Barrow-Downs Birthday Party at the Fields of Cormallen

[Rose Cotton]

(This is not part of the story)

Um, I just want to say that this is some of the most fun I have ever had. smilies/biggrin.gif

I wonder if last year's party was this exiting.

Anyway, thank you guys for a great time.

(back to the story)

[Veritas]

As Veritas saw the person in the sunlight, she would say "Aah, it's ... on the tip of my tongue, who is he?"
"Welcome to my humble home, again, my friends." Rose didn't like his voice,too slimy.
"Home, a tombe is your home? Why do you want to prefer to live in this tombe?" Child was angry.
"If you're dead, you sometimes want to be at the place where they gave you your last honor. Although my friends were not so friendly." the gost admits.
"Say, are you, sorry, were you that friend of Gollum, that had the ring, and was killed by Gollum?" Birdie asks. Whe she sais Pio walks slowly towards the person, her heand on her sword, she didn't trust him, sertanly not when he was a friend of Gollum.

"YES, yes I was, I was it who found the ring, and that gollum took it from me." He cries, "And I want revenge, that's why I gave the REG to Mithadan, he would be able to found Gollum with his laptop, and bring him to me, using the REG, but YOU, you spoiled the hole thing! And now you're going to feel what it's like to be killed."
He storms to the Party, but Pio was faster and hits him with her sword, but because it was a ghost, it didn't matter.

Suddenly Mithadan and his three trackers came to help the gost and a heavy battle began.
Rose took one of the trackers, just as Child and Birdland.
Piosenniel was fighting with Mithadan, and the wizard was trying to do something with the gost, but that wasn't easy.

[Frodo Baggins]

The Valar speak Quenya, Birdie. Jut to help in clarifying that. I Made it!! Somehow.... I realized that you were having allthe fun. Well.. Deagol??? Fancy meeting you. And I dont see why you call Child a midget, since your pretty much a hobbit youself, A southern Stoor of the Galdden Fields to be precise. You don't know me, but my cousin took the ring from Gollum, Smeagol he was to you. And What do you mean a tomb? I thougt your body was never found.
Heh! At least Icaought up to you!! smilies/smile.gif

[ May 26, 2002: Message edited by: Frodo Baggins ]

[Rosa_Baggins]

Rosa is still lieing on te ground sleeping and snoreing that could wake the dead.
"ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!"

[Losthuniel]

Celeaewen was bored, very bored, as were a good deal of the people stuck in the Void. the half of them hadnt red the Silm, and if they had, they didnt connect the dark place they were standing with that void, and Celeaewen simply was too bored to care if wayward evil Valar happend to visit. Rosseil,oon the other hand, had feverishly trying to figure out how to send them home.
" Let us hope our presence may go unnoticed"
Celeaewen stared. Something fishy was going on here.

[Frodo Baggins]

NOOO!!!!!!!! Please don't bring Gollum back!! He might decide my finger was good and want the rest of me!!!

Besides, half an hour of "my precious" would drive all of us mad.

[Rose Cotton]

(Not part of story)

I don't know Child.

I thought we were dealing with Morgoth too.

Guess we just have to go with the flow.
(Back to story)

[Rosseiliantiel]

Rosseil continued fiddling with the wires, until she chucked the box at Celeaewen in frustration.
"Some help, PLEASE! I'm technologically challenged, i don't think I should be doing this without some HELP or I'll end up blowing us all up or something, I don't know what the h*ll to do with this!"
"OH, PRETTY WIRES!" squealed Celeae, reaching for a green wire, and was then shoulders & shaken by Rosseil, who was looking murderous.
"OH WOULD YOU JUST HELP ME PLEASE OR FIND SOMEONE WHO CAN!"

[Veritas]

<<<It seems I have made a problem, Mithadan wasn't evil, but he was focused on the REG, and confused by Deagols appiration, and he's angry that the party spoiled his plans.
Mithadan, I'm sorry if I made you be evil.
Btw, who has said we were dealing with Motgoth, did I miss something in the posts, that's possible, so I think that's Deagols appiration was a misleading from Morgoth, and that it was the plan that Morgoth wanted to get Mithadan, for any reason. I think we must move on with the RPG as if nothing happened, and I feel REALLY SORRY about everything I've done wrong! Please forgive me.
I'll will delete this message about two days, when everyone involved read it.>>>

[ May 26, 2002: Message edited by: Veritas ]

[piosenniel]

ooc:: Yes, we are facing Morgoth in the Void where he has been imprisoned for gadzillions of years for being overly inharmonious! I am going to do a deus ex machina here and pull the storyline together. Let's make this a good battle by sword and wit and words!::

The figure stepped from the shadow. What an incongruity of dark and light. His face was fair, filled with the beauty of the first created, but in his dark eyes were reflections of worlds crushed into dust by the chaos of his character. His smile took them all in, inviting them to be at ease, while in his eyes flashed lightning and danger. He spoke, and his voice was soothing, the words jarring:

'Turn that d@mned thing off! It's giving me a mega-headache trying to watch all of you cope with all the permutations of reality it's throwing off!'

'One does not simply turn the d@mned thing off.' returned Birdie shaking off her headache & channeling Boromir from the movie. 'Its workings are guarded by mysterious wirings . . . & besides, there is no *off* button!' Birdie had never been one to cower before a challenger, not even one as daunting as this.

'Yeah! What she said!!' came the firm hobbit voices of Child and Rosie in chorus. The steeliness of Birdie's reply had given them a shot of courage.

'No *off* button?!', queried the Being, advancing on the REG. 'Then what's this?' His slim finger touched the side of the unit, and a silver button appeared, as if it had always been there. One 'click' and the REG turned dark and silent.

He watched as all five figures wavered and shimmered in their positions, and finally refocused into solidity. Their eyes unglazed, became clear and took in there surroundings now with clear senses.

'They're beautiful and wondrous.', he thought to himself. 'See how the light still plays through every atom of their being.' He looked down at his own hands, and wondered if any such harmony still ran through him.

Veritas leaned on her staff, regarding his actions closely.

pio stepped forth once more, sword now secured in its scabbard. 'What is your name, Fair One? & how did you come to this place? & why do we find ourselves here?'

'My name is Morgoth.' came the simple reply. 'Or Melkor, among others I have had on Middle Earth. As to the How and Why of your question that will take some longer time to answer you than will be comfortable standing in this grey place. Come, let us go where we can sit and be comfortable, and ferret out such answers as we may. I have food and drink and some comforts here, such as they are. And you are welcome to them.'

The thought of resting somewhere and refreshing themselves overcame all inhibitions at present. The five followed Morgoth into the grey emptiness, walking closely together in a line - Birdie at point to scan for dangers, and pio at rear, her hand resting lightly on the pommel of her sword.

'Do you think there might be mushrooms?' asked Child, her stomach growling.

'I hope so!' piped in Rose. '& pints of rootbeer!'

'Make that wine, and I'm with you!', joined in Veritas.

'Steady on!' said Birdie - 'Take care!' echoed pio.

Further into greyness trudged the five.

& leading them surely was Morgoth, his fair face obscured by shadow.

[ May 26, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Losthuniel]

Mithidan and Trackers burst in(not just an apparition, real this time), as they saw the five being led away by a VERY frightening looking figure. Celeaewen squeaked. she had agreed to come with Mithidan, only to kill Veritas, and Rosseil had come along for the fun of it (twisted mind, eh?). only it seemed that Morogoth was going to kill Veritas, and the other four people as well. this did not bode well for anyone.

[Rosseiliantiel]

not part of story:
I DO NOT HAVE A TWISTED MIND, I WAS SUPPORTING MY"FRIEND" CELEAEWEN, CELEAEWEN
really, people these days. u think someone is ur friend....o well

[Frodo Baggins]

"Ok let's see if I can fix this REG thing and bring everyone back. I hate machines."

Sam said "Umm.. Mr. Frodo?"
"What?"
"I don't know but I hear metal is a good conductor of ele.. elec.."
Frodo smiled "Electricity. And you're right, Sam." *oof camr the chan, jewel, and circlet*

"Hmm..... well these wires are broken. I may be able to put them...." POP!! FLASH!!!
The smell of burning was in the air.
"hmm... I'm all right!"

[Rose Cotton]

(Not part of the story)
Thank you Pio. It was getting weird. Especally when I tried to fix things. I will be deleting my messed up posts.
We just have to read posts more carefully.
(Back to the Story)

"Arg, I should have read the rest of the Sil." Rose thought to herself. " I know almost nothing about this."

Rose was suspitious but the thought of food and rest overpowered her.

She whispered to Child. "I wouldn't mind those mushrooms but I don't think we should eat much. I still don't trust this thing. If he was anything like Sauron then I don't think he means well."


Rose cursed her empty stomach. It would be hard to resist a good meal. But she wouldn't be taken in so easily.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Child's brain was racing feverishly at the very same time that her stomach was growling in a crescendo that would have made a good accompaniment to a dwarf battle song. She tried not to focus on her stomach, which was a natural act for a hobbit, but instead to think through the situation.

She still had her sodden copy of the annotated Silm with her. That had to be of some help. She did not understand how she could be talking to Morgoth, but this did seem to be the case. She vaguely remembered that Morgoth was supposed to crawl out of the Void at the end of the world to cause some serious mischief. Child didn't think the end of the world was here, but perhaps Morgoth had different ideas.

She turned and muttered to her companions, "I am no hero, believe me. But we have to be careful here. Whatever happens to us, and I mean whatever, we can not let this monster use us to crawl out of this pit. Everything we know and everyone we love will be toast, and all because we partied too long and perhaps were a bit too dedicated to our schemes of petty larceny." She was feeling a little guilty.

OK, said Birdland, exactly what do we need to find out? Does this lovely creature know what happened at the end of the Third Age? Does he know what Sam and Frodo did, and what happened to Sauron? Does he even know it's now the Age of Man? How much news gets through to the Void? Maybe we can probe him and get some answers to that. Those answers may help us. I almost wish we had one of the Children of Men here to help us.

Pio nodded: And where are Sam and Frodo? I can't tell if they're here in the void or managed to get back to reality. I think it would be a very, very bad idea for Morgoth to get hold of a Baggins or Gamgee in this situation, especially if he learns what happened to Sauron. And Ihope that Legolas or Gimli or Arwen or any of that crew are nowhere to be found.

Child shook her head: Shush, you guys. He's looking back at us and he doesn't look too kindly. We've got to be very, very careful. Now, what do we do next?

[Rose Cotton]

I think it would be a very, very bad idea for Morgoth to get hold of a Baggins or Gamgee in this situation, especially if he learns what happened to Sauron.
Rose jumped when Pio said that.

She wondered if being Sam's wife would put her in danger.

*gulp* "Um..you guys. Would it be a problem if you started calling me Ms. Underhill?"

And there was another reason to be worried. Rose thought she had seen Frodo some ways behind them. He would definatly be in danger if Morgoth was looking for revenge.

Where was Sam?

[ May 26, 2002: Message edited by: Rose Cotton ]

[Losthuniel]

"so what do we do now?" asked Rosseil, eying the bunch ahead of them.
" the sensible thing." siad Celeaewen
" yes, obviosly, go and rescue them" said Mithidan.
"err, thats not what i had in mind. more like turn tail and run"
Mithidan glared at her, then picked theri group uo into a faster pace.
" Why do i have the starngest feeling of impending doom?"

[Birdland]

"Well, whatever we do, we can't let The Big M. see the laptop or the PDA." whispers Birdie. "And even Child's annotated edition of the Silm would tell him far too much...if he could keep all the names straight."

"But," said Rose, "He'd never figure out how to log onto the laptop, could he?"

You saw how he called up the 'off' button on REG, didn't you?" said Pio. "If he can do that, he can hack the laptop or the PDA, no problem."

"And iIf he get a chance to read the board, said Veritas, "and finds out how much of a mess his acolyte Sauron made of the War of the Rings, and who actually defeated him? You go tell HIM that world domination was snatched from their grasp by 3-foot people with furry feet. He can't find out what we know. And the board will tell him everything! Everything!"

"Wellllll..." said Rose, "not everything. Hey! Do you think we could ask him about the Balrog wings? I'd really like to know one way or the other...

"No!"

"You know", said Child, "it would be kind of neat if we could ask him if he ever met Tom Bombadil..."

"NO!"

[piosenniel]

Morgoth glanced back at the companions, but his gaze was not fixed on them but at a point well behind them.

Pio turned, her elf eyes attempting to discern a target, her ears straining to catch a sound.

'To your left, just a little and at the place where we first met him.' whispered Veritas, motioning with her staff, which also served as a quasi-antenna at need.

There it was . . . small sounds of confusion and alarm and then a thick curtain of returning silence.

'Your friends won't be coming with us.' said Morgoth. 'They've been evicted for the moment and returned to their original positions.' His gaze took in the 5 companions. 'It's just you and I. & that will have to do for now.' His hand caressed the REG which he held lightly under one arm, his finger just leaving what appeared to be a 'reset' button. Even as he finger lifted from it, the button returned seamlessly to the smooth surface of the REG, and disappeared.

The 5 huddled together, questioning glances stealing between them. 'Friends, what friends?' asked Rose. 'I hope they got back ok, whoever they were.'

'Mithadan, probably' returned pio 'I'm sure I heard him tracking us at one point. He'll figure out something. Don't worry about him. We've got more present problems to sort out.'

'Morgoth!', called Birdie to their guide.'How is it that they were returned and we were not?' She was eager to learn all she could about the REG. She had plans for it still, providing they ever got out of here.

Morgoth smiled another utterly disarming smile and explained how the 5 were under his protection at the moment; that he had attuned himself to the REG and was able to adjust its focus as he needed.

He turned back to continue on their way - glancing back once at Rose, he narrowed his eyes, and then laughed. 'Wings, yes. Fly, no-- only if you toss them!'

Birdie blanched, regretting she'd said anything about the laptop or PDA.

[Samwise]

Where was Sam?
Did you read my last posts, or was that just a story question?

[Samwise]

OOC: Frodo, wait, I don't think the REG is with us--it's with the folks in the void. pio just asked if we could "get the party going again" as it were...
---------------------------------------------
*Ahem*
*Running back up the road with Primrose and Stacey behind him*
Sam: Mister Frodo! Mister Frodo! We're back!
Stacey: Running--in a dress--not a good idea. smilies/rolleyes.gif

Primrose: Mister Frodo! I'm glad you're all right!
---------------------------------------------
OOC again: Hey, whatever happened to Mithadan?

[Frodo Baggins]

Well it's nice to see you back, Sam. I have been working with this thing for three hours a least. Now you tell me I can't do it. I think I'm all right. When the sparks flew, I my throat felt dry and then the left side of my nose started running, strange considering it was mt right hand that was shocked. (Not part of story, I am writing the symptoms from experience)

[ May 26, 2002: Message edited by: Frodo Baggins ]

[Samwise]

OOC:Sorry about that, sir. Just tryin' to keep the continuity goin' in the same direction.
---------------------------------------------
Sam: *Looking around* Well, sir, Mister Mithadan seems to have ordered more food. Guess we can't let it go to waste, can we?

Stacey: Hobbits... smilies/rolleyes.gif

Primrose: No, Papa, we certainly can't! smilies/wink.gif

[Frodo Baggins]

FOOOOOOOD!!!!

[Samwise]

Stacey: Like I said, "Hobbits". Oh, well. All this running around has made me hungry.......
Sam: That's the spirit!
*Primrose is already heading for a table...*
"Just hold on a moment and I'll get my stuff!" cried Sam eagerly. "It's all ready. I thought we should be off today. " ~Sam Gamgee

[piosenniel]

Their bellies being full and their thirst somewhat slaked, Frodo and Sam looked about at the wreckage of the party. It looked as if a giant wind had blown mightily across the fields and laid the party-goers flat. 'Like wheat', thought Sam, 'after the pass of a sharp scythe. But not so tidy as that.'

Rolling up his sleeves past the elbows, he stood for a moment surveying the scene. 'Well, Mr. Frodo, there's some bit of work ahead of us to get this party back in order. If you're feeling up to it, let's get started.'

'Right, Sam!' replied Frodo. 'Let's get the guests back on their feet and let them know what happened. If they were having dreams as strange as mine, they'll need some gentle bringing back to here and now.'

'And don't forget Mr. Mithadan, papa.' urged Primrose helping another hobbit up and turning him in the direction of the tables. 'We should find him and see if he needs any help getting to the bottom of this problem!'

'There is nothing like a few sturdy, practical hobbits to set things back in order,' thought the old man in grey as he smiled at the scene below him. Without a sound he turned, and disppeared under the canopy of the trees.

[Samwise]

Stacey went to work helping the hobbits.
"I wonder where Mithadan got to, anyway?" she wondered.
For a moment, she felt as if eyes were on them. Turning toward the woods, she thought she caught a movement, then nothing.
"Ah, maybe I need new glasses...."
She turned back to straightening up.

[ May 27, 2002: Message edited by: Samwise ]

[piosenniel]

The words: " Why do i have the strangest feeling of impending doom?" were no sooner out of her mouth when Celeaewen found herself flung down on the field, very near the river bank. Strange remembrances were jumbling about in her head,as she stood up and shook her head to clear it. She looked around; none of her companions were to be seen. 'Did I dream them, too?' she thought to herself.

She walked to the center of the field and looked around again, this time spying Sam and Frodo busily at work at a point not too far from her. She hailed them, and noted that they waved back. So they, at least, were not phantoms of her imagination. She started toward them considering her options, letting reality soak back into her bones.

'A plan,' she thought. 'I need a well thought out plan. And some friends to help.'

'Perhaps the hobbits . . .?!'

[ May 27, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Frodo Baggins]

"Hullo, Calaewen." began Frodo. Calaewen asked what was going on.
"Well, it seem that this random events generator, or waht wvwe it is, is naking eveyone dream strange things, even me. I could have sword I saw Deagol, if you can believe that. Sam and I believe that if we can get everyone awakwnwd tne the REG turned off, We can get back to the party. As for turning off the REG, I think shorting out tha wire sis that well enough."

[Veritas]

<<Sorry pio, I saw your message after I made this replay, so I'll change it again, we're in the great void, and not in the tempel, ai?>>

Meanwhile, in the Void everyone was confused. wehy would Morgoth want them, and, even more important, what would he do with them.

"Wruhahaha! Finally I got you all!" Morgoth rises and becomes so that he's more then three times bigger then they. The power of his evil was wide spread out through the void, and everybody was feeling misserable.

"What do you want to do with us, and why?" Veritas talks and tries to make time, so that Mithadan is able to fix a plan to get them out, or, better, a plan for the destruction of Morgoth.

It becomes quiet in the void, even more quiet the it was.

The silence, which first was so peaceful, becomes one of evil and decay. Morgoth seems to wait, to wait until they can not longer resist the treatening silence.

"Speek, what are you waiting for!" Child can't hold it anymore.

"Until you see, that there's no way out, you're stuck, and you know, you got a choise to make; Resist and Die, Give up and come to My Side. I'm waiting for that dissicion."
"Then wait for ever, we will never come to you!" Rose screams, and with her dagger rised she rans to Morgoth, but Veritas holds her.

"Give us one hour," Pio sais, "We want to discuss our destiny."
Morgoth looks is not satisfying, but Birdie walks toward Morgoth: "Yes, let us discuss what we want ot do."

The Fallen Valar takes his time to make his choise, but finally he sais: "One hour, not more." And builds a kind of piramid around them.

"Fine, now were totally cut off of the World." Child is getting impatience.

"I hope this is going to be oké." Veritas thinks sadly, she knows that pio don't want to walk over to the dark side, but one hour to make a plan, and even cut off from the outer world.

[ May 27, 2002: Message edited by: Veritas ]

[Frodo Baggins]

Meanwhile, Frodo has been trying for the last six hours to bring everyone out of the void. Nothing is working. He tries one more thing. "This will sent that Motgoth running." he thinks to himself.

A Elbereth Gilthoniel,
silivren penna miriel
o menel algar enalath!
Na-chared palan-diriel
o galadhremmin ennorath,
Fanuilos, le linnathon
nef aear, si naf aearon!

"Oh please come back"

[ May 27, 2002: Message edited by: Frodo Baggins ]

[ May 27, 2002: Message edited by: Frodo Baggins ]

[VanimaEdhel]

Menelduliniel runs into the room:

VASAAAAAAAAAAAAA!(Translation: Foooooooooood!)

Sorry: hobbit imitation. And, as I have not been on here in a few days (Memorial Day parties/barbecues/etc.), I have not "eaten" in days!

Menelduliniel eats some food and drinks some miruvor, then, calming down after her hyperness, sits down...

So: what is happening, little hobbits?

[Losthuniel]

Celeaewen hears Frodo singing and joins him with her minstrel's voice. she grabbed her harp, given to her by Galadriel, and played along to the words

A Elbereth Gilthoneil
Silivren penna mireil
o menel aglar elenanth
Na-chaered palan-diriel
o galadhremmin ennorath
Fanulois, le linnathon
nef aer, si nef aeron!

Snow- white, Snow-White, o lady clear
o Queen beyon the Western seas!
o light to us that wander here
help us now! our need is near!

there was no more to do, other than sing, and hope that the Valar would have pity on them.

[Rose Cotton]

As Pio, Child, Birdie, and Veritas discussed a plan Rose sat apart from them in deep thought. She was too angry to debate and wasn't very good at it anyway. But she knew one thing: She would never join Morgoth.

There was one thing Rose was troubled about though.

'Why did Morgoth want them? Where they just at the wrong place at the wrong time? Was it because they were the ones with the REG.'

Then Child called over to Rose."Come on Rose. This is your destiny too."

"I'm not in the mood to decide my fate right now" Rose replyed."I trust in whatever you choose to do."

(Sam- the question I asked before was part of the story)

[Rosseiliantiel]

"Where am I?"

[VanimaEdhel]

Menelduliniel shivers at the mention of Morgoth and vows that, no matter what torture would ever be bestowed upon her, she would never turn to the side of dark...the side of Morgoth.

She takes out her mithril flute, given to her by Lord Elrond, and plays along with the others.

[Veritas]

In the piramid, all the persons are quiet, waiting for what would come, they didn't had a plan yet, and they had just a half an hour left. Rose was sitting against the wall, but suddenly she rised her head, as if she heared something.

"Listen, I hear... music, and singing, they are thinking about us, they're helping us." Roses eyes are twinkling with tears of happiness.

The whole party was filled with happiness. They were standing and listening to the music:

A Elbereth Gilthoniel,
silivren penna miriel
o menel algar enalath!
Na-chared palan-diriel
o galadhremmin ennorath,
Fanuilos, le linnathon
nef aear, si naf earon!

And then Child began to sing, and Birdland, and then everybody was singing.

"Silence!" Morgoth's voice stopted the singing, or anyway, they couldn't hear it anymore. "You ruined your last change to think, your time is up."

"No!" screams pio, "Never!"
Then she begins to sing:

Never forget who you are, Little Star
Shinging brither then all the stars, in the sky,
Never forget where you come from, from love.

They all begin to sing, in the hope Morgoth would finally see that they wouldn't give up.

Then, in a second, the piramid vains and they see Morgoth, his eyes burning in his head.

Veritas thought she was in a dream, Morgoth was screaming, but it didn't touched one of them, they were streghted by the music, the music of Iluvatar...

[piosenniel]

Rosseiliantiel opened her eyes and shook the crazy images of her dream from her eyes. She looked about her and saw Celeaewen talking with Frodo and Sam. A little apart from them she saw Menelduliniel sitting under a tree playing her flute and looking off into space.

Rosseiliantiel recognized the signs of still being in a dream and went to gently shake the flutist's shoulder. 'Come back, Menelduliniel!', she said. 'Come back to Middle Earth and help us!'

[Losthuniel]

Celeaewen sang, a note of desperation creeping into her voice.

A Elbereth Gilthoniel,
silivren penna miriel
o menel algar enalath!
Na-chared palan-diriel
o galadhremmin ennorath,
Fanuilos, le linnathon
nef aear, si nef aeron!
then, another notee joined in, it was rosseil. they sang Desperatly, seeing no hope. then as they sang, another sound filled the air. it was fairer than anything they could sing. there was blinding white light, then when it cleared, before them stood eight figures, glittering in the light. The Valar

[Child of the 7th Age]

Child was certainly glad that at least some of their friends had freed themselves from the clutches of Morgoth, and her heart was lifted that they had joined in song to try and lighten the Shadow.

Then suddenly Child remembered her strange scene with Elbereth when she had mistakenly fallen into the wrong story. The one thing she could still remember, although much had faded as if an ancient dream or vision, was the tinkling laughter of the golden Vala.

Thinking about this, Child decided the two things this dreadful, large creature could not stand were music and laughter. Child decided to sing the most positive song she knew, the one her cousin Sam had sung in the Orc tower:

Though here at journey's end I lie
in arkness buried deep,
beyon all towers strong and high,
beyond all mountains steep,
above all shadows rides the Sun
and Stars for ever dwell:
I wil not say the day is done,
no bid the Stars farewell.

And then she burst into giggles, something which any good hobbit can do.

[Rose Cotton]

Soon the everyone was singing their own song of hope and happiness. And even though they sung different songs the melodies blended into a perfectly beautiful harmony.

The music rang out from the void and party grounds. It awaken all who lay asleep and those still awake listened to it and join in.

Until finally all of Middle Earth and all the lands beyond were joined in a chorus of joyfull music.

[ May 27, 2002: Message edited by: Rose Cotton ]

[Frodo Baggins]

Child that song makes me cry.

Taking Child's advice Frodo starts to tell jokes and sing the song about the inn, the moon, the fiddle playing cat, and the dog, and the cow, and.. Oh you know what I mean

[Frodo Baggins]

Child that song makes me cry.

Taking Child's advice Frodo starts to tell jokes and sing the song about the inn, the moon, the fiddle playing cat, and the dog, and the cow, and.. Oh you know what I mean

[Samwise]

OOC: I'm sorry, but I'm confused. Can someone tell me exactly who's where so I can figure out what to do next?
Also, why is it that we can play one another's characters? (Sorry, only been on one RP board before, and there weren't many rules there...... smilies/confused.gif ).
Sam, who had been watching his master with great concern, shook his head and muttered: "Plain as pikestaff it is, but it's no good Sam Gamgee putting in his spoke just now. "

[Frodo Baggins]

Sam, by laughing and singing and being happy in general, I think we can drive away Morgoth.

[Samwise]

OOC:Never mind, I think I have it.

Sam listened to all of the singing going on, and though he was not quite sure of the meaning, he started in as best he could:
Sam:Troll sat alone on his seat of stone
And munched and mumbled a bare old bone;
For many a year he had gnawed it near,
For meat was hard to come by.
Done by! Gum by!
In a cave in the hills he dwelt alone,
and meat was hard to come by.

[Frodo Baggins]

I vow to thee my country all earthly things above
Entire and whole and perfect the service of my love.
The love that asks no question
The love that stands the test
That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best
the love that never falters the love that pays the price
The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice

And there's another country I've heard of long ago.
Most dear to them that love her
Most great to them that know
We may not count her armies
We maynot see her King
Her fortress is a faithful heart
Her pride is suffering
And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase
And her ways are ways of gentleness
And all her paths are peace

[Samwise]

OOC: Okay, gotcha, sir.
---------------------------------------------
Stacey listened to all the songs being sung. She didn't know any of the Middle Earth lyrics, but being a song leader in church had given her some ammunition. smilies/smile.gif She started in with a tune from children's church:

I've got the joy,joy,joy,joy, down in my heart
Where?
Down in my heart!
Where
Down in my heart!
I've got the joy,joy,joy,joy, down in my heart
Where?
Down in my heart, to stay!

I've got the peace that passeth understanding
Down in my heart!
Where?
Down in my heart!
Where?
Down in my heart!
I've got the peace that passeth understanding
Down in my heart!
Where?
Down in my heart to stay!

[Frodo Baggins]

YAY SAM!!! I was about to ask you to sing that!

[Samwise]

Primrose blinked, listening to the swelling voices around her. She thought and thought, and finally, something came to her...

Now let the song begin! Let us sing together
Of sun, stars, moon and mist, rain and cloudy weather!
Light on the budding leaf, dew on the feather,
Wind on the open hill, bells on the heather,
Reeds by the shady pool, lilies on the water,
Old Tom Bombadil, and the River-daughter!

OOC: 'Scuse me a sec, got to leave the computer!

[Rose Cotton]

Rose thought back on all the musicals she's ever seen.
"South Pacific?
When the sky is a bright canary yellow,
I forget every cloud I've ever seen.
So they call me a cockied optimist,
Imiture and..............

Annie?
The sun will come out,
Tomorrow.
Bet you bottom dollor that tommorow,
There'll be sun.

Oliver?
Who will buy this wonderfull morning,
I'm so high,
I swear I could fly.

The Music Man?
Seventy-six trombones led the big parade,
With one-hundred and ten cornets right behind.

Hm..got to think of more musicals."

[Frodo Baggins]

Its working!!! Yay!!! Keep it up!!

Frodo begins singign the An-thennath of Luthien Tinuviel.

[Rose Cotton]

Rose starts a little dance and sings.
"The road goes ever on and on,
Down from the road where it began.
Now far ahead the road has gone,
And I must follow if I can.
Pursueing it with weary feet,
Until it meets some larger way.
And whither then I can not say."

[Birdland]

Birdie gazed around in wonder as all the songs rose together, different, but blending together into one song sung through the ages. But what could she add to it.

"Well, I'm not up on my Tolkien lyrics, but by Elbereth, I know my Dylan!!" And Birdie chimed in:

Far between sundown's finish an' midnight's broken toll
We ducked inside the doorway, thunder crashing
As majestic bells of bolts struck shadows in the sounds
Seeming to be the chimes of freedom flashing
Flashing for the warriors whose strength is not to fight
Flashing for the refugees on the unarmed road of flight
An' for each an' ev'ry underdog soldier in the night
An' we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing.

Then suddenly like laser beams through cheese, bright beams of light pierced the walls of the pyramids, and grew wider and wider as until they converged into a great wave of light.

Morgoth threw his hands over his ears, then his eyes, screaming "No!!! Stop! The lights, the noise!!! Stop it!!!"

"It's the light of the Simarils!" cheered Child.

[Rose Cotton]

Rose's ears perked up at the mention of the Simerals. They were things that were only legend to her.

Thier name seemed to awaken a new song in her.

In the face of danger
I feel no fear.
As the road darkens
I laugh and cheer.
For I know that
Sunlight is near.

With my friends beside me
We feel no fear.
The good of our hearts
Make us laugh and cheer.
For we know that
Sunlight is here.

Listen to our songs
Oh, face of evil
They are full of the
love of our homes.
The love of our
familys and friends.
The love that will
Never die.

[VanimaEdhel]

Menelduliniel stands up.

"Aiya! Lina! (Oh! A song!)...how about...

Crazy old days
Rolling away
Dreaming the day away
Don't want to go
Now that I'm in the flow
Crazy old lazy days

Da da-da-da-da
Da da-da-da-da

Da da-da-da-da
Da da-da

One red balloon
Floats to the moon
Just let it fly away
I only know
That I'm longing to go-o
Back to my lazy days.

Da da-da-da-da
Da da-da-da-da

Da da-da-da-da
Da da-da

And how is sings
And how it sighs
And how it never stays
And how it feels
And how it flies
And how it sails away

Away...away-ayayayay

Da da-da-da-da
Da da-da-da-da

Da da-da-da-da
Da da-da-da-da

Da da-da-da-da
Da da-da-da-da...

[Losthuniel]

Celeaewen was awed by the presence of these beings. they seemed to be made of light and air, as far as she could tell from the ground where she cowered. they did not speak with words, but all of them heard what they had to say. they knew of the people in the void, and they were going to storm Morogoth, and force him to give u his prisoners. but they would require assitance.

[Rosseiliantiel]

assistance?!?!?!?!? Why are there little alarm bells going off in my head?

[VanimaEdhel]

Menelduliniel bows:

"I will help anyone who needs it in any way possible!"

[VanimaEdhel]

The bells do not sound in my head, for I am overly-zealous and overly-adventurous! Haha!

Menelduliniel gets prepared to battle the evil Morgoth...

[Losthuniel]

Celeaewen, gathering her miniscule courage in hand, curtseyed deeply to the Valar.
"i will come, though my courage is less than others here."
Yavanna turned to her "do not fear. this year there was fated to be a great battle. the time has come. now is the time when all must rise to fight this evil. every hand is needed, though yours are better suited to the harp, i think." Celeaewen was awed, that this great being should take any interest in her, a simple minstrel. she saw others, girding themselves for war. she had no armour or weapons, just her five elvish throwing daggers, given to her by her father.
Manwe spoke to the assembled people
" Now is the time. your task is not to fight Melkor, for he is to great for any of you. you must fight the Creatures he has, that crowd about him in the Void. and you must help his prisoners escape. if you do not, he will torment them, until he has learned what has come to pass in these long ages. this is your task."
a great hush fell upon the crowd, as Manwe opened the spinning Vortex, the pathway to the Void. the Last Host was marching to war.

[ May 27, 2002: Message edited by: Losthuniel ]

[Samwise]

Sam looks around, the light filling his eyes and hearing Morgoth's voice.
"Mister Frodo! What's happening!? Are we beatin' him, sir?

[Rose Cotton]

Suddenly Morgoth overpowered the singing.

"Fools! Now you shall forever suffer!"

But before he could torment the five in the void a great army of Middle Earthians and Valar stormed into the void.

A great battle begain.

[Losthuniel]

the Last Host marched to war, as the hearts of more than a few misgave them. they were marching to War against the Unknown, and it was highly unlikely that they would return.
Celeaewen had changed to breeches, which were easier to fight in than her dress. Beside her, Rosseil quaked with fear, though her face was stony. Celeaewen trembled inwardly. sh had little battle experience. though she was a fair aim with her daggers, even in the War of the Ring, she had not fought, except to defend herself. She hated violence of all kinds, and this seemed to be the worst. Their mission was clear in her mind: rescue the prisoners. they walked through the Void, the Valar blasting a path through the dark wall.
thre were alll manner of creatures surronding the prisoners, and few of them mortal. they saw a great host pass before them, seeming slightly transparent. it seemed the Valar had empteid the Halls of Mandos, to give battle, along with the miniscule force still living.Celeaewen saw this only vaugley, for she was fixed on the prisoners. now that the mission was clear in her mind, there wa no going back. many of the prisoner's guards were Maiar, and the shadow-host and those gifted with mafic engaged them immediatly,leaving those without to deal wioth things that could be slain, like the dragons. Rosseil chose an arrow from her quiver, and aimed at a dragon's eye. Celeaewen, at a moment's hesitation, joined in the fray, aiming her dagger at the same dragon's other eye. the beast spouted flame, and Celeaewen was terrified, but this was her mission, and she must see it through. a force of about seven took on the same dragon, the three archers riddling it with arrows, and the swordsmen hacking at it. Celeaewen was repulsed by the blood, but threw herdaggers anyways, because her life depended on it, and the lives of those around her.

[Birdland]

Birdie grabbed a chair and joined the fray.

[Rose Cotton]

Rose still had her borrowed knife with her and she started to attack the creatures around her to little effect.

She got into an intence fight with one and the blade was knocked from her hands and it was kicked from her reach.

Feeling like a coward she ducked behind her comrads and started to search for a sutible weapon substutute.

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo is bravely battling a Maiar, whigh is about twice his size. "It was working, Sam. DIE filth!!!"
The Maiar knocks Frodo's sword out of his hand and slashes him across the right side
"Auuugh!" his ladt words before swooning are "I'm.....sorry"

[Samwise]

Sam: Mister Frodo! Noooooooo!

Stacey: *Doesn't have a weapon, but runs forward and scoops the fallen hobbit up in her arms as though he were one of the children she works with*

Primrose: Miss Stacey, duck!

The human woman does so, and an arrow whizzes over her head and strikes the creature behind her in the neck. It falls, and Stacey runs back to Sam.

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo is partially awake...
"ooh.....nice...."

"I'm all right, I think..."

[Samwise]

Stacey: It's nice to have to have had to take first aid for little kids, too....
*Looks at Frodo's wound* Ai...Sam! Get me some towels! There might be some behind the bar!

Sam: *Wiping tears from his eyes, manages to get up and stumble back to the bar. He comes back with ten or eleven washrags*

Stacey: Thank you Sam, that should do. *Pulling up Frodo's shirt to expose the wound, she begins to place the washrags on it. As one gets soaked through, she places on another.*
Come on, stop bleeding already!

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo is, needless to say, in pain.

"I tried, honestly, it was working, until that thing showed up. Beyond all toer strong and high....."

[Samwise]

OOC: Sad to say, I have to leave the feilds for tonight. Back to the grind tomorrow. However: "I shall return!" *Wait-this isn't Korea...*
"It's a shame to wake you." whispered Sam, "but that's what you said. "

[Child of the 7th Age]

Child gasped and looked about in amazement. She truly could not believe how many Downers had raised their voices in song, and now how many came forward with weapons attempting to fight off Morgoth's little minions who had joined about the prisoners.

Child herself was a bit short on weapons, although she still had a battered mailbag which could be aimed strategically at heads and eyes. She felt like a beserker from an epic she had once read She certainly was not going to spend the rest of eternity with Morgoth. So she continued to bash away.

[Rose Cotton]

After about 5 minutes of searching for somthing Rose could use for a weapon, she spotted a stray arrow next to her.
It was still in pritty good shape.
She scooped it from the ground and thrust it into the nearest minion she could find. She continued doing this with the arrows she found.

[Veritas]

Suddenly a great battle was begon. Everybody was fighting with minions of Morgoth, but Veritas followed Morgoth, who seemed to want to leave.
Suddenly she knew it. Morgoth used this oppertunity to go back through the gate that the REG made, and come on Middle-Earth again.

"I must tell somebody, I can't stop him alone." she thought. She run after him, and after a while she saw the sunlight!

In a split second, she knows what to do. The wizard stops running, and begins to yell:"Morgoth, want to go back to Middle-Earth? Then you first must pass me!"
"Why do I say this?" She thinks when Melkor stops and turns around.

"You Want To Stop Me? Then Try It!" And Morgoth blast Veritas away with a strike of his hand.

"I musn't give up, oh, somebody help me please!"

[ May 28, 2002: Message edited by: Veritas ]

[Rose Cotton]

Rose hears Veritas' call for help and goes to aid her. On the way she looks for the elven knife she had come to depend on and found it.

She runs to Veritas and helps her to her feet from where she was struck down.

Morgoth was still making his way to Middle Earth. She had to stop him. But what chance did a hobbit have ageinst a Valar? Rose ran after him. She could at least stall him until they got more help.

But everytime she came at him, her sword raised he just cast her aside like and anoying insect.

Still Rose kept attacking until Morgoth got tired of her and gave her a mighty blow.

She sunk to her hands and knees with a great pain in her right arm where she was struck.

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo I lying weel covered away from the battle but has a good view. He sees Rose fall. He sits up,to qouckly it seems from the pain that flashes through his side.
"ROSE!!!! NOOOOOOOO!" He tries to get up and help her but fals after only a few feet
"Oh, Rose......."

[Child of the 7th Age]

Child viewed the distant scene with Rose and Veritas attempting to block Morgoth's exit. Alhough they were not able to strike a deadly blow, they were able to hold their own for at least a few seconds.

She shook her head in disbelief. By all standards that she was aware of, a Vala, even a fallen one, should have been able to blast the two of them into oblivion--or whatever passed for oblivion when you were standing in the middle of the Void. Obviously, Morgoth had been seriously weakened by his sojourn in this miserable place and presumably by the strictures which Manwe had placed on him.

If only, if only, they had a bright, bright light, one of the Simerils or the phial of Galadriel or something like that. Child was sure that this could be used to halt Morgoth from the headlong path he was taking towards what appeared to be a portal leading into the world of mortals.

"Stop, Rose and Veritas," she screamed. "Weapons will not help us. Can't one of you or someone else find a bright light? It may not kill him (come to think of it, probably nothing will do that), but it will help us to control and contain him. At least he won't get through to our family and friends."

Don't any of you elves carry a bit of star glow. Even a flashlight would help!"

[ May 28, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo, still lying on the ground hears a voice in his head "a light when all other lights go out". Quickly rolling on his back, hr searches his breast "Oh tell me I Haven't lost it! Oh Here!" The phial of Galadriel blases forth, as bright as day itself "Gilthonoel! A Elbereth!" he ceias as loudly as possible "Aiya elenoin ancalima!"

[ May 28, 2002: Message edited by: Frodo Baggins ]

[Rose Cotton]

The pain in Rose's arm starts to corse through her entire body. She was slipping into uncontiousness.

Then she heard Frodo and looked up to see the light of Galadriel's phial. She smiled.

Then she closed her eyes and knew no more.

[piosenniel]

ooc:: Sam- Sorry about the mixup - writing scenes for all the characters - I've never played an RPG before so don't really know any 'rules'. Mostly I do interactive fanfic on another site where each author manipulates the characters for each scene. Back to the action --::

Pio saw Rose fall when Morgoth struck her. She ran to check on her little friend and saw that she was not mortally wounded. Propping her up against a rocky outcropping, she gave her a drink of miruvor to revive her spirit and body.

Once certain her companion was going to be alright, pio turned her attention to the problem of Morgoth and his attempted return to Middle Earth. She thought about trying to reset the REG, but the villainous Valar still had it tucked under his arm.

His shadow was growing smaller and smaller, even to her elven eyes as he walked through the long corridor between the Doors of Night and Middle Earth.

She saw Veritas bravely trying to slow his progress, but to no avail.

A small, simple plan formed in her feverishly working brain. Running like the wind she came to the chamber to which he had first taken them. 'It has to be here, someplace.' she said, quickly and methodically searching the area. 'I know we hid it here before the battle broke out.'

She found it, beneath a thin layer of rocky debris,wrapped securely in a grey cloak. Now if she could only remember what Veritas had taught her.

Opening the top to the laptop, she pushed the 'on' button, a small prayer to Eru that there would be some juice left in the battery. The screen came on, the 'DoN' icon pulsed ominously on the left. She opened the program and forwarded through a number of screens until she saw an anime of Morgoth descending toward a graphic of ME.

'Well, here goes!' she thought. She clicked on the 'back' button until there was a return to the original screen which had invited them to enter the game. Hopefully that had brought Morgoth back to his original starting position. Then, crossiing her fingers for good luck, she closed the game screen and dragged the program icon to the trash bin and the proceeded to run the 'uninstall' program on it.

'Good, almost done!', she murmured as the uninstall continued. But the amber warning light for 'low battery' seemed to be flickering into life . . .

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo had not the strength to stand. Seeing Poisenniel tend Rose made him relax a bit. He could not hold the phial up like that forever. he set it in his hands upright upon his breast, loked at its glorious light for a few moments, and then remembered no more.

[Birdland]

Frodo crouch, head bowed, as the light of the phial blazed from his hand. How long could he hold up the phial and keep Morgoth from advancing.

Meanwhile the laptop in Piosenniel's lap flikered feebly, as the message window enquired "Are you sure you want to delete this program?"

Pio struggled against an unseem force that seemed to be trying to keep her hand from the mouse pad. Slowly she dragged the arrow to the message window, and with her last strength clicked the "Yes" button!

"Noooooooooooo!" screamed Morgoth, as suddenly, a giant trash can swooped down through the Void and sucked him in. A mighty hand slammed the lid on the violently shaking dumpster. Then with a flash, Hand and dust bin were gone.

"Yes!" screams Birdie. Eru takes out the trash!"

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo was wondering how much longer he could hold out. He was struggling to stay concious. His pain was returning in his side and breathing was difficult. He saw Morgoth tossed into the trash. ".....Good....it..has...*gasp*..come..." He gave in and fel to the ground.

[ May 28, 2002: Message edited by: Frodo Baggins ]

[Losthuniel]

As she helped others battle yet ANOTHER dragon, Celeaewen saw a great trash can swoop down and scoop up Morgoth. all the Creatures dissapered, and Celeaewen found herself trying to stab thin air. she sagged down to the "floor".
" o thank Elbereth."
many others like her collapsed, some worse wounded. Celeaewen had got caught in a small spurt of dragon's blood, and it had burned her arm. thankfully, it was not serious, unlike Frodo, who had been wounded by a Maia. Many were wounded, thu=ough most were alive, which was miraculos, considering what they had done. Celeaewen sighed with relif. the Battle was over.

[Rosseiliantiel]

Rosseil was holding her arm, which had been spattered with dragon's blood. It was (obviously) hurting quite badly and she was just barely holding back tears. She was readying herself for the next attack but when she looked around, the dragon was gone. In fact, all of the creatures of evil were gone. She looked frantically around for Celeae, and saw her sprawled in the coner, bbut alive. Rosseil ran over to her and gave her a big, one-armed hug, and saw that Celeae had been hurt as well. she pulled her to her feet & they set off to find the others.
"what happened? I looked up one minute & they were all gone! did we win? was it us or the Valar or what? is everybody all right?"
"Whoah, slow down, Rosseil! and to be perfectly truthful, i have no idea."

[Child of the 7th Age]

Child circulated among the many wounded. She didn't have much to work with. She tore off strips of her long skirt to work as bandages. And she did have a small bottle of water which she always carried at her side.

She looked in dismay at the pages of her annotated Silm. There weren't any germs in the Void so surely this material would be sterile. She gritted her teeth and began wrenching the pages out of the binding. She closed her eyes while she did it. She knew this was too important not to do but she didn't particularly want to watch its destruction.

Then she began to use the pages to mop up blood and other assorted remains. Ugh, Child didn't have much talent as a healer, but she was trying her best. She felt like dumping all this horrible stuff back in the trash can where Morgoth resided, but she knew she dare not take the lid off. To say nothing of the fact, her companions would probably throw her in, if she did anything so stupid!

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo is lying on the ground, tears runnung down his face. "Oh, Child!" he thinks to himself. He thinks for a moment "Yes, yes I can give that to her. If I ever get to it....."

[ May 28, 2002: Message edited by: Frodo Baggins ]

[Gimli Son Of Gloin]

Gimli drains his 784th glass.

[VanimaEdhel]

Menelduliniel gives up on the battle and goes to join Gimli in his drinking.

Have room for an Elf over there? And any extra ale? Or ANY liquor?

[piosenniel]

Pio felt herself skimming down a long corridor of light and silence, using the now dead laptop like a sled. A sudden whoosh of air & a riot of color and sound assailed her as she fell through the end of the tunnel, landing on her backside on the banks of the Anduin. Near her in a grey heap was Veritas, rubbing her head as if a large headache had invaded it.

Looking around carefully for any signs of Melkor, she walked over and retrieved the laptop. Trashcan or no trashcan, she decided that no loose ends should be left to link the Void to Middle Earth. Taking her small knife from her belt, she pried out all the memory components of the now innocent appearing laptop and drawing her elven blade, she skewered them with a decisive thrust. The green wire that had connected to the REG she hacked into minuscule pieces and threw them in the Anduin. She still worried that Melkor had made off with the REG, but she hoped that the trashcan would be able to contain any tries by him to use the REG.

She walked over to Veritas and helped her to her feet. 'Come on, friend, we're back home & things are safe. I think we've earned some food & drink!'

'Isn't that Gimli, over there with a large tankard in front of him? Let's join him; I think we have some catching up to do. And oooh, I smell wild mushroom stew with herbed dumplings!!'

[Samwise]

Stacey looked around. People were converging back on the feild, looking tired.
She still held Frodo in her lap, passed out after his wielding of Galadriel's vial. She turned to Primrose.

Stacey: Prim, I know you hate that skirt...since you've got knee breeches under there, take it off, would you? I need it.

Primrose: *Happily tears off the skirt.*

Stacey: In turn, tears a portion off and uses it to bind the towels to Frodo's wound.

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo opens his eyes "Hullo Stacey. Where's Sam? Did we win? Someone said that being wounded by a Maia was worse than something. Will it kill me?" Frodo ceases speaking, breathing is too painful on its own.

[ May 28, 2002: Message edited by: Frodo Baggins ]

[Samwise]

Stacey: That's something I don't know, sir.
Primrose*Looks around* HEY! Wounded hobbit over here! Anyone know anything about wounds given by a Maia?
Sam: Please, Mister Frodo, please be all right!! http://www.plauder-smilies.de/bawling.gif

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo reaches out and put a hand on Sam's face. Tears are on both their faces. "Sam, I will live for you sake"

[Birdland]

Birdie watches as Child rips pages from her beloved Silm to bind the wounds of the B-D warriors scattered around the field. Her heart ached for the scholarly hobbit, "but one who cannot cast away a treasure in need is in fetters, I suppose."

Suddenly she heard someone shout "HEY! Wounded hobbit over here! Anyone know anything about wounds given by a Maia?"

Birdie ran over, ripping off the hem of her favorite cambric shirt as she ran. She saw Samwise, Primrose and Stacy huddling over the prostrate Frodo. "Try bathing his wound with the water in the Phial. It's blessed by the Lady of the Woods herself. It might help a little more than page 382 of 'The Silm', anyway."

[Samwise]

Sam: *Wipes away tears, heartened by Frodo's words. At the advice given, he removes the phial from his friend's neck and, looking up at Stacey, who closes her eyes, lips moving in silent prayer, slowly lifts the washrags of of Frodo's wound. It begins to bleed again, but Sam dutifully washes it away with the phial water, blinking back tears.

[Veritas]

While drinking with Pio and Gimli and a lot of other people, she smiles, this was how it began, drinking wine with Pio, Birdland and Child.

"Jinkers, a lot happened since I arrived here eight day ago." Veritas sighs and is happy.

"So, what are we going to do now?" Pio asks with a spirit like if nothing happened.

"'What are we going to do now?' Well, rest a little! Maybe an elf like you is not tierd of all this, but I am. But we can do something later, but first, I want a big cup of soup, mushrooms please.!" And she orders two cups of soup.

[Rose Cotton]

Rose's eyes flickered open. She felt her streanth coming back. She looked at her right arm and saw it was bound up in cloth and old book pages. She reconized the pages as part of Child's Silm. Wow, I will really have to find some way to repay Child, thought Rose.

She walked to the center of the party field and looked around at where, just a little while ago she had been celebrating free from any worries.

Then Rose made her way to where Veritas, Pio and Gimli were drinking deep. When she reached them she pulled somthing out from under her arm and held it out to them.

THEY ALL STARED AT IT WITH A MIX OF FEAR AND SUPRISE.

"Is that.....?" asked Veritas.

"It's the REG." finnished Rose.

"We knew that." said Pio, growing angry. "How did you get it?"

"Well," she replied " Remember when I was attacking Morgoth I was able to snatch this from him with my little hobbit fingers. He didn't even know I took it."

Around them, others were now looking very frighned by the sight of the REG as if it were a bomb about to go off.
smilies/eek.gif smilies/eek.gif smilies/eek.gif

[ May 29, 2002: Message edited by: Rose Cotton ]

[Cimmerian]

It was an uphill task for the RPG brigade to carry the huge entwife Birdland with then after putting much effort in trying to catch her.(We used the REG to sucker punch her... heh heh!)

Cimmerian led from the front, carrying a still loudly snoring Rosa on his shoulder.
He pointed his sword towards the Freestyle RPG room and the brigade began to move, pulling the bound and gagged Birdland behind them. The massive creature was heavy, buy slowly almost imperceptively she began to move as the brigade put their mighty backs and shoulders into the herculean task.

"Onward," shouted Cimmerian, "The prodigal must be returned!"

[Losthuniel]

Celeaewen returned to earth rather painfully, having just been wandering the soft darkness of unconsiosness. she groaned, and noticed that there was a bandage on the shoulder that had been caught in dragon's blood. she winced.it was her right arm. better hope no more action came along for some time, at least not her way. and that she would be unable to play her harp. just then she saw Cimmerian and followers trying to go stealthly through the wodds, hindered by the fact that they were dargging Birdland. she shok her head, and hoped that SOMEONE was able-bodied.

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo is still lying down, not being able to stand yet.
"C7A, this is for you." Frodo hands her a book bound in purple velvet with "The Silmarillion" written in gold on the front. The book has a jeweled lock and latch. The lock is open with a solid gold key on a mithril chain.
"I know it can never replace you precious, but it may help."

[Frodo Baggins]

YAYYY!! I started another page!!! woo hooo!!!

[piosenniel]

Pio took a deep breath and focused on Rose. She ruffled the hair on her head and gave her a big hug.

'I knew you would pull through for us, you little thief!!',she exclaimed with a tone of affection and relief.

Now that they had the REG there was no worry about Melkor figuring out a return engagement using it. The wheels also started turning in Pio's head about the now continued possibility of ransom.

'Rose, Veritas - we've got to get Child and Birdie back here with us. The REG could still net us some tidy profits if we play our cards right this time. Can you find somewhere to keep it secret and safe, Rose? - until we can contact Mithadan again. & please make sure you don't touch any of the buttons, although I think it is still in the *off* mode from Melkor.'

Pio's brain was spinning with possibilities - 'Too bad I had to skewer the laptop.' she thought to herself.'That could have brought in a few bags of silver pieces I'll bet.'

Pio poured Rose, Veritas, and herself a large drink, and the three put heads together and began to consider the next step in their plan.

[Birdland]

Birdie had just returned to the Party Field, congratulating her self for her role in "The Battle of the Void", and looking forward to hitting the freshly stocked buffet tables, and more importantly, the freshly stocked bar.

Suddenly a net is dropped over her head, and her hands are bound with heavy, iron chains. It's Cimmerian and his nefarious Roleplaying Press Gang or (RPG)!

"Veterans!" he cackled, "After what you've just been through for the last 5 pages, you lot will do splendid in the Freestyle RPG room."

"And as for you, Birdland. Think you can just go AWOL from A HOBBITS' TALE, do ye? Leave us in the lurch in Bree and just wonder off? We'll see about that! We've got a special 'adventure' for deserters. MuWaHAHA!"

"NOOOOO!" thinks Birdie. I just helped battle Morgoth! I can't go back to standing around ooohhhing and aaahhhing while hobbits stage a make-out party"

Morphing into full Ent Wife mode, Birdie breaks the chains binding her. Grabbing the ends of the chains, she swings Cimmerian's minions over her head and flings them across the field, where they crash into a stockpile of 1420 ale.

"That ought to keep them happy for awhile", said Birdie, then she morphed into her Corfu charater and flew off to the buffet table.

[ May 29, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]

[ May 29, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]

[piosenniel]

Pio poured herself another pint of brew and settled back comfortably in her chair. It was good to relax for a while. The wounded seemed to have gotten taken care of and were now refueling their bodies and spirits with food and drink from the sumptuous tables. Rose had gone off to hide the REG and Veritas had gone off in search of a few more mushroom dishes to enjoy.

A sudden scuffle came into pio's field of view, on the farther end of the fields. It was Birdie, and she looked to be in trouble. Someone had thrown a net over her and was attempting to drag her off. But, no, the doughty warrior had ripped off the net and was throwing her assailants right and left. 'An Ent, too' thought pio, tucking away that valuable piece of information. She watched in amazement as Birdie morphed again and flew toward her position.

'Need any help?' asked pio, standing to draw her blade.

'What I need is a large drink or two, and a plate of those fried Mushrooms,' gasped the parched woman.

'Where's Rose, Veritas, and Child?' came the muffled question as Birdie stuffed her mouth with food.

[Samwise]

Sam, who had just managed to stop crying over Frodo's being hurt, now started bawling again at his sweet gesture. http://www.plauder-smilies.de/sad/azcrying.gif

Primrose: Oh, Papa.... smilies/rolleyes.gif http://www.plauder-smilies.de/pftroest.gif

Stacey: Prim, I could sure use some tea. http://www.plauder-smilies.de/yellows/dozey.gif

Primrose: *Running off* I'll go see if I can find a pot!

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo is now able to sit up, and is laughing his head off. "Oh, Sam!" giving Sam a hug, "you're hopeless. But hopeless in a good way."

[Samwise]

Stacey chuckles. Sam, whose face and eyes are now both red, hugs Frodo back.

Sam: Thank you, sir...*sniffle* http://www.plauder-smilies.de/sniff.gif

*Stacey gets up and goes to see how Primrose is doing with the tea.*

[Rose Cotton]

Rose giggled when Pio ruffled her hair.
And the drinks and food she receved strengthed her enough to go hide the REG.

It was strange that at first she had been trying to stop Pio, Veritas, Child, and Birdie from ransome but now that she was one of them she was contect with whatever they wanted. It felt good to be part of a team.

Then she thought of Pio's words:

'I knew you would pull through for us, you little thief!!'

She was becoming a pritty good theif.
Frodo's jewls, the REG, and Sind's sword. Then Rose looked down at the blade. She had ment to return it but now she saw it was badly stained and worn from it's last battle. She decided she would keep it. Her own elven sword.

"I name you Vardatil from the barrow-down's name generator. It means theif's friend."

Watch out Bilbo, there's a new burgler in Middle Earth. And she went off the find a good hiding place.

[Samwise]

Primrose comes back with a cup and saucer in her hands. She walks slowly, so as not to spill it.

Stacey: Ah--thank you much, dear.

She relieves the little hobbit of her "burden", and lets her run back to the kitchen behind the bar. Stacey places the cup and saucer gently in Frodo's lap.

[VanimaEdhel]

Menelduliniel sighs, as the battle is over, and she did not have to fight...as she gets a little carried away when she fights. She refills her ale mug for only about the 70th time...

"So: anyone interested in a story...?"

[Rose Cotton]

She found a tree were the little box fit perfectly under it's roots. Then covering the place with ferns and grass she returned to her new.... friends? Yes. Definatly. You couldn't save the world without becoming friends.

[ May 29, 2002: Message edited by: Rose Cotton ]

[Rose Cotton]

As Rose returns to the bar she spots Sam and decides to talk to him.

"Hello Sam. Hey, you know what would hit the spot right now? If your up to it. Some of your famous coney stew. I fancy Primrose would be able to catch you some rabbits with that bow of hers."

She smiled. Sam always made her smile.

[Samwise]

Sam's stomach rumbled at the suggestion.

Primrose jumped up. "I'll be back soon, Papa!" she said, running off into the woods.

Sam: Be careful, Tiny Rose!

Stacey: Watches Primrose run off, wondering if her father's "Coney stew" will be much different from the "Rabbit soup" her pastor's wife used to make....
Sam went red to the ears and muttered something inaudible, as he clutched the box and bowed as well as he could.

[VanimaEdhel]

Menelduliniel looks around...

"Any takers on the story? I know many good ones..."

[Rose Cotton]

Rose watched as Primrose ran off.

Then she remembered the REG. What if Primrose found it while hunting? Rose's stomach lurched. Pio, Veritas, Child and Birdie would be really mad. Then she shook off the feeling. The REG was well hidden. Primrose wouldn't find it.

Then Rose walked over to Pio and Veritas.

[Birdland]

Birdie and the other members of the Distaff Fellowship are kicking back, "filling up the corners", so to speak. Birdie reaches for the nearest bottle and puts up her feet.

"A story sounds good about now, Menelduliniel. Let's here it."

[Rose Cotton]

"So Rose," asks Child "Where did you hide the REG."

"Under a tree deep in the forest over there. It's as snug and a hobbit in a hobbit hole. How much do you think we could get for it?" Replyed Rose.

[Rose Cotton]

Just then Primrose returned from the trees.
She had sussecfully caught a good number of rabbits.

Rose watched anxiously to see if Primrose had the REG with her or not. She couldn't tell if that was just another rabbit under her arm or not.........

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo looked at the cup and saucer in his lap, and then at Stacey "And you did this because....? I hope C7A liked my gift, she hasn't said anything." *sigh*

[Samwise]

Sam's jaw drops at the sight of the number of coneys Primrose has brought back in such a short time.
Sam:"Tiny Rose?? Where'd you get all them? "

Primrose: *chuckles* Well, Papa, I guess all of our --uh-- 'craziness' out here scared 'em all out of wherever they were hidin'--or, now that things've calmed down, they all came out to see if things were safe--*smirks* and then I came along.
*She heaves one from over her shoulder, lifts one arm and lets one drop to the ground, and does the same with the one in the other hand.*

Stacey wonders if they're going to "fix" the rabbits here, but Sam says:

Come on, Tiny Rose, let's take them down by the river an' do some skinnin. I wonder if they've got the herbs I use, here....

*He and his daughter pick up the rabbits and head for the river. Stacey heaves a sigh of relief that they aren't going to "fix" the rabbits right there.

She turns to Frodo.

Well, tea always calms my nerves. Sad to say, that's probably one of the only "hobbity" things about me, 'cept that my hair's brown and I like flowers. smilies/wink.gif

[Samwise]

Stacey: And Frodo, I'm sure C7A liked your gift. I saw that she seemed awfully upset having to do what she did with hers--but I'm glad she did--it was necessary. Maybe she just hasn't 'come down' from all the craziness, yet, either.

[Kettle of fish]

Ket balanced painfully on a stool. Somewhere in the melee, it had been used as a helmet and now had a large dint. More upsettingly, its fish were missing, and it had no idea what was going on.

[Birdland]

(Hee-Hee!) Anyone wanna tell Ket what happens to fish at Barrow Down parties? smilies/biggrin.gif

[Child of the 7th Age]

Child came roaring back onto the Barrow-downs site and began pestering everyone to find out where Frodo Baggins was. She carried a beautiful copy of the Silm under her arm, bound in purple velvet and with a mithril chain and lock.

She truly had never owned such a gorgeous volume. She had once tried to purchase such a collectors' edition on e-bay, but discovered that her meagre earnings as a Shire messenger did not cover the cost of such a book.

Child was babbling incoherently. She had apparently left the Downs for several hours in order to communicate with her employers. They had questioned her story about being detained by Morgoth in the void, and she had even feared that she might lose her appointment as a messenger. And since Child's hobbit family lacked the resources of the Bagginses or Tooks, it was quite important that she retain her position and salary.

Child had managed to settle that matter and had then returned to the party site. She had just discovered the beautiful Silm given to her by Frodo and was very excited.

Child races over to Frodo and gives the poor skinny fellow a large squashy, motherly hug. "You are a dear," she tells him, "and I'm glad you are looking better now, although you could still use a meal or two to put some meat on those hobbit bones!"

Child secretly decides to cook a big pot of mushroom stew after she gets home and have one of her children carry it over to Frodo's hobbit hole in the Downs, both as a thank you and to make sure that the fellow ate a bit more properly. Child could be a bit absent minded at times, but, like all properly raised hobbits, she had immaculate manners and was very careful to say thank you.

[ May 30, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Veritas]

When she hears Birdland caliing if anybody wants to explain what happened to Kettle, she walks over to tell the story:

"I jumped in the story on page 5, and then everybody was a bit sleeping. I met there pio, Birdland and Child, they were planning to steel the Random Events Generator from Mithadan. well, we stole it and threw Mithadan in the river.

He was found by Frodo and came back to us a little angry, we gave him his stuff back, exept for the REG and his laptop. Then suddenly the REG was dissapeard, so we found him back, and that a few times, I thought.

Then we send Mithadan and the Barrow-Wight an e-mail that we had the REG, but when I was checking it, the REG appeard on the screen, and it was gone.

This is when Rose jumped in, we touched the screen and went to a forest, where a temple was. There was the old friend of Gollum, and he wanted renege, that's why he gave Mithadan the REG, and Mithadan had followed us into the laptop, and found us.

It seemed that Deagol was not Deagol, but Morgoth. He send Mithadan and his friends back, but we staid, and were locked up to make a dissicion about wether we wanted to join him or not. He changed the temple into the void.

Suddenly we heard singing form outside, and we began to sing. Morgoth broke our piramid, and then a great battle was began.

On the fields of Cormallan the Valar were come, and with them all the party-members went down in the void to rescue us. Morgoth wanted to escape, but pio stoped him by destroying the laptop.

And then we were at page 16! I hope I explained it a bit, any notes are welcome!"

[Rose Cotton]

Rose being relived Primrose hadn't found the REG now listened to their strange adventure.

"Our adventure dosn't have to be over yet." she half pleaded "To go home now would be like giving up. And besides, we still have the REG." Rose thought about that. She got up from her seet. "I'll be right back" she said absent mindedly. She walked into the woods and they could hear her murmer "We DO still have the REG."

[Kettle of fish]

Ket smiled - if a copper kettle could smile. (But Ket always found that ignoring these anomalies was better that thinking about them too hard, because if you brought too much attention to them, the universe would catch on that something was wrong, and all of a sudden, you wouldn't be able to smile. Or think. Which really simplified matters, but made life much more boring.)

"Thankyou Veritas. Everything has gotten stranger since I started knowing stuff - but it is starting to resemble a more ordered chaos. Kind of like a pizza."

All the while, Ket kept a keen lookout for the fish. It was uneasy eversince Birdland's comment and was hoping the fish had enough money to bribe themselves out of trouble. Unless they stuck together, of course. Then the green fish could do its kung fu and flip them all out of trouble...

[Losthuniel]

Celeaewen was happily drowning herdelf in food, like only a wounded not-so-warrior could. her lovly dream turned slightly nithmarish, when she saw Veritas talking to-a kettle? this was frightening. she looked at her food suspisiosly, and pushed it away, took another sip of her miruvor, and pushed that away too. Never could be too safe.

[Frodo Baggins]

Oh, C7A. Haha I hoped you liked it. I didnt see you so I was wondering.
It's non a case of mot eating properly, its a case of being overlooked. I probably would have been left to die if it wasn't for Sam.
I'm glad you like your gift C7A
smilies/smile.gif smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/wink.gif

[piosenniel]

Pio sat back in her chair, and perched her feet on the table since there was no one else sitting with her at the moment. A large pint of dark ale was cradled in her hands, and she raised it to her lips for a satisfying swig.

Glancing out the door of the makeshift party tavern, she thought she saw a familiar small figure hurrying toward the edge of the fields and toward the trees. The semifurtiveness of the figure's movements made her narrow her eyes for a closer look.

'It's Rose,' she thought to herself. 'What's the little one doing way out there by herself?'

Getting up from the table, the drink now abandoned, she nudged Veritas and pointed at the figure just slipping under the canopy of the leaves.

'It's just Rose,' said Veritas,'probably going for a walk. What's the problem?'

Pio, her head cocked, listening intently, turned back to Veritas and grabbed her arm in preparation for a swift sprint after the now disappeared hobbit.

'Walk, heck!!', said Pio, starting to drag the wizard along at a good clip.'She's muttering something about "my precious" to herself. This could bode ill!'

[Rosseiliantiel]

Rosseil was, as well, eating as much as she could of nearly everything (she's a vegetarian) and glugging ale, miruvor, water, wine, anything she could reach. she was just polishing off a Insalata Caprese (very good, italian food is)when she noticed Celeae pushing her food away and staring at somthing: a large copper kettle seemed to be talking. Rosseil scrutinized her food, shrugged, and continued eating and drinking at a rapid pace.
"Sheleae, wugh fu paf pha breaf am buffer, pleef?"

[Frodo Baggins]

Rose?? Oh no, Rose. Tell me she's not doing this!!! *Frodo painfully follows Rose*
ow...ow..ow

[VanimaEdhel]

Menelduliniel sits down to think of a real story...

"Hmmm...what would you prefer: an adventure story or a love story?" (She thinks of both, depending on which is chosen...)

"Okay: have two: now pick!"

[Rose Cotton]

Rose felt drawn somhow to the REG. She took it from it's hiding place too look at it. She had to find some way so she could completely control it's actions. She pryed it open and started to work with the wires. It was strange. She felt like she new exactly what to do. In a trance-like state she programed the REG untill it suddenly lit up. It made a huge screeching noise. Then everything was quite. The REG had shrunk. It was now a small as the palm of Rose's hand.

Then she new as if it had told her that she was now it's master. She could do anything.

"Make a plate of mushrooms." Rose said to the REG. A plate of mushrooms apeared.

By this time Pio, Veritas, and Frodo had reached Rose and were watching her from behind a tree. Rose got up and started to walk back to the party.

"Wait" called Pio. "Rose, what are you doing?"

"I was checking to see if the REG was safe" She replyed with her usuall smile.

"Where is it" asked Veritas.

"It's um...."

"You have it, don't you." said Frodo.

Then Pio said " Rose, you shouldn't play with it. It can be dangerous."

"Dangerous?" Rose laughed."It's not anymore. I have tamed it. I am it's master now." Then she walked up to a tree. "Make this tree purple" the tree turned purple.
"Now you try it." she said. She handed the REG to Frodo who said:

"Make the grass blue" nothing happened. Then Pio and Veritas tried. But they couln't do it either. Then Rose took the REG and placed it back in her pocket.

"And I can do so much more with it. I can summon people and things. Create weapons out of thin air. Yes. In the wrong hands this is the most dangerous weapon in the world. But don't worry. I won't do anything bad with it.And if anyone tries to take it to use it for evil I can easily stop them. For example, by sending arrows at them." Then she walked back to the party grounds.

[ May 30, 2002: Message edited by: Rose Cotton ]

[Samwise]

I hope I explained it a bit, any notes are welcome!"
Primrose: Actually, it was Papa and I as found Mister Mithadan in the River...

Samwise:Tiny Rose, that dosen't matter in the least. I was glad for the explanation.

Stacey: Me, too! Those parts were really confusing. Now that I've read the explanation, my head's more clear on everything too--and I was here when it happened! smilies/tongue.gif

[Samwise]

Stacey had gone to see if Sam and Primrose were near being through (though if they weren't, she was going to close her eyes and come back ASAP).
As she came back up the hill, she saw that Frodo was gone!
Stacey: Oh, no! Where is he!?!? smilies/eek.gif I do not want to see Sam upset again.... smilies/rolleyes.gif

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo is leaning against a tree, looking pale and brething heavily. "I'm here, Stacey. Rose is up to something I di not feel is right. I tried to follow her but I can't. I'm stil not strong enough."

[Rose Cotton]

When Rose returned to the party field she decided she'd test her new power. The field was a mess after all that had happen so she whispered.

"Clean the field" the party site suddenly looked alot cleaner. The tents were back up all the way. The trash was gone. Everything was back the way it should be. A lot of people looked up in amazment but none of them knew Rose had done it. Exept for Frodo, Veritas, and Pio who were standing at the edge of the trees.


[ May 30, 2002: Message edited by: Rose Cotton ]

[ May 30, 2002: Message edited by: Rose Cotton ]

[Samwise]

Stacey: Not right, eh...?
She glances over to where Rose is with Pio and Veritas. Suddenly, the mess left by the battle is cleared, and Stacey sees a pleased smile on Rose's face. She wonders what it's about....

[Samwise]

Just then, Sam and Primrose come up from where they had done their "Rabbit fixing", carrying a large pot between them. Both stop and stare a moment at the clean
condition of the feild.

Sam: Eh...Miss Stacey, what happened?

Stacey: I'm not sure, Sam. I'm going to go back and check on Frodo. You and Prim get that stew ready, will you? I can't remember the last time I ate....
She goes back to help Frodo.

[Frodo Baggins]

I'm alright, Stacey. I just overdid it trying to chase after Rose. Not strong enough yet.

[Samwise]

Stacey: Well, sir, if you're not strong enough, then I suggest you take my help anyway. Besides which, I'm bigger than you. smilies/tongue.gif
With that she picks him up and carries him back to where they'd been sitting.
Jeez,she thinks,I think I've been hanging around Sam too long. Next I'll be calling him 'Mister Frodo......'

[Kettle of fish]

Ket jumped from plate to plate, rumaging amongst all the food, looking for its fish. To any bystander, it looked as though the kettle had gone beserk and was attacking the food.

[Rose Cotton]

Rose noticed the Kettle. So she asked someone what it was about and they told her it was looking for it's fish.

"Oh." Rose said "Well then, I'll just help it out."Then in a whisper she said "Give the kettle it's fish."

Suddenly a bunch of fish appeared in front of the kettle.

[ May 31, 2002: Message edited by: Rose Cotton ]

[Rose Cotton]

Then Rose saw how Stacy had to carry Frodo because the poor hobbit wasn't strong enough.
I wonder if I could give his strength back, thought Rose.

"Give Frodo Baggins his old strength." Rose wasn't sure if that would work or not. But she hoped so. She didn't want Frodo to be weak.

Then Rose smelt the coney stew Sam was now setting over a fire. She's eat when the stew was done. For now, she wanted to help more people. That's all she wanted with her new power. To help people.

But who knows what the REG wanted...........

[ May 31, 2002: Message edited by: Rose Cotton ]

[Veritas]

"This will not go right, I don't know, but that REG, it's so dangerous, even Morgoth couldn't handle it perfectly, otherwise we wouldn't had been in the temple first." Said Veritas worried.

"Come, we must go and tell her that's not good to use it." Pio said and they walked over to Rose.

"Rose," began Veritas, "Don't you think that thing is ahm... dangerous?"

"Of course not, I help people," But Rose's voice sounded strange...
"REG, take Pio, Frodo and Veritas to the bar and give them a drink."

And then they were in the bar, with a big glass of coke.

"I decide that I hate REG's." Frodo growled.

[Ecthelion1]

A mysterious figure enters the party field. He is robed in a long grey cloak and his face is obscured by a deep hood. A long sword hangs from his waist and he bears a pack.

Ignoring the curious stares of others, he traverses the field and enters the bar. Seizing a tankard filled with ale, he rests himself on a stool and turns to the other occupants of the room. An amused but muffled voice comes from the shadows of the hood. "Well met, my friendth. What newth from the void?"

Veritas, dubious of the newcomer's intentions, raises her staff and steps before the Hobbits. Birdland, Child of the Seventh Age and Piosenniel enter the room, glaring darkly at the stranger.

"Come now," he says. "I've heard this ith a party and all are welcome. I bear no ill will to any here. Indeed, I am told you are all heroeth. I am here for your tale. There is nothing mythterious about that."

[Frodo Baggins]

"I decide that I hate REG's" Frodo growled.
And he was not necessarily ready to be on speaking terms with Rose. After the jewelry-pinching and now this REG bususness, he did not trudt her. Then the black-robed figure came in. Frodo was so startled he nearly fell off his chair. "Hmmmm....you don't sound evil." still not in good mood nor very trusting feeling, he said anyway "Welcome Ecthelion, I am a hobbit, Baggins is the name, Frodo Baggins.

[Veritas]

"Then welcome here, it are strangs times, we must not trust everybody." And Veritas gives Ecthelion a drink.

Pio walks towards him, "You must have travalled a long time." And she points to the bag, who seemed to be more full then it could be.

"I come from far." Ecthelion sais and drinks his ale. "Nothing is to far for someone who has a reason to go. My reason is the story."

[piosenniel]

Pio stepped over to the stranger in grey and looked him up and down. Her hand rested lightly on the grip of her sword, her eyes alert for any movements he made toward his sword.

His hands rested casually on the bar, one finger tracing designs on the side of his mug. He made no effort to reveal his face, but she could somehow sense him smiling.

'Mae govannen, stranger. We are all friends here, can you not reveal yourself to us? It would make for a more companionable time drinking.'

The grey-cloaked stranger said nothing but motioned for Pio to sit next to him.

She perched on the stool to his left and regarded him once again. Leaning in close to him she said in an undertone 'And how comes it that a stranger asks for news from the Void?'

[Child of the 7th Age]

Child sat hidden, perched behind a large barrel of ale that sat upon the table. She had an extremely uncomfortable feeling in her stomach.

Rose Cotton was not acting normal, at least what passed as normal for Rose.

And Frodo? He normally did not extend himself to strangers he didn't know. Especially strangers in grey cloaks inquiring about the void. Frodo usually seemed to have a sixth sense when dealing with anything or anybody that was shady. Child hoped Sam would keep an eye on Frodo.

And Child simply did not trust that stranger. Who would want to know about the void? What possible good could such information be? Unless, unless...... that individual had some kind of inherent interest in very shady things floating around in the dead of night, and perhaps wanted to benefit in some way.

Child shook her head. She didn't like it at all!

[Ecthelion1]

"Well now," he said. "Last week I was just walking along, very interested in this party that I had heard about when I was abruptly snatched up by ... something ... and suddenly found myself many leagues away in a strange city. Curious. You all wouldn't have any idea what could have done that do you?"

The group remained silent and some thought guiltily about the uses and abuses that the REG had been put to. But Piosenniel noted that the visitor was no longer lisping and moved her hand back to her hilts.

"After orienting myself, I made my way here. Quite a long journey really. On the way, the skies grew dark and a great clamour arose in the West; distant rumour of some great battle it seemed. Then the darkness passed and I continued my journey. Upon reaching these fields, I have heard many rumours... of the void and of Morgoth nearly being released. And so I asked, what news of the void?"

As he spoke, his bag slipped from his shoulder and its flap opened slightly. From within an odd glow emitted...

[VanimaEdhel]

Menelduliniel gives a little wave to Ecthelion and goes over to the corner to pout because no one wanted to hear EITHER of her stories (Welcome to the BD, Ecthelion, by the way!)...

*Pouts...and drinks*

[Ecthelion1]

Thank you kindly, VanimaEdhel. Perhaps there will be time for stories soon. Perhaps there will be time....

[VanimaEdhel]

Menelduliniel bows to Ecthelion, feeling a strange loyalty and respect for him. She cannot figure out why...

She comes out of the corner and refills her ale mug, and sits next to Ecthelion.

"So, tell me of you, then," she says, quietly.

[Losthuniel]

Celeaewen saw the kettle hopping along the table, attacking the food.
" Rosseil, is it me, or is that Kettle possesed?""
Rosseil shrugged " mmf. i funno. paf da miruvor"
Celeaewen was worried. Rosseil was usually the first to react ot unusual events. unless it was all in her head......

[VanimaEdhel]

Menelduliniel looks at the kettle and jumps

"AIYA!" Menelduliniel shrieks, falling back into Elvish, "Mani naa tanya? (What is that?)"

She jumps from where she is sitting and eyes the kettle, suspiciously...

[Rose Cotton]

Rose was alittle hurt that no one trusted her with the REG. And Frodo was acting very cold towards her too. This and the fact that she couldn't find anyone to help made her very depressed. She saw a young hobbit and decided to have some fun.

"Hello." she said to the girl.
"Hi" the girl replyed.
"Do you like flowers?"
"Oh yes."
"I can do a magic trick with flowers. Watch. Give me the seed of a daffodil." the young hobbit was amazed when a seed apeared in Rose's hand. She planted it in the ground then said "Make the flower grow until it blossoms" Even Rose was astounded by the way the stem grew out of the ground and blossoms into a full flower. She liked it so much she repeted the prosses for awhile.

Then an idea came to Rose. She picked one of the flowers and summoned a Silmalarion book. She went over to Frodo and offered him the Gifts.

"Frodo. Please forgive me for the theft of the jewls. I want to be friends please don't be angry."

[ May 31, 2002: Message edited by: Rose Cotton ]

[Ecthelion1]

Alarmed by the moving kettle, the mythterious stranger leaped up and unsheathed his sword. In the process, his bag fell to the floor and an open laptop fell out, its screen glowing in an ominous shade of green.

He stepped between the kettle and the guests brandishing his bright blade. In doing so he stood within a step of Rosa. Twirling abruptly, he snatched the REG from her nerveless hands and leaped behind the bar. His hood and cloak fell to the ground revealing the grim visage of...

[Mithadan]

...Mithadan.

[VanimaEdhel]

Menelduliniel looks on, very amused...and confused. Hey that rhymed!

She draws her knives and looks at the kettle as it starts twitching...

[Rose Cotton]

When Mithadan grabed the REG from Rose she grew angry.

"Give that back! It's mine now! She that it is smaller. I have tamed it."

" I don't know what has come over you but a little hobbit like yourself will not be able to take it."

When Rose spoke again her voice was strange even to herself."REG. Come to my side." the REG swooped through Mithadan's arms and landed in Rose's outstreched hand. "Take us to the forest." Then she was gone.

(BTW, my name is Rose not Rosa
And also: Wonderful entrance Mith)

[ May 31, 2002: Message edited by: Rose Cotton ]

[Rose Cotton]

When she apeared in the woods. Rose tried to think of a plan. It wouldn't be long until Mithadan was after her and soon the entire party would be too. But why didn't she just let Mithadan have it?
"I am yours" sayed the voice in her head. She reconized it as the one that had spoken to her before. It was the REG.

"But Mithadan is an administrator."

"I belong to you. You are the only one that can comand me."

"Why?"

"You will see." Rose was frightened. But she couldn't give up the REG.

[Mithadan]

Mithadan stood still for a moment, shocked by this turn of events. Then he rounded the bar once again and seized the fallen laptop. A map of the surrounding area appeared but he cursed quietly. Rose's (apologies, slippery fingers) location did not appear on it. He changed the view until the map showed a wider area. Then he zoomed in again and smiled grimly.

"She didn't specify what forest," he said. "She's in Fangorn."

He looked up at the group which had surrounded him bearing knives, bottles and chairs. Then he sheathed his sword.

"I would think that your little 'adventure' in the void would have convinced you that the REG is dangerous and now very unpredictable," he said drily. "Rose thinks that she controls it. Say rather that it now controls her. And who knows what mischief it will do. It nearly freed Morgoth... with a little help." He glared at the guests who now lowered their weapons and shuffled their feet sheepishly.

With a pointed look at Birdland, Piosenniel and Child, he continued. "I trust that you now believe me when I say it must be destroyed. You must follow Rose, find the REG and take it from her. It must be destroyed, not hidden. Do not be fooled by it. It is malfunctioning. It is no longer a tool for livening up a party. It is much more than that."

He handed the laptop to Birdland and smiled. "You did well in the encounter with Morgoth. You must find Rose. She will not trust me but she will trust you, her friends."

Piosenniel asked, "Will you not come with us?"

"No," responded Mithadan. "Not immediately anyway. I have an errand elsewhere which will likely consume several days. And as I said, she does not trust me. But you...all of you have grown. You are no longer newbies. You can do this task. But I am not saying I will not help. You may see me again ere the end."

He handed his pack and its contents to Child. "This may assist you," he said. "Now, I must go." With that, he walked from the room and, again, disappeared.

[VanimaEdhel]

Erm...ummm...Mith: isn't there a "no new screen-names" unwritten rule? Oh well...haha.

She watches Rose struggle with Mithadan, very amused!

[Rose Cotton]

Rose had been wandering for awhile but couldn't figure out where she was. But she could now talk freely with the REG so she asked it.

"Tell me where we are."

"We are in the forest." it said in her head."Fangorn forest."

"What! I wanted to go to the forest around the party."

"You didn't say that. Besides, I wanted to come here."

"Why?"

"We have to get as far away from Mithadan as possible. And..we are also going to get the Ents on our side. You will talk to treebeard. Tell him that Mithadan and the others are going to burn Fangorn."

"No."

"Do it. If the Ents are on your side nothing will stop you."

"But Mithadan and the rest are my friends. Who knows what the Ents will do to them if I tell Treebeard that."

"They don't trust you. They don't matter anymore. Think! You could rule middle earth with me. And only me."

"No!!" Rose threw down the REG and brought out her sword. But suddenly it dissapeared from her hands and was replaced by the REG.

"You have no choice now."

Rose tried with all her might to fight off the REG but it overpowered her. It took control of her body and Rose's soul was trapped inside of her.

Then Rose spoke. They were words that were not hers. They belonged to the REG. It was speaking through her. Using her body like a puppit. Then it transported them to Treebeard's home.

[ May 31, 2002: Message edited by: Rose Cotton ]

[Losthuniel]

Celeaewen watched all the events of the last page rather apprehensivly. she was NOT ready for another battle, with her wounded shoulder. then she saw Rose dissapear
" oh sh*t. Rosseil, am i imagining things, or did that hobbit just disapear?"
Rosseil shook her head. " no, no, she dissapeared" and went back to eating. Celeaewen was decidely wiered out. Rosseil was not reacting AT ALL to all these strange things. something was very, vey wrong........

[Samwise]

Sam sat by the fire, watching the stew. Primrose came back to him with some spices that he needed.
Prim: Papa, isn't Miss Rose acting a tad odd?

Sam: *nods* She is, Tiny Rose, she is. *Looks around* Where did she go off to, any way?

Stacey: Have either of you seen Frodo? I'm afraid he's going to hurt himself if he dosen't get more rest. He's almost as stubborn as....*glances at Sam, a half-grin on her face...* smilies/wink.gif

[Child of the 7th Age]

Child glanced about her. She could see that Birdland had Mith's laptop firmly tucked under her arm. It had fortunately been recharged and appeared to be acting in a somewhat normal fashion.

Child struggled with the backpack which Mith had given her. What in all of Mandos was this? It appeared to be very lumpy and Child swore she could see something moving inside of it.

"Don't be ridiculous," she told herself. "Even Mith wouldn't pull a trick like this"

Still, she was curious. She emptied out the contents of the backpack on the ground. Much of it seemed pretty regulation for someone going off on an adventure. There was a considerable stack of Lembas which took up a good portion of the backpack.

There were also several maps of Middle-earth. What was perhaps strange was that each map was from a different age.

"First age, second age, third age, fourth age", she counted.

She wasn't sure this was good. Either Mith knew a lot more than any of them, or else, he knew absolutely nothing and had no idea where they would end up. Neither prospect particularly pleased her.

"Let's see, a frying pan, two hobbit size daggers, a magic rope, a portable Elven bow with arrows, instructions for erecting an emergency shelter. Hmm, how long does he expect us to be gone?"

And then, she came to the second compartment and opened it very, very slowly. She looked deep inside it and to her shock saw a very, very small golden dragon. It really was tiny. In fact, the first thing Child thought was, "This must be a hobbit dragon. Even if it gets older and grows, I doubt it will get much bigger than my pony."

Suddenly the bottom of the backpack started to smoke. "Oh, bother," she thought, "This crazy little thing is puffing out smokerings. Who ever heard of a baby dragon with smokerings?"

The tiny dragon emerged from the pack. Its green eyes whirled and glowed. Child tried to place it on her shoulder but it didn't seem that it wanted to be tamed. In fact, it seemed quite independent.

It took off and flew above the heads of Birdland, Pio, and herself. But it stayed quite close to them and seemed to listen as they spoke.

Child turned to her companions. "You know I think we better do what Mith said and go get this REG. Do you want to let some of the others know so they can go with us, or not? Frodo, Sam, whatever. Or we could leave a note and let them follow if they want? What do you think?"

Suddenly from above their heads, the small golden dragon dipped down, laughed, and looked them right in the eye. He chortled, "
Whoever you bring, the important thing is the REG. And once you get it, then you can decide what to do with it."

Child scratched her head. She thought this dragon had belonged to Mith, but what he said made no sense if that was so. Perhaps, he had simply crawled into the pack.

The dragon continued, "By the way, my name is Angara. I come from Falas, but now I live in the Northern Waste."

"Falas," Child scratched her head. "That wis a coastal realm of the Grey-Elves where CCirdan the Shipwright had originally llived. I believe it sank underneath tthe sea with Bereliand several ages ago. Oh, dear, this doesn't sound good."

[Gimli Son Of Gloin]

Gimli drains his 3,452 mug.

[Rose Cotton]

Rose found Treebeard easily.

"Hoom" he said " Who might you be. Hm I remember your kind here. Your a hobbit. What brings you here Hoom?"


"Treebeard, I am Rose Cotton from the Shire.Trouble is about. There are those that come to burn down Fangorn."

"Hoom hoom burn it down? You are very hasty but yes that does call for haste. Who might these tree burners be? Hm"

"A man named Mithadan. He is leading a group of hobbits, elves, and other folk."

It took a while for Treebeard to reply.But then he picked up Rose and said "Come, we will get help." the REG's plan was working. The Ent's would distoy Mithadan and all the partyers. Then it would take over Middle Earth. And Rose was powerless to stop it.

[ May 31, 2002: Message edited by: Rose Cotton ]

[VanimaEdhel]

Menelduliniel goes over, thinking maybe Gimli does have the idea right, after all!

She goes and joins him for more ale, and watches, apprehensively, ready to defend herself if necessary.

[Gimli Son Of Gloin]

Gimli drains his 5,672nd mug.

[Ithaeliel]

"Oy... I'm surprised you're still awake," says Ithaeliel, who has been observing from a distance but must be on her way.

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo was having second thoughts about being so forward with the stranger. Rose cam over to apologise and he kissed her on the cheek. However, when the REG floated into Rose's hands and she disappeared he fell of his chair and fainted.....

[Samwise]

Sam, out of the corner of his eye, sees Frodo fall.

Sam: Mister Frodo!

He leaves his daughter in the care of the pot and runs over.

Stacey, who had just come back to the field after having to go to another engagement, saw both Frodo falling and Sam running over.

Stacey: Not again..... smilies/rolleyes.gif

[Birdland]

Birdie was in the middle of a beautiful nap, after stuffing herself silly at the buffet, and downing a couple of three ales. (Sorry guys. I was sick as a dog for three days and my imagination buttons weren't working.)

Suddenly she was awakened abruptly by the startling re-appearance of Mithadan, who kicks her feet off the table.
"Oh, look who shows up NOW!. Mr. I'm-Number-Four-On-The-Board takes a 'vacation' just when Morgoth shows up."

"I purchased those tickets months in advance" he replied loftily. "Here. Take this." He shoves the suddenly resurrected laptop into Birdie's arms. "The party's not over yet, I'm afraid."

"Hey! How did you get this thing repaired so fast?

"Never mind that. Child and Pio will fill you in on the situation."

You know, when my PC went down, it took them two weeks to send a repair guy...uh, is that a kettle dancing on the table? Who turned on the REG?"

That is not an REG character. That is a newbie. Will you please listen! The REG should have been destroyed. It wasn't. Now you have to finish this job.

Mithadan swirls his cloak dramatically over his shoulders and stalks off muttering under his breath, "The trash can was right there! All they had to do was throw the REG into the trash can. But Noooo...they had to keep the thing and try to use it. You'd think they'd learn by now..."

Child and Pio come running up breathlessly. "Birdie, Rosie Cotton has stolen the REG and disappeared into the Fangorn Forest! We have to go after her, right now!"

"OK! OK! Hey, a little baby golden dragon. Awwww, he's sooooo cute! Yes he issums...come here, lil fellow..." Birdie reaches out and pats the dragon on the head. Then snatches her hand back immediately as the golden wyrmlette snaps viciously at her fingers.

"My name is Angara of the Northern Wastes, formerly of Falas," he states. "I am not a baby, thank you. And NOBODY pats me on the head!"

Mithadan had him in this pouch he gave us," said Child. "But I don't think he actually belongs to him." she finished doubtfully.

"Well, with that attitude, he should belong to Mith," grumbles Birdie. "I was just trying to be friendly!" Birdie scowls. Angara blows a smoke ring at her.

Birdie! Pay attention!" snaps Pio. "Rose has escaped to the Fangorn with the REG. We have to follow her and get it back. It's turned dangerous. The Barrow Downs itself could be threatened. Just think of the posters we'll get if that thing takes over the Downs!"

"We already have a dancing kettle."

"No, he's just a regular newbie. With some really interesting posts, so far...but never mind that!"

Birdie looks around the party. "Well, Gimli's 3,452 sheets to the wind. Don't know how much good he'll be. Where's Sam? He has a kinda thing for Rosie, doesn't he? Maybe he can talk some sense into her."

Child says, "Sam won't go without Frodo, and Frodo's still sick from his wounds."

"Now did he take ALL of the water from that phial like I told him?" Birdie huffs, "You know, you just can't stop taking that water when you start feeling a little better, you have to take the whole thing..."

"I don't know!" said Pio. "Listen, Rose is in Fangorn right now, OK? So Fangorn has Ents, Right. And what do Ents want?"

"Fertilizer?"

"Nooooo! Entwives! And who played an Entwife in the RPG room...?"

"Oh, I don't know if I can pull this off", Birdie protests.

"Sure you can!" exclaimed Child. "Treebeard and the gang haven't seen an Entwife in - what - 800 years? They'll be willing to believe anything in a birchbark skirt is an Entwife. You can do it, Birdie!"

"Oh, Alright" Birdie takes a deep breath and morphs into a 40-foot (approximately 12 meters) mulberry Entwife. "Well, how do I look"

Child and Pio tilt their heads and study Birdie critically. "She could use a little make-up." opined Pio.

"Oh, c'mon!"

"Can you do something with your leaves?" asked Child.

[ June 01, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]

[Gimli Son Of Gloin]

Gimli drains his 9,765th mug.

[piosenniel]

:: ooc -- Child, Birdie - exactly what age is this present b-day party taking place in?::

'Somehow', thought Pio to herself, 'I always thought of Entwives as a little shorter, and well, bushier. A little closer to their gardens. But I suppose a 40 foot Entwife is sure to get the immediate attention of an Ent!'

She looked at Birdie bemusedly, and at Child who was now fluffing up leaves as Birdie lifted her into the air. Child had just gotten out a rag and was polishing a few dusty twigs, followed by some rather vigourous pinching to bring that apple-cheeked appearance to the face, when Pio cupped her hand round her mouth and yelled up to them.

'HALLOOOOOOO! We've got some important planning that needs to get done before we start off in pursuit of the REG!!!!!'

Child stepped from the large brown hand that lowered her back to earth. And Birdie resumed a more normal size so that her friends wouldn't have to yell up at her.

Pio motioned them over to a secluded area of the Fields and invited them to sit and be comfortable. Pouring each a large glass of wine, and one for herself, she leaned back against a tree and said' 'I really think we should plan this out a little better than the previous adventure. The REG seems to be on a fast paced learning curve, and I doubt that flying by the seat of our pants will make it this time. And besides that, I'm concerned for the safety of Rose. I've grown quite fond of that spirited hobbit and I don't want anything bad happening to her.'

The other 2 shook their heads in agreement.

'What say we take a close look at that equipment Mithadan gave us', said Veritas coming up on the three from out of the shadows. 'And Birdie, can I take a look at that laptop? I'd like to see if it replicates the one that Pio skewered on our return from the Void.'

The four fell to parcelling out the contents of the bag and looking through the programs in the laptop.

In the shadow of the branches of an overhanging tree, the small gold dragon sighed and waited . . . 'These creatures are so slow!'

[Losthuniel]

Celeaewen was extermly worried. obviosly, one of them had come unhinged. But since Rosseil could see the kettle and she said Rose had dissapeared, and that it wasnt all in her head, Celeaewen was very worried for her friend's sanity. normally she would havve been rushing all over the place, to find the dissapearing hobbit, and...well no one had really seen a beserk kettle before. Celeaewen got up. what they needed was a phyciatrist. NOW

[Rose Cotton]

As Treebeard ran he only asked Rose one question.

"And where are these tree burners coming from?"

"The Fields of Cormallen." Rose replyed.
NO. I don't want to tell you. You' ll hurt everyone. thought Rose."You will need to round up as much help as you can. I'm not sure how many will attack but they will be agessive."Stop! REG, stop it now!

It was taking longer than the REG wanted but finally all the Ents were brought together and were having their Ent Moot.

The Ent Moot took a remarkably short time. Only one day. They all headed south to the edge of the forest to try and find their enimies.
They arn't enimies. And I don't want to find them. Please guys, don't come after the REG. These Ents look angry.

[ June 01, 2002: Message edited by: Rose Cotton ]

[Frodo Baggins]

Under the greenwood tree
Who loves to lie with me,
And turn his merry note
Unto the sweet birds throat,
Come hither, come hither come hither!
Here we shall see
No enemy
But winter and rough weather.

Who doth ambition shun,
And loves to live i' the sun,
Seeking the foods he eats,
And pleased with what he gets,
Come hither, come hither, come hither!
Here we shall see
No enemy
But winter and rough weather.
~William Shakespeare

Under a tree is where Frodo was sitting. He had a book in his hands, but was not reading. He was thinking. He remembered that poem, his half-hobbit cousin Cahira head read it for literature. He liked it, but he wished it was only winter and rough weather. He stared at the emerald cuff links that Sam had brought but forgotten to give to him. He listened to the plans to go after Rose and the REG. He wanted to go, but he knew he would not be albe to.
He thought Ents were supposed to be good. How he wished Merry and Pippin were here! They always understood ents better than he.
Frodo wondered what had come over him. He finally came out of his swoon, but it was a while before Sam would let him go. Now Frodo was wondering why he had been so friendly with the grey stranger. He was full of mistrust now. Was he coming to his normal senses alone? Or, had Sam finally given him what he really needed and deserved, A nice hard smack across the back of his head.
Frodo remained staring into space...

[ June 01, 2002: Message edited by: Frodo Baggins ]

[Frodo Baggins]

Not to mention that Rose Cotton was beginning to scare him silly.

[Gimli Son Of Gloin]

Gimli drains his 12,536th mug.

[Losthuniel]

Celeaewen was searching high and low over the aprty grounds for someone who knew insanity when they saw it. unfortunately, there seemed to be no such creature. Celeaewen was about ready to give up. she sat down, completly exahsted.
"and ya think with 500 people here, one of 'ems gonna be a shrink"

[Rose Cotton]

(Not Part of Story. Scared, are we Frodo? Well there's more to come yet. smilies/evil.gif LOL! Just kidding.Oh, and if you're confused: words in " " those things are what Rose is saying and words in italicsare what she is thinking. Back to story)

"I should ask the eagles to help us." said Rose. Haven't you ruined thing enough?She thought. "They would be usefull." They'd never believe you. You will never get the eagles on your side."Treebeard."

"Hoom hoom what is it now?"

"I am going to seek asistace from the eagles. I will be back shortly." Rose walked away from the Ents untill she was out of site then dissapeared. She reapeared close to the cliffs where the eagles lived.

[ June 01, 2002: Message edited by: Rose Cotton ]

[Gimli Son Of Gloin]

Gimli drains his 16,743rd mug.

[Samwise]

Primrose walks over with a bowl of stew in her hands. She waits a moment, as Mister Frodo is reading.
"M-mister Frodo, sir?" she finally stammers. For some reason, she is very nervous. Then, what is on her mind is a tad different than concentrating on getting her bow back from a moderator or aiming straight at elf-chasing hill trolls. "I--I wanted to ask you something... "

[VanimaEdhel]

Menelduliniel drains another mug of ale, then goes over to Rose.

"Ai! If you are asking for eagles, mellonamin, I might be able to help. I have met a few of them. Although they owe me no favors, maybe they would be willing to comply to one of your demands," she says to Rose.

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo looks at Primrose

"Yes Prim?? What do you want to ask?"

[Gimli Son Of Gloin]

Gimli drains his 20,647th mug.

[VanimaEdhel]

Menelduliniel, not being answered, goes and gets more ale and waits.

"Aiya: Gimli: Do you have a designated horse-rider? I mean, with all that ale...ai, well, naugrim..."

[Samwise]

http://www.plauder-smilies.de/rotwerd.gif
Primrose:*Gets on her knees and looks him in the eye*Well, sir--um--Papa told me so much about you--I feel like I know you--and--that I'm almost as close to you as he is.
Um, sir--Papa always said that he would have liked-- http://www.plauder-smilies.de/rotwerd.gif smilies/rolleyes.gif Why is this so hard?she thinks. Taking a deep breath, she says,
Sir, Papa always said that he would have had my brothers and sisters and I--*nearly whispers* call you 'Uncle'....

[Gimli Son Of Gloin]

'Naugrim, nope, never touch the stuff, Menelduliniel." says Gimli as he drains his 25,786th mug.

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo looked at Prim with wonder for a moment. Then he laughed!! And then he bacame serious.
"And you may, Tiny Rose. You may." He kissed her forehead and smiled.

It is nice to be back in Middle-Earth.

[ June 01, 2002: Message edited by: Frodo Baggins ]

[Samwise]

Primrose smiled broadly, glad she'd finally said it, and hugged Frodo's neck.

Thank you sir--ehm--Uncle Frodo.

Stacey, who had come over to help Sam serve stew to those who wanted it, stopped and watched this little scene.

Stacey: Well, I'll be darned, she's showing her heart here, too...

She chuckles and turns before Primrose sees her watching, and gets either mad or embarraassed or worse, both. As she turns, she catches Sam wipin a tear from his eye.

Stacey: Heh--guess he was watching, too.... smilies/wink.gif

[Samwise]

"And you may, Tiny Rose. You may."
OOC:LOL! Did you realize what you just said here, or was that on purpose?

[Rose Cotton]

(Not part of story. Um...Menelduliniel, perhaps you didn't see, put I am right now somwhere along the Misty Mountains. So even thought I'd love, I mean the REG would love to have your help, it would be difficult to comunicate right now. If you are confused then go back and read the story again. Back to the story.)

Gwahir the lord of eagles spotted Rose before she did him. He swooped down and questioned her.

"Who are you, and what is your errand?" He asked.

"I am here partly to ask your help and partly to warn you of great danger. There are those lead by Mithadan that are going to attack. They will start by burning down Fangorn forest. But then they plan to set dragons on the eagles. You will all surely be killed. Unless you join forces with the Ents." Rose said. These are feable lies. He will never believe them. thought Rose.

"Mithadan is a great friend and ali. Why would he do such a terrible thing? Why should I trust you over him?"

"Because I can prove it to you.What? No you can't.Then Rose reached into the pocket that didn't contain the REG. Instead there was a laptop inside that the REG had created. Rose opened it up and on the screen was a projection of Mithadan with torched in his hands and a burning forest behind him.You monster. You edited a figure of Mithadan into that scene and put the torches in his hands."That was the forest around the Fields of Cormallen. They are now up in smoke. Fangorn is next."

The eagle considered Rose for a minute then flew off. It was going to get the rest of it's army.

[Frodo Baggins]

What did I say, Sam? I'm confused.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Child was fidgeting with Mith's backpack. She found a very small keychain palantir in the very back pocket.

Birdland was still fussing with her hair and branches. She was an exceedingly large Ent, but she also appeared to be a very vain one as well.

Pio was running around in large circles instructing Birdland how to hold her branches and leaves. Angara was circling around Bird's treetop (or whatever Ents called the top of their head!), and was periodically setting small fires here and there which she then blew out!

That little dragon was a menace, Child thought. Why must she come with us? Oh, well, I guess it's supposed to be so.

Meanwhile, Child walked slowly over to where Frodo still lay, resting on the ground.

"Mr. Frodo," Child said, "I know you are not feeling right yet, and you will probably have to stay here while we go looking for Rose and the REG. I also know you're worried about Rose."

"Well, I have two favors to ask you. First, here is the copy of the beautiful Silm which you gave to me. I'm very afraid of taking it on this crazy adventure and losing it. So, please, please, keep it here till I return. If you go somewhere, hide it in a safe spot."

"Second, here is a little keychain palantir which Mith left in his backpack. We have the laptop, so this really isn't necessary for us."

Child looks down at the ground and surveys her large furry feet, "I can't explain this Frodo, but I think you were meant to have this palantir."

"Maybe you can keep track of where we are. When you feel better, you can join us, or......I don't know, maybe you will see something we haven't noticed and you can send through a message to one of us using osanwe-kenta. Pio is an Elf so she is into that kind of mind-to-mind communication. I'm just a hobbit so it's not as natural for me."

"I never was very good at that kind of thing," Child admitted plantively. "But you are special, so you should be able to do it, especially after your trip to the West and such."

Child stepped back and hung her head. She was surprised at her boldess. People just didn't remind Frodo about his trip to Elvenhome. Someimes, he looked sad when they did so. But this seemed too important not to say. And she knew in her heart that, in a pinch, Frodo could send them a message using osanwe-kenta. She always figured Galadriel had taught him that....

And Child did wonder what Rose might say or do if, out of nowhere, Frodo sent her a message of warning just like Gandalf had sent one to him when he had put on the Ring so very long ago. Or perhaps, he could offer Birdland some good advise.

Child had a sinking feeling that Birdland could use some good advise!

[Gimli Son Of Gloin]

Gimli drains his 31,987th mug.

[Samwise]

What did I say, Sam? I'm confused
OOC:LOL! That's one of the things I like about you--you seem to get as confused as easily as me....
I'm being sentimental. When you first posted:
"And you may, Tiny Rose. You may."
This was what came to my mind:
"Yet we may, Mister Frodo. We may."
Don't mind me.
Now back to our story.... smilies/wink.gif

[Samwise]

After Child leaves, Sam, having finally dried his tears, comes over to see if he is all right.
Sam: Mister Frodo, sir? I hope the stew's t' your liking.
http://www.plauder-smilies.de/sad/confused3.gif Eh...if I may ask, sir, what did Miss Child want?

Primrose comes back then, having stepped away when C7A came over to talk to Frodo.

Prim: Is everything all right, sir?

Stacey comes over, having heard what the Gamgees had said, so saying nothing but wondering the same.

[Gimli Son Of Gloin]

Gimli drains his 43,654th mug.

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo Laughs "Oh dear, of course,Sam. I thought I heard that somewhere before. You see, Sam, I ahve a habit of unintentionally useing phrases I have heard before and changing then slighly. Sometines I dint even remember where I heard the phrase, i just ues it.
The soup is fine, Sam." Frodo leaned back and closes his eves for a few moments. He opened them again and said, "Child wants me to keep the copy of the Sil that I gave to her while she is gone. Then she gave me the keychain Palantir that the found in Mith's pack." Frodo pulled it out of his pocket and looked at it, "Child said somethign about em veing meant to ahve this Palantir, I am not sure what she meant by that. She said I may be able to keep track of where they are or see somethign they have not seen yet. She said I could join the when I am feeling better, but I don't think that I can heal that soon."

Frodo looked at the Palantir chain closer, It was glowing slightly. Frodo saw Rose lying to Treebeard and Gwaihir. And the edited picture of Mithadan. He stifled a scream. "She can not do that!!!!" he cried.....

[ June 02, 2002: Message edited by: Frodo Baggins ]

[Samwise]

Sam: Do what, sir??

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo is breathing heavily, "She is making it seem as if we are coming to burn the trees and makes Mith look like the evil leader and is telling Treebeard that we are going to burn Fangorn!! Oh! this is worse that Galadriel's mirror. OH! If only Merry and Pippin were here! They understand Ents! They would know what to do!!'

(Needless to say Frodo is near hysterics.)

[ June 02, 2002: Message edited by: Frodo Baggins ]

[Kettle of fish]

The golden dragon landed, and Kettle sidled up to it. With a superior look, the dragon puffed a smoke ring arrogantly at the kettle.

After a pause, Kettle puffed a steam ring back.

[Gimli Son Of Gloin]

Gimli drains his 55,683rd mug.

[Birdland]

Birdie, having done her best to prune herself into a pleasing Entwife fashion, morphed back to her original shape, then watched, aghast, as Child took the really cool keychain palantir and gave it Frodo!

"How come Frodo gets all the good souvenirs?" she sulked. "Rings, phials, swords, chain mail. I've been buried at the Downs a lot longer than he has, and all I got was this lousy T-shirt."

She wanders back over to the pack, and pulls out the four maps. Why four?

"Hey Pio! Child! Why do you think we'll need four maps? I mean, Fangorn's right here, right? No wait, that's The Trollshaws...must have had the thing upside down..."

Pio sighs as she watches Birdie make a futile attempt to refold the maps. Taking them gently from her hands, she explains, "Rose started out in Fangorn, but she could wind up anywhere with the REG. Time and space have no meaning to it. For instance, she could seek out Second Age Glorfindel and do him in, so Third Age Glorfindel wouldn't be there to save Frodo at the Fords."

"Yeah", said Birdie, "but the Valar, or Ataris, or someone can just reanimate him anyway, so that wouldn't work." Birdie knew the story when something like that, but she was a little vague on the details.

At that moment, the little dragon came zooming over to the trio. Birdie instinctively ducked. She was tired of being singed. Dragons are like cats, in that they always want to bother the people who don't like them. The wyrmlette let out a tiny roar, and whizzed three times over the heads of the crowd, passing like an express train and turned a somersault. Birdie waited hopefully for him to burst over Bywater, but instead, he settled on the buffet table with a satisfied look.

"OK, so we could very well wind up anywhere, in any age of Middle Earth or Over Heaven. Even the Undying Lands? Or...Mordor?" Birdie shuddered.

"Well, Mith, this is a fine kettle of fish you've gotten us into." sighed Birdie. At that moment, a small sloshing kettle pranced up with an expectant air. "That was a figure of speech, newbie." growled Birdie. The kettle slumped in disappointment.

[Kettle of fish]

The despondant kettle waited where it sat, every now and then a fish jumping out of the water, just in case Birdie decided that figures of speech could be especially helpful. The dragon was looking at it suspiciously again.

As the kettle looked around, it noticed something that had escaped the attention of the others. Gimli's continuous drinking had caused him to swell larger and larger, until he was rapidly reaching the dimensions of a blue whale. One of kettle's fish gave a nervous jump. It didn't like it when kettle thought about whales - it's mother had been eaten by one and it was still a sensitive subject.

[Losthuniel]

Celeaewen was sitting at a table, exhaused from searching. just then she saw a tiny golden dragon land on the table, and blow a smoke ring at the copper kettle. the kettle hesitated a moment before blowing a steam ring right back at the dragon. Celeaewen's eye grew big, and she ran across the field, screaming about kettles and dragons

[zifnab]

Sorry guys but I just can't keep up with this post.

zifnab has left the building.

[ June 02, 2002: Message edited by: zifnab ]

[piosenniel]

Pio sighed and looked about her. 'We seem to be in stasis', she thought. 'As if time and energy had slowed down into a thickening syrup and we just can't get started!'

She walked over to Gimli and prodded him gently with the side of her broadsword. 'Do you think you could put down that mug, Master Dwarf, long enough to give us a hand with this quest? We could use another fighting man on this expedition, I think. And one with a Dwarven sense of practicality.' She left him staring bleary at her and considering the offer.

Going next to KoF, she tapped him also with her blade to get his attention. (It is a strange sight to see a kettle in a corner, sobbing!) 'Come now, Master Kettle, could you see your way to accompanying us on our quest? We could use your clear thinking on the problems sure to befall us on our quest. I do have a practical suggestion, though, should you choose to become our companion - can you morph into a more self propelled being, one more capable of defending itself, at least just for the duration of this journey? And I promise, being somewhat of a newbie here myself, that by whatever power I do have that I will keep certain ghastly companions from harassing you (as best I can!)' She turned from a now thoughtful appearing kettle and returned to where Child and Bird were standing.

Putting the first two fingers of her right hand to her mouth, Pio gave out a loud whistle. 'Listen up folks, the quest is on! Everyone gather round (excepting you of course, Mr. Frodo, you stay comfortable under that tree and tune in by palantir, and Samwise you watch, too; make sure he doesn't get too tired.) Who's good at maps? Let's get them out and orient ourseves. Repack the lembas; Kettle bring what you need for sustenance. Let's borrow a bit more rope from Samwise. Child, fill us in on what you know about Fangorn and how we might best approach it. Veritas, have you figured out the ins and outs of the laptop? Birdie, lend us your analysis of how we might best approach this campaign (and keep pinching those cheeks -entwives had rosy cheeks!). Gimli, best get your axe sharpened!'

There was a hubbub of activity and noise as the companions sorted out their various jobs.

Pio walked quietly, as elves are wont to do, toward the buffet table where the dragon had just finished the last of the mushroom pies.

'Best not to prod a dragon, Elf. We get a bit testy when provoked!' said the little golden one, just swallowing a mouthful of grapes.

'Then come with me, my good Wyrm!', said Pio bowing low. 'We are about to set off, & need your expert advice on our course of action.'

Flying to Pio's shoulder, the dragon settled in, thinking.

'Nothing like a few compliments to reel in a dragon.' thought Pio, reaching up to remove a stray claw from a particularly sensitive area, and resettling it on her leather jerkin.

'I heard that, Elf!' returned the dragon, picking a few bits of grapeseeds from her teeth.

Pio hastened quickly back to the staging area, bearing a now catnapping passenger tucked against her neck. She focused her attention on the activities happening about her, lending a hand and observation as needed. She kept her thoughts on things well-guarded, and very much to herself.

[ June 02, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Gimli Son Of Gloin]

Gimli drains his 70,894th mug.

[Rose Cotton]

Carried in Gwaihir's tallons Rose and the eagles were making their way back to the ents. Rose wasn't hurt because she now had a REG created mithril shirt on under her clothes.

[Veritas]

Veritas was turning the laptop inside out: "Think, think, think!" She said to herself, "If she is in Fangorn, and Fangorn is at the edge of the fields, then the REG must have the power ot move or copy things. I don't think he can move a whole forest to here, so, I think that's a copy."

She looked around, everybody was bussy.

"Hey, Gimli, come over here please, and Pio." As she calls them she types something and the maps are beginning to move.

When Pio, the golden dragon and Gimli are arrived at the laptop, she shows them the map. "Here, look, in the ages the forests and the mountains, everything is moving. In the 11th age this would be the map...And Fangorn would be near these fields. So the REG brought us to the 11th age. Now Gimli, your tasks is to found out why he brought us to here, I don't know how, but you'll see. Pio, we must discuss this inmediately, becouse, we're not only near Fangorn, but Mordor is also coming towards us. It looks like if the earth is turning around and moving to the Fields."

"This is serious buisness, we must act soon. I'm worried about it, the thing that's behind this, must be highly intelligent." The Elf looks very worried and walks away.

"I'm goong to check my stuff." And Veritas takes her staf and little sword, and begins to clean them up.

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo looked on sadly as the others left, he desperarely wanted to go with them. He realized painfully that his time as saver if Middle-Earth was passed, ithers had totkae his place. "Maybe I will go back across the sea after this, Iam no longer of use here..."
He looked into the Palanitr almost defiantly, he had overheard Birdie's words. Frodo Hoped that all this Palantir-looking didn't weary him too much, Sam was already overly-concerned. Frodo saw Rose being carried by the eagles and the mithril mail that the REG had madr for her.
"Drat!"he thought, "If only I ahd thougt to bring mine I would not be hurt and could help. But then, this was suppsed to be a party not a war!!".....

[ June 02, 2002: Message edited by: Frodo Baggins ]

[VanimaEdhel]

Menelduliniel looks around at all the chaos, then, again, takes Gimli's lead and gets a few more mugs of ale to pass the time, since she is obviously not needed!

[Sindacuion]

Sindacuion wakes up, once again. He finds himself under a buffet table and gets up. "What is going on?" he wonders. He look around - Pio, Veritas, C7A, a golden dragon (¿Que?) and a many other persons were looking very busy - maybe they were preparing for something. Sind walks over to Pio.

"What is going on?" he asks.

"Well, to make a long story short, Rose Cotton has the REG and is trying to take over all of Middle-Earth." the Elf responded.

"Much has happened since I was gone. I still do not believe such things of Rose.. There must be something behind this all.."

Sind decides to join the 'hunt' for Rose. He grabs his bow and heads towards the crowd..

[ June 02, 2002: Message edited by: Sindacuion ]

[ June 02, 2002: Message edited by: Sindacuion ]

[Rose Cotton]

As soon as Rose had returned to the Ents she seperated herself from the ents and the eagles to go look at the laptop. She pulled up an image of the party field where everyone was getting ready to go after her. She laughed at their feable attepts to create an army. But it really wasn't her crying, it was the REG. If Rose did have controll of her body she would have been crying. She hated being the center of such fear and panic. All I wanted was to help people. I thought you would'nt be a danger if I could control you.she thought.

"Yes, and in doing so you opened your heart to me. You were ignorant and wouldn't listen to others. It is your fault this is happened. My list of allies grows and soon all of Middle Earth will be mine. And it will all me your fault. Now we have another job." and Rose disapeared and reapered in the land known as Mordor.

[Birdland]

Birdie packed her ol' kit bag, preparing to go. "Let's see; change of socks, leaf gloss, her trusty sling, (Birdie uses the "Ayla" two-stone throwing technique, since everyone knows you can't kill one Bird with two stones), some Elven rope (EVERYBODY carries Elven rope these days), spare batteries for the laptop, to be pulled out when Veritas has need for them, her copy of "Ents of Middle Earth" field guide, and some trail mix, in case the Lembas gets old.

Slinging her pack over her back and tying her sling to her belt, she walks to the group. "Well, let's get this show on the road. Sooner there, sooner back." She starts to whistle "Oh Woodman Spare That Tree" through her teeth.

"Oh, by the way; how are we gonna get to Fangorn without some kind of REG-transporter devise?"

[Gimli Son Of Gloin]

"I know why he brought us here, he's doing us a favor, the ale's better", said Gimli as he drains his 87,940th mug.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Child was preparing her gear for immediate departure. She had an awful lot to carry: all of Mith's backpack and her own, plus food for that dratted little dragon who did not appear to be of much practical use. She didn't see why Birdland who was approximately 13 times her own height couldn't lug some of this junk herself!

She went over to Samwise and Frodo to wave goodbye. Frodo looked awfully glum, and she wished she could cheer him up. Oh, well, Samwise was best at that kind of thing. She wondered what Frodo was staring at in that keychain palantir. He looked even more green than he had an hour or two ago.

She also made a point of going over to Sind and welcoming him to the party, if you could call it a party any longer! Oh, well, his bow would certainly be a good addition.

Finally, she turned and glared at Birdie. Birdland still seemed a little miffed about her giving the tiny palantir to Frodo. Child made a note in her mind to search through her ample provisions of mathoms at home and locate one keychain palantir to give to Birde on her own birthday which was coming up. That is, if she managed to make it home by her next birthday!

She also noted Birdie complaining about the lack of a REG. She heard Birdland growling to herself......how in the world are we going to transport ourselves anywhere without that stupid REG?

Child went up to Birdland and pulled on one of her lower branches--Bird was again back in Ent character. "Hey, Birdland, don't you remember? We have the laptop which Mith programmed to track down the REG. Just press this button, the one over here with the big green question mark, and it will send us to wherever the REG is at that particular instant."

"Not only that", declared Child, "but Frodo can even program that little palantir keychain to keep open a visual and spatial pathway between here and wherever the laptop is. That way, if anyone comes late and wants to help us, they can just continue on that same pathway and join us."

Birdland looked dubious since Child's ineptness with computers was quite legendary throughout the entire Shire and even beyond. Even Pio and Sind looked doubtful.

Veritas was still holding the laptop and was babbling on at some length about possible distortions caused by the REG, and how strange shifts in time and space seemed to be occurring because of its operation by Rose.

Child, however, was in no mood to wait or argue. "Here, give me that thing!", Child growled.

She felt quite angry. Just because they were all bigger than she was didn't mean they were always right and she was always wrong. She wanted to show them that she could also make important decisions. She tore the laptop open........There it was.......a large green button. She put her finger on the button, and whoosh.......

In the background far away, she thought she heard the sound of Frodo's voice garbling something about "Rose Cotton" and "Mordor" and "You don't know where you're going!"

[ June 03, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Birdland]

"Wu-OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"

(Whoosh!)

[Gimli Son Of Gloin]

Gimli drains his 99,835th mug.

[piosenniel]

Pio watched as Birdie, Child, and Sindacuion were sucked into nothing. She had stepped away from the site for a moment to discuss the moving maps with Veritas, when she saw Child look at the laptop screen in frustration and jab her finger at the keyboard. A small vortex opened up and half the band was gone!

'O no!' cried Veritas and Pio in unison. 'Where have they gone?' asked Pio.

'I think they've been directed to the false Fangorn that the REG has moved near the border of the field. What they'll find in there I can't be certain. But I don't think it will be Rose.'

'I was thinking that, too.' returned Pio. 'I think she and the REG must have some kind of watch they were keeping on us. I could almost feel a kind of dark laughter whispering in my ear at times. It wasn't Rose. It must be whatever force is operating through the REG.'

'Good thinking!', came a small voice from directly above their heads.

Angara peered down from the branch of a tree at them.

'Come down and help us solve this problem, please!' requested Pio. 'I was thinking that we need to get to the real Fangorn before Rose's trail get's too cold. Hopefully her and the REG's attention will be focused on the other part of our company. Can you think of how we might get to Fangorn quickly?'

'I think I can solve that.', said Veritas considering the dragon closely. 'Allow me to touch you with my staff, and I will make you bigger.'

Veritas touched the wary dragon with her staff and uttered a finite growing spell. Angara grew to the size of an exceedingly large oliphaunt with wings large enough to support her weight. Looking quite proud of herself, she stepped into a patch of sunlight and let out a long whoosh of smoke and fire.

'Don't burn the field!' cried Pio, who had picked up Kettle, still sitting dejectedly nearby, and was attempting to douse the small brush fire with water scooped from the river.

'Veritas, see if you can get our equipment onto the dragon. I need to make some arrangements for the defense of the Field.'

Pio ran to the shelter where Frodo and Sam had set up camp. She explained what was going on,although Frodo was pretty much in the loop through his Palantir. She told him that it seemed that 2 forces created by the REG, or perhaps just obscured by it, were converging on the Field. Once again they were going to need a home defense team mobilized for action against an unknown enemy. She suggested that they might want to retreat to the fortified position of Henneth Annun, just northeast of Cormallen. She asked Frodo to be careful not to let the Palantir 'see' too much of their surroundings when they moved. It might be possible that the REG could have a link to it.

Pio then hurried over to Menelduliniel and Gimli where they were drinking. She told them she hoped they could assist the defense of Cormallen with Sam and Frodo and any other hearty souls they could muster.

'I'm afraid the battle may prove an ugly one,'said Pio,'and I don't know what sort of foe or foes you will find yourselves up against. This Field, though, seems to be one target for the evil force's focus, and you must hold it against the time that we can return Rose and destroy whatever force is behind the REG. Will you take the challenge?'

They shook their heads in the affirmative, and then put them together to make plans.

Pio ran back to Angara, with Veritas now sitting at the nape of her neck just forward of her wings. She grabbed Kettle, who squeaked as Pio hauled it up the side of the dragon, and secured it between herself and Veritas.

'Why are you bringing that Kettle?' asked Veritas, eyebrows raised.

'Even the smallest creature can do great deeds for good!' reminded Pio, laughing as she saw Veritas roll her eyes at the line.

'Not to mention the fact that I quite enjoy fish!' rumbled Anagara deep in her throat.

The dragon rose into the air, heading northwest to Fangorn. Ketlle squeaked in horror and protest until the wind rushing past the swiftly flying dragon blotted out the sound.

[Rose Cotton]

When Rose had reached Mordor she had rallied together all the orcs and men she could find. And now that Child had transported herself and others to were the REG was she was now surrounded by enemy forces. Many people had not been ready for departure yet and were now trying their best to hide behind Birdie. Rose stood on a low cliff above the scene.

"Your are a fool Child of the 7th Age. When you pressed that button you transported yourself and half of the party into the heart of Mordor. But I thank you for your ignorace it will make things less difficult." She held up her hand and the laptop Child tried vainly to hang onto zoomed into it. Rose opened the laptop and conected it with the keychain palantir. She saw Frodo's face looking back with horror.

"Greatings my dear Frodo." said Rose. "I thought you should see what has happened to your friends." Oh Frodo. NO, this is not me. Forgive me Frodo. You look so strained. It's all my fault.thought Rose. She turned the laptop so Frodo could see everyone surrounded by orcs and eastern men. Then she closed the laptop. "I hope you have fun." she disapeared and reapeared in Fangorn forest where she walked over to join her army of ents and eagles.

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo was now looking even more green and pale than when Child had spoken to him. He had been looking at the group but now the REG had somehow taken control of the Palantir. When he saw a very evil Rose Cotton and the aremy of orcs and evil men (some looked to him like the Mumakil of Harad but he was not sure),he shrieked, covered the Palantir with a pocket-handkerchief and stuffed it in his pocket.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Child looked about her at the incredibly bleak and miserable landscape. Birdie and Sind were glaring at her with absolute fury.

Child felt even smaller than the 3 feet which she normally occupied on the face of the earth.

How in the blazes had this happened? They were all supposed to come through together!!!?? She remembered Veritas screaming something about a false Fangorn Forest and Frodo screaming about Mordor.

From the looks about her, she could not see any trees so she could only assume this was not Fangorn, whatever the old laptop had originally told Veritas. She felt like someone who had signed up for a very strange tour of Middle-earth. Oh, yeah, if it was Monday, it must be Mordor!!

Just great. Birdie would never let her live this down, and she doubted she would ever even be allowed to touch the laptop, or for that matter any computer again for the rest of her life (er, her death).

Actually, though, it didn't seem to be Mordor per se. It was just outside Mordor. She looked up to see in the distance the large gates which, she knew, had been locked against Frodo and Sam. That's when they had backtracked to come up through the path of Cirith Ungol and Shelob's lair.

Well, at least the three of them knew enough not to make that mistake.

"Let's see, now" she thought. We do have certain advantages. Surely there was no Sauron. He is long gone."

" I think so anyway, she mused."

She asked Birdie to scramble up to the top of the hill and let her sit on her topmost branch to take a look at everything. Rose's army of orcs and nasty humans were making formations on the distant hills to the east. And even more distant, she thought she saw two solitary figures, linked arm in arm, struggling up one of the most distant hills which were covered in ash. Behind them struggled a strange figure that looked like a cross between a hobbit and a large frog.

"Birdie, er, you wouldn't happen to know what age this is, would you? There's some very strange and distant figures struggling through the depths of Mordor which look suspiciously like two characters we know and love on the Downs. Actually, it kind of looks like my third cousin Frodo Baggins and his good friend Sam, the faithful spirit. Plus there's a strange creature struggling along in back of them."

Child declined to say who that might be, as some things are best left unsaid. "I think we should definitely head in the opposite direction."

"Birdland, do you think you could change back into that bird thing you are and maybe fly us out of here, back towards Fangorn?"

Child secretly wished she could have started her annual spring diet a bit earlier. Birdland did not look as big as one of the great eagles, and Child plus Sind were one big load. Still, it would be better than nothing, and they had to get out of here.

Just then, Child looked out and, to her utter amazement, saw a band of humans coming towards them. These particular humans did not look as nasty as the ones marching with the Orcs. In fact, these humans almost looked familiar.

Oh my, could it be? Child wondered. The one human being in the whole earth whom I would actually like to meet. For at the front of the band stood a gallant figure who looked exactly like Faramir......

[Veritas]

Backpacking a dragon was not easy, thought Veritas, and she almost fell of the Angara's back.

"Hey, be carefull with me." Angara said and he spread his wings.

"Yeah great, but I almost fell of, be carefull with your wings."

"No playing time," said Pio, "We must hurry, do we have everything?"

"Aye sir, All well and done!" Angara said.

"Good, lets go inside and hail the others."

Inside the room it was very roumoring, adn everybody was walking trough the room. Then they saw Child, who seemed to be not very happy. She stepped on a table and began a speach:

"People, a big disaster is coming towards us, we must stop it, and we need all help we can get, are you ready?"

"YES!" The people all were enthousiast and listening to Child.

"Lets go then!" And Child jumped of the table and was hidding behind the other people.

"My God be with us on this trip." That was the last thing Veritas said to herself before she went outside.

[Frodo Baggins]

"God go with ye" Frodo breathed as they left He watched them go. He knew he could be of no help to them. That glance into Mordor had sucked his remaining strength almost dry. Not to mention that he was feeling the spider-sting and Morgul-blade again. His weakness was the only thing that was keeping him from charging into Mordor and slicing Rose Cottin in half.
He rose slowly and dragged Gimli and the othgers away from the ale.
"You are needed." he said, "We may not be able to follow them but we can make a stand here." Frodo reeled slightly as he stood ona tlable to speak.

"We are in Cormallen whcih is in Ithildin. Mordor is just over those mountains." he said, pointing east. He gripped more tightly to his elven Jewel "I suggest we get every weapon we can find and make a last stand here. I thought of something this morning, it has been fifteen days. The party was supposed to end today. However, if we can defeat this REG, we will hold the biggest party Middle-Earth has ever seen." (cheers all around)

Frodo nearly fell off the table as he stepped down, strangeley, he felt a bit stronger. He looked into the Palantir again. Now that was strange, why did Frodo see himself and Sam with Gollum trailing behind in mordor as they had appeared those many years ago? Come to think, Where was Sam now.....?

[ June 03, 2002: Message edited by: Frodo Baggins ]

[Birdland]

"Oooooh! It's Faramir! Faramir!" Birdie frantically preens her feathers, wondering if she should morph back into Ent mode, or change back to her usually M-E extra look. What she'd really like though was to morph twenty years off. She stands on tip-toe to get a better look at the fast approaching Steward of Gondor. "OhmyGawd! He is sooooo hot!" she squeals.

"Would you please control yourself, Birdie," Child says in her best librarian voice. "He may be our only chance of getting back to Fangorn and meeting up with the others. If you stand there drooling over him, you'll probably scare him off. You're certainly scaring me."

At that moment the doughty warrior and his band spotted the three figures standing on the hill. Issuing a sharp command in Gondorian, the lost travelers watch in horror as the green clad battalion draws its weapons and start to charge up the hill towards them!

Birdie starts digging frantically through her pack. "White flag! White flag! I knew I should have packed a white flag!!!"

[Losthuniel]

Celeaewen watched the events of the last page and a bit slightly apprehnsivly. obviosly, it was yet ANOTHER war. Celeaewen, being injured, decided that this time fighting was not good for her constitution. seeing frodo and sam sditting by the fire with what looked like food, Celeaewen made a beeline for them.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Child had made a rapid and drastic decision. Now, hobbit girls do not generally go prancing around in their long tights which they wear underneath their petticoats and skirts. But things were going from bad to worse. It was quite obvious that sacrifices would need to be made.

Child's skirt was already in tatters from the banadages she had made after their last inglorious martial excursion. Well, the petticoat would just have to go.

Child was practically in tears.....her beautiful petticoat with the ruffles and embroidered white flowers!! Oh, well, good thing she was wearing long tights. That is, except for her feet which were quite certainly bare.

Child took off her petticoat, ripped it in half, and gave part of it to Birdland. They both began waving it furiously in the air and yelling, "we surrender" or something like that. Sind managed to keep hold of his dignity a bit more, as any good Elf would do, but Birdland and Child had long ago surrendered thoughts of dignity.

Faramir raised his arm and halted the advance of his menacing troops. He stalked up to Birdland and Child and Sind and glared.

"Halt, in the name of the forces of Gandalf the White, halt."

"We're halting" gasped Child.

Faramir looked Child up and down from one end to another, and then scratched his head. "This is very strange, for you look like a hobbit. All the hobbits I have met
have been fair and courteous and opposed to the Dark Shadow on Middle-earth."

"Oh, that's definitely me....fair, courteous, and opposed to Dark Shadows!! There must be some mistake here. Why did you charge us? Don't you know my third cousin Frodo? He could vouch for me. Look, I have an Elf and a large er,bird with me, and they are good too!"

Faramir looked grave and gazed over the horizon. Birdland, who obviously had a thing for Faramir, was still drooling precipitously from her mouth.

Faramir continued: "I have been told that you repesent the evil forces which will burn down our world, and that you are in league with Sauron. But I find this hard to fathom. You have more the look about you of someone who is extremely confused, rather than truly evil."

"That's definitely me," Child agreed. "I don't go in much for evil, just a certain degree of confusion and ineptitude."

"But a small Hobbit named Rose came here and told us you and your friends would come to destroy our world. However, you don't look like you could accomplish great destruction."

At this point, Birdland began to explain with eloquence and brevity what had happened to poor Rose, how she had been taken over by the REG. She pleaded for Faramir's help in countering the evil REG, and communicating with the Ents. Her plea was courteous, and the fact that her heart was so soft towards Faramir undoubtedly made her speech even more fair.

Sind and Child nodded in agreement with all that she said. Faramir reluctantly acceded.

"Now," Child asked, "how do we get over to Fangorn?"

[piosenniel]

Pio watched with her keen elf eyes as Angara flew high above Fangorn, higher even than one of the mighty Soron band.

The forest was quiet and still, no evidence of any creature, animal or tree-like stirring.

'Strange.' she thought to herself. 'I thought that Rose had gathered the Ents to attack us?!'

The dragon found a large dell in the midst of the forest and circled in for a landing. There was a tall creature striding into the perimeter of the area, waving his hands at them. He did not look dangerous, or angry, but both Veritas and Pio drew their weapons as they climbed down from the dragon's back and asked him to identify himself.

'Hrummm . . . hoom . . . some hasty creatures and a dragon with a kettle on its back . . . strange times . . . and dangerous times, too . . . so let me be hasty and tell you my name. I am Quick-beam to use my shortened name, Bregalad to you Master Elf. And who might you be?'

There was an exchange of greetings, with a wary welcome to Angara from the Ent. He went on to outline what had happened before their arrival - that a small hobbit who seemed almost split in two in spirit had suddenly appeared in Fangorn and rallied Treebeard to a supposed threat against the trees. There was a great moot called, which Quick-beam was unable to attend, him being called far away to a grove of rowan trees who had succumbed to some sort of blight. He had 'listened' in to the moot and to Rose over the distance, and was just coming to meet with the other Ents, when the connection to them was broken abruptly. Now the forest was left unguarded except for him.

'What do you think happened to them?' said Pio.

'They are gone from this Age and this Place, or I would be able to sense them. When they left, I did "see" a shadow of two of the Halflings that I once met here long ago drawn out with them.', said Quick-beam.

'Merry & Pippin! They are in the Third Age!' cried Veritas. 'The REG is distorting time!'

Pio thought fast and furiously - Time was wasting. She stepped up to a large rock in the dell and asked for a scale from Anagara. Etching a message into the rock, she took a small pouch from her belt and rubbed in some ithildin. Above the message, she deeply inscribed a holly leaf with her initial. She asked Veritas to lay a spell-out-of-time on the message so that Child, Sindacuion, and Bird might be able to see it in whatever Age they might be in. 'Ai, Iluvatar, let them find this message', she sent out as a small plea. She also gave the message to Quick-beam in case they happened in during the present age: The object of our pursuit has gone to Mordor of the Third Age. We will meet you there - Pio, Veritas, Angara.

'And how do you propose to do that, Elf?' said the Kettle?

Pio and Veritas looked at one another in consternation. Pio scratched her head.

'If you'll say "Pretty please, Sir Dragon" I will take you there', purred Angara. 'I have many talents as yet uncovered.'

The elf and wizard remounted the dragon and secured the kettle once again between them. 'Thank you! and fare well!!' Pio called to Quick-beam. And then in chorus they shouted, 'Pretty please, Sir Dragon!' and held on for dear life as the dragon rose to the limits of Vilna and then winked out against the stars.

'Hrummm . . . hoom'. . .rumbled the Ent to himself . . . 'a dragon in Fangorn . . . a good dragon as I sensed it . . . hoom, hoom . . . I shall have to add another line to the lists . . .'

[ June 03, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Rose Cotton]

Back in Fangorn Rose watched discusted as Birdie told Faramir the truth.

"They will have to be delt with." quickly, she teleported once more to her growing army of orcs and evil men. She told them to charge over the mountains and attack the Gondor forces.

And they rampaged across the desolate land and straight into Faramir's troops. Sind, Child and Birdie were also caught in the battle.

[Rose Cotton]

She also watched as the four in another age had a discustion with Quickbeam. The REG was growing angry but it had not lost yet. Rose teleported again and this time she found herself in a dark hall of Moria. She rallied all of the orcs and was also able to get cave trolls and wargs. She then sent them to the Fields of Comallen were the rest of the party was.

She watched from her laptop as the moria dwellers took by suprise those who had thought they could escape battle. She saw Samwise, Stacy, and Primrose trying to protect the weak Frodo. Others were trying to run away but were caught in battle with the dark creatures.

But she still had her ents and eagles. It apeared that no one intended on charging Fangorn. So she decided to attack Rohan.

She went back to her deceived allies and lied to them that the men of Rohan were now part of the enemy. They sent out at once towards the city of the horse lords.

[Gimli Son Of Gloin]

Gimli drains his 115,784th mug.

[VanimaEdhel]

Menelduliniel drains her 354th-360th mug, realizing how behind Gimli she is.

"Gotta catch up, gotta catch up..." she thinks...

[Samwise]

Sam looked around. A portion of the party goers had disappeared suddenly, and Mister Frodo wasn't looking good at all--oddly enough, until he made that speech. He had asked Miss Stacey to stay near him, and make sure he didn't faint again or something.
Now, he was looking for Primrose. After the sweet scene between her and Frodo, he completely lost track of her.
"Tiny Rose!" he called.
Just then, he caught a movement in a stand of trees at the edge of the field. He ran over to investigate.
Stepping into the grove, he looked around.
"Tiny Rose!" he hissed, somehow feeling a bit tense.
Just then, Primrose ran out of the bushes in front of him. "Papa, no!"
There was the thud of large feet hitting the ground behind Sam. A hand grabbed him by the back of his tunic and lifted him into the air, while a bony hand was clamped over his mouth.
"Well, if it isn't a nasty halfling." growled a voice in his ear.
Primrose's eyes narrowed. "You let him go! No Orc should dare meddle with the Gamgee family!
"Gamgee?"
Sam felt hot breath on his cheek, and wrinkled his nose from the stench. "No...it could not be. Not the nasty little creature from Hobbiton."
Sam swallowed hard. How in Middle Earth could this creature know him?
"Little girl, go back to the field--"
"Let--him--go!" Primrose fairly shrieked, looking ready to aim her bow.
"Ah--watch yourself, halfling." the Orc growled, shaking Sam roughly. "Tell me, is Frodo Baggins in the field? "
Primrose pursed her lips a moment, then nodded.
"Good. You go tell him that if he dosen't do what we say, this wretched halfling will die--most painfully. Now go! "
Primrose looked up at the creature, tears of rage in her eyes. Afterward she ran back to the field.

[Samwise]

Primrose hurried back onto the feild, to find chaos. "Oh, Lord, please protect Papa. " she whispered as she ran through the crowd, occasionally shooting an arrow or two, to get to Miss Stacey and Frodo.
"Mister Frodo! Mister Frodo, something terrible's happened!" she cried as she ran to the area where he and Miss Stacey were, shooting down an Orc as she ran.

[Gimli Son Of Gloin]

Gimli drains his 128,864th mug.

[VanimaEdhel]

Menelduliniel drains her...whatevereth mug of ale.

[Child of the 7th Age]

One instant Child was discussing the situation with Faramir, and the next instant the entire party was overwhelmed by a huge contingent of Orcs and evil men.

Faramir tried to push the ladies Birdland and Child to the rear of the fighting so they would not be injured. However, Child and Bird were in no mood for this, and began clamoring for weapons.

Actually, Bird did not even need a weapon. Her huge branches could be used to wham opponents securely over their heads. Child managed to secure a bow with arrows, and she proceeded to pick off Orcs one by one. Sind also joined in.

Faramir of the Third Age seemed truly puzzled. In between his frantic sword strokes, he yelled out: "Good ladies, I have never seen women fight in battle in this manner. I can not imagine that a lady of the Third Age would be so inclined to do something of this sort."

With the clear advantage of hindsight, Child looked at Birdie and giggled.

Child managed to retort back to Faramir: "Well, you'd better remember this image of the two of us here, helping to vanquish the enemy, and realize that should you meet such a gifted woman, she is worth a great deal in both gold and valor!"

"Ladies," he replied. "I shall not forget this lesson."

Things did not appear to be going very well when, out of nowhere, a golden dragon swooped down with Pio and Veritas on his back. Pio was yelling loudly to Angara, "This is it, on the outskirts of Third Age Mordor. Go blow fire on those Orcs and evil men."

Angara was quick to oblige and soon the enemy had been driven from the field, in what might be termed a well-done state.

The exhausted parties were near collapse, but supremely happy. Pio, Veritas, Sind, Birdland, and Child were literally jumping into each other's arms with happiness. Finally, finally, we are together in one place. Now we will show that Rose Cotton what we are made of.

All of Faramir's suspicions had been allayed, and he vowed to help the five combat the evils of Rose and the REG.

Child was grinning ear to ear. "This is what we must do. Faramir, send a homing pigeon through to Gandalf. Explain the situation and tell him he must immediately let us know where Rose and the REG have landed. Sind is an Elf so he can send a mind-to-mind communication through to him. And tell Ganadalf to warn the Ents, the men of Rohan and Gondor and anyone else he can think of about the evil REG.

Child thought a minute and then said: "Tell them not to hurt Rose. She is as much a victim in this as we are. Please don't hurt our friend who is acting funny in the head. Please, please, listen to me! Hobbits don't kill hobbits and I don't want to be even indirectly responsible for the second demise of Rose Cotton."

" As soon as word comes through, the five of us will climb on Angara (he had definitely grown to a very large size!) and swoop down on the unsuspecting Rose. We've got to somehow flame the REG to extinction but get Rose out of the way,"

"To tell the truth," Child whispered, "The people I am most afraid for are those back home on the party field. I am terribly afraid what the REG may send through to them. We've got to destroy that instrument,
and get back home to help."

She hoped Frodo managed to keep an eye on things through the Palantir. She hoped he remembered that, in a real jam, they could escape the party field and get through to Pio and Birdland, simply by following the open channel from the palantir keychain. She sincerely hoped he had paid attention to her.

If not, Child reckoned, if they didn't hear from Frodo soon, they would have to assume something awful was happening. And if that awful thing happened, they would somehow need to figure out how to get home immediately.

Samwise and Frodo had experienced enough suffering in their life. Child figured the two of them didn't need any more.

[ June 04, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Rosseiliantiel]

Suddenly, Rosseil put down her glass of miruvar and stopped eating. She seemed to snap out of a trance of some sort, and her eyes cleared as she looked around frantically. Then her look turned into a slightly dazed one. Her face went very white, and her eyes went very big, before she fainted dead away on the floor.

[Samwise]

Primrose runs over to Frodo, who lies prone by the tree where he was left.

Primrose: Mister Frodo, please, please
wake up!!

Stacey: Prim, what is it?

Primrose is in tears. This is so unlike her, she wonders if the little hobbit hasn't been taken over by some oddball thing, too.

Primrose: *sobbing* Papa! An Orc---

Stacey: Okay, Prim, what Orc?

Primrose: *Takes a deep breath* I thought I saw something moving in the trees. I remembered all the talk about how strange Miss Rose has been actin', so I thought something bad was going on. I went over and climbed in a tree, and saw a half dozen Orcs standing together talking. I tried to understand what they were saying, but they were using that nasty speech of theirs. Just then they---*takes another deep breath* turned and were quiet, like they were listnin'. They all hid, and then there came Papa callin' for me. An Orc sneaked up behind him, an' I dropped out of the tree, but before I could warn Papa proper-like..."

She burst into tears again.

Stacey: *Getting on her knees in front of the little hobbit* "They have him?"

Primrose: *blubbering, nods*

Stacey: smilies/rolleyes.gif "Oh, dear..." *bows her head and says a prayer for the little hobbit she's become so fond of. Afterward she looks over at Frodo.
"Come on, Mister Baggins, wake up."

[Frodo Baggins]

"Mr. Frodo?? Prim not so formal. I am awake Na di heard all. How could anything sleep through Prim's babling anyway.
"If you'll help me up I may be able to do something." the towo of the helpd Frodo stand, Frodo drew his sword. and headed off after Sam, with Prim and Stacey following.
"Oh, God> PLease don't let the hurt Sam." he prayed silently.

(I will be back in about an hour Sam, wait for me)