Chapter Two. TEA TIME!
Frodo busied himself putting the kettle on the stove and pulling out muffins and such that hobbits eat for teatime. He handed Corlath a bag of cold ice, taking pity on the tall man. Corlath took it with a smile of thanks but shook his head. Frodo shrugged and offered it to Alhana. She plucked it out of his hands eagerly, and smiled thinly.
The tea things were quickly set up, and the tea poured. A quiet descended over the group as tea was sipped and muffins devoured. "So, where are we?" Alhana swallowed her last bite of mulberry muffin and glanced at the hobbits.
Frodo sighed, setting down his teacup. "You are currently in Bag End. And Bag End is in the Shire."
"And the Shire is in Middle-Earth," Sam piped in, in case they didn't know. That wasn't a possibility to the hobbits, but just to make sure…
The three looked at the hobbits blankly. "Where?" Corlath asked.
"Middle-Earth," Frodo repeated and stood up. "Follow me." He glanced behind him at the doorway and than shook his head at the awkwardness the humans and elf showed. He escorted them into the study and to the map-filled table. He flipped open a large book and pointed to the map he had turned to. "This is Middle-Earth."
Corlath moved beside him and looked down at the drawing. He glanced up at Frodo. "Mind if I?" he asked. Frodo shook his head and Corlath turned the page. Frodo's eyes widen suddenly and he eeped. A new land he had never seen before filled the page.
"I've never seen that place before," Frodo whispered. He glanced up at Corlath.
"That's Damar," Corlath explained and pointed to the set of hill at one end. "And that's where the Hillfolk live." Harimad-sol, Sam and Alhana crowded around the table to see the world Corlath was showing.
Alhana took the book, turned a few pages and slid the book back. "That's Krynn," she pointed to a new world. "And that's one of the cities of the elves, Qualinesti. I couldn't find you my city for it is hidden and takes a sharp eye to pick out." She closed the book quietly and glanced around the small cozy room. Her eyes widen and the others turned to see what she was staring at. From out of the fire that burned in the hearth a woman appeared. The flames licked around her and as she began to step out they twisted into shapes of dogs. The silky hunting dogs milled around her, confused and nervous. She was dressed in a white deerskin dress and didn't seem hurt by the fire. That wasn't the odd thing, though. Her hair was an iridescent white and her eyes were black and fathomless. She looked at the other sharply and Frodo sighed. He headed back to the kitchen. Another one to offer tea to. He came back, teacup in hand and smiled up at the pretty lady.
"I am Frodo Baggins. Welcome," he presented the teacup to her. "Please sit. We want to know who you are and where you are from."
The lady looked confused but allowed Frodo to press her onto a stool. "I am called Lissar Lissla by some and Deerskin by others. I come from a land even I do not know of." The others looked surprised and she shrugged. "And who are you all? And where am I?"
"I am Frodo," he repeated. "And this is my friend Sam. And Corlath, Harimad-sol and Alhana. You are in Bag Ends, which is in the Shire."
"In Middle-Earth," Harimad-sol finished. "And please all, call me Hari. Harimad-sol is so.. so formal." She waved a hand through the air and smiled good-naturally.