From: salford@orion.lrmsc.loral.com (Stephanie Alford 5850)
Subject: The Balrog escorts SEA to the picnic
Originator: salford@orion
Organization: Loral Rolm Mil-Spec Computers
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 18:02:37 GMT



After fighting the RL dragons for so long, SEA decides to stop by
the Place and re-inhabit her VR self in the hot tub.  Quietly 
sitting there, she tries to catch up on the latest happenings.
"Congratulations to Steve and Colleen on their new arrival.
Welcome Emerald Lee!"

"Welcome to all newcomers, sorry I wasn't here to greet you."
SEA takes a long breath and settles in deeper.  "To keep my tale
of woes simple, here's what's been happening:  more presentaions
from Hell with the boss that never stops, tyranny seems to be
reigning supreme at the office nowadays, Martian Death Flu, a
flakey phone line between L/RMSC and L/WDL that left us without
a mail/news server three times for several days at a time....
(YUCK!)"

"But the good stuff is:  I'm over the flu now, my allergist says
I'm doing very well with my shots and can go from twice a week to
once a week for shots at the end of the month, my neice is walking
now and my brother's finally back stateside."

Stopping to take a drink, she feels a gentle but rather insistent
tapping on her shoulder.  She looks up to acknowledge this intruder,
and faces a dark creature clad in rich middle-age styled clothes. 
"Hi Balrog....oh, Balrog.  I'm so sorry.  It *is* time for us to
join the picnic in the meadow."

For all responses, the lord from an other age gives his friend a 
awkward but fond smile and, looking elegant in his picnic going 
togs, gallantly offers his hand to help SEA out of the hot tub. 
As she rises, her swimsuit changes into a pale blue cotton dress 
with full skirt. Her feet are now covered by matching dancing 
slippers. She and Balrog make their way to the French Doors that
lead to the meadow and step through to join their friends. 

Looking at the sky, she stands on tiptoe to whisper to Balrog,
"I think you timed that just right."  For now, the skies have
begun to darken and the moon and stars have begun to twinkle
and bathe the picnic goers in soft light. The balrog pauses
as this sight brings up memories of other gatherings under night 
skies. For a while, he stands still, gazing at the stars
which light tiny reflections in his pensive eyes, SEA patiently 
waits by the creature's side. After a few minutes, they make their
way to the picnic baskets and find the ones with their names
on them. Waving to Didi Sprite, kitten, Lord Galdrin, Galadin,
Panther and all the others who have preceeded them, SEA and Balrog
open the baskets to find what goodies the magic of the meadow
has decided to bestow upon them.

From her basket, SEA pulls a blanket out and settles it onto
the ground with Balrog's help.  She seats herself in front of
her basket and begins to unload its goodies.

First pulling out silver candlesticks and candles she places them
on the blanket between herself and Balrog.  While Balrog tries to 
light the candles, SEA next brings out a champagne bucket already 
filled with ice, then comes a bottle of California champagne and a 
bottle of New Mexico's Anderson Vineyard White Zinfandel.  (Shaking 
two fingers he has just managed to burn with the matches, the balrog 
gives the two bottles an interested and curious look.)  Then come the
wine glasses, sterling silverware, beautiful white china plates,
and fine linen napkins.

Then the food begins to arrive:  California
cheeses, apples, strawberries, raspberries, wheat crackers,
barbecued chicken, potato salad, freshly cut vegetables with dressing
to dip them in and last but not least, the most gooey chocolate
cake ever.  "Wow, that's a lot of food," SEA giggles, then looks
to her friend to see what his basket holds (she hopes it has
French champagne that she's heard so much about and french
pastries).

Reading his friend's look, the balrog pulls out a bottle of 
'champagne Jobin' (a great champagne made by the family of one 
of his friends), then a bottle of Cremant d'Alsace (which is a 
champagne-like wine, but made in Alsace instead of Champagne). 
Then, he produces out of the magic basket a carefully
home-made grapefruit Charlotte (a delicious cake made with biscuits).
Marvelling at the sprite-magic basket, he pulls out a plain wooden plate,
some feet wide, which he soon garnishs with twenty different mushrooms, 
each bigger than a balrog fist. Finaly, he puts a slice of each mushroom
on big green leaves, together with an halved yellow lemon. Smiling a shy
smile, he offers one of the leaves to SEA and opens the three different
champagnes.  SEA graciously accepts and rolls her eyes in approval.
"This is truly tasty, Balrog!"

After the baskets have been unloaded and their appetites have
been satisfied, SEA asks her friend if he would like to try
a waltz. The balrog whispers for her to preceed him, he will
soon rejoin her. As he watches SEA quietly walking to the floating 
dance floor, humming along with the Viennese waltz that is playing,
a sudden wave of sadness overcomes him. His eyes fill with long
lost memories as he remembers an other picnic in other times.

Galadin's amulet begins shining a golden light on the balrog's chest as
it fills the meadow with images taken from the creature's homesick mind. 
Another place, another time... but the same stars, the same caring Moon. 
Ghosts couples can be glimpsed, dancing, laughing. Joyful Balrogs
dancing with slender, beautiful Balreines.
But then they all disappear, returning to a secret place deep inside
a wounded heart, as the balrog shakes the blue mood away. Leaping high 
into the air, he takes SEA hand and they soon join the others that are 
dancing. Looking at their friends around the meadow and enjoying the 
starlight, SEA says to Balrog, "Boy that Didi sure knows how 
to put on a party, wouldn't you agree?"
Balrog's sharp white teeth flash a merry jolly wordless answer.

This post brought to you by SEA (salford@monolith.lrmsc.loral.com
or lunisea@netcom.com) and the Balrog (lusinchi@ensisps4.imag.fr)