Part Two: Tigwit's Fund-Raiser

Chapter 5

Being the coordinator, manager, and organizer for a huge talent show required a great deal of work, but this was a sacrifice Feren was willing to make for the betterment of society.

He had a very long to-do list now. He had to send emails to all his friends in the recording business. They could easily be persuaded to spend a little money on a ticket to the talent show on the chance of finding the perfect artist to sign on next. He had to create the perfect program, now including all the Lorien elves who were bribing him to add them to his already over-crowded schedule. It began to look as if the participants would outnumber the audience, and he could not have this. So he also had to buy a bunch of the door prizes (on Galadriel's budget) to coax all the orcs and dwarves to come. He also had to plan a menu because included food would also be persuasive to that demographic.

There were ice cream trucks and catering companies to call, as well as hundreds and hundreds of fliers to send out. He made sure Galadriel's name was on all of them. That would ensure a lot of people's attendance, for they knew how Galadriel was about people ducking out of her fund-raisers.

He was directing the stacking up of televisions (which were door prizes) in the great hall when a little person tugged on his sleeve.

"Not now, Peregrin," he said. "I am very busy."

"It's not Pippin, Mr. Feren," said a voice, "it's Sam and Mr. Frodo."

Feren turned.

"Ah, Sam," he said. "And what can I do for you?"

"Well, sir," said Sam, folding his hands and looking at the floor. "We just wondered if, maybe, you still have a spot in the Backshire Boyz for us. See, we owe Galadriel three hundred pennies and we won't have any money for the talent show, so we were thinking, if we could join, we might make some."

"Let me consider this," said Feren, holding his chin. "The single EP does not have you on it – however, people may be excited by a new addition. Ah, yes, I will let you join the Backshire Boyz." This was exactly what he had always wanted but he didn't say so. "Now, Took and Brandybuck are practising right now. Run along and join them. Don't mind the orc. No one's supposed to know he's here."

Frodo and Sam ran gaily off. Technically, he should have charged them to let them join. But they already owed Galadriel a great deal, and Feren was a kind soul.

He knew he wouldn't have gotten any money from somebody who had none, anyway, so what was the point?

"I really do have fears for the audience," Feren said to Lindir, later on. "If we could get a few orcs to come we would not need to fear, but orcs are not very entertained by the music of elves."

"Well, you've booked the dwarf band Mithrillica and the orc gang Orcowar. We'll have to hope that they'll be happy enough with that." Lindir read the clipboard in his hand. "And the Rohan Stones are gaining popularity among the orcs too."

"I'll call up Eomer and see if his motorcycle stuntmen will come up for the opening night," said Feren. "But I have a better plan that will be sure to draw orcs, lots of orcs. I will work on it. Meanwhile, I must talk to Thranduil. He will want to lead our Tuesday night event."

Lindir shuffled through papers.

"What's Tuesday night?" he asked.

"The fashion show!" cried Feren.