*** Chapter 5. Sorry about the lack of action. There will be some shortly hopefully in this chapter. Thank to those who reviewed so far. If you find something that isn't right such as a name of a place please tell me. Enjoy! ***

The next morning I woke early. Sitting up I quickly surveyed my surroundings. Careful not to wake Aragorn I got up and stretched. Walking around the sleeping forms of my companions I found Legolas standing guard at the edge of the campsite.

"Mornin' Legolas did you rest well?" I asked coming up beside him.

"Good morning Shealyn are you alright now?" He asked softly referring to my nightmare I had last night.

"Yes Legolas I'm alright. It was one of those dreams where I was fallin'." I told him.

I could tell Legolas knew that I was not telling him the whole thing, but he didn't push me to tell him. "Get some breakfast Shealyn we will be leaving soon." He replied softly.

Nodding I went to prepare breakfast for the others. Stirring the pot of porridge everyone began to stir from their sleep. Soon their noses led them to the campfire with bowls in hand.

"You made breakfast for us lass?" Gimli asked looking at me.

"Yes master dwarf I did indeed make breakfast." I paused a moment as I spooned some into his bowl. "But don't expect me to serve you every mornin'." I replied a grin spread across my face.

We ate in silence with only small talk between Aragorn and Gandalf who were discussing the plan for the day. As we packed up I glanced around finding something wrong. Merry and Pippin were nowhere in sight. The others hadn't noticed that they were gone yet. Straightening up I focused on listening for them.

"Help!"

"Help!"

My head shot up as my sensitive ears picked up the far away sound. Running towards the woods I pulled the elfish sword from its sheath.

"Shealyn where are you going? Come back." I heard Aragon called after me.

Ignoring him I sprinted in and out of the trees heading in the direction where the cries for help came from.

"Merry! Pippin!" I cried as I came into a clearing.

There in the middle of a group of about twenty orcs were the two missing hobbits. "Leave them alone." I cried swinging my sword.

Dodging a wild swing of a sword I lashed out beheading the closest orc. Another swung at me, but I blocked the sword with my own. I stabbed at least six more before I was knocked to the ground. My sword went flying out of my hand. Scrambling to my feet I put myself in front of the two hobbits. The remaining orcs approached us angered that they were being outmatched by a child.

"You will not harm them." I hissed as I pulled my daggers from my belt.

Once again I engaged myself in battle with the orcs. Rolling under one I stabbed him in the back as I whirled around and threw one of the daggers which embedded itself in one's head. Keeping myself positioned in front of Merry and Pippin I fought the creatures. Finding that the daggers were not helping I sheathed them bringing my hands out in front of me I began to concentrate. Confused by my action the orcs paused a moment before laughing.

"I wouldn't laugh." I said quietly as I released the lightning from my hands.

Crying out in surprise the orcs found themselves flying through the air. Panting from exertion I picked up the sound of the fellowship running through the forest as fast as they could.

"Shealyn..." Pippin started as he and Merry came up beside me.

I glanced at them as I felt my strength leave me. My legs buckled beneath me and I started to fall. Merry and Pippin caught me before I touched the ground. The fellowship appeared then looking all around for danger.

"Shealyn are you alright?" Pippin asked kneeling in front of me concern in his voice.

"What happened here?" Gandalf questioned as Pippin helped me to my feet.

"We... we wandered off." Merry answered guilt in his voice. "We were attacked by a band of orcs, but Shealyn saved us... she fought with her sword and daggers, but when they were of no use she... she blasted them with lightning that came from her hands." He added excitedly.

"Are you unharmed Shealyn?" Legolas asked lowering his bow.

"Yes Legolas I'm unharmed although that took a lot of energy." I replied standing a little wobbly.

"Here I will help you." Boromir stated as he slipped and arm around me for support.

"Thanks." I said looking up at him.

"Never in my life have I seen someone so young fight so bravely." He said starting a conversation. "Why did you fight the way you did?"

Sighing I looked up at him. "Boromir there is something you should understand about me. All I know of my life is when the X-Men rescued me from a... uh dungeon a year ago. They took me in and trained me to fight and control my 'gift'. Though I am young my leader believed that I could hold my own in battle. In those months I went with them on missions to protect the innocent from evil..."

"And you are not innocent?" He questioned.

"In ways I guess." I answered

"We are moving on." Aragorn said. "Gather your things." He added.

"Let me help you please?" Pippin said as I leaned against a rock to regain my strength.

I smiled and nodded as he excitedly took my arm steadying as I wobbled. "That must have taken a lot out of you Shealyn." He stated as we walked behind Frodo and Sam.

"Pip did I ever tell you that I am a mutant?" I asked.

Pippin slowly shook his head and looked back at me. "No I do not believe you did." He replied after a moment. "What is a mutant?" He asked.

"Yes tell us what a mutant is." Merry said as he Frodo and Sam came closer to hear.

"Well let's see a mutant is a human with 'gifts' if you will." I looked to see if they followed what I said. "When I was born I was not a mutant, but it was in my blood.... my destiny to become a mutant one day. I don't remember much except the visions and dreams. I was locked away in a dungeon for some time when a mutant and his followers called the X-Men rescued me, but I'm getting' away with myself. A mutant receives his or her 'gifts' either when they experience a stressful time in their life or when they reach their teen years usually at the age of fourteen. Each mutant is different no one has the exact same 'gift' as another does." I answered.

The hobbits looked at me with awe. "But with all 'gifts' there is a price. If the mutant's 'gift' is linked with energy or power it will weaken them..."

"Like what happened to you?" Pippin asked.

"Yes Pip I am not goin' to try that again for a long time." I replied.

When we stopped to eat I leaned against a tree my back facing the fellowship. Though I was there in the clearing my mind was far off. A single tear escaped my eye as I remembered that last mission.

*** Flashback ***

"Shealyn why can't you ever do what you are told to do?" Scott bellowed his face turning an interesting color of red.

I stood silently in front of our fuming fearless leader while he ranted on and on. He hates me I thought as I tried to see his eyes through the ruby quartz shades.

"You are getting as bad as Logan." He yelled. "If you can't follow orders then you will not be allowed to come..."

"You know what Cyc?" I interrupted. "I could care less what you did with me because apparently you wish I never existed." I yelled back at him.

Scott stood silently a moment. "Get to your room Shealyn." He said through clenched teeth.

"I hate you Scott Summers with all my heart." I screamed as I stormed up the stairs.

"You'll regret that." My sensitive ears picked up his whisper.

I could have cared less. An hour later Jubilee came bounding into the room her skin flushed from running.

"Get your things ready we're needed on a mission." She stated as she rummaged through her closet.

"What's goin' on?" I asked pulling my suit on in a matter of seconds.

She looked up and shrugged. "Something about Sinister and an uprising..." She paused at the door. "Come on they're probably already on the jet." She said grabbing my wrist.

As we boarded I avoided Scott as much as possible. The trip was silent, but hell broke loose as soon as we landed. We split up and began to fight whatever came at us. I ducked, dodged, weaved, kicked, and punched.

"Scott, no!" I heard Jean cry out.

Glancing to my right I saw Scott slump to the ground.

*** End ***

I closed my eyes as a few more tears fell. I feared that Scott was dead and the fact that we were not on good terms didn't help my conscience much. "I'm sorry Scott... I'm so sorry." I whispered.

"Shealyn are you well?" Legolas asked placing a hand on my shoulder.

Wiping away the tears I looked up at him and smiled. "Yup I'm alright." I responded.

"Clearly you are not alright." He said. "Tell me what troubles you?" He questioned.

"I said horrible things to someone back home." I stated. "I fear he is dead and I can't think of anything, but the fact that I didn't make amends with him." I looked up into his blue eyes which were filled with sympathy.

"I would think Shealyn that this man knows that you are sorry. He has probably forgiven you in his heart." Legolas spoke at last. "Come we are moving on." He added.

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Late in the day Gandalf stopped in a small clearing. "We will camp here tonight." He stated.

Silently I moved away from the others and headed into the surrounding forest. My eyes darted everywhere while I listened for danger. The forest was as it should be. Tentatively I placed my feet among the decaying leaves so as not to make a sound while I made my way back to camp.

As I entered the camp the nine looked up and Aragorn approached me placing his hands on my shoulders.

"I thought I told you not to wonder off Shealyn." Aragorn said in annoyance though concern was clearly evident in his voice.

"Sorry I'll try to work on it." I promised sitting down by the fire.

"Here you go Miss Shealyn." Sam said handing me a plate of food.

"Thank you Sam." I replied taking the plate.

Sitting there quietly I glanced around at my companions. The hobbits were laughing and joking about home it seemed. Gimli was thoroughly boring Legolas with stories over in the corner of the camp. Gandalf sat off to the side puffing on his pipe thoughtfully smiling every once in awhile at the hobbits' jokes. Boromir and Aragorn were discussing if I had to guess about Gondor.

"Shealyn come join us." Pippin laughed bringing me out of my thoughts.

"Oh alright." I muttered.

The rest of the night was like that until Gandalf and Aragorn agreed it was time to hit the sack.

"Good night guys." I whispered lying down on my bedroll.

"Good night little on..." Pippin said drifting off to sleep.

I smiled and went to sleep hopefully not to wake from a nightmare.

*** Hey sorry it took so long very busy. As you probably noticed I'm not that great with detail and I seem to rush through events. Hang with me I'm tryin'. I thought to add the orc attack because I can't believe they didn't come up against anything between Rivendell and the mountain. Hoped ya liked it. R&R! ***