A/N: Once again I apologize for the infrequency of my updates…Is that even a word? Infrequency? Oh well. I will however defend that it is not my fault as my access to a computer in these last three weeks has been extremely limited. I will try to have the next chapter finished by in a few days. Things are really going to be picking up in the story. I just about have all the pieces in place for the action to begin. So how about some reviews for added encouragement! …Guys… Also as another side note. It's getting really hard to write now as I am taking a Spanish class and my brain is having a hard time deciding which language it wants to think in. Anyway I won't waste any more of your time. Enjoy the chapter! Special thanks to Dazzler420, Tokyo Fox, Steel Flower, and Darkangel46 for their reviews!

Chapter 7

The Desperate Departure and the Arrival of Hope.

Alex Summers the mutant known as Havoc stood with his arms folded surveying the group of mutants that were before him. Professor Xavier had been very careful in the selection of mutants that would be going to Middle Earth. Obviously the Professor had selected Beast as he would be the one that they would depend on to return to their time, using the teleported they had managed to get away from Mr. Sinister. Then there was Colossus, and Shadowcat who would be supplying strength and stealth to their group. Finally there was Psylocke whom wasn't originally supposed to go, but Xavier had decided on sending as a last minute decision.

All of the group was assembled save the biggest surprise of them all. Beast had informed him that Xavier said that he would be accompanying them on the trip but Havoc couldn't figure out how that would be possible. From what the x-men had told them about what they had learned of their destination, Middle-Earth promised to be a rugged place, with very few places that would be suitable for a cripple to travel in. Yet when Havoc had called to confirm what Beast had told him, Professor Xavier again insisted that he was going with them on the journey.

The group was assembled together, each carried a large backpack with needed supplies. Not surprisingly Colossus had been given the largest pack, and was carrying the heaviest supplies that they needed. Beast had copied the technology that they had received in the armband and had fabricated several others, one for each member of the group, he had also modified them so it would allow them to track each other if they became separated, everything was ready now they were just waiting for the Professor to arrive.

Beast then approached the mutant scratching his chin slightly "Well everything is ready," the blue furred mutant reported, "I believe that we have all the supplies that we will need."

"How much food do we have?" Havoc asked trying to run a last minute inventory.

"Enough for three weeks," Beast said "almost a month if we discover that we must ration it. Though I dearly hope that it will not come to that." the intellectual mutant put his arm around the other mutant and led him aside, as he did so Havoc winced.

"Careful," he said, taking Beasts enormous arm and moving it away from his shoulder. "Sabertooth scratched me, before I left Sinister's lair, he told me to send that to Wolverine when I saw him. It's not bad, I think he only wanted to goad me into a fight…Now what is it?

"I did not want to tell the others," Beast replied "but I fear that the energy that has created this portal is diminishing, it's also becoming unstable. It might send us to our comrades, however it might send us to an unknown place altogether."

"Does the Professor know about this?" Havoc asked slightly alarmed.

"I do" Xavier's voice suddenly came from the doorway of the mansion, the x-men gasped as they saw there leader.

"Professor…" Shadowcat marveled "…You're walking!"

Xavier took a few steps toward them, he was wearing a strange metal exo-skeleton, with several strange electrodes attached to his neck and coming up the back of his head, "As Hank can attest only through much strain."

Beast let out an audible sigh "Professor I feared that you would do this."

"How is he even doing it at all?" Havoc asked perplexed as the Professor walked toward the group.

"The exo-skeleton is shi'ar technology" Beast explained "it allows the Professor to move using his telepathic power. The last time he used it was when Magneto removed the adamantium from Wolverine's bones."

"Now that everybody has had a science lesson," Xavier said walking to the center of the group, "We had better go. I fear that we have wasted too much time as it is."

"But Beast just told me that the "echo" is becoming unstable," Havoc said "With all due respect sir don't you think that this is a little too risky to be rushing into this?"

"Normally Alex I would agree with you" said the Professor as he took an armband from Beast, "However in this case I fear that something terrible is about to happen or has already occurred to Jean and it is something that I feel that only we can stop…Now enough debate, if you still have a problem with my plan then you are welcome to stay."

Havoc made a small grunt yet he took an armband and attached it to himself, the rest of the x-men did likewise, then Beast arranged them in a circle just as the Fellowship had.

"I will begin the countdown now." Beast said touching a button on his armband which made a small beep and then a small blinking light that also began to do the same on everybody's corresponding armbands. Each mutant braced themselves for the unknown. Colossus happened a glance at Psylocke.

"You look particularly pleased for what we are about to do." He said

"That's because you've never kissed a dwarf," She responded with an ambiguous smile. Before the Russian mutant could inquire more, the countdown ended and they were engulfed in white light.

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Haldir ran through the trees, behind him was a contingent of his best warriors. For the ancient elf each day was a day of patrol. While the normal myths surrounding Lothlorien kept the curious away, the elves were always wary of trickery and invasion. On rare occasion however, the scouts would spot individuals entering the woods. Usually it was merely curious travelers or young humans on a dare. But on this particular morning his scouts had reported that there was something unusual in the forest. Something that they all feared to go near. Wary of some new plot to enter the blessed woods, Haldir had quickly assembled his men and set out in the direction of the disturbance.

This time however he was not just in the company of elves.

"I still don't got a scent," Wolverine said sniffing the air, "But it's hard to tell, there are so many different plants and stuff here that I have a hard time identifying things."

Haldir was amazed at the tracking abilities of his new found companion. They surpassed even Aragorn's and he was no mere human. Wolverine was no longer dressed in the colorful costume that he had arrived with. The human was now attired more like an elf, something that Galadriel had insisted at least until their clothes could be mended from all the tears and rips they had accuired over their journey. The elf had to smile as it was obvious that the man named after a vicious animal was not quite comfortable with.

It had been nearly two weeks since these "pilgrims" had arrived at there borders. Galadriel had made them guests of Lorien and bid them rest while she deliberated whether they should return to their home, or be asked to stay and help in the war against the Dark Lord. Both her and one of the "visitors" had seen something terrible in the mirror. Though she had bade it as a secret until she could discuss it with the wise ones. Meanwhile each of the guests seemed to be fairing their stay differently.

The one named Storm seemed to blend in the most. Haldir had to admit that of all the humans who had come, she seemed the wisest, almost elf like, though her appearance was terribly different. He often wondered if she had blood of Numenor in her. As she seemed to have an ageless quality about her, and a demeanor beyond her years. Haldir could count on finding her in the trees of Lorien every night listening to the music of his people.

Then there was the one called Nightcrawler who was also accompanying them. Despite his dark appearance turned out to be quite delightful. He also seemed to soak in the ways of Lothlorien. He had even won over a few small children despite frightening them at first.

Their leader Cyclops seemed to like the elves enough yet he was constantly brooding, and sullen. Haldir had learned that they had lost someone dear to them and try as the elves might they couldn't seem to ease his burdens. Though Haldir did catch him once humming an elvish tune that he must have heard during they're sojourn.

Then there was Jubilee. She was having the worst time adapting. Haldir had been told that when the elves presented her with a dress to wear while they mended her clothing. She had laughed at them for a full three minutes. Then when they insisted that she put it on, she grew quite upset and refused. It took a direct order from Wolverine to get her to put it on. Every time Haldir had seen her she complained about how the place seemed like a "museum" and that no one acted like they were alive. Despite this she had found at least one way to enjoy herself. She had taken up learning the skill of archery and had proven to be a very astute learner

"Did you hear that elf?" Wolverine suddenly said.

"Hear what?" Both Haldir and Nightcrawler replied at the same time, pausing to look at each other.

"Sounds like… singing…" Wolverine muttered half to himself.

Haldir listened intently picking up with his keen elf ears what the human was referring to. In the distance he could distinctly make out a low sound almost music like. The elf squinted attempting to see if he could ascertain where the sound came from. His eyes revealed nothing.

"What do you think that it is?" Nightcrawler asked straining to hear. "Do you think that it is being made by orcs?"

Both Haldir and Wolverine gave the blue mutant an incredulous look, "Vas?" he asked returning their gazes "You never know! I'm just trying to think of possible options!"

"It could not be orcs," Haldir said while straining to listen to the approaching figure, "My sentries would never run from orcs, even if the entire host of Mordor came down on our woods. No it must be something else."

"Perhaps your men would be afraid of singing orcs," Nightcrawler said in jest, before Haldir could comment they were both shushed by Wolverine.

"Whoever or whatever it is making the noise, is headed right at us!" he said "Elf…I mean Kurt, get into the tree directly above us, me and Haldir will hide on ground. When he is right below you, drop! Me and Haldir will attack once we see you coming down."

Haldir nodded his approval, "A cunning ambush. You take the left. I will divide my men into three groups, one will follow Wolverine, one will follow me, and the rest will ascend the trees as well and serve as backup archers."

"Sounds good," Nightcrawler said and with a puff of smoke he was sitting on the lowest branch of an enormous malorn tree, still a good twenty feet above them.

"Amazing," Haldir commented before dividing his troops.

The companies split, Haldir's elves proved to be adept tree climbers and were in various trees within minutes ready to snipe should the need arise. Then all they could do was wait. Time crawled by as the noises of the approaching intruder drew neared. The elves were the first to see it, a gray cloaked figure, with the head covered by a hood. On it's back were several large packs. Perched on his branch Nightcrawler held his breath as the figure came into his view. Slowly the mutant let himself fall just slightly, letting himself remain aloft with his tail hanging him directly over the path that the figure was following. The mutant chance to peer at the elves that were positioned in the trees. For some reason each wore an expression of fear. As if the appearnce of the figure chilled their very blood. After a few moments, Nightcrawler saw the figure was only a few feet away from where he would drop down. The elf counted down, from three and then let his tail release him from the branch. From there everything was a blur.

At the same time that he dropped, Wolverine and Haldir attacked, in the next instance Nightcrawler found himself teleported some distance away inexplicably. Wolverine who had reached the figure first found that his claws had retracted themselves seemingly on their own and Haldir and his elves found that they couldn't draw their bows as if they had grown too taunt to pull.

The elves and the mutants exchanged glances to each other as the gray cloaked figure merely stood in the center of them. Undeterred Wolverine suddenly lunged, fists leading the way. He was quickly knocked to his back and the figure suddenly threw his cloak to the ground revealing his incredibly white hair and white clad body. Nightcrawler tried to teleport back but he couldn't, it was as if he had forgotten how. The mutant was too far away to see who the man that had just bested them all was. But he could still hear the ensuing conversation.

"Wolverine! Of all the strange and unpredictable mutant's I have met you are the worst!." the man said with a gruff yet surprised tone of voice. A voice which sounded oddly like Magnetos. "What on earth are you doing here!"

Mithrandir?" Haldir's voice came as he gazed at the white clad man, almost too quiet to be heard. Instantly all the elves bowed in awe and reverence. "We were told that you were dead! You must forgive us for attacking in you!"

"Gandalf?!" Wolverine said getting up with a tone of astonishment in his throat. Nightcrawler was suddenly able to teleport again and appeared right beside, the previously gray cloaked figure.

The mutant gazed at the man before him. The face, the nose, the ears, It was unmistakably Gandalf, save for his hair was now whiter than the mutant had ever seen before and his eyes seemed to be deeper, as if in the short time that they had last seen each other, the wizard had lived several thousand years.

The Gandalf returned Nightcrawler's gaze with a small smile. Then the he seemed to change, as he looked at him and worry lines formed across the wizard's face. Finally he spoke "What has happened? Why are you on Middle-Earth?"

"It is a long story." Nightcrawler replied.

The wizard nodded and then to Haldir. "Inform Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel that Gandalf the

White seeks and audience with them." Gandalf then turned and looked at the two mutants "In the meantime I will be listening to a very long story while I travel."

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A/N: Alright next chapter. The Galadriel and Gandalf decided the fate of the x-men, and Middle-earth sees the arrival of more Sinister Mutants. Also I will once again advertise my fiction story. It is really good I swear! Please somebody go and read it! …Guys…guys? Hello? Oh man! -walks away as he realizes that anybody who was reading has now left.