[piosenniel]

ooc:: Yes, we are facing Morgoth in the Void where he has been imprisoned for gadzillions of years for being overly inharmonious! I am going to do a deus ex machina here and pull the storyline together. Let's make this a good battle by sword and wit and words!::

The figure stepped from the shadow. What an incongruity of dark and light. His face was fair, filled with the beauty of the first created, but in his dark eyes were reflections of worlds crushed into dust by the chaos of his character. His smile took them all in, inviting them to be at ease, while in his eyes flashed lightning and danger. He spoke, and his voice was soothing, the words jarring:

'Turn that d@mned thing off! It's giving me a mega-headache trying to watch all of you cope with all the permutations of reality it's throwing off!'

'One does not simply turn the d@mned thing off.' returned Birdie shaking off her headache & channeling Boromir from the movie. 'Its workings are guarded by mysterious wirings . . . & besides, there is no *off* button!' Birdie had never been one to cower before a challenger, not even one as daunting as this.

'Yeah! What she said!!' came the firm hobbit voices of Child and Rosie in chorus. The steeliness of Birdie's reply had given them a shot of courage.

'No *off* button?!', queried the Being, advancing on the REG. 'Then what's this?' His slim finger touched the side of the unit, and a silver button appeared, as if it had always been there. One 'click' and the REG turned dark and silent.

He watched as all five figures wavered and shimmered in their positions, and finally refocused into solidity. Their eyes unglazed, became clear and took in there surroundings now with clear senses.

'They're beautiful and wondrous.', he thought to himself. 'See how the light still plays through every atom of their being.' He looked down at his own hands, and wondered if any such harmony still ran through him.

Veritas leaned on her staff, regarding his actions closely.

pio stepped forth once more, sword now secured in its scabbard. 'What is your name, Fair One? & how did you come to this place? & why do we find ourselves here?'

'My name is Morgoth.' came the simple reply. 'Or Melkor, among others I have had on Middle Earth. As to the How and Why of your question that will take some longer time to answer you than will be comfortable standing in this grey place. Come, let us go where we can sit and be comfortable, and ferret out such answers as we may. I have food and drink and some comforts here, such as they are. And you are welcome to them.'

The thought of resting somewhere and refreshing themselves overcame all inhibitions at present. The five followed Morgoth into the grey emptiness, walking closely together in a line - Birdie at point to scan for dangers, and pio at rear, her hand resting lightly on the pommel of her sword.

'Do you think there might be mushrooms?' asked Child, her stomach growling.

'I hope so!' piped in Rose. '& pints of rootbeer!'

'Make that wine, and I'm with you!', joined in Veritas.

'Steady on!' said Birdie - 'Take care!' echoed pio.

Further into greyness trudged the five.

& leading them surely was Morgoth, his fair face obscured by shadow.

[ May 26, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]