The Unusual Adventures of the Hobbits

Chapter 1: The Unexpected Storm

It was a beautiful, sunny day in the Shire. Everything was normal, nothing was out of place. Lunch time was rolling around right on schedual. Just the sort of day beloved by hobbits. It was late summer and the air was nice and warm. Frodo stood by a window in Bag-End and opened it gently, breathing in the sweet air. He was expecting guests any time now. He checked the plates of fried fish with mushroom sauce he had prepared. It wouldn't do to have the lunch go cold with hungry guests on the way.
A knock on the door sounded and Frodo shuffled through the slightly cluttered hallway to receive his long expected guests. When he opened the door, a trio of curly headed grins greeted him. There, right on time, stood Sam, Merry, and Pippin. "Hello Frodo!" They all said as he ushered them in. "Hello everyone! I'm glad to see you all could make it." Frodo said, silently shutting the door behind them.

Pippin smiled then said, "Nothing could have kept us away. Besides, I'm hungry." "I missed you too." Frodo said with a laugh and led them to the dining room where the delicious lunch awaited them. When they were finnished, Sam helped Frodo clean up the dishes while Merry and Pippin wiped the crumbs off the table. Once everything had been set back to rights, everyone tramped into the living room where they remoniced on old times. They discused Strider, now the King of Gondor, and many other memories of their travels. They talked for what seemed long into the afternoon when suddenly they realised it was steadily getting darker. "Wow. I didn't know it was this late, Mr. Frodo." Said Sam, looking around and trying to catch a glimpse out the curtained windows. "But that's just it, you see. Its not late at all. We've only just finnished lunch about two or three hours ago. It shouldn't be getting dark yet." Said Merry doubtfully. "You're right, Merry." Frodo said, rising from his chair to look out the window. When he did, what he saw surprised and shocked him greatly.

"What is it?" Asked Pippin, getting up to join Frodo by the window. The sky was completely and utterly covered with dark, thick clouds that faintly emmited an unnatural blue glow. "Wow." Pippin said, jaw dropped in awe. Merry and Sam now rose to look out the window as well. "What do you suppose that is?" Asked Sam, a worried look in his hazel eyes. "Whatever it is, it doesn't look too natural." Merry said, shaking his head and letting out a low whistle. Just at that moment, all the windows flew open with a great gust of chill, almost unearthly wind, and all the oil lamps and candles went out in a flash. "Stay together!" Frodo shouted as glass from the window panes and picture frames began to shatter for no apperant reason, other than the ferosity of this unusual and unexpected storm. The four hobbits clasped each other's hands and threw themselves on the floor.

The wind gushed through the windows like an unstoppable tidal wave and swirled around them in a mist tinged with electricity. The hobbits squeezed their eyes shut and buried their heads under their arms. With one final, powerful gush of ferocious, thundering force, the wind finally stopped and the hobbits felt sunlight on their backs and soil under their bellies.
When they stood up, they realised they were in a small, lightly wooded area and not at all in Bag-End. "Where on Middle-Earth are we?" Pippin asked, looking around and blinking in the sunlight. "I have no idea..." Said Sam.