The Downie Awards Show

[Frodo Baggins]

Isildae giggled, "well I do not know what knocked us out. oh well." He took a sip of the water that was next to him and then "Pffft! Cahria was right! Water really DOES taste old after its sat out all night."

"You doubted my word?" MAggie smirked.

"All right you two." Frodo gave them both a warning look.

[Bekah]

Narelen (previously known as Varda Elentari, companion of Kementari and friend of Nurumaiel, and still the latter two) walked in slowly. Her business (on Earth, it's known as maths) was not quite finished, but she had heard that the party was finishing. She looked around at the dishevelled people and furniture, with many of the former straggling outside.

She sighed. She knew that no awards had been presented to her friend, Bekah, who had been sleeping the hidden room over in the hall, a day before the moderators decorated the hall for the party, now long finished. Bekah ate or read when she chose to be awake, bored with looking at the patterns the light made on the ceiling.

Perhaps next time...

[The Squatter of Amon Rûdh]

'Thanks, old boy,' drawled Squatter. 'Nothing to it really: fence-climbing's all in the wrists, you see. Now to settle this debt of honour: after you.'

Selecting the proffered crusty blade, he placed it under his arm like a swagger-stick and accompanied Heren to a quiet spot where they could test their mettle with these paragons of the baker's art. With mock gravity the duellists saluted one another and then with cries of 'Have at you', they leaped to the fray. Soon the air was filled with crumbs and fragments of crust; a possibly fitting tribute to the fair traveller in the wilds of Europe who had prompted the contest.

[ May 10, 2003: Message edited by: The Squatter of Amon Rûdh ]

[Meela]

Meela sidled into the backstage area, avoiding the chaos and clutter of the wings. Nervously adjusting her dress straps, she spotted Denethor lounging on a tatty sofa, carefully polishing her award with the sleeve of his fur-lined cloak. Meela sighed dreamily and remained hidden from his view. She did not want to disturb the scene, preferring to drool in private for a while longer.
Eventually she could bear it no more. Leaping upon the unsuspecting Steward, she threw the award aside and grabbed his collar. Denethor gasped in surprise as Meela planted an enthusiastic kiss upon his lips. It did not take him long to respond.
Reluctantly she pulled away and stood up. Feeling a little awkward, Meela held out her hand, which Denethor solemnly shook. Then, grinning, he picked up the once more dusty award and pressed it into her hand. Taking her by the other hand, they made their way out of the wings and around to the entrance of the ceremonial hall. They took their seats at the back, their heads bent together as they discussed who had made an appearance and who had not. Meela paused in her mutterings to wave enthusiastically at Airehiriel, and grinned as the wave was returned.

[Samwise]

Sam yawned. "Well, sir, looks like they've given out all th' awards they're gonna give. "

Stacey stood. "Shall we go then?" she reached out a hand to Cromthal. "It was nice meeting you, finally. "

[Arafangwen]

Arafangwen tryed her best to ignore the dragon bursting through the ceiling with a dwarven fellow on his back, those people just wanted attention. Looking around she spotted Luthien coming towards their group.

"Luthien!" she called out

"Glad you could finaly join us!" she said in a mock scolding tone.

"Where have you been?" she asked the (very) late elven maiden.

[Samwise]

Primrose hopped off of her seat and gave Frodo a good - bye hug. "I'm glad you were here, Uncle Frodo. Sorry you didn't get and award."

Sam frowned. "Yes, I'd like to talk to someone about that..."

Stacey: Oh, Sam... [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Mimi and Tennyson just looked at each other and shook their heads.

[Morai]

Morai shook her head. People were leaving, a sure sign that she hadn't one an award. Three people at least, won awards that she knew from Kiddnapped! RPG. The girl shrugged, Morai really hadn't participated in many RPGs since the new system started.

Pushing through the crowds, Morai headed to the hall of the party. Next to the liquor, there was a cooler chest. Grinning, she opened it. Inside the container was ice cubes.

"Perfect for waking unconcious dates." Morai whispered to herself.

Taking a nearby plastic bag, she stuffed a handful of ice into it. Clomping back to the Auditorium, she pondered Harlon's reaction. Morai spotted the victim, still sprawled on the seats. Being as silent as possible, she walked toward him. A row behind, Morai opened the bag of ice once more and poured it down the shirt of Harlon Nowane.

He leaped out of his slumber. Harlon sped down the aisle his arms and legs flying. Just then he realised the cause of the problem. Morai braced the chair for balance, laughing hysterically. Unforunate for her, Morai didn't notice the elf behind. Her date tickeled her, making Morai gigle even more.

Striding out the door, the hysterical duo arm in arm. There were smiles on their red faces.

"Harlon, I think we should wait a bit longer. I'm not sure if all the awards were given out yet." Morai said, ignoring the doubt in her head.

[Samwise]

Sam waved a last goodbye to Frodo and the others, then headed for the door.

"I hate to say this." he whispered. "But I fear I was almost as bored as my daughter at that one. "

Stacey grimaced as they went out the door. "Well, better to be bored than tortured or eaten by Orcs, or for that matter being stuck on an Elven ship going someplace it's not supposed to go. "

Sam: True.

They went to the trail that headed past the Great Hall, and Mimi looked up and down it.

"Oh, dear. How are we going to get home? "

Stacey bit her lower lip. She hadn't thought of that, and even if she did call Worthington, she doubted four of them could fit in the back seat of the car comfortably.....

Stacey: Erm, Sam, you wouldn't mind sitting in my lap, would you?

The Hobbit shook his head, seeming to know what she was thinking. "No, not at all. Call Worthington. I've got to get back to Bag End and plant those Moonflower seeds I got. "

Stacey snickered, thinking of the fanficton she was writing that had to do with similar flowers...."Okay. " she activated her wrist communicator. "Worthington? Yes, it's me...could you come get us? We're ready to come home. "

[Luthien_ Tinuviel]

Luthien ran up to meet Arafangwen.

"Did I miss the reception?" she asked. Upon being informed that she had missed practically everything, and being comforted by the fact that she would be on time next year, she told the whole story:

"Well, you see, I started out for the Barrow-downs 12 days ago. Riding my swift horse, I figured it would take me a little over a day to get here. It seems, however, that fate would have it otherwise. I was waylaid by a small band of orcs near the banks of Anduin. It came to a fight, but luckily I was able to ride away not much hurt. Little did I know that I was soon to learn how foolish it was of me to travel without an escort. On the dawn of the 1st of May, as I was riding up the Greenway towards the Barrow-downs, I discovered that the orcs had friends in the area. The old band of orcs had joined with a larger band and surrounded me. Knowing that they were too many to fight alone, I tried to escape. For several days, to my frustration, I was pursued south and east, but never was I able to turn back towards my destination. By the 4th I and my pursuers reached the Greyflood. It was at this point that my horse was shot from under me by an orc-shaft. I was finally able to lose them in Swanfleet, for they seemed to be called away on more pressing business than the pursuit of a lone elf-maiden. I then made my way back up the Greenway on foot. Thankful that I had worn travelling clothes, I quickly changed into my party attire, and came to the Barrow-downs, where you see me now. By the way, have they given out all of the awards already?"

[Samwise]

Stacey looked over her shoulder at the just-arriving Elf-maiden. "Yuck. All that and she missed the whole thing. "

Primrose also looked over her shoulder, but at the Great Hall. "Uh, Miss Stacey, if the thingy's over, why is everyone still in there? "

Sam: Well, Tiny Rose, I haven't seen Mr. Mithadan in a while. Maybe they're waitin' for some kinda official word from him. "

"Maybe." Stacey said. She wondered how long Worthington would take.

[Frodo Baggins]

Maggie, seeing Sam and the others leaving stood up and said loudly "Back up the bus and hold the phone! Sam before you leave, Frodo has something to say, Don't you Frodo?"

Frodo was already scrambling up to the stage and Cromthal was right on his hell bringing Aisling, his harp, with him.

Froso stood up on the stage a bit nervously and fitgeted for a moment or two. Cromthal lowered the microphine on the stand fro him and then sat down behind Frodo with his harp.

"I would like to present an award this evening. the award is the "What can I say Award for the Person No One Has Anything Bad to Say About?" award. And the award goes to...." Frodo's hands were shaking so hard with excitement that he could hardly open the envelope

".....Samwise!!!!"

They hadn't found any appropriate theme music so Cromthal broke into a merry Bardic tune on his harp.

"Sam? How about a speech?"

[Samwise]

The group (particularly Sam) heard Frodo yelling and stood in the doorway just before Frodo reached the stage.

A wide grin spread on Stacey's face, and Primrose let out a squeal.

As Frodo finished, Stacey looked down at Sam. The Gardener had gone white, and tears were going down both cheeks.

"Oh, boy..." Stacey picked him up, carried him to the stage and plunked him beside Frodo. Afterward she returned to the others, glancing around for the Emcee, who she had a sneaking suspicion had a lot to do with this....

[Samwise]

Sam's hands shook as he took the 'stone from his friend.

"Oh, dear...oh dear, oh dear...." Sam's voice cracked, and out in the audience both Stacey and Primrose hoped Sam didn't explode into tears, as he was apt to do.

"Sir--an' all....I--I'm not so good at speech makin'....but...Miss Rae, wherever you are, thank you for bein' there in all my ups an' 'downs' here--so to speak--an' Miss Helen...an' Miss Pio...."

He drew a sharp breath, and those in the "know" KNEW he was trying not to cry.

"...an' Mr. Mithadan...thankyou so much for puttin' up with a silly ol' hobbit like me."

He set the 'stone down for a moment, as it was almost to big for him to carry, and threw his arms around Frodo's neck. "An' thank YOU, sir....thank you..."

That was it. He finally started bawling.

[kittiewhirl1677]

Eladoriel happily cheered when Samwise's award was given out. After he made his speech, she glanced over at Menelien. Menelien was not asleep, luckily.

"Menelien, I'm not sure, but I think that may have been the last award. Maybe we should go."

"Hold on, let's stick around for a little while longer. Just in case. Maybe there'll be some closing speech or something. I don't want to leave early, you know."

"Kay, sure then. I don't mind."

Eladoriel lay back in her seat, and relaxed her back. She still had a few minutes.

[Birdland]

As the last of the Barrow newbies sat in the auditorium, the stage lights started to go out one by one, as a troupe of dwarves started pushing the set pieces offstage for storage in the wings. A lonely neekerbreeker in the rafters set up a monotonous "neek-breek-neek-breek".

At the top of the aisle, a coverall-clad troll pushing a broom started to make the long trip down the ramp. half-way down he stopped to look at the last stragglers still taking up seats.

"Show's over kid. Beat it."

The troll continued his slow progress down the aisle, stopping only once to pick up a strangely winking button off the floor, which he glanced at without interest, then shoved in his pocket.

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

Finally Menelien stood up, and, calling over Eladoriel, strode over to the door, about to leave. When she got there, though, she stopped for a moment. What if some of the awards hadn't been given out yet? She decided to wait a bit, and sat down in a chair near the door.

[Iarwain]

Iarwain lay in (yet another) one of his memory comas in the dark and empty hall. Suddenly, he awoke and for once, he laughed aloud, the echoes sending eerie sounds out into the night. Then, getting up off the floor, he strode off to the nearest exit and calmly towards the gathering for the Downie Awards Show.

[ May 11, 2003: Message edited by: Iarwain ]

[kittiewhirl1677]

Eladoriel walked with Menelien to the door, about to leave. They suddenly stopped, and decided to wait a few minutes in case all the awards hadn't been given out. They sat down on chairs very near the big double-doors, so they couldn't really see the stage.

No matter, Eladoriel thought. The awards are almost over. There's not much left to see. Or is there?

[Birdland]

neek-breek...neek-breek...neek-breek...