A/N: Hurray for me! I updated! As usual I'm sorry for the delay. I have a whole mess of excuses but that's still no reason for me to keep you waiting this long. College sucks but I'm getting used to it. Thanks to everyone who reads and reviews this.

Chapter 11

The Awakening

"Here!" Gandalf called past the wind. "Set us down here!

The white maned mutant nodded and called upon the fresh winds of Middle-earth to lower her and the wizard down. "I'll try to make this as gentle as possible," she said. "But there are a lot of trees."

As if to make her case, Gandalf's robe snagged on a tree branch. Storm would have flown them back up slightly to loose him, but the wizard merely waved his hand and the tree branch released him. Not only that but all the branches below them seemed to shift slightly and make way for the pair.

The moment that the mutant touched her feet to the ground she could tell that this forest was different from all the others she had ever been in. Certainly different than Lorien, she constantly had the urge to look over her shoulder as if someone was watching her and the trees seemed deformed and dark. Looking around the near black woods was the first time she had actually felt uneasy being outdoors on Middle-Earth.

"The forest has not been tended to in sometime." Gandalf explained, "It has grown wild and vengeful. We must tred with care."

"What do you mean it has grown wild?" Storm asked as she began to follow Gandalf who was walking at a quick pace though appeared as if he was looking around for something.

"He has been asleep for far too long. He used to tend to the trees, help them grow, calm their hearts, now they have grown old and the axe and sword of man drives them to lust for revenge."

Storm just shook her head, beginning to accept that she would probably never get any straight answers from him. Instead of asking more questions she merely followed and watched as Gandalf would look around himself then stoop the ground and collect some dirt. He even once put a finger in his mouth and then tested the wind.

What made it somewhat worse was that he didn't seem to act as if he knew exactly where they were going. Several times they had to turn around to retrace their steps because the trees and brush were just too thick to pass through and wouldn't respond when Gandalf tried to make them clear a way for them. Even more confusing was when they would begin to retreat, only to find their previous path completely blocked by trees. As if they had moved, and all the while there was a strange groaning around them.

More than once Storm suggested that they ascend above the forest again but, Gandalf would just tell her to have some patience and that he was certain that they were on the right track. All the while the trees only seemed to grow grimly thick around them. Even to the point of almost closing up the sky from before them.

After what seemed to be over two hours, Gandalf stopped with a satisfied smile playing through his beard. His head darted about and he seemed to be reviewing every spot in their surroundings. From Storm's perspective there wasn't anything else different from the rest of the forest. The trees and rocks covered in moss, nothing unremarkable. The only difference that she could find would be a tree that seemed much larger and older than the others.

"May I ask what we're looking for now?" she finally spoke.

Gandalf's smile only grew. "My dear Ororo, your standing right in front of him."

"What? The tree? I don't get it?"

The wizard chuckled slightly then moved beside her. "No, I imagine that you wouldn't. This is why I did not tell Cyclops for I knew that it would be something that you would have to see to believe. Do not make too many sudden movements, he will be quite groggy."

Before Storm could respond Gandalf stepped in front of her and raised his hands above his upturned head, with a deep breath he let out a groan that sounded much like the ones she had been hearing from the forest. The mutant then had to cover her mouth at what she saw next.

The great tree began to move, but as it did she realized that what she had mistaken for tree branches were actually arms and what she had thought was an immense growth of moss was actually a beard! The tree raised its limbs far above it's…trunk and then let out what sounded like a thunderous yawn. Next two deep yellow eyes opened and the tree grumbled some more before began to look down at the pair.

"That is a voice that I have not heard in some time." the tree grumbled but then gazed down at Gandalf in some confusion. "But what is this? The White Wizard that has the voice of young Gandalf? And a white witch with him?"

"It is Gandalf my old friend." the Wizard responded, "But I am Gandalf the White now. And I come in search of help."

The creature let out another yawn, and the forest seemed to yawn with him. "Help…yes of course. Ever have you been a friend of the trees. But who is this human with you?"

"May I introduce you to Ororo Munro. A traveling companion of mine." Gandalf said pushing Storm forward slightly. "Ororo this is Treebeard."

The mutant did her best to try and remain calm as the tree-creature leaned down until she could into his face and see the mass of twigs and moss that made up his beard and hair. "Traveling companion you say? I've never seen a human quite like this before, usually they only have white hair when they are covered in wrinkles like yourself dear friend. Brrrarrrum."

"Can all the tree's do this here?" Storm asked her jaw still feeling quite slack.

"Tree? No I am an Ent. We shepherd the trees and help them...but there are so few of us now. I have been asleep for a long time."

"It is true, you have been asleep for some time but I ask for your help old friend and then you can rest." Gandalf spoke.

"Help? Yes, of course youngling what can I do for you?"

"Nothing grand, I only need you to keep your eyes out for anything unusual in the forest. Anything out of the ordinary."

Treebeard stroked his mossy face then looked to Gandalf. "There is almost never something that simple when a wizard is involved, but I shall talk to the trees and ask them what has been going on of late. If anything has happened they will know."

"I'm afraid that you will not like what they have to tell you dear friend." came the reply, "All I ask is that if you find anything unusual that you bring them to me. I have many questions that need to be answered.

The Ent nodded and grumbled. "No doubt trouble is afoot or you would not be here. I will do as you asked. Wait here and I shall return when I have the answers you seek."

With that the massive creature began to lumber and turn and make it's way through the trees which seemed to make way for him. All that Storm could do was stand slack jawed at what she had just witnessed. Easily the most outrageous thing she had seen in her entire journey. Gandalf only seemed to sigh gently with satisfaction. As if he knew that part of his plan was complete.

"The trees will tell him of the treachery of Saurman and the assault of the orcs upon his forest." the wizard said. "Then he will only need someone to help him inspire the others."

"Others?" Storm cried, "You mean there are more of them?"

"Oh yes." Gandalf said, "Once there were many score of ents in the world, but now they have dwindled and slept. But we will need their aid in the fight to come I only pray that we have done enough."

"You mean to have them fight for us then?"

"No, the ents will not fight for anyone but themselves. They must realize that their cause is ours as well. For if Sauron and Saruman have dominion of the world, then all trees and green things must perish. As it is in your world."

"That's part of the reason why we are here I suppose." Storm agreed. "So what now?"

Gandalf sighed and sat down on a nearby rock. "We wait, I will be communicating with the Valar until then. You may stay here if you wish or fly in search of your companions. Just do not stray too close to the trees. He has been asleep for too long and they are vengeful."

With that the old wizard closed his eyes and began to mutter to himself slightly. At first Storm sat on a moss-littered rock watching him, but after a while even her patience was beginning to be taxed. But that feeling was shaken away as the forest was suddenly rocked by an enormous bellow. Storm nearly fell off her seat and Gandalf came out of his meditation.

"The trees have told him what has been happening." the wizard commented, his voice sounding slightly different, almost as if another was creeping inside it. "His wrath and grief will be great."

Before Storm could react Gandalf again went into his trance. Seeing this was enough for the mutant. After watching Gandalf for a few more seconds she summoned the winds to her and propelled her body through the tree branches, which almost clawed at her to keep her from the skies. But soon they gave way and she was permitted to clear the trees until she was greeted with another breath-stealing horizon.

She could not help but compare the beauty of what she saw before her to that of her own world. Of how clean the air felt that lifted her up, how green everything was, and how alive her surroundings were. Part of her wished that she could always remain a part of it. That she could stay in Middle Earth and protect it forever. But then her gaze shifted to the south where she could see the distinctive flow and shape of smoke. Even this world seemed to begin to burn with the fires of mankind and industry.

Storm was about to fly off to investigate the smoke when at the exact same time her eyes were drawn to the forest floor where a bright light came from where Gandalf was but her ears were drawn toward the edge of the forest by the sound of battle. Quickly she crashed through the trees to inform the wizard but felt the words catch in her throat as she saw that the light was coming from him! White ethereal light that began to encompass everything, including her.


"That's some interesting armor ye got there." Gloin's crusty dwarvish voice bellowed as he looked to Xavier from his pony. "Never seen nothing like it. Then again I never seen nothing like all of yuns."

Charles Xavier smiled and nodded. "Nor us anything like your Kingdom Under the Mountain. We are truly honored by your king's generosity."

Gloin turned and viewed the other X-men who were also seated atop horses, each wearing clothing given to them by the dwarves. "Well the horses were a bit of a trick. We dwarves don't have much use for them. We're more foot soldiers then anything else. But it's nothing, if it will aid Gandalf and the Fellowship then it's the least we can do."

"Still we thank you all the same," Psylocke added having overheard the conversation.

"I have to say that I can't help but wonder what yer needen to go to Mirkwood for. We've been allies with the elves there since the War of Five Armies, but still...it's not a place that I'd like to go traipsen around."

"Believe me if what we've been told about it is true then we would much rather avoid Mirkwood as well." Xavier replied. "However, There is something there...or someone that we must find."

"Well then I hope that we're having the luck from Aule because to find anybody in that place is going to take some doing."

"Well don't worry about that." Colossus chimed up, "If there's one thing Professor Xavier is good at, it's finding people."

The X-men all shared a collective snicker while Gloin looked on and then shrugged before urging his mount forward and leading them on. Xavier couldn't believe the amount of help that they were getting, he had expected that King Dain would greet him with the exact same suspicion that he had before. But to the mutant's surprise the monarch was thrilled at the chance of helping them and before Xavier could admit that he was even ready to leave there was a team of horses assembled and a mass of dwarves ready to assist them in any preparations that they needed. Gloin had insisted in being their guide and to help them in their travels to Mirkwood. They had made good time and soon they were passing a great lake with the charred ruins of a town upon it's banks. The X-men began to peer into the lake and each of them began to squint slightly, it was Shadowcat who was the first to speak.

"The water...has almost a golden look to it in some places."

"Aye," Gloin responded. "That's the remains of that worm Smaug! There used to be a city here. Lake Town it was called. But when we arrived at the mountain with Bilbo, the dragon burned it up. But he was shot dead, now his golden hide rots under the water. They say that his ghost still tries to devour anyone foolish enough to pass a boat over his corpse."

The dwarflord could not help but smile as the mutants began to look at the water with renewed fascination. Beast seemed about to fall off of his already burdened horse, so hard was he leaning to see the remains of a once magnificent and deadly dragon. Sensing more interest Gloin began to expound on what had happened. He told of their journey with Bilbo and of their encounter with the elves in Mirkwood. He could tell that each of the X-men were hoping a better reception at King Thanduril's court than the dwarves had received, Beast had even sighed and commented that he hoped that he wouldn't be shot dead from the trees because someone would mistake him for an orc. As the day progressed they heard Gloin's version of the events with Smaug and the subsequent war. They heard of the death of Thorin, and Dain's coronation as King Under the Mountain. By the time the entire tale was over they were setting up camp and beginning to tell him of a few of their adventures, though they tried to omit as many modern details as they could to avoid confusion.

As for Xavier as soon as it was possible he removed himself from the shi'ar suit to allow himself the rest he needed and the ability to stretch out his mind as much as possible, to search for the presence he had felt in Mirkwood. Yet despite his efforts he could not sense it again and had to retrieve himself back to the physical realm just as his X-men were recounting their adventure with the Fellowship. Though he noticed how they left out one important detail. None of them spoke of Xavier's possession of the Ring or rather it's possession of him. And while he was thankful that his students gave him respect by not divulging the fact. It only brought home again that much of what was transpiring was his fault. But Xavier knew better than to wallow in those doubts and dark memories. As Gandalf had told him, "The strength of men is that they can change even when they have acted wrongly they can recognize their actions and speedily correct them." Xavier only hoped that his actions now could correct at least some of the damage that he had done. Yet he took warmth from the fire that Havoc had ignited with his power and the fellowship that was being offered from friend old and new alike. He knew that he would need it especially once they found whatever was waiting for them in Mirkwood.


Storm pried her eyes open despite the exhausting light. Only when she had done so did she discover that the light had dimmed. But not around Gandalf. The light from his face was every bit as blinding as the sun but it was as driven snow.

"What's going on?"

"I have received a visitation from the Valar," Gandalf responded in a voice not his own. "They have given me glimpses into the doom of this land. Is that not what you wanted to know?"

"What is all of that supposed to mean? Why are you glowing?"

"I am preparing for their arrival."

"They're...Who?"

"The saviors of Fangorn Forest."

Before she could react to that phrase there was a great pounding on the ground and roar. So much did it surprise her that the mutant stepped back only to lose her footing and topple to the ground. Gandalf then stepped in front of her as she heard the angry barks of Treebeard.

"...Maybe you are and maybe you aren't! The white wizard will decide."

Then to Storm's utter amazement she heard a tiny voice that she never would have expected to hear in the stark woods of Fangorn.

"Saruman!"

Without any further ado, Merry and Pippin were deposited at Gandalf's feet. Both were too engaged with Gandalf's fearsome light to notice Storm who was gazing from them to Treebeard and then to Gandalf to see what would happen next.

"The treachery of the wizard!" Treebearded bellowed, "The tree's have told me!"

"The tree's will heal in time my friend. As will these two halflings, they will see the hordes of Isengard pay as will you."

"W...What do you mean?" Merry stuttered.

"He's gone mad!" Pippin hollered, "The whole world's gone mad, with talking tree's and bright wizards and now he'll kill us!"

"I am not going to kill you Peregrin Took!" Gandalf suddenly snapped, his light dimmed and the grumpiness returned to his voice. "But with your incessant sniveling I might go mad!"

It was then that Storm wished that she had a camera, though she tried to lock Merry and Pippin's faces into her memory as best she could. Both stared slack jawed and wide eyed, with even a little more fear than they had before. Though it looked as if for another motive. Fear to believe what they saw.

"Ga...Ga..." Merry continued to stutter.

"But you...the Balrog?" Pippin rambled.

"Does not matter right now." Gandalf cut them both off and I do not have the time right now to tell you the full tale of what happened. Suffice it to say I have been sent back until I can finish what I began."

"What of your companion?" Treebeard asked, leaning down. "Where is your white witch?"

"White..."

"Witch?"

Even though she could not see his face she knew that Gandalf was smiling. And she could not help to do so herself, even if Treebeard had for a second time called her a witch. Gandalf began to shift aside so that she would no longer be obscured from their view. Storm had just enough time to put herself on her knee's before Merry and Pippin's faces mirrored the ones they had, had earlier.

"I...don't believe it." Merry gawked.

"How...did you..." Pippin tried.

Storm began to laugh at them, laugh with the joy of seeing them again, this only caused both their faces to light up as they charged at her in unison and hugged her. All the while she could hear Gandalf chuckling as she tried to keep up with their questions.

"How did you get here?"

"Are there any other's?"

"Yeah did Jubilee come?"

"How did you find us?"

Finally Merry laughed "Now we'll have a chance! If the X-men are here then Saruman and Sauron will never know what hit them!"

That sentence knocked all mirth from Gandalf's face. "No, Meriadoc" his voice came, "I'm afraid just the opposite, the presence of the X-men only means things are about to get worse...much worse. And with that in mind I must cut our reunion short."

"But..."

"Treebeard I need you to take them keep them safe." the wizard said, ignoring the hobbit. "Do what you will but I need you to ensure that nothing happens to them."

"I must summon the ents!" the ancient creature responded, " Saruman must pay for his treachery! But I will do as you say."

"Get on your feet Storm," Gandalf then said turning to her. "Your task is not done. Now you must rejoin your companions. They are on the edge of the forest to the Northeast, they will be reaching this place by noon tomorrow as will Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli."

"You mean they're alive!" Pippin cheered.

"For now. But just as they are hunting the Urukai that abducted you. They are being hunted as well. That is why the X-men are here. Quickly now you must all go."

Treebeard's contorted branch like hands then began to scoop up the two nearly shellshocked hobbits. But he did so with a delicacy of a surgeon as opposed to a lumbering tree.

"Come little creatures." He said, "Orcs you are not, but I still wish to get to know you and we have much distance to cover."

"Wait one last thing!" Pippin screeched, causing Treebeard to almost fall over in surprise. The hobbit's gaze then locked onto Gandalf. "I'm sorry that I knocked the bucket into the well."

The old wizard rolled his eyes and began to shoo them, then looked back to Storm "Merry and Pippin are fool's...but they will be help beyond measure. As will you and your companions. Now go and pray that you find your friends before the Brotherhood do."


The feeling was almost exhilarating. Wind sweeping through her hair, the coolness of it against her cheek, warmth around her body, like a blanket. Had the circumstances been any different she might have enjoyed it. Yet as she began to have conscious thoughts again, the nigh wonderful feelings were replaced with panic.

Jean's eyes fluttered open and if she had had the ability to scream she would have. Leather wings the size of small buses pounded the air around her as the warmth of cold blooded feet held her in their grasp. Below her cavernous mountain rock fluttered past. If the monster that held her aloft were to loose her, she would be dashed against them and die instantly.

Though she could not move her head as of yet Jean had managed to regain control of her eyes. And her mind shuddered to the destination. The mutant strained her eyes to see past where her limp head would not allow. A crimson, pitch horizon greeted her and off in the distance she could see the distinct flapping of wings. More creatures like the one that carried her.

A sudden jostle had her head swiveling a bit more to the direction she was looking and she could see that they were beginning to lower, her eyes met with an awe inspiring yet horrible edifice. The towers were hewn of black stone that reflected a pale green light from it's base. She had entered into Mordor.

By the time the beast began to make it's final descent, Jean had forced her body to give her more control than she had, had as far back as she could remember at the moment. And it only seemed that the closer the got to the tower she recuperated the more, whatever poison the Witch King had been using on her was fast wearing off.

The beast set her down with an uncaring thump, and the mutant was happy, for it was the first time since her defeat that she could quake her arm to actually cradle her battered head. Around her she could see orcs surrounding everything in vision, their red eyes alight with perverted anticipation as they looked on her. Her ears could pick up their twisted words "He has returned.", "Make all ready.", "Human flesh.". The orcs began to surround her. One in particular brandished a terrible cat o' nine tails; his hand was already cocked back to lash it upon her when all the creatures scattered as black cloaks swirled and the Witch King stepped forward.

"This one is not to be touched." his voice hushed menacingly. "This one is for the Great Eye!"

Jean shivered from both cold and fear as the orcs fled and the Lord of the Nazgul lowered his black invisible face to hers. But his voice did not come to taunt her. Instead another voice came. Not the same dreaded whisper that came from her captor, but a dark deep disturbing voice.

"Why would the master be interested in one such as this." the voice issued from a grotesque mouth surrounded by what could have been a man. For that was the only part of him that could be seen as the rest was covered in black robes and a metal helmet that covered his entire face save the hideous rictus that he bore.

"This is one of them." The Witch King breathed, "From the other world The world of demons, she has…assets that the Master will desire. But I will answer the Dark Lord himself, not his mouth! "

"Indeed." The 'Mouth' hissed, stooping down and cupping Jean's face. Filling her nose with the savor of rotten flesh. "Then you will take her to the bowels of Minas Morgal to be properly prepared for the Master?"

"Of course,"

A/N: Okay coming up (not necessarily in the next chapter but definitely in the next two.) The Fellowship of the Mutant's finally meet back up with the Fellowship of the Ring and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Xavier and Co. enter Mirkwood and find what their looking for.