Disclaimer: I don't own anything in this story, save the plotline only. I desperately wish I owned LOTR, but I just don't have the cash. Darn.

A/N: Sorry it took me so long to update! --Ducks for cover-- I was stuck trying to think of the best way to explain all of this, as well as starting work on another story. Like or dislike, please review. Constructive criticism always welcome, but all flames will be used to light the Beltane bonfires.

----------MAJOR NOTE-------- In The Return of the Shadow (the published manuscripts for the first book-and-a-half of LOTR), in the chapter known as "Queries and Altercations" (or possibly the other revising chapter at the end of the 3rd phase, I can't remember and I lost my copy of the book. If you know, please email me), there is a passage where it is written, "Take Frodo to isle in Sea.........Avalon?" which is where I got the inspiration for this story. All other inspiration came from the passage in the chapter "An Unexpected Party" from The Hobbit: "Someone once said one of the Tooks had taken a fairy wife..."

P.S: A huge thank you to Estel-rules, natalie, and just annother stupid idiot for reviewing! (Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou...)

P.P.S: A few minor details for the sake of those who don't know about the Mists of Avalon:

1. Avalon: also known as Afallon, the Holy Isle, or the Isle of Apples. (From the Forest House.) It is the home of the pagan priests and priestesses of Britain and is a matriarichal society.

2. Lady of Avalon (head priestess): Viviane; Merlin (The inherited title given to the leader of the priesthood; NOT A NAME): Taliesin. Morgaine: Viviane's successor.

3. Ynis Writrin: Isle of the Priests; adjacent to Avalon, also known as Glastonbury.

4. Most of the initiation rites, ritual practices, and other religious information pertaining toAvalon are secret. In the hopes of being somewhat faithful to the book, these will be referred to as "The Mysteries", just like in the story.

-------------------Tales of the Nine --------------------------------------- ----------------------

Harry felt extremely groggy. The last thing he remembered was being engulfed in an enormous quantity of fog, and a feeling of falling a great distance. He opened his eyes a miniscule amount. Everything was still foggy. He then realized that his glasses were missing, and spent half of a minute groping around before he found them. He brushed the dirt off of them and gently propped himself up on his elbows before attempting a sitting position.

From this vantage point, he could see that most of the others were out cold, although Legolas remained unruffled as he stood by a tree, and Dumbledore was looking in mixed fascination and puzzlement at the woods they had landed in. Harry felt someone shift to his left and looked over in time to see Ron stir, followed by Pippin. Ron looked around and nodded his head.

"Of course," he muttered. "I've gone off my rocker."

Harry couldn't resist a chuckle. "Well, I guess that means I've gone mad too, then."

"Any ideas as to where we are now?"

"Sorry, I'm as in the dark as you are, mate."

"It's a good thing we all appear to be going insane together, then," Pippin said in a slightly dazed voice. He rose to his feet and dusted himself off before looking around. "It seems we have a rather nasty habit of being transported from one forest to another. Bother it all!" he added in frustration. "Why can't we be left back in Middle Earth? At least there I knew what was happening!"

"Really, Pip? I was always under the impression that you were lost wherever we were," Merry said as he woke up to Pippin's remark. Pippin sniffed and said, "Is that so? I always thought that we Tooks were better at remembering our surroundings after a night at the inn than any Brandybuck."

"My dear cousin, where in the Shire did you get an idea like that? You should know we Brandybucks never had trouble finding out where we were, it was all of you who did."

So Merry and Pippin got into a long jesting competition while everyone else came around. First Ginny and Hermione woke up, throwing Harry and Ron looks of the utmost bafflement, and were followed in quick succession by Boromir, Aragorn, Fudge, Umbridge, McGonagall, and Frodo. Gimli and Sam took a while longer before either of them decided to wake up.

Frodo rose to his feet and looked around. This forest was different from the others he had been in. They each had had some distinguishing trait, but even the Forbidden Forest on the grounds of Hogwarts had not contained the air of mystery and magic that this one did.

"...and so we Brandybucks are-" Merry was cut off mid-sentence by Sam's grumbling of, "Just be quiet, will you?" Frodo grinned at Merry's indignant huff.

Fudge and Umbridge were glancing around in mortal terror. Having no idea as to what was going on, they were frightened out of their few wits. Umbridge's terror increased tenfold when she thought she had left her wand on the edge of the lake. Snickers could be heard as she frantically rummaged through her pockets.

Aragorn, Legolas, and Boromir had come over to sit by Gimli and the hobbits.

"Do you think we may finally learn why we were taken from our quest to come here?" Legolas answered. Boromir gave a derisive snort. "They haven't proven exceptionally communicative thus far, so I happen to be of the mind that we will learn when they choose to disclose it, whether that be now or a score of years from now."

"If we do not finish our own quest, our land will be gone," Aragorn said thoughtfully. "May hap they will help us if we do what is needed for them. Although," he added darkly, "keep in mind that no matter what happens anywhere else, we must finish our task. If anyone tries to delay or hinder us, we will be forced to resort to whatever means necessary to accomplish our mission."

The others pondered his statement for several minutes before nodding their heads in agreement.

"In the meantime, why don't we ask what they have in mind for us to do?" Gimli suggested. "Provided they come."

"I think they'll come," Frodo said cryptically; he looked over Gimli's shoulder.

"And how would you know that?" Gimli asked.

"Because they're right behind you," Merry said.

Sure enough, two of the three women stood several yards off. Now that they had been identified, they started towards the array of people, all of whom hastily got to their feet. The women stopped in front of the company. Both were wearing the same dyed blue garb they had worn the last time they had been seen by the people at Hogwarts. They did not bow, but they inclined their shadowed heads in the direction of the group.

Fudge stepped forward; Umbridge mimicked him in a sycophantic manner. "Who are you and why have you brought us here?" he demanded.

The taller of the two women looked in his direction. He silenced himself immediately.

"Follow me." The shorter of the two beckoned once in accompaniment with her order and walked softly deeper into the woods, the other woman at her side. With no other option, the group strode in the wake of the two women.

They walked for several minutes before coming to rest on the edge of a small body of water. The most peculiar thing about it was that one could only see so far out into the lake before it was hidden by the thickest fog any of them had ever laid eyes upon.

Frodo looked out over the body of water. He turned to Ron and Sam, who stood next to him. They simply shrugged their shoulders. He set his eyes back upon the water. He was sure he could see something dim in the mist ahead...

Slowly, a boat came and arrived in front of everyone. It was rowed by several small men bearing strange tattoos and was utterly silent as they rowed. There was no sound as their oars broke the surface of the otherwise eerily still water. The women glided gracefully up onto the boat, motioning for everyone to follow them. After eight of them had climbed onboard, the smaller woman held out her hand.

"We will come back for the rest of you."

The boat rode silently off.

Most of the eight guests onboard the boat were wallowing in anticipation, but dared not move for what they feared might happen to them. As the boat floated onward, propelled by the oarsmen, the small woman stood up and moved to the prow of the craft.

They had reached the densest part of the mist; the woman lifted up her arms and spoke a single word. It was filled with power, but no one could really decipher it. The mists parted and the occupants found themselves gazing upon a beautiful, green country.

Harry gasped in awe. After all of this foreboding formality, he had expected to be held against his will in some desolate place that he would have to fight his way out of, not this.

Frodo was equally impressed by the land. It was lovely, with many plants of different types growing in harmony with the trees. Several stone huts and buildings fit snugly into the magnificent landscape and the sun shone brightly on everything. In the distance, Frodo could see a hill rearing up while some of the fog gently swirled around its base. It appeared to have large stones at the top of it. Many people, nearly all women, were milling about.

"What is this place?" Sam breathed.

"Welcome to the Isle of Apples, also known as Avalon," the smaller woman said. She and her friend removed their hoods. Both had dark hair and dark eyes. The taller woman was always silent, but the smaller one spoke on behalf of her friend. "She is under a vow of silence," she said. In an undertone, she said to her companion, "Viviane will want to know that they are here."

The taller woman nodded and headed for one of the stone huts. The smaller woman led them off of the boat before turning to face them. This being the first time they had seen her in full light, they found that she was no older than eighteen, her hair braided down her back, and with a peculiar mark on her forehead: it was a blue crescent moon.

"I am Morgaine, Priestess of Avalon," she said. "All will be explained to you soon enough."

"I seem to remember hearing that before," Merry muttered. Morgaine looked sharply in his direction and narrowed her eyes.

"It is not my decision, it is the Lady's," she said, her low pitched and unreadable voice now carrying a hint of obstinacy. She beckoned to them once more; they were followed by the rest of their group, who had apparently just arrived with another priestess.

They entered one of the large stone buildings. The wooden door creaked gently as it swung forth to admit them.

Morgaine headed towards a woman at the end of the small chamber and bowed.

"My Lady," she murmured.

"You have done well, Morgaine," the woman said. She noticed the group shifting uneasily at the end of the hall. "Come," she addressed them all. "We have much to discuss."

A/N: Don't worry; everything will be explained next chapter! Please review.