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There has been a serious error, I forgot to post the rest of the Lord of the Ving!!! So here it is.

Chapter Four
The Battle, to some degree, Finished

Back on deck Ganderoff was testing ideas on how to disable the Black Carpet Riders and no member of the Fellowship of the Ving was aware of Nrogara’s dive into the water with the Ving, except for Nrogara herself.
Ganderoff’s plan was to throw water at the black carpet riders and liquidate them but it didn’t quite seem to be working so he decided to go back to the drawing board only there wasn’t really a drawing board on board so he just grabbed an extra plank that was lying nearby and began whacking the black carpet riders over the head with it. This proved quite effect and though it was only temporary still, having a Black Carpet Rider out of the battle for about ten minutes was quite handy. It also lightened the hearts and raised the moral of the company and they could certainly use that.
Loqua was trying no more poetry as he was soaking but he was fighting all the more hardly for that. Foe after foe fell before his sword, and a banana peel that Meri had accidentally dropped being in front of him helped the fall of his foes even more.
Boaramire was dealing masterful strokes and was even contemplating jumping on board the enemy ship but Meri and Whippen discouraged this idea by briskly cutting the grappling hooks between the ships. This didn’t seem to have much effect at first but it soon started too for the enemy ship began pulling away since a brisk breeze began blowing and the sails in the enemy ship caught it but the mast of the ship the Fellowship of the Ving was on had no main mast any more for it had been shot down by the enemy along with all of their other masts so that they couldn’t really sail. But the enemy ship could and slowly but surely it pulled ahead.
The black Carpet Riders were rather too busy to notice the movements of their ship. They were too busy either being knocked over the head with a plank by Ganderoff or searching for the Ving. One of them quickly flew down and made a mark on the side of the ship so that they would be able to find the exact location where the Ving went into the water.
The enemy ship, or at least the sailors on board it, had seemed to realize that it wasn’t were it ought to be and so were taking steps to correct it’s position and reconnect with the ship it was attacking.
I really don’t know much about battles. I’m rather glad about that too. In the future I’ll try very hard not to devote two chapters to a single battle. I think this book could have been managed quite nicely with three chapters for each part instead of four and then everything would have been quite nice in multiples of three, three chapters at three pages a piece in each of the three parts and there, that took up some space to say. However it is a four chapters of three pages a piece in the three parts book and that is that and now I just have to write what is left. Though really, some of the chapters are actually, at the current moment and after editing this may be different, longer than three pages. I’m lost already.
The black carpet riders were looking in vain for Nrogara to resurface, she didn’t, so they naturally assumed after a half an hour had passed that she must have died from lack of oxygen and sunk down into the depths of the sea taking the Ving with her or perhaps the Ving took her with it or even visa versa.
At the moment however they had no divers capable of going down to the depths of the sea to recover the Ving and they decided to go and get some. So simultaneously, with the exception of those currently unconscious due to the board in Ganderoff’s hand, they Black Carpet Riders mounted their black flying carpets and flew off in search of some expert divers.
Their departure was not missed by the Fellowship of the Ving. Or to rephrase that, the Fellowship of the Ving were quite glad that they were gone and did not miss their presence. It was a different story entirely to the other towering ship for it’s fortunes soon looked bleak and soon, all those who could of the enemy, decided that acting like cowards might be their best and only option for survival so those who couldn’t jump back to their ship jumped overboard and tried to climb up ropes back onto their ship and the enemy ship sailed away with the surviving members of it’s original crew and was lost to the distance.
The Fellowship of the Ving stood on the deck and looked at each other and at the retreating speck of the other ship and up at where the masts had been and contemplated the matter.
It was decided that they probably couldn’t sail very quickly at the moment and that a lot of work was going to need to be done. Then, Jeri, who had until now only been looking for Rosalyn noticed that Nrogara was nowhere to be seen.
“I think that there are less of us that there could be.” he said.
Ganderoff looked around and counted and there were only twenty-five of them though Meri, Whippen, Friedlow, and Cram were large enough to substitute for two each. But there ought to be twenty-seven.
“I wonder where Nrogara and Rosalyn are.” Ganderoff said as he ascertained that these were the ones who were missing.
“I think I saw Rosalyn go down below early on in the battle.” a helpful sailor told them.
Jeri quickly rushed down below and checked Rosalyn’s cabin and after a good deal of banging and shouting his voice finally penetrated to Rosalyn and she recognized it and opened the door and said very happily, “You’re safe!”
“And you are too!” was her reply and for a moment the two stood and smiled at each very happily. This might have been interrupted by the Fellowships search for Nrogara only the two of them were rather too occupied to notice anything but each other.
As you know, no sign of Nrogara was found. This was primarily due to the fact that Nrogara didn’t make signs nor were there signs of Nrogara made of her. She certainly had never been on a billboard. Soon, after much searching it was decided that Nrogara was not on board the ship. This caused some sadness to all for it was assumed that she had somehow fallen, either overboard or onto the other ship or on Meri’s banana peel, and that the first casualty of the Fellowship of the Ving had occurred.
The thought of casualties roused in the minds of most the thought that there were wounds to bind and precautions to take against further casualties and courses to take and the spare mast to be put up and all started to be very busy.
Though it should be noted that not all were busy in the tasks mentioned above. Meri, Whippen, Friedlow and Cram offered to make a meal since all were in need of it though not all felt as pressed as those four.
Jeri and Rosalyn, once they finished smiling at each other began a conversation where there was a good deal of pleasant blushing and smiles and enjoyable nonsense and though Rosalyn had perhaps done a cowardly act in running to her cabin and locking the door and crawling under her bed, since she was safe and probably wouldn’t have done any good on deck anyway Jeri didn’t think any the worse of her for it. They were enjoying their conversation so much that Rosalyn forgot to wonder if Jeri was going to propose to her then but if she had been wondering this the answer would have been no.
A whole half a page of this chapter is left and therefor I can discuss whether there really could be a whole half of something since a half is certainly much less than a whole. I suppose that question is for the Council of the Wise to decide if they ever should have another boring day and need a subject.
As it was high time for a meal, a meal was soon forthcoming and everyone ate with healthy appetites once they got down to business. This, if they had seriously though it over, was not such a good thing to do for they were now quite a ways away from where they were going and could now sail a lot slower than they sailed before. However they didn’t think of this. Another thing that they didn’t think of was to check on the Ving and see that it really was still there for despite their thorough search for Nrogara no one had noticed the absence of the Ving. And what was happening to the Ving? And what had happened to Nrogara? Well, that you will find out in the next chapter which I’ll probably be writing tomorrow if all goes well, but I’m not quite finished with this chapter yet as far as length goes though I’m rather finished with it as far as ideas go. This is really going to be strange book, it will be interesting rereading it. I haven’t really reread what I’ve written yet of the book.
After the meal, which was sort of in between lunch and supper time wise but certainly was not tea, the companions of the Ving strolled back onto deck and Ganderoff remembered the carrier pigeons that had been brought on the voyage for the purpose of sending messages. As he thought it might be just as well to mention the condition of the ship and how the battle had gone he sat down and carefully wrote a message and sent it and then, since the chapter was really just a line or two smaller than the required length but since Elizabeth was lazy and wanted it to end now, the chapter was over.

Part Three: The Return of the Kingdom

Chapter One
A dolphin?

Far away from the ship that held the Fellowship of the Ving a dolphin was swimming rapidly to some unknown place that it wanted to go. At first glance one might have thought that this was just an ordinary dolphin that one might find anywhere dolphins were found but this was not the case. For one thing it would have been hard to catch more than a glimpse of this dolphin as it shot through the water so swiftly that it was like a pale silver light streaking through foam and wave.
Using whatever sense dolphins have of finding there way underwater this dolphin was speeding rapidly in a straight line towards it goal and stopping for nothing. Though there really wasn’t anything to stop for since that particular part of the ocean seemed to have very little in it save water and salt.
Now you may be wondering why I’m talking about a dolphin. Either that or you are thinking that I’m merely taking up space by having a dolphin swimming rapidly through two paragraphs. However, that isn’t quite the case. This dolphin has something very important to do with the story this book is telling. As I think I’ve already hinted at, this was no ordinary dolphin.
You may remember back at the end of the chapter before the previous chapter that Nrogara jumped into the ocean holding the Ving? Well, let us go back to that exact moment.
Nrogara had been planning that leap into the ocean ever since the black Carpet riders showed themselves. So when she had finally done it it was a very calm and deliberate deed for she knew that it would doubtless be the easiest way to destroy the Ving.
How, you might say and what does a dolphin have to do with this? Well, to begin with, there really aren’t going to be that many conversations in this chapter because even if the dolphin was capable of speech there was nobody to talk to so I kind of have to write in a roundabout way to take up the proper amount of space, my humble apologies to those of you who are slow readers out there.
Anyway, when Nrogara had dived about ten feet down into the water something happened. With the strange powers of those of pure Drylanor blood she transformed herself instantly into a dolphin! So the dolphin described at the beginning of this chapter was none other than Nrogara herself. And the reason that the call of the Ving could no longer be heard was because she had shifted her form and that had disrupted the signal completely.
And where was Nrogara the Dolphin going? Well, she knew that the Ving had to be destroyed in a volcano and as she did not wish to surface she had selected an underwater volcano to be the place of the Ving’s destruction. I read once in a Jules Verne book about an underwater volcano, it was near the lost city of Atlantis, so I think they do exist but I’m not absolutely certain since quite a few things in Jules Verne books don’t exist. But in this story they do, or at least there is one underwater volcano and to that Nrogara was going as quickly as she good. For one thing she wanted to get there quickly and for another thing, she had lived above the water for so long that she had forgotten who the predators of dolphins’ were and she was therefore quite wary of anything else down in the deeps and wanted to avoid everything.
Time passed on in a blur of shifting waters and still Nrogara sped on for it was quite some distance to the great underwater volcano she was going to. But at least, she felt the water about her growing warmer (I’m assuming that this is what would happen, it was so in the Jules Verne Book and it makes logical sense that something very hot in the water will affect the surrounding waters.)
Fortunately the Drylanor Dolphin shape could stand great heat at need without becoming fricassee or at least boiled dolphin. Nrogara increased her speed nonetheless for even though she might survive the now hot water it felt rather uncomfortable.
She could see the open crater of the volcano below her quite a ways down. There was a red glow there and I won’t get more descriptive even though it does take up space because I have no clear idea of what an underwater volcano ought to look like and so forth.
Anyway Nrogara was primarily concerned with the destruction of the Ving and not the scenery. As she was in dolphin form she couldn’t quite drop the Ving because she didn’t exactly have it on her. This meant that she would need to change back into a human, drop the Ving, and then change back into a dolphin quickly before drowning or collapsing with the water pressure.
As she did not wish the destruction of the Ving to fail she careful observed the water currents and at last positioned herself where the trajectory of the Ving when dropped would have it fall right into the center of the underwater volcano. Then she changed her form just long enough to drop the Ving and was quite glad to be a dolphin again for obvious reasons.
Carefully she watched as the Ving slowly fell and at last, again I’m not sure if this is environmentally or scientifically correct but this is a fantasy story and persons changing into dolphins isn’t scientifically correct either, the Ving landed in the crater and explosion started. Nrogara, seeing that her task was accomplished, decided she’d better get out of the vicinity and get out of it quickly!
She began to swim back towards whence she had come.
Far away things were happening. In the Dark Lords very palace change was coming, though the Dark Lord at first didn’t notice it. Far away in Dryalnor, though jokingly called Wetlanor while it was under the wave, the most noticeable change was happening. Drylanor was Wetlanor no more for it was rising back above the wave and the water was running from it and soon it stood back as tall and fair as it ever had been only without as many gardens and tree as there had been but the coral formations that had grown while it was underwater looked splendid in place of these.
And there were even Drylanorians to inhabit it for Nrogara was not the only one to be able to change her form into a dolphin. These all promptly changed out of dolphin form and took there human form and began work on making Drylanor perfectly habitable for humans again. They also began preparations for the grand coronation of the next ruler as the last king of Drylanor had decreed that while Drylanor lay under the wave there would be no more coronations and kings until it had been restored.
There, that took up two paragraphs. I need to hurry with this chapter because I have lots of other things to do with this morning (It’s Friday and I started this story on Monday if I remember correctly) And I’m almost up to page twenty eight of the book! Isn’t that impressive?
Approximately one page left and this chapter will be over. I’m rather ready for it to be over there fore perhaps Loqua, as he sat on board the ship and felt a sudden lightening of the heart, might possibly have recited this bit of poetry.

A laugh that laughs
Cannot surpass
Boisterous Joy
And halubaloy

A dog that wails
Into the gales
Is not as wild
As a three year old child

A bell that rings
And tears it brings
Is not as sad
As a heart not glad

A Poem written
Without inspiration
Is a sad thing indeed
But such is my deed

About then he stopped. There still was some space left in the chapter but there still is more to tell of the events of that chapter.
Nrogara sped back and looked ever upward for she sought the ship from whence she had leapt. Fortunately she was quite good at finding things and the ship had strayed but little from place it had been. Once she found it she grabbed hold of a rope that conveniently was left dangling over the water and then, changing back into human form, with a lot of spluttering she hauled herself back onto the ship and then went down into her cabin to change into dry clothes.
The Fellowship of the Ving, with the exception of herself, were all busy eating lunch and did notice that she had come back on board.
There were a lot of things that Fellowship hadn’t noticed, for one thing the carrier pigeon had now returned and was calmly sitting at the table and eating bread crumbs and waiting for the message that it bore to be read and answered. This however, wouldn’t happen until the next chapter.

Chapter Two
News of Importance is Heard

Lunch was winding down when Friedlow observed the carrier pigeon. At first he assumed that it was merely the next course but then when he saw the bird actively moving about he assumed that it hadn’t been cooked yet and was about to escort it to the kitchen when Ganderoff saw it and took it from him. He opened the small pouch tied to the bird and took out the message and opened it and then read it. It went as follows and was from Gnorle the Wise.

Salutations and Congratulations to the Fellowship of the Ving

Though you have not yet sent me word of your success I wish to congratulate on the destruction of the Ving. We beg you to send us word of how you managed this amazing feat and do return as swiftly as possible. News has reached us that Drylanor has returned from below the wave and that was a certain sign of the success of your mission. Congratulations will certainly pour forth for your amazing accomplishment. I trust that you fared well in the battle you described in your previous missive. Do write of that battle and your other accomplishments very soon.

Dnorle the Wise

There was silence. Then, Ganderoff rose to his feet and followed by the rest of the company they all ran down to the lower part of the ship where the Ving had been and looked to see if it was there. It was then, and not before then, that Ganderoff realized that the Ving was not there. He looked around at all twenty-six other members of the Fellowship of the Ving as though to say, Well, I didn’t do it, Who did?” After looking at them for about five minutes in silence he suddenly realized that there were twenty-seven of them in them in the room and that Nrogara had quietly joined them and was standing looked at him just as everyone else was doing.
“When did you get back?” he asked.
“A few minutes ago.” Nrogara said in a careless fashion.
“What happened to the Ving?” Ganderoff then asked.
“It fell into a volcano and was destroyed. Which volcano and how and such other matters doesn’t really matter you know.” Nrogara said and then proceeded back up to the upper deck to investigate the remains of lunch for she hadn’t eaten in quite some time.
Twenty six flabbergasted companions were left behind. But they eventually shook off their surprise for after all, Nrogara was know for doing strange things and it had been told that no adventure that she went on had ever failed.
A makeshift mast and sails were put up and the companions of the Ving turned the helm towards home, or towards the port where they had set out from which isn’t quite the same thing though it was the proper direction for most of the fellowship.
They sailed slowly even though the wind was blowing in the right direction and Ganderoff estimated that it would take them nearly two days to get back. This news was not exactly dismaying to Rosalyn who was quite glad to have two more days with no greater competitor for Jeri’s attention than twenty five other persons none of whom he seemed to like better than he liked her. Jeri was beginning to show feelings to her and Rosalyn was liking it very much even though the feelings he was describing where primarily ones like that he always felt a cold chill in his spine when twenty eight wolves howled and how eating a hot chocolate cake with loads of vanilla ice cream on it made him feel delicious and how he enjoyed the feel of the wind in his face and things like that.
Though many persons would have liked her to talk about how she had destroyed the Ving, Nrogara was silent for most of the voyage and typically tried to be alone and think. While perusing lunch she had read the message about the restoration begun in Drylanor and she wanted to think about Drylanor very much, and think about what she was going to do when she came there for Drylanor was where she next intended to go.
The slow sailing of the ship began to irk everyone by evening when, according to calculations made by the mathematician and chief mariner, they had only sailed a tenth of the distance back that they needed to sail.
That night something happened. Norgara calmly raised the sails so as to make the least wind resistance possible and firmly attaching a rope to the front of the ship she jumped into the water again and changed into a dolphin and grabbed the rope firmly in her teeth which were, by the way, stronger and sharper than dolphins’ teeth usually are, and began towing the ship remembering how successful this had been for the Black Carpet Riders earlier.
When morning dawned she seemed to see ahead of her coastline and she promptly changed back to herself again and climbed back aboard and once again changed out of her wet clothes and then went back on deck and saw before her the port they were trying to reach. Ganderoff and the rest of the fellowship of the Ving soon showed up on deck and were glad to see the progress that had been made during the night. They steered the boat into port and then everyone went to a good inn and had a very bountiful breakfast before picking up their horses and beginning the journey back to Counlic to give a report.
But there was a little delay before that journey could be made and Rosalyn spent the time at a dressmakers updating her wardrobe and Jeri stopped by a jewelers just to take a lock at the rings and whether he bought one or not was rather unknown. What Nrogara did during the delay was also unknown for she slipped off quietly and then showed back up just as it was time to start off. Her eyes had a strange light in them but she said nothing. It was assumed, and hoped, by the company that she would explain what she had been doing once they got back to the Council of the Wise but in the meantime no one questioned her.
As they rode along the road Rosalyn’s mind was particularly occupied with the cunning new hat she had just bought and was wearing and since somehow, due to Boaramire and Jeri riding next to each other, she was riding next to Nrogara and she couldn’t help talking about her hat, Nrogara was the one she was addressing.
“And aren’t these little ribbons about the brim just the cutest thing? The peacock feathers might be a bit much but really I think they are quite elegant.” She sighed happily as the peacock feathers bounced up and down.
“Peacock feathers can sometime be regal.” Nrogara, pulled out of her thoughts, replied.
“And isn’t the pink satin ribbon just the loveliest touch! I love pink satin though my mother doesn’t think it goes with my complexion. But I think it does. Though… It’s just possible it doesn’t go!” A look of fear came into her eyes for she had a great respect for her mothers opinion even when it clashed with her own as is quite proper for a daughter to have.
“If,” Nrogara comforted her, “the hat were entirely pink satin it might clash with your complexion but the pink satin instead just brings out the color in the peacock feathers and doesn’t detract from your complexion at all.” This was quite a long statement for Nrogara but it had it’s effect. Rosalyn looked happy again.
“Oh yes, it’s a perfect dream of a hat! And I got this lovely new ball gown that matches it perfectly only one doesn’t wear a ball gown with a hat or visa versa. But the dress has peacock feathers for decoration on it and it doesn’t have any pink satin!”
“Could you get her to stop?” someone who shall remain nameless whispered to Nrogara. Evidently he was rather tired of hearing about her new finery.
“She’s just happy.” Nrogara replied in a way that indicated that she wasn’t going to try to stop her. However Rosalyn decided to stop of her own accord for Jeri seemed to have stopped talking and he and Boaramire were now no longer riding beside each other. Rosalyn’s horse mysteriously began moving forward and Jeri’s began to go a bit slower so soon they were riding next to each other again and Rosalyn didn’t talk anymore of her new finery.
The ride did not last forever, alike for those who wished it to and for those who didn’t. Eventually the distant spires and towers of Counlic could be seen and once they arrived a great council was again summoned and everyone took their places and this would be the perfect location for the end of this chapter but I haven’t written enough yet so once again Loqua is going to supply some poetry.

Beneath the bright and billow wave
Where the salty water is sailors grave
There shines a light in heavens bright
A gem of the dark and lonely night

Volcanoes grim, spectacles fine
We assume are there in the brine
And somehow, someway, The Ving
Was cast deep into that dreadful thing

An explosion large, a terrifying sound
In the depths there did abound
But if sound does carry in the water beneath
It hasn’t reached to the withered heath

The last stanza reached leaves us in bliss
For this poem, no one will miss
It’s end has come and we are not sad
In fact, all are now very glad!

Chapter Three
A New Journey Begun

“We are very glad that you have returned.” Dornle the Wise said, calling the council to order.
“We are glad to have returned.” Ganderoff said, speaking for the Fellowship.
There was a slight pause. This was primarily due to the fact that this was my third chapter to write of the day and I was now rather tired even though it was only ten O’clock at night and I often wrote until eleven. I started earlier today than usual. Writer’s Block is rather unpleasant. I could just write but I’d like to be funny but maybe there has been enough levity but without it would be a very dull book so perhaps I ‘d better just go on and do the best I can.
“I see that you have all returned.” the aged mathematician said as he carefully counted there number to make sure that it was still three cubed as he was very fond of the power of three and especially of three to the power of three. Personally I would would also be quite fond of three to the power of three if I could have that many million dollars. I think that the mathematician would have liked that as well only I’m not sure that our currency of the dollar would buy anything in the world that this story takes place in. However, if I really wanted it too it probably would.
“So tell us your tale!” Dnorle the Wise requested.
“I think perhaps Nrogara should do that.” Ganderoff said turning towards Nrogara, plainly expecting her to talk.
“The Ving was destroyed.” Nrogara said and she met Ganderoff’s expectations for she did speak even though she did not speak much.
“I see.” Dornle the Wise said. And he was quite right, he did posses the power of sight and I think I’ve used this joke too much. Maybe it will become a running gag throughout my works of fiction.
“I also can see!” the old mathematician put in attempting to clear up the controversy caused by doubt of his actually being able too. He then turned towards Rosalyn and said, “I suppose you know you have a strange looking bird on your head?”
Rosalyn quickly reached up worried that some bird was perched on her hat but felt nothing. “There isn’t a bird on my head!” she said with relief
The mathematician looked worried for a moment, afraid he was seeing things but Jeri cleared the situation by saying, “It’s her hat. And a very nice one too.” Apparently he liked it and that made Rosalyn quite happy. She would become even happier in the next chapter. But that is still a ways away though it is nearer than it would have been at the beginning of the book. It’s hard to think almost that this is the next to last chapter but it’s certainly an exciting and pleasant thought! I could be done tonight! That or I could get a good nights sleep and be ready to tackle tomorrow but I think I’d rather finish the book, or at least finish this chapter or maybe compromise and do both.
Wow, I’m already almost a third of the way done with this chapter! And as there is another event that needs to happen more urgently than this council I think that the council will not last much longer as my arm muscles have just started hurting me. I think I’ll take a break for a few minutes and get a snack. That should help…
I have returned. It is now about a half an hour later than it was when I wrote the previous paragraph and though I’m not hungry anymore I’m still sleepy. And I have no inspiration and I can’t remember where I was. Bother. maybe I ought to give way to the temptation of just writing this book tomorrow but I think I’ll try to assert my stubborn nature and go ahead and finish this chapter and get this book done and over with so I can crank out the next one. Oh… I don’t even want to think about that now!
If I remember correctly a council was going on but I think that it shall now be over. Several things were discussed and congratulations were given and the Fellowship of the Ving was officially dissolved but not until they learned that the Dark lord was still not dead yet but there was hope for it and that many things done by the Ving had become undone.
Perhaps the most important part of the council, or at least the part that has the most effect on the next event of the chapter, was that it was decided to go to Drylanor and see how things were going there. Drylanor was not too far away from Counlic and as the council of the wise all wished to go that was a good thing.
The next morning, not too early, everyone set out. Carriages were provided for those who were not accustomed to horseback or for those who just wanted to ride in a carriage and not on horseback. Rosalyn would have been one of these only Jeri was riding so she chose to ride too.
All of the ex fellowship of the Vin were going on the journey and thankfully to those who were riding on horse back Loqua chose to ride in a carriage. In the carriage with him were several members of the council of the wise and fortunately for him all of his companions were fond of poetry and knew quite a bit of it themselves so the whole journey was taken up on there part in reciting, listening, and discussing poetry. I may or may not tune into their conversation.
With a page and a half left of this chapter I’m thinking that next time I do something like this either the chapters will be two pages long or there will be less of them. I really am running out of ideas. Maybe, if I had created a whole hoard of interesting characters instead of just figuring out one or two and giving names but no personalities to the rest, I would now let the characters tell the story and be led on by figuring out what they would do. Or perhaps I should just have something happen. I think I’ll have something happen.
The journey was disturbed briefly by a large amount of purple spotted toads crossing the road. Since they were not black cats panic did not spread throughout the ranks of those who were superstitious but since the purple spotted toads were three feet high each and had fierce teeth it was thought best to wait until after they had passed to go on. This incident might have merely been thought of as a rather boring adventure or incident that just happened on the trip and had nothing to do with anything only once the purple spotted toads had passed there on the road was a strange box.
I forget who it was but I seem to remember someone finding a mysterious key a while back and whoever that mysterious someone was they kept the key and I’m too busy writing to go back and see who it was that found and kept the key but anyway they took out the key and tried it into the lock and the key fit and the box opened. Out came a genie!
“Three thousand years I was trapped in that bottle!” the Genie said very impressively in a deep voice that resonated with hidden power, “And during that time I became very board. Therefore I shall now not be board!”
“So you are going to grant some wishes?” he was asked very eagerly.
“No!!!!” The genie roared, “I’m going to make your worst nightmares come true!!!” There was consternation amongst the travelers with one exception
“No you aren’t.” Nrogara said very calmly. The genie turned to her.
“No I am not.” He replied.
“You will stay and continue to occupy some more space.” Nrogara ordered.
“I will stay and continue to occupy more space.” The Genie replied obediently.
“And you shall do something funny.”
“And I shall do something funny.” The genie shook his head as though waking from a trance. “Something funny.” he muttered. Then he began to think.
“That isn’t very funny, maybe you should tell joke.” Nrogara told him.
“A joke…” the Genie muttered, “I have it. Far from here is the far off land of Smogaria. Once a nobel writer whose name was not Elizabeth Joy Von Fange, wrote some jokes about the people of Smogaria and I shall shamelessly borrow them and put them here hoping that they won’t mind. Right then…. What do you give a Smogarian who was everything? A garbage truck to hold it! And what is the shortest book in the world? A Smogarian encyclopedia. And did you hear about the Smogarians who were married in a bathtub? It was a double ring ceremony. And…”
But here the genie was interrupted. And surprisingly he was interrupted by none other than me for I saw that I now had only half a page left of this chapter and I needed to move on. So a great wind blew and the genie was blown back into the box and the lid snapped shut and the travelers moved as they had not died laughing.
Soon they stopped at an inn for lunch and there at the inn their appetites were completely taken away by the excellent food. After lunch they moved on and I began to regret having stopped the Genie from telling his jokes. Though really, I could tell some of my own. Unfortunately for that plan I can’ think of any, which isn’t surprising at 11:39 at night after all of the exertions of today and I just remembered I didn’t do all of todays school… Oh well, tomorrow is another day. I think I’m getting off the subject here. Apparently I stopped taking this story seriously back on Tuesday and it is now Friday and it’s going to be really interesting rereading this story. Except for bits and pieces I haven’t reread it all yet.
“Get back to the story!!!” Ganderoff shouted at the top of his lungs as the travelers sat in the inn waiting for me to conduct the rest of the journey. I thought I’d check the page length of this chapter first. There was only a paragraph left so it will be a fast remainder of the journey.
They got back on their conveyances, either into a carriage or onto a horse, and continued their journey and without much of interest happening aside from several peacocks staring very hard at Rosalyn’s new hat to make sure that it wasn’t a relation of theirs, nothing much happened until they approached the road that led into Drylanor and could see the kingdom of Drylanor, or at least they could see part of it and far, far away in the distance, the royal palace that was large enough to be a great city, which it sort of was. And now for he debate as to whether or not I’m going to write the LAST CHAPTER tonight or not. I probably ought to reread what I’ve written first so I can tie up the loose ends but who knows what will happen? Only God does. and he knows everything.

Chapter FOUR!!!
The LAST Chapter (Sounds of Cheering and Jubilee)

It is now Saturday and I started this story on Monday. So I’m making good progress for a week of writing! However, this being the ending chapter and the chapter which will wrap up the story together I may not have to rely heavily on space taker upers because a lot will happen in this chapter. I will be chronicling the concluding events of the romance of Jeri and Rosalyn, I will be stating what happened in the end to the Dark Lord and the Black Carpet Riders, and I also will be telling the tale of Drylanor and the Return of its Ruler. Coming up next is the Return of the Ruler! After all, yardsticks can be a bit too big and cumbersome at times and one really does need a ruler.
The travelers rode towards the great palace of Drylanor and soon reached it. There was quite a bit of bustle there for everyone was expecting something very important to happen but they weren’t sure when.
The great gates of the castle were open and they went inside. Naturally they had dismounted from their conveyances before entering the palace as horses were not allowed in the palace except during cases of emergency and it wasn’t quite a case of emergency.
Once inside the palace seemed rather quiet except for about every thirty seconds there was either a squeal, shriek, cry or grim silence.
“I wonder what is going on.” Ganderoff asked. He was about to be answered for a very important and noble looking official stepped into the room.
“Welcome to Drylanor!’ he said. “Will you please come this way?” he asked and then they followed him as he led them into what appeared to be throne room. They now could see the cause of the noises they had heard for in-between the two thrones suspended on a great pillar there were two crowns. One was a king’s crown and one was a queen’s crown. The jewels seemed to have no color except when someone tried to touch them for then they flashed as black as night and whoever tried to touch them cried with pain from the touch. Nonetheless, there was a long line of persons trying, all the inhabitants of Drylanor for that matter, since whoever it was that could touch the crown and take it for their own would be the next ruler of Drylanor.
At least, this was what the official told them as they inquired. “Would you like to try?” he asked. “We’re allowing anyone and it’s mandatory for persons of Drylanor to try. It’s been several days since Drylanor was restored and we were expecting the new ruler to have shown up before now. Quite frankly, we are beginning to get worried. I’t’s possible that the true ruler doesn’t know who they are.”
At this the travelers decided to try so they got in line. Out of courtesy, or from a reluctance to be shocked themselves, several Drylanorians went to the back of the line to allow the travelers less waiting time. Ganderoff tried first and was shocked quite thoroughly and stepped back blinking. Several of the others tried until it Boaramire’s turn. He tried and failed and as he backed away he said, “This is foolish, I do not believe the crown will allow anyone to take it.”
“It will allow one person to do so.” Nrogara, who came next, said as she calmly stepped up and lifted the queen’s crown up and as the jewels flashed purple and then stayed glowing, Nrogara calmly set the crown on her head and then just as calmly sat down on the thrown and said, “Welcome to Drylanor!”
Applause suddenly began and every Drylanorian in the room clapped loudly while those who did not clap looked at Nrogara in surprise. You may have been expecting this and then again you might not have. I doubt you were expecting the Genie to tell Smogarian jokes.
That evening there was a grand feast in Drylanor and the new queen sat at the head of the feast and was not abashed in the slightest by everyone staring at her. Rosalyn admired her courage but was rather pleased that no one was staring at her though she wouldn’t have minded Jeri doing so. He, however, was busy eating for the food of Drylanor was like nothing he had ever eaten before and the least good of the food he ate was ten times better than anything he had ever eaten before.
“You know, I wouldn’t mind staying here forever!” he said.
“You may, on one condition.” Queen Nrogara, who overheard most remarks, told him.
“Really, what’s the condition!” Jeri asked excitedly.
“That you ask Rosalyn to marry you.” Nrogara said with a smile as Rosalyn’s face lit up.
“I was going to do that anyway.” Jeri said with a smile to Rosalyn and I’m quite sure that he spoke the truth. Rosalyn was about to say yes but first Jeri whisked her off to a convenient moonlit terrace which was most romantic and then he went down on his knees very romantically and told her he loved her and asked her to marry him and then she said yes and then he took her in his arms and kissed her tenderly and I very much enjoyed writing this paragraph.
I’m now about half way through this chapter! It may not quite be time yet for concluding events but I think I’ll start them anyway.
Nearly everyone lived happily ever after, as is quite normal for one of my stories. The Council of the Wise went on discussing the problems of the world but these became so lessoned that they had time for other things, like trying to figure out what was so special about the number three and why clouds weren’t made of cotton and how volcanoes could exist under water. And I just found out, there actually are underwater volcanoes (I asked my Dad, I’m actually writing this chapter in the car with my family and there was quite a discussion on underwater volcanoes following my question.).
As for the other members of the ex fellowship of the Ving. Ganderoff learned how to play Golf and led his foursomes (I think there are foursomes in golf but I’ve never played more than miniature golf and that only once.) boldly defeating many tried champions in the sport.
Aridgorge, Boaramire, and Dentedoor were often his partners in Golf but they also had business of there own and became very important persons in there country. Aridgorge married a very lady named Ourwhine and lived quite happily ever after but Boaramire and Dentedoor didn’t get married.
Meri, Whippen, Friedlow, and Cram, decided to stay at Drlynaor too for the food was excellent and in-between meals they wrote books and poetry and during meal teams, which for them was about six or so times a day, they ate heartily.
& eventually thought that he would change his name but he couldn’t think of a name he really liked and so remained & to the end of his days which were quite long and happy.
I know I’m probably leaving out quite a few characters but as they lived happily ever after anyway that doesn’t really matter.
I think that the time has now come to tell what happened to the Dark Lord. Surprisingly, he didn’t quite hear of the destruction of the Ving, ever, for he was briskly eating a large dinner on the day after Queen Nrogara’s coronation and as he was eating he choked on a chicken bone and was diagnosed of dying of indigestion though the diagnose didn’t arrive until after he had died of indigestion.
The Black Carpet Riders soon ceased to exist for their black flying carpets caught on snags and unraveled and a brisk breeze blew them away and they were never heard from again.
As for Jeri and Rosalyn. They got married and had eight children who all grew up to be very nice persons and didn’t cause there parents much anguish and grief and all of the girls were dazzlingly beautiful and the sons were very handsome and none of them had any trouble getting married but all fell in love and got married lived happily ever after and Rosalyn made a charming Grandmother.
Rosalyn’s beautiful younger sisters were able to marry long before she became a Grandmother. In fact, they were all married before she even became a mother.
Queen Nrogara ruled Drylanor well. She was only seventeen when she ascended the thrown so for about five years or so she chiefly just paid attention to the affairs of Drylanor and rather ignored the affairs of the heart but eventually, when she was twenty-two which was a good age for such things (My parents were that age when they got married) a very handsome and noble young prince who was a younger son but no worse for that, visited Drylanor and met Queen Nrogara and promptly fell in love with her for she was very beautiful and very wise.
He had a lot of patience, and he needed it, for Nrogara did not easily fall in love but eventually she managed to do it on a very pleasant moonlit night when he asked her to marry him. She said yes and there was a grand wedding in Drylanor, the most magnificent there ever had been, and though the face of the bride was solemn as befitted the dignity of a Queen of Drylanor inwardly she was quite happy and at the reception she smiled and laughed more than anyone.
Their first born son eventually became king of Drylanor and was a very good one for he followed in the footsteps of his parents and ruled the land mercifully and well.
And, with half a page still left to write before I can end this book I’ve finished! Therefore perhaps I should tell what happened to the genie in the box. He was let out occasionally so he wouldn’t get bored and was allowed to tell more Smogarian jokes, like how do Smogarians cross an ocean? Two swim ahead while the rest walk over on the dead fish. And did you hear about the Smogarain rocket ship that missed the moon by over three hundred thousand feet? Apparently the three thousand Smogarians jumped on their end of the teeter totter an eighth of a second too soon. Three Smogarians were looking at some tracks, “They’re bear tracks” said one, “No, they’re lion tracks” said the other and while they were arguing a train ran over them. And once there were two mighty Smogarian hunters who had just shot a great buck that had large antlers. They were dragging the buck home but his antlers kept on catching on trees and bushes. Another hunter suggested that if they dragged the buck by his antlers they wouldn’t be catching on the trees. The Smogarians tried this and for hours they went along without the bucks antlers getting stuck on anything. “This works great” one of the Smogarians said but his companion shook his head, “Maybe, but I think we’re going the wrong way.”
That’s probably enough Smogarain jokes. And there is now only a little space left to fill, for which I am very thankful. In retrospect this story might have been better if I’d left out a third of it but there is still time for that. Now it it is time to save this draft and then start the editing process and take out all of my typographical errors and improve the story and so forth. Therefore, since they all lived happily ever after I think that I shall now say THE END!!! And for one week of work (or a little over if you count the editing process), this story probably isn’t that bad.