A/N: Wow! Another chapter done. First of all I would like to apologize to anybody who has been waiting this long time for me to update, normally I don't take this long. Every time I sat down to work on it, I found that I could only work on my original story. So I can finally sat that I finished that original fic, and the beginning is posted at Fictionpress.com. I worked really hard on it so if anybody wants to go check it out I would be much appreciated. My author name on that website is Kusco1 and the story is called The Legend of the Golden Mountain. Once again if anybody wants to read it I would be much obliged and that person would become my hero. Anyway one last thing. Once again I would like to say that while I know that this is a comic-verse fic and not a movie-verse. I couldn't help but make another joke. So lets see if you guys can pick up on it!
A Wandering Minstrel: Hey thanks for the review! I'm glad that you have liked both stories! And yeah my grammar has improved somewhat. There was a time when I had awesome grammar. Then I lived in Argentina for two years and almost forgot English so it kinda ruined that. Well anyway I hope that you enjoy this chapter!
LDS-sunshine: Yeah I actually think that Sinister will be a bit scarier in this fic than Magneto was in the last. As far as the music video goes. I can't remember where I found it so I'll look and if I can find the sight I'll tell you. And the original fic is up if you want to read it. Thanks for everything.
Nienna of Sorrow: Thanks for the review and had I known that Havoc would be so popular I would have included him sooner. Thanks again!
Ms.L.P.Weasley: Don't worry I don't plan on killing anybody else…yet.
Woods Witch: Thanks for the review, and I do think that this story will go clear to RotK but I'll end it at the end of Two Towers, and then make a third story. So it will be the Lord of the Mutants trilogy. Thanks again.
Mia: Thanks for the review. I'm glad to see that you think this story has a plot. When I figure out what it is I'll be sure to tell you!
Chapter 5
Mutant Foresight, Elvish Foresight
"Will you get yer hands off of me!" Jubilee howled as she was being led up the path of trees, her eyes blindfolded, and hands tied behind her back. "If Cyclops hadn't told me to not fight, you'd all be in big trouble right now!"
The elves that were trying to lead her looked to Haldir, who merely rolled his eyes and signaled for them to release her arms so she could walk by herself.
"I'd suggest you keep a bit more quiet darlin'," Wolverine said from behind her, though he had to be carried for the first little while of their journey he was now well recovered, much to the amazement of the elves who had shot him.
"Well maybe they wouldn't be doing this to us if you hadn't tried to kill the…" Jubilee started yelling back, but was cut short as her foot hit a tree root and the young mutant toppled to the ground. Gashing her leg. A few elves immediately stooped to help her up, but stopped as she started yelling at them "I told ya to let me go!" she hollered "I can handle this on my own!"
"If you keep this up girl," Wolverine chided, "They're going to gag you or something." though he suspected that they wouldn't. It had already been a day since they had been captured and if the elves thought had taken the mutant girls rantings that long without taking action, it was doubtful that they would now.
"I must admit," Storm said from behind him, "Logan has a point child. You may as well save your energy. Who knows how long we shall be walking."
"Not far," Haldir's voice came as he looked back at the group of captured mutants. "We shall be arriving, in Lothlorien tomorrow. For now we will rest."
The elves began to undo the x-men's blindfolds and then they're hands, while a few elves stood at all times with bows at the ready. The x-men took the next couple minutes soaking in everything they could. The trees looked much different than the ones they had seen when they had first been captured. It was dusk and they could hear birds now. Suddenly a rope ladder dropped from one of the massive trees. Haldir looked to Cyclops who was still rubbing his wrists, trying to get the circulation back into them.
"It is too dangerous to be on the ground during the night. You must climb, and be warned that should you or any of your comrades attempt anything, my troops, and others who are positioned in the trees, will take immediate action."
Cyclops merely nodded and glanced at the other x-men with a look meant to tell them that they were to do exactly as they were told. The mutant approached the ladder, the thin rope seemed to shimmer in the dark, and while it did not look like it would support his weight, it proved to be able to hold the weight of several others including himself. Gradually they reached a wooden platform that had been built near the top of the tree, there a small company of elves waited with their bows ready. The mutant leader merely waited for his comrades to reach the top, helping them climb upon the platform. Finally Haldir came up and the rope ladder was drawn up as well.
The elf instructed the mutants to sit and rest, then began to converse with the other elves in their own language. The x-men took this time with talk to each other and plan.
"So tell me Cyke?" Wolverine asked, "At what point are we going to stop doing everything they say? When they begin to load their bows and release the arrows? I understand that you want to avoid trouble but, if we're trying to find the Fellowship, these elves don't seem like they're too interested in helpen us."
"I know," Cyclops replied, "But remember we are in they're land, and we don't want to fight unless we have to. I'm just hoping that this Lord and Lady of theirs can be reasoned with."
"and what if they can't?" Storm said "We will be in the very center of their kingdom and escaping will be next to impossible!"
Cyclops opened his mouth to defend himself but found that he didn't have to because Nightcrawler began to speak.
"We have just as good a chance escaping here as we do there. They have already told us that they have snipers in the trees. Our only chance is to show them that we mean them no harm, and that we can be trusted."
"GET AWAY FROM ME!" Jubilee howled suddenly, the other x-men turned to see that an elf was trying to help her gash in her leg. He was holding some herbs, pointing to the wound, and speaking just as loudly at Jubilee in his own language.
"He says to rub this plant against your leg," Haldir suddenly turned from his conversation, apparently having heard their entire interchange of words. The elf faced the mutants with his arms folded across his chest. "You must know that Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel are extremely just, and if you are indeed innocent, they will know. But they will also sense any trickery or deception on your part so I would suggest that you be at the very least honest with them. Now it is time for you to sleep, but before do. I am aware that you have not eaten for some time. So you will eat first then sleep."
Haldir spoke to the other elves in his own tongue, and they in turn opened some baskets and handed each mutant a small piece of white looking bread.
"This is it?" Jubilee asked looking a bit ungrateful. "one lousy piece of bread? Well I must say, I'm going to have to have a talk about the elves with Legolas the next time I see him."
"Eat child," Storm said then looked to Haldir "What is this bread?" she asked as she took a bite.
"It is called Lembas," Haldir replied with a knowing smile as he saw Jubilee cram her whole piece down with one chomp, "It should fill your bellies quite nicely. Now sleep, we will arise with the sun."
With that the elf lowered the rope ladder and began to climb down.
"So what do you think?" She said looking to Cyclops who had eaten half of his lembas. "Do you think that it is true what he said about their leaders?"
"I hope so," the other mutant responded "but I've heard of too many "leaders" who they say are just, and almost always prove themselves not to be."
"and what if your right?" Nightcrawler asked "what if they don't believe us?"
Cyclops sighed, "I don't know Kurt." he admitted trying to think of any possible solutions then finally said with a defeated voice. "I only wish Jean were here."
"We all do," Storm said reassuringly looking to Nightcrawler and Wolverine who gruffly mumbled an agreement but didn't want to admit it with Cyclops by him. Storm then looked to Jubilee for more support but only saw the teenager lying on the ground, rubbing her stomach and moaning about how full she was. Slowly each of the x-men drifted off to sleep.
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"Well?" Xavier asked as Beast entered the room wearing a lab coat and spectacles
"As predicted," the blue furred mutant responded "there was a tracing mechanism in the teleportation device, but I have deactivated it, so we will have nothing to fear from Sinister."
"Good," Xavier responded "then hopefully we will be on our way soon. We have to have recovered our teammates by the time Sinister discovers that we gave him faulty D.N.A"
Beast smiled proudly as it was him who had replicated Havoc's D.N.A, only making it useless for cloning or any sort of genetic manipulation, a "blood dud" as he had affectionately called it. "Don't worry sir," Beast said "It will take him some time to even begin decoding the genetic strands and only then will he be able to tell."
"Where would we be without you Dr. McCoy?" Xavier smiled then turned and looked out the window to the front of the mansion where the x-men had disappeared "How long until we are ready?"
Beast scratched his chin thoughtfully and the began to mentally count "Well," he concluded "If I pull another all nighter….it should take…I think I can have the armband ready to transport the entire group by midday tomorrow"
Xavier cringed at the thought of Beast going on another coffee binge but knew that time was not on their side, "Very well," he sighed "make it so."
"Pardon sir?" Beast replied
Xavier looked to the other mutant "Just get it done," he clarified, Beast nodded and left the room, saying something to himself about Foldgers Crystals. The mutant leader turned and again stared at the place where he had last seen his x-men. After a moment of contemplation, he decided to see if the magical "echo" that Gandalf had left was still present. Effortlessly he slipped into the psychic realm and could see himself approaching the front doors. The mutant didn't waste time opening them as his psychic manifestation was only as tangible as a ghost. Walking through the wood, the mutant saw the spot, where the Fellowship, and the X-men had stood before they had disappeared. There was a white, misty light surrounding it.
Slowly he approached it. Xavier was well aware of the dangers of psychically touching strange energy, but he felt compelled to do so anyway hoping that it would bring him some more answers. The mutant could feel his hand shake as he brought it up to it. And suddenly everything erupted into light. Everything around him was white, so white that he could not see anything else. The mutant concentrated trying to see, after much effort, light shadows formed. One he recognized as Gandalf's, as it had a tall pointed hat. Still others he guessed to be orcs. Finally he saw the figure of something horrific and gigantic. The light faded and suddenly everything burst into flames!
Xavier screamed and suddenly found himself sitting at his desk again. The vision had past, though he had drops of sweat dribbling down his forehead. The mutant puffed greatly, then turned to his intercom.
"Hank," he said waiting only a second before repeating the name impatiently.
"yes sir?" the mutant responded.
"Prepare the device so that it will allow one more to join the group that is going to middle-earth." Xavier ordered.
"Yes, Professor," Beast said "and who will be added to our rescue party?"
"I will," Xavier said.
"Sir?" Beast asked
"You heard me, Hank. I'm going." the Professor responded "Something terrible has happened."
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The elves had indeed awoken the x-men with dawn. The sun had barely peeked over the top of the horizon when they arose. After they were given some more lembas (which Jubilee took great care in eating slowly) they were lowered from the trees and blindfolded again. Then they began they're march, all the while, they could for some inexplicable reason begin to feel themselves grow lighter in spirit. As if there was something in the air that cheered them. By midday they were even feeling so well that Jubilee allowed some of the elves to help her from tripping.
Storm eventually asked why they were feeling so, and Haldir remarked with some surprise, that the magic that protected Lorien, was that it would dishearten enemies and enliven allies. Storm smiled at this as her worries began to lessen.
After they had traveled some way Wolverine commented that the air seemed to change, but couldn't describe it. He said that it was kind of like when he would leave a city and go into the mountains, how the air seemed to be more pure, and clean. At this point Haldir stopped them and told them that they were about to enter into the elven city of Lorien, he told them that they would be brought before Celeborn and Galadriel and that if they wished to live they were not to disrespect them in anyway.
Gradually the x-men felt themselves being led up onto wooden planks and slowly walking upward, almost like they were ascending stairs. The elves began to assist them, as gradually the natural light of the sun dimmed and through their blindfolds they could see a bluish light illuminating all around them. The mutants could feel themselves reaching a higher and higher level of elevation, but could not tell if they had entered a building for they could still feel the outside air.
At last they were halted, and instructed to stand together, though their hands remained bound and their eyes covered. They were then made to wait. They could not tell how long as the blindfolds had made them lose track of time. Finally about the time Jubilee was about to complain about her legs being on the point of falling off from standing in one place for so long, the could perceive a bright light, descending toward them. Jubilee began to squirm suddenly feeling very nervous, a feeling that seemed to be so infectious that even Wolverine could feel his heart beat faster. To their surprise they suddenly heard Haldir speak, having not known that he had been standing with them the entire time.
"My Lord and Lady," they heard him say in a meek voice "We have brought the creatures to you, unspoiled."
They suddenly heard a woman's soft, yet penetrating voice exclaim something in elvish, followed by more surprised utterances coming from an unknown masculine voice, and more loudly from Haldir. They then heard what sounded like commands being given, and felt their bonds being cut loose. The x-men began to shift slightly not knowing what to think.
"Please," the woman's ethereal voice came again, "Remove your blindfolds, there has been a grievous error,"
The x-men lowered their blindfolds and for a second their eyes had to adjust to the new light, though they could see to white clad figures before them. Cyclops strained to focus until finally his eyes settled on one of the most beautiful sights he had ever beheld. Lady Galadriel seemed like a vision before him. He managed to glance at his fellow mutants who all seemed to share the same look of astonishment as to the grandeur of the elves before them.
However Galadriel did not yet speak, she merely gazed at them with piercing eyes, when she looked at Cyclops it oddly reminded him of when Professor X would read his mind. He suddenly felt as if every secret he had ever held was laid bare. Finally she addressed them.
"You are weary, and full of grief, and we have not adequately eased your burdens." She said somewhat mystically "Yet in a vision I saw creatures, similar to yourselves. These creatures were as harbingers of doom and I sent Haldir to capture them. Only unfortunately I fear now that the time has not come, and they captured you by mistake."
"We came here seeking the Fellowship of the Ring," Storm said sounding much less proud than she normally did. "We seek the aid of the one known as Gandalf."
Both Galadriel and Celeborn lowered their eyes slightly at the mention of the wizard, they stood again in great silence, finally Celeborn spoke.
"Gandalf has fallen into shadow." he said "He was slain in the mines of Moria."
The x-men gasped, the thought of losing a friend and there only guaranteed way home, caused them to shudder yet Galadriel looked at them.
"We do not know, if Gandalf has run his course," she said looking to her husband. "Let us not dismiss him yet." she then turned to the mutants again they felt as if she was reading their very souls. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. For all is not lost as you do think, she looked directly at Wolverine, who was having trouble maintaining his composure. You are all weary, for now you shall rest here. As I know you to be friends of the free peoples of Middle-earth. We will discuss on another occasion, what is to be done."
"But what of the Fellowship?" Cyclops asked with as much insistence as he dared "we came in search of them."
Galadriel gazed into him again, her eyes seemed to pass right through his visor and connect with his. "They are no longer with us," she responded "We will discuss later whether you should be allowed to follow them. For now be at peace in Lorien, and be comforted for you shall see her again."
With that Celeborn and Galadriel turned and began to walk up the stairs. Haldir waited a moment and then bowed before them.
"My apologizes," he said humbly "I do hope that we did not mistreat you. If you'll follow me we shall make accommodations for you to stay here."
The x-men looked to each other trying to regain their composure after their previous encounter with Galadriel, slowly they followed Haldir down the trees. All the time Cyclops wondered what the elf had meant about seeing her again.
