Hi guys!

So in the last chapter we knew about Marrow's plan as well as Kitty's impossible to escape due her drugged state and yet, she managed to escape from Éomer and his army to Fangorn Forest.

But now something will happen, something very strange in the Fangorn Forest to Kitty. Before starting I want to thank Celridel for her immense help.

Waiting for your reviews guys!

Chapter 19: In the Fangorn Forest

Kitty stumbled over sprawling tree roots, running at her full speed. She was exhausted, against her head throbbed and her stomach ached. It was miracle she had been able to flee, she was so weak she had been barely able to use her mutation.

She paused a moment to listen. There was silence, and yet shivers crawled up and down her spine and hair rose on her arms. She distinctly felt hundreds of eyes watching her, with no friendly gaze. Recalling the lessons of tracking she had learned from Boromir, she began to look for her two friends. Suddenly a shiver of terror ran through her body as she saw an orc corpse. Facing her disgust and her fear, Kitty approached the horribly deformed corpse and realized that it seemed to have been crushed, as if a huge giant had stepped on it. She continued to search, but her head spun, and she wished herself back in Lothlórien, where the Lord and Lad y would be able to heal here.

At last she fell to her knees and vomited, suddenly feeling how alone she was

How much she would have given because Boromir or Legolas had appeared at that moment! Now it was she who had to search and save the two hobbits and her ... who would save her? Who was going to help her? Who would cheer her up and tell her not to give up? Who? Who would? In her realm had been the X-Men, the Professor, Logan, Jimmy, but ... and now? No one was by her side, no one! She even wondered if the Fellowship would be looking for her or only for Merry and Pippin.

Kitty wiped away tears and staggered upright. It had been a long time since she felt so sad. She would have given anything to return to her realm. She had to find the hobbits now, there was no time for self-pity.

But she fell, hitting her head against a large trunk, to slump down amongst the roots of the tree.

Strange dreams whirled before her eyes. She seemed to be in a strange military base in the midst of some forest that seemed to be from the North of America. She was not sure of that, but it was a fact that they seemed to keep something very important because the guard and codes. Security were at the maximum.

For some strange reason, Kitty decided to go to the military base and make use of her mutant abilities. She passed through a thick steel door and entered a room that seemed to be of scientific experiments, filled with people dressed in lab coats. But no one paid her any attention. The same voice that had called her to the door was pulled her along now, towards a capsule. Kitty came slowly and when she saw who was there, she was terrified. It was Professor Charles Xavier.

But how was he there? He had died when Mansion X had been destroyed! Kitty immediately tried to open the capsule and seeing that she could not, tried to pass through it and thus remove the Professor's body, but it was impossible, and she began in desperation. Suddenly she saw that the Professor opened his eyes and looked at her with that kind and affectionate look he had for her. "Kitty?"

"Professor!" Kitty exclaimed, now crying with joy, "Are you alive?! Are you alright?!"

The Professor did not answer her question, but said something very strange. "I'm so sorry, Kitty. I did not mean too."

Kitty frowned. What did he mean? He was not to blame for anything! "No, Professor! Do not! It's not your fault!"

But the Professor shook his head sadly. "I'm so sorry, Kitty, I did not mean to. My intention was to save you. I'm truly sorry."

Kitty did not understand at all and was going to ask him what it meant when the Professor said something even stranger. "Kitty, you have to keep going or you will not survive."

Kitty was puzzled. What did that mean? "But Professor ... I do not understand!"

"I'm sorry Kitty, I'm really sorry, I did not want you to suffer. Now you have to be strong and move on, keep going, Kitty."

The image of the Professor began to blur like everything around him.

"Do not! Do not! Professor! Do not go! Do not go! I need you! Professor!" Kitty screamed. But all was in vain, in a matter of seconds everything disappeared leaving everything in complete darkness.

Kitty woke with a start, her forehead bathed in cold sweat, and a shiver ran through her body. She understood absolutely nothing. Why did the Professor apologize?

What did he want to save her from? Was it a dream or was it a telepathic form in which he had communicated? And if so, then who had him imprisoned, where and why?

Suddenly a strange sound, like the creaking of wood, sounded just a few feet from her. Kitty raised her head sharply and screamed in terror. The tree where she had fallen asleep a moment ago had moved, and its deep, grey-green eyes watched her intently.

Kitty stood up, stumbling and tried to run, but the weakness and effects of the drug prevented her from running more than a couple of feet before falling face down. Without even having time, the tree caught up with her and caught her between its branches. She did not even have the capacity to concentrate enough to pass through all the branches.

"What do we have here?" The tree said in a deep, rumbling voice. He spoke slowly.

Kitty froze. So Merry had told the truth, the trees in that place spoke and moved. That explained why Éomer and his army had not gone into the woods.

"Put me down!" She shouted, kicking at the thick trunk.

"Do you know that it is impolite to vomit on people's feet?" Said the tree. "Although it should not surprise me, the orcs are capable of that and more."

"Orcs?!" Kitty said indignantly, "I'm not an orc! I'm a woman!"

"Tell then, why do you smell so strange? Your clothes smell like a drug that only Saruman uses."

Kitty was surprised. Saruman? "I was drugged! I've been drugged for three days in a row, that's why I smell that drug! "

"I doubt it, little orc."

"Listen to me, tree…!" Said Kitty furiously.

"Tree? I am not tree? I am an Ent."

"Okay ... Mister Ent." Kitty snapped. "I am not an Orc, nor do I come from Isengard. It was Orcs that attacked and drugged me!" She paused, trying to sound friendlier. "Ent, have you seen two hobbits?"

The Ent stopped for a moment. "Why did they attack you?" He asked.

Kitty paused. "Because I was trying to help a friend whom they also attacked." she replied.

"And why did they attack him?"

"I do not know, Ent," Kitty lied.

"You do not?" he rumbled. "Then the White Wizard will!"

Kitty paled. The 'White Wizard'? "Do not! Wait, please! I think we started with the wrong foot !I think I have not even introduced myself ... "

"Which shows that you have very bad manners, little orc. Which does not surprise me ..."

The Ent ignored her pleas, and walked through the forest, each step slow and deliberate. Through the tangled branches a white light seemed to be shining. Kitty was trembling with fear, as she was put down and she saw that through the light, a human figure was approaching her. Kitty tried to flee, but could only gasp. "No, wait ..."

She closed her eyes. Who would have thought she would die like that in a fantasy realm called Middle-Earth? Ironic.

It was dawn. A reddish color was in the sky. Seeing this, Legolas paused. "A red Sun rises. Blood has been spilt this night." He scanned the plains. "Hark Aragorn! Riders! Three leagues off, at the most!"

"Rohan!" exclaimed Aragorn. "We will wait here! They may bring tidings!"

They covered themselves with their cloaks and crouched behind a large rock. It was a welcome rest, but the riders came swiftly and when they approached Aragorn stepped out and cried. "Riders of Rohan! What news from the Mark?"

With astonishing speed and skill they checked their steeds, wheeled, and came charging round. Soon the three companions found themselves in a ring of horsemen moving in a running circle, up the hill-slope behind them and down, round and round them, and drawing ever inwards. Aragorn stood silent.

Without a word or cry, suddenly, the Riders halted. A thicket of spears were pointed towards the strangers; and some of the horsemen had bows in hand, and their arrows were already fitted to the string. Then one rode forward, a tall man, taller than all the rest; from his helm as a crest a white horsetail flowed. He advanced until the point of his spear was within a foot of Aragorn's breast. Aragorn did not stir.

"Who are you, and what are you doing in this land?" said the Rider, using the Common Speech.

"I am called Strider," answered Aragorn. "I came out of the North. I am hunting Orcs."

The Rider leapt from his horse. Giving his spear to another who rode up and dismounted at his side, he drew his sword and stood face to face with Aragorn, surveying him keenly, and not without wonder. At length he spoke again. "At first I thought that you were Orcs, but I see it is not so. Strange is your raiment. Have you sprung out the grass, so to escape our sight. Are you Elvish folk?"

"No." said Aragorn. "One only of us is an Elf, Legolas from the Woodland Realm in distant Mirkwood. But we have passed through Lothlórien, and the gifts and favor of the Lady go with us."

The Rider looked at them with renewed wonder, but his eyes hardened. "Then there is a Lady in the Golden Wood, as old tales tell!" he said. "Few escape her nets, they say. These are strange days! But if you have her favor, then you also are net-weavers and sorcerers, maybe." He turned a cold glance suddenly upon Legolas and Gimli. "Why do you not speak, silent ones?" he demanded.

Gimli rose and planted his feet firmly apart: his hand gripped the handle of his axe, and his dark eyes flashed. "Give me your name, horse-master, and I will give you mine, and more besides."

"As for that," said the Rider, staring down at the Dwarf, "the stranger should declare himself first. Yet I am named Éomer son of Éomund, and am called the Third Marshal of Riddermark."

"Then Éomer son of Éomund, Third Marshal of Riddermark, let Gimli the Dwarf Glóin's son warn you against foolish words. You speak evil of that which is fair beyond the reach of your thought, and only little wit can excuse you."

Éomer's eyes blazed, and the Men of Rohan murmured angrily, and closed in, advancing their spears. "I would cut off your head, beard and all, Master Dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground." said Éomer.

"He stands not alone," said Legolas, bending his bow and fitting an arrow with hands that moved quicker than sight. "You would die before your stroke fell."

Éomer raised his sword, and things might have gone ill, but Aragorn sprang between them, and raised his hand. "Your pardon, Éomer!" he cried. "When you know more you will understand why you have angered my companions. We intend no evil to Rohan, nor to any of its folk, neither to man nor to horse." He pushed down Legolas's arm. "I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and these are my companions. Legolas, Prince of the Woodland Realm and Gimli son of Gloin of the Lonely Mountains. We are friends of Rohan, and of Theoden your King."

""Théoden no longer recognizes friend from foe." answered Éomer bitterly, removing his helmet. "Not even his own kin. Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claimed lordship over this land. My company are those loyal to Rohan and for that, we are banished. The White Wizard is cunning. He walks here and there they say, as an old man hooded and cloaked. Everywhere his spies slip past our nets."

"We are no spies." Aragorn hastened to say. "We tracked a band of Uruk-Hai westward across these plains. They have taken three of our friends captive."

Éomer looked to Éothain, and this did not pass unnoticed. "The Uruks are destroyed. We slaughtered them during the night."

"But there were two hobbits and a woman." said Gimli.

"The hobbits, they would be small, only children to your eyes." added Aragorn

"We left none alive."

"What about the woman?" asked Legolas. "You surely must have seen the woman. I've seen it in your eyes. You have seen her."

Aragorn put a hand on the Elf's shoulder, staring steadily at Éomer, who sighed. "Indeed we saw her. But why, Master Elf, are you so interested in a witch?"

Legolas clenched his fists, but Aragorn cut him off. "Why do you say so?" he asked.

"You know why." replied Éomer flatly. "If not, why is the Prince so angry?"

"We know no witch." said Aragorn quietly.

"She can turn into a shadow her will. She passed through us and our arrows." Éomer laughed mirthlessly. "I call that a witch."

Legolas cursed under his breath.

"Where did she go?" asked Aragorn wearily.

"Towards the Forest. She too said something about Halflings."

"Then we will follow them." replied the Ranger quietly.

Éomer paused, and then put on his helmet, saying. "We both have need of haste. This is my choice. You may go; and what is more, I will lend you horses. This only I ask: when your quest is achieved, or is proved vain, return with the horses over the Entwade to Meduseld, the high house in Edoras where Théoden now sits. Thus you shall prove to him that I have not misjudged. In this I place myself, and maybe my very life, in the keeping of your good faith. Do not fail."

"I will not." said Aragorn.

There was much murmuring , but great dark-grey horse was brought to Aragorn, and he mounted it. "Hasufel is his name." said Éomer. "May he bear you well and to better fortune than Gárulf, his late master!"

A smaller and lighter horse, but restive and fiery, was brought to Legolas. Arod was his name. But Legolas asked them to take off saddle and rein. "I need them not." he said, and leaped lightly up, and to their wonder Arod was tame and willing beneath him, moving here and there with but a spoken word: such was the Elvish way with all good beasts.

"Farewell!" said Éomer, and mounted, and soon the Riders were lost to the swell of the grassy plains.

The three started swiftly away, Legolas still angry, but it was Gimli who spoke. "Do we dare to enter Fangorn, Aragorn?"

Aragorn snorted. "Of course."

"But we warned against it. Talking trees and all that."

Aragorn smiled grimly, looking back at the dwarf. "If you keep your axe down, Master Dwarf, they will not harm you!"

What strange experience lived Kitty! What does it mean?

I really wait for your reviews guys, they're the most important thing for the story.