Barrow-Downs Birthday Party at the Fields of Cormallen

[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: [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img] "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)

[Samwise]

Primrose chases after Frodo with Stacey on her heels. She is slightly calmer.

Primrose: "Uncle Frodo, wait! "

Stacey, who hasn't moved much and is used to running after little kids at work, runs ahead of her and grabs the back of Frodo's cloak to stop him.

Primrose: Uncle Frodo, I think, *gasps* I think those Orcs know you and Papa! The one that had Papa said that if you didn't do what he said--that--that he'd hurt Papa. "

Stacey: Mister Baggins, don't you think we ought to have some kind of plan?

[Samwise]

Sam was carried deeper into the trees. His captor kept the bony hand clamped tightly over his mouth.

After Primrose had left, about five more Orcs had joined them. The one holding Sam said something in their dark speech, and they started off.

After about half an hour, they came to a hill. A dark, ominous-looking cave mouth opened in the side of it.
Upon going inside, Sam could see that it was dimly lit by the light outside, and going deeper in, that there were torches jammed into the crevices in the cave walls.

The Orc holding Sam barked an order, and another of the Orcs lifted him out of the arms of the first. Shoving the hobbit to the cave floor, they bound his wrists behind his back and his legs painfully tight. A rag was tied in the hobbit's mouth, and he was laid on his back on a flat stone.

Lead Orc: Well, Samwise Gamgee, I never thought I would see you. Now I'll have the pleasure of spilling your blood in front of Frodo Baggins, the most cursed creature ever to walk Middle Earth.

Sam blinked. How did this creature know him? Or Frodo?

Lead Orc: I was there, in your disgusting little hamlet. You and your friends drove us out--I was but in training then, but you filthy little beasts disgraced us!

He pulled Sam up by the front of the shirt and slapped him, hard. For a moment, Sam had trouble turning his head to face forward again.

Lead Orc: But, little hobbit, I intend to torture you until you are near your last breath. Then, when that little peice of filth Frodo Baggins shows up, as he undoubtetly will, I shall slit your throat in front of his eyes!

Sam could only close his own.

[Rose Cotton]

Rose felt her body shake with the REG's rage. It was furious about losing it's army in Mordor. The REG intsrtucted part of her Moria army to take fast action. Ahh, and there was Samwise Gamgee. She had even convenently found orcs that loathed both Sam and Frodo. She had trasported them to were the two hobbits were promising they could do whatever they liked to them. They now had Sam bound and guarded and were now waiting for Primrose to return with help. Rose would make them bend to her demands.Sam! No my dear Sam. If anything happens to you I'll never forgive myself.she thought.

And even as Stacy, Frodo, and Primrose left the field to go after Sam the orcs, wargs, and trolls attacked the rest of the party. Rampaging through the buffet tables and tents. Causing those that wanted to ignore the fighting to draw back in fear. Others to try and defend themselves.

And now the Ents and Eagles had reached the city of Rohan and were attacking it's walls. The men had been caught off guard and were now making weak attempts to defend the onslaught. They were horrified that the armies they had thought were on their side were now in a brutal battle ageinst them.

Rose watched on the laptop from the safty of a cave just south below the Misty Mountians. You are a coward. Sulking in the shadows while others spill blood."All in good time my dear Rose. All in good time." And Rose begain building a great armor for herself. One that could be looked opon in battle with fear and never be forgotten.

[ June 03, 2002: Message edited by: Rose Cotton ]

[ June 03, 2002: Message edited by: Rose Cotton ]

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo was blind with fear. H tore away fom Stacey and said "While we are formimg a plan they may harm him!" Frod turned away fromt hem both and sobbed into his hands.

[Samwise]

Stacey walks over to Frodo and kneels beside him, placing an arm around his shoulders.

Stacey: I know, Mister Baggins, but if we rush in there yelling in plain sight, they may kill him and we may not have a chance at rescue.

[Rose Cotton]

(Not part of story. Frodo and Sam: While you were posting I was editing my last post so you might want to go back and read the changes. Just so you can keep with the story. Back to story.)

[ June 03, 2002: Message edited by: Rose Cotton ]

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo glanced into the Palatir and saw Rose, but Sam was his first priority.

"*sniffle* Very well, what shall we do, I am at a loss."

[Rose Cotton]

Rose watched on her laptop screen as Sam was being tortured by the orc leader. This was too much. Her poor Sam. Her dear, beloved Samwise who she had adored ever since his bravery in the quest with the One Ring. Up untill now Rose's soul had curled up inside the shell of a body she couldn't controll anymore to wait as she was forced to take over everything. But now she couldn't take it anymore.

She used all the streangth she could muster and begain to fight the REG. Willing herself to be in controll of her limbs. Her body shook with the effort but slowly and ever so slightly her arm started to move towards the pocket containing the REG. She closed her fingers opon the smooth surface of the box. Then using a burst of energy she raised up the REG and flung it across the cave into the rock wall were it broke.

The REG's curse on Rose was lifted.Tears stung her eyes as she whispered "I'm free." But the REG had gotten power from her. Enough to make a body of it's own. Then filling the grand armor it made it dissapeared somewhere. Rose didn't know were it went. She didn't care. All she wanted was to get to Sam as fast as possible. She tried to run out of the cave but she had no streanth left after fighting the REG and now she colapsed and fainted.

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo composed himself with difficilty.

"If we can fing their trail, we might be abke to reach them. If we sneak up quietly on them we may give us and Sam a chance.

"Then again, it may be a trap and they are using Sam as bait...."

[Samwise]

Sam felt a tear course out of the corner of his eye and into his hair.

Oh, please, Mister Frodo, don't find me, please. They can't hurt you.......

SMACK!

The little hobbit was hit in the side by a club one of the Orcs carried. He could feel a couple of his ribs crack.

AAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEE!

The Orc leader laughed.

Orc: Tell us, what sort of Elven weaponry has Baggins got on him?

Sam coughed, horrified to taste blood on his tounge.

Sam: I will--I will tell you nothing of Mister Frodo.

He moaned in pain.

Orc Leader: We shall see.

He walked over to the cave wall, and removed a torch from its crevice.

Feeling faint, Sam closed his eyes.

[Samwise]

Stacey: *Standing up* Come on, Frodo, let's hunt some Orc! Ugh....did I say that?

Primrose: Yes, lets!

*She goes quickly but quietly ahead of Frodo and Stacey, her bow at the ready, and her eyes on any tracks she might find on the ground.*

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo heard Sam's scream, and the tears stared flowing again. "NOOOOO!" Frodo was at the point of collapse. "I will kill them ALL! They WILL DIE!"

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo came up to the cave and acught sight of Sam. He stood between Sam and the orcs,
"The first one to touch this hobbit will die by my hands. Prim your bow! Fire!!!!"

[Samwise]

The Orc leader came and stood behind the rock on which Sam lay.

Orc Leader: Baggins. Well, well. *Glances at Primrose* Fire that bow, little one, and I shall plunge my sword into this worthless Hobbit's heart. *Unsheaths his sword and hold it point down above Sam's chest*

The other Orcs bar the entrance.

Stacey: Oh, great.....

Sam: *moans and turns his head* Mister Frodo...you *cough* you shouldn't have come...

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo drew a very blue Sting and pulled out the phial of Galadriel in the other hand. "A Elbereth! Gilthoniel!" he cried, the orcs drew back in fear. Frodo yelled in Elvish and skwewred two orcs at one. The next got a blade throught his throat. Frodo sidestepped a swing from a club and hewed off the head of the orc that was carrying it. He spun Sting around in his hands "Prim! I'm not joking! SHOOT!"

The Orc over Sam got completely dismembered.....

"You fight like a warrior" an orc sneered

"When one studies under King Elessar, who know what on may learn."

[ June 04, 2002: Message edited by: Frodo Baggins ]

[ June 04, 2002: Message edited by: Frodo Baggins ]

[Samwise]

Primrose jumped up on the rock on which her father lay and did just that. Within minutes, several Orcs were skewered.

Stacey, gingerly stepping over what was left of the Orc leader, gently lifted Sam in her arms. The little hobbit was profusely weeping.

Stacey: There, now, Sam. It's okay.

She scurried over to the cave wall with him, ducking in case there were yet any flying arrows or swinging swords. Settling by a wall that appeared safe, she began to try undoing the tight knots that bound her little friend.

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo was pale, worn, and barely able to breathe. He and Prim were hacking their way through the orcs. The orcs were frightened of the sword and the phial. Not to mention that Frodo kept shrieking in Elvish (orcs hate elvish). Nealy all of them were dead. No one knew Frodo was ever capable of such pure fury. However, as he was not looking, an orc swing at him and hit him right where he had been slashed by the Maia. Frodo bit back a scream. If he screamed, he knew Sam would probably die of fear and the reast of them would be slaughtered.

"I'm all right!!!" He said. He pinned an orc against the wall and said "What do you want??"

(I have to go for tonight, Sam. Don't kill us while I'm gone. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] )

[Gimli Son Of Gloin]

Gimli drains his 148,930th muug.

[Rose Cotton]

The REG in it's new armor and human shape reapeared near were Frodo,Sam, Stacy, and Primrose were. It walked over to the cave entrance clearly seen in the sunlight. It laughed and everyone froze to look at the sinister figure. With a wave of it's hand the orcs vanished and it said, "I would rather deal with you myself."

[Rose Cotton]

"Rose?" whispered Frodo.
The REG laughed. "Your weak friend is no more use to me. Now I can thrive on my own."

[Samwise]

That's okay, sir--so do I. [img]smilies/redface.gif[/img]*YAWN* [img]smilies/redface.gif[/img]

[Rose Cotton]

(Not Part of Story.
GIMLI- can't you stop wasting yourself! Everyone is putting their lives on the line. All around you the enemy is attacking. I'm sorry, but if your not going to make yourself usefull then why don't you go do somthing else?)

( I have to go to bed too. Hope you like my little suprise when you come back.)

[ June 04, 2002: Message edited by: Rose Cotton ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Child stared out at the starry sky. All was beautiful and silent, but she could not sleep. Her heart was pounding relentlessly in her breast. She was doing something she never, never did. She was praying to one of the Vala.

She looked up at the stars and whispered, "Oh, Varda, do you remember when I woke up earlier in the golden halls, and you looked upon me and laughed. You said I was in the wrong story, and you sent me back into the void to help my friends."

"Well, this time we're in worse trouble. We're waiting to hear from Gandalf about where Rose is and where the REG is, but no word has come through."

"I am horribly, horribly afraid. Not for myself or my friends who are here with me. We're alright. It's our friends on the field of Cormallen."

"Remember Frodo and Samwise, the Ringbearers, the two who gave so much of themselves to heal the world? Well, Rose has somehow slipped into the Third Age and we think she has let a whole pack of Orcs loose on the world. And if they get through to Frodo and Sam.......I don't even want to think about it. We would go back and check on them in our own world, but we have lost our laptop and can't find any path through to the palantir keycheck. We can't even get home, let alone find the REG."

Child lay on the hard ground and began to sob. Birdie unwound one of her longer branches and gently patted Child on the head. For the first time, Birdie couldn't even think of a joke to crack.

But in a tiny corner of Child's brain, there came a little whisper. "Think, think, little one. Ask yourself, how did you get out of the void? You did it yourself. You didn't need me. Orcs, Morgoth, and Sauron--they're all cut out of the same cloth."

Child ran over to Pio and Bird and Veritas and Sind. "Start singing, and get Faramir and his crew to sing too. Let's get back to Cormallen. We've been wandering in circles here, and you know the REG just wanted to get us out of the way to do something to our friends."

Child figured the best option was Home, Sweet Home. Within a few minutes, a sweet chorus filled the air. Birdland was particularly loud. The five settled onto the back of the golden dragon.

A whoosh, a roar, and all fell away. Birdland waved goodbye to Faramir. In a single second, there were back on the party fields.

[ June 04, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Child, Birdland, Pio, and Veritas stared in disbelief. They slid off the dragon. This is not what they had expected to see. Not a single orc was anywhere in sight.

A sad and shivering Rose ran crying into Child's arms.

"It's alright, Rose, I know it wasn't really you. Only next time try to use your brain a little more, and share your fears with your friends."

Rose hurriedly garbled out the story of what had happened and then pointed to the single large figure in the middle of the field. It was the most atrocious thing Child had ever seen....gleeming metal armor with spikes, roaring with laughter, evil pouring out of every orifice in its huge filthy body.

Even looking at him made Child wanted to throw up everything she'd eaten in the past two days. The thing reached down to Samwise and picked him up by the back of the neck with a single finger. Frodo was advancing toward the figure with his tiny phial and Sting, but he looked like an ant next to this monstrous pile of metal. Stacey and Primrose were but an inch from that horrid ugly foot that stamped and restamped the ground.

Overhead, all was Dark. It looked as if the sun had died, and would never return again.

Suddenly, from nowhere, came a golden flash. Angara, beautiful to behold and full of righteous anger, raised his body and swept across the field in the direction of the metal monster, smoke and flames tumbling out of his outstretched mouth.........

[ June 04, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

[Yawn, I'm going to sleep. Made several revisions earlier to keep to story line.]

[Kettle of fish]

Kettle whistled softly.

Was the armour able to be melted by the flames of the dragon? Or could it only be destroyed in the fires of Mt Doom.

[Rose Cotton]

(I'm backtracking alittle)

Rose slowly slipped back to consiousness and pulled herself from the ground. Far away she could hear the sounds of battle. She pulled her sword. Rose had a chance to redeam herself. But as she ran to the battle all enemys disapeared. And there was the REG. The monster she had created. About It's feet where Sam, Frodo, Primrose, and Stacy. It looked at her and she was weakened by it's gaze.

Then from out of nowhere a chourus of singing sounded. It was all around them yet very distant. Then on the back of a dragon Veritas, Pio, Child, Birdie, Sind, and Ket appeared.

Rose could barly see them through her tears as she ran into Child's arms.
"I-I'm s-s-so sorry. I should have listened to you. The REG. It has S-Sam. It's all my falt. My fault." But Child comforted her and she fell to silent sobbing. Then she felt a whoosh past her as the dragon sped towards the REG.

Rose reached for her sword but Child said "Stay here Rose." She didn't listen. She ran behind the dragon towards the menicing body. She would hew it until it was a million peices.
"my fault" she whispered.

[Birdland]

Birdie watched in awe and horror as Angara the Golden rose into the air and jetted a massive blast of fire down on the party field, sweeping it over the armor of the REG. The REG held out it's massive arms as if it were bathing in the flame and laughed maniacally. It then raised it's own arm and sent a bolt of green electricity hurling for Angara.

"Look out! screamed everyone. Angara banked and ducked, narrowly avoiding the deadly voltage. Raising higher into the air, he prepared to stoop, kamakaze style, upon the REG.

"Gotta do something...gotta do something...he'll be killed!" thought Birdie frantically. She looked around the ruins of the field, for something. Then she saw the sound system left behind from the Beatles concert, abandoned on stage in the middle of the party ruins.

Scrambling through the rubble of the buffet line, Birdie pulled herself up on the stage and started flipping switches. finding the stack of amps, she twirled the knobs until the volume controls all read "eleven". She flipped on the mic, which shreieked with feedback. Hastly dragging it away from the speakers, Birdie screamed into the mic. "Cover your ears everyone! Cover your ears! I'll give this sucker a song he'll never forget! Rock!"

Then Birdie morphed into her third, and most deadly character: Ghastly Neekerbreeker!

Drawing a deep breath, Birdie let loose!

NEEK-BREEEEEEK! NEEK-BREEEEEEK! NEEK-BREEEEK! NEEK-BREEEEK!

The waves of ultrasonic sound rolled across the party field. The metal of Sting shivered and rang out in response. Everyone on the field clamped their hands over the ears as the soundwaves echoed and shrilled.

The metal armor shivered like tin foil in the wind. Tiny cracks appeared all across it's surface.

[Rose Cotton]

Rose reached it and started hacking away from it. She couldn't here Birdie's song pounding in her ears. All she cared about was hurting the REG as much as she possibly could.

"YOU- YOU HURT EVERYONE!" She cried.
"As the REG faded from the song and from Rose's blows it laughed. "Me? It was YOUR fault. Because of you people were decieved. People were hurt. You are to blame." Then It's body died away leaving it's shattered armor. On top of the gleaming metal lay the REG the way it had looked at the begaining of the party. Rose fell into a horrified trace beside it.

It was right. It was what she had been thinking herself. She reached over to Frodo and Sam who were nearby and embraced them.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Please forgive me." she pleaded.

[ June 04, 2002: Message edited by: Rose Cotton ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Child shook her head back and forth as if to shut out the racketing noise from her head. Even though the sounds had ceased, they were still sounding inside her brain.

She was extremely glad that Birdland had such practical sklls, which she herself definitely did not have, to generate such a horrific noise from the sound system. To say nothing of the truly ghastly screeches which had issued from Bird's own mouth.

Child noted that Rose Cotton was slowly regaining natural color in her face. Now that her rage towards the giant metal thing had subsided, Rose showed more composure, although tears still glistened in her eyes, and she looked truly sad and humbled.

In the back of her head, Child said a small thank you to Varda, Queen of the heavens. She shuddered to think what might have happened to everyone, but especially to Samwise and Frodo, if they hadn't managed to get back to the Fields by singing.

Child stretched and yawned. This going on adventures was very tiring. She vowed to take an extra nap in the afternoon and to make sure and eat her second breakfast and lunch to make up for all the food and sleep she had lost!

[ June 04, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Frodo Baggins]

Frodo was laying at the REG's feet, having trouble seeing straight and barely abe to breathe, but his voice was raised.

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

Frodo then sings the An-thennath og Beren and Luthien Tinuviel

[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

Ands there's another country I've heard of long ago
Most dear to them that love her most great to the that know
We may not count her armies we may not see her king
Her fortress is a foaithful heart her pride is sufferring
And soul by soul and silenty her shining bounds increase
And her ways are ways of gentleness and all her paths are peace


Earindil was a mariner.....

[Veritas]

Veritas felt dizzy, upset, and uncomfortable. All went faster and faster whil her head was spinning. As in a dream she saw Angara attack the REG, and the REG fire back. In the back of her head Birdie was singing and Rose screaming. Where was she, what happened, she didn't know, it all seemed so far away. She sat down on the burned grass, and looked around.

"What exactly happened?" She asked Pio.
"the REG's armour is burned, but I don't know if itself is distroyed."

Veritas sank asleep.

(I've to go to eat, so it's a bit stupid end, but make something of it.)

[Mithadan]

Piosenniel looked in wonder at the small, seemingly innocent box which had caused so much grief. She reached down to pick it up. Suddenly, a great wind blew causing the tattered party banners to flutter. Before she could reach the device, a knife flew through the space between her hand and the REG and imbedded itself into the ground where it quivered menacingly.

"I shouldn't do that if I were you," came a voice from the shadows. Mithadan stepped forward from behind the nearly toppled refreshment pavilion. He was disheveled and his torn cloak was stained green. Leaves were in his hair and a feather protruded from his collar. He moved to stand over the REG and faced the group with a drawn sword.

"Its form has been destroyed and its energy is low, but think what happened when Rose picked it up after your little trip to the void," he said. "Look! Even now, it is not idle!"

A red light blinked on the REG and the air about it seemed to quiver. The group stepped back a pace from the malice of the device.

Child piped up nervously, "If we cannot touch it how can we destroy it?"

Mithadan smiled and knelt next to the box. He laid down his sword and reached into a pocket to bring out a shiny silver box which hummed quietly. From the side of the box which he held, a black cord uncoiled and reached for the REG. "REG," he said. "Meet REG 2.1 and its friend virus." Sparks emitted from the REG as it attempted to evade the black cord. A bolt of electicity shot out and burned a patch of Mithadan's mail shirt. The cord moved closer. The knife which had stayed Piosenniel's hand lifted from the ground and slashed Mith's arm. He held on grimly as Rose snatched the knife out of the air. The cord reached the REG and plugged into a port on its right side.

A green light blinked on REG 2.1. The REG lifted up and shook wildly seeking to disengage the cord. Napkins and cups rose into the air and swirled about. A keg of ale tipped and fell from a table. Gimli's mug was snatched from the dwarf's hand and flew across the field to crash against Mithadan's head. He fell, but the cord remained connected. With a last wriggle and a shower of sparks, the REG fell back to the ground. The cord detached from the REG and reeled itself in. Mithadan staggered up with blood dripping from a gash on his brow and lifted up his sword. With a single slice he cleaved the REG in two, then slumped to his knees.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Child visibly exhaled. She gave a slight cheer as she saw the REG sliced into two neat, very dead pieces. Mith had done the right thing.

No thoughts were in her mind of their previous foolish plan of holding the REG for ransom. The remodeling of her hobbit hole would just have to wait.

Child gathered up her belongings and prepared to leave the party ground. She had to pick up her children, and then attempt to make delivery on the waiting bags of mail, which Mayor Samwise had warned her now made quite a daunting pile. At last count, they had numbered 342 bags of undelivered mail.

But as she prepared to go, she heard what seemed to be a small crying noise from under one of the tables. She pulled the tablecloth back, and there was Angara, much shrunken from the last time she had seen her.

The dragon glared quite rudely: "So you used me for your little trip, and now you are dumping me by the side of the road!!!

Child was overcome with definite guilt. The dragon did have a point. He had served them
faithfully, and she had totally forgotten about him once the monster and the REG was destroyed.

Child tilted her head and thought. This dragon had a number of talents, chief of which seemed to be his ability to shrink or increase in size according to his surroundings.

Child had once heard a learned man say that, in his world, there were little dragons who could change the color of their skin according to the place they were living. Of course, Child had not believed such a preposterous tale. But this ability to change in size.....it could be quite useful.

"Alright dragon" she said. "I would like you to come home with me as long as you are willing to keep yourself about the size of a small pony. Of course, when you fly free outside for exercise, you may be any size you want. That is.....if it's not too near my hobbit neighbors."

Child figured that some of the hobbits might be scandalized by the presence of a dragon in their part of the Downs. But, as long as he wasn't terrifyingly large, she could probably get away with it. Anyways, surely, the Tooks, Gamgees, and Bagginses wouldn't mind too dearly, especially if she promised to give the younger ones rides.

"Just think how much faster my mail delivery will go," she mused. "And how much more fun! I'll have those 342 bags done in no time. I may even be able to rent him out for special occasions and earn extra that way to remodel my hobbit hole. And I had been promising the children that I would get them a pet. This seems quite good, although I may lose a bit of credibility among the stuffier hobbit families"

The dragon smiled slyly, and turned his head about. "Alright, I'll come with you to this hobbit hole. But we'll see about any extra rides, and if those stuffy families get too nasty, I'll turn their houses into toast."

Not a bad idea, Child thought, as she turned to leave the field.