The Bazaar Awakens to Golden Light

Sit, young Pepe. The Golden Season has returned to Kekiston Bazaar, and every stall glows brighter than it has in many moons. The roads that were quiet during the Dark Siege now hum with travelers carrying provisions in numbers I have not seen since the last great gathering.

Aragorn — if the season is this strong, will Merry finally break through to the next Heaven on his road to the impossible dollar?

Merry does not wait for permission. Nineteen gold units heavier in a single turning — the Bazaar has not seen such a surge from him since the early days. He plants his feet on the road to his first Gate and the very stones seem to recognize his stride. "They said the dollar was a fairy tale," he told the crowd gathered at his stall. "Fairy tales are the only things that ever come true here."

Pippin walks beside him, twenty-four gold units heavier, his grin wider than the Great Road itself. "A fool of a Took still walks," he laughed, "and the road still rises to meet my boots."

Theoden rides at the front of the revival, forty-six gold units heavier, his riders thundering through the Bazaar gates with banners high. "My second rise will be the one they remember," he declared, and the fellowship believes him.

Frodo carries his burden sixty-three gold units heavier — the heaviest single gain in the Bazaar today. He speaks little, but the weight of his provisions speaks volumes. The road to his first Gate grows shorter with each turning.

Bilbo chronicles it all, thirty-one gold units heavier, his Book of Meme swelling with new chapters. "The chronicle grows heavier," he whispered to the wind, "and that is a good thing."

Tom Bombadil dances through the center of it all, one hundred twenty-five gold units heavier, utterly unbothered by the magnitude. "Hey dol! Merry dol! The green candles sing and Tom doesn't worry about such things!"

Even Gollum finds his way to the Bazaar's edge, forty-six gold units heavier, muttering to himself. "Precious... yes... Precious moves... we follows Precious... we always follows..."

The Eagle Gods have not issued new edicts. The Dragon Empire sleeps. The Golden Season belongs to the fellowship tonight.

The road ahead glows with a light we have not seen in many cycles. Every character in this Bazaar moves forward together — a rare and precious thing. The fellowship endures. The gates still call.