Note: I came up with a name for the hobbit boy band and then I forgot it. I can't remember if I made up Backshire Boyz or not. Please, if you know who made this up let me know and I will change it! I am not intentionally plagiarizing.

Part Two: Tigwit's Fund-Raiser

Chapter 4

Luckily, Galadriel was too distressed to learn that her casino manager was in jail to realize the deeper implications of an orc being loose in Lothlorien. She assumed, after a conversation with Feren, that Bolg had taken flight. Much as she hated orcs, losing the chance to rob Thranduil of more jewels was weighing on her mind more heavily, and if she wasn't in a bad enough mood from discovering Frodo's treachery, she was now white hot with rage. Celeborn had to coax her to her room with tea and chocolate, and even then all the elves cowered in fear at the sound of her indignant stomping.

"Something must be done!" Feren heard her shouting.

"Something will indeed be done," he smiled sadly to himself. These stressful times tried his spirit sorely. He needed a nice vacation when this was all over.

Meanwhile, he was putting up posters for the sale of Pippin and Merry's debut EP single. He had put up about twenty already in the main hall, making sure to cover up the sign that said "No posting literature in this area."

The sale was to begin at noon, following a live performance. The hobbits were waiting with bated breath.

He dusted his hands off as he put up the last tack and admired his work. That ought to do it.

When he gathered the two hobbits and set them in front of the mic, there was already a small group of bored elves gathered in the hall.

Until Pippin and Merry began to sing. Then things changed.

All the elves who were in hiding began to stick their heads out, wondering what this new genre of music ringing through their halls was. Quickly, more and more elves joined the small group in the main hall in front of the makeshift stage Feren had erected.

Bolg, behind a dark curtain, was running the sound and lights, while Feren was doing a headcount. He had to keep starting from the beginning because every few minutes a new elf would appear and he couldn't be sure if he'd counted him or her yet.

The elves, watching in a trance as the hobbits sang and danced around the stage, began to reach into their purses and shove money at Feren. Feren gladly took it, handing out newly-burned CDs to elves who had paid and snatching copies from elves who had not.

It was just as the hobbits were finishing their song and dance that he heard the feet of Galadriel coming down the huge spiral staircase that led to her room.

"What is going on here?" she cried, turning paler. She was already quite pale and thus took on a translucent shade.

"Calm down, wifey," said Celeborn, taking her arm. "I'm sure it's nothing."

Feren strutted forward and made a low and graceful bow. He was good at these things. He lived with Thranduil, Elvenking.

"My lady," he said, in a soft and soothing tone. "It is merely a demonstration."

"A what?" demanded Galadriel, her hair beginning to stand on end.

"I, as an elf of Mirkwood," began Feren. He began this way to remind her that he was a servant of King Thranduil and thus she could not touch him. "I, as an elf of Mirkwood, have always valued show rather than tell when making a statement."

"What kind of statement?" asked Celeborn, kindly.

"Knowing full well," said Feren, "the sad situation that has befallen your ladyship in the loss of Orophin's services for the casino night, and being wholly grieved and saddened in my being by this situation, I determined in myself to change the desperate, downward course of these events and bring a phoenix out of the ashes, so to speak. I have a suggestion, which, should your ladyship grant me audience, your ladyship would do well to hear."

"I am listening," said Galadriel.

"Let us abandon the now distant hope of a successful casino night, which most assuredly could not take place without the prowess of the great card shark Orophin at the table, and let us consider another means by which to raise money for your ladyship's fund, a means which shall prove irresistible not only to all the elves of Lothlorien and Imladris, but to those of Mirkwood as well, most notably their King."

He wiggled an eyebrow to emphasize his point.

"And what is this means?" asked Galadriel, more interested and even, perhaps, eager.

"One which shall tempt the elves of Mirkwood mayhap more than any other realm," said Feren. He spread his arms wide. "A talent show!"

Galadriel hesitated, thoughtfully. "A talent show?" she enquired. "Could this truly be successful?"

"And as the special debut performance," went on Feren, "the Backshire Boyz!" He gestured to Pippin and Merry, who took a bow.

The elves erupted into riotous clapping.

"But will this make money?" asked Galadriel.

Feren lifted the cashbox and shook it. The money he had just made from the elves jingle-jangled beautifully inside.

"Ah," he said. "It will."

Galadriel smiled.

"Celeborn," she said, turning. "Send out the word! We are having a talent show."

"Please consider my services willingly rendered in any way they will be useful," said Feren.

"Feren!" Galadriel clasped her hands. "Will you take position of coordinator? I will put you in charge of all the organization."

"I have a contract prepared here," Feren said, producing a long parchment. "My wages are in the tiny print, along with a 20% commission. You need only sign here."

Galadriel signed with a flourish.

"Let us commence!" she said. "And can you ensure that Thranduil will be there?"

"He will not be able to resist," said Feren. Thranduil loved showing off.