"Narya?!" she squealed, then they exchanged hugs, and almost like High
School yuppies, went into a never ending "Oh I know" 's, and "oh my
gosh!"'s, then looking at each other's outfits flattering each other,
before talking about the "boys" who attended. " So...Is he here?" Joan
asked, the girl nodded knowing exactly whom she was referring to. Joan gave
a sigh, then asked, "What about her? She here too?" Again a nod of
affirmation was given. Joan hung her head, slowly realizing that attending
the affair was not a very good idea after all. But just then, a young man
carrying large bags of T-Shirts and caps bumped into her, making her spill
lattè on her shirt. She screamed, he turned and said, "Oh, sorry dude!"
then turned away. This was the kind of manner that would send Joan in the
mood for a good verbal fight.
" Is that all you have to say to me? Oh sorry dude" she said mocking his thick american accent.
" whatever dude, whatever, peace, God Bless!" He answered back, slinging the bags on his back and leaving them with their mouth's wide open in utter disgust.
As he turned Joan made a move to clobber him but the girl Elbereth stopped her, "He's Nick Stewart Narya, the richest guy in this convention I heard, don't waste your time on a spoiled brat like that. Come on girl, let's just buy another shirt over there." With that Joan left the scene muttering to herself that if she ever saw him again, she would make him pay for this incident.
-----------------
Meanwhile, not far from the grounds a conspicuous character set up a rather small booth selling large pendants, and other odd jewelries. Though no one seems to be interested in his merchandise, the man remained in his booth looking out as if expecting someone to appear or waiting for someone who he knows will show up. It was then that Joan and Elbereth approached the booth of T-shirts beside him. While Elbereth and Joan seached the T-shirts one by one, looking for something appropriate, a glint caught Joan's eye. It was from one of the hanging pendants in the booth beside them. Now, Joan was very into jewelries especially ones that were cunningly made by hands, a great collector of one of a kind ornaments - when she can afford them - the small booth caught her attention.
"Fancy a pendant?" Joan softly fingered the hanging pendants and they jingled softly. One caught her eye, it was rather small, made of silver but a bit tarnished by time, there was a long silver chain attached to it intricately, Joan has never seen such craftsmandship before, it had intricate vines all over it, and a large tree was in the back. The round orb like pendant opened to reveal a letter in Sindarin runes. Being an impulsive buyer she immediately took out her wallet asked the man for it's price. But he refused. "Oh now, that is a very special pendant my dear. I'm afraid if you take that it may affect you more than you would like. Are you sure you want to take it?"
"How much is it?" Joan said in an impatient tone.
"Do you really want it, dear girl? It may change you"
"Look, are you gonna sell that thing or not?" Joan said, slightly turning red with anger.
"Don't say I didn't warn you now, you can have that, it's on me." Then the man gave her a wink and placed the pendant in her hand, chain and all. And the moment that his hand left hers, she felt a slight tingling sensation in her nape.
"Just like that? Well, ok, thanks, I'll get this one too, and here.." Joan paid the man $50.00 for the necklace made of bronze with the letter J dangling on it, so as not to feel any more guilty about taking a free one. __________________
After running into that evil little lady, Nick shrugged and grabbed a seat. He tossed his bags full of merchandise on the chair beside him, then stretched out with all kinds of boredom. "Now I got stuff for my pals. There's nothing here that I don't already have, but the rest of this money is burning a hole in my wallet!"
He grabbed the bags and jumped up to check out the rest of the convention center. He entered himself in a lottery for some rare and signed memorabilia, bought some pipes for his dad and uncle that looked like they came from the movies, got some jewelry for his mom, and stopped at the last booth with all kinds of amusement.
Everyday items that didn't look like they didn't have much to do with LOTR were being sold. "Dude, who's gonna buy a towel at a place like this? You should be selling what everyone else is."
The peculiar salesman tossed him a knowing smile and turned Nick's attention to the other items with an expansive gesture. "Don't need a towel, then? How about a comb for that hair?"
Nick reflexively shot his hand up to his hair. "Dude, that's not cool. This is the popular look back in the states. Uh, let me see here. I still need to get something for me." His hand hovered above every item for a couple of seconds since all of them could be useful, but when he got to a pair of black slippers with some crazy markings on the toes, he remembered that the floors of the dorm room he'd be staying in at college were uncomfortable. "Okay, I'll take these slippers. How much?"
The salesman looked at him with amusement this time. "You need slippers more than another towel? These aren't your everday slippers. Sure you don't want the comb?"
Nick covered his head again, then stuck his hand deep into his pocket with a look of frustration. "I already have a comb. Who needs two combs? I'll take the slippers. What's so great about them, anyway? Aren't slippers all the same?"
The salesman shook his head as he stuffed the slippers into a bag and held them out. "You'll find out, I'm sure." Nick grabbed the bag and walked off, touching his hair with all kinds of protectiveness, not noticing that he was never asked to pay. __________________
Keira was walking over to a booth, when she noticed someone standing alone by a tree. Curious she walked over, it was a man, he was holding a hankerchief (sp). 'Hey' she said to the man, he turned to face her, 'yes' he asked. Keira walked towards the man, but the man stepped back. 'that hankerchief there, can i see it'. The man looked at her then the hankerchief than back at Keira'No miss, and it's may I see it, not can I' 'What are you my English teacher' she told the man raising an eyebrow 'But, may I please see it' Hesitant the man handed it to her, she ran her fingers over it. There was a silvery-blue Sindarin letter on it, underneath the letter, were some silver stars.
'How much' she asked getting out her wallet. 'It isn't for sale' he said jerking it out of her hand 'I really want it I'll give you..' she started than opened up her wallet to see a twenty dollar bill, 'twenty dollars' she continued the man eyed her, 'It is not for sale' 'Look Mister, I really, really want it, and I'm not leaving till I get it' The man looked her up and down, knowing that she would keep to her word, he slowly handed the hankerchief to her, 'It is yours, but if something happens, don't say I didn't warn you' the man said than mysteriously walked off. Keira put it in her pocket than walked off, to a food booth __________________
Ted and Joe walked side-by-side across the crowded gravel walkways of the Tolkien Convention. Every now and then they would stop at a booth to gawk and discuss certain items that caught their attention, but most often they were too involved in an animated discussion about lightspeed to even notice anything else. Ted had been meeting friends all day and was hungering for some good, deep conversation. Joe fit right into that mold.
After some minutes of creasing foreheads and wracking brains, Joe commented, "You need to enjoy yourself here, Ted. You spend all your days at home being so serious and intelligent . . . it sometimes takes forever to get you to lighten up!"
"Uhh . . ." Ted began, " thanks man."
"You're welcome!" Joe grinned from ear to ear. "Hey, check this out! Wanna by something for Kara?" He stopped beside a small booth, behind which sat a little man with an impish grin on his face. All he was selling was rings. Gold rings, silver rings, light rings, dark rings. Something unpleasant tickled the back of Joe's memory . . . he seemed to remember the same guy at a different booth not far back. He shook his head and forgot about it.
"Hmm. . . ." Ted said and then stopped, his eye catching a thick pewter ring scrolled in and out with leaf-like swirls, who's reflection in a nearby mirror glittered intoxicatingly. It reminded him of something that he would call "Elvish," a style of which he was particularly fond. Everything Elvish was so distinguished! His hands grasped it almost immediately and he looked up to see the little man staring at him in the eyes.
"You sure you want that?" The man questioned, the corners of his mouth twitching.
"I don't think you could make me part with it if you tried." Ted answered.
"Don't say I didn't warn you. . . ."
"How much?" Ted's fingers traced the intricate vines on the ring.
"Free. Take it. I see you like it."
"Common man, I can't just do that!" Ted's face was completely serious.
"Take it!" The little man screamed from behind his booth.
Ted jumped and made a run for it, Joe laughing behind him. "Geez, man, you don't have to run like a scared dog."
"What the heck did he want anyway?" Ted mused outloud. He fingered the ring slowly, a look of concentration on his face, and the popped it onto the middle finger of his left hand. His finger started to tingle.
" Is that all you have to say to me? Oh sorry dude" she said mocking his thick american accent.
" whatever dude, whatever, peace, God Bless!" He answered back, slinging the bags on his back and leaving them with their mouth's wide open in utter disgust.
As he turned Joan made a move to clobber him but the girl Elbereth stopped her, "He's Nick Stewart Narya, the richest guy in this convention I heard, don't waste your time on a spoiled brat like that. Come on girl, let's just buy another shirt over there." With that Joan left the scene muttering to herself that if she ever saw him again, she would make him pay for this incident.
-----------------
Meanwhile, not far from the grounds a conspicuous character set up a rather small booth selling large pendants, and other odd jewelries. Though no one seems to be interested in his merchandise, the man remained in his booth looking out as if expecting someone to appear or waiting for someone who he knows will show up. It was then that Joan and Elbereth approached the booth of T-shirts beside him. While Elbereth and Joan seached the T-shirts one by one, looking for something appropriate, a glint caught Joan's eye. It was from one of the hanging pendants in the booth beside them. Now, Joan was very into jewelries especially ones that were cunningly made by hands, a great collector of one of a kind ornaments - when she can afford them - the small booth caught her attention.
"Fancy a pendant?" Joan softly fingered the hanging pendants and they jingled softly. One caught her eye, it was rather small, made of silver but a bit tarnished by time, there was a long silver chain attached to it intricately, Joan has never seen such craftsmandship before, it had intricate vines all over it, and a large tree was in the back. The round orb like pendant opened to reveal a letter in Sindarin runes. Being an impulsive buyer she immediately took out her wallet asked the man for it's price. But he refused. "Oh now, that is a very special pendant my dear. I'm afraid if you take that it may affect you more than you would like. Are you sure you want to take it?"
"How much is it?" Joan said in an impatient tone.
"Do you really want it, dear girl? It may change you"
"Look, are you gonna sell that thing or not?" Joan said, slightly turning red with anger.
"Don't say I didn't warn you now, you can have that, it's on me." Then the man gave her a wink and placed the pendant in her hand, chain and all. And the moment that his hand left hers, she felt a slight tingling sensation in her nape.
"Just like that? Well, ok, thanks, I'll get this one too, and here.." Joan paid the man $50.00 for the necklace made of bronze with the letter J dangling on it, so as not to feel any more guilty about taking a free one. __________________
After running into that evil little lady, Nick shrugged and grabbed a seat. He tossed his bags full of merchandise on the chair beside him, then stretched out with all kinds of boredom. "Now I got stuff for my pals. There's nothing here that I don't already have, but the rest of this money is burning a hole in my wallet!"
He grabbed the bags and jumped up to check out the rest of the convention center. He entered himself in a lottery for some rare and signed memorabilia, bought some pipes for his dad and uncle that looked like they came from the movies, got some jewelry for his mom, and stopped at the last booth with all kinds of amusement.
Everyday items that didn't look like they didn't have much to do with LOTR were being sold. "Dude, who's gonna buy a towel at a place like this? You should be selling what everyone else is."
The peculiar salesman tossed him a knowing smile and turned Nick's attention to the other items with an expansive gesture. "Don't need a towel, then? How about a comb for that hair?"
Nick reflexively shot his hand up to his hair. "Dude, that's not cool. This is the popular look back in the states. Uh, let me see here. I still need to get something for me." His hand hovered above every item for a couple of seconds since all of them could be useful, but when he got to a pair of black slippers with some crazy markings on the toes, he remembered that the floors of the dorm room he'd be staying in at college were uncomfortable. "Okay, I'll take these slippers. How much?"
The salesman looked at him with amusement this time. "You need slippers more than another towel? These aren't your everday slippers. Sure you don't want the comb?"
Nick covered his head again, then stuck his hand deep into his pocket with a look of frustration. "I already have a comb. Who needs two combs? I'll take the slippers. What's so great about them, anyway? Aren't slippers all the same?"
The salesman shook his head as he stuffed the slippers into a bag and held them out. "You'll find out, I'm sure." Nick grabbed the bag and walked off, touching his hair with all kinds of protectiveness, not noticing that he was never asked to pay. __________________
Keira was walking over to a booth, when she noticed someone standing alone by a tree. Curious she walked over, it was a man, he was holding a hankerchief (sp). 'Hey' she said to the man, he turned to face her, 'yes' he asked. Keira walked towards the man, but the man stepped back. 'that hankerchief there, can i see it'. The man looked at her then the hankerchief than back at Keira'No miss, and it's may I see it, not can I' 'What are you my English teacher' she told the man raising an eyebrow 'But, may I please see it' Hesitant the man handed it to her, she ran her fingers over it. There was a silvery-blue Sindarin letter on it, underneath the letter, were some silver stars.
'How much' she asked getting out her wallet. 'It isn't for sale' he said jerking it out of her hand 'I really want it I'll give you..' she started than opened up her wallet to see a twenty dollar bill, 'twenty dollars' she continued the man eyed her, 'It is not for sale' 'Look Mister, I really, really want it, and I'm not leaving till I get it' The man looked her up and down, knowing that she would keep to her word, he slowly handed the hankerchief to her, 'It is yours, but if something happens, don't say I didn't warn you' the man said than mysteriously walked off. Keira put it in her pocket than walked off, to a food booth __________________
Ted and Joe walked side-by-side across the crowded gravel walkways of the Tolkien Convention. Every now and then they would stop at a booth to gawk and discuss certain items that caught their attention, but most often they were too involved in an animated discussion about lightspeed to even notice anything else. Ted had been meeting friends all day and was hungering for some good, deep conversation. Joe fit right into that mold.
After some minutes of creasing foreheads and wracking brains, Joe commented, "You need to enjoy yourself here, Ted. You spend all your days at home being so serious and intelligent . . . it sometimes takes forever to get you to lighten up!"
"Uhh . . ." Ted began, " thanks man."
"You're welcome!" Joe grinned from ear to ear. "Hey, check this out! Wanna by something for Kara?" He stopped beside a small booth, behind which sat a little man with an impish grin on his face. All he was selling was rings. Gold rings, silver rings, light rings, dark rings. Something unpleasant tickled the back of Joe's memory . . . he seemed to remember the same guy at a different booth not far back. He shook his head and forgot about it.
"Hmm. . . ." Ted said and then stopped, his eye catching a thick pewter ring scrolled in and out with leaf-like swirls, who's reflection in a nearby mirror glittered intoxicatingly. It reminded him of something that he would call "Elvish," a style of which he was particularly fond. Everything Elvish was so distinguished! His hands grasped it almost immediately and he looked up to see the little man staring at him in the eyes.
"You sure you want that?" The man questioned, the corners of his mouth twitching.
"I don't think you could make me part with it if you tried." Ted answered.
"Don't say I didn't warn you. . . ."
"How much?" Ted's fingers traced the intricate vines on the ring.
"Free. Take it. I see you like it."
"Common man, I can't just do that!" Ted's face was completely serious.
"Take it!" The little man screamed from behind his booth.
Ted jumped and made a run for it, Joe laughing behind him. "Geez, man, you don't have to run like a scared dog."
"What the heck did he want anyway?" Ted mused outloud. He fingered the ring slowly, a look of concentration on his face, and the popped it onto the middle finger of his left hand. His finger started to tingle.