Hi guys!
An apology for the delay. That of the preparations for Christmas and the whole thing take time, but ... here's the next chapter.
As always, I want to thank Steve993 for his valuable reviews, just as I want to invite other readers to also review this story.
We have seen that Lord Glorfindel has finally won the trust of the children while Charles has discovered that Lady Galadriel is not the only 'mutant' with those strange and unique characteristics.
Let's see what happens now ...
Chapter 10: Interesting information
Lady Galadriel and Charles were walking slowly through the huge green area that surrounded the so-called Cerebro.
Charles had been silent for a long time, he really did not know what to think. If the fact that, when they met for the first time, Lady Galadriel would have assured him that she was a she-elf from a realm called Middle-Earth and that she was the Lady of Lothlórien, had stunned him; that revelation that the so-called Galadriel had told him at the time had left him speechless ... once more.
"So ... this helmet that Moira saw is a magical instrument?" He asked once more to make sure he understood. After all, Charles was a scientist, he had studied Genomics and, therefore, everything that was not possible to demonstrate through science he considered as something ... impossible.
"Yes"
"And ... these beings, these ... gods or something ... those you call Válar sent to you and your friend, Lord Glorfindel, to get it?"
"Not to get it, but to take away its magical properties"
"Ah! Yes, yes! "He paused" and by chance, these so-called Válar did not tell you what 'magical' properties this helmet had? "
Charles did not believe in the Válar in the least. For him it was a group of other mythical gods that could well be considered the mythology of the Greeks, or the Celts, or the Mesoamericans; nevertheless, he was very careful in how he referred to them because he did not want to offend Galadriel who, it was more than obvious that she revered them to a great degree.
"Do not. Child, do not try to fool me because I know well that you do not believe in the Válar and if before you considered me that it was not right in my mind, now you do not have any doubt "said Lady Galadriel
"Well ..." said Charles blushing "is that ..."
Suddenly he opened his eyes wide, gaped and for a moment without breathing, while Lady Galadriel looked him straight in the eye. For a few seconds they were this way, finally Lady Galadriel blinked, and her gaze was as penetrating as anyone had ever seen her, changed; while Charles breathed again and looked at her in astonishment.
"Bu ...bu… but ..." he stuttered
"Now you believe me, child?" Said Lady Galadriel
Charles swallowed hard. How not to believe it? In those seconds, Galadriel had telepathically shown him the memory of her interview with Válar. Charles could never have imagined, in his wildest dreams, that light, that powerful voice and, above all, that glory and power. If those were the Válar and if they really existed then there was nothing strange about Galadriel being who she was, respected them and has reverent fear.
"Then we must catch Shaw as soon as possible," Charles finally said once he recovered from his astonishment "maybe he does not have it, but he certainly knows about his existence"
Lady Galadriel bowed her head slightly.
"It is essential that Sebastian Shaw does not know at any time that the helmet has magical properties, otherwise here it would be a complete chaos and the Earth could even disappear" said the calm, but also slightly worried voice of Lady Galadriel
Charles frowned. Pity not knowing what was the magic property that had the helmet! That would be a great help because they could quickly know if he had discovered that it was not any helmet.
"I think it would be a good idea to call your friend. You say he is more powerful than you, right? He could help us fight Shaw "
Charles could not believe there was someone more powerful than Galadriel. If the so-called Lord Glorfindel was so much more powerful than Galadriel as she claimed ... he could not even imagine what that elf could and could not do. That was getting complicated and not so much because it turned out that now the bad guy was aware of the existence of such a powerful object; but apparently, what Galadriel had told him from the beginning was true. There was no other way to explain it.
"No" replied Lady Galadriel "our mission is not to fight against Sebastian Shaw or against anyone, our mission is not to take the helmet to Middle-Earth. Our mission is to remove its magical properties with this "and showed him the phial that the Válar Varda had given her" if the content of this phial is sprayed on the helmet, whatever magic property it has, it will disappear "
"So, it will be a simple helmet?"
"I do not know. The Válar hinted that it would have properties different from those of any material, but that they would not be magical and therefore your realm would no longer be in danger "
Charles was thoughtful. He wished those different properties were not dangerous.
"Then, I think it would be best if we went to Egypt. If in the file that Moira saw, the helmet said, apparently, (because neither you nor I know Russian), that the helmet was in Egypt, then we must go and recruit later "
Charles had not finished speaking yet when Lady Galadriel denied with her beautiful head.
"Do not. Lord Glorfindel is already there and he is looking for it. If we go, we could ruin his plans. And yes, he has them because a group of children that is dedicated to getting valuable objects is helping him. I know this because he and I communicate, as you say, telepathically "she added when he saw the face of the mutant" you have to trust, child" she continued after a brief pause "I know that you do not believe in magic in the least, you only believe in what your so-called 'science' can show, but I suggest you open your mind more and be willing to accept and recognize new realities, otherwise you will continue being a child ... someone who does not grow up and is still naive "
Charles frowned. How he hated when Galadriel called him 'child'! There were few things that he hated more ... perhaps nothing he hated more than the fact that she called him 'child'. But he had to admit it, if he did not open his mind, even if it was a bit, his ideology would be left behind, and he had always considered himself as an innovator and ahead of his time. On the other hand, what Lady Galadriel had told him although it seemed a magic tale because of the appearance of those beings called Válar, in itself was not without reason and logic; therefore, it was better to take action on the matter and find the famous helmet as soon as possible.
"The Star Queen, Varda, mentioned that you were a key player in this whole situation," Lady Galadriel continued after a few moments.
Charles, who had stuck his hands in his trouser pockets and stopped while he looked at the sky thoughtfully, turned sharply on hearing this.
"Really? And what did she say? Why should I be a key player? "
That was interesting for two reasons. One, how those strange beings, of whom he had seen for just a few seconds a glimpse, knew him; and two, the fact that he was so important interested him and ... flattered him.
"She did not say it, and at the time I did not know; but now I see it clearly "replied the Lady of the Light" you and Erik are going to gather a group of young mutants who in the future will help you face Sebastian Shaw. Without you, Erik would not be here and without you, it would not have been possible to find them ... "
"You could have done it. You are more powerful than me "said Charles
Lady Galadriel smiled slightly. Apparently the 'child' was learning little by little.
"It's true, but this mission was yours, it had been prepared for you beforehand; and until now you have fulfilled it well "
Charles could not help but smile. For some strange reason, perhaps that of the existence of the Válar still had him in doubt, but it was a fact that knowing that until that moment both those strange beings and a person like Galadriel considered such a thing, was ... flattering and encouraging.
"I'm only here to support you, advise you and guide you" said Lady Galadriel smiling slightly at the smile of his joy "so go and bring with you all those mutants you've seen" she paused " especially because Erik is eager to leave " she added with a slight accent of amusement in her beautiful voice
Charles turned and saw Erik coming. His face clearly showed that he was upset. The mutant was not exactly patient and the fact of having to wait for Charles for more than two hours because he had to talk to Galadriel about a secret matter, did not have him in the best of moods.
"You think?" Charles said ironically. He took a couple of steps to leave, but suddenly he turned around. "Thanks for the confidence Galadriel" he said "let's hope that the plan that you and your friend have, achieve its goal. Wish me luck for all of them to accept "
"May the Válar and Erú be with you" said Lady Galadriel bowing her head slightly "and Charles ..."
The young mutant turned around.
"Among all the mutants you have seen, you will meet a man who is sitting in a place where men drink. He will have something in his mouth, he will be smoking. Do not approach him because he will not listen to you in the least, not for the moment "
Charles frowned. Was she predicting him the future?
"Not for the moment?" He asked surprised
"Not for the moment," repeated Lady Galadriel, "he will do so in 30 years and in totally different circumstances. But, for the time being, do not even approach him unless you want to be rejected in a very un-polite way. "
The mutant was going to talk. Could Galadriel see the future for up to 30 years or more? How was it possible? However, he could not utter a single word because at that moment the voice of Erik was heard calling him impatient:
"Charles, when do you want us to leave, huh?"
The house to which the four children entered followed by Lord Glorfindel could have passed like any house of a merchant. It was clean, the windows and open lattices, there were several pots with plants well-watered and in excellent condition. It was adorned with carpets and tapestries certainly beautiful, but nothing out of the ordinary. The same happened with the furniture, they were all in good condition, but they were not of great value either. No doubt that house could well pass through the home of an honest person. Even when the owner of the house opened, if Lord Glorfindel had not been elf and could sense danger and evil, even he would have been fooled. For the man who had opened them was about 50 years old; long gray beard and hair of the same color; tanned skin; Brown eyes; Typical features of an Arab; He wore a gown nothing out of the ordinary beige and sandals in good condition.
"Oh! Poor children! In a moment I bring you something to eat "he said in a voice that would have fooled anyone who showed compassion
"Leave the food for later, we come for information" answered Ororo
"Information?" The man repeated, pretending be surprised "but girl, I do not know what you're talking about! I'm just an honest merchant! "
"It is said that money does not give happiness, but what I like about it is the skill that is given to imitate it" said Ororo in response
Lord Glorfindel frowned. That had no logic, not what the merchant had told them. Surely, it was a key phrase. And soon he had the confirmation of such thing because the expression of the face of the 'merchant' changed totally. His expression turned full of malice and his eyes bright with greed.
"Come in," he said in a voice that was far from the humble and full of compassion
The children entered without hesitation the same as Lord Glorfindel who immediately sensed a great evil. No doubt that man was terrible and dangerous.
The man led them to the back of his house, in the backyard where he moved a cobblestone and a hole was opened in the ground and in which stairs were carved on the living stone. Without hesitation for a moment, the children followed the man while Lord Glorfindel could not help but bring his hand to the hilt of his sword. The place was more than dangerous, and he wanted to be sure he had his sword in place to defend himself and the children. A hand startled him in such a way that it almost made him unsheathe his sword. It was Ororo, who made a slight gesture of refusal.
"Everything will be fine," she murmured so softly that it felt more like a sigh. "Just do what we say. Cover yourself well with the cloak we gave you, especially the head and don't forget your role "
Lord Glorfindel nodded as he took a deep breath. These children decidedly had guts because the place oozed with malice in such a way that Lord Glorfindel could have sworn that the man was leading them directly into a trap and that at any moment there would be orcs ... or rather, men like those who had wanted to kill them in the dump
Finally, after a journey of about ten minutes in a tunnel under the earth illuminated by a dim light, the man came to an armored door that opened with a hidden key and entered followed by the children and the Elf-lord. The door closed behind them with a heavy clang.
"Well, Ororo Monroe," said the man after lighting the lamp and sitting comfortably at a desk "what do you want? Information? Commodity? There are new things that might interest your 'Boss' "
"No" answered she "we come for information"
The man watched her and then the children. His dark eyes full of greed and malice stuck in each one of those present, but above all, in the Elf-lord who was covered with an old cloak that the children had obtained in such a way that only his eyes and the outline of his chin.
"Who is your friend?" He asked after a moment
"You know that, in this world, there are no friends. He is just a person with whom we are doing business "answered Ororo harshly
"Really? And what kind of 'business' are you doing? Does your 'Boss' know? "
"Is there a reason why we should answer you, Ishmael?" Said Abdul. "The business we have is with him, not with you"
"As to whether our 'Boss' knows ... not yet. We will give him the good news with a good number of those nice silver coins "answered Ayesha
Lord Glorfindel looked at the children. His gestures that had shown compassion to see him cry involuntarily, now were hard and showed no emotion more than if they were willing to everything.
"However, I'm still curious to know who this ... businessman is" replied the so-called Ishmael, fixing his eyes on the Elf-lord
"I'm part of KBG, is that enough for you?" Lord Glorfindel answered coldly and clearly, fixing his blue eyes on the Egyptian's brown. The elf's stature and gesture were imposing, and the Elf-lord was determined to do his part, so even though he had no idea what the KGB was more than if it was a very dangerous organization.
However, as much as the Elf-lord was imposing, the so-called Ishmael was not so easy to baffle, and while he did not hold his gaze, he did not seem to be frightened too much.
"You do not sound like Russian" he said
"So, you call me a liar?" Said the Elf-lord with low and menacing voice as he leaned on the desk, shortening the distance between the Egyptian and him, who this time could not help but swallow hard "you know what I do to those who even think about questioning my words? "
Ishmael could not help but swallow hard. Of all it was known that if there were cold and cruel people were those who worked for that Russian organization.
"What do you want to know?" He finally said
Lord Glorfindel stared at him a few moments still in his eyes both to instill more fear and to read in them if there was not a double intention. When he was completely sure, he walked away slowly and signaled the children to talk.
"We want to know what you know about a very rare and valuable metal called mithril" said Ororo
"You already know that everything has its price here. Have you already told your friend of the KBG? "Replied Ishmael looking at Lord Glorfindel
As answer, Ororo threw her backpack full of all the booty she had gotten the previous day on the desk. Ishmael smiled, his eyes shining with greed at the number of stolen items; but before he could even touch one of them, Ororo snatched the backpack.
"First the information" she said
Obviously, this did not please Ishmael, but he restrained himself from doing or saying anything else when he saw the threatening look of the Elf-lord who had recharged himself in one of the corners of the cave, with his arms crossed in such a way that it looked like he had a hidden gun.
Ishmael took a deep breath.
"I've never heard of such a thing called 'mithril'" he finally said
"Something you must have heard" said Ahmed "you are the one who runs the black market of ALL Egypt"
"It's true" replied Ishmael with a carefree shrug "but I've never heard of such a thing"
"You know everything that is contraband, even what goes to Europe" said Abdul "so at no time do you think you're cheating us"
"I already told you ..."
A dagger cut his sentence. Ororo, in the blink of an eye, had perched on the desk and threatened his throat with her dagger.
Lord Glorfindel was stunned. That was something that never in his life would have been expected, had not even seen and that he had lived two lives! And yet, in the background, Ororo had a good heart, but without a doubt it was a girl who, once she had a well-defined goal, got it. On the other hand, he realized that she was doing everything to help him, it was exclusively thanks, not anywhere he found someone like that.
"You'd better talk, Ishmael," Ororo said coldly.
"Well they say that you are the best element that has the 'Boss'" Ishmael replied
"Then, therefore, you will do well to answer our question"
The smuggler measured his chances. If that KBG agent trusted those children, it was because there was certainly something big in between, not to mention that if that agent was with them, he would not leave them at his mercy, not at least until he had got what he wanted. So, it was better to give the information he had. He made an affirmative gesture. Ororo got off the desk slowly, dagger ready in case of any bad surprise.
"Mithril, you say, huh?" He once said that Ororo was next to the other children "I've never heard of such a thing, but you told me it's a very rare and valuable metal, is not it?"
"Yes" they answered the children
"I have not heard of a metal called 'mithril' but I've heard a metal very valuable and different, I've even seen it and I'm holding a piece of metal called 'adamantium'"
"Adamantium?" Ayesha repeated, "and what's so interesting and different about that metal from everyone else?"
Ishmael got up and from a kind of safe box pulled out an irregular piece of metal shiny as silver. He showed them to the light of that cave.
"This fragment you see is made of adamantium. The adamantium is the hardest metal that exists. There is no bullet or fire or grenade that does it the least damage. Its original state is liquid, but once it has hardened it is impossible to shape it and even less to cut it "
"And how much is it worth?" Abdul asked
"Enough so that hundreds of our compatriots and several dozen Germans have died for it"
The children looked at each other in surprise, as did the Elf-lord.
"What happened?" Asked Ororo
"It is said that during the War ... back in 1941, a group of Germans came in search of a treasure as great as it had never been seen. This treasure was in the middle of the desert, in an oasis at the foot of a great red mountain. It's back by the place that used to be known as 'The Forbidden Place' "
"And what were they doing there?" Ahmed asked surprised "nobody who has gone, comes back"
"The Bedouins say that the oasis is cursed, and they are never close" Ayesha added thoughtfully
"But the Germans do not believe in such things," replied Ishmael, "and it is said that it cost them dearly because no one but a single German managed to escape from there, but before escaping he managed to take a large quantity of this metal ... of adamantium ... in liquid state. I do not have the remotest idea of what happened in Germany, but I do know that the Germans decided never to return " he chuckled mockingly" no doubt that what is in that 'Forbidden Place' made them flee with the tail between the legs "
"Give it to me," said Lord Glorfindel suddenly, who had listened carefully to the story
"What? This fragment of adamantium? My dear friend of the KGB, nor with all the money you can get in this city you could buy it. It is so rare this metal and with those characteristics so unique that anyone would kill for it "
"I do not want it more than seeing. Give it to me ... now, "the Elf-lord said clearly and coldly, approaching menacingly to the desk." You do not want me to take it away by force, do you? "
The children smiled inwardly. Decidedly the so-called Glorfindel knew how to play his role perfectly.
Ishmael realized that the threat was a reality, so he gave it to him.
Lord Glorfindel examined him with his keen gaze in the light of the lamp. Suddenly, he paled and had to make a huge effort because nobody notice that he was trembling, or that his eyes were filled with tears, or that a cold sweat was covering his forehead, or more importantly: that an exclamation almost escaped from his lips: 'Wandering Star!'
In his mind he had just recreated a vivid scene that happened thousands of years ago in Middle-Earth.
"My claws were originally bone," explained a young woman of approximately 24-26 years of long black hair as the night, white skin and green eyes that kept so many secrets, firm expression, and whose voice at that time was sad "but the Facility decided to coat them with adamantium, the same as all my skeleton. So, if now you want to break my bones, the only way you can do it is through adamantium and to that add the healing factor. So, there you have ... I'm the perfect killing machine "
"Do not say that ... these skills you have are a gift from the Válar. Without them, Ecthelion and I would not be alive. No, I think they are a gift that the Válar granted you and that make you unique and different, especially because you use it for the good of others "
A smile and look full of gratitude had been the answer.
"You think?" She had murmured
"Totally"
Making a superhuman effort and gathering all his strength and using to his advantage that he had the cloak that covered him, he returned the piece.
"Where can I find this metal called adamantium?" He asked after an effort so that no change in his voice was noticed.
"Not in Egypt" replied Ishmael who fortunately did not notice anything "it is said that the Germans took everything, or at least as much as possible because whatever it was that attacked and killed them, it did not allow them to get more" he paused "if you want adamantium you have two options left: go steal it to Germany or go to the 'Forbidden Place' and try to get more " he turned to the Elf-lord" but good luck if you want to go to the 'Forbidden Place' because I do not think there is anyone who want to take you, not after what is said to happened with those Germans and those poor Egyptians. I do not think even the Bedouins want to take you "
Lord Glorfindel frowned. What had attacked those men who were all afraid of that place? Why was it called 'Forbidden Place'? What was a 'Bedouin'?
"And you do not know if those Germans made a helmet with the adamantium they stole?" Asked after a moment Ororo
Ishmael snorted.
"Girl, do you think the Germans would use the adamantium to make a helmet? Not to mention that here there are no facilities that allow the manipulation of adamantium. In any case, if they had the 'brilliant' idea of making an adamantium helmet, they would have done it in Germany "
There was a silence.
"Anything else you know?" Ayesha asked
Ishmael closed his eyes for a moment. He seemed to try to remember something.
"Ah yes!" He said after a couple of seconds "it is also said, although I am not sure, that the Germans also took a fragment of a metal other than adamantium and that it was even rarer, but beyond I do not know anything else "
The children looked at each other and then at Lord Glorfindel who, just because of his magnificent self-control, could continue pretending to be the cold agent of the KGB. The Elf-lord nodded slightly.
"How much do you want?" Asked Ororo
"Your pretty backpack with all its contents," Ismael replied. His eyes shining with greed in the object
The girl sighed inwardly, and gave it to the amazement of Ahmed, Abdul, Ayesha and Lord Glorfindel who knew what that meant.
"I owe you nothing," Ororo told him once she gave it to him.
"Just a little question" said Ishmael when they reached the backyard "what do the Russians want the adamantium for? And why do you help him? "
"We do not know what the Russians want, and we are not interested either. This agent will pay us very well, and that's what matters " replied feigning indifference Ororo
And without further ado, she directed her three companions and the Elf-lord to the exit of the house.
Charles and Erik had started their task in recruiting all the mutants that were the closest. The first who recruited was striptis dancer. She was a latino young woman. Long black hair, tanned skin, deep brown eyes, lips that curved in such way that it was very provocative to every man. Maybe because her job.
Erik approached directly to her and payed her. Once that, he went with Charles to an especial cabinet completely secluded with a very comfortable couch covered with red velvet and an ice bucket full of bottle of champagne. This place had been paid by Erik so both would enjoy the dancing especially alone… or so she thought.
"For that, daddy-o, you get a private dance" she said while showing the money that Erik had paid for her "you cats know it's double for both, right?"
"Um… no, that won't be necessary. Although I'm sure it'd be magical" said Charles with a carefree shrug
"We were thinking more: we'll show you ours… if you show us yours"
"Baby, that's not the way it works around here" said the striptis dancer thinking that he talked about her dancing. But nothing further from reality, since to her astonishment, Erik snapped his fingers and making use of his mutant ability over metal, the ice bucket full of champagne bottles floated toward him.
"More tea, vicar?" he asked Charles
"Don't mind if I do" said he with a smile looking at Angel and waiting for her reaction.
The young latino woman once recovered from her amazement, smiled with that provocative smile of hers.
"My turn" she said. She unhooked the back of her top and revealed her wings, wings that looked like the ones of a huge dragonfly and she started to fly to the astonishment of Erik and Charles.
"How would you like a job where you keep your clothes on?" offered the last one
Later, they were waiting in one of the streets in Virginia with more traffic. According to Charles, they would find at any time to the next mutant they were looking for. Suddenly, Erik saw Charles making a sign to a certain cab which stopped. The driver was an Afro-American. He wore a yellow t-shirt and a green beret. Just he saw them, he smiled friendly.
"Where to, fellows?" he asked before he started his path again
"Richmond, Virginia, please" answered Erik
"Right. So, you want go to… the airport, the station, what?"
"No, we were rather hoping you would take us all the way"
The driver of the cab was surprised. In all his life no one has ever asked him such a thing.
"That's a six-hour drive!" he exclaimed
"That will give us plenty of time to talk" said Erik leaning to the cab meter and using his mutant ability, made it start counting. That was enough for the driver to accept.
After taking this long road, Erik and Charles went to a prison of high security.
"What the hell does the government want with a guy like Alex Summers?" was asking them the director of the prison while taking them to the cell of mutant they had gone to look for "hope you're not planning on putting him with others. First guy I've ever met who actually prefers solitary confinement" And saying this, he opened the triple door that closed the cell where a teenage of about 18 years old, blond, white skinned and blue eyes were lying lazily on his bed.
A teenage of about 16 years old, red-brown haired, white skinned with freckles, was looking a huge fishbowl in an aquarium. It was full of fishes of different colors. Near him there was a pretty girl of about his age who was staring at the neighbor fishbowl. The teenage was looking for a way to approach her, but he didn't have the slightest idea. Finally, gathering all his bravery, he approached to her and said,
"Crazy, huh?"
The girl turned confused
"What is crazy?" she asked on the defensive. That guy seemed weird and she didn't like him at all
"You like fish, I like fish too. Maybe we should get a bit sometime and talk about it"
"I'd rather go out with the fish" And said this she left him. The teenage looked at her leaving, and then he put his mouth on the glass of the fishbowl and sighed. All the fishes swam as far as possible terrified.
"These fish?" murmured to himself the teenager while Charles and Erik approached to him.
After talking with the teenager in the aquarium, they passed near a bar. There was the other mutant that had sensed Charles, but he immediately remembered the words of Galadriel. Would her prediction be right or wrong? He remembered when she had predicted that Shaw wouldn't be captured in his vessel but instead she had seen Erik and made the other telepath retreat, so Charles could save him. The telepath mutant decided to believe in Lady Galadriel's prediction.
He was going to tell Erik that it was better that they left and continued their walk, but it was too late. Erik had already entered and approached to a man who had disheveled black hair, white skinned, brown eyes. He was sitting at the bar with an empty glass of beer and he had just taken the cigar of another person and started to smoke.
"Excuse me, I'm Erik Lensherr…" started to say
But before he could have said any word more, the disheveled and smoking mutant, who surely wasn't in good mood because he cut him saying,
"Go, fuck yourself"
Seeing this, Erik decided to leave, not noticing the expression of astonishment of Charles who had been silence witness of once again the accurate prediction of Galadriel. He wondered if in 30 years he would find again this mutant whose name was Logan (as far he could read in his mind) and what would be the circumstances when they would meet again. He hoped a good one.
"Hey! Charles!" called Erik
The telepath mutant shook slightly his head. If that was Galadriel… then he couldn't imagine what would be the scope of the power of the so-called Glorfindel.
Once they had left the house of the smuggler Ishmael, the children and Lord Glorfindel were redirected to their hiding place. They had to make a decision.
The Elf-lord felt dizzy. Suddenly he found evidence of the materials that the so-called Facility had implanted to his beloved, which would have killed anyone but for the mutation she had, that wonderful healing factor that so many times had been very useful. Starting with that mutant skill had saved her life, never got sick, did not age ... was immortal in a few words.
Yes, and he had loved her with all his Fëa which had become intertwined with her soul. He had had the strange luck of falling in love with a young woman who was not elleth, but was immortal. Or so it seemed, because later he would find out, when he returned to Middle-Earth with that mission directly commissioned by the Válar that his beloved Wandering Star had died beheaded fighting to save the lives of Princess Idril, Túor, Eärendil and other elves.
That had been a terrible blow to the Elf-lord and he had for a time longed for death, but ... he had not faded, his Fëa although torn by pain still went ahead. This made him think that maybe his beloved Wandering Star was not dead, maybe she had just decided to get away from everything and move to a low profile, after all she was trained for it and much more.
Would she still be in Middle-Earth? Or would she have traveled here to forget the pain of having seen him die? Because it was obvious that she had died (if indeed she was dead), knowing that he had died and would never see him again.
The voices of the children who seemed to discuss the situation in which they found themselves, made him come out of his sad reflections. He paid attention, but even though his keen ear was able to perfectly distinguish the voices of the children, although they had moved away, he did not understand anything because they were speaking in the native language of the inhabitants of that city.
"We cannot take him to Germany, Ororo! You know it well! "Snapped Ayesha
"Maybe we can help him" the girl answered without giving up
"We would need a lot of money. Money that we DO NOT have "answered Abdul" also, why do you want to help? Already enough help we gave him to take him with Ishmael! And you well know who Ishmael is and how he behaves! "
"Also think, you have to recover your booty as soon as possible so you do not have problems with the 'Boss'" added Ahmed
"We cannot leave him like that!" Ororo said. "At least I cannot leave him like that. He saved my life in the market, for no reason "
"Yes, and you already returned his sword. You are already at hand! "Abdul replied
"Not for me," said Ororo stubbornly. "Think about this: He saved everyone's life, and even forced Ishmael to tell us what we wanted to know."
"She has a point" accepted Ahmed "he played his role perfectly"
"So, we owe him the favor of at least helping him to go to Germany," said Ororo
Ayesha and Abdul looked at each other.
"She's right" said the first "is one of the rules of the fellowship"
"He also cured your ankle, although you were not very kind to him," Ororo said.
Abdul sighed reluctantly.
"Very well, we will help him to go to Germany. Only that we will need money, and I do not think that what we have is enough"
"I have an idea" Ayesha said as she stared at Lord Glorfindel
"Glorfindel," said Ororo, approaching him along with the other three children. "We have decided to help you. We have decided that we will search among our contacts for a way to get you a boat trip back to Europe and give you the instructions to get to Germany "
"Germany?" Repeated the Elf-lord
"Yes, of course, Germany," said Abdul, "that's what Ishmael said. That the Germans had taken all the adamantium or mithril, as you call it. So only in Germany you will find it "
"We would give you as much information as we can, so you can travel and so on," Ororo said, "but beyond that we cannot help you. We are sorry"
"In the first place, I do not know where the kingdom of Germany is; and secondly, I do not intend to go to that realm "said Elf-lord" the so-called Ishmael said that almost all the adamantium was carried away. I think it is essential to see what happened and what is the source of that metal "
"But, what are you not looking for a helmet made with adamantium?" Asked confused Ahmed
"It is true; but I have a friend who is also helping me and for her it will be easier to look for it in the kingdom of Germany. On the other hand, it is essential that I go to the place that the so-called Ishmael spoke of. " he paused" do you have any idea of how I can get there? "
The children looked at each other in astonishment.
"Do you plan to go to 'Forbidden Place'? Are you crazy? "Abdul told him
Lord Glorfindel frowned, clearly annoyed. However, this time the teenager did not care nor did the other children.
"It's a very dangerous place!" Exclaimed Ahmed. "No one comes back from that place! There are stories that speak of how the people who came there died horribly!"
"Even the Bedouins are afraid of it. They know where it is, but they never come closer than to a certain point "added Ayesha
"What are ... the Bedouins?" Asked confused Lord Glorfindel
"You do not know? They are people who live in the desert "
"Desert?" The Elf-Lord repeated more confused.
"Do not you know what a desert is ?!" Ahmed asked astonished
"Do not. In Rivendell or in all Middle-Earth there is such a thing "
"We are worse than I thought" muttered Abdul impatiently
"I can take you" said Ororo suddenly. Everyone looked at her in astonishment.
"I know how to get there because one time I had to travel with Bedouins ... long story" She paused "You (said the other children) stay and tell the 'Boss' that I am in the middle of an assignment that will leave a lot of money. While you and I (he said turning to the Elf-lord) we go to the 'Forbidden Place'. Agree?
The other children saw each other. They feared what the 'Boss' could do to them, but they also remembered that they were in debt to that strange man named Glorfindel.
"We will also go with you" said Abdul finally, "but we will need money"
"That's easy, tomorrow we get it" said Ahmed
"Oh no! Nothing to steal! "Said the Elf-lord
"What?! And how are we going to get the money?! "Abdul exclaimed" because without money nothing moves here! "
"I have an idea," said Ayesha once more, staring at the long hair that looked like a river of gold.
The children looked at each other and smiled. It was an excellent idea.
"My hair ?!" exclaimed Lord Glorfindel "don't even think about it! It's my hair! "
"We're not going to shave you, Glorfindel," Ayesha said reassuringly, "we would only cut it to your shoulders
"It helps that you go a little more unnoticed" Ahmed added
"In addition, we have to get you a gown, sandals and a turban for the desert" said Ororo "and that can only be achieved with money"
"Not to mention the trip. We will need to take a boat and buy or rent camels "said Abdul" so, it's your hair or we'll go out tomorrow to steal "
Lord Glorfindel moaned inwardly. And here, the famous Balrog Slayer being blackmailed by a group of children of the Edain race. Finally, he unsheathed his sword and handed it to Ayesha who seemed to be more careful in matters of hair. Simply in her hair was noticeable.
"Up to the shoulders" stressed the Elf-lord
As answer, Ayesha giggled.
Well ... a long chapter with many things that happened. I hope you enjoyed it and ... Merry Christmas.
Not forgetting that your revisions will always be welcome, guys!