"Men do not often wander the woods," a powerful, yet serene voice said, forcing Steve to open his eyes to the world. He found himself still in the forest, surrounded by trees and birds. But it was bright out, mid-morning bright. In the light he was able to clearly see a figure striding towards him. The figure had a long white beard, matching robes and a black iron staff with a white orb imbedded in it's crown. "Stories permeate their minds like arrows a boar, and never leave. So either you are very brave, very foolish, or very ignorant."

"Very lost is more like it," Steve replied as he got to his feet, facing the man head-on. He took in the wizened man's appearance as he approached. The man's flowing white robes where blackened by soot and dirt, as was the fringe of his beard.

"You are more lost than you know, Steven Rogers," the man said with a voice that was both serene and terrible simultaneously. "Yet help is at hand, man of America. For you are in the presence of Saruman the great!"

"Saruman the great," Steve said out loud. Internally, he pondered whether or not he had simply hit his head extremely hard. Or if he had possibly been transported to one of 'the nine realms' that Thor talked about so much. "How do you know my name?"

"I know many things," Saruman replied with a powerful gaze as he came to a full stop, metres away from Steve, "they do not call me 'the great' for nothing. I can offer you only mys services in helping you find your way back to your homeland." Something stirred in the recesses of Steve's brain. The man's voice had a slightly sinister tone to it, something he could not quite place. The closest reference he could think of was that of a skilled actor playing Dracula.

"No one can no everything," Steve replied as h backed away several steps, reaching for his shield as he did so. "The world is to big."

"You aren't an Istar," Saruman said forcefully as he brought his staff to bear in front of his body. While the motion carried no direct threat, the man's posture spoke volumes. Volumes that warned Steve to be cautious, very cautious. "The Istar are guardians of Middle-Earth. And I am the greatest of the Istar!" Saruman shouted as he raised his staff into the air, sending forth blinding light. Steve snapped his eyes closed as he wiped his shield towards the man and a deft speed. He heard the sound of metal impacting flesh, and re-opened his eyes, hoping that the man's powers required concentration, which they did. The blow provided Steve with a necessary distraction that allowed him to make a run for it through the trees.

He leaped over fallen trees and under thick branches during his mad dash through the dense forest. All the while followed by the voice of the man who had called himself Saruman. "No man may out run me!" the voice of Saruman commanded through the trees. "I am the air! I am the sun! I am the Earth itself!" Steve did his best to ignore the man's words as he sped through the trees, not stumbling once. For he knew that if he did, it would be his doom.

After running for what felt like an hour, he broke through the treeline and onto what looked like a nature trail. Only Steve knew that it was what passed for a road wherever he was, given the likelihood that he was sometime in the middle ages, if his assailant's wardrobe was anything to go by.

As if someone wished to solidify his guess, Steve rounded a corner, only to come across a man in what looked like leather armour, with a sword in it's sheath and a shield slung across his back. The man was also wearing an extremely frustrated expression, which was turned on Steve fully as the man faced him.

"Have you come to rob me?" the man growled as he drew his sword and approached, rather threateningly. "If you have not noticed, I have nothing for you to take!"

"Take it easy," Steve half panted as he raised his hands in a show of peace. "I haven't come to rob you," he continued, "but can you tell me where I am?"

"As I told the horse-thief," the man spat as he re-sheathed his weapon. "You are on the northern border of Fangorn Forest. South of the Misty Mountains and the old kingdom of Arnor," the armoured man continued as he began to walk away.

"And the nearest village?" Steve asked as he quickened his pace, matching the man's stride.

"Edoras. South, through Fangorn and-" the man said as he wiped the hair out of his eyes.

"I'm not going south," Steve replied. "There's something in that forest, something that attacked me."

"That may be wise," the man said as the two of them continued down the dirt road. "Many powerful warriors have vanished in the forest over the centuries. Or so the stories say. As for the next nearest town, that would be Bree, to my knowledge. But I myself am headed to the House of Elrond. Perhaps there is what you are looking for."

"Thank you," Steve replied as he extended his hand in friendship. "Steve Rogers, at your service."

"Boromir," the man replied as he took Steve's hand and grasped it firmly. "Captain of Gondor, at yours." Together, the two Captains trod down the beaten path, towards their intended destination.

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"Welcome, my friend," the elf Captain, who was called Haldir, said as he pulled the blindfold from Kurt's eyes. "The the Elven city of Caras Galadhon," he continued as he gestured forward with his arm. Kurt's jaw dropped at the sight he was presented with. A city seemed to grow out of the forest itself, intertwining with the tree trunks for support. He continued his absolute admiration of his surroundings as he walked, keeping pace with the warriors that encircled him.

He passed by magnificent gazebos filled with Elves painting lavish works of art and masterfully playing instruments. He passed by a line of warriors armed with bows. He flinched as they fired a volley towards unseen targets. But he did admire their coordination and precision. He passed more Elves still. Some of whom where singing, others who where dancing. He even passed a pair who where fencing with one another.

"Look well, my friend," Haldir said as he clasped a hand on Kurt's shoulder and pointed him towards the tallest tower in the area. "For no outsider has penetrated this far into our city in decades. And none has been so lucky as to be brought before the lady of the golden wood," Haldir said as the group began to ascend a grand staircase that circled around the trunk of the largest tree. The steps themselves seemed to be made out of wood that grew from the tree trunk, but they where of a different colour. Kurt made a mental note to ask about them later on, after he had met the King and Queen. He, along with the accompanying troops continued their ascension for several minutes. Eventually the staircase turned into a plateau. And as he stepped onto the flat surface, his eyes fell upon two figures that seemed to emit an unearthly glow.

"Welcome, Kurt Wagner, son of Azazel," a crystal female voice whispered both with audible words and with telepathy. If it hadn't been for his time with telepaths such as Charles Xavier and Jean Grey, he would have been on his knees, holding his head in his hands. Instead, he was left wondering how the elven woman before him knew his name. "you are not of this world, are you?"

"N...no," Kurt replied as he gave a respectful bow of his head.

"Do not be troubled," the Elven man beside the woman said with grace, "you shall rest here. Our borders are safe. No enemy shall bother you during your stay."

"And where am I?" Kurt asked with a respectful gaze.

"Caras Galadhon," the elven woman, who Kurt assumed was the 'golden lady' Haldir had referenced earlier. "In the woods of Lothlorien," the woman continued as she motioned with her hand, "You have many questions, Nightcrawler. Rest assured that all will be answered in good time. Go now and rest. Your journey has been a long and difficult one." Kurt almost began to protest, but stopped himself, knowing that their hospitality most likely had it's limits, and that it would be best if he didn't overstep them.

"Thank you," was all he said as he inclined his furred head before turning away, with several troops behind him. He began to descend the staircase, but still managed to catch some of the words that where spoken between Haldir and the Elven Lord.

"Glamhoth ier no' i' numenenya kirma en' i' taure. Ron aa' en ten' ho,"(1) The Lord said with a whisper. Although Kurt couldn't understand a word of what hey said, somehow he knew it was about him.

"Amin il i'evebel." amin naia Raohtar a' omp'yan ho,"(2) Haldir replied with a quick bow before hurrying down the staircase to join the elves under his command. Once more, Kurt was forced to repress his questions. Luckily, Haldir spoke up. "Forgive me if I am insulting," Haldir asked as he stepped into pace beside Kurt, "but how is it you have fur like a horse or bear? And why is it blue?"

"I was born this way," Kurt replied with a smile, "My father and mother where both mutants like me, and I inherited aspects of their appearances," Kurt continued as he walked downwards, "My father was the one with the tail. My mother was the one with the blue skin."

"'Mutant'" Haldir said with a curious tone, "A strange word. One I have only heard one man speak. And that was two years ago."

"Really?" Kurt asked, somewhat interested. "Who was he? What did he say about Mutants?"

"His name was Liante edan," Haldir replied as they reached the forest floor. "And he did not say much. Only that where he came from, they where treated unfairly by most," the warrior-captain finished as he led Kurt towards a cluster of small buildings to the west of the centre spire.

"What did he look like?" Kurt asked halfheartedly as he continued to walk towards the buildings.

"He kept his helmet on," Haldir said with a shrug, "as if he had something to hide. But he spoke strangely, much like you do. But yet still different. It seemed as though he had lost much, and thusly did not allow for anyone into his life."

"He sounds very odd," Kurt replied as he stepped under the doorway of one of the buildings.

"He was. He refused the advances of many fair young maidens here in Caras Galadhon. Something which few mortals have accomplished," Haldir said as a smile etched across his features. "I must warn you about them," he said as he indicated towards a group of female Elves standing to Kurt's left. "They can be very alluring." A rock formed in the pit of Kurt's stomach as one particularly attractive elf-maid with jet-black hair smiled at him. Kurt did his best to smile back warmly as his mind raced. He knew that while she appeared to be around his age, she could very well be older than his great-grandmother. But still, he could not help but notice just how attractive she was.

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Jean Grey, leader of the X-men. One of the most powerful mutants in existence. Wielder of the dreaded Phoenix force. Was completely helpless. She was surrounded on all sides by black rock and ash. In the distance, less than a kilometre away, where two great spires. One was a fortress, and the other was a volcano that spurted black clouds.

But she paid the volcano no attention, instead focusing on the fortress. Or rather, the great flaming red eye that topped it. Something about it sent shivers up her spine as she watched it's gaze shift around, as if it was looking for something. I have to get out of here! She thought as she got to her feet and began to sprint away from the two landmarks. Ahead of her was a wall of mountains, which she instinctively knew she would have to climb over in order to escape. Hopefully she would be able to do so before being found out.

Unfortunately, she was wrong. She found herself illuminated in a red light, forcing herself to turn around. She looked outwards iin horror as she saw that the great eye's gaze was fixed on her form. But she did not remain still for long, redoubling her speed as she did her best to escape the sight of the eye. She used her telekinesis to increase the height of her jumps over boulders, hoping that would buy her the time she needed.

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(1) Glamhoth ier no' i' numenenya kirma en' i' taure. ron aa' en ten' ho. - Orcs are on the western part of the forest. They might be looking for him.

(2) Amin il i'evebel. amin naia Raohtar a' omp'yan ho, - I do not believe that. But I shall command Raohtar to accompany him.

A/N: So yeah, Jean's in Mordor...think she'll be able to escape before she's caught? And what lesser-known Lord of the Rings characters would you like to see brought into the story? And which fellowship character are you waiting to be introduced/scene from the story are you waiting for the most?

And as always, Concrit reviews are much appreciated!