AN: I'm sorry updates have been nonexistent in the last few weeks. I'm in the middle of packing to move back up to Montreal. We're driving… it's something like 12 hours… I don't know whether I'm happy that I can actually bring up more than 2 suitcases this year, or if I want to claw my eyes out with a spork at such a long drive.

ANYWAY, the moral of this story is that I will be updating very sporadically for the next few weeks. I will try and pull off a chapter or 2 in that time, but I make no promises.

And now, since just posting author's notes is a Bad Thing, here is your short musical interlude (nonofthecharactersinthisstoryareminetheyareTolkein'sandTerryPratchett's):


Agnes and the Elves

Chapter 13 – The Hall of Fire

Agnes entered into a large hall behind Gandalf, Elrond, and Frodo. At one end a large roaring fireplace gave the room cozy warmth. Many chairs were set against the walls, all facing the center of the room, where one elf was singing a haunting melody.

Agnes noticed Gimli sitting near the back of the room and hurried over to join him. He gave her a pleasant nod, and returned his attention to the singer.

Agnes sat entranced for what seemed like hours. Most of the songs she heard seemed filled with an unbearable sadness and loss, yet the melodies filled her with a sense of complacence.

After quite some time, Gandalf and an elf that bore a striking resemblance to Lord Elrond came up to Agnes and Gimli.

"Elladan would like to hear a song from you, Agnes." Gandalf said noncommittally.

Agnes looked from him to Elladan. Clearly Elladan thought she would sing some hopelessly rustic dwarven tune. From the blank look on Gandalf's face, he expected the same, and didn't think it would go over well.

Shall we show them how wrong they are? Perdita asked wickedly.

Agnes smiled and stood. "I would be happy to oblige Elladan." She said. She strode to the middle of the room and gave a small bow to the entire room. There were expressions of suppressed horror, as well as amusement, scattered across the crowd.

Let's show them how it's really done.

I knew all that opera was good for something.

Agnes launched into "Flower Duet" from a Guenan opera called 'The Marriage'. Shock registered on the watching faces as they realized that Agnes was singing in harmony with herself. Actually Perdita was singing along, a talent that was a byproduct of mixing witchcraft and music. The tune for he duet was liting and beautiful, but it had always amused Agnes that the translation of the lyrics was:

"I am so bored,

Stuck in this courtyard

With these stupid smelly flowers.

How I loathe the jasmine,

I wish I had a beer."

When Agnes and Perdita were done singing, the hall rang with appreciative silence. She bowed to the room again and sat back down next to Gimli, smiling pleasantly at the shocked faces around her.


AN: The song is a spoof of a duet called 'Sous le dome Epais' from the French opera Lakme. The lyrics certainly don't translate to anything like that (but if I remember correctly they are kind of trite), and the song really is beautiful.