A/N: Okay we're switching gears here people in the last chapter we had a big old fight. Now we're gonna see the X-men and the Fellowship interact a bit. Ch 8 will have more I planned on doing more in this chapter but finally for time purposes I decided to split that into two chapters so those of you that were looking forward to seeing Gimli in the Danger Room sorry but I promise it will be in Chapter 8 thanks for the reviews everybody I love the feed back. I hope that you like this chapter. Enjoy.
p.s.: Just so you don't get confused this is the comic book genre but even so I couldn't resist a small joke at the end with Magneto and Gandalf so I hope that you can forgive me.
Chapter 7
Aftermath
"I do not like this at all." Storm said as they exited the Blackbird. The hanger was completely black as they entered. The Fellowship all had there weapons drawn. The X-men stood ready to fight as well.
"Watch were you point dat ting," Gambit snapped at Legolas who had his bow drawn.
Legolas eyed the room "Hmmm, walking in the dark in an unknown and foreboding place," he commented looking to Gimli "What does this remind me of?"
"You know laddy" Gimli retorted "My Father Gloin used to tell me stories of his great adventure with Bilbo Baggins, he'd tell us all sorts of tales with trolls and the war, but almost every time we asked him about Mirkwood he'd just shudder and say 'I don't like to talk about it' so the way I see it that makes your home about as great as..."
"Enough" Aragorn interrupted "We have heard far to much bickering from you two."
"I hope Mr. Frodo is alright" Sam commented
"I've had enough of this." Nightcrawler said "If you'll excuse me I'll be turning on the lights!" with that there was a loud 'bamp' sound and Nightcrawler disappeared .
"What kind of wizardry is this" Boromir asked looking to the X-men.
"It's not wizardry," Aragorn said "Remember, what they said in their flying machine, they were born this way."
"The air trip is all a blur to me" Boromir swallowed "Surely we could bring some of these people back with us. They could help turn the tide for Gondor why they could even be a match for the Nazgul."
"You know not of what you speak" Legolas said "Don't you remember the shadow? Why do you think that all the lights are off? For all we know the RingWraiths have been here and killed everything breathing."
"Don't underestimate our comrades" Beast said; as if on cue the room was filled with light and Nightcrawler appeared in a puff of smoke. "They have a particular talent for survival."
The group exited the hanger and began to go through the mansion. Jean suddenly froze, and concentrated reaching out with her mind.
"The front door!" She said.
"What is it?" Aragorn asked
"I just contacted Scott." she said "They're coming in through the front door."
The group ran to the entrance just as they arrived, the door opened. Cyclops ran into the mansion holding Rouge in his arms her head kept on floating in and out of visibility, she was muttering something about darkness."
"ROUGE!" Gambit yelled running forward "Chere, what happened?"
"There's no time," Cyclops said "We need to get them to the infirmary!"
"Them?" Storm said in alarm. Behind Cyclops came Wolverine being supported by Jubilee and Frodo. He had cuts and stabs all over his body. When Frodo saw the fellowship he nearly dropped Wolverine's arm which he was holding up with both hands high above his head.
"SAM!" he yelled out
"FRODO!" Sam yelled running to his friend and master. Beast and Nightcrawler took hold of Wolverine and took him down to the infirmary with Jubilee in tow. Gambit took Rouge.
"I will also go with them," Legolas said "they may need help that only elves can provide."
"What has happened?" Storm asked "Where's Charles?"
"I am here," Professor Xavier's voice came from behind Scott as he entered the door looking very worn out, pale, and tired.
"Charles!" Storm said "Are you alright."
"No," the Professor answered "and I do not know if I shall ever be alright again."
Frodo looked around "Where are the others?" he asked " Gandalf, Pippin?"
"We have much to talk about." Aragorn said "but first, where is the Ring?"
"I have it." Frodo said before he could continue Xavier spoke up
"You may all stay up as late as you wish to discuss the happenings of tonight. But as for me, My mind is very troubled and I need some time to think and rest. I am very sure that you all will have something to say to me but it will have to wait until tomorrow morning." he turned to Cyclops "Scott I give you full responsibility over the mansion beginning now; do what you think you must." Then he turned to Jean "I will need you to come to my office tomorrow morning for a psychological exam." with that he left the room.
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"Who are you?" the voice from the darkness came.
"I think that I should like to know the same thing." The old wizard said; he was in a room void of light.
"You will answer my question mutie!" the voice came "Or you will suffer the consequences!"
"I fear nothing." Gandalf said "Why are you holding me here? I have done nothing wrong."
"Oh of course you haven't" the voice mocked "How about attacking those people in New York with a sword, or that boy with an axe and fire."
"Well as far as the sword goes I have no idea what you are talking about but in the case of the attack on the boy in the woods we were merely defending ourselves. It was he who attacked us first."
"A likely story," the voice snorted "Your just another group of gene trash terrorists bent on the destruction on innocent lives. Or perhaps you are working for a group that is already trying, like the Brotherhood."
"I do not have the slightest idea what you are talking about." Gandalf replied.
"We shall see, you will tell me everything that I want to know or you will die."
Suddenly a bright light turned on above him. For the first time he could see the room, there was a long table with wrist and ankle binders on it, and many contraptions whose purpose Gandalf could only guess, a door suddenly opened and many large men walked in carrying clubs and behind them a man with glasses holding Gandalf's staff.
"First of all you will tell me about this." he said
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"Alright le'me up." Wolverine said pushing himself up. "I'm all healed up."
"Logan me thinks that you have an overdeveloped sense of immortality." Beast said trying to get him back into the bed. The night had passed and the injuries had been tended to, Rouge was sleeping peacefully in another bed, Wolverine was covered in bandages. Which he proceeded to rip off, revealing only scratch marks where before deep cuts and stabs had been.
"I shall not allow you to leave until you have a full examination." Beast said folding his arms as the other mutant sat up. Wolverine saw Rouge lying in another bed.
"What happened? Where's Chuck? Frodo?"
"They're fine." Beast replied "Thankfully the only casualties were you and Rouge. Apparently when she tried to absorb those "wraiths" it only made her go into some sort of shock, Luckily Legolas was here."
"Lego-what?" Wolverine asked.
"One of Frodo's companions that came to the mansion with us. He's an elf." Beast said
"Elf? like Kurt"
"No not quite, he's more like a real elf; he actually agreed to allow me to study him!" Beast said excitedly "Did you know that they have a visual acuity that's actually..."
"Beast!" Wolverine interrupted "The point?"
"Oh, right" Beast said slightly embarrassed "Well try as I may I could not bring her out of it. Then Legolas came and did... Well some sort of... magic for lack of a better word. Whatever he did it cured her. She's been sleeping since."
Wolverine looked around "Hey, how long have we been out?"
"The better part of a day. It's nearly six o'clock, Scott, Jean, and the others are in a meeting right now discussing what needs to be done about Frodo's and his comrades as are a few of them. I only left because I was informed that you were waking up."
"Well then you'd better get back." Wolverine said ripping the last bandage from his shoulder and standing up. "I'm going to get something to eat." he started to leave,
"Hold on Logan," Beast said jumping in front of the other mutant. "Your shoulder."
Wolverine looked at a stab that hadn't healed.
"I do not like the look of that." Beast said
"It's nutten' Wolverine replied "Musta been deeper than the others." before Beast could object he stormed out of the room.
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"Remind me again why I have to be here too Mr. Merry," Sam asked peeking out from underneath the bench press. Merry was hiding behind a weight set.
"Because," Merry replied "Pippins not here, and I need someone to witness the brilliance of my plan!"
"What about her?" Sam replied
"I'm just along for the ride." Jubilee responded from behind a stair master. They were in the weight room spying on Boromir who was glued to a window. On the other side was the aerobics room where Psylocke was working out. From her side they were all one way mirrors. Boromir had found his way here after it was decided that the only ones that needed to be in the meeting were Scott, Jean, Beast, Storm, Aragorn, Legolas, and Frodo.
"Well lets get it over with then," Sam sighed. "What are we doing?" Merry pulled something out of his pouch "Isn't that one of Gandalf's...?"
"Yes, it is." Merry said gleefully "One of Gandalf's fireworks!"
"Fireworks?" Jubilee asked
"Wait." Sam stopped him "You mean to tell me that you've been carrying fireworks with you during the whole journey?"
"Pippin had more." Merry said not really paying attention. Relishing his victory before he had achieved it
"No wonder Gandalf hates him." Sam commented
"So what are we going to do with it?" Jubilee asked curiously
"We're going to set it off. All this one does is make noise. It will scare the bejeeses out of good old Borry." Merry lifted it up to prepare then suddenly looked alarmed. "Did we bring anything to light it with?" before anyone could respond. Gimli came into the room.
"Boromir!" he said loudly scaring the lord of Gondor half to death. "I'm going down to this "Danger Room" of theirs; do you want to come? What are you looking at?"
"Well I..." Boromir stammered. Gimli put himself up on tippy toes and looked.
"By all the gold under the mountain!" he gasped being mesmerized He quickly grabbed a stool for a better view. Boromir upon seeing that Gimli was dumbstruck looked out the window again
"Yeah," he agreed
Merry was so ecstatic that he looked like he would burst. "Two for the price of one!" he said "Oh wait! We need something to light it!"
"Got ya covered" Jubilee said she pointed her finger at the fuse there was a -paff- and the fuse lit. Merry rolled the small explosive, time seemed to stop as the firework rolled right between their feet...and burnt out.
"No!" Merry cried "Why!" he looked to Sam "This is all your fault it would have worked if Pippin was here!"
"What does that have anything to do with it" Sam protested
"It's over." Merry frowned
"Not just yet." Jubilee smiled wickedly as she stretched her hand and instantly the room was filled with the light and sound of her fireworks. Boromir jumped and Gimli crashed into the glass his helmet shattering it causing him to fall through in front of a much more startled Pyslocke.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" she demanded to the pair, Gimli on the floor and Boromir standing in front of the broken window dumbfounded. She suddenly read their minds. Infuriated she stormed over to Boromir and slapped him in the face.
"I would never do that you filthy bugger!" She yelled then she looked to Gimli who had managed to get himself off his face. "but I might do that." she smiled then she turned and left the room. Boromir came in to help Gimli.
"That should do it." Jubilee smirked using the distraction as an opportunity to leave the weight-room
Merry stared after her. "Sam" he said as she left "I think I'm in love."
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"It was all just so stupid!" Cyclops sighed with disgust after the full account of the night before had been given "We were totally unprepared for it! Warren and Betsy were out for the night! Bobby, Kitty and Peter are still out of town!"
"In your defense," Aragorn said "You had no idea what you were dealing with, I'm honestly impressed that you survived let alone drove them back."
Legolas added "You couldn't have been prepared for your leader being corrupted by the ring either."
"The thing is," Storm said "We are supposed to be prepared for anything."
"There's no use dwelling our mistakes" Jean said "We need to discuss what we will do now. We have to find these two members of their Fellowship. The longer they stay at the mansion the more I fear for them. This Ring seems only to attract problems."
"It does," Aragorn said "The Ring is pure evil and we must destroy it, that is why we must find Gandalf, only he can send us back to our world."
"We could have Cerebro adjusted to search out brainwaves similar to the hobbits."
"Yes but can we trust the Professor anymore?" Cyclops asked
Jean sighed "As far as I could tell from the psychological exam I gave him this morning, Charles is mentally fine. At the moment he is just weighed deeply by his actions lately." Suddenly there was a beeping sound. Jean telepathically triggered the communication system. Beasts image was shown on a screen.
"Just calling to report that Wolverine is now out and about ravaging the refrigerator I imagine, and Rouge is waking up so it may be a while before I can grace you all with my presence again."
"That's fine Hank," Cyclops replied "Keep us informed" the image turned off and Legolas stood up.
"I will be going to check on the woman to be sure that she is cured" he said leaving the room.
"At this point the only thing that matters is finding this Gandalf" Cyclops said resuming the meeting. I'll talk to the Professor and see if he is up to help us find him. In the mean time we need to keep Frodo protected from attacks from outside and from within."
"I agree," Aragorn said "Frodo?"
Frodo who had mostly just sat and listened during the bulk of the meeting "Yes, but can Merry and Sam stay with me? The room is more than large enough for the three of us."
"I don't see why not." Cyclops said. "Jean, Kurt and I will take the first shift and we'll rotate from there."
"I will also stand guard." Aragorn said "and I am sure that Legolas, Boromir, and Gimli will wish to as well."
"Very good," Storm said "I will inform the others."
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"Dat was very brave of you chere," Gambit said as he sat at Rouges side holding her hand. " But don ever do dat again!"
"Are you ordering me around Cajun?" Rouge mocked
"If you two are quite finished I have some more tests to run." Beast sighed
"Aw never got ta thank ya Hank for helping me." Rouge said
"Your gratitude is appreciated" Beast said "But I'm afraid that I cannot accept it. For it wasn't I who cured you."
"Then who?" she began but just then Legolas entered the room. Gambit eyed him suspiciously.
"There he is" Beast said running to the elf and pushing him forward "It's thanks to this man...well I mean elf that you now have a full bill of health."
"My name is Legolas, milady" the elf said leaning over and kissing the mutants gloved hand.
"Charmed!" Rouge said blushing
Legolas looked up "What's that strange grinding sound?" they both looked at Gambit whose jaw was set tight.
"Nuting" Gambit said making a mental note to not grind his teeth.
"So you saved me?" Rouge said still captivated by her new visitor "Aw must have looked awful."
"Well actually," Legolas said "I couldn't see your face, it was invisible, but had I know of your beauty I would have worked twice as fast to cure you." Legolas suddenly became aware of Beast who was hanging from the cieling with a small flashlight peering into the elf's ear.
"Do you mind?" Legolas said turning to look at Beast but getting an eyeful of light from the flashlight.
"Not at all." Beast said to engrossed in his study to really pay attention. Legolas tried to ignore him as he turned is attention back to Rouge. Gambit was sitting with his arms crossed and staring menacingly at Legolas.
"So anyway, Chere" Gambit said abruptly "I was tinking and maybe once de Doc lets you leave." he paused to look at Beast who now had a stethoscope against Legolas' chest and muttering words like 'interesting' to himself "Den perhaps we could go to de gardens for a stroll, see da fishes and all" he continued.
"You have fish here?" Legolas jumped in "I am actually quite a fisherman, in my home we have fish the size of large dogs!"
"Really," Rouge said intrigued "Who do you catch them."
"With a spear, and a rope" Legolas replied " I could show you how, if you wish"
"Aw'd like that," Rouge said "Maybe you could come with us,"
Legolas couldn't answer as he was arguing with Beast who now wanted a blood sample,
"Chere," Gambit said "I was tinking dat maybe just you and ..."
"Hold on a minute Remy" Rouge interrupted she suddenly grabbed Beast by his lab coat and pulled him down from the ceiling and on to his head. "Hank! In case you haven't noticed Aw'm trying to have a conversation here!"
"Sorry," Beast said embarrassed as he got up and went to his office where he began jot down notes about the elf.
"Anyway as Aw was saying come with us to the mansion's gardens" she said
"I would love to," Legolas replied "I am pleased to see that you have been healed. You do not know how lucky you are to have survived an attack from the Nazgul you are as brave as you are lovely."
"Oh well Mr. Elf you do go on!" Rouge said again blushing. Gambit looked like he was on the verge of exploding, Beast looked up from his notes to see the Cajun's expression.
"Look at the time!" Beast said getting up and running over to the trio "I'm sorry but you'll have to leave, Visiting hours have just ended."
"When will Aw be ready to leave?" Rouge asked
"As soon as I've given you a check up" Beast said ushering Gambit and Legolas out "So in a few hours"
"Until our next meeting then," Legolas said bowing from the doorway.
"See ya later Sugah," Rouge smiled "Bye Remy! Aw'll come ta see ya when Aw get let out."
"Yeah Chere," Gambit said grimly "You do dat" as the door shut Gambit walked up the elf. "I got you somting to tank you for saving Rouge"
"Thankyou," Legolas said looking at what the mutant had just handed him "It's a small glowing piece of paper?" he looked up but Gambit had run out of the room. The Cajun smiled satisfied as he heard the small explosion behind him.
"Dat will show him." he smirked.
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Lost. It was all lost. Xavier peered out into the sinking sun. Darkness was enveloping everything around. He couldn't believe what had happened. He had lost everything. He had lost focus of the dream. He had lost his principals. Xavier shuddered at that thought. He had manipulated both Frodo's and Logan's mind during these last few days.
"I even tried to kill!" Xavier thought. He had put his students lives in jeopardy, what's more he had lost their respect and trust. He had stayed in his den the whole day only occasionally being interrupted from his self-loathing by a few, Scott and Jean. They tried to show him kindness but he knew what they were thinking without even using his gift. They were hiding their hurt and anger of his actions. Even when Scott had asked him to help locate Frodo's other lost companions, he could tell a veiled misgiving of trusting his mentor to that task.
Xavier stared at his reflection in the window. "I've lost everything that is precious to me" He said to himself
Precious! The word stabbed his mind.
"You fool," his own voice came "Look at yourself. Think of what you could have been. If you hadn't let them take it!"
"No," he argued "I gave it up willingly."
"You can't lie to me!" the voice said "They stole it from us! We need to take it back! Then you can make them trust you!"
"No," Xavier said "I will have no more of this." Xavier let his mind go into the pscionic plain to escape the voice. He could sense every person at the mansion, Scott, Jean , Logan, Frodo, his friends. Suddenly he sensed another presence that he was not familiar with. It wasn't in the mansion but it was very close. He decided to contact it to keep himself occupied.
"Hello." he thought.
"Who is it!?" other being thought in alarm "Leave us alone!"
"Do not fear" Xavier said "I mean you know harm I only wish to get to know you. Where are you?"
"Our head!" it said "Voices! Why won't they leave us alone, Precious!"
"Precious? Who are you! What do you know of the Ring!?" Xavier demanded.
"Yess, the Precious. We are looking for it, yess."
"Who's we? What's your name?"
"Gollum" it said "We need the Precious. It was stolen from us!"
"By who?"
"Filthy, sneaky, false, hobbit!" Gollum snapped
"Hobbit! Like Frodo Baggins." Xavier asked
"Yessss precious" Gollum said "the Baggins he takes it from us. We wants it! Wicked hobbitses! But protected it is precious" Gollum said Xavier wasn't sure who he was talking to. "We have to have it!"
"I know how you feel" Xavier said "It was also taken from me"
"We could help you if you helps us!" Gollum said excitedly
"Yes perhaps you could." Xavier replied.
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The billy-club slapped across his face. He was shackled to the table with a light shining directly into his face "You will find that your brute force will be quite ineffective against me." Gandalf said looking at the man. "Besides I am telling you everything you want to know."
"You're lying!" the man said "Why can I not break this staff!"
"I told you, A wizards staff is not easily broken." Gandalf replied
"Again with the wizard bit! YOU ARE A MUTANT! I want to know who you work for and where they are! I want to know about this power you have!"
"My power comes from knowledge" Gandalf said
"Well I have great knowledge." the man said "But I can't shoot fire from a stick or lightning from a sword! Give me the answers and you will spend the rest of your life in a nice prison cell. If you don't you might not be so fortunate."
"Maybe I would be might be more inclined were I not bound down by my wrists and ankles to a table." Gandalf replied
"Fine," the man said "Have it your way. But I will have my answers I will have you dissected then we shall see where you get your power."
"I think that you will find that very hard to do" Gandalf retorted
Suddenly there was a rattling sound and then without warning Gandalf's shackles flew off. The wizard did not waist a second he reached out and his staff flew out of the man's hand and into his.
"SHOOT HIM!" the man yelled
Before the guard could react Gandalf smashed the light above him leaving the room in total darkness then he hit the ground with his staff electricity shot through the ground and shocked everyone in the room to the ground. Once he sensed calm the top of his staff lit up supplying light. Gandalf stared at the table where he had been bound..
"I do not know how those came off, but it was welcome." he said
Suddenly there was a rumbling sound and the very roof tore itself apart. An armored man suddenly flew down.
"Hmmm," he said "you look somehow familiar, I am Magneto."
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Next chapter: Gimli (and others) in the Danger room. Sparks, playing cards, and Arrows fly between Gambit, Rouge, and Legolas. What of Wolverine's wound? Plus Magneto and Gandalf: Confrontation.