I know that everyone probably says this, but...... I have the best fans/reviewers! Awwww! OK, soppy moment finished with now!
Just a point I need to address for your future reference:
1. Many events mentioned will not feature as more than a passing comment until the actual Olympics. This is to keep them fresh and exciting - what fun is it describing every heat of every event in detail?! These include the brilliant ones suggested by reviewers (love the Mount Doom/one ring 'ring toss' BTW!)
So... on with the show!
Chapter 4 - Even Britney makes an appearance at the trials...... (Oh, and Pippin gets drunk!)
After Sam's success in the first heat of the 100m, he, Merry, Frodo and Pippin went to the refreshments tent to 'practice' for the drinking competition that was to take place in a few days. (This was OK to do because Sam's race was the last of the day, and none of the four had any races until mid morning the following day!) That was the official excuse anyway. In reality they were going because they were hobbits and there was cheap ale/beer.
As they had anticipated, Pippin was completely inebriated after about two small mugs (he was used to drinking Bud Light after all), and proceeded to sing. Loudly.
"Ooops I did it again, I drank too much beer, got really drunk - ooh baby, baby......."
"Noooo, Pippin! Stop, make him stop," cried Merry, looking horrified and also quite traumatised.
"Hey, Pip, Pip, PIP!" Frodo shouted. Pippin stopped singing and dancing (yes, there was a dance routine - oh the horror), Merry stopped shaking in terror, and the rest of the tent's occupants just stopped.
"Nothing to see," said Sam, "Go back to what you were doing."
"Now, Merry," said Frodo, "What's the matter?"
"Orcs..... captured...... me and Pippin...... torture...... sang Britney songs....."
"Oh." said Sam, shuddering at the thought, "Well, that was a long time ago, and you're safe now - look, Pippin's fallen asleep!"
Merry looked up to confirm Sam's statement and saw that, yes, Pippin had indeed fallen asleep under the table and was snoring softly.
"I think that means it's time for us to go," said Frodo, "We've got a busy day tomorrow - piggyback racing, mushroom eating and archery!"
"Archery?!" said Merry, suddenly looking fully recovered from the shock of Pippin's singing and the memories associated with it.
"Yes. Archery." said Frodo, looking quite serious.
"Do you seriously think you stand a chance in the archery free for alls?"
"Yep!"
"Against our old pal Leggy?"
"Oh. I had forgotten about him. Damn."
"You're gonna make a complete idiot of yourself," said Merry, enjoying the expression on Frodo's face.
"Cheers Merry."
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The hobbits woke at about 10:30 the next day, disgusted to learn that it was both raining, and they had missed the first breakfast sitting. Surprisingly, Pippin wasn't hung over - if anything, he was the most awake out of the four.
The piggyback race was the first event that concerned Pippin, Merry, Frodo and Sam, and it was not one they were looking forward to. They approached the start line in their respective pairs with caution. Each pair had to run 40m, piggyback style naturally, before swapping over and running back. The starting whistle blew, and the pairs set off, slipping and sliding in the puddles and mud. Sam and Frodo took the immediate lead, but were foiled at the swap over when Frodo hoisted Sam up and promptly fell over. Merry and Pippin didn't even make it that far: they were laughing so much that they barely made away from the start line before falling over. So much for making it to the Olympics in that way.
In the mushroom eating event, however, Merry, Pippin, Frodo and Sam all qualified to go to the Olympics - big surprise! They celebrated by eating more mushrooms!
Frodo also qualified in both the archery contest and the staring contest. The main reason, however, for this surprising turn of events was that he was the only one registered in the staring contest, and all of the other competitors dropped out of the archery contest when they heard that they would be facing Legolas. Therefore, Frodo was to be the only hobbit in these two free for alls at the Official Olympics of Middle Earth.
The day ended with early nights all round, but especially for Sam, who had his second heat in the 100m to face the next day.
A/N - I would like to apologise to any Britney fans out there who were offended by this chapter. I'm sorry, I have nothing against Britney really. The Britney and also drinking references in this chapter are things continued over from my other LotR story "Why Hobbits should come with a health warning!" Basically they say that Pippin is a bit of a lightweight!
Just to show how sorry I really am, there will be a special appearance in Chapter 5 from the one and only Legolas - just for all you reviewers who mentioned him.
Keep pressing that little purple button!
Rachel xx