1) cake frosting
2) flying
3) dreams
4) sand

Read the Opposition

Hi, and welcome to A Beach Blast- LOTR style! This our first entry in The Middle Earth's Finest competition. The first task was to create a fic including four different things: cake frosting, sand, dreams, and flying. Here's what we came up with; enjoy!

Their adventure finally over, the Fellowship felt they deserved a little fun. So they packed a few things on Bill (along with a picnic basket filled with food compliments of Legolas, the resident Martha Stewart) and headed to Sandy Cove, a pleasant little beach not too far away from Gondor.

Aragorn: (Walks onto the beach and takes a deep breath of the salty sea air) Well, we're here! I told you it was nice, didn't I guys?
Looking around, everyone had to agree he was right; unlike the time he'd taken them to a bar and it turned out to be a gay stripper club...
Legolas: Yes, it is beautiful. (Runs toward the water) Who wants to frolic in the ocean with me?
Pippin: (Almost jumps in but thinks a moment) Uh Legolas, we can't exactly frolic in the water; we'd drown.

Legolas: Oh. Well, I can.Watch! (Jumps in the water and walks across a wave)

As you can imagine, this left the rest of the Fellowship tongue tied with amazement; but Merry was less than impressed...
Merry: (Shrugs his shoulders) Oh well, we can use these! (Grabs surfboard and jumps in the water)
As soon as all the other hobbits see Merry grab a surfboard and jump in , they all mimic him at once. All except for one that is...Sam.
Sam: (Approaches the water in duck bathing trunks, water wings, a snorkel, and a huge pink float wrapped around his middle) I'm ready to go in now, guys!

While the others were laughing their heads off, Frodo tried his best to explain why it wasn't exactly a good idea for him to go in wearing all of that equipment.

Frodo: Now Sam, you know you can't swim.
Sam: Oh, I know that Mr. Frodo; that's why I'm wearing the float and water wings!
Frodo: But you won't be able to move! And if you can't move, you won't have any fun.
Sam: I may not have any fun, but I promised not to let you out of my sight; and I intend to keep my word. (Begins to waddle into the water)
Frodo: (Obviously panicking) Wait! Sam, if you stay onshore, you'll still be able to see me, so I won't be out of your sight. And I need someone responsible to watch my dog. Would you watch my dog for me, Sam? (Makes big puppy eyes at him)
Sam: ( Almost visibly melting under Frodo's big blue eyes) Sure, Mr. Frodo. Whatever you say.
Frodo: (Smiling and thinking "Gets them every time") Thank you so very much! I promise not to go out of your sight. (Swims off)

Legolas: Hey Frodo, how did you get Sam to stay on land?
Frodo: (Winking and laughing) Oh, I have my ways.
Leaving a confused Legolas sitting there, he swims over to join Merry in toppling off the surfboard.
Legolas: How did he do that? I mean, it isn't easy to convince Sam to do anything.
Pippin: You know, I think it has something to do with those eyes of his. Maybe he hipnotizes Sam into doing what he wants. I'm sure he could do that, his eyes are so big.
Legolas nods in agreement.

Meanwhile, Sam is holding Gollum, who is tethered to a thick leather leash and wearing a black collar; all the while muttering "Well, it looks like it's just you and me..."

After a while of being tossed around in the waves (well, the hobbits at least) they decided to get out and do something else. When the reach shore they see what the rest of the Fellowship has been doing: playing volleyball.
Boromir and Aragorn on one team, and both are only playing in shorts. Gimli is their sole opponent, wearing a red dew rag on his head and playing in a tank top and shorts.
Gandalf, who is sitting in a beach chair wearing a sun visor and a baggy t-shirt and shorts, is staying out of the action and keeping score. On the left of the chair is a piece of paper that says A and B with the numbers 65 underneath it. On the right is a piece of paper that has a G on it and the numbers 50 underneath.

Legolas: (Looking at the papers and at Gimli) Oh Gimli, do you need a partner to help you? I've never played "volleyball" before, but I'll give it a try.
Gimli: Sure, you can play. All you need to know is that you have to hit the ball into the square past Aragorn and Boromir.
Legolas: (Shrugs his shoulders) That sounds easy enough to me. Let's play!
A second later Aragorn serves, and the game resumes.

When the volleyball makes its way over to Gimli and Legolas's side, Legolas gracefully leaps over to it and bumps the ball clear over Aragorn and Boromir's heads. However, it still lands inbounds, so their team gets a point.
Gimli: (Dumbfounded, yet happy) I can't believe that just happened! You're really good for someone who's never played before!
Legolas: Hey, you should know by now that I'm good at anything I try!(Shakes flawless hair indignitly) Let's play some more!
This time Boromir served, and well, let's just say his aim isn't as good as Aragorn's...he hit Gimli right in the back of the head as he bent down to tie his shoe, and was knocked out cold.
Boromir: (Trying to look concerned but failing miserably) Oh, I'm so sorry about that! Will he be okay?
Aragorn had bent to check that he was still breathing and when assured of this nodded yes.
Aragorn: He'll be fine. He's just knocked out, and may be groggy and irritable when he wakes up. But then again, I would be too if had gotten hit in the back my head with a volley ball. (Winces at the thought) That had to hurt.
Legolas: I guess this means that we won't be playing anymore volleyball, huh?
All creatures in earshot are rendered silent by this remark.

Gandalf: (Slowly getting up from his beach chair) Well, I suppose we'll just put him under the umbrella and then go look for the hobbits. They're up to something; it's too quiet.
After a bit of searching, the found the hobbits peacefully making sand castles.
Gandalf: (Smiling at the adorable picture in front of him) Oh, there you all are! I was wondering where you'd gotten to! Are you guys buliding a sand castle?
Frodo: (Nodded, moving back to show a cute little castle that looks like he made it using a bucket) Yes, we are. Would you guys like to join us?

Now, everyone laughed at this remark, though secretly they wanted to join in on the fun. But all of them were too proud to admit it, except for one...
Legolas: (Claps his hands together with glee) Oh, that sounds like fun! We can have a sand creation contest, let's see who wins!
Aragorn: (Grinning and thinking "Thank God one of us had the balls to ask.") Oh, alright we'll join in too. But why don't we have lunch first? I'm starving!

Apparently everyone else was too, so they all stopped and ate the beautiful lunch Legolas had made.("Now Pippin, always remember the green parsly ontop of your sandwich is just a garland; never to be eaten.") All around, it was a fabulous meal; but the best part by far was the vanilla swirl cake made for dessert. It was most certainly a beautiful creation, with the delicate swirls of vanilla icing lacing it, and the inside part of vanilla and chocolate melded together was moist and soft.

After lunch and a short debate, it was decided that Gandalf was to be the judge and they had a one hour time limit; so everyone immediately walked to the left side of the shore where the best packing sand was and began making their creations. Around half an hour of working steadily had passed, and so far the results were this: Legolas was making something with wings, Aragorn was creating a female, Boromir was crafting a circular object, Merry was constructing the ultimate castle with Frodo, Sam was watching his every move, and Pippin had made nothing.

For some reason, he just couldn't get the sand to stay together long enough to make anything. Of course he saw the others using water, but that was too much of a hassle to him; he was aiming for something easier to use and more effiective.

He was looking around for some sort of glue when he spied something he thought might be of use: the bucket of cake frosting Legolas had left out. (He had to put the frosting on just before he served it, otherwise it would have melted right off from the heat) "I could use that to keep my sand together!" Pippin thought in his brilliant head. So he walked right past Legolas, who was too busy sculpting wings to notice the little troublemaker take the bucket partially full of cake frosting and noiselessly creep past him once again to his spot.

With the aide of the frosting and a spoon, Pippin rapidly made up for lost building time. In another half an hour, when everyone else was ready with their creations, he was as well.
Gandalf: One hour has passed, so everyone put down your shovels!
All the competitors did as they were told, very eager to unveil their creations.
Gandalf: First up is Aragorn.
Aragorn gently pulled the towel off his creation to reveal a replica of his beloved Arwen.
Boromir: (Shaking his head sadly) Man, she's got you whipped.
Aragorn just smiled, thinking "Oh, if you only knew...''
Gandalf: (Obviously impressed) Very nice Aragorn, it shows a great likeness to Arwen. Next up is Boromir.
Boromir: Mine will blow you guys away! (Pulls off the towel to reveal a exact replica of the one ring)
Everyone gasps with surprise at this display; and Frodo is almost in tears.

Gandalf: (Red faced and eyebrows twitching) Boromir! What did I tell you? You know all evil paraphernalia is strictly prohibited, and that anyone attempting it would be disqualified. Plus, you made Frodo cry. So apologize to Frodo and then go stand over there; I'll deal with you later.
Bormir: (Sighs) Oh, alright. I'm sorry I made you cry Frodo, it was insensitive of me to do that, and I was wrong.
Boromir goes and stands away from the group, pouting like a five year - old who hadn't gotten the toy he wanted.
Frodo: (Wipes a few straggling tears out of his big blue eyes) I forgive you Boromir, even though it was very insensitive.
Gandalf: Up next is Merry and Frodo. (Glances down at Frodo) Do you feel well enough to do this?
After a moment Frodo nods very slowly and he Merry and get up to present their finished castle.
Merry: Here it is, your winner!(Pulls off towel to display a beautiful castle; complete with a working moat, a princess, and even a knight.)
Gandalf: Wow! This is very detailed! (leans down to get a closer look) are those First Age buttresses?
Frodo: (Smiles and nods enthusiastically) Yes, they are. I knew you'd appreciate them!
Gandalf: Well, it was very nicely done; thank you Frodo and Merry. Next is Legolas.
Legolas: Thank you, Gandalf.

He pulls the towel off his creation to reveal what looks like a gorgeous angel flying in mid- air...wait, do angels have pointy ears?

Aragorn: (Raises an eyebrow and cocks his head, trying to get a better look at the sand statue) Legolas, is this supposed to be you flying? Why in the world would you create that?
Legolas: (Beams and nods, proud that someone figured out his sculpture) Yes it is! I had a dream about flying a few nights ago, and the idea came to me as I was sitting there trying to figure out what to make. (Pleading face) Do you like it?
Aragorn: (Backing away slowly) Um, I guess so.
Legolas: Gandalf, what do you think?
Gandalf: (Strokes his beard, trying to think of something nice to say and can't think of a thing) It's alright, I suppose. And finally, our last contestant is Pippin.
Pippin: Thanks, Gandalf. Alright, here we go... (Pippin stands up on tiptoe and manages to pull off the towel to reveal a replica of the Tower of Piza.
The Fellowship is stunned into silence until Gandalf says the one thing they're all thinking...
Gandalf: You did that in half an hour?!
Pippin: (Shrugs casually) Oh, it was easy.
Legolas:(Glances at a little bit of cake frosting on the structure's edge) What did you use to hold this thing together, Pippin? This white stuff doesn't look like any water I've seen.
Pippin: Oh, it's not; I used your cake frosting. (Points to the empty bucket of frosting)
Legolas: You Did What! Ohmigod, I need to sit down. (Plops down into the sand and turns to Pippin) Tell me you didn't do that, please!
Pippin: (Shakes his head sadly) I'm afraid I'd be telling a lie if I did so.

At this point, poor Legolas can't take much more abuse; and sitting there in the sand he begins bawling. All that can be heard between sobs is "That was expensive stuff." and "My mother is going to kill me."

Gandalf: (Sighs and rubs his temples) Now look what you did, you fool of a Took! Well, I was going to crown you as the winner, but since your creation was made illegally and at Legolas's expense, the winner is Frodo and Merry!
Frodo and Merry: Yeah! But what exactly did we win, Gandalf?
Gandalf: You get to ride Bill home.
Frodo and Merry: Yeah!

And so it is that the Fellowship's day at the beach finally came to an end. After they were able to revive the unlucky Gimli and got the sobbing heap that was Legolas up, they made their way toward Gondor and Aragorn's home for the night; all tired but happy.

Well, that's all folks! Thanks for reading, I hope you liked it! Did I forget anything? Let's see: cake frosting, sand, dreams, and flying. I mentioned everything! Now it's up to judges...(crosses fingers) Wish us luck! Until next task, see you!

Fini.
Critique?