Mighty Middle-Earth Minstrel Awards (M3)
 

From Wikipedia:
And the Middle-Earth equivalent would be...? Bilbo Music Awards. Anduin Music Awards. Rocky Hole Hall of Flame-- Burn up that fretboard, Roggie baby, you're smokin' now. Best pyrotechnics around.

The first inductees into Musical Immortality would, according to Tolkien, have been Tinfang Gelion, Daeron, and Maglor. At some point Luthien Tinuviel would surely have been inducted. The list would be long.

And so we arrive at the War of the Ring, the end of the Third Age. The Mighty Middle-Earth Minstrel awards for this century will, no doubt, focus on music inspired by Frodo's quest, as it has been much discussed, and of it many songs have been sung. The list of nominees is long and varied.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The hall was filling, and rumors were flying. Who would be the Master of Ceremonies? Bilbo?

A greyhaired hobbit crossed the stage, to thunderous applause. He waved, chuckling, and took his place center stage. He held an envelope. He turned and waved, and was followed by a tall, darkhaired elf. "Come, Lindir, you may have all century but the rest of us don't!"

Lindir joined him carrying a clipboard, made from mother-of-pearl. Bilbo tapped it.

"Nautical theme, eh? A hint perhaps?"

"It won't be long; I won't spend my century here. Shall we begin?" He faced the audience, and they grew silent, waiting.

Best Rendition of Galadriel's Lament
 

Lindir read from his clipboard and announced, "The three nominees are Stephen Oliver, Broceliande (Starlit Jewel) and The Tolkien Ensemble."

Muttered comments rose from the surrounding crowds. "The Tolkien Ensemble's singer has a good deep voice. Very Galadriel-like, " said one.

His friend nodded. "And the accompaniment has a good elvish flavor."

Someone three rows down snorted derisively. "Too bad the enchantment was broken by the mispronunciation of twined as twinned."

"How about Oliver?" replied a fourth.

"Not a chance, " said an elf nearby. "Stephen Oliver, alas, is much better at portraying the music of men than of elves. And I like bells as much as any elf, but I don't know where he found the ones he used."

Bilbo gave the envelope to Lindir, who opened it. "The award goes to Starlit Jewel. Memorable, haunting, sweet, poignant, and believable." Waves of applause filled the auditorium.

Broceliande's lead singer, in her green velvet gown, recieved the award amid waves of applause.

Lindir lifted his clipboard once again.

"Best Rendition of a Rohirric Lament. Nominees are Stephen Oliver and The Tolkien Ensemble."

On the rightmost edge of the crowd, a blonde man snapped alert. "Oh, no. Not that. No."

"What's the matter, Eomer?" replied Eothain.

"They turned my war cry into a widow's lament. I can't bear it." Eomer stood to his feet. "Oliver! Oliver!"

"My Lord! " gasped Eothain, horrified at such unseemly behavior.

Lindir nodded at Eomer with a smile, and opened the envelope. "Stephen Oliver, for his rendition of "Red Fell the Dew In Rammas Echor." The applause was long and loud.

Eomer sat down and whistled with relief. "That was close."