enjoy being able to see the fantasy come to life."
"Thanks for your time, enjoy the party."

"Thanks for the interview! I enjoyed it."

[the real findorfin]

Fin pulled Thoriel up to the dance floor. She seemed slightly unsteady, but who was he to judge, he had already had two bottles of wine!

They began to dance and Fin judged that they were doing alright, but he couldn't understand why the other dancers were going all over the place, what was the matter with them.
"Why, I never knew you could dance so well," Fin exclaimed to Thoriel.
"Don't you ever stop," she mocked, "you've already got me here, you dont have to try."
"Try...?" Fin said confused, "my dear Thoriel. I have never had to try at it, nor would I stop even if every women in the world were at my call."

They continued to dance (Eru, wasn't everyone around them awful), and when the music finished he escorted Thoriel back to the table and poured her another glass of wine. "Alatariel?" he beckoned.
"Give me a minute," she replied unsteadily.
Fin smiled, and turning, noticed Niluial strangely alone on one side of the room. He turned and saw Don also alone.
"Playing matchmaker again I see," he muttered, "Alatariel my dear, I'll be back in a second." The slightly tipsy elf-maiden nodded and giggled.

Fin moved away quickly and called Niliual over. When she was beside him he took hold of her arm and escorted her to Don, "my friend, when you loose your sword do I complain....no. But Niluial, tut tut." Fin laughed as Don's face took on a sour expression, before cracking into a smile. He pushed the couple together and returned to the table. After swigging another large amount of wine, he tok Alatariel's hand and escorted her to the floor.

[Ainaserkewen]

"No, no, I don't think so." Ainaserkewen said to Aranfangwen, still looking at that elf.
"Not unless you know him."
"I don't think so, but lets ask around, we'll find someone to introduce him. What about Reesha? She was talking to him."
"Yah, but she probably was asking him for directions to Mr. Underhill. Probably doesn't know his name." She sighed, would she ever meet this guy.

[Niluial]

Niluial was on her 5th shot of vodka! Someone tapped on her shoulder! “Ahh Don.. finally you arrived!” Niluial said with relief.
“Umm Nil… are you a little tipsy..?”
“Me tipsy, oh never! I only had one, four, two, three.. well I had some vodka”
“Hmm it would be a good idea for you to go to the bathroom and freshen up and drink tons of water, what do you say?”
“Ok but join me for a shot of vodka!”
“I don’t think so, now Nil the awards are coming later.”
“Oh ok, I’ll go. Now don’t go anywhere” Niluial said walking of.

Ten minutes she was back looking, kind of sober! “That’s better!” Don said. “Yes I feel way better” Niluial said acting normal again. “Come I want to dance!”
She took Don’s hand and they danced. Niluial like putting her head on Donlammenion shoulder, it was warm and comforting.

As they danced Niluial thought about her eventful evening. She liked Donlammenion he was sweet and romantic. “I am enjoying myself Don, thank you for taking me” Niluial said dreamily. “Oh well its my pleasure but the night is still young and there is lots to do!” Donlammenion exclaimed. “hmm your right” Niluial said still in a trance. Donlammenion liked Niluial, he liked fun, wild, sensitive, beautiful girls.

[Durelin]

Rytien had been done eating for a long while, spending most of her time standing by the wall watching as people arrived. Then she saw Lyra pass by her in a strange conga line. She rushed over to tap on her shoulder.

"Hello Lyra! Glad you came, as if you'd miss this," she said gesturing to take in the large, colorful hall. "Did you hear about my new sword? The Heron Mark blade? Too bad those mangy 'security' orcs to it away." Rytien sneered in disgust.

"Well, anyway, I see you're enjoying yourself already!" Rytien grinned, looking around at the milling guests the remnants of Lyra's conga line. "Oh, you know, you should try some dragon steak. It really is exqusite!"

[Diamond18]

Diamond caught sight of Mattius approaching the bar. A sly smile spread slowly over her face, and she said, "Matt! Did I miss Chicken? Ah, well, I'd been looking forward to having a dance with the skinny poultry, but I do recall speculating on your own dancing abilities. Perhaps today we'll find out?"

[Arafangwen]

Arafangwen giggled, This is proving to be fun after all, she thought to herself as she looked over to make sure that the dwarven fellow was still asleep at thier table.

"Ainaserkewen, do stop putting yourself down! You're a quite lovely woman if I do say so my self, I'm almost envyous. You have nothing to be emberassed about. Now come, let's ask Reesha what she knows."
Arafangwen said as she dragged Ainaserkewen over to where Reesha stood to ask a few questions...

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Arafangwen ]

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Sophia trailed the others over to the bar. She stood beside Annunfuiniel and took a glass of whatever she was drinking and swallowed it resolutely in one gulp. All this party and no dancing at all?! Now this was what simply wouldn't do.

She saw Alatariel and Fin leaving the dance floor laughing hysterically. Fin was a little unsteady on his feet, but what was that? She grinned, and despite Annun's call to her to stay, she deposited her empty class on the table and hurried over to where Fin was about to sit back down.

She touched his arm and said, "Not so fast..."

He smiled his flirty grin at her and asked smoothly, "What can I do for you, Sophia?"

"It's my turn," she said sweetly as she practically dragged him out to the dance floor. As they began to dance Sophia realized for the first time that she'd had a bit too much to drink, but who cared? The floor was supposed to spin, she was dancing! When they returned to the table she was dizzy and feeling much better about life. She flopped down into her seat beside Maegaladiel and wondered where Fin was off to with that mischievous look on his face.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Sophia the Thunder Mistress ]

[the real findorfin]

As they sat, Fin ran across to the bar and whispered hurriedly with one of the waiters. He soon returned and after a couple of minutes nodded at the waiter who was stood, waiting for the signal. The man, moved quickly, producing a large tray from behind the bar with an endless amount of whisky shots. He put the tray down on the table and Fin thanked him, slipping him a few gold coins.

The elf lord quickly placed the shot glasses in four rows in front of him, Thoriel, Sophia and Alatariel. "Now we can really drink," he exclaimed, "on three, two, one."

The four of them downed shot after shot. Fin noticed, as he quickly gulped down the strong dwarvish whisky, that Alatariel was quickly fading. "Of dear," he thought and slammed down the final glass.
"Yes!" he cried, before recovering his dignity. Sophia and Thoriel finshed mere seconds later and Fin, declared it a draw. Alatariel finished a few seconda after, her eyes now very glazed.

"Um," Fin said, "Perhaps we should give the drink a rest Alatariel."
"mmmm," came the reply.

Fin quickly rose and managed to get a glass of water from the bar. He returned and Alatariel slowly swallowed it down.

"What next?" Fin asked Thoriel and Sophia, as he propped his drunken escort up.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: the real findorfin ]

[Ainaserkewen]

Ainserkewen did go over to Reesha with Arafangwen, but didn't ask questions.
"It's time to go Reesha."
"What, I just got started, boy, this will be my big break."
"Go?" Asked Arafangwen.
"Yah, I'm afraid I can't stay out all night. I'm tired, and I have homework. Like predicting the kings downfall. Thank you for your help and your compliments, but I will be back, early tomorrow, then you and I will descover the mystery name of this elf."
"What elf?" Reesha asked.
"Nothing!" They said together.
Reesha made a face at them, and walked over to where she left her coat.
"Why do you need to take Reesha with you?" Asked Arafangwen.
"I don't, but we're going over interviews tonight. Thank you again."
Ainaserkewen slipped out the back where blues eyes white dragon was waiting for her. A small tear rolled down her cheek as she flew away.

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

“Menelien! How nice of you to finally join us! I'm sorry to say that your "escort" seems to have been drugged by a certain hippo, but you may join us in introducing ourselves to that elf over there if you would like.” “Errm.” Said Menelien, looking over at Gimli, whose face looked suspiciously as if somebody had colored on it, who was snoring away peacefully with his head on the table. Trippo the Hippo was next to him, giggling insanely, leading Menelien to the idea that perhaps he had overdone it on the beer. “I’ll be just fine, thanks.” she went on, not looking at the good looking elf, not trusting herself to stand without tripping immediately. “I’ll just sit here with a drink, say hi to some friends…” Menelien realized that she was sitting alone by this time, as the girls had all left to swoon over the elf (no offense meant, I’m just kidding you guys), and Gimli having slipped to a new position under the table. Menelien looked around the room, trying to find somebody she knew. She waved a hi to Sophia and giggled at the sight of some tipsy dwarves singing Ricky Martin, revolting though it may seem. Suddenly, her eye caught something else. Someone she knew only slightly, Finrondioel, behaving rather queerly. Her eyes seemed to bulge out slightly as she stared at somethings, then somebody pulled her down. Hmm… party pranks are always fun to watch. thought Menelien, managing to walk over to the spot without knocking anything down, for once. What the hell? thought Menelien. She heard a scream and decided that it wasn't a prank and that it was time to do something... but just here her usual clumsiness saught up with her and she fell forward with a crash.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: GaladrieloftheOlden ]

[Niluial]

Niluial and Donlammenion danced moving closer every second. “I wonder when the awards will happen?” Niluial asked. “I don’t really know” Don said. Niluial looked deeply in Donlammenion eyes still in a weird trance. “You seem to be in awe of something Nil” Donlammenion asked with a amused face. “I am just in awe of you and life, oh and the party!” Niluial said “Oh and just letting you know just before we leave I will get really tipsy, would you like to join” she whipserd. “Well I would love to but the end is still far away! Stop thinking about the end of the wonderful evening and start thinking about what a wonderful eveing still awaits us my beautiful lady!” Donlammenion said.

[Antien]

Antien skillfully strides to the bar with a confident air and said "cherry wine, please." The bartender looks at her suspiciosly. "arn't you a bit YOUNG to have alcohol?" he asks, wondering how many times she had got away with drinking alcohol."No." she replied, though she knew she wasn't going to get ANYTHING to drink here. "But I'm driving. I probobly shouldn't have wine anyway."

Antien walks to the middle of the hall and screams "Do the wave for Boromir, the disco king!" And with that, the mirror ball starts rotating and disco music comes on. During the innteruption, she spikes the punch and gets a cup for herself.

When the disco music and the mirror ball are turned off, some people wonder how Antien rigged the mirror ball...

Others wonder why the punch tastes more like cherry and alcohol...

[The Squatter of Amon Rûdh]

"Why, thank you, old thing: you're looking pretty nice yourself."

Squatter put down his fourth whisky and smiled urbanely, effortlessly glossing over his somewhat rosy complexion. He hailed Diamond, with the cheery bonhomie of someone whose drinks are being bought by someone else, as indeed he was greeting anyone who happened to throw a couple of words his way. "Not sure exactly what this evening's about, old girl; but the bar's top-notch," he added helpfully.

Suddenly the hirsuit hedon's eye was drawn to an outlandish figure striding fowlly across the room. "I say," he remarked. "Is that a huge yellow chicken?" He looked at his glass suspiciously and put it down. "Knew it was too good to be true," he muttered.

[Lush]

Lush was slightly worried that the appearance of vodka might put turn her cheeks from the colour of innocence to the colour of experience, but hearing S refer to her as "decent" restored her confidence in purity, chastity, decency, and other lofty words that end in "y."

Warmed by either Mithadan's politeness (which was so smooth, it could practically serve as a slip 'n slide) or the alcohol, Lush threw back another "stopka" and made eyes at Squatter's manly charm, impressed with the fact that he managed to get the cuff-links from the pawnbroker, as intended.

She also wondered whether she was still supposed to kiss anyone (a major threat to her innocence no doubt!), as decreed by Diamond-the-wise-and-too-attractive-for-her-own-good, but decided to decide that after another shot.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Lush ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Cami grinned sheepishly back at Poppy as a large scaly head with whirling eyes of gold slowly emerged from the corner of the box. The beast fixed one jaundiced eye on Cami and the other on her friend, snorting in disgust as a large cloud of smoke ascended to the ceiling.

With immaculate disdain, the wyrm extended her razar-sharp talon and mused, "I should have known you were the one who called me here." Angara wrinkled her nose with distaste as she surveyed the entire gathering , then asked, "And where is Piosenniel?"

Cami sputtered out an answer. "Her keyboard is broken. She can't be here. I think one of the wargs who was with her must have sat on it."

Wargs? Angara cocked one wing in a threatening pose and growled softly under her breath. Since when did the fair Elf hang out with wargs? Bad company indeed. It could only be the influence of Mithadan.

"And where, pray tell, amidst all this circus, is Mithadan hiding?"

"Oh, Angara, he's not hiding. Mithadan is in charge of this whole show. He arranged the entire party."

The dragon drew back abruptly and let out a single roar of laughter tinged with jagged flame, "I might have known! He's the only one who would come up with something as diabolical as this."

[Lyra Greenleaf]

"OOps" Lyra nearly fell over. She wasn't entirely sure why she was walking around. Surely it would have made more sense to sit down when her head was pounding so? Eagerly looking around she found a chair. Just Hobbit sized, oh good.

Strange people came up to talk to her. Anuion, staring round eyed at his date, Aman talked to her. He's paying close attention to his grammar she thought with a smile. She was about to compliment him when she realised he'd already stopped posting and wandered off. Back to the beautiful Aman, no doubt. Next were a pair of Elves, at least she thought they were- her vision was blurring a little by then. They talked for a while before wandering off Elf stalking.

"Hello Lyra! Glad you came, as if you'd miss this," Lyra turned to face a strange woman. All the others paled in comparison. She was just not Tolkien! "Did you hear about my new sword? The Heron Mark blade? Too bad those mangy 'security' orcs to it away."

A name swam into Lyra's head, shaking she cleared it. That can't be right! All the signs of tipsyness had vanished. It was very odd, but then this was a completely freeplaying party.
"Rytien?" she asked. "You know how we feel about swords"
Lyra shook her head again. Maybe the effects hadn't gone as much as she thought. Where had that come from? And why did she suddenly feel the urge to dance? As she stood to the strains of the macarena, she thought that perhaps this was not what she had meant by dancing. Still, she was a Hobbit from the Shire, and she wanted to macarena!
"Care to dance, Treekiller?"

[Arafangwen]

Arafangwen reluctently waved goodbye to Ainaserkewen and relised that all of her group had left her to despair on her own, then out of the corner of her eye she spotted Menelien at thier table. So with delight she ran back to speak to her and avoid extreme boredom.

"Menelien, what's wrong?!" she asked as the girl seemed alarmed and then in her haste to get up tripped over herself.

[Annunfuiniel]

"Umm...what? Cherries? Why of course. Though I prefer cranberries with my vodka." Annun met Diamond's query hastily in between two gulps. The bitter sweet taste of the draught calmed her nerves and she was able to think straight again. Or maybe that wasn't quite accurate utterance as she couldn't count anymore the drinks she had taken... Sophia had followed her to the table for a drink but soon left for a dance. "Come back soon, we have lots of catching up to do!" Annun called to her back.

Diamond's diamonds suddenly caught her eye - one more mark she wasn't at her sharpest for she had not noted those extraordinary gems earlier. "Dashy necklace you wear if I may say so. Surely those diamonds must come straight from the Mines of Moria corp. Do you happen to have some connections to that direction?"

Annun wasn't quite sure if Diamond had heard her question for she had been changing words with Mattius. "A Chicken? Ok, enough vodka for me, thank you!" She said and left the half-ful (or half-empty, depending on her mood) glass drop to the table.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Annunfuiniel ]

[Diamond18]

Diamond leaned against the bar and basked in her own deadly attractiveness. "Oh, 'tender," she said, setting her empty glass on the shiny mahogany surface of the bar, “be a dear and make me up another Vodka spiked with Dr. Pepper, would you?”

She tapped her fingers on the bar and mused to herself, “It’s taking Mattius a dreadful long time to get over here.” She looked up to see him busily signing autographs on Barbie-doll posters, which were being flung in his face by countless female admirers. “Aha,” she nodded to herself. “Popularity waits for no Brit.”

She turned to Lush and remarked, “If you kiss Squatter, I’ll kiss Mith, agreed?”

[Mattius]

Mattius placed a hand on Squatter's shoulder and took a seat next to him.

"I think drinking may be affecting your eyesight chum, hes no giant, although he is a yellow chicken, his name is Chicken and I am his comrade althogh sometimes I'd just like to grap the little runt's throat and..." Mattius' rambling stopped when he saw Diamond and Squatter's nervous stares. "Never mind..."

"Indeed," said Squatter intensely pointing at his empty glass whilst eye balling the waiter. Mattius looked up at Diamond, at last ready to answer her question.

"You may see me dance tonight, or this week depending how long this shin-dig lasts, but not before a few sly ones." He tugged on a waiter and whispered his order to him. The man in the penguin suit went off down the bar.

******

Chicken was still mad at Mattius and getting madder, The Phantom still had not finished on the phone. Chicken stood tapping his foot and looking at an invisble watch on his left wing- the non-political kind.

******

The waiter approached Mattius,

"Dom Perigon '54 sir, in a pint mug as requested..."

Mattius thanked him joyfully and began to gulp the fine drink down, with at least a quater of it drolling southward down his chin. A few moments later when all the light yellow liqued had gone he placed the pint mug upside down on his head and turned to Squatter,

"Good year..."

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

Menelien was not able to instantly answer Arafangwen's question, as a. she had had some beer (a young teenager! *gasp*), and was feeling a bit tipsy b. she was currently lying on the floor covered in broken glass and wood, but luckily, no food or liquid.

[Eruanna]

Eruanna could hear the pounding of the music over the roar of the bike's engine, as she braked gently and glided over to the kerbside. Engaging the kickstand she dismounted, then reached up to remove her motorcycle helmet. Fluffing up the hair around her elven ears, she thought ruefully,that perhaps the biker leathers had been a mistake.

The sound of laboured breathing and the pungent, unmistakeable odour of Uruk assailed her nostrils. She turned and scowled at the one that approached her.

"Gotcher invite?" he growled. "Can't letya in wivout yer invite!"

Sighing, she dipped her hand into the deep pocket of her leather jacket. Finding the precious invitation at last, she waved the small, gold embossed, green vellum rectangle triumphantly under its nose.

The Uruk, finally satisfied of her right to be there, waved her onto the slightly grubby red carpet. Excitement and terror fought for first place, as she licked her lips nervously. This was her first Barrow Downs Party and she really hoped that it wouldn't be her last!

At the doorway yet another security Orc held up his hand imperiously. Bother! She was already far more than the fashionably recommended one hour late.

"Weapons?" he demanded.

Eruanna shook her head vehemently, but stepped obediently through the metal detecting device that had been cunningly installed.

A few moments later she was standing on the threshold of what promised to be The Mother of All Parties!

[Mattius]

"By the way," Mattius added looking up at Diamond, "sorry it took me so long to get here, those damn people at Matel leaked some news that I was going to be here."

[alaklondewen]

Alaklondewen slipped through the doors after assuring the Guard there wasn't room for any weapons in this dress. The hall was amazing, and the party had definitely started. She searched for the bar, and spotted Lush, Annun and Diamond with a couple of shots.

"Looks like a good place to start to me," she said to herself and made her way to the bar.

"Hello, Ladies. I'm Alaklondewen, I do not believe we've been formerly introduced. Hmm...how about a shot of Stoli to start with?" She asked Mithaden.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: alaklondewen ]

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: alaklondewen ]

[Arafangwen]

Arafangwen upon reaching Menelien, attempted to help her up without hurting her on all the broken glass shards.

"What happened Menelien?!" Arafangwen asked again in alarm over her state of distress

[The Squatter of Amon Rûdh]

"What on earth's the matter with you?"

The Squatter was casting an amused glance in Lush's direction. "Stop gawping, gel," he admonished lightly. "People will think you have a taste for cheap Victorian jewellery. Sit down and have a drink."

"It most certainly is, old boy," he agreed, glancing back to Mattius. I think you may have spilled a bit, but I think you broke ten seconds. Come and join our happy throng!"

Truth to tell, he was beginning to enjoy himself: this was by far the liveliest gathering he'd attended in a long while, and it was very well-catered. Now he was settled in his favourite place he was feeling rather well-disposed towards the whole company. "And when, alas! our brains are gone," he declaimed. "What nobler substitute than wine?"

He returned to his drink in Byronic mode.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: The Squatter of Amon Rûdh ]

[The Saucepan Man]

Having eventually managed to locate an attendant who seemed vaguely to know what he was doing, the Saucepan Man had finally been able to arrange for his mirrorball to be proudly affixed above the dance floor. After standing back to admire the way that it flashed and twinkled pleasingly off the dazzling array of lights and the jewellery and happy faces of the assembled Barrow Downs elite, he had wandered off for a drink.

"What can I get you, sir," asked the barman, suspiciously eyeing the strange little man and his assorted kitchenwear standing before him. "Ale? Wine? Champagne? Or we've just received a large crate load of Finlandia vodka."

"Oh no!" replied Saucepan. "That would never do. I am a children's character, after all."

He hastily untied a kettle from just below his left shoulder and asked the increasingly baffled barman to fill it with tea. This duly done, Saucepan poured a cup of nice, refreshing tea and surveyed the Hall, happily watching the sight of his fellow Downers enjoying themselves.

[ May 02, 2003: Message edited by: The Saucepan Man ]

[Firondoiel]

Firondoiel struggled againist her captor but to no avail. She couldn't even call for help because of the hand over her mouth. Becoming desperate she bit down hard on the hand. With a yelp the strange female withdrew her bleeding hand but kept a hold of Firondoiel's arm.

"What did you do that for?" she asked gruffly.

"What do you want?" Asked Firondoiel, a little breathless from her struggling.

"Where is it?" Demanded one of the smaller figures ignoring Firondoiel.

"Where is what?" Firondoiel asked totaly bewildered.

"The food of course." Was the strange reply

"All the food is in there." Firondoiel gestured down the hallway utterly confused. "But what..."

Firondoiel was so abruptly released that she fell hard against the wall. The six females rushed past her down the hallway. At the end of the hall the huddled together and began whispering. Then they entered the party and mysteriously melted into the crowd and Firondoiel was left alone in the dark hallway wondering what kind of havoc they would bring on the party.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Firondoiel ]

[Diamond18]

“Nice hat,” said Diamond to Mattius with a nod.

She absently fingered the mithril chain heavily laden with gems, and suddenly recalled that she had not answered Annun’s question. “This necklace is an old family artifact. Made by the Elves, you know,” she nodded again, taking a sip from her drink. “I daresay the diamonds themselves may have come from the Mines of Moria, but as I had no direct parlay with the craftsmen, I can only assume.”

She nodded thrice, this time directing the head-bob to the newly arrived Alaklondewen. And then, for lack of a better thing to say, she downed the last of her second drink and turned two doeful eyes to the bartender. “Maybe a champagne and Mountain Dew this time?”

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

"I... I have no idea." said Menelien in a slightly slurred voice as she stood up from the glass. (This was nothing strange to Menelien. If she could avoid crashing into something at least once a day, well, thank heaven, I guess.) "I thought someone was playing a party prank, and I came over to look... and well, everyone who was here disappeared, so I guess I might have drunk too much and started seeing things... and then I crashed into a table. At least there weren’t drinks on it. Speaking of drinks, by the way..." Still she wondered where the people she had seen were. And then a group of women in black rushed past her towards the food, screaming at the tops of their voices...I really should stop drinking, thought Menelien.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: GaladrieloftheOlden ]

[Firondoiel]

Firondoiel exited the hallway with her arm aching. The crown of flowers in her hair were lopsided and her dress was wrinkled. She started looking for Arafangwen and her other friends.

[Eruanna]

The heat and the noise of dozens of alcohol fuelled voices met Eruanna as she surveyed the room, hoping to catch sight of a familiar face.

She saw a likely looking group at the bar and sauntered over, dodging in between a few very enthusiastic dancers.

"What's your poison?" queried the barman.

"Hmm.....make mine a pint of the 'broon...er a pint of Newcastle brown ale, please...in a straight glass." Taking note of the bartender's grin, Eruanna decided that her next drink should be a bit more lady-like.

Turning to watch the festivities, she raised her glass. "Happy Birthday, Barrowdowns!"

[Mattius]

Mattius nodded towards Diamond and knocked on the bar to signify another only this time he asked for,

"A pitcher of ale big enough for one man who hates an ego-tistical yellow dancing chicken called Chicken."

The bar tender smiled nervously before handing over the large jug and an empty pintglass. Mattius polietly refused the glass.

"The jug will be fine thank you very much."

He decided to take the drinking a bit more steadily as he didn't want to do something stupid like attack Chicken in front of all these celebrities and also the world media. As much as he wanted to...

[Annunfuiniel]

Alaklondewen's arrival was a pleasant surprise. Annun greeted her with a (slightly drunken) smile and questioned what she had been doing lately. She remembered seeing her in the Quiz and Quotes forums but not freaquently enough lately. The yellow dancing chicken named Chicken was a major distracting factor as Annun tried to listens to Alak's answer.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Annunfuiniel ]

[Lush]

"We walk in beauty, like the night," Lush mused demurely, unable to tear her eyes away from the jewelry before her, as she sretched her dripping limbs faintly, thinking she's done a feat today, but considering a few other feats while at it.

Squatter cocked an eyebrow at her, but said nothing, as his mouth was occupied with his drink.

Lush was only able to tear her eyes away for long enough to shout at the Saucepan Man:

"There shall be no sobri...I mean, how do you do, Sir?!?!?!"

This isn't working, she thought to herself, unaware, apparently, that her thoughts were being broadcast to the entire gathering of beautiful people. I keep slipping up and turning into myself again. More vodka!

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Lush ]

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

At Sophia's table both Alatariel and Thoriel's heads had dropped and they slept blissfully. She and Fin exchanged rueful glances, apparently someone needed lessons in holding her liquor. Only a little giddier than before, Sophia grew bored of sitting still and wandered off to seek some company, Fin trailing behind her.

The Saucepan Man stood by hiself at one corner of the room contentedly sipping what looked like a hot cup of tea. Tea?! Sophia thought, but then revised her thought, Maybe I could use something hot and sobering too. She chuckled and wandered over to him.

"Mind if we join you in a cup of tea?" She asked him politely. "This is Fin." She waved back over her shoulder at him. He gave a slightly goofy grin (not having nearly so much charm when not dealing with women) and said in a slightly slow voice.

"Whatever we're drinking's on me!"

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Sophia the Thunder Mistress ]

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

Menelien came back to her table, falling twice on the way (but luckily Arafangwen was there to help her up) and sat down, vowing not to get up again… well, at least for the next ten minutes. Trippo had gotten bored and wandered off, she noticed, as she prodded Gimli with her heel in hopes that he would get up soon, as Arafangwen had gone again and Menelien couldn’t find anyone she knew.

[Talon Stormcrow]

As Talon came through the emormous doors she first noticed the bar crowded wtih people. She glanced at the dance floor which was not as busy as she expected. She walked up to the bar and recognizing The Saucepan Man and Sophia the Thunder Mistress and starts up a conversation.

"Hello everyone! Having a good time? Hey Saucepan! Wonderful work on the mirrorball! It looks absolutely splendid!"

She gets the barmans attention and asks for a champagne and looks oddly at The Saucepan Man and his tea. 'Hmmm...well whatever floats his boat' she thought.

[Arvedui III]

After surrendering weapons at the security stops, Arvedui strode into the brilliantly decorated hall. Walking aimlessly among the guests seemed to be enough for the awe struck shade who, amid such illustrious company, still felt like a newbie. Then spying the buffet, in true hobbit fashion, runs to attempt filling his bottomless stomach.

[Airehiriel]

"Hey, Firondoiel , what happened?! I saw those women pushing you around. I tried to get to you and help you out, but I tripped.
Would you like a drink of water?"

Airehiriel ushers Firondoiel to a chair. She wanders off to find a glass of water, and carefully brings it back before she can spill it on herself.

"Here." she hands her the glass, "Drink this water, and relax for a moment." Airehiriel sits down for a moment. Concerned for her friend.

"Where did you go?" asked Firondoiel.

"Well, first I went to the ladies room. And then Reesha found me, and we spoke for a while. And then I went back to the table, but Gimli was asleep with drawings on his face, and everyone else was gone. So I went looking for someone."

Firondoiel appeared to have calmed down some.

"I really have to go now. I think I will be back tomorrow though. You be careful though. No more run ins with scary people."

Firondoiel managed a weak smile in return, "I'll try."

[alaklondewen]

Alaklondewen grinned to Annun in such a state.

"You're right, I've been scarce lately. Being inspired by the tragedy of Turin, I have been consumed by the my studies in psychology. I believe if Turin would have just reached out, psychotherapy maybe could have helped his disposition and..." she stops herself before she gets into Freudian theories and Turin's separation anxiety.

She downed her Stoli, and ordered a dirty martini. "Annun, it looks like I have some catching up to do!"

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: alaklondewen ]

[Mattius]

Meanwhile Chicken had grown bored of The Phatom using the phone and had moved across to the buffet, the line was short so he stood on the table with a plate in his mouth and used his feet to kick and flip the food he wanted onto his plate. A struggling ten minutes later he had a plate full of the finest cuisine Middle-earth could offer.

He looked about for a place to sit and found one next to a Hippo and a snoring dwarf. Chicken dropped the plate on the table and began pecking at the food while the Hippo watched with wonder.

[Eressië Ailin]

Eress slammed down on the brakes of her yellow Jeep as she neared the red carpet. Her long dark brown hair had been hastily pulled back from her crystal blue eyes in a low ponytail. She was wearing a hot pink tank top and a pair of ripped jeans, but this was acceptable, as she was coming in early to help decorate. And she, of course, had the dress that had been given to her by her fairy Gollum-mother.

'Mith!' Eress called. 'I'm here early to start decor... Mith?'

She took off her sunglasses, only to find the thousands of reporters surrounding her. Some one stood up and said, 'You know that you're eight-and-a-half hours late, hon.'

'Oh Eru...' she breathed softly. 'How was I supposed to this party started at nine in the morning, not at night?!?! Oh well... guess I'm just fashionably late.'

She hopped out of her Jeep, grabbed the dress, and hurried to the bathroom so she could change.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

About an hour later, Eress came out of the bathroom, transformed. Her hair was in some sort of an inexplainable, exquisite, elegant masterpiece; it was a work of art. The dress was made of an unidentifyable deep blood-red fabric, resembling crushed silk. The dress had a v-neck cut, her shoulders were bare, her sleeves billowing, and the dress was hemmed with golden thread. A goldenrod rope was tied in the back, slightly above the waist.

Fortunately, the dress was long enough to cover her feet. Not that Eress had ugly misshapen feet, or anything, but... We have mentioned her fairy Gollum-mother before; have we not? This Gollum-mother of hers had a good heart, no doubt, but was a tad forgetful. When I say a tad, I mean that, for instance, instead of forgetting to put salt on the radishes, her fairy Gollum-mother would, in all likelyhood, forget to put radishes under the salt.

Now her fairy Gollum-mother was regaining his/her/it's memory (slowly but surely), so Eress decided to entrust him/her/it with the simple task of making an evening gown. Her fairy Gollum-mother had been recovering for quite some time now, and therefore did a fairly good job with the dress. It is a well-known fact that with every evening gown you need an appropriate pair of matching slippers. This was the bit that the fairy Gollum-mother left out. The slippers. Which leaves poor Eress with a lovely gown and a pair of worn sneakers.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

'Weapons?' one of the Uruk-guards growled.

Eress twirled gracefully. 'Do I look like one to be carrying weapons?'

'Go on in,' snarled the same Uruk-guard.

[Arafangwen]

"Firondoiel! Over here!" Arafangwen yelled over the crowd as she waved her arms in the air

"Menelien, are you ok?" she asked once more as the clumsy, and apperantly drunken elven girl rose to her feet glanced around quickly and sat back down without so much as a word.

"What did you see?" she asked recalling the fear and desperation reflected in Menelien's eyesright before she had rissen to obviously do something very important.

"Firondoiel! There you are!" she exlaimed with a sigh of relife as the other elven lady appeared holding her arm in obvious pain.

"Are you alright?" she said noticing the pain Firondoiel was in.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Arafangwen ]

[The X Phial]

High above the throng a solitary guest zipped past the unobservant Uruk guards and made her way to the appointed meeting place.

"I do so hope Merendis shows up soon," she thought to herself.

The X Phial settled neatly on the wall of the great hall, near the punch bowl, as instructed. She had been waiting for this party all day, and since a fly's life is relatively short, this instituted a considerable life investment. Fixing the crowd with her multifaceted eyes, she surveyed the company. A number of beautious elves, humans, wargs, half things, hobbits and maiar were evident, but she appeared to be the only insect in attendance. X had decked herself out in her best green outfit, but fly outfits being what they are, she doubted anyone would notice.

X Phial checked to make sure no one was looking and flew down to the table for a quick nip at the punchbowl. She heard the music shift in tone and volume and was startled back to her original position. Oh the joys of being a fly on the wall.

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

Melenien still sat at her table, consuming a glass of orange juice (the waiters were drinking the beer, so this was all that she could find). Suddenly, she saw another elf, who, like herself, seemed very clumsy. Hooray! thought Menelien after a minute or so, her reactions beginning to be slowed down. Another stumbling elf! I thought I was the only one! she thought excitedly, emptied her glass, and got up, having totally forgottten her promise to stay seated for 10 minutes, and swaggered after the elf.

[Eruanna]

Eruanna's attention was caught by a strange, sparkling contraption revolving on the ceiling.....Was that.....a glitter ball?
That could only mean one thing. Saucepan man was here!

Dragging her aching eyes away from the ceiling, Eruanna looked around for the shiny Knight of the Saucepans. There he was! And was that Sophia, with a young escort that Eruanna didn't know? She wandered over to see them. Saucepan looked cheerful as he sipped, what seemed to be tea, from a china cup.

"Hello fellow Quizzaholics. How are you enjoying the party?" she asked.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Eruanna ]

[ May 02, 2003: Message edited by: Eruanna ]

[Mithadan]

Mithadan stood near Squatter, chatting pleasantly. He was a bit taken aback by the prodigious amounts of drink that the Brit and Mattius were consuming and decided that it would be ill-advised for him to try to keep up. Nonetheless, he ordered another glass.

Another change of musical genre had taken place and the guests were now dancing to the strains of 'Brick House'. He sipped at his vodka as Squatter squinted past him at some passerby. At that moment two things occurred. First, Squatter set his scotch down firmly on the table and rubbed his eyes. Second, there was a tug on his sleeve.

He looked down to find Cami standing beside him with an impish expression on her face. She cleared her throat. "My escort has arrived," she proclaimed.

"I thought I saw Maura earlier," replied Mithadan.

"Not Maura," she said with a smile. Then she gestured to his right. He turned and came face to face with a scaly, reptilian snout. Leaping backwards, he cursed as he spilled his drink. "Angara!" he cried.

"Hello, Man," intoned the dragon. "Care to introduce me to your fellows?"

[The Saucepan Man]

Surveying the scene before him, Saucepan noticed an insanely giggling Hippo tying together the bootlaces of a snoring Dwarf. Across the room, a small yellow chicken was jumping up and down with impatience next to a tall Elf conducting an important looking conversation on his mobile.

"I really feel quite at home here," he thought to himself. "Funny, though. Aren't Elves supposed to have long wispy beards and pointed hats? Still, the pointy ears make sense. Well, leaf-shaped, anyway."

His eyes alighted on a fair, cold, but somehow innocent looking figure in white waving at him. He waved back, not recogising her. Then, as he noticed her looking questioningly at his cup of tea, realisation dawned.

"Why, Lush!" he exclaimed. "It cannot be. You look so, um, well, innocent. Radiant, of course, though. How do you do. Lovely to see you here."

Just then Sophia came over and introduced her escort, Fin.

"Mind if we join you in a cup of tea?" she asked.

"Bree?" replied Saucepan. "I thought that we were in Gondor. Mind you, I don't live here, of course. I've just popped up from the Enchanted Wood for the evening."

Sophia flashed him an impatient look. "No, TEA, I said."

"Oh, sorry, I thought that you said ... Oh well, never mind. Of course you can."

Saucepan deftly (well as deftly as an old man covered in pots and pans is able) snatched two cups from the bar and filled them with steaming tea from his kettle.

"Now, how about that dance?"

[Sillabub]

Sillabub arrives in a mysteriously floating white swan-boat from Lothlorien. She appears to be without escort currently(Sources later linked the discovery of Frodo- her escort- bound and gagged in a broom closet in the hall to her). Wearing a black and silver elvish dress and carrying her flyswatter She waves elegantly to the reporters. Upon entering the hall Sillabub heads for the food table, looking for oranges. Finding none, she contents herself with a slice of black forest cake (in middle earth?!). She then walks over to the bar and sits down.
"What d'you want?" the Bartender demands.
"THE ONE RI-uhh, I mean, red wine, thanks!"Sillabub answers nervously.
"But you're under drinking age!"The bartender tells her.
"Oh well. Some other time then" Sillabub sighs, though she never really planned to drink the wine... smilies/evil.gif
She leaves the bar and sits down in a corner, amusing herself with a lighter. After a few minutes she gets bored and waits in the front hall for Antien and Fraul.

[Arafangwen]

"Menelien! Where are you going?!" Arafangwen cried out as she tried to help make Firondoiel comfortable as she asked how she had hurt her arm.

"I think she's drunk, although how she managed to get a hold of anything alcoholic is beyond me.

"Now, what happened Firondoiel?" she asked as she dismissed the drunken elf for the moment...

[Nurumaiel]

Nuru dodged past different reporters who were eager to talk to the newcomers until at last she was inside, feeling very safe and pleased with herself for having made it thus far. Trying hard not to be amazed at the crowd (for she knew there would be a large crowd), she made her way to a quieter corner of the room to watch all that was going on.

Was Rie there? If so, where was she? Yes, that was Nuru's only that. She wanted to find Rie so they could have some fun together. Well, she wouldn't be too hard to spot, with her fiery red hair...

Nuru settled back, leaning against the wall, and her eyes began to scan the room, looking hopefully for her friend...

[Oddwen]

A black corvette pulls up at the curb, and a young woman steps out. She is dressed in a dusky rose roman-styled dress, decoratively trimmed in black fringe, with a black shawl draped loosely about her shoulders. Her blonde hair is swept up gracefully kept in place by two black hairpins. (And about a hundred bobby pins!) Her lips and fingernails are painted a startling black, and her open toed sandals (black, of course) reveal that her toenails are painted the same.
"Miss Oddwen!" screeches a reporter shoving a mike at me. "What's it like to see your phrase all over the downs?"
"Spiffy!" and I make a run for it. There is a bevy of cameras making straight for me, and I'm very camera shy.

She passes the metal detector with ease, having no weapons to take, and walks into the great hall. There is an overwhelming amount of color and faces. All she can recognize are the large form of Trippo and the shine of the Saucepan Man. She waves at both and sits at a corner table to wait.

[Antien]

Antien was feeling a bit out of place. She wasn't at the bar or dancing on the dance floor, the two most populated places. She couldn't even find sillabub. She wasn't used to formal occasions, and had never been asked to dance. Antien wasn't sure if she even wanted to dance, but someone asking would be a welcome change. If she found Sillabub or fraul, though she doubted that fraul would show up, she would likely hang out with them until they screamed in fury. She was that bored.

[Firondoiel]

Firondoiel hurried towards Arafanwen. "I've been better." She said in response to her question. "We need to find a mod or an admin. Quickly!"

"I don't understand. What are you talking about?" Arafanwen asked.

Firondoiel explainded about the strange women in black that had come in through the service entrance.

"Oh my! Are you all right?" asked Arafangwen concerned.

"Yes. Airehiriel helped a lot. I have to thank her when she returns. Now lets find someone to report the the women in black to!"

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

Menelien swaggered over to where Arafangwen and Firondoiel were sitting just in time to hear one of them mention her. “Me? Drunk? I only drank- I mean, I didn’t drink anything!!!” she yelled, rather too loud. However, this statement was quickly proven untrue as her knees buckled and she slid gracefully onto the table.

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Sophia looked briefly from the Saucepan Man to Fin, who was eyeing his cup of tea with some suspicion, and then around at Eruanna and Talon and the few other young ladies in the vicinity. Was it safe to leave him alone for that long? Or would she find herself without a ride home as he dragged some lady fair off? She scrunched her brow up in deep thought. Finally she looked at Saucepan and grinned.

"Certainly!" she responded, still pondering how a dance could be managed, given the large number of pots adorning the Saucepan Man's clothing. She gave him a quizzical look, then entrusting her date to Eruanna's watchful eye, they made their way out to the floor. She'd just make him lead...

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Sophia the Thunder Mistress ]

[the real findorfin]

Fin bid Sophia farewell and was about to return to his seat when he saw Sillabub turned down at the bar.
"That will never do," he exclaimed and quickly bought two glasses of wine.

He quickly caught up with her, but she appeared to already be with another maiden. Fin caught the name 'Antien' and noticed that she too had been having problems. He quickly changed tak and moved forward.

"Hello ladies," he greeted, "like a drink."

"why thank you," Antien said taking the glass.

"A pleasure," he replied, handing the other over to Sillabub.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: the real findorfin ]

[Talon Stormcrow]

Talon saw another guest alone. So Talon departs from the bar and walks up to Antien and says,

"Hi! Are you having a good time?"
Antien answered, " I feel a little out of place..."
"Oh so do I! Im not much of a drinker so Im not doin too well at the bar." says Talon with a light chuckle.

[Diamond18]

Diamond gazed lovingly at the latest soda-and-alcohol-concoction in her hand. But after a moment or two, she sighed with the realization that dirt, dust, dog and cat hair wait for no women, no matter how criminal her attractiveness might be deemed by the pure of heart.

She nodded to the various Downers at the bar with her, and begged them to excuse her for a little while. “I must find a quiet corner somewhere,” she explained, “and use telekinesis to vacuum my house. I will rejoin the festivities, anon, and then I (if I may be so bold) will be expecting a dance from Mattius and Squatter, and even Mith, if you can find the time from running this smashing party.”

She paused and assessed the unstable appearances of Squatter and Mattius as they drowned in whatever poisonous liquid they were gargling now. “Well…” she thought… “this will be interesting…”

Diamond waved nonchalantly to the rich and beautiful, the pure and the wanton the teetotalers and the drunks, and walked over to a couch in a dark corner. HereIstarion was sleeping peacefully on said couch, smiling as he dreamed of fireworks and sailboats, no doubt. Diamond carefully (so as not to wake him) moved his feet and sat down. Then, concentrating all her mental abilities on a little ranch-style house many miles and ages away, she began to hum like a vacuum cleaner.

[Nuranar]

Tarondo couldn't believe his ears as the cacophony of partyish noise around him resolved into a definite three-count. Someone must have strange ideas about Barrow-Downs celebrations, he mused momentarily. But a waltz is a waltz is a waltz! Jumping to his feet, he seized his sister's hand. "Hurry, before it's done."

Luinien looked up in surprise, then grinned as she, too, heard the beat. "Let's go!" she said, slipping into his arms.

The couple spun rapturously around the dance floor while the song lasted. The sheer joy of doing something well possessed both of them, and they danced with an ease and grace born of long practice and love of movement.

Finally the music died. As Tarondo escorted her back to her seat, Luinien noticed a tall girl in a stunning deep red dress enter the Hall. She looked closer, then gasped in delighted recognition.

"Eress, old thing, how wonderful to see you again! It's been so long, I'm just devastated, darling. Tell me, how are things at home? And let me tell you, your dress is just too, too marvelous, darling!"

[Gandalf_theGrey]

APPEARANCE NUMBER ONE:

INTRODUCING JOHNNY TAYLOR

Now why had a red carpet unfolded itself in between rolling mounds of grass out in the middle of somewhere? The red coursing through the green almost looked like the Don't Panic symbol on the cover of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, mildly putting its tongue out at him. Johnny Taylor shrugged, took a deep breath, closed his eyes, planted his feet on the carpet, exhaled, opened his eyes. Still in the same reality! Or close enough. The red carpet being the closest thing to a yellow brick road he'd seen so far, the poor befuddled lad claimed it as his road. With luck, it would lead back to the university and his calculus exam. Johnny weaved his way down the carpet, only tripping over his feet twice as he played air guitar and mumbled lyrics from Led Zeppelin.

Green, red, yellow … those same over-bright hues reminded Johnny of where his trip began, in the Science and Engineering Library at his computer in the study cube. Of course, he hadn't been studying. He'd been playing Moria. What else? Hour after hour after hour he'd spent wandering through those text adventure dungeons, slaying screenfuls of Orcs and Dragons and grabbing up gold, potions, scrolls, and other goodies. Until one day after pulling an all-nighter and making it down to the thirteenth level of his intensely favorite computer game, a very zonked out, sleep-deprived Johnny passed out and pitched face-forward into keyboard, monitor, and all. There were amazing snap, crackle and pop sounds even louder than his friends the Rice Crispies. Electricity arced everywhere until the monitor found the culprit who'd trespassed into its once lovely smooth glass, then finally pulled Johnny down to a level of consciousness far stranger than the thirteenth.

At the end of the red carpet, part of his nightmare stood in Johnny's path. He'd come to recognize it as the U symbol that he'd battled many a time, U for Uruk Hai. Groaning "Oh no, not U!" he pulled a scimitar from his backpack and wielded it with all the smug confidence of a gamer at full hit points and a pack full of azure healing potions.

The creature grunted, barking back with all the smug confidence of a bureaucrat enforcing the rules, and a gatekeeper to boot. "No weapons allowed if yer wish to pass."

Johnny blinked, his stammering kicking in. "Is this a b…b…bonus level then? Treasure without fighting? That's never happened before. I m…must've run into a new bug."

The Uruk snarled, snatching away the scimitar. "Watch who yer callin' a bug! Now step through this metal detector and join the party when I gives the all clear."

On stepping through, the metal detector gave a resounding DONNNNNGG! Out from Johnny's pockets and backpack and onto a table came everything from pocketknife to flashlight to can opener to toenail clippers to … reluctantly … gold.

The Uruk reached across with his arms and swept the gold up towards himself. "Payment fer whichever Uruk yer killed to get that fine scimitar of yers, for I can read the runes on the weapon."

Johnny stood up, looking for the Exit so he could finally make it to his calculus exam, but there was no Exit to be found. But then, maybe this tricky level where you lost your weapons and treasure held a hidden secret passage to the outside. As he jostled about to reposition the weight of his unzipped backpack, Johnny's usual awkwardness kicked in. A stale brownie from the Student Activity Center cafeteria came flying out and hit the Uruk square in the head, knocking him out. Johnny looked around, smiled with a hope beyond reason, and walked on, looking quite the adventurer in his t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. Too bad he didn't see his opponent passed out on the ground behind him, leaving both scimitar and gold unguarded.

[Arafangwen]

"Menelien, you are completly drunk and don't you try to deny it!" Arafangwen said in annoyance about Menelien denying her drunken state.

"I think we should look for Mithadan. He's the only one here as far as I know. I belive he's over there by the bar speaking to a few friends of his, I'm sure he wont mind us interupting as this is important." she said as she helped Firondoiel to her feet and pointed over at the bar.

[Eressië Ailin]

Eress made her way over to the buffet, asking for alecake. Over and over she heard cries of, 'Alecake! Who has ever heard of such a thing? How preposterous!'

This angered her, for alecake was the best food in existance! 'Has no one here ever heard of alecake?' she asked in distress.

[Salix]

Salix glared at Antien. Why was she getting all the attention? All she was doing was switching the punch with some alcoholic drink. Salix sighed and headed for the bar. "Hey barkeep. Give me a pot, hot water in the pot and about 50 peppermint tea bags!" Looking confused, he gave ther the aforementioned items. While carrying the pot to her table, she bumped into Antien. Cursing, she attempted to avoid Antien's gaze and the crowd around her, but it was too late. "Salix!" Antien cried. Salix groaned. She was stuck now.

[Nurumaiel]

Nuru frowned deeply. No, Rie wasn't in the Hall right now. Hopefully she'd arrive soon, though. The Elf was anxious to see what her friend thought of all this craziness.

"Some wine, m'lady?" a voice said in her ear. Nuru shook her head, having no idea who said it. Whoever it was was now gone.

No, she didn't want wine. Never did care for the stuff, anyway. Doubtfully she eyed everyone, some of who seemed to be drinking their fifth bottle of the it.

A reporter was shoving his way through the crowd, trying to drag his cameraman after him. He had obviously made a thorough job of everyone at the place, and now he was after her. "You, Elf, you in the green dress! Hey, Elf!" he shouted, ignoring the angry protests from guests as their beverages were spilt.

Nuru ducked behind a man passing by and crawled under the table. She'd wait for Rie there. It would be safer.

[The Saucepan Man]

Greeting Talon Stormcrow and Eruanna as he went, the Saucepan Man led the Mistress of Thunder on to the dance floor. He too wasn't quite sure how this was going to work out. He loved to dance, but he mainly danced by himself.

"Well, a Thunder Mistress must be used to noise", he thought to himself wickedly.

"How about a waltz, my dear?", he suggested, his eyes twinkling.

Sophia looked doubtfully at the speakers blasting out heavy rock music, but shrugged her shoulders and joined him on the floor nevetherless.

A sudden cacophony roused all the guests. They turned their heads to the dance floor to watch in amazement as Saucepan and Sophia waltzed from one end of the floor to the other, Saucepan with a happy smile on his face as his pots and pans clanged and crashed and Sophia's cheeks slowly flushed redder and redder.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: The Saucepan Man ]

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

"Menelien, you are completly drunk and don't you try to deny it!" yelled Arafangwen at her. However, Menelien wasn't even trying to deny anything, having passed clean out. The only thought which surfaced momentarily in her mind was "boy, will I have a hangover after this!" and then she fell back asleep.

[Eressië Ailin]

"Eress, old thing, how wonderful to see you again! It's been so long, I'm just devastated, darling. Tell me, how are things at home? And let me tell you, your dress is just too, too marvelous, darling!"


'Luinien!' she gasped. 'Thank you so much! You look great too! It's been so long since I've seen you! When was the last time? Two, three years...? I can't remember anymore.' She took a deep breath. 'Did you see my new Jeep?'

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Eressië Ailin ]

[Antien]

Antien smiled at salix.

"What, no alcohol?" She sniggered. Salix was such a pushover.

Salix stared down her nose and said

"What, no escort?"

Antien knew that salix was just trying to provoke her.

"I came with sillabub. Not an escort, but a friend. i can see that you didn't even come with that"

Salix started off. Antien sighed. Good thing that was over...now, where was Sillabub?

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Antien ]

[Firondoiel]

Firondoiel and Arafangwen hurry towards the bar leaving behind a very drunk Menelien, who had fallen asleep on the table.

"Where is he?" Asks Firondoiel, frantically scanning the bar.

"There he is! Next to Cami and the dragon." Arafangwen points.

Arafangwen and Firondoiel hurry towards Mithadan. Firondoiel clears her throat. "Excuse me."

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Firondoiel ]

[Oddwen]

Isit playing with my little disco ball earrings: they shine little spots into dark corners and I am completely engrossed. So engrossed in fact, that I don't notice the waitier asking me what I want to drink until he pokes me between the shoulder blades.
"Huh? Oh, just some apple juice...and do you have some graham crackers?" He walks off shaking his head. "Just wait," I think. "The night is young."

[Frodo Baggins]

Elrond nodded pleasantly to Mithadan as he swept across the hall in a whisper of grey silk. He arrived back at the table he had with the other three with a shake of his head.

"Was it like this last year Frodo?" he asked, taking a delicate sip of spiced miruvor.

"Hm? You mean all of them drinking themselves silly before anything really starts? Yes it was the same last year." Frodo answered.

Maggie roller her eyes and shook her head, sipping her tea.

"Hmph!" Cromthal snorted "Among my people drinking to the point of silliness is considered disgraceful."

"Well, we can't all be Brehon can we Cromthal?" Maggie said with a small laugh. "Cromthal? I feel in the mood for a dance, will you do the Pattern Dance with me?"

Cromthal and Maggie glided onto the dance floor and began a dance that was very intricate and pretty, but also quite energetic.

[Hanna_Gamgee]

Hanna has now lost track of how many drinks she has had and notices the table is now empty of food. She wonders if she passed out. She notices that they are playing waltz music now so decides to just watch the dancing until something better comes on.

[Annunfuiniel]

Annun couldn't quite follow what Alaklondewen was talking about. 'Turin needs therapy? Well, who doesn't?', rang in her head. Alak ordered a new drink but Annun felt she'd better head for the buffet or the paramedics would soon be needed again; she hadn't eaten since her arrival and that combined with the excessive amount of liquor she had taken... Well, everyone knows that math!

Annun left the bar and headed for the buffet. She didn't get far though when a horrifying sight knocked her out of breath. "A dragon!" she screamed. How was that possible? She blinked her eyes but the Worm was still there. 'I'm not that drunk', she reasoned. 'It has to be real!'

Annun backed away from the beast (and of course didn't pay any attention to the fact that the named beast was having small-talk with Mithadan and co.), took her skirts and dashed to the opposite direction. She didn't see if she run over some hobbits or not as she made to the door, pulled it open and rushed in.

Considering the shock and the shattered sugar-balance of Annun's blood it was no wonder that the only sound coming from the cleaning closet (where she had rushed in panic) was a quiet snore...

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Hilde loitered about the buffet table with a plate. She had decided to sample a little of everything, well almost every thing. Some things were beyond a hobbits taste buds. “There is so much to try I am certain to rack up the miles just making trips to replenish my plate”, she thought with relish. “How utterly practical to walk and enjoy such lovely dishes at the same time! Excuse me please” she said to the group of armour plates ladies with stern expressions hovering at the entrée table. “I won’t be a minute.”

Just then Mr. B. tapped on her shoulder, startling her. Turning, she found her husband in a blood stained apron reeking of whiskey. “Dear, what have you been doing?!”

“Helping in the kitchen, my frog. Honestly, people these days just don’t know how to handle meat. Why the fare they have for the orcs is unspeakable. I know it was short notice but it hasn’t even been aged properly. You just don’t get the same bouquet and texture. We must be culturally sensitive!”

“Well, Mister B., all things I have tried have been excellent! In fact I was quite excited to hear they have Balrog Wings here, though try as I might I just don’t see any!”

[Antien]

Antien was looking around. She didn't really know how to waltz, but she wanted to try. But who should she dance with? Mabyee it was her couple drinks going to her head, but she made a giant sign proclaiming

"anyone who wants to dance, come HERE!"

And she sat down all alone on the one chair avalible.

[Firondoiel]

Mithadan turned at the sound of Firondoiel's voice. "Yes?" he asked. Firondoiel once again launched into the story of the strange women. "I've got no idea where they are, or what they're going to do." Mithadan's eyebrows furrowed. "We'll take care of it." he said.

Firondoiel and Arafangwen walked back towards their table. "I believe I need lie down." said Firondoiel.

"Do you know of anywhere you can?" Arafangwen asked.

"I'll find somewhere. See you later." Firondoiel headed off in search of somewhere to rest.

[the real findorfin]

Fin talked with the maidens for a while, before he noticed the music winding down to an end. He made his excuses and quickly intercepted Sophia and the Saucepan Man.
"I hand her back to you, Fin," said the walking noise that was the Saucepan Man.
"Why thank you indeed," Fin said loudly, taking her arm.
"That's alright," he replied, doing a little jig and rattling very loud. However, everyone had gotten used to it by now, and fewer people were looking.

Fin instructed the barman to refill his pan of tea, and then escorted Sophia over to there table and, sitting down beside her, poured another two glasses of wine.
"To the Barrow Downs!" he toasted, "and to its lovely members!"

[OOC: Fin and Sophia have signed off for the night/day/wotever)

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: the real findorfin ]

[Trippo The Hippo]

Trippo finally gets up from the table after a few hours of sitting there like the giant shell of a hippo.(Perhaps thats because his soul checked out for a few hours.) I begin to walk over to the fair drunken elf Menelien. I lift her off the ground and tell her "I am sorry about your escort, but I did not do it. I was framed. Perhaps it was his sister. Maybe they got in a fight over how much time she spent in the bathroom."

[Salix]

Salix walked towards her table in the corner, and placed the pot on the table. She was glad she hadn't spilled any water. She placed two teabags in the water, and realized she had forgotten to get a cup. Sighing, she headed towards the bar and ran into Antien again. This wasn't one of Salix's better days.

[Arafangwen]

"I do not spend to much time in the bathroom!" Arafangwen suddenly said in a rather loud voice "I suggest you put her down! She looks like she's about to wake up!"

[Faenaduial]

Faen was late yet again. The trek to reach the party was longer than anticipated and she was starting to think she would never get there.

Finally dismounting, she led her horse to the stable and ran into the Hall. She was amazed at the varied races mingling together. It was obvious that the party had been going on for some time and some of the participants had more than enough to drink.

Faen grabbed a glass of wine and looked around for some of her friends.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Faenaduial ]

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

Menelien felt something pick her up for a moment, speak to her, then put her carefully back down. She ignored it until the bright lights forced her to open her eyes. She sat up, brushing the glass from broken plates off of her shirt. Her head felt like a huge hand was squeezing it till her brains squelched, then letting go. Squeezing, then letting go. The pain was unimaginable, and, as she sat up and looked around, so were the things she was seeing… 5 Arafangwens and 7 Firondoiels were apparently arguing with 8 Mithadans while a few dragons hung off of the ceiling nearby, and the music was Lose Yourself… she shook herself. There were only one Arafangwen and one Firondoiel and one Mithadan, and, of course, no dragon, and there was a waltz playing. (But that was all in theory… she knew it was true, just couldn’t see it.) She blundered up, ran into a bathroom, retched, and came back out, feeling a little better. Everything had now subsided to a double image. And- she rubbed her eyes- the dragon was still there. Promising to herself to never drink again, or at least until her headache got better, she walked (or rather- walked, fell, got up, swaggered, shook, walked, fell, got up…) towards her table, hoping to find somebody there.

[Antien]

Suprise is a bland word for what Antien experienced. Not many people ran into her, let alone when she was sitting on a perfectly easy to see chair.

"Salix?" she said, not very pleased at being knocked out of her chair, especilly by her sister.

"Oh, don't tell me you want to dance."

Salix was in dismay. Not Antien again!

"No, I don't-" she said, noticing the sign. Salix hated dancing, and didn't want to be impolite by turning down somone who asked her.

"I'll just go now..." She said hurrying away without a backwards glance.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: Antien ]