Crazy Mistletoe Manufacturers

Aragorn saw a flash of gold as Eowyn disappeared around a row of tall bushes. Grinning, the fourteen-year-old raced along the other side of the bushes. He was faster and could cut her off at the end of the row.

The teenager was brought to an unexpected halt when his feet suddenly fell behind somehow and he started to fall. He hit the ground with his hands keeping the rest of his body up. He was puzzled to discover his feet seemingly stuck flat where they were, side by side. He could not move them an inch. With a grunt he pushed himself up, standing upright again and took in more of his unexplainable situation.

It was as though he was frozen in place; no matter how much he tried to move his feet to the side or lift them up, they would not budge. It was particularly strange since he could move about freely from the waist up.

He looked about and happened to glance up to see a shrubbery of pointy, green, leathery leaves, with waxy red berries. "What in Middle-earth…!" he trailed off, staring back and forth between the plant (which seemed to spot a wicked grin) and his immovable feet, which he tested yet again.

From nowhere, or maybe the mistletoe, a small piece of paper floated down into Aragorn's hand. Hoping to be given some answers, he read the short message: Welcome to the Enchanted Christmas Mistletoe. Enjoy your experience!

Aragorn blinked at the paper. That was it? The blankness of the other side confirmed that was indeed it. "A lot of help that is!" he grumbled.

"Is it timeout?" Legolas appeared at his elbow.

"Ahhh! I hate it when you do that to me."

"Sorry," the elf's eyes twinkled.

"No, it is not timeout. I'm stuck under the mistletoe," Aragorn explained.

"Whoa." Legolas backed away a few steps, his eyes wide as he took in the full scene.

"Hey, why didn't you get stuck?" Aragorn demanded.

Legolas shrugged. "Maybe it is picky."

Aragorn attempted once more to move his feet without success. Even when Legolas helped and nearly pulled off Aragorn's arms nothing happened. By now a crowd was gathering as word had spread that the tag game was unable to be continued.

"Looks like you really got yourself into a fix this time, mate," grunted Gimli, hiding his grin behind his hand.

The hobbits did nothing to mask their loud snickers. Figwit and Haldir shook their heads while Legolas unconsciously chewed his nails in an attempt to hide his growing amusement.

Our future king was getting more embarrassed with each passing second. He would never be able to live this down – he just knew it. Everyone except the girls appeared to be gathered. But then he did spot Eowyn.

She was standing off to the side of the crowd; her arms were folded in front of her chest, a bit of amusement in her eyes. When she met his gaze, her smile held some pity. Aragorn weakly returned her smile and then realized with surprise that her brother wasn't with her. On either side of her were Grima and Faramir, while Boromir stood behind her, over a head taller than she. Where is Eomer? Aragorn, a bit worried, wondered, not finding him among the faces in the crowd. She shouldn't just hang out with them by herself; she wasn't even thirteen yet!

"Oh, Aragorn!" a shrill voice rang out. "Are you hurt?" Arwen burst through the crowd and ran up to him. She grabbed his arms and pulled, only to discover, like Aragorn, her feet refused to move. "How strange," she murmured, looking down at her feet.

Aragorn also stared, gaping in growing horror. No, no, no, no, oh…NO!

Another paper drifted down at this moment, and Aragorn snatched it out of the air. This message was a bit lengthier.

Do not be alarmed about who you are stuck with under the Enchanted Christmas Mistletoe. This mistletoe is designed specifically to match you up with the one you most despise. (Surely you have heard many of the stories about how the two people who hate each other are the ones that always end up together!) Thus, this is the first step in resolving your differences and getting to your happily-ever-after. Kissy, kissy!

P.S. Please use reverse side to write your comments, questions, and suggestions.

Aragorn was full of stunned shock. He barely noticed when Arwen plucked the paper from his hand to read it herself. This was worse than anything he had ever experienced, even in a nightmare.

"Well, then," Arwen said cheerfully after reading the note. She turned her face up towards his.

"What, what are you doing?" he gasped, leaning back a bit, his eyes wide.

You could have heard a pin drop. Everyone was silent, staring at the two stuck under the mistletoe.

"What we're supposed to do, silly!"

"But I can't kiss you!" Aragorn shouted. "I…I…" He could not, would not confess he had never kissed a girl before. "You are old enough to be my great-great grandmother!"

"But you wouldn't think I'm four-hundred ninety-eight just judging by my appearance, would you?" Arwen purred, running her fingers through her thick, shiny black hair. "Your subjects would never know."

"My s-subjects?" Aragorn was terribly uncomfortable and confused.

"Yes, when I'm your queen – our happily after." Arwen waved the message in his face.

"No! It must be a mistake of some sort. You don't despise me; so it cannot work," he tried to reason.

"It is half true; so it must be good enough. Besides, this could cause you to have a crush on me," she said hopefully.

Aragorn had no chance to start forming an objection. In one swift moment Arwen wrapped her arms around his neck, forcing his head down, and kissed him, catching him off guard. His eyes widened to the size of saucers while hers closed. He heard the loud chorus of gasps from the crowd, followed by a few cat calls. Then out of the corner of his eye he glimpsed a flash of gold surrounded by black and brown…

He pushed Arwen away forcibly and went sprawling backwards himself, landing on the ground. He gulped in some much needed air, his face a bright red hue.

He ignored the laughter and clapping that ripped through the crowd as people started to drift off. Aragorn was relieved that Arwen was dragged away by some of her friends. Glancing about, he met Legolas's smiling face and then continued to watch the others leave. His eyes lingered on a girl skipping off with three boys; the small group was laughing.

Where are big brothers when you need them! he wondered. He narrowed his eyes at his elf friend, whose smile had widened to a knowing grin and who shook with silent mirth. With what dignity he had left, Aragorn got to his feet and cautiously approached the un-enchanted looking mistletoe. A third paper appeared. He wearily caught it.

Enchanted Christmas Mistletoe is a product of High Sanity Faldnag eht Yerg INC.

A crazy-eyed, wild grey figure doing rolls on a broomstick, issuing in a loud high pitched voice something between an excited shriek and wicked crackle, zoomed by the teenager at lightning speed, disappearing into the night.

Aragorn stared after the figure and then glanced down at the note. "Only someone who's had too much sugar would spell their name backwards. Crazy mistletoe manufacturers!" he muttered.