This chapter is dedicated to Mirax for the only review I received for last chapter. Good to know you are still alive. Hope this chappie lives up to your expectations. :)

IIIA, 3019 January 15

Moving in with Angmar has not been the ground shaking event I thought it would be. As I mentioned before, I was given the top floor...the entire top floor. Angmar lives in a completely different tower.

In other words, our together time has shrunk to meetings and mealtimes. I heard that one of the species around here has upward to eight meals and have considered proposing it just to get to see him. Either that or the war is going to have to advance at a much more steady pace because advancements mean meetings and meetings mean note passing. wink, wink.

And speaking of meetings, we had quite the good one today. Aside from a rather cute drawing of a cupid from Angmar (he can be quite the artist when he puts his mind to it), we also received excellent news from the front.

We have known for some time that the enemy has sent a small expedition out, though for what purpose we are not yet sure. We do know that they carry the Ring, which, as it has been explained to me, is the means through which Lord S can take over the rule of ME. Apparently he made it many hundreds of years ago and put his power, will, evil, etc. all in this one ring.

How this helped him rule better or why he would make such an Overlord blunder is beyond me, for there was this impudent prince who cut it off his finger, causing Lord S. to lose not only his physical form but also his rise to power. At least he knows what went wrong. Lord V. is still clueless as to how the impudent little prince in my world defeated him.

But back to our victory. While traipsing through some mines, which we consider our territory to an extent, our allies there managed to defeat the most powerful of their pitiful band, a wizard, though not the kind of wizard I am familiar with. Rider Two insisted that we not rejoice fully yet until confirmation of a body is given, but we have it on good authority the wizard is dead.

The emotional damage alone to the "good guys" is more than had been hoped for at this stage. We have shown them that even their mentor and guide is weak, and if he is, then they are hopeless. They will be easy pickings now that they do not have one of the Maiar to guide them, Maiar being a sort of angelic creature. Apparently Lord S. was once one until he saw the value of using his power for greater things.

As a celebration of this victory, Angmar promised me a special night out on the town. That is what I am so agitated about right now. What I wouldn't give for another woman! I can't very well ask my date, "What about this dress?" or "These shoes or those shoes?" Even if he wasn't my date, he would just say yes to everything. Men are incapable of having definite fashion advice, at least in my experience. I don't want to wear anything too over-the-top fancy, but he did say that it was a nice place. Then again he also said it was a little-hole-in-a-hill kind of place too. What does one wear to a Ma 'n' Pop restaurant?

Aaaaah, it is almost time to leave. I guess I will just have to settle on my knee-high riding boots (it is some distance off and we are taking his fell beast) and the sleeveless long black "Fancy" dress.

My hair...well, no time to do it now. It will just have to be down. Mum always said I had the prettiest hair in the family, long, wavy, and as black as can be. But I am giving it a charm to keep it from flying everywhere.

Ok, I am off. Oh, almost forgot...it is January; gonna be cold. The warg pup coat should be just the thing, took a hundred of the darlings to make it. To bad it was puppies, but the adult fur is so scruffy and light. Enough babbling for now. Will write all how it goes when I get back.

Later that night...

I know I promised to spill all so here goes. Turns out this little hole-in-a-hill restaurant is just that, a hole in a hill. Who'd have thunk it? But I am getting ahead of myself.

We had a nice long ride to the restaurant. Since we were both on Angmar's fell beast and I had to sit behind him, we didn't have much conversation, but it did give me a chance to put my arms around him. And he did block the wind nicely, with that lovely big frame of his.

We landed in a open field I am sure would have been green if it had been day. Angmar gave me his hand to help me dismount. Of course I didn't need it, but the gesture was thoughtful. And he didn't let go once I was off.

I didn't see any buildings around and was about to say something to that effect when Angmar started walking and tugged for me to follow me with him. As my eyes grew accustomed to the dim light from the moon, I saw that there were a dozen or so mounds all around us. Out of the closest mound, the one we were walking toward, came a short, fat woman with the face of a turnip and a personality to match. Angmar introduced us.

"Lobelia had kindly consented to host us tonight. This is her home, but tonight it is the Restaurant at the End."

Angmar had told me he had made reservations, but I hadn't thought on what exactly that meant. Seeing Lobelia's tuber-like face made me realize where Angmar had been gone all afternoon. What I wouldn't have given to have seen the look on that halfling's face when he pounded down the door and demanded she make extra for dinner because there would be guests. I can just see her sputtering at the audacity.

By the smell of things, Angmar must have done some pretty heavy intimidating. There were soups, fresh breads, meat pies, cooked vegetables, a very large garden salad; and I even saw a whole plateful of Turkish delight through the window just waiting for the desert course.

We were going to eat outside, the hobbit hole was not made for big people. And as much as I would have enjoyed that it is January and it would have been uncomfortable to eat in my warg coat. So I offered to shrink us for the meal. Angmar looked somewhat doubtful, either from the thought of my casting a spell on him or from the idea that his stomach might shrink. But after assuring him that it was perfectly safe and reversible and that he would be able to eat just as much he let me. After a quick "Shrinkonium Hobbitous," we entered the End.

For as rustic as they are, the hobbit hole was pleasant, albeit cluttered. The kitchen was obviously the center of activity, being the largest room in the entire house. There were candles on an unfinished wooden table, but any romantic glow was lost in the roaring fire which was cooking up no less than three pots and two chickens.

It was the sort of situation one would expect to find in a kitchen, but not exactly the kind one would expect to eat in, especially on a first date. My mother was always very strict on such matters, saying that it is part of what sets us apart as purebloods. So my first impression left me a little doubtful about the value of this "establishment."

Angmar must have felt my unease, for he tried to soothe my ruffled feathers.

"I have discovered something here I think you will like."

"And what, pray tell, is that?" I was unconvinced.

"They may be down to earth, all puns intended, but they at least have the sense to make that delicious drink you introduced me to at Baradur."

"Tea?" What would a bunch of garden gnomes know about tea?

"Here try some." He handed me a cup and saucer and poured some amber colored liquid from a teapot already on the table.

I sipped. "This tastes like Earl Grey!" I am now sure these little men were created by an Englishman. I was also instantly won over. "So how did you find this place?"

Our first course had been served and Angmar told me the story between bites. For such a lean figure, he sure can eat a lot.

Apparently, this was the home of one of the hobbits we are tracking. He came by here before I was recruited to intercept him, but barely missed him. He refused to speak of the matter further, but I think it has something to do with the fact that we ride fell beasts and not horses. He changed the subject, which was fine by me; and the evening of relaxing was off.

I was actually sad when the Turkish delights were brought out. Angmar said he imported them special from a nearby 'verse. Lobelia looked relieved when we took our leave until Angmar promised to visit again. Such a good dark lord, never letting his subject think they got rid of him and always keeping them on their toes.

The flight back was uneventful. I was so tired, I fell asleep leaning against Angmar. It was a good thing then that I sat in front this time. If he hadn't been holding on to me, I don't even want to think about falling from such a height.

I was still asleep when we arrived back at Minas Morgul. I only groggily came to as Angmar was tucking me into my bed. A light kiss on my forehead from my gentle dark knight ended a perfect evening.

For those of you who aren't blessed enough to hear country music, a Fancy is a reference to an old Reba McIntire song about a girl whose mother dresses her up in a "red dancin' dress that had a split on the side clean up to the hip" and sends her "uptown." So how scared are you now, Mirax?