Hi people!

First of all I want to thank Celridel for helping in the edition of this story as well as invite to leave to the readers their reviews but as a good constructive criticism not only critizice because it's not of your liking. If you don't like it, don't read it, but reviews with a good criticism will be always welcomed.

Having said this, let's start with chapter 9!

Chapter 9: New Friends

Erik entered the CIA facility the same way he had left: with a determined step and completely convinced that the decision he had made was the best one for the moment. After asking where he could find Charles, he headed straight towards Stanley's office. On the way, he met Lady Galadriel, who greeted him sweetly. "Mae Govannen, Erik."

"Uh ..." sputtered the mutant.

"Good morning, Erik," said Lady Galadriel when she saw his expression "Or at least that's what the Edain would say"

Erik blinked several times. It was a fact, that beautiful female mutant had great power, but she was quite strange. However, Erik knew that, although that strange mutant was mysterious, she was also wise and her power was great. And not only that, he had immediately noticed that Galadriel made no sound as she walked as if her delicate feet barely touched the ground. The more time he spent with her, the more he was convinced she was an angel in disguise. "Uh ... good morning," he replied after a brief hesitation.

"I'm glad you stayed," said Lady Galadriel with a soft smile.

Erik shrugged. "I suppose you're right. Being alone is not the best option, especially when your enemy has several ... friends who support him,"

"Enemy?" Repeated Lady Galadriel. "What enemy, Erik? You? Or Sebastian Shaw?"

Erik glared at her, a hunted look of fear and anger. Her blue eyes held his gaze calmly, in such a way that Erik could have sworn that Lady Galadriel was seeing to the very depths of his soul.

"Me?" He repeated in a low voice.

"Your worst enemy is not Sebastian Shaw, Erik Lensherr," she answered quietly. "You are your worst enemy, and as long as you do not face yourself, you will never find peace."

"Peace?" He mocked. "Peace does not exist!"

"Do you believe that, Erik Lensherr? Or is it a lie that you yourself have contrived? "

Erik was left without knowing what to answer. The truth would cause his world to collapse.

"However, to overcome two enemies it is necessary to have someone next to you," continued Lady Galadriel. "And by staying not only you can fight against Shaw, but also you will have someone by your side and that in the future, will help you to face the worst of your enemies."

"I imagine that Charles and you, no?" Erik said resentfully.

Lady Galadriel smiled mysteriously and kept walking, leaving Erik alone. He shook his head slightly and after a few minutes followed her.

The head of the security department was sitting in his desk chair in his office while Charles was leaning on the window frame.

"Hank turned that radar installation into a transmitter," said Stanley showing Charles a huge satellite dish. "It's designed to amplify brain waves, so it could enhance your telepathic powers and help us find other mutants for our division."

"That indeed would be a good idea," remarked Charles. "However, Galadriel can help us too. Her telepathic ability is great. Maybe if both of us use the transmitter, we could have better results."

Charles had learned little by little that, perhaps he was no longer the star in telepathy.

He still hated that Lady Galadriel considered him as a child, but he had also been honest enough to accept that perhaps it was best for both of them to work as a team. He was sure he could learn from her, and surely she would learn something from him ... although he had no idea what. Perhaps getting rid those strange ideas that she had.

"Um… I'm not so sure," said Stanley. "I mean, I know that Galadriel is very powerful but…"

"You don't trust me because you think I'm mad," said the beautiful voice.

Charles and the head of the security department jumped, scared. They had heard nothing.

Stanley flushed in utter shame. The words of the lovely mutant had full of disapproval.

"Galadriel… how..?" asked Charles, astonished

"Though this Adan doesn't trust me," she continued, her gaze pinning Stanley to the wall. "I agree with him. You should be the one who look for them, Charles. But not only you. Erik as well."

Charles was going to speak when suddenly he heard a sound of approaching footsteps and Erik appeared by the tall, golden-haired woman.

"Seems that you made him stay," said Charles mentally to Lady Galadriel.

"Galadriel is right," he said, glancing at her. "If a new species are being discovered, it should be by its own kind. Charles and I will find the mutants. No suits. And of course, if Galadriel wants to come with us, it'd be great," he added with a mask that deceived Stanley but not Charles, and even less the Lady of the Light.

There was a brief silence.

"First of all, that's my machine out there," said Stanley, once recovered from the surprise. "Second of all, this is Charles' decision. Charles is fine with the CIA being involved. Isn't that right?"

"No. I'm sorry, but I'm with Erik. We'll find them alone."

The head of the security department turned to look at Lady Galadriel. Maybe for this time would be a good idea to let her use the machine, so the CIA could look for the new mutant recruits.

"Why are you suddenly, so eager to trust me, Stanley Curtis," said Lady Galadriel, her blue eyes piercing his brown.

Stanley swallowed hard, but he still didn't give up. "What if I say no?"

Charles, Erik, and Galadriel looked at each other. "Then, good luck using your installation without me or Galadriel," said Charles with a carefree shrug.

After defeating the men, Lord Glorfindel and the group of four children had returned to the city. A moon was shining high and bright in Egypt's sky, casting shadows as the small group went to one of their many hiding places in the city, allowing the Elf Lord to follow them.

Ororo dropped down nimbly from the roof of the abandoned house, followed by Ahmed, Ayesha, and Abdul who, on stepping on the ground, uttered a moan of pain. The three children turned around. Abdul let himself down slowly, the pain in his ankle twisting his face. The strange man fell with uncanny, soundless grace.

"Are you okay, Abdul?" Ayesha asked, approaching him with concern.

"Yes, yes" the teenager lied, getting to his feet as fast as he could. "There was something sharp on the ground, that's all."

Lord Glorfindel advanced towards Abdul slowly, like he was a frightened fawn. The teenager stumbled backward, his brown eyes widen in fear. The presence and bearing of the Elf-lord were impressive. What he said to that strange man with long golden hair and pointy ears had not been kind and it would not be surprising if he wanted to harm him. After all, Abdul would do exactly the same.

But nothing farther from reality, because that strange man crouched down and observed his ankle.

"Sit down," he said in a kindly tone, but one that did not allow argument. "I need you to sit down to examine your hurt better."

Abdul, still fearful of what might happen, sat down slowly. The other children approached their friend.

Lord Glorfindel knelt and began to carefully check the boy's ankle. Although the moonlight was filtering only through cracks, he could clearly see what had happened. Abdul's ankle was twisted and swollen and it was obvious that he would need a girdle to hold the muscle of his ankle. He could not afford to jump and run like he used to. A couple of days, maybe a week would be necessary to rest so that his ankle could heal well.

Lord Glorfindel regretted not having Elven herbs at that moment.

"Do you have any salves? Something that helps to reduce inflammation in his ankle? "

"No," answered Ororo simply, her cerulean eyes wide.

"But we can get it!" Ahmed announced and darted away.

The Elf-lord frowned.

After about some time he came back, panting. In his hand, he had a small vial whose contents smelled very strange.

"This will help." he gasped.

Lord Glorfindel very carefully began to apply that strange ointment to Abdul's ankle, whose eyes were wet with pain. Seeing this, the Elf-lord began to murmur strange words in a language so musical that children leaned forward, enchanted, and Abdul began to calm down.

"I need a bandage, something that will support your ankle when you are walking," he said after a few minutes.

"I brought that, too. I thought you would need it "said Ahmed, giving him a package of bandages.

Lord Glorfindel frowned again. Where would the child get everything from? And apparently, he had brought more things, for his pack was open.

With great care, the Elf-lord began to bandage Abdul's ankle while murmuring again those strange words, which appeared to hold some magical power, preventing the pain from being overly intense.

"Very well," he said when he finished. "Now, it is needful that you sleep with your leg stretched out and your ankle cushioned in something soft. You will have to run as little as possible so that you recover soon"

"What?! And how am I going to steal without getting caught?" demanded Abdul.

"Why do you have to steal?" Asked the Elf-lord "Why do you have to steal?" He turned to the children. "Do you not know that stealing is wrong? Why do you do it? You even stole the healing supplies."

"Because we are not like you," Abdul said bitterly.

"Like me?" Lord Glorfindel asked. That was obvious. They were men children from another realm.

"Yes, of course!" Ayesha replied bitterly. "You are an ultra-millionaire who lives in a large mansion in Europe, and everyone admires you!"

"Instead we ..." Ahmed said sadly

Lord Glorfindel waited for the boy to finish.

"We have to steal daily if we want to live." finished the child hesitatingly.

"Do not have relatives?" Asked Elf-lord

"No," Ororo replied. "Abdul had to flee from his home because he was always beaten and beaten; Ahmed was left with his grandparents, but they died and they did not leave him any money; Ayesha was abandoned in the market and me... my parents died in an accident."

Glorfindel looked at them with new understanding. As he turned his face away while Ororo explained what had happened to each of them, he saw through his gift of foresight that their sad tales would not end.

Abdul would die murdered in the worst way, tormented by powerful enemies. Lord Glorfindel felt a great sadness. Abdul was the one who had the most bitterness in his heart. What kind of parents were those who had beat their son and left him unconscious on the floor, bruised and bathed in blood?

Ahmed. He would have for a while joy, he would find a young woman with whom he would marry and have a son. Unfortunately, in an attack in the middle of the market, his wife who was pregnant would die from a wound made by those strange objects, and her son who would die in the arms of Ahmed. After this, Ahmed would let himself fall into strong drink and gambling, and one day his death would come to be run over by crossing the street.

Ayesha. She would die the youngest. Because she would grow up beautiful, many men would covet her; but Ayesha would not content until she found a rich man who loved her. She would find riches, but she would also find her husband committed infidelity with another, and finally, Ayesha would die giving birth a dead child.

Ororo. She was the only one who had a promising future, but at first full of pain. During some years she would still be under the yoke of poverty and of someone else ... someone the Elf-lord could not distinguish, it was as if a shadow was interposed between the figures face, but 'Boss' for whom the children worked was a mutant, dangerous and evil. He also saw that she would meet a hairless young man whom she would steal his wallet, but he would know because he too was a mutant. He would be the one who would take her out of that sad life and show her something better. His gift of foresight only allowed him to reach the point of seeing a young Ororo fighting for the good of other people with a power that the elf had never imagined: controlling the weather at will.

'May the Válar and Erú grant that this girl to use the gift for the good of all' he thought fervently. 'There must be some way of trying to teach these children that there is a better way.'

"So, you see, multimillionaire, our life is different from yours," Abdul concluded.

"I am very sorry for what has happened to you," the Elf-Lord said softly. "However, I see a good heart in you. Maybe you steal, maybe you do not care for people, but I think you have a good heart. That's why I ask for your help."

"And why should we help you?" Ayesha challenged. "We do not even know who you are."

The Elf-lord sighed internally. He was sure they would not believe him.

"My name is Glorfindel. I am the Seneschal of Rivendell and Lord of the House of the Golden Flower," he said. "Or ... well, I was Lord of the House of the Golden Flower "he added sadly.

"What is a Seneschal?" interrupted Ororo.

"It is ... the Military Captain of a realm. The seneschal is in charge of directing the army."

"So you're a soldier?"

"Something like that."

"That explains why you have that sword," said Ororo.

The Elf-lord smiled.

"And why are you no longer part of the nobility?" Ahmed asked.

Lord Glorfindel looked at the boy in confusion.

"Yes. You said that before, you were the Lord of the House of the Golden Flower."

"I am still but ... not like before."

The children looked at him, perplexed.

"The city where I used to live, Gondolin," began Glorfindel. "Was attacked treacherously. I led the army of the House of the Golden Flower and together with other Lords we fought to save Gondolin." He fixed his eyes on the shadowy corner of the house, while in his mind the images of all the inhabitants were renewed; the fires of the dragons and the screams the trapped Elves ; the snare into which his soldiers had fallen; the floor bathed in the blood of brave elves that fell like flies in the onslaught of the dragons and orcs; the death of his closest friend, Ecthelion, in defeating Gothmog, drowned in his own fountain; his beloved fighting at his side; the flight through the tunnel of Princess Idril; the Balrog who had tried to attack them; the desperate efforts of his adored to approach him and fight with him against the Balrog, but always prevented by dozens of orcs ... the last thing he saw was the gesture of horror of his beloved Wandering Star and her desperate cry of 'Glorfindel! No!' at seeing him falling into the abyss.

"Glorfindel! Glorfindel! "

The Elf-lord shook his head. He saw the children looking at him with something he had not seen before. CompassionHe wondered what it was that had caused them to change so suddenly

"You are crying," murmured Ororo

Lord Glorfindel immediately put his hand on his face and found that his cheeks were wet.

"Your city ... Gondolin ... was destroyed, right?" asked Ayesha softly.

The Elf-lord nodded slowly. "Our ruthless enemies outnumbered us, There ... were very few of us who managed to save ourselves, "he said. If he told them the story of Balrog and him, they would not understand in the least.

"And how is it that you now live in that place ... Rivendell?" Ahmed requested.

"Well ... sometime later I met Lord Elrond who is the one who rules that realm."

"Realm?" Asked Ororo and Ayesha

"City," corrected Lord Glorfindel "Lord Elrond and I met each other years ago under Gil-Galad, and he and I founded Rivendell."

There was a silence.

"And where is that city ... that Rivendell?" Abdul asked.

Lord Glorfindel did not know what to say. He remembered that Lady Galadriel had said that she had told Charles where she came from. But if Charles had not believed the Lady of the Light ... what hope did he have in front of a group of children? But, there was no other way, because he did not have enough knowledge to establish a reasonably credible answer.

"The city of Rivendell is in a realm called Middle-Earth," he said. "And, I'm not a European, I know not what they are. I am an elf, that's why I have the strange ears and such strength."

"Elf?" The children repeated blankly.

"Yes. I am part of the Eldar race. The Firstborn of Erú Ilúvatar."

The children continued to see him as if they were seeing visions. They understood absolutely nothing.

"What is an Eldar? "What is that about Erú Ilúvatar? Why Firstborn? Where is that famous Middle-Earth? "Was the avalanche of questions asked.

The Elf-lord made a gesture of silence. He could not explain everything to them. It would be necessary to tell them the whole story of Arda ... since the awakening of the Elves. And he had a very important task to fulfill.

Fortunately, Ororo seemed to notice that urgency and said,

"When we left the garbage dump, you told us you needed our help. What do you want?"

Lord Glorfindel smiled to himself. Indeed, Ororo was a girl who went straight to the point. "I'm looking for a helmet made of mithril"

The children looked at each other.

"Mithril?" Abdul echoed, "And what is that?"

"It is a metal that is used to forge armor and shields, it is not common."

"So, it's very valuable?"

Lord Glorfindel sighed inwardly. Always the stealing mentality.

"Yes," he replied. "Do you have any idea where I can find it?"

Ororo shrugged. "Nope, I've never heard of it before."

"What do you want it for?" Ayesha pressed.

"I cannot say"

"So, you're a spy!" exclaimed Ahmed excitedly. "And what organization are you from? The CIA? The KBG?"

Seeing the confused face of Lord Glorfindel, Ororo elbowed Ahmed to shut him up.

"We don't know where it is." she said," But we know who will."

"You don't plan to take him with Ismael, right?" Ayesha demanded.

"We have no other choice" retorted Ororo.

"You know he does not help without receiving something in return," Ayesha insisted.

"I will use my booty," answered Ororo smoothly.

"And ... the 'Boss'?"

Ororo shrugged. "I'll see to that later. Come on!"

Lady Galadriel, Charles, Erik, Raven, and Stanley had gone to the facility that Hank had adapted.

The young scientist was nervous for two reasons. He would show those mutants one of his greatest creations and those mutants ... inspired respect, especially Galadriel; and Raven would be there, and he was interested in what she would say.

"I… uh… I call it 'Cerebro'," faltered Hank, turning it on and preparing it

Everyone looked at him. "As in Spanish for 'brain'," he explained blushing. He cleared his throat. "Okay, so… uh… the electrodes connect Charles to the transmitter on the roof. When he picks up a… a…"

"Mutant," said Erik.

Hank cleared his throat again. "Yes… uh… mutant. His brain sends a signal through a relay, and then the coordinates of their location are printed out here," he said while gesturing towards a computer.

"You designed this?" asked Raven, her eyes wide.

"Yeah."

Hank approached Charles, who already had stood on the platform, excited to test this.

"Don't you want to try it, Galadriel?" he called. "It'll be wonderful!"

"Indeed, it will." was the soft answer of the Lady of the Light. However, it was obvious that her answer at his invitation was a 'no'.

"What an adorable lab rat you make, Charles!" said Erik wryly approaching the telepath,

"Don't spoil this for me, Erik," Charles answered annoyed.

"Oh! I've been a lab rat. I know one when I see one," he said with a smile.

Lady Galadriel frowned a little. She saw in his mind terrible memories that astonished and saddened her.

"Ok, great!" said Hank, checking for last time the electrodes of Cerebro on Charles' head "Are you sure we can't shave your head? I mean… your hair can…"

"Don't touch my hair." was the immediate answer,

"Alright, then. Now focus and this thing will start writing the coordinates. Perfect! Wonderful! It is working!" he shouted after a moment, seeing that the computer was beginning to compile a list of different coordinances.

Everything seemed that was going fine. Charles was smiling, delighted in what he saw. In his mind, he saw all the people of the entire world. Most of them looked monochrome,t; but others looked in colors and those were the mutants.

Suddenly, he paled, his breath caught in his throat.

"What is it Charles?" asked Raven. "What is happening?"

"The machine is working fine," answered Hank confused "uh… there should not be any problem."

"Charles!" shouted Erik.

The telepath mutant blinked a couple of times.

"What is it?" asked Hank "Do you want us to stop?"

"No, no" said Charles, pretending that nothing had happened "It is just that is so… awesome! Looking at all those minds! All those people!"

Charles took a deep breath. He had seen a white-haired girl with silver glimmers and crystal blue eyes. But that wasn't what had astonished to Charles, he had seen a mutant with very characteristics that he had only seen in another mutant: Galadriel.

He looked towards her. "You and I have to talk," he said mentally

In answer, Lady Galadriel bowed her head slightly in a affirmative answer.

Waiting for your reviews, guys!