Disclaimer: I do not own LOTR, or any of its characters. Haldir: Who, in their right mind, is going to believe that I couldn't beat Legolas at anything? Legolas: Who, in their right mind would believe you could? Haldir: Do you really want to go there, Blondie? Legolas: Bring it on.

Chapter 2

Opening Ceremonies

Stands of wooden bleachers, each fifteen rows high stretched across the entire field's length, on both sides. The bleachers were packed with spectators, both Elven and of Men, as well as a few other species, all of whom eagerly watched the spectacle unfolding before them. Night was falling, and hundreds of torches lit the field brightly.

Trumpets sounded, heralding the beginning of the games. A trio of horsemen trotted across the center of the field, bearing the flags of Rivendell, Mirkwood, and Lothlorien. They came to a stop in front of a canopied section of the right hand bleachers. Lord Elrond of Rivendell stood, dressed in his most formal robes, wearing his Mithril crown. The horsemen saluted him and he nodded his head in acknowledgement. The horsemen rode their horses to the far end of the field, and turned their horses to face the crowd.

Next, the trumpets blared again, and a group of twenty white clad Elves walked sedately onto the field, stopping in the center. They turned as one and faced Elrond, bowing. He nodded at them and took his seat.

The Elves began to sing - their voices in perfect harmony - the "Lay of Leithian" which had recently been set to music by Elrond, himself.

The singing went on for nearly two hoursthe Lay of Leithian was a very, very long tale. When the final note faded away, it took the crowd a moment or two to rouse themselves sufficiently to cheer.

Standing once again, Elrond waited for the cheering to subside, and the white clad Elves to depart the field. Raising his arms and his voice, he addressed the crowd in the bleachers.

"Elves, Men, Dwarves, and Hobbits, I welcome you to the Rivendell Olympiad! Please join me in welcoming our esteemed guests, King Thranduil of Mirkwood," he shouted to the crowd, gesturing to the tall, blonde regal Elf on his left, "and Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn of the Golden Wood!" he continued, gesturing to the lovely, blonde, faintly glowing Elf couple on his right.

The crowd cheered, rising to their feet and bowing respectfully to the guests. They re-seated themselves, once again waiting for Elrond to speak.

"It is my most humble honor to officially open the very first Rivendell Olympiad!" he shouted, privately thinking that it had better be the very first, and very last Rivendell Olympiad.

The crowd roared, and cages of white doves were released into the air, to soar over the crowds. Elrond tried not to notice the many Elves in the bleachers who now wore white splats on their heads from the passage of the doves.

"Please join me in welcoming the first of our esteemed judges for this competition! You know him as Esteland Striderand Ellesar He wielded the Narsilplease welcome Aragorn, son of Arathorn, the King of Gondor!"

The crowd was on its feet again, cheering wildly as Aragorn walked onto the field, waving, and took his place at the judge's table on the field just below the bleachers where Elrond stood.

"Back in Rivendell by popular demand, please welcome our very own Evenstar, my own beautiful daughter, wife of Aragorn, and Queen of GondorArwen!"

The crowd cheered again, throwing rose petals down on the field, as Arwen glided in, waving, and took her seat next to Aragorn.

"She fought bravely in the War. She single-handedly slew the Lord of the Nazgul. She's the White Lady of Rohan. She's the ShieldmaidenEowyn!"

Eowyn, decked out in full battle regalia, marched onto the field to the cheers of the crowd, and took her place next to Arwen.

"He's the Noldor who slew the balrog. He was reincarnated and came back from the Halls of Manosplease welcome our very own Glorfindel!"

Glorfindel walked stately to his place next to Eowyn, waving his hand at the cheering crowd.

"Finally, He's a Maiar, one of the Istari. You know him as Mithrandir. He used to be Gray, but he fought the balrog to become everyone's favorite White WizardGandalf! "

The crowd went wild, screaming and chanting Gandalf's name as the venerable wizard used his staff to walk down center field, waving at his adoring fans. He took his place at the judge's table next to Glorfindel.

After the judges were seated, the flag bearers trotted off the field. Vendors began walking up and down in front of the bleachers, tossing up bags of lembas and small wineskins to the crowd, and catching small coins that were thrown in return.

Elrond waited until the crowd settled down. When he had their attention again, he shouted, "And nowwithout further ado, I give you your competitors for this Olympiad!"

"First uphe hails from the forest. He's the fairest of the Fellowship. His last name means the same as his first. He's the Lord of the Wood. Please help me welcome Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of Mirkwood!"

The crowd exploded, female voices overpowering the males as they screamed Legolas' name over and over.

Legolas rode out on a huge white steed. He galloped past the crowd a couple of times, then reined his horse in front of the judges. Putting his fist over his heart, he bowed from horseback, then trotted over to where Elrond stood, and did the same. He turned to face the crowd again, waiting.

"Next uphe comes to us from Lothlorien. His name means 'Hidden Hero.' He's the March Warden of the Galadhrim of Lorien. The Silvan with an attitude, please help me welcome Haldir!

Again the crowd was on its feet, female voices screaming Haldir's name over and over.

Haldir rode in on a gigantic black steed. He followed Legolas' route and routine, finally coming to rest next to Legolas, facing the crowd.

"These are your competitors! Both are strong! Both are worthy! But which will prevail? This concludes the Opening Ceremonies!" He motioned toward Legolas and Haldir, who galloped around the field one last time, waving at the crowds, before exiting the field.

Gandalf stood and waved his staff. The night sky lit up with a brilliant fireworks display, to the oohing and ahhing of the crowd.

After the last trailing sparkles in the sky faded, Elrond once again addressed the crowd. "Tomorrow we begin the first of the trials. Get your tickets early!" Elrond shouted, before leaving the field himself, in the company of Galadriel, Celeborn, Thranduil, and the judges.