Out of Space and Time

by sheraiah

The Tesseract and the Bifrost aren't the only ways by which to travel between the worlds, and there are more worlds than Thor has spoken of. When one of the pathways goes awry, the Avengers are called in to clean up the resulting mess.

8. Chapter 8

Title: Out of Space and Time ch8

Author: sheraiah

Rating: T (to be safe, there's some swearing)

Genre: Avengers/LOTR crossover

Summary: The Tesseract and the Bifrost aren't the only ways by which to travel between the worlds, and there are more worlds than Thor has spoken of. When one of the pathways goes awry, the Avengers are called in to clean up the resulting mess.

Disclaimer: If I owned any of it besides the plot, I wouldn't be slaving away in retail.

A/N: I know, I totally suck for leaving you hanging. Hopefully this chapter will make up for it.

Ooo

"Is everyone okay?" Steve asked, rolling onto his back and sitting up. He looked around, no sign of the Quinjet or the S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel that had preceded them to the sight of the anomaly, nor of the anomaly itself. He blinked, his gut clenching as he realized that he did not recognize the terrain. "Tony?"

"I'm fine, Spangles, but we definitely aren't in Kansas any more," the billionaire said. "No satellite link, no communications. I have JARVIS in limited capacity in the suit, but that's it." He sighed. "Kind of glad I'm sporting the briefcase version of the suit today."

"Tasha?"

"I'm fine, Cap. A little bruised, but nothing serious." She rolled to her feet, offering Clint a hand up. The archer took it and he stood as well.

"I'm good, Steve," he said quickly.

"Bruce?"

"I'm okay, I think. The Other Guy doesn't much like this, but he's not pushing it." Banner rose to his knees, looking around.

"I am well also, Captain," Thor said, rolling onto his stomach and getting his feet under himself to stand. "I do not recognize this place."

"I do," Legolas said quietly. "We are in Rohan. I have seen that rock formation," he pointed to their left, "on each of my travels through this land. We are three days ride from Edoras." Steve stood, taking a deep breath.

"Okay, you know the land and the customs so we'll follow your lead." He looked at Tony. "Stark, I think you ought to take the suit off for the time being. You can suit up relatively quickly if you need to, but the suit might scare the locals more than the protection would be worth."

"Yeah, you might be right about that, okay." Tony collapsed the suit off his body into its briefcase form. "Well, this day sucks so far."

"My friends, I am sorry," Legolas began, but Steve cut him off quickly.

"No, you didn't do this. No apologies. You're home, no feeling guilty about being glad of that." He looked at the others. "We'll figure out a way to get back. In the meantime, what's our best option?"

"Edoras, and then on to Minas Tirith from there. At the very least, we owe Eomer the respect of requesting his permission to travel in his lands. And, knowing him, he will offer us his aid in reaching Minas Tirith." Legolas cast his eyes to the sky. "It is close to mid-morning. We will need to travel with as much haste as we are able. Water is our most pressing need at the moment, and there is a stream several leagues away in that direction." He pointed past the rock formation he had indicated earlier. "Once there we can make camp and discuss our next course of action." He checked his bow quickly for damage and nodded when he found it to be whole. "I will forage and hunt while we travel. If my memory serves, rabbits and birds are plentiful here and I can always find roots and other things to supplement anything I manage to shoot."

ooo

The rabbits Legolas had brought down and cleaned sizzled over the fire he had built as soon as they reached the stream. In addition to the rabbits, he had shown Thor and Steve where to dig for tubers to bury in the ashes as a supplement to the meat. They had buried double the amount they needed, so that there would be something to eat in the morning. Legolas also gathered cress from the stream and he found and raided a turtle's nest, adding eggs to the menu. These he also placed in the ashes to cook.

"They can, at need, be eaten raw but I prefer them cooked," he explained.

"I'm just grateful that it isn't grubs," Bruce said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Rabbit and the Arda equivalent of potatoes, I can live with."

"I would not say that these roots are similar to potatoes," Legolas said, turning the rabbits on their spits. "The flavor is somewhat sharper. But, they will fill our bellies." He glanced at the sky. "Bruce, if you will turn these again when this side starts to brown, I will do a bit of scouting before the sun sets. Perhaps I will also find something else for our meal."

"I can do that," Bruce said as he moved closer to the fire.

"Stay aware, there are bandits and sometimes orcs who roam these lands and manage to evade the Rohirrim. I will not go far, I merely wish to see if I can spot a patrol." With that, he hefted his bow and ran lightly across the grass. Banner sighed, giving the meat a poke with a stick before sitting back. He glanced at Steve, a half smile forming on his lips.

"Do you think he realizes that I know what he's up to, giving me responsibility for the food?" he asked quietly.

"Probably," the super soldier answered. "He doesn't miss much, and you do fair better when you've got something to distract you." He stood up, stretching. "The part with 'The Three Hunters' was my favorite part of the books. When I read it, I wanted to travel with them."

"You know, worried girlfriends and S.H.I.E.L.D. et all at home aside, this is an incredible opportunity," Tony pointed out, examining an oddly shaped rock minutely. "I mean, it royally sucks that we ended up here, but until we can figure out how to get home, why not make the most of it?"

"It's going to be interesting, I'll give you that, Tony," Bruce said. "Since you're not so much of a closet Tolkien geek these days, fess up: who are you going to fanboy?"

"I'm not going to 'fanboy' anyone. I don't fanboy." Tony aimed a slight scowl at Banner. "I do want to meet King Thranduil, though. I always thought he was the best of the elf lords. No ring of power and he still holds out against Dol Goldur for centuries. That, my friends, is the definition of bad ass."

"Not to mention having better than average parenting skills as evidenced by Legolas," Bruce said.

"That too," Stark agreed, setting the rock down and picking up another. "By the time Legolas was born, things were starting to go to hell again and the guy still manages to be a good dad."

"So that's why you flame Bad!Thranduil fics on the internet," Clint said, snickering.

"I don't flame them, I merely point out the inaccuracy of their portrayal of his character," Tony retorted. "And I'm polite about it. Only douche bags flame." He smirked at the archer. "Okay, Junior Birdman, I know you've read the books. Who do you want to meet?"

"Already have," Clint replied, grinning.

"Figures," Stark snorted. "What about you, Capsicle?"

"Probably Aragorn and Gimli. Like I said, the Three Hunters were my favorites."

"Fair enough. What about you, Brucie?" Banner rolled his eyes at the nickname.

"Elrond, but Legolas said he's already sailed, so I'm out of luck." He turned the rabbits. "This isn't going to be fun and games, Tony. We're way out of our comfort zone here, what little we know may not help us much."

"We need information," Clint said. "We've all talked with Legolas a lot, but mostly about his culture, not Rohan or Gondor. We need to know what to expect and what to avoid."

"There's the problem of me as well," Natasha said. "Legolas is pretty even handed when it comes to gender roles, but I'd be willing to be that it's either particular to elves in general or the culture he was raised in specifically. That's not likely to be the case everywhere and that could be trouble with a capital T."

"Language will also be an issue," Thor opined, joining the conversation for the first time. "I have the Allspeak in my favor, but of the rest of us, there are none who have more than a partial knowledge of any of the languages here. Many problems can arise out of lack of ability to communicate, some quite serious." He paused to look each of them in the eyes. "Our cultures are different, our attitudes are different, our attire is vastly different. Such things can create fear, and fear can and does cause beings to react violently. We must be cautious."

"Thor's right," Steve sighed. "We need to ask Legolas about that when he gets back. We need to be as fore-warned as possible." He rubbed his temples. "If Legolas leaves anything of the jerk responsible for all this, I want a piece of him, too."

"Sign me up for that," Clint said, examining one of his arrows for damage.

"I want to see Thor hammer his sorry ass into the ground up to his eyeballs with Mjolnir," Tony said, eyes dark with banked fury. "Pretty please, Thor, with Pop Tarts on top."

"No Pop Tarts will be necessary, my friend," Thor growled. "I would do so merely to keep any other soul from experiencing what Legolas has endured and what we are now enduring." His expression shifted to one of mixed sorrow and worry. "And what those we love are enduring in our absence. I would do so for that reason most of all."

"Only after Cap shield-slams him a couple of dozen times," Clint said. "And after Tasha hits him with the Widow's bite and I turn his ass into a pincushion."

"Stop getting me excited, Cupid. You know I love it when you talk dirty," Tony deadpanned, breaking the tension.

Ooo

Legolas returned just before the light faded completely. He had found more roots and some berries to add to their provisions. He pronounced the rabbits done and portioned them out.

"You know, for not having anything like seasonings on it, this really isn't half bad," Tony commented, laying the last of the bones from his portion of rabbit aside and picking up the baked root. He broke it open and started scooping the soft insides of it into his mouth. He wrinkled his nose slightly, but finished it anyway. "The root tastes weird, but not enough that I'd turn it down." The elf chuckled.

"I am not so skilled at cooking as Sam, Gimli, or Aragorn but I can promise that you will not starve whilst I am with you. And really, Tony, if you like the rabbit wait until you have fish cooked this way." He sighed, sitting back and wrapping his arms around his knees. "My friends, we have much to discuss. The Rohirrim are good people, but their culture is vastly different from yours. I would minimize any misunderstandings that we can."

"Agreed. I think our best bet is for you to do the talking," Tony said, earning him a startled look from the others. "What? Pepper and I pull that all the time with the stockholders. She talks, and I pretend to be hung over."

"But instead are observing every reaction to your lady's words," the elf said nodding. "Adar and I have used that ploy often. Simply because I make no pretense at being qualified to rule does not mean that I do not know how to play politics."

"Did you see any signs of the patrol you were looking for?" Steve asked.

"No, which is likely to mean that they are en route to this part of their territory. The Marshall in charge of the Eored here is not one I know well at all. I hope to meet him while I am scouting to give me time to explain all of you."

"That would be best," Steve agreed, neatly laying the last of his rabbit bones, picked clean, on top of Tony's.

Ooo

Legolas perched atop the rock at the West side of their camp. He had insisted on performing sentry duty to allow the Avengers to sleep. In truth, he needed the space to think. He was more than relieved to be back home, but his heart bled for his new friends who were now in the exact predicament he had been in. 'I think Tony's idea is sound: Thor should pound the miscreant responsible into the ground up to his eyes with Mjolnir.' He sighed silently, casting his eyes over the silent camp. Steve was curled up, resting on his side with his head on his arm. Thor was stretched out, apparently not at all bothered by sleeping on the ground. Clint and Natasha were curled up together, her head resting on his arm as he lay behind her. Bruce and Tony lay opposite each other, their heads almost touching. They had fallen asleep mid-conversation.

He was grateful that they were able to sleep. The march would be hard, even on such fit individuals as the Avengers. He worried that even his formidable skills in hunting and foraging would not be enough to keep pace with the amount of food he knew Steve, Thor and Bruce required. He also worried about Bruce and Tony. Both Men were in good physical shape, they sparred with the rest of their team on a regular basis and Bruce practiced two disciplines called 'yoga' and 'tai chi' which lent themselves towards increased strength and endurance while Tony frequently forged metal by hand and sparred with his driver, Happy, in addition to the sparring he did with Clint, Natasha, and Steve. But such things were not forced marches over rough terrain for weeks on end and on fewer rations than usual. He hoped that none of them took ill or were injured.

He stood, making no noise, and surveyed the terrain around them. The night was waning, and had thankfully been peaceful. His keen ears picked up the sound of horses but he determined quickly that the horses were unshod. He dismissed the horses themselves, listening for what might have cause them to be on the move in the pre-dawn hours. His expression tightened when his ears picked up the unmistakable sound of a warg's growl. He leapt down from the rock startling Steve, Natasha, and Clint awake.

"Awake! I hear at least one warg approaching and there may be more. Tony," he said to the billionaire who was sitting up and rubbing the sleep from his eyes, "suit up, you will be safer."

"Yeah, no kidding," Tony said, kicking his suit open and donning it. "Clint's got a change of clothes for you, Bruce, just in case we need the Big Guy."

"Good to know," Bruce said, looking around nervously. Thor moved to stand next to him, smiling reassuringly as he adjusted his grip on Mjolnir.

"Worry not, Friend Bruce. You may have no need for your other form today."

"Clothing is going to be an issue if we need him more than once," the scientist commented dryly.

"Clothing is going to be an issue for all of us," Clint stated. "We aren't going to be smelling like roses by the time we get to Edoras, just saying."

"Quiet!" Legolas hissed. "If it has not caught our scent I would prefer that it not hear us," he said softly. They fell silent, ears straining for any sign of the beast Legolas had heard. Slowly, the hoof beats and the growls faded into the distance West of them. "It has followed the herd, but it may return if it does not make a kill." He glanced at the sky. "The sun will rise above the horizon in an hour or so. I would prefer to track and kill the beast then, rather than risk it finding our trail and stalking us."

"Agreed," Steve said. "As I said before, you're the native here. We'll follow your lead."

"Have any of you ever hunted?" Legolas asked.

"Just Hydra," Steve answered. "Born and raised in a city."

"Hello, billionaire. Only thing I've hunted is terrorists and tail," Tony said with a shrug. "I do have the suit's sensors, though." He glanced at Natasha. "Don't give me that look, Romanoff. Especially since that's how Nicky-boy wanted you to get close to me when I was dying of palladium poisoning. Natasha merely raised an eyebrow at him, but held her tongue. Legolas huffed in irritation and held a baked root out to Tony.

"If you are not going to be quiet, use your jaws to eat your breakfast," he said, frowning at the billionaire. He handed Natasha's root to her without comment before turning to Clint and Bruce.

"I can track people. I've never had to track animals," Clint said, accepting his root in turn.

"In that kind of situation, the Other Guy is more apt to be involved than I am," Bruce said, shifting nervously. "And I think he tracks by smell."

"I have many times hunted on Asgard and on Midgard," Thor stated, carefully modulating his voice. "I have little experience with wargs, save for the few I have fought recently on Midgard." He accepted his root from Legolas with a nod of thanks.

"Remain quiet until I tell you otherwise," Legolas instructed, handing out the remaining roots before taking his own. "Clint, we have need of your skills. I will watch West and North if you will watch East and South. Look for any disturbance, anything out of the ordinary." Clint nodded briefly and scrambled up one of the large rocks, taking position. Legolas returned to the rock he had occupied previously while the others ate in silence.

Ooo

Just as the sun's rays began to stretch over the plains, Clint hissed a warning. "Riders, coming from the East!"

Legolas leapt down from his rock and swiftly joined Clint on his. "Here is some fortune for us finally! Eomer leads the Eored." He glanced down at the rest of the team. "Tony, it would be wisest to remove the suit for now."

"Geez, Keebler, make up your mind!" Tony grumbled, not truly disgruntled, and collapsed the suit back down into briefcase form. Legolas shot him a brief, amused look before standing up on the rock and lifting his bow into the air. The riders apparently turned toward them and he lowered his arm, but remained standing atop the rock.

Ooo

"Greetings, Eomer King! It has been too long since last we met," Legolas called out, grinning.

"Legolas? Sauron's balls, where have you been? Elessar's had half of Gondor looking for you!" the young king called back, apparently dispensing with protocol completely. Legolas threw back his head and laughed.

"That, my friend, is a truly epic tale with which I will regale you over ale and food at a later, more appropriate time. For now, let me make my companions known to you and then there is at least one warg to track down and dispense with."

"Four wargs, actually," Eomer corrected in his straightforward manner. "They killed a pair of children who were minding the herd at a village to the East of here. We've been tracking them for three days."

"Ah, no!" Legolas' expression clouded with a mix of grief and anger. "They passed here not two hours ago, chasing a wild herd."

"Introductions will have to wait, then. We will return when the wargs are dealt with," Eomer declared. "For now, bide here and we will return as soon as we may." He turned to one of his men. "Give them provisions and blankets that they may be as comfortable as can be out here. Dreogan, Wulf, Hannar, and Treod, stay with Lord Legolas and his companions. The wargs may circle back if they do not make a kill."

"I thank you, my lord," Legolas said, bowing with his hand over his heart. "We await your return." He hopped off the rock as the Eored thundered away. "Well met, Dreogan. How is your family?"

"Growing," the rider said with a scapegrace grin. "I've another son and daughter since I saw you last."

"That is six now, yes?" the elf asked, approaching Dreogan's horse and scratching under the animal's bridle strap.

"And another on the way," Dreogan confirmed, his grin widening.

"You will have an Eored of your own ere long," Legolas commented, chuckling. Dreogan laughed, dismounting to clasp arms with the elf.

"It's good to see you hale and whole. We feared the worst when we heard you'd gone missing."

"As I said to your king, it is a long tale best told over ale and food. Suffice it to say that I survived largely because of my companions here, and now I wish to assist them in returning to their home as they assisted me in doing. Come, let me introduce you." He drew Dreogan over to the Avengers as the other three riders saw to their horses. "Save for Thor, they speak some of my tongue and a smattering of the Common tongue. He and I will translate as needed."

"I wondered why you didn't offer to go with the king," the rider said. Legolas nodded.

"Had he requested it, I would have done so gladly. My friends would have been well looked after in your capable hands, even with the small problem of language." He turned to the Avengers. "My friends, this is Dreogan. I know him well from the War of the Ring. He speaks a little Sindarin, and he is fluent in the Common tongue which is fortunate because I speak very little Rohirric." He grinned at Thor. "I am not so fortunate as you, and we will need your assistance." The thunder god nodded and Legolas turned back to the rider. "My friend, may I introduce Steve Rogers, also called Captain, a great war leader; Anthony Stark, also called Tony Stark, he is a magician of sorts and a very learned Man; Clint Barton, a warrior and archer whose skill is as great as mine; Lady Natasha Romanoff, a shieldmaiden of great renown; Doctor Bruce Banner, a healer and one of the Wise and Prince Thor Odinson, a great warrior and heir to the throne of Asgard." Dreogan bowed to them collectively and turned to translate for his fellow riders. Legolas turned back to the Team. "Clint, I think you and I should continue to keep watch until Eomer returns."

"I second that one," the S.H.I.E.L.D. archer replied. "Hey, Cap, pass me some of that bread, would you?" Steve tossed him half a loaf. Clint caught it easily and turned his attention to the horizon. Legolas returned to his perch, and the others settled in to finish the meal Eomer had provided and wait.

Ooo

""Ware, something comes!" Legolas called softly, dropping down from his rock. Clint followed suit, readying his bow. The elf turned to the riders, quickly filling them in. "It is not Eomer, so we must assume that the wargs have found our trail," he explained to the Avengers. "Close fighting is not desirable with these beasts, as you know."

"Agreed," Steve said. "Legolas, please explain to your friend about Tony's suit. We need Iron Man's weapons for this. Tony, suit up."

"Good call, Cap." He waited until Legolas indicated that he had explained and then kicked the latches on his suit, the metal climbing up his arms, around his torso and down his legs. The riders drew back a little, but continued to ready their weapons. Dreogan issued several commands and they took their positions. Steve then turned to the other Avengers.

"Clint, up on the tallest rock. Eyes on everything. Tasha, cover Bruce and keep your backs to a rock. Unless everything goes to hell, your job is to guard Bruce unless we need the Big Guy." Natasha nodded curtly, pulling her guns out and clicking the safetys off. Bruce just drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Tony, get aloft and stay there once they attack. Thor, stay on the ground if you can, but if you need to fly to get the job done, do it." Steve hefted his shield and strained his ears for any sign of the beasts.

"I hear the Eored approaching from the Northwest," Legolas said softly. "They must have found the warg's trail and are trying to drive them away from our position."

"Yeah, not working," Clint said sharply, loosing an arrow. "At your one o'clock!"

A deep snarl sounded from the area Clint had indicated and Steve threw his shield. There was a resounding clang and it flew back to his hand. Legolas' bow sang then, and the bows of the riders immediately after.

"Shit! I hate these things!" Clint said, firing a third arrow into the lead warg.

"Aim for the eyes or the throat," Legolas called, drawing his bow again. Clint sent an arrow into the beast's throat at the same time that the elf sent one into its eye, downing it.

Tony took to the air, startling the horses, and hit the second warg with his repulsors, throwing it several feet into the air and back. It did not rise again. The third, momentarily stunned by the blow from Steve's shield, shook it's head groggily and snarled at the super soldier. Legolas fired an arrow into its eye, dropping it as well.

Thor raised Mjolnir and shouted, calling the lightning down and channeling it into the fourth warg. The beast flew backwards several yards and lay still, its fur blackened and smoldering.

"Clint, Tony, see any more of them?" Steve asked.

"Negative on that one, Cap," Tony said, "but I think we've got some 'splainin' to do to a certain king. There's no way he missed my repulsor fire or Thor's little light show." The thunder god chuckled at that and returned Mjolnir to its place hanging from his belt.

"Friend Tony, I believe he may be more concerned with your suit and the effect it has on the horses," Thor pointed out, turning to assist the riders in calming their beasts. He was surprisingly good with animals, the Team had discovered. Animals, and children, too, seemed to adore Thor and flocked to him wherever he went.

"Right. Tony, you and I will drag the carcasses off to a safer distance from the camp. Legolas, if you wouldn't mind trying to explain to your friends a little about us, I'd appreciate it. Might help if his men are okay with us by the time Eomer King sees them." Steve slung his shield onto his back and grabbed the nearest warg by it's hind feet, dragging it across the grass away from the camp.

"Eeeww. For the record, dead animal hauling is NOT on my preferred list of post-mission duties," Tony commented, wrapping a gauntleted fist around the left hind foot of another of the wargs and dragging it off.

"Don't be such a girl, Stark," Natasha sniped good-naturedly, stowing her pistols.

"Just for that you're off the Christmas list, Romanoff. I'm surprised you aren't trying to carve steaks off of one of these things." Legolas' head whipped around and he shot the billionaire a look of profound distaste.

"Ugh, gross, Tony! Do not make me hurl," the elf said. A brief, sharp laugh came through Iron Man's speakers.

"You have spent waaay too much time around Lewis, Keebler," he commented.

"She is a charming child," Legolas commented, retrieving his and Clint's arrows. "And really? You are nicknaming me after tiny cartoon elves who bake cookies in hollow trees?" Tony just cackled and Legolas rolled his eyes, turning back to Dreogan. The rider was eying the dead wargs with eyes gone round.

"Truly your companions are great warriors," the Man said, voice filled with quiet awe.

"Yes, they are," the elf agreed. "They are also kind and compassionate beings who work to defend those who cannot defend themselves in their homeland. That is how I met them in the first place. I had need of their help and they provided it, without being asked or compensated in any way, and without knowing who I was or where I had come from." His eyes darted to the rider's face. "Orcs are less kind to elves than they are to any other race, Dreogan. It was several days ere I could tell them anything at all." He smiled faintly. "I owe them much."

"There are no debts among friends," Thor said, coming up behind Dreogan. "We have done battle together, and you have aided us in defeating the foul creatures from your homelands that arrived in ours as you did. There is no debt, there never was." The rider nodded, moving away to see to his fellow riders.

"Even so," the elf insisted stubbornly, "you would not be stranded here were it not for me."

"Perhaps, but consider this: why are we here? One thing I have learned, albeit far too recently for my dignity, is that everything occurs for a reason. We are here for a reason, my friend, though we do not yet know what that reason is."

"Why does that not comfort me?" Legolas asked dryly. Thor threw back his head and laughed heartily.

"You, like our Captain, think far too much," the thunder god stated, clapping the elf on the back and making him stagger slightly. "Come, we must ensure that Anthony does not unduly anger Lady Natasha and cause her to render him unconscious. I do not wish to carry him to Edoras." Legolas snickered and allowed Thor to draw him back to the camp.

The Eored arrived immediately after that and Legolas found himself with no time to think of anything besides explaining the Team's abilities and function adequately to Eomer. Surprisingly, or perhaps not so surprisingly, Thor assisted him in that endeavor to a great degree. Naturally gregarious and born to the politics of a ruling family, Thor was what convinced Eomer that the Team was no threat to his people. In short order after that, they were riding to Edoras; Legolas with Bruce riding pillion behind him, Clint with Natasha, Thor by himself and amazingly Tony, handling a horse almost as adeptly as one of his machines with Steve riding pillion behind him and looking as if he was certain he would fall off at any moment.

TBC