Chapter eight
Cheap jewelry and a gym-induced hangover
Suddenly the lights grew brighter as Saruman the White strode into the room looking a bit miffed but definitely arrogant and proud enough to put any trouble-making freshmen into thinking through their next scheme. The wizard made his way over to the podium and, clearing his throat, announced in a loud voice, "I have some good news for all of you." The students groaned, knowing that anything beginning with that could not possibley be in their best interest. The wizard continued.
"Today we will be awarding the prizes for . . ." he paused, thinking. "Never mind what they're for; just be happy we're giving them to you. At any rate, each teacher will now announce the pupil they have chosen to bear this burden- I mean, accept this most gracious reward for a job well done. Dr. Anderson: you may begin."
That was how the very unorthodox award ceremony began. No one knew what these 'prizes' were. All they knew was that since the teachers were smiling it had to be something good. The teachers had chosen one girl or boy from the many students that they taught, calling them all up to stand in a line by the podium. Jamie found to her surprise to be called up by Mr. Smith for History class. A moment later, Aragorn was called up by Mr. Jordan for Chemistry. Standing side by side, Jamie shot the young man a confused look.
"Uh, Aragorn, what exactly is all this about?"
"I can tell you!" someone asked to the girl's right. Turning she found a familiar looking freshmen. The young man turned out to be Frodo Baggins!
"Frodo?" she asked, amazed.
The hobbit stuck out his hand, smiling.
"Yes! That's my name. Do I know you?"
Just then Saruman called for silence. The students, sensing that he was not in what of his more merciful moods, quieted instantly. Glancing at the line of students, Jamie saw that Vikki had been called up as well by Ms. Brooks for Math. The teachers had completed their speeches, and so the awarding would begin. By the end of fifteen minutes, each student had been awarded with a ring. Saruman was beaming.
"Now, if all the students will please put the rings on and return to their seats, I have one more thing to tell you all."
Jamie looked down at her ring. The band was made of whitish gold, probably mithril, if it, like everything else 'Middle-earth,' existed. Set in the center was a deep black stone swirled with red. Whenever she held it to the light a streak of green would go through it. There was some sort of writing on it as well, Elvish, she knew most likely, since the elves who had received them were huddled together in a group trying to decipher the tiny script. She noticed the Aragorn was about to put his on, but the girl stopped him on watching their principal. Something was not right.
Aragorn paused, as if to test the air.
"I feel it also. Principal Saruman is up to something."
Making their way back to their seats they found to their dismay, Vikki, the ring on her finger, showing it proudly to those around her.
"Vikki!" Jamie cried. "Take off the ring!"
"What?" her friend cried over the baffling bursts of noise coming from the other students. "Speak louder! I can't hear you!"
"Take off the ring!" Jamie and Aragorn cried at once, the girl finally hearing. She put her arms up as if to ask why in the world she would do such a thing. She suddenly paused, however, a look of dread coming over her face. Pulling at the jewelery, she got it off just in time. It was then that Saruman made his announcement.
"I will be stepping down as your principal." he told the students, sarcastic cries of 'aww, darn' erupting about the room. The wizard ignored them. The teachers were looking up at the podium in interest; they had not been informed of this. Even Vice Principal Gandalf looked confused. Saruman continued.
"Your new principal will be, to the joy of you all, . . ."
The fact that he paused scared the teens even more.
"Sauron!"
Suddenly the Rings on the hands of all the students blazed to life. Electric jolts shocked the students, sending them into a stupor. Luckily, all three had placed the rings in their pockets. The gems shone with an unholy red gleam as the rings whispered to them. Come. Stay. Listen to the Ring Lord. He is the Master.
The rest of the students were in utter pandemonium, now, the teachers unable to stop it all since they were wearing rings as well. Those wearing the rings were chanting, their eyes glowing red. As suddenly as if a switch were flipped the crowd went silent, sensing the power of evil that had enter the room. There was Sauron, walking into the gym as if he owned the place, smoke and the foul stench of sulfer drifting in his wake. He made his way to the podium. Looking around at them all he spoke one word.
"Boo."
The students erupted in screams, the human students, that is. Before pandemonium could completely engulf the school populous, Sauron muttered something in Black Speech. Immediately every student that did not possess a ring, fell to their feet, entranced in a deep sleep.
Vikki, Jamie, and Aragorn had rings, but since they were not wearing them, and so the spell did not work. Jamie clutched at the ring in her shaking hands, the pulsating red light showing through her fingers. Her chest ached and she was seeing stars. Her two friends looked just as bad. She tried to shake it off and shoved the band back in her pocket.
"Quick!" she told them. "Fake like you're asleep!"
Miraculously, the trick seemed to work. Sauron, knowing that some of the students were not all they appeared to be, merely nodded towards Saruman and left. The oblivious wizard looked out into the crowd of students, those wearing the rings standing among those asleep. He was quite proud of himself and didn't feel like cleaning up the mess, and so left the children there until the next morning.
The pain that gripped the hearts of the three still aware was unbearable, and though Aragorn was able to stand it, the two girls passed out, joining their comrades in sleep. The young man lasted an hour, but fell into unconciousness just as quickly.
The next day, Jamie woke up to someone shaking her violently.
"She can't be dead! Miri! Wake UP!!!"
Her eyes focusing slightly, she noticed that someone was, indeed, trying to revive her. For some reason the figure looked blurred. She reached a hand up to her face.
"Where are my glasses?"
"Thank the Valar!" Eomer cried as he stopped shaking her.
"She's alive!" Gimli added happily.
"Of COURSE she is, you nitwits!" Vikki interrupted, standing, herself, holding her head. The aftereffects of the ring were quite painful.
When Jamie glanced up at Eomer and then looked questioningly at Legolas, she was merely told that, "he had one too many bottles of Mountain Dew that morning."
Meanwhile, Boromir, upon seeing his girlfriend was awake, ran over to take her up in a big passionate kiss.
Jamie would have stared at how angry Vikki looked if it hadn't been for the frightening thing she found sitting ever so neatly on her finger. Though she had not once put it on, the ring given to her yesterday adorned her hand. When she tried to pull it off, she found to her dismay that it was . . . stuck.
Just as a fuming Lexi broke away from Boromir, Aragorn's cry was heard as he ran between them.
"HEEEELLLLLLPP!!!!" he cried, hiding behind Legolas and Jamie.
Jamie smirked, adjusting her spectacles.
"Where's Arwen when you need her?"
Just then the elf in question came running into the gym. Upon seeing the mass of other preppies chasing after boyfriend, or rather, being held at bay by Boromir, Legolas, and a group of others she didn't know, Arwen marched up the steps and ordered them away from her "darling." It seemed the tides had turned overnight, and the ranger-to-be was now the one who needed protecting. (A/N, 'laughs uncontrollably')
The screaming had caused many of the other incapacitated children to awaken, all of them eventually making their way outside. The force of the sleep spell kept some too drugged to ponder why they had all awakened in the gym. They merely wanted to head outside, for the moment, and get a soda from the machines.
It was then that Mike, Nicky, and Roland woke up, rubbing their eyes and groaning. Michael glanced around.
"Ok . . . what happened, exactly? Remind me again why we fell asleep in the gym?"
Vikki, having moved as far away as possible form Boromir, glared.
"Shut up, you idiot. It's too early in the mor-ning- to- hey, wait a minute, it is morning!" the girl checked her watch. "We've been sleeping for almost 24 hours!"
Mike cocked an eyebrow.
"Is anyone else slightly disturbed by this?"
Jamie looked over to Aragorn and Vikki.
"It gets worse, guys."
Sure enough, the other two were also wearing the rings, as if some ghostly force has placed them on their hands wile they slept; which, unfortunately, was entirely possible. Trying to lighten the mood, Nick sunk to using sarcasm.
"Okay, well, here's a thought, guys." he began. "Instead of marveling at those rings, how about we all get off the bleachers, hm? That way we won't be late to our first class?"
Legolas, though pale in the light of this new predicament, smiled.
"Excellent idea, Nikolas! Onward!"
With that, the very mismatched group of people made their way down and out of the gym. Boromir wanted to carry Vikki down, saying she was far too weak too walk, but the girl, growling yet smiling sweetly, told him that she was fine. Legolas, following suit, asked if Jamie wanted to be carried. Upon seeing her death in Vikki's eyes, however, she declined.
"I'll carry you!" Eomer cried.
"No, that's alright!" both girls said at once, moving quickly to the front of the group.
When they were finally outside, Jamie and Vikki noticed something different. Where doors once stood in the walls of the school leading outside, there was now a very thick layer of plate glass.
They were trapped.