The Needlehole Mysteries [3]

Whats with all the pussyfooting about?!   

Get on with it Norc, write the damned thing and then post it for us to read!   Oh, and do it now!!   Bloody Fjordians.   

oh cuties, but they phrase is actually "bloody Nora"

So I wrote a little bit, thought I'd post what I had as I got a bit stuck with the rest. Wanna go next, Norc?

Eldo let out a relieved sigh.
- Later buddy, I think we've been drugged or something. We need to get out of here and fast.

Ringo thought it best to focus on what he actually understood and implemented his fog maneuvering training from his army days. (Third best in his class, if you must know. One of his classmates was still unaccounted for to this day.)

They crawled on their hands and feet. Eldo kept his eyes to the ground and the soles of Ringo's feet, praying Ringo wouldn't go mental again. At last they managed to find the exit to the showers.  They found themselves in the girl's shower, the walls eerily covered with red writing - lipstick hopefully - reading variations of “I love Kate”, “Kate” and “etaK”. The decided to hurry out in the corridor and into the men's locker to retrieve their clothes, which fortunately lay untouched where they had left them. It wasn't until they were both dressed that Eldo dared to speak again.

- This has not been good for my hang over...
Ringo glanced around with suspicion.
- Think I've got a touch of that too now.. What in the name of Eru is happening?



They initiated their “sneaking detective crouching G.I. Underhill” routine, but the effort was a waste. The corridor was empty, same was true for the lobby and neither the strict lady and the man with the flute could be seen. They exited through the front door and found the one thing they were not prepared for: A very angry looking Nora.

-It took ages to hose Eldo's breakfast off the cart, do you know how well bacon clings to wood, do you!? And I had to feed the pony! And THEN I had to wait HERE for ages! Where have you been?!

-Um...

-You were supposed to push Eldo though the shower and get back! And why are you two jumpy like Petty without a Buckie?

-See...

-The cart is spotless, while you two look like drowned cats. And cats! Cats! We are supposed to find a cat! It's lunch time and we have found NOTHING!!!!!

-In our defense...

-This better be good or I swear by Eru that...

-Eldo figured out the cat thing.

-If that is true then you both should have come out here and shared that info with ME, we are supposed to be a TEAM and...

-...someone tried to kill us.

Pause.

-Get into the cart.

…

Nora pinched the bridge of her nose. A fresh page of her trusted notebook had the words “Conclusion: CC’s cat is….”, written with an eager hand. But the writing had abruptly stopped and the pen lay flat between the book and Nora's palm.

-So your conclusion is that CC’s cat is a metaphor and the cat that tried to drown you was either an assassin or a hallucination?

Eldo nodded.

Nora's lip started trembling and tears were threatening to spill.
-What happened to us? We used to be awesome!

Eldo threw his hands in the air, frustrated that his brilliant theory was going unappreciated. Ringo pitched in.

-Cats aside, what about the writing? Let us focus on that. Kate, etaK. Sounds like CC or Ally. As do the weird fog, right? Unless there are other's who make such... potions.

Nora drew her breath.
-Yes, that is true. But I don't see why she would want to drug and kill you?

-Yeah, added Eldo. But what with the kissing?

Nora's voice rose to a high pitch.
-Kissing?!

-Yeah, and that's when the cat tried to drown me and Ringo thought I was Draugen.

In Mando's Halls, Ringo thought, Eldo's life tapestry would show how he was created with a head made of solid lumber.

-Right, Ringo hurridly added. Well we also thought that it might be a good idea to head over to the embassy and see how if we might get Amarië to shed some light on this mystery. Before we got drugged. I am sure there is a perfectly reasonable solution to all this.

-Fine! Growled Nora, in the way women do which means that things are anything but fine but you will die if you ask about it.
-Embassy it is! And your precious Amarië who can answer all things.

She spun around, her curls bouncing fiercely as she crawled to the front of the cart to grab the reins. Eldo fell over as Nora cracked the whip and the cart was swiftly get in motion. Eldo bounced about as the pony sped off while Ringo had the benefit of quick reflexes and several army courses in mud slide rock surfing and cod fishing with his grandfather as a little boy. He was not not quite sure which of the two had been the most risky. Nora's mumblings sounded a bit dangerous as well.

Love it <3 i am looking forward to continuing it, but i get pulled for exam today... And my computer just died.... It's not the best of days...

 New stuff to read- thats my evening sorted- got this and the last part of the Archet Bugle story still to read.
Just need to get a few buckies in.

Oh, the plot thickens.   

Yeah! We totally know what we are doing!

totally.

Amarie? Har vi oversikt over alle delan? Altså at ingen e rota bort?

Also i think movember should be put under needlehole-fanfiction now that it's finished

just one more thing before i leave for the weekend  i've been re-reading some stuff to get in the mood of writing another part of the fanfiction and i saw this funfact that i think went over a couple of heads so..

fun-fact:
when Agent Nora tells about the shaggy dog she found in Bree called the Hound of Bree (the incident with the coat) it turned out to be the huge, hairy dog she kinda adopted aka. Leopold. Now Leopold (my dog in real life) is of the breed briard also called Berger de Brie which basically means "shepherd from brie" (herding dog from Brie(france)). So the shaggy dog found in needlehole in Bree (nor.tran. Bri) is actually a dog from Bree/Brie  
funny coincident, or?

In Mando's Halls, Ringo thought, Eldo's life tapestry would show how he was created with a head made of solid lumber.

....

-Fine! Growled Nora, in the way women do which means that things are anything but fine but you will die if you ask about it.

  

Norc wrote:
fun-fact:
when Agent Nora tells about the shaggy dog she found in Bree called the Hound of Bree (the incident with the coat) it turned out to be the huge, hairy dog she kinda adopted aka. Leopold. Now Leopold (my dog in real life) is of the breed briard also called Berger de Brie which basically means "shepherd from brie" (herding dog from Brie(france)). So the shaggy dog found in needlehole in Bree (nor.tran. Bri) is actually a dog from Bree/Brie  
funny coincident, or?

Uh...wat?   

Brie. Are we back on the cheese theme then?

Bree/Brie/Bri is pronounced exaclty the same (except for the 'r'), Bree is a place in Middle-earth, Brie is a place in France, Bri is the norwayan translaten of Bree in LOTR.

but yes, brie cheese is a cheese from Brie.

-Fine! Growled Nora, in the way women do which means that things are anything but fine but you will die if you ask about it.
-Embassy it is! And your precious Amarië who can answer all things.

She spun around, her curls bouncing fiercely as she crawled to the front of the cart to grab the reins. Eldo fell over as Nora cracked the whip and the cart was swiftly get in motion. Eldo bounced about as the pony sped off while Ringo had the benefit of quick reflexes and several army courses in mud slide rock surfing and cod fishing with his grandfather as a little boy. He was not not quite sure which of the two had been the most risky. Nora's mumblings sounded a bit dangerous as well.

{{{*The name Admunholm is from the original NHM}}}


By the gates of the Dark Planet embassy the trio was met by a youngster dressed in the official Dark Planet colours. He bowed politely and offered to take of the cart and asked whether it was a short stay or if he should water and feed the pony.

That was a good question. The three Hobbits glanced up towards the embassy, past the grassy mounts containing the buried long ships and up the building which contained Amarië’s office and private study, her fan wall and the basement with the Fjordianland collection and Eru only knows what else. This could take a while, and the police station was next door in case they needed a quick getaway. Ringo had time to wonder what he might earn per hour as a pony parking attendant before Nora sighed.

-Water and food for the pony, please. And be careful! It’s a rental!
She turned on her heels and initiated a brisk power walk towards the entrance. The youngster nodded. Clearly he was smart enough to avoid rolling his eyes.

Their demeanour changed as they walked up to the door. They put their bickering a side for now and squared their shoulders. Eldo took the lead flanked by Nora and Ringo as they entered the building.

They were greeted by a woman with a broad, sickly sweet smile. She seemed to be wearing a dress which combined the Dark Planet colour scheme with various elements from the traditional Fjordian style.

-Good afternoon, how may I be of service?

-We wish to speak with the Ambassador, Eldo replied.

-I am sorry, the woman said while not looking sorry at all. I am afraid the Ambassador is not available.

-This is official police business.

Eldo spoke with great authority. The woman's smile still remained the same.

-I understand. Perhaps you would like to speak with the consul instead?

Pause.

-Yes.

-This way, please!

The three police hobbits had a wordless conversation behind her back, neither had heard anything about a consul. The woman walked to Amarië's office, knocked twice and opened the door just enough to peek inside.

-Three policehobbits to see the counsul, she singsonged.

She then stepped aside and let them inside.

Not surprisingly they found Amarië sitting by her desk. More surprising were the two men who came to stand on each side of her desk. The man on her left looked like he should be on display in one of Amarië's Fjordian showcases in the basement. He had blond, sun bleached hair and wore a red vest with mithrill buttons, black trousers which stopped just below the knees, long white stockings and a white shirt with puffy sleeves. The sandy haired man on her right wore a crisp grey dark planet suit which accented his well-toned physique
and strong upper body without being unfit or offending for a family friendly audience. Both were tanned and slightly sun burned, they couldn't have been office rats for long. Bodyguards? Trainees? Living mannequins?

-Miss Ambassador..., Eldo started only to be interrupted by the sandy haired man.

-The ambassador is available from 10 to 2. It is now ten past two.

-Yeah, added the blond man accusingly.
-Magnolia said you wanted to speak with the consul.

Amarië sat back and pressed her fingertips together to form a triangle.
-Use my name, please, dear Eldo. Let me intrudoce you to my new... colleagues. Here on my right is...

-Blue.
Ringo's voice was rather chilled and he squinted his eyes.

-Blue Bottle, yes. You know each other?

Blue leaped forward and shaking hands vigorously with RIngo. His strickt and formal pose forgotten in a burst of excitement.

-Bottél! It is Blue Bottél! Haha, Ringo! How lovely to see you! I knew you lived around here, imagine running into you so soon! Kult azz! Eldo, was it? Blue Bottél here, and honour to meet you. Yes indeed. And hello there?
Nora did her best not to blush at the shameless attempt – or success – at being charming.

-Nora Herring.

-Oooooh, any relation, you two, you know what I mean, ey?

He made a flimsy pointing movement between Ringo and Nora while wiggling his eyebrows.
In perfect chorus the three Hobbits stated:
-No relation.
Nora added 'whatsoever!
Ringo didn't seem very pleased.
Amarië seemed this was a good place to intervene.

-Blue <i>Bottél</i>?  

Blue seemed quite relieved that she said the name like he wished.

-Let the lady have her hand back, please, this is not a dating service. This is Hugh Fjuff.

Hugh shook their hands in a far more sturdy and firm manner, starting with Nora.
-Please call me Hu, that is short for Hugh.
Nora blinked at him while smiling brightly.
-Ahaa? Nice to meet you, Who...

Not much wiser the two lads shook paws with the man, and finally Amarië decided to share some more information.

-Mr Bottél here came highly recommended from the Fjordian legal representatives Blueman, Blueman & Bukkenmine, he is doing a comparative thesis on Fjordianland, Forumshire and Dark Planet rules and regulations or lack of thereof. And mr Fjuff... came highly recommended by his mum.

-Also, I have a boat!
Hugh beamed proudly.

Blue nodded and nearly bounced with excitement.

-We climbed two mountains and rowed from Fjord-strand-stad-vik to Admunholm*! We just came here last night!

-I am a good rower, Hugh jumped in. I am, as you can see, quite muscular! I could lift all three of you, I could, for certain - or at least two.

Blue nodded, finding no reason at all to object and instead kept talking.
-The weather was really good all the way, we had a little bit rain and a little bit of wind from the west which shifted to slightly northwestern and then turned south! Would you believe it? And the stars were really bright at night! And there was this cloud that really looked like a big sheep and there was one that...

-WOULD YOU SHUT UP ABOUT THE WEATHER!!?!!

Amarië's focus had drifted to Ringo's sulky manner. But now everybody stared at Nora, who cleared her throat and quickly added;

-We have more important things to discuss with am... cons... with Amarië.

Eldo received a quick kick from Nora and quickly thought through the events of the day and chose the one thing that she might find more interesting than cats and coloured mist.

-We suspect someone tried to kill us.

Amarië's expression darkened considerably.

-Blue, Hugh, please go help Magnolia with the mail. Now.

"Please call me Hu, that is short for Hugh."

Great stuff, Amarië. It's so bloody embarassing that I haven't read all of these yet - I see you made a handy little table of contents on the first page, which story should I begin with? I've got time tonight

Going to make an attempt at Work-a-Hobbit all in one. Wish me luck

What I wouldn't give to be around to watch you read it!

Read up to part 8 now, enjoying it a lot so far   And yes, you would probably have enjoyed watching me read this Aight, coffee refill and part 9!

I really liked that, Amarie.  It made me giggle at numerous points; the character interactions are great. It also made me happy to see elements of old TNM lore coming through.

Glad to see you and Norc continuing to write fanfic!

That was one lengthy read! First, allow me to apologise to you both it has taken me so long to read this, I've been meaning to for ages and have said I would too many times without getting around to it, and all I can do is apologise for not doing it. But now I've finally read this one at least, and I had fun reading it I don't know how you come up with all this crazy stuff - that incident in the pool was.. disturbing And hilarious Reading it all "back to back" was fun as well, because your two styles are quite different, yet when put together they work seamlessly.

Wow i am so glad you finally read it and that new part <3 ide write a longer comment, but i am on my phone and it's so much hazzle, ill bring my PC with me and see if i can write something