Hey readers! How are you liking the ff? R&R plz! The dance is next chapter, excited? There's a special surprise :)

Chapter 21
The Preparations

"We are here." Said one of the maids in a sing-songy voice. She was putting white screens all around us.

"Okay. Now all that are to be fitted must stand very still." We did. Swifter than you could imagine, ten elf maids measured us with marked ropes. Several said things to themselves like,

"Oh dear, this one better watch what she eats!"

"My, how gawky this one's legs are!"

"What a nice figure the redhead one has!"

Just lovely. I'm thinking to myself. Three seconds later, the fittings are done and the ladies leave the room. My friends all look like 'I feel so exposed' as we sit in silence. Then, I hear it. Sniffling. I look around slowly. Lauren is hugging the whites sheets and pretending that we don't hear her.

"Laur?" I say feeling bad.

"Laur what's wrong?"

Lauren picks her head up and says,

"She called me fat! I never was fat and now every little thing I eat makes me bloated, and I'm so ashamed." All the girls except Delilah burst out with apologies.

"No, you're not! Don't let those anorexic maids make you feel bad!"

"Lauren you were never fat! And you still aren't I promise!"

"Well look on the bright side; now you know the hobbits will think you're cute." I said. Yeah, not the right thing. Lauren's face turns red and blows up. She storms out of the room before she even got her dress.

Colyne turns to me. I wince from the look she gives.

"She's still not adjusting. I'm sorry! I was just trying to be positive!"

"Yes, so positive, she's crying with happiness." Delilah says. I whipped around.

"You do not talk. Don't. Nobody wants to hear it."

"Fine." she says, crossing her arms.

"Good." I say.

"Fine." She repeats, clueless.

"Good." I say.

"Ahem." Lily clears her throat.

In her arms are gowns of every hue and shape. They were all so beautiful! Our eyes were transfixed, starstruck.
"Here, are some you can choose from. We worked through the night to weave and dye them, and they are all the correct sizes. As per the Lady's orders of course. " Duh, I know working till the break of dawn sewing and getting under-eye bags is not something the maids would choose anytime.

Delilah came forward, and grabbed them all to lay on the floor. It was like borrowing from a Disney princess's wardrobe. Colyne chose first; a long blood red gown with gold stitching on the bodice. Delilah, miffed she didn't go first, grabbed at a puffy sleeved pink dress with a floral belt.

"Well, it's not Gucci…but it will do. Wait, do you have anything Gucci?" She turns to Lily.

Startled, Lily looks bewildered. "What is… G-oo-ch-ee?"

"Nevermind." She walks to the door.

I really wanted to go next, but there were so many choices! There was a gold flowing one with a ruched bodice, a raspberry wine colored one with long sleeves, a pure white one with a pastel overlay, and soo many more! I finally choose the purple wine colored one. Holding it to my chest, I walked by Delilah and Colyne. My dress had a semi-full skirt with elvish script embroidery on the hem, a v- bodice that laced in the back, and attached long sleeves. The lace on the bodice, sleeves and hem were embroidered black lace.
"Wait, I'll grab one for Lauren!" I remembered and rushed back.

"Do you have any small ones for a hobbit?"

"Yes, we made those too." Sewyan came from the back with another, smaller pile of gowns. I look at them all. Hmm. Decisions, decisions. Shmigins. I chose a gold gown that had Hobbit influence; it had a vest bodice and full little skirt, plus Elven long sleeves. Cute!

"Thank you!" We said and walked back to our cabins. Getting them up there was too much trouble we decided, after trying to not rip or drop them while climbing.

"All right. Screw it. We'll change here." I said, exhausted. Thankfully, if you've ever had to change in front of twenty girls from a gym class, you could change anywhere. We duck behind several bushes. Ten minutes later of struggling, we finally managed to get out of our robes and into the gowns. Lastly, we put on matching feather or lace masks, as it was a masked ball.

Meanwhile, the guys were up in their cabin, getting ready too. Pippin, Merry, Sam, and Frodo were all decked out in similar clothing just in different colors; blue for Frodo, red for Merry, black for Pippin, and green for Sam. They chattered excitedly about the party. Aragorn, almost knocked over by their rustling around, sits down on a chair, looking lifeless. Legolas, clasping his silver shirt, went over to him.

"Why don't you freshen up and go anyway? Just to watch? You deserve to have a life too, Estel." He said, calling Aragorn his Elvish name. Aragorn, ran his hand through his greasy hair and sighed.

"Fine. But only for you. And I'm not shaving!" He cried defiantly.

Legolas smiled a knowing smile. He finished braiding his hair.

"Of course. Heavens forbid should you shave."

Mark was combing his hair back into an Elvis Presley style that he thought looked royal-ish. He looked at Nick, who was having trouble fixing his belt.

"Man, don't tell me you're tripping because of a dance." He helped Nick with the belt. Nick didn't speak.

Mark waved his hand over his face.

"Dude, you gotta snap outta it. Don't leave me. Don't go into the light!" He cried sarcastically.

"I'm going to ask her out." Nick said resolutely. It got very quiet.

"What? Really? That's a shame." Mark said.

"Who are you asking out Master Nick?" Gimli asked him.

"Vanessa. I can't stop thinking about her…"

"Ahh, young love. I remember a time when I had a lady friend as well. She had the loveliest beard i'd ever seen." Gimli related fondly. Pippin stared open mouthed at him. "A Beard?"

Legolas cleared his throat. "Excuse me." He walked briskly to the cabin door, then came back in.

"Well, it's nearing the fifth hour." He said. "The girls are waiting downstairs already. Put your masks on."

I saw the guys all coming down single file.

Thankfully, we were all dressed before Legolas had come out. He looked annoyed at something.

Nick looked so handsome, it took my breath away. They all did. We had our makeup done, our hair, the dresses, and the guys all looked like princes. Gallantly, Nick offered me his arm.

"Thank you." I said.

"WAIITTT FOR MEEE!" Yelled Lauren, who had gotten over her pity-party and ran from the bushes in her dress. I didn't even notice her there! She was running too fast, and she tripped. Pippin caught her. It was so cute!

"Hi." She said.

"Hello." He smiled.

They get the award for cutest hobbit couple ever. omg.