Here's some more! I'm feeling very generous 'cause Kelsey typed up more than usual! Go Kelsey!

Disclaimer: Not only do I not own LotR, I don't even own half the stuff I write, it usualy ends up in the possesion of Kelsey mid-sentance.

Dummies - or Mannequins?

Mandy's POV

Yawning, I stumbled down the hall to my room. After Nicole left, Legolas had insisted on hearing the reason why Nicole wanted to kill him. Then, he was kind enough to teach me how to beat the dummy. I actually managed to slice it's head off after lessons with him!

"Legolas, that is unacceptable! Letting her do that!"

Oh, great. What did I do now?

I managed to make it to a window that overlooked the practice grounds and peered down inquisitively. Oh, shoot. I ducked so that only my eyes could be seen. Elrond was busy yelling his head off at Legolas.

" . . . Not only is it unlady-like, but she sliced the head off of this!" Elrond held up the dummy. I squinted at him. it was modeling one of those cool robe thingies that Elrond tended to wear. "She ruined my mannequin!" Elrond moaned. I clapped a hand over my mouth, giggling hysterically. Oh, my gosh. As Legolas began to defend me (oh, what a sweet hottie!), I leapt up. "More like Arwen's mannequin! 'Specially since it's modeling a dress!" I blared. I then ran for my life to the rooms.

Sword: 500 gold coins. Robe: 1000 gold coins. Mannequin: 2000 gold coins. The look on Elrond's face when he is so mad he could kill you: Priceless.

"Guys, guys, guys!" I gasped, breathlessly pushing the door to the rooms open. "You won't believe–" I broke off, panting. Nicole and Kelsey were deep in conversation . . . along with three or four elves I didn't know. "Okay, what's going on?" Kelsey and Nicole shared a nervous glance.

"RUN!" My friends and their elf buddies (I now recognized two of them as Elladan and Elrohir) ran out of the room. I shrugged, sauntered over to the couch and plopped down.

"Okay! Well, I'll be here if you need me!" I called after them. "Alone! By my . . . By myself!"


Kelsey's PoV

"Shut up!"

"Make me!"

"Nickel . . ."

"Hey, I'm just jok–"

"Shhh! You'll wake Mandy up!"

"Oh! Sorry." Nicole resumed her task of stringing long banners around the room: quietly. I grinned and puffed up my cheeks with air, blowing into a balloon I had found in Mandy's bag. Honestly, you can find anything in Mandy's bag.

We'd been at this since 5:30 a.m., if you count the time we woke up. I spent the next 30 minutes trying to get Nicole awake. It was another matter entirely trying to get her out of bed. Someone must have drugged her.

Suddenly, we heard the sound of running water from Mandy's room. Nicole and I shared yet another glance.

"Hurry!" I hissed.

"I am!" Nicole began working faster, then paused. "Hey, why aren't you helping me? You've been working on that balloon for over an hour now!" I colored.

"Well . . . Does this look done to you?" I asked, holding up the balloon.

"Only because you've been letting out all of the air!" Nicole retorted as the door leading to Mandy's room rattled. "Your balloon doesn't love you." I teared up and grabbed a sword defensively.

"No! My balloon loves me! Don't say that it doesn't, 'cause it does! If you say that it doesn't one more time, I'll slit you from navel to nose!"

"Uhhh . . . Kelsey?"

As Kelsey was charging me, we heard a sound that made us both forget our argument.

"Uh . . . Guys? Why is my door locked?" I glanced at Nicole warily and dropped the sword. She grinned sheepishly as she held up a large brass key.

"Nicked it off of Elrond," she admitted. Suddenly, our door burst open and Scott and Allie ran in.

"We found these!" Allie held up a bag, which Nicole grabbed and peered into.

"What the–" She drew out a large, round pastry. "What in Eru's name is this?"

"I'm guessing it's an elvish cookie. All I can say is that Scott liked them." Allie grinned up at Scott, and he wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Oh, my gosh," Nicole muttered. I grabbed the bag from Nicole and set it on our table.

"We'll try and get you out, Mandy!" I called. "Nickel's gone out to find someone who has a key."

"Great . . ." Mandy's voice was extremely sarcastic. "What a great way to start a day in Rivendell. Next thing you know, it'll be my birthday!" Nicole and I shared another one of those innumerable glances before bursting into giggles.

"Quick!" I whispered through the giggles. "That elven food'll have to do. Nickel! Stop eating them and go get Elladan and Elrohir. Oh, and don't forget Legolas! Remember to give them a heads-up about birthdays." Nicole saluted me andmarched out, knocking Scott and Allie to the side.

"Kelsey!" Mandy's door rattled even louder. "I really want to get out of my room!"

"Mandy, why don't you just pick out a really nice dress and take your time?" I suggested.

"Why a dress?"

"Because . . . Because . . ." I was struggling to find a reason, "because you might see Legolas today!" A loud squeal erupted from the room.

"Yes, ma'am!" I sighed, exasperated, before turning to the kitchenette. Pulling a large plate out of the cupboard, I dumped all of the Elven cookies onto it with a flourish. If there was one thing I could do well, it was presentation of food.

"Hey, Scott, Allie, could you–" Just like that, they were gone. "What on Earth do they do in that other room all day?" I wondered aloud, fuming slightly.

"They talk about Scott's problems," Nicole answered, ushering in the three Elves whose presence I had requested earlier.

"Good, you got them," I simmered. "Now then, Nickel, are you ready to unlock Mandy's door?" I asked like I was talking about a wild beast.

"Ready!"

"Okay . . . Legolas, Elladan and Elrohir . . . Ready to shout 'Happy Birthday?'" I was treating them like I was a drill sergeant, and they were the raw, untrained recruits.

"Ready, I suppose," Elladan replied, sliding one of his whoopee cushions on the big arm chair.

"Okay," I cleared my throat. "Hey, Mandy–"

"Hey, what?"

"Nickel found a key! Are you decent?"

"Am I decent! Hello, I just found this amazing dress! It's–"

"Great! Nickel is now unlocking your door."

"Uh, Kelsey? Why are you giving me a 'play-by-play?'"

"Be quiet. Now . . . you're door is officially unlocked."

"Yeah!" Nicole and I braced ourselves as the handle turned and the door slowly creaked open . . .


Hehehehe! A cliffie! Fun I love cliffies. YeeHa! Fun.

I amazinly enough have nothing else to say . . . That's weird.

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