Chapter 9

They had been in the Golden Woods for a few days, and having finished dinner the remaining fellowshippers and mutants sat around, listening to the sounds of the laments still sung for Gandalf. Somehow the hobbits had started to reminisce about their homes, and not being able to help it, Iris had sat down with them, listening to them talk about where they came from, the Shire. From what they described, it was a calm and peaceful place where almost everyone got along; where there life wasn't hard. Why, it sounded absolutely wonderful, like a perfect place to get away to when things were getting too hard to handle.

It wasn't long before the hobbits turned from describing their beloved homes to talking about their families, and as they did, Aragorn laughed and said "Now you've done it, now you will never hear the end of it. Hobbits can tell you about their relations until your ears fall off".

"Really, is that so?"

"Yes" he said, puffing on a pipe he had lit recently.

"Well, I still think the Shire sounds like a wonderful place to live. Must be quite beautiful" Iris said, much to the hobbits delight.

"The Shire might be a wonderful place, but it does not possess the beauty of the White City, of that I am sure" Boromir said, sitting with his back against the trunk of a Mallorn tree, which Iris had been told the trees were called.

"The White City? What is that?"

"It is where I come from, Minas Tirith. Ah, to once more see the White tower of Ecthelion, glimmering like a spike of pearl and silver. Its banners caught high in the morning breeze. To be called home by the clear ringing of silver trumpets. To see the White Tree in flower again in the Courts of the Kings..." He seemed lost in memory for a moment, but the moment was soon past. "Have you ever seen it Aragorn?" Boromir asked in a lower voice.

"I have seen the White City, long ago" Aragorn answered, he too obviously remembering the sight.

"Sounds beautiful" Iris said, mostly due to the look of awe in Boromir's eyes. "I'd love to see it"

"You will be able to see it should it be decided to take the road to my city"

"Or I could have a peak at it now..." Iris said, hinting, and managing to confuse most of those around.

"I do not understand what it is you mean" Boromir said.

"Well, you could show it to me right now" she said, causing further confusion. "Let me explain it like this, should you let me, I could see the White City the way you do"

"I still do not understand where you are going with this"

"Remember when I said I could hear thoughts?" Clearly he did, which made it a bit easier for Iris to explain. "Well, it's the same technique really. You think of the City, and I'll be able to see it. Which would require that you allow me into your mind..." she said, quickly adding "But I would only see what you want me to see, of course" This did not seem to go too well with Boromir. The others watched quietly as he thought of his decision.

After some time and a lot of thinking Boromir had made his mind up. He asked Iris about what she had told him already, that if he did indeed agree, she would not be able to go about as she wished in him mind, but only see what he allowed her to see. She confirmed this, and so he told her that would allow her to enter his mind to see the White City, Minas Tirith, his home.

Sitting in front of him Iris placed her hands on both sides of his face, telling him that it worked better the closer she was. She leaned a bit closer and closed her eyes. She told him to imagine the two of them as they were now in his mind, to see it with his minds eye. She told him to focus on the two of them and shut everything else out, and this he did.

"You can open your eyes now" Doing as he was told, he took in the surroundings. They were still in the camp, only not. The others were nowhere to be seen and the whole camp seemed a bit off. "We are now in your mind" Iris said, letting go of Boromir. Standing up, her clothing changed from the dress she had been loaned to some strange clothes which he assumed was how they dressed wherever it was she was from. Clad in a green and silver corset with a long flowing dark green skirt, she reached out her hand towards him. Taking her hand, Boromir stood up beside her. Having noticed the look on his face as her clothes changed, Iris told him that where they were, the only limit was their imagination. Taking this information in, Boromir gave the theory a try, changing his rather travel worn clothes to what he must have worn when he was still in his hometown. He stood before her, now wearing a deep purple tunic, matching britches, decorative boots, a nice belt and at his side, attached to his belt, hung the Horn of Gondor.

"See, it's not that hard, now is it?" she said, smiling. "Shall we?"

"So all I have to do is to think of Minas Tirith?"

"Yes, just like you thought of your clothes, think of your City" No sooner than she had said the last word were they standing on the inside of a large gate.

"This is part of the lower levels" Boromir said, now smiling, clearly glad to see his city, be it real or no. Holding her hand, he guided her though the White City, pointing out little sights to her every now and then as they made their way to the higher levels.

Finally reaching the Court of the Kings, Iris got to see this 'White Tree' which seemed to be so special. Asking Boromir about it, he told her the story and how it had bloomed in the days of the kings. And that hopefully it would bloom again. Ushering Iris inside, Boromir showed her his father's Hall, the garden of the Houses of Healing and finally he showed her his quarters, or rather the one he had shared with his little brother when they were younger.

"I didn't know you had a little brother" Iris said. "What's he like?"

Giving Iris a smile, Boromir focused on a rather vivid memory of him and his brother. She could see two boys; the older one seemed to be about 11 and the younger about 6 years old. It was night and the two of them were sharing a bed. The older one, which was unmistakably Boromir, was holding his little brother in his arms, comforting him as he cried. Watching the very sweet and emotional scene before her, Iris wondered why Boromir had chosen this of all memories to show her.

"He used to have nightmares quite often when he was younger" Boromir said softly. Squeezing his hand a little, Iris turned towards him. He was still watching the image of him and his brother. Thankful that he had shown such trust in her, that he had let her see something so sacred, Iris wrapped her arms around him, whispering "Thank you".

"For what?" Releasing him, Iris took a step back and gave him a warm smile.

"For allowing me to see this. I thought you would show me just him, not something this personal. For all it's worth, I really hope to see all this for real some day" After a silent moment, Iris couldn't help herself and said, "Why?" Boromir who was now standing on the little balcony attached to the room, turned around.

"Why what?"

"Why did you show it to me? I don't mean to be rude or ungrateful, but that was quite personal, and I can't help to wonder why you let me see it. After all, I've only known you for what, a week?" she said, walking over to him, leaning against the door frame.

"You have the power to read minds; surely you have seen what the others think of me. They do not fully trust me, I can tell" he said, looking towards the darkness that was ahead in the horizon. His hands were gripping the balcony rail, his entire body slightly tense. "I do not want to be thought of that way. I am no villain"

Not knowing what to say, Iris simply walked up to him and stood there by his side. "From the start of this journey, if not even before, did a seed of mistrust start to grow in their hearts and minds. Why? What have I done for it to be so? Have I not fought by their side? Have I not done all in my power to stay true to our mission?" His shoulders were slumped, his head lowered.

Once more wrapping her arms around Boromir, she held on to him. Time silently passed as the two of them stood on the balcony. Breaking the embrace, Boromir straightened himself.

"How long have we been here?" he asked.

"An hour, maybe two, why? Are you feeling tired?"

"No" He shook his head. "How much do you know about the fellowship?" He said after a moment. Iris looked at him, but he was watching the dark horizon.

"Not much" Iris had already sensed that there was something up with them, but she couldn't really place her finger on it. But it might have something to do with Frodo, or maybe Aragorn... The only thing that was sure was that it made things even more confusing than it already was. Things seemed simpler and yet more complicated here.

"If I tell you something, will you vow to tell no one?" he said with a grave look. She didn't have to look into his eyes to know he was serious.

"Yes. Whatever happens on the astral plane stays on the astral plane" Iris said. "Do you want to talk here, or...?" Saying that it was up to her, Iris decided that it was perhaps better if they left. Taking his hand, she guided him back into the room and towards the door. Stepping out of the room, they exited on a field of strange flowers, weeping willows and a sky that indicated the rise or setting of the sun. Sitting down by a stream, Iris let him take his time before he started talking.

"There is a great darkness growing on the border of my land." he started. "It has been growing over the years and now its strength has almost outgrown ours. For years our people have been out there, hindering the assaults of orcs and Easterlings. But lately out strength has started to wane. The fellowships mission is to through stealth, destroy the greatest weapon of the Dark Lord."

Iris sat under the weeping willow in thought, watching as Boromir crouched down by the water, letting the water flow between his fingers. She was sure there was more to this, but honestly, she wasn't sure she wanted to know. Thus, she let him talk, as it seemed like it was something he had longed to do. To just talk, to have someone who listened without any hostility or suspicion.

Turning around, he seemed to want to shake off the gloomy subject, and asked her about where she was from and how it was there. Standing up Iris quietly offered her hand to him. Getting up, Boromir took her hand and followed as she led the two of them over the field to a large tree with a great hole in it. A hole big enough for a full-grown man to fit in it. Stepping into the hole, Iris beckoned him to follow. Boromir hesitated for a moment, but followed the telepath nonetheless.

The two of them went into the hole in the tree, and stepped into a dark alley. Walking out on the street, Boromir was met with the sight of strangely clad humans, some of them showing very much skin, and passing a tattoo parlor Boromir stopped.

"What is this place?" he asked, gazing in though the window.

"That's a tattoo parlor" Seeing that he did not understand her, she took him inside. In there, on a chair was a woman who getting a tattoo. Boromir watched fascinated as a man covered in strange images walked over to the girl and sat down on a small chair beside her.

"You picked one yet?" he asked the girl whose face they could not see. When she nodded and held up the paper with the design she wanted, he asked where she wanted it. Speeding the event forward, the next thing that happened was that they were standing outside once more.

"What happened?" Boromir asked, trying to figure out how they suddenly were outside.

"I'd rather not have you find out where I have my tattoo like that" Iris said with a smile. Obviously he had not noticed that it was she who had gotten the tattoo, but then again, she did look a bit different back then. She had had long black hair with blood red tips. Hell, she even had piercings back then. Not that back then was that long ago. Leading Boromir further down the street, they turned to the right, walked a past a couple of stores, and a bit ahead was the house Iris was raised in. It wasn't that that big; but quite plain having only one level and with a small yard in the front and a little bigger backyard.

The two of them walked in and proceeded into the living room, which was at the moment empty.

"Well, you showed me your family, and now it's only right you see mine" Iris said. The room suddenly changed and the room was only lit up by candles that were getting closer. Someone was singing, and in came a woman in her early 40's, holding a big cake covered by candles. Seeing the resemblance between the middle aged woman and the telepath standing beside him Boromir quickly figured out that she was Iris' mother. By her mothers side was a man, quite tall and with light brown hair which was turning grey.

"Is he your father?" Boromir asked.

"No. That's my mother and he's lives next door. Known him all my life, him and his kids" Iris said, as the ghost-image of her mother passed them. Turning around, Boromir followed the two as they continued singing. Halting before the small table, her mother put the cake down in front of a slightly younger version of Iris. The room was filled with decorations in black and orange, pumpkins with faces carved on them, and a great deal of candles were placed about, filling the room with a golden light. Sitting to the younger Iris' side was a boy with black shoulder length hair, green eyes, and almost golden skin. On the other side was another boy, with red hair down to his jaw, grey eyes and fair skin with some freckles on his nose. On another couch was a girl who resembles the red haired boy, only her hair was much darker, her skin seemed milky and her grey eyes seemed darker. Other than that they were all dressed in odd clothes and everyone was smiling.

Iris' mother handed out pieces of the cake as the red haired girl handed 'Iris' a brightly colored box.

"That's Jade" Iris said as her younger version ripped off the colorful wrapping paper, revealing a beautifully crafted wooden chest. It had small sceneries carved into the sides and on the top. Next to give a gift was the red haired boy. "That's Tristan, Jade's brother. I've known them since I was a little kid. The man sitting next to my mother, Andrew, he's their father." The gift Tristan gave her was a small metallic thing, a music player, she said it was. "He made it himself" Iris said, smiling at the memory. Then came her mother's turn. Pulling out a large box with a red ribbon tied around it, she proudly presented it to her daughter. Carefully pulling away the ribbon, 'Iris' lifted the lid, and inside was a black corset with red lace trimmings. Picking up the corset, 'Iris' leaned over the table and gave her mother a hug, her smile now even bigger. The scene quickly passed by, they ate, they drank and they all seemed to enjoy themselves.

"Who was the dark haired one?" Boromir said, also noticing that the dark haired one was also the only one who did not present 'Iris' with a gift.

"That's Armand" Iris said. Boromir saw as the scene before him changed into a bigger room, almost as big as one of the halls of his home. There were small round tables spread out, some of them occupied by people mostly dressed in dark clothing. Most of the women wore long dresses in different styles; some wore short skirts barely covering half their thighs and other more than a little revealing clothes. The men wore quite simple clothes compared to the women, but no less were some of their garments stunning. Standing out in the middle of the sea of dark clothes were a few who wore brightly colored clothes. One that caught Boromir's was a young blond man clad in a blood red coat with golden details. Pushing past him, Iris, now wearing a long black coat, brought him out of his study of his surroundings. She made her way through the crowd, zigzagging between the tables until she reached her destination. It was a table near a stage, and sitting around it were a bunch of people. Standing beside Iris, Boromir watched as those around the table stood and went up on stage.

"They're friends of mine" Iris said, sitting down at the table. "You see the silver white haired one, that's Adrian. The red haired one over there is Tristan, you remember him, right. The black long haired one in the front is Killian and the one with the mohawk in the back is James" she said as the group started playing.

"You know these people?" Boromir asked.

"Yeah, I've known them for a couple of years now, ever since they started the band" Iris said, tapping her foot to the rhythm of the music. Turning towards Boromir, Iris smiled. "You know, I actually was part of the band for a while"

"What do you mean?" Boromir asked, bewildered.

"I used to stand up on stage with them sometimes, singing. It was just a fun thing to do" she said, smiling. The group on stage had just finished their first song, one they had written themselves and were now moving on to another song, only now 'Iris' and Jade were on stage as well. This version of Iris did not look very different to the one who had just been sitting beside Boromir. She had long black hair, lavender top, a pair of black knee-high high heeled boots and a long low-cut skirt with slits up to her thighs on both sides as well as an embroidered belt clinging to her hips. The band started a new tune as the two girls started to dance on stage to the music as the one she had pointed out to be Killian started singing.

All the while he sang, occasionally with the help of one of the other band members, they danced about the stage, flirting with most of the guys. Towards the second half of the song the two of them danced close to Killian. As the song ended Killian presented Jade and Iris to the audience, telling them to give the two lovely girls a hand.

All the while Iris had observed Boromir and his reaction to what he might think as a 'suggestive' dance. And indeed did he at first seem a bit shocked by not only their slightly revealing outfits, but also he did not seem used to the rhythms and beats they were playing. However, he did not seem to think too much of it after a while. He seemed to enjoy the show as the rest of the audience had back even this had actually happened. This had been their big gig. Their big breakthrough. She still remembered how happy they had all been and how hard they had celebrated. She also remembered some things that had happened at that time that could have been, or should have been, prevented. But what has happened has happened, Iris reminded herself.

Lost in her own thoughts, Iris let the illusion of the show continue, taking comfort in the familiarity of her surroundings.

Once back in the glade, Boromir opened his eyes. In front of him was Iris, leaning against him with her arms still resting on his shoulders and her forehead leaning against his chest.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"I didn't think it would tire me this much... I just need to rest a bit" she said in a sleepy voice. Picking her up, Boromir took her to the nearest sleeping-roll and lay her down.

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Author's note: I am currently looking for a Beta-reader, so if you are familiar with X-verse and LotR-verse, please let me know.