*is spoken in Elvish * "is direct speech"

The sun was setting over the Elf city named Rivendell and made it shine like a jewel. But despite its beauty the mood in the city was grim. In the meeting hall it was being discussed what to do with the legendary One Ring which the Hobbit Frodo Baggins had brought with him. 12 people were sitting around a round platform where the ring now lay.

“Why not use it? My country lies closest to Sauron’s land and my people has always fought against Sauron and his evil and kept the Elf city of Rivendell and the other nations safe. Why not finally use the Ring to our gain? Why not use it to destroy Sauron?” the human Boromir said from his seat. Boromir was a handsome man in his late thirties. His hair was light blond, his eyes green and his beard was the same color as his hair. He wore warm, fine clothes fitting his position as Gondor’s future ruler now that it’s rightful King was still missing. By his right side he had a sword and by his left was a horn with which he only needed to blow in to call for help.

“You can't will the Ring. No one can. Only Sauron can master it. The One Ring is too powerful to use for own gain. It must be destroyed,” the only other human present spoke up. He was a man about Boromir’s age. His hair was deep black and the same half long length as Boromir‘s. His eyes were also black as were his clothes. He too had a sword by his side. Unlike Boromir whose eyes seemed hunted his eyes were filled with determination and courage. He lived up to his mysterious reputation and he was known only as Strider.

“Who are you to know of such things? You are but a ranger,” Boromir gave back. Did he not know what kind of peril his country was in? The Ring was his only hope to rebuild his country to its former glory.

“He is Aragorn, rightful heir to Gondor. Show him the respect he deserves,” Legolas, the Elf prince, defended his friend and stood up as to show he was really to draw arms against any enemy of Aragorn’s. Legolas was a tall, slim man with the pointy ears all Elves had. He was handsome with long white hair and a regal face and posture. He wore tight formfitting pants, a shirt and the cape all present wore.

"Gondor has no King," there was pain in Boromir's words as if he had longed for someone to lighten the burden he now carried but dared not believe. "Gondor needs no King," with those words Boromir sat down again.

"Why...." Legolas began angrily, ready to defend his friend all the way.

*Sit down, Legolas* Aragorn asked kindly and his friend did as bid but obviously didn't like it.

"Aragorn is right. The Ring must be destroyed," Lord Elrond said. He had himself fought against Sauron 3000 years ago when Sauron had flesh and not now where he was a spirit seeking power. It was also then he had seen the weakness and fall of men as the then King of Gondor had been unable to destroy the One Ring and thereby end all evil. He had established Rivendell as a refuge against Sauron and evil. The place was protected by the Elves' magic but Elrond knew as did the wise, old wizard Gandalf that the Elves' magic wasn't enough to hold back this new threat. The Ring had to be destroyed.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Gimli the dwarf said. Like all dwarfs he wasn’t very tall but he was strong and well built. He took up his ax and slammed it with all his might down hard against the Ring. His ax broke but the Ring didn't even get one scratch.

Frodo grimaced in pain as Gimli's ax hit the Ring. It was as if he felt its pain. Maybe it was because he had carried the Ring from his homeland, The Shire, to Rivendell or maybe it was because he on his way to Rivendell with his 3 Hobbit childhood friends: his best friend Sam, Merry and Pippin had received a fatal blow by an immortal blade from one of the 9 dark riders called Ringwraiths. Only thanks to Strider's beloved, Arwen, daughter of Elrond and princess of the Elves who had taken him to the safety of Rivendell had he survived but he would always carry the scar with him. Whatever it was Gimli's attack seemed to pain him though he did not know why. Like all Hobbits Frodo had the size of an 8 year old human child. His face was kind and youthful but on this day his eyes were filled with much worry.

"The Ring was made in the fire of Mount Doom. Only there can it be unmade," Lord Elrond said and the people around him looked from one to another.

"Mount Doom lies deep inside Mordor, the land of Sauron. It's a wasteland. There's unspeakable evil there. The all seeing eye is ever watchful. Not with 10.000 men could this be done," Boromir protested.

"Lord Elrond speaks truth. The Ring must be destroyed," Legolas said determined.

"The fate of the free world shall not rest in the hands of an Elf," Gimli the dwarf protested.

"Would you do it?" Legolas gave back. The Elves and the dwarfs disagreed on almost all matters. While the Elves were educated, logical, fair and just people the dwarfs sought riches in the mountains and cared little for the trouble of others.

"There are other ways. We can use it," Boromir tried again.

"The Ring can't be willed...." Strider began.

Suddenly everyone began talking at once, old hates between the races were brought up and Frodo wanted to run away. The Ring seemed to grow more powerful by this display of evil.

"I'll do it," Frodo finally said and stood up and went towards the platform where the Ring lay and picked it up. "I'll take the Ring to Mount Doom. Though...I do not know the way," he admitted softly and Gandalf smiled kindly. As he had told Frodo not long ago: you can learn all there is to know about Hobbits and their peaceful and quiet life in a month yet after 100 of years they can still amaze you.

"Then I shall go with you for as long as this burden is yours to carry," Gandalf promised and went to Frodo's side.
“My…” Aragorn began and was to walk over to them as suddenly a blinding light appeared from above.

“Frodo, get behind me,” Gandalf said and the small Hobbit hurried behind the wizard’s protection. Aragorn quickly stood and drew his sword and went to stand protectively before the wizard and Frodo.

“I’ll defend you. With my life or my death if needs be,” Aragorn said and Legolas quickly stood by his friend’s side and drew his bow. Legolas was a very skilled bowman and his eyesight was sharper than an eagle’s.

“Stay back, little one,” Boromir demanded and stood besides Aragorn’s other side and also drew his sword and took up his shield.

Gimli took up his ax and all in the hall stood at ready.

The blinding light widened and out came a human form who landed on the stone floor with a *thug*.

“God damn it,” a male voice swore. A muscular handsome man with brown hair and eyes sat up and rubbed his neck. He wore cowboy pants and a shirt and seemed very out of place. He saw the battle ready people all around him and quickly got to his feet. Out of his hands suddenly appeared 3 claws on each hand.

"Who the fuck are you? Where the hell am I? And where's Marie?" he demanded to know. A man with pointy ears...actually most of the people around him had pointy ears, came forth from behind several guards.

"I'm Lord Elrond. Ruler of Rivendell and the Elf people. We mean you no harm, stranger," Lord Elrond promised.

"Whether or not we mean you harm depends on your business here, stranger," Boromir spoke up and the man noticed he hadn't lowered his shield nor his sword.

"I'm Logan. Now, where is Marie?" Logan demanded to know and began to like this Boromir character. If nothing else he was honest and out front.

"What do you...." Aragorn began as a new figure appeared from the light above their heads.

"Ahhh," a female voice screamed as she fell towards the stone floor.

"Marie!" Logan yelled and ran towards her and caught her as she came down. She clung to his arms and hid her face by his shoulder. She was a fragile, young looking human woman with brown hair and a white streak to it in front. She wore pants, a blouse and long gloves.

"Oh, thank God. You're alright," she whispered. He stroked her over the hair.

"Shh. All is well now," he promised and kissed the top of her head. Seeing this show of love and affection a look of understanding appeared in Aragorn's eyes and he lowed his sword as did all save Boromir whose eyes held no understanding nor recollection of such love...only suspicion and longing.

"Strangers, from where do you..." Legolas began as yet another figure appeared from above. Unlike Marie and Logan the female floated peacefully and gracefully towards the floor, her long white dress floating in the wind.

"Logan. Rogue. I'm pleased to see you are well," the woman's voice held kindness and a wisdom beyond her youthful appearance. Legolas took an instant liking to her. And not only because they both had long white hair. There was something about her...and then he had never seen a human with brown skin. This woman was truly stunning.

"Ororo!" Marie said happily and gave her a big hug as she landed besides her and Logan.

Suddenly, just as the light above seemed to grow fainter, yet another figure appeared.

"Wha....Arrr" the man yelled as he realized he was falling towards stone floor. Ororo called the wind to her and quickly flew up and caught him and guided him safely to the ground. As his feet met the stone floor the light above died away completely. He wore black pants, a shirt and red glasses. He seemed very youthful in appearance though it was hard to tell when one couldn’t see his eyes.

"Scott, are you alright, my friend?" Ororo asked kindly. Scott nodded and smiled at her.

"Yes, thank you. Are you all alright?"

“More or less,” Logan complained.

Scott looked from Rogue in Logan's arms to Ororo by his side to the more or less battle ready figures around him. His eyes found who he believed to be a man in authority.

"I'm sorry if we have disturbed something. We mean you no harm," he promised, talking to the Lord Elrond. He nodded.

"No need to apologize though I'm interested as to know from where you come," he asked. "Please, do take a seat."

Rogue, Ororo, Marie and Scott sat down on the chairs some of Elrond's men had provided.

"Maybe we should start with the introductions," Scott broke the strange silence which had suddenly settled over the hall. "My name's Scott Summers. This is Ororo Monroe," his hand found Ororo‘s and held it for a little while. "This is Marie, called Rogue," with his right hand he indicated Marie who sat to his left side as Ororo sat to his right. "The man besides her is Logan, her husband of three years." Logan gave a small nod of his head at Scott's introduction.

"Allow me then to introduce the people present here. This is Legolas, Prince of the Elves west of the city," Lord Elrond nodded towards him and the young Elf gave a formal bow for them. "The human by his side is Aragorn, called Strider. My foster son, the love of my daughter Arwen Evenstar and the rightful heir to the kingdom of Gondor," at his foster father's words Strider also gave them a formal bow. "The human besides him is the warrior Boromir: eldest son of Denethor II, Steward of Gondor and Minas Tirith." Boromir merely gave them a half nod.

"Steward?" Marie mumbled confused to Logan who shrug his shoulders.

"He leads Gondor in the King's absence," Lord Elrond explained. Marie blushed. She hadn't intended for him to hear her. "The dwarf is Gimli, the Hobbit is Frodo Baggins, the Ring bearer and the wizard is Gandalf. I am Lord Elrond, ruler of the Elves and Rivendell," Lord Elrond introduced the rest of the nearest people around Scott. The others he noticed had to be Elves too as they had the same slim build and pointy ears as Lord Elrond who had spoken.

"A good question would be: where the Hell are we?" Logan demanded to know and earned a killer look from beneath Scott's red glasses.

"You are in the Elf city Rivendell on Middle Earth," Lord Elrond explained.

"Great. We're on another fuckin' planet," Logan complained.

"May I ask what we were interrupting as we…entered?" Ororo asked Lord Elrond. The Elf's eyes clouded with worry.

"I was to gather a fellowship to journey to Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring," he said grimly.

"What? Who? A Ring? What the Fuck is going on?" Logan said confused.

"The One Ring was forged...." Lord Elrond began.

"The short version, thanks. You," Logan pointed towards Strider. "Explain this Ring business to us in as few sentences as possible. I'll like to have this over with sometime before the next Millennium."

"The Ring is evil. It must be destroyed. It can only be destroyed in Mount Doom but the journey there is very hard and filled with danger. Furthermore the Ring has a will of its own. It can corrupt good men. It represents all negative things. Pick it up and those dark and evil feelings will consume you and finally destroy you," his voice was as pained as if he himself had failed to resist the Ring's power.

"That must be why we're here," Scott figured.

"Explain," Lord Elrond demanded.

"Well, my friends and I does not belong to this realm nor time. But I do believe we were send here for a purpose. That purpose I now see is to help you destroy the Ring and bring peace back to your world," Scott said.

"You get placed out of your time a lot?" Boromir asked, a hint of amusement and disbelief in his voice.

"It happens more often than you should think," Logan mumbled.

"I do not know if you and your friends should be on this quest. It is very dangerous," Lord Elrond said doubtful.

"We're not exactly helpless here," Logan complained.

"In our time we're called mutants. We have...special powers," Scott explained.

"Are you wizards?" Gandalf asked.

"No, we....It's easier if we show you," Scott said and stood up. "Stand up," he asked of Ororo, Marie and Logan who stood as well. "Ororo can control the weather and fly," Scott explained and Ororo let a wind lift her a few cm's above the stone floor and as her eyes turned white a small rain cloud appeared beneath her right hand.

"Very impressive," Lord Elrond said for all of them. Ororo dissolved the cloud and landed gracefully on her feet.

"Very much impressive, my lady," Legolas said softly and lifted her right hand and guided it to his lips. Ororo blushed prettily and Scott smiled at the young Elf's obvious fascination with his friend.

"Logan here can make claws come out from his hands," as Scott said it so did claws appear from Logan’s hands.

"We saw this earlier," Boromir said dryly. Logan withdrew the claws again.

"Besides that he has heightened smell and hearing and he heals faster than any human. His skeleton is metal and he can survive almost any wound," there was no bragging in Scott's voice: just a stating of how things were.

"Like an Elf," Lord Elrond said. Scott looked puzzled at him. "Elves have eternal life but can choose a mortal one. They also have heightened senses," Elrond explained.

"Okay," Scott let that piece of information sink in. Especially the Immortal part could come in handy in a battle. "Rogue beside him can absorb the life-force from any one she touches and thereby gain their memories and powers."

"This is one power you'll not wish to see demonstrated," Rogue said grimly and Logan held her tight.

"That power is one I fear will do you no good. Our opponents will be Orcs and the sinister, black-cloaked Ringwraiths who are neither living nor dead but cursed to live in the twilight world of Sauron. I'm not sure what such beings would do to your warrior," Strider said and Rogue shivered. It sounded terrible should she be forced to absorb such beings.

"And yourself?" Lord Elrond inquired.

"I can shot through almost anything with my eyes. Like this," Scott took a coin from his pocket and threw it up into the air. He lifted his glasses and a beam of red energy left his eyes. As the coin landed in his hand again he put his glasses back on and held the coin up for the others to see. There was a hole right in the middle of it.

"You speak truth. You are great warriors," Lord Elrond agreed. "You can join the Fellowship with Aragorn, Gimli, Boromir, Gandalf, Frodo..."

"Mr. Frodo goes no where without me," a young male Hobbit suddenly appeared and said. Frodo lightened up in a big smile and the two men hugged.

"I should have known you would be here even when only Frodo was called to this secret meeting, Samwise," Lord Elrond said good naturally. "You can go with him."

"Us too," two more male Hobbits said in union.

"Pippin and Merry. You can come too," Lord Elrond gave in.

"Good for you need some intelligent people on this journey...quest...trip.." Pippin said.

"Well, that rules you out," Merry teased.

"By the way....where are we going?" Pippin asked, ignoring his friend. The others laughed.

"So, you 13 will be the Fellowship," Lord Elrond announced and people began to go to get ready to depart.

"Lord Elrond," Scott stopped him as he was to leave the hall.

"Yes?"

"May I ask why you will not accompany us?"

"Sauron's forces have gathered. Soon they'll attack Rivendell. I have to stay and lead my people," Lord Elrond explained and Scott nodded understanding.

“Before you go pick up a sword each at the armory. Legolas or Aragorn can show you the way,“ Lord Elrond said before he departed with his helpers. Soon there were only Logan, Marie, Ororo and Scott left in the hall.

“I’ll ask Legolas to show me to the swords,” Ororo said and flew after the young Elf and Scott smiled warmly. Two such warm souls as those two were destined to be soul mates. As he watched he saw Ororo land gracefully besides the young Elf who light up in a brilliant smile as he saw her and they began to walk together towards the armory, deep in conversation.

"Okay, this is completely insane. I mean an all powerful ring? Dwarfs? Vulcan look-alikes?!" Logan complained.

"I know, Logan. This is a very strange place but I see no way back. We were sent here for a reason."

"Maybe it was just one of those very unlucky things which seem to happen to me whenever you come to visit me and Marie," Logan complained. Logan had known Scott for five years and he had been his best man at his wedding but though they were brothers in arms they disagreed on almost everything save one: they respected and trusted each other.

"Very funny," Scott complained but smiled anyway. He saw Legolas and Ororo come back towards them. Legolas carried all the swords for them but stopped a little away from them. Ororo smiled at him as to reassure him that all was safe and flew towards Scott.

"We better get going or else we'll fall behind," Ororo warned as she landed besides him. Scott nodded.

"Let's go," Scott said and they went to Legolas who handed out the swords. After some trouble with how to get them on they began to go towards the others. Strider had a horse with him but the others walked on foot. All save Legolas carried a sword with them. Legolas had only his trusted bow and two very fine daggers. Also Boromir and Aragorn carried daggers; Aragorn's was made by the Elves while Boromir's was from his own people.

"Half-dead bad guys, the world about to end....yep, it's just another normal day at the office," Logan bummed as Gandalf began to lead the small band out of the beautiful Elf city and towards the mountains. As Scott turned around to take one last look at the Elf city he saw a beautiful young Elf woman wave towards them and Strider lifted his hand and waved back before he turned around and walked on.

"At least there's no statues or train stations around here," Scott comforted with a teasing smile.

"Oh, shut up, Scooter."

Laughter could be heard as the Fellowship walked towards the mountains.

"We must have walked for hours," Rogue complained as the sun was slowly setting in the horizon. Her legs felt like stone and never had she been so tired. She looked ahead and saw Gandalf in the lead with the fellowship walking in a line behind him over the mountain with Logan and her as the rear.

"We have walked for 10 hours," Ororo let them know from her position further up in the line of the fellowship where she flew a few cm's above the hard mountain stone besides Legolas who had no trouble jumping from stone to stone and looked to Rogue irritatingly fresh.

"Thanks. Ah really needed to hear that," Rogue said sarcastically and Logan gave her hand a gentle squeeze. He had held her hand from they had started out from Rivendell and had not let go of her.

"We haven't even had second breakfast," Pippin complained from where he walked besides Merry and Boromir who had taken an instant liking to the two misbehaving Hobbits.

"You had breakfast. And for the tenth time; we won’t stop for lunch," Strider said from further up in the line where he walked with Frodo and Sam just behind Gandalf.

"I swear this is worse than one of your training sections, Scooter," Logan bummed and Scott laughed.

"I thought you said nothing was as bad as one of my sections."

"Well, I've just found it," Logan retorted.

"It'll be dark soon. We'll have to rest for the night," Legolas said.

"Ororo, fly up and see if you can find a safe spot for us to camp for tonight," Scott asked and Ororo did as bid.
 

"I can see some stones a few miles further up. It's not much but it'll grant us some safety," Ororo told them as she landed besides Legolas and blushed under his openly admiringly stare.

"We'll make camp there," Gandalf said and as soon as they had reached their goal, Merry and Pippin began to prepare for dinner. After dinner Boromir thought it was about time that his two little friends learned how to defend themselves and began to show them some moves though the lection quickly ended in play and laughter.

Gandalf stood watching the horizon and smiled at the playfulness of the two Hobbits, Gimli looked disappointed as Gandalf had denied going through the mountains via Gimli's cousin's tunnels as he had suggested. Frodo and Sam sat talking and seemed very content in each other's company. Strider sat a little away from Frodo though he had positioned himself so if anyone wanted to reach Frodo they had to go through him. Legolas was as fresh and athletic as ever and jumped from stone to stone while keeping a watchful eye out for any danger. Ororo flew besides him.

"Tell me more about your people," Ororo asked of the Elf prince.

"What would you like to know?" Legolas asked kindly.

"Your history, your culture...your customs," she asked.

"We are an old people; in all of Middle Earth no beings have as gathered and ordered society as we. The Elves have many secrets and many gifts; we can heal
wounds, we craft the best blades for weapons, we know all known history from time long gone by and we are immortal," Legolas turned from his observation of the sky and towards her.

He smiled to her and reached for her hand. His smile widened as she gracefully laid her hand in his offered one.

"You can never die?" Ororo asked puzzled. "To never die is not the nature of things. Dying is part of living."

"My eyes tell me you're a human yet you speak with the wise and gentle soul of a great Elf," Legolas said softly and she smiled.

"So you can die?"

"Yes. We can't die from old age or disease. We stop ageing when we reach adulthood. But we can die from grief or if we're slain in battle," he explained and Ororo shivered. "Killing and battle is not in your nature is it?" he asked, a hint of surprise in his voice. Most humans he had encountered enjoyed power and battle. Only
Aragorn was different yet he would kill anyone who threatened him or his. Aragorn he could understand. He had been raised by Elves and learned their way of life and Legolas had known him since he had been a baby when he had visited Lord Elrond's court. But this woman...so regal in posture; almost like a Goddess with a pure soul and warm heart. She was a mystery to him and a sign to him that there was hope still for the human race though he knew that Lord Elrond thought otherwise. To Lord Elrond Aragorn was his son and an Elf, for his disappointment in humans was still so fresh in his mind.
 
"No. I wish peace for all beings, small and big, put on this world," Ororo admitted.

"Spoken like an Elf," Legolas whispered and Ororo smiled.

"Then your people is truly an admirable one since you seek neither riches or glory nor possess human weaknesses like greed or jealousy," Ororo said and meant every word.

"When you're in touch with nature it is not hard to love all living things," Legolas said and with a wave of his hand indicated the land around him.

"I too can hear the land talk. I can hear if there is rain coming or if a storm is under way," Ororo told him.

He smiled and drew her close to him.

*Are you really here or just a dream?* Legolas whispered softly as he put his arms around her. So often had he wished to find a perfect love but he knew it was a rare thing to find even if one lived forever. Yet, here was a woman so matched to him she was like the other piece of his soul. Could he really love a woman who he knew nothing about save her name?

"You really care for him, don't you?" Scott asked as he let Rogue and Logan be alone for a while and went to sit besides Strider. The fact that Strider's hand had found the handle of his sword as he had neared him hadn't gone unnoticed by Scott.

"Frodo? He is our last hope," Strider explained shortly.

"You don't like us being here, do you?" Scott asked forwardly. Strider turned to look at him.

"Honestly? No. We know nothing about you or how or why you came here."

"Had we wanted to harm you we would have done so by now," Scott said, not the least offended by Strider's distrust. Had he been in Strider's shoes he would have had the same suspicions.

He had himself wondered how and why they had landed on Middle Earth. Any number of people could have brought them here; from wizards to mutants. Though the question which troubled Scott the most was another: Had they been send to save the fellowship…or break it?

"Maybe you do mean good but you could still be a danger to Frodo. We all could be," Strider said pained.

"Why?" Scott asked mystified.

"The power of the Ring. As I told you it corrupts men; feeds on their greed. One man had the Ring in his hand, had the one chance to destroy it and its evil once

and for all...but he couldn't. He let greed and human weaknesses control his actions, and evil survived. He..." Strider took a deep breath at the thought of his recurring nightmare. "...He was my ancestor."

"So?" Scott asked puzzled. "Wasn't this long ago?"

"3000 years ago, but don't you see? His weakness floats in my veins. The same blood, the same weakness."

Scott had never heard such pain and doubt in a man's voice before and didn't know what to do. He was still unsure if he even believed the Ring had any power at all. He had asked Gandalf on the way if he couldn't just use his eye beams on the Ring and destroy it that way, but Gandalf had looked concerned at Frodo and told him that the Ring could only be unmade in Mount Doom, the place where it had been forged.

"A wise man once told me that we forge our own destiny," Scott said softly.

"Was this man your father?"

"No. I have no family. It was my mentor," Scott explained shortly. He didn't like to discuss his family with anyone but it seemed like family and inheritance was very important here.

"Hmm," Strider just said and for a while they just sat in silence. Scott noticed the silver angel like necklace Strider had around his neck.

It seemed strangely out of place with all his black clothes to wear such a light and white jewelry.

"I don't mean to prey, but your necklace..." Scott began.

"It was given to me by Arwen, my beloved as a token of her love for me and our union," With his left hand he gently caressed the jewelry. If he closed his eyes and concentrated hard enough he could almost feel her warm arms around him again. "She gave this to me...as she gave up her immortality to be with me," there was love, sadness at her loss and a great longing for his beloved in his voice and Scott smiled warmly.

"You will see her again," he promised though he knew it was promise he had no right to give. Strider smiled.

"Birds coming," Legolas said to Ororo as he faced the horizon again. His eagle sharp eye searched the sky. Further, further...

"Seek cover! It's Sauron," Legolas called out and everyone sat up at once. Strider ran to Sam and Frodo and carried them with him behind a big stone where he laid himself protectively above them. Boromir carried Merry and Pippin to safety and like Aragorn used his body as a shield. Logan pulled Rogue down with him and used his body as her shield. Legolas jumped with Ororo behind a stone and held her close. Gandalf and Gimli sought cover and Scott threw himself down behind some bushes. Everyone held their breaths until the birds had passed.

"All clear," Legolas said and emerged with Ororo from behind the stone and the others came forth as well.

"Shouldn't we have been told there was evil animals here besides the half dead riders you mentioned earlier?" Scott complained to Strider.

"There are animals working for Sauron. Now you know," Strider said shortly and began gathering his things. "Sauron now knows where we are. We have to move
further up. Break up camp," he ordered.

"I'll fly ahead and find us a safe place for the night," Ororo said and flew a few cm's above the ground, her hand still in Legolas's.

"Be careful," Legolas asked and she smiled and nodded. As she flew further away their hands parted.
 

"Don't do anything rash. Call for us if you find anything suspicious," Scott called after her.

"Yes, in this place a frog could be deadly," Rogue warned.

"Just look for anything dark and ugly. That'll be the bad guys," Logan called after her as the fellowship was on the move up the mountain again.

"Remind me to take out all the mountains from the Danger Room simulations when we get back. After this I think we've all had more than enough mountains to
last us a lifetime," Scott said, sounding out of breath as they moved on.

Strider quickly caught him and lifted him back to his feet.

"You alright?" he asked and Frodo nodded.

He immediately searched for the Ring that he had in a chain around his neck. It was gone. He looked panicked to Strider and then to the way he had fallen. Boromir had turned around and picked the Ring up; careful to only touch it with his gloved hands. He looked intensively at it. Could this Ring save his country from destruction? If not, what other hope was there left?

"It is strange that we shall suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing," Boromir whispered. He looked intensively at it. Did this Ring really possess so much power? Enough power to save his people?

"Such a little thing," Boromir added.

Logan grinned, not sensing the growing tension.

"Yeah. Nothin' but bullshit if you ask me," Logan agreed.

"Boromir," Strider said sternly and Scott noticed his hand had moved to his sword handle. Scott was beginning to wonder if Strider trusted anyone in the fellowship save Frodo, Gandalf and Legolas. "Give the Ring back to Frodo," he commanded.

"He's worse than you with the orders, Scooter," Logan said dryly, something in him wanting to defend Boromir as he too found it utterly ridiculous to risk everything for a Ring.

"He's a King so he's excused," Rogue said softly to her husband and kissed his cheek.

"Of course," Boromir replied to Strider's command. He walked to Frodo and handed him the Ring. "I care not," as he said the words, all knew he didn't mean them.

He cared. A lot. The Ring was his last hope. The last hope for his people. And he was helping to destroy that one last hope with the Ring.

Boromir forced a smile before he turned his back to Frodo and Strider and began walking again. Seeing that everything was all right again Gandalf began to lead them further up, though the mood off the fellowship had suddenly become grimmer.

Boromir stood still and waited for Logan and Rogue to reach him before he began walking again.

"Thank you, Logan," he said sincerely and Logan sensed his thanks and respect was hard won but when given it would last forever. Logan smiled at the other man.

"No problem. I understand. Hell, I'm not even sure what the fuck we're doing here myself. For all I care we should go back," Logan admitted and pressed Rogue close to him.  It was getting colder and if Strider were right this mission would soon prove dangerous. He didn't care for either of those things as his healing factor
protected him from most dangers but his prime concern was his wife.

Nothing was worth risking her life for. Nothing!

"I'm not saying we shall go back. I respect Lord Elrond and his decision and will follow it but if the Ring was given to my people - it could help us drive the Orcs from our lands," Boromir explained and a pained look was in his eyes at the thought of the pain his countrymen was in.

"I'm sorry for your pain, Prince," Rogue said softly and laid a gloved hand on his shoulder. He smiled at her and nodded his thanks.

"Thank you, My Lady. Your husband is lucky to have a beautiful and kindhearted woman such as you by his side," Boromir said softly and Rogue blushed prettily.

"Thanks," she mumbled.

"And I'm not a Prince. I'm the son of the Steward of Gondor," Boromir corrected her.

"Steward....kinda like the President's son, if sons inherited the rule after their fathers," Logan figured out and Rogue laughed and Boromir smiled politely though he didn't understand the word 'president'.

"The markings on your shield...what do they mean?" Rogue asked, for the first time really noticing the strange letters on Boromir's shield. Earlier, they had been too far away to see the details of the shield that the warrior carried on his back.

"They look Arabic, with 3 stars above," Logan said as he himself studied the strange markings on Boromir's shield.

"It's the Steward's Seal. The letters are Elvish and is spoken *Arandur*. It is an Elvish title and it means ''King's Servant' or in the common tongue; steward," Boromir explained.

"Do all your words bear a meaning?" Rogue asked interested.

"All Elvish words do. Prince Legolas means Prince 'Green Leaf'..."

"It fits him," Logan bummed as he saw the Elf walk with ease through the landscape.

"...Lord Elrond's name translates into 'Vault of Stars', Aragorn translates rudely into King or Lord while Aragorn's beloved, the Lady Arwen means 'Noble Maiden'."

"So all Elves bear names which has a meaning and fits their personality," Scott said, having heard Boromir's explanation.

"Yes," Boromir confirmed.

"Does your name have a meaning?" Rogue asked.

"Yes. Boromir translates into 'Faithful Jewel'."

"I'm sure you'll live up to your name then," Rogue said kindly and meant it.

"I hope so… I hope so," Boromir said and got a haunted look in his eyes and walked a bit faster, efficiently ending their conversation.

Soon the weather became really bad and by now, the snow was knee-deep. The Hobbits were barefooted so Boromir carried Merry and Pippin, his shield tied to his back while Strider carried Fordo and Sam, pressing them close to try and give them more warmth. Further down the line Logan had put his own cape over Rogue to try and keep her warm.

"Ororo, can't you do something about this weather?" Scott asked and pulled his cape closer around himself.

Ororo flew besides Legolas. Unlike the others Legolas was able to walk on the snow and not sink through it. Legolas had explained it was because Elves weighted so little so the snow didn't give beneath him. Ororo was also able to stay above the snow though her constant flying was beginning to take its toll on her. Legolas and Ororo didn't feel the cold as the others did; Ororo never froze thanks to her mutant powers and Legolas was an Elf so the weather didn't bother him. Logan on the other hand could feel the cold but his healing factor prevented it from doing him any harm.

"I'm holding off the worst but something about this weather is unnatural

and I can only command natural phenomena," Ororo explained and Scott nodded.

"I know."

"Sauron must be trying to slow us down," Logan yelled to be heard over the loud wind.

"I hear a voice on the wind. Whispering," Legolas said and tried to hear the words more clearly. "It's neither human nor Elvish," he told them.

Suddenly the wind got colder and stronger and pieces of the mountaintop started to roll down towards them.

"I can stop it. I must stop it," Ororo said determined and flew up towards the strange dark clouds and her eyes turned white as she called on her control over the weather to help her friends. She let a wind take as much of the falling snow pieces from the mountain away as she could but some pieces was still falling towards the fellowship.

"Seek cover," Strider yelled and they all pressed as close to the mountainside as they could.

"It's Saruman. He's trying to bring down the mountain," Gandalf yelled as the big snow pieces fell down in front of them.  Strider and Boromir turned their backs to the falling snow and again used their bodies to protect the Hobbits. Logan pressed Rogue close to the mountainside, his arms around her and his back to the falling snow.

"Ororo! Come back down. This is not natural weather. Come down!" Scott yelled panicked to his friend over the howling of the wind.

"Ororo!" Legolas yelled and ran out in the open as soon as the snow pieces had passed them.

"Legolas! Don't! It's not safe!" Strider yelled after his friend.

Scott couldn't see Ororo anywhere due to the dark clouds and heavy snowfall.

"Legolas! Can you see her?" Scott yelled.

"Yes. I see her. She has called lighting to her," Legolas yelled back, concern heavy in his voice. "She's.... she's starting to fall. She's falling," he ran towards her as she fell with great speed towards the snow.

Scott tried to see but now he couldn't even see Legolas anymore. As Ororo came down Legolas caught her in his arms and held her close. Her eyes were closed and she was limp in his arms. With his heart in his throat he searched for a pulse...and found one. Relieved he drew a deep breath.

"Legolas! Did you find her? Is she alright?" Scott asked concerned, having to raise his voice to be heard not only over the wind but also over Gandalf's attempts at blocking Saruman's attack and turn the weather.

"I found her. She's alive but exhausted. I will carry her until she is better," Legolas said and came into view, Ororo in his arms.

"Gandalf, we have to go back. We can't go over the mountain," Strider yelled.

Gandalf considered his words. Saruman had been his mentor before he had joined with Sauron. He was much stronger than himself. He couldn't beat him. But the
only other way was the tunnels the Dwarfs had made and in them there was rumored to live a fire being called the Shadow that would kill everyone it encountered.

"We can't go on," Boromir agreed.

"Going on is suicide! " Logan yelled.

"Let the Ring bearer decide," Gandalf said and hoped Frodo knew which way would prove the least dangerous.

"Frodo, which way?" Strider asked softly. Frodo looked from one to another.

Up until now he had never left his homeland, the Shire. He did not know which way was the least dangerous but he knew this mountain was killing them.

"The tunnels," he decided. Gandalf drew a deep breath.

"Then the tunnels it is."

"About time! I was beginning to wonder if you were going to form a council to decide that," Logan bummed as the fellowship began to go back the way they had
come, Legolas still carrying Ororo in his arms.

"Shall I carry her some of the way?" Scott offered though he was sure the young Elf was stronger than his slim build would suggest.

"No. No, I have her," Legolas said and held her close. He drew as much of his cape around her as he could to keep her warm.

*I have her,* he whispered softly and his eyes and voice filled with warmth and love.

"I hope the tunnels are better than this," Rogue said, trying not to shiver from the cold which was worse now than on the way up as Ororo was no longer able to hold it back. Logan pulled her close to him and kissed the top of her head.

"With our luck...I wouldn't count on it," Scott mumbled grimly.

After several days they reached the foot of the mountain. By now especially Logan was getting very irritated with the whole situation and Rogue really missed the wonders of her time...like real food and a warm bed. Logan liked the wild and so did Ororo, but Scott was with Rogue, although he would never admit that he actually missed the comforts of home...at least not while they still had a mission to complete. It would be bad for the moral.

“Are we there yet?” Rogue asked in Logan’s arms. They had walked at least 10 hours a day, every day, so she was now very exhausted. Logan had noticed her struggle and had simply ignored her protests and carried her some of the way.

“We are there,” Gandalf announced as he stopped in front of the mountainside. Logan was about to complain that it was just the bare side of the mountain when the moonlight shone on the rough stone and some gold written letters appeared on the mountain wall, forming a door. “This is the entrance to the tunnels.”

“What does it say?” Ororo asked as she saw the beautiful symbols on the wall.

“It is an old form of Elvish. It says ‘The doors of Durin, Lord Of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter’,” Legolas translated and also came to look at the door. Merry, Pippin, Boromir, Sam, Logan and Rogue didn’t bother to go look at the door but exhausted sat down on some rocks besides it.

“It must be a riddle,” Scott said thoughtfully.

“Gee, you think?” Logan mumbled sarcastically from his place besides Rogue. Scott ignored him but a small smile played over his lips at Logan’s comment.

“But what is the answer?” Frodo asked and those gathered in front of the door considered this.

Merry and Pippin, more than a bit bored by now, started to test who could throw rocks the longest into the lake that lay just outside the entrance. Boromir tried to see the end of the lake but in the darkness the lake seemed to go on into the unknown.

“Don’t disturb the water,” Strider warned and caught Merry’s hand as he was about to throw another stone. He had lived in the wild for years and knew there could be evil lying waiting everywhere. Strider let his horse go as it couldn’t go with him inside the tunnels, and he knew it would find its way back to Rivendell. He saw Gandalf in vain try one spell after another on the door and by now everyone had sat down on the nearby stones. He walked to sit besides Frodo and Sam.

“This trip is no fun,” Pippin complained and sat down with Merry besides Boromir. Boromir smiled fondly as his small friends. What he wouldn’t give to just once in his life to have such an easy and untroubled look at life and not be troubled with matters of state and burdens heavier than the stone he was sitting on.

“I’ve got it. It’s a riddle,” Scott suddenly said and all looked at him. “Don’t you see? Speak friend and enter. It’s obvious. Legolas, what is the Elvish word for friend?”

“Of course,” Strider said. Scott was right; it really was obvious.

*Friend* Strider said in Elvish and the gates opened. The fellowship got to their feet.

“We were just beginning to enjoy the nice view and great chairs out here,” Logan teased and Rogue laughed as they walked through the gates. Gandalf took up some kind of stone and placed it on his walking stick and the stone lit up like a torch.

“Clever. You must save a lot on all your electricity bills,” Logan said and Scott grinned though his mood soon sobered again as he saw Boromir had drawn his sword and shield, Strider had his sword ready and Legolas was ready to place an arrow on his bow. His right hand went to his glasses as he looked around in the darkness. He noticed that it looked like they had entered an underground palace and now stood in the entrance hall. Gandalf walked in the lead and lit for them.

“Ugh,” Rogue yelled surprised as she tripped over something and fell into Logan’s arms.

“You alright, darlin’?” He asked concerned.

“Yes. I just fell over something on the floor,” Rogue reassured him.

“By the Goddess!” Ororo exclaimed as she saw what Gandalf’s light revealed. The floor in the big hall was covered with bodies. Dwarfs bodies. Rogue pressed close to Logan as she saw it had been a body she had tripped over.

“NO!” Gimli cried and searched the bodies for a face he hoped not to find; his cousin.

“This is not a tunnel. It’s a tomb!” Boromir said and held Merry and Pippin back so they couldn’t see the bodies.

“Let’s get out of here,” Logan yelled and everyone turned around and began to move out of the tunnels, this time making Logan, Rogue and the hobbits in the lead as they had entered last.

“I hear something draw closer,” Legolas warned as they ran out but they were all too shocked to pay him much attention until something in the lake before them started to move. Out of the lake a giant octopus-like creature appeared and with its tentacles reached for the nearest person, which was Frodo.

“Help! Strider,” Frodo called frightened as the creature pulled him up by one leg and towards its giant mouth. Faster than the human eye could see Legolas had placed an arrow on his bow and fired at the creature.

“Ororo, fly up and hit it with some lighting. Rogue, stand back. Logan, try to cut the other tentacles,” Scott ordered and fired his eye beams at the creature as well as he could without accidentally hitting Frodo.

“Attack!” Strider yelled and ran out into the water and began to cut away at the giant tentacle that held Frodo. Boromir drew his sword and ran after him and cut the tentacles that tried to reach Strider.

“Frodo!” Sam yelled and drew his sword and hit away at the tentacles that tried to reach those who were still on shore. Merry and Pippin did the same and Logan had literally his hands full with trying to cut all the incoming tentacles with his claws though Gimli and his ax did a great job.

“There must be millions of arms,” Rogue said in despair and wished she could do something to help but knew how dangerous it could be if she absorbed the creature.

Strider succeeded in cutting Frodo loose as Ororo’s lighting was either distracting or hurting the creature and Boromir caught the young hobbit in his arms and ran with him towards the gates.

“To the tunnels!” Gandalf yelled and they all ran towards the gates, the creature right behind them.

“Ororo. Fly inside to safety,” Legolas yelled concerned to her and fired his bow as fast as he could to keep the tentacles from reaching Ororo. Ororo flew towards the gates and landed besides Legolas and they ran inside.

“Merry and Pippin, get to safety!” Boromir yelled and the Hobbits ran through the gates.

“It follows us still,” Legolas warned as he turned to look. They all ran further into the tunnels and the creature tried to follow but was too big for the gate and made it fall down upon itself, sealing the fellowship inside.

“This should answer the question about whether or not to go through the mountain,” Scott said, drawing deep breaths. He’d rather face Magneto any day than giant creatures and evil birds.

“We go this way and let’s hope our presence here can go unnoticed,” Gandalf said and lead them on.

“I have a feeling this won’t be an easy way to travel,” Legolas warned and as they walked deeper into darkness they all stayed on guard, their weapons at the ready.

“Are you sure you know where we are?” Logan asked Gandalf as they walked through giant halls, bodies lying in the corners. Gandalf had had to stop three times already to remember which way they were going.

“We are on the right path,” Gandalf let him know from where he walked in front of Logan and Rogue.

“Yeah. Right,” Logan mumbled.

“We have walked almost 3 days now and in each hall we have found bodies. What kind of creature can do something like this?” Scott asked everyone.

“Goblins,” Gimli said hatefully. If he as much as sensed a Goblin it was dead on sight.

“That room over there...” Ororo pointed towards a room on her right, the wooden doors looked like they had been broken up by force. “There are more bodies there,” she noticed and shivered. She couldn’t even begin to imagine what kind of pain and fear the Dwarfs must have felt as whatever was after them drew nearer. Legolas noticed her shiver and took her hand briefly for comfort before he let go again, needing both hands to control his bow if the enemy was near.

“It’s my cousin’s room. The main room,” Gimli said, fear for his cousin in his voice as he ran into the room.

“Don’t!” Gandalf warned but too late. The others ran after him and saw Gimli kneeling before a coffin craved in stone.

“No! No,” Gimli let his head fall to hide the sorrow in his eyes. Gandalf walked over and read the inscription on the coffin. It was Gimli’s cousin’s grave; the Lord of Moria. Everyone stood back and was unsure what to say for what words can heal a broken heart? Boromir went forth and put a comforting hand on Gimli’s shoulder.

“We should move on. We cannot linker,” Legolas said to Strider and he nodded. Gandalf picked up an old book from the floor and read the last words the Dwarfs had written. It talked of their fear but not of what was after them.

“I hear something. It draws closer,” Legolas said and drew his bow.

“I hear nothing,” Scott admitted and tried to listen. Still nothing.

“No, he’s right. Something is coming,” Logan warned and drew his claws and pushed Rogue behind him. Boromir stood the closest to the door to the room and ran over to see if he could see something. Suddenly two arrows flew towards him and only his quick reflexes after years in battle saved him as he jacked his head back and narrowly avoided being hit. He turned back to the others and nodded with his head towards the hall outside the room.

“They have a cave troll,” he told them, disbelief in his voice. Legolas took some spears and wood from the hall and helped Boromir seal the gate.

“And that would be a bad thing, right?” Rogue spoke up and from the look everyone gave her she figured it was really bad.

“Frodo. Your sword!” Sam said to his friend and all looked at it. It was glowing blue.

“What does that mean?” Scott asked alarmed, his right hand going to his glasses.

“Orcs are close by,” Strider told him and took forth a bow and arrows that Scott hadn’t noticed he had carried with him. Grimli jumped up on the stone coffin and stood with his ax ready.

“Let them come. There’s still one Dwarf left in Moira who draws breath,” Gimli said.

Strider, Boromir, Legolas, Ororo, Logan and Scott stood in front. Boromir held his sword ready and his shield was raised, Legolas and Strider had their bows ready, Ororo’s eyes had turned white, Logan had his claws out and Scott was ready to lift his glasses and unleash his powers.

“Stay behind me,” Gandalf said to the Hobbits who had drawn their swords and looked nervously around. Suddenly they could all hear their enemies as the ground began to shake.

“It sounds like a whole God damn army,” Logan said what they all thought. The Orcs were now literally knocking on the door. With axes and swords they began to break through the wooden door. Legolas let an arrow fly and it hit its mark as always just through the little split in the door. Legolas found a new arrow and again hit another Orc through the hole in the door. Strider fired several shots to the door and also his aim was deadly. As the door broke they could all see what enemy they were facing as Orcs entered the room, swords at the ready. Strider and Legolas kept firing arrows at them and the first line fell but the Orcs kept coming.

“They’re horrible!” Rogue said repulsed as she saw how an Orc looked like. It was like something from a nightmare, a demonlike creature with eyes shinning of bloodlust. She now fully understood the horror it would be to be forced to absorb an Orc.

“Here they come,” Scott warned and began to fire his beams at the Orcs. His beams weren’t as strong as they used to as his power came from the sun and he had been underground for three days now but he was able to blast two Orcs. Legolas shot several Orcs in under a minute; his hands finding a new arrow so fast no human eye could see it. Strider put his bow away and took forth his sword and with Boromir charged directly into the enemy. Ororo concentrated and tried to shot lighting at the Orcs but found it a lot harder than usual. In fact she could almost not shot lighting at all. What lighting came from her hands were too weak to slay even one Orc. Her power was control of the weather but underground she had no weather to manipulate and not enough moisture to make it rain.

“Ororo, are you in peril?” Legolas asked worried, having to stick one of his arrows directly into one of the Orcs, as he didn’t have time to use his bow. Ororo drew her sword but found it very heavy and difficult to handle, as she had never fought with swords in her life.

“I’m fine,” she reassured him though she just narrowly missed being slain by an Orc and only Boromir’s sword saved her.

“Ororo, protect the Hobbits,” Scott ordered and she saw that Gandalf was having trouble with the Orcs so even Merry, Pippin and Sam had to stand before Frodo to fight them off.

“I’ll do what I can,” Ororo promised. Suddenly the door was broken down as a giant troll entered.

“The cave troll,” Scott said out loud and it was indeed a giant troll...and it even had a stone hammer with it. It seemed to be searching for something or someone...

“It’s after Frodo!” Scott warned. He had to stop it now before someone was killed. He took a deep breath and fired his beams as strong as he could. He succeeded in blasting the stone hammer but the troll was only weakened. The power of the blast was too much for Scott and against his will he felt himself loosen hold on consciousness and he fell down on the stone floor.

“I will stand before him,” Boromir said and positioned himself in front of the unconscious man and fought the Orcs who saw an easy prey.

“I will try and slow down the troll,” Legolas said and jumped up on the troll’s head and began to shot arrows into it’s head while trying not to fall down. The troll had moved towards Frodo and thrown his protectors away like flies. Logan attacked the troll’s leg as Rogue guided Frodo behind a statue.

“Ororo!” Legolas yelled as Ororo was thrown to the side and slid lifeless to the floor.

“Strider,” Frodo called and Strider stood before the statue, Frodo’s last defense. Legolas jumped to the floor again and kept shooting arrows at the troll and it was weakening. Rogue pushed Frodo behind her and removed her glove on her right hand. She was scared for the possibility to be forced to absorb the troll but if there was no other way to protect Frodo and the Ring so be it. Strider was cast aside like the others and now only Rogue stood before Frodo. She tried to contain her fear but it rose in her anyway. Doubts filled her mind; was Frodo worth it? Would she die from absorbing the troll? Was this even her fight? She looked at Frodo and saw how scared he looked…and how much he looked like a child. Her mutation prevented her from having children but she had always wanted kids of her own. As she turned back to the troll, her doubts were gone; she would stand firm. Just as the troll were inches from her, the troll fell under Legolas’ attack though Logan’s claws had done a good job as well.

Rogue and Frodo emerged from the statue as the remaining Orcs ran away.

“Thank God,” Rogue said and ran into Logan’s arms and he held her close, his blooded claws sliding back into his flesh again.

“Ororo,” Legolas ran to her and cradled her in his arms as Frodo ran to sit with Sam.

“Will they be alright?” Rogue asked to the others from within Logan’s arms. As she asked her question Boromir, Scott and Gandalf began to come around. Logan smiled.

“They will all be fine. They will all be fine,” he promised and hoped it was a promise that would last forever.

“I hate this,” Rogue admitted as the fellowship was on the move again. She hadn’t felt safe since they had left Rivendell. Why couldn’t they go back there? The city had held a beauty and peacefulness, a sense of security and comfort she longed for. Logan squeezed her hand and pulled her close to him. The battle seemed to have divided the fellowship. Logan, Rogue and Scott walked together closely followed by Boromir, Merry and Pippin. Ororo and Legolas walked together and then the rest of the fellowship followed.

“Scooter, this is becoming ridiculous not to mention dangerous for Rogue. I say we go back to Rivendell,” Logan said lowly to Scott, making sure the others couldn’t hear.

“And do what, Logan? Lord Elrond told me Rivendell itself was under attack. Wherever we are, we’ve landed in the middle of a war and we don’t know how to get back. We’ll be in danger no matter where we are,” Scott whispered back.

“How do we know we’re helping the good guys here, Scooter? What if this Ring gets all powerful or destroys everything if someone destroys it?” Logan asked, barely able to keep his voice down in his attempt to get his point across.

“I guess we don’t know. We just have to trust them,” Scott admitted, keeping an eye out for any danger and not just Orcs.

“Are you telling me you trust everyone in this happy little gathering?” Logan asked disbelieving,

“We trust each other and of them…” Scott’s eyes swept over their new companions. “I trust Boromir. He saved my life. The Hobbits are no threat at all. They can barely fight. Ororo trusts Legolas and I trust her judgment.”

“You don’t trust the King?” Rogue asked and her eyes found Strider who walked in the lead in front of them.

“No. He’s a man with a mission. He’s a good fighter and therefore a potential threat,” Scott explained.

“He’s a fanatic and so is the old man. They’ll destroy the Ring no matter how many lives have to be lost in the process. If he thinks us a danger he’ll not hesitate to kill us,” Logan said darkly, saying what Scott hadn’t.

“What of the dwarf?” Rogue asked and looked at Gimli. He seemed savage with his ax and she trusted him the least, though maybe it was only because she knew him the least.

“He’s a great fighter but I’ve yet to decide if I trust him,” Scott admitted. “He’s hard to figure out and that may make him the greatest threat.”

“The old man will be no trouble,” Logan dismissed Gandalf as a threat.

“I’m not so sure. I think we have yet to see his real strength. He may be the strongest of them all,” Scott mused.

“But what of them? Do they trust us?” Rogue asked and again her eyes swept over the fellowship.

“Boromir trusts us, the Hobbits seem trustful of anyone by nature, Legolas trusts Ororo and therefore us too. Strider I know for sure has his doubts about us and for Gimli and Gandalf…..it’s hard to say,” Scott admitted.

“I hear something,” Legolas suddenly said and all began to watch their surroundings closely. They were again walking through what looked like a big palace tunnel and the darkness could hide many things.

“Something grows near. I sense a darkness close by,” Legolas warned and everyone looked nervously around, their weapons drawn. Suddenly the darkness seemed to come alive with dark demonlike beings that all gathered around the group.

“What are they?” Scott wanted to know, eyeing the creatures suspiciously, his hands on his glasses.

“Goblins,” Gimli said hatefully, his axe at the ready. He looked forth to avenge his cousin’s death and see honor be restored to his name.

“Ahh……if anyone has any suggestions don’t hold back,” Logan said sarcastically as he popped his claws and pushed Rogue behind him. He growled warningly at the nearest Goblins.

“They…….have stopped,” Ororo said in wonderment as indeed the Goblins had formed a ring around them but they all stopped about 10 meters away from them. Ororo turned to Legolas to ask him why they would stop and saw he had an arrow ready to shoot but what caught her eyes were something else….

“You’re glowing!” Ororo said surprised and indeed Legolas was emitting an out of this world white light and now she noticed that the Goblins stayed further away from him and Gandalf who held the light than any of the others.

“They fear light?” Scott asked as he too had noticed Legolas’ light.

“Great with the light show and all, Junior, but how about getting them away?” Logan bummed and lashed out after a little too brave Goblin.

“Maybe if we…….” Boromir began but stopped as a great noise shook the hall.

“What the hell was that?!” Logan demanded to know. The noise frightened the Goblins who all ran away.

“I don’t think we want to know,” Rogue said softly. Whatever could frighten the Goblins away….

“Look!” Legolas pointed towards one end of the tunnel and a giant firelike monster moved towards them.

“Shit. We’re not staying here. Grandpa, get a move on and get us the fuck away from here!” Logan demanded and took Rogue’s gloved hand in his, pushing the group towards the opposite end of the tunnel.

“Follow me. To the bridge of Khazad-dÛm!” Gandalf yelled and ran towards the bridge, the others following him.

“I suddenly miss Magneto. At least he had a normal ‘I just want to rule the world’ policy,” Scott complained as they ran all they could.

“I hate to say this, Cyke, but for once I agree with you,” Logan admitted and played along Scott’s little joke in an attempt to ease the mood at bit. He felt Rogue was falling behind and without further ado he quickly turned around and swept her up into his arms and ran all he could with her, holding her close to his chest. Logan could see the bridge and cast a strange look at Gandalf who had chosen this particular moment to stop for sightseeing.

“Move on,” Gandalf urged as Boromir, the Hobbits, Gimli, Legolas, Ororo and Logan with Rogue ran past him.

“Actually we had planned to become permanent residents here. I’ve always wanted my own fire demon in the backyard,” Logan mumbled, annoyed at the old man’s tone. At least Scott’s orders were always reasonable and not statements of the obvious…..well, most of the time anyway.

“Gandalf,” Aragorn stopped beside the wizard and looked concerned at him.

“Go. Lead them on,” Gandalf urged, knowing what he had to do.

“But…..” Aragorn began to protest.

“Go!” Gandalf demanded and pushed the young King onwards. With a last look at the wizard he held close at heart as a dear friend Aragorn moved along.

“Dead you’re no use to us,” Scott warned as he ran past the old man, having a pretty clear idea what he had in mind.

“I don’t plan on dying,” the wizard said and there was such deep knowledge in those words and such wisdom in his eyes that for a moment Scott didn’t doubt him for a moment. Then he returned to reality and just nodded at the wizard as he ran past him.

“Good luck,” he mumbled to the old man as he ran onto the bridge. He noticed the others weren’t over yet.

“What are you waiting for? A written invitation?” Scott yelled towards them, his concern for his teammates making his voice hard. He reached the group and saw Legolas hold Boromir close to his chest and pull him back.

“Thanks,” Boromir gasped.

“What…..?” Scott began confused.

“The bridge is destroyed,” Legolas explained and moved his head a little so Scott could see that indeed a piece of the bridge was missing. However it wasn’t too far to the other side.

“We can jump,” Scott suggested.

“Some of us can. The Little Ones……” Boromir voiced his concern.

“We’ll jump with them,” Aragorn decided.   A great noise sounded behind them and all turned to see Gandalf trying to keep the fire demon away with his spells. He made a pretty impressive protective light shield around himself as he fought the beast.

“Okay, let’s move,” Scott ordered and Aragorn cast him a brief annoyed look for daring to give orders.

“I will go first,” Legolas said and so spoken he jumped and landed gracefully on the other side. He quickly turned around and held out his arms to help the next one.

“Ororo, go next. Help her,” Scott demanded of Legolas and Ororo nodded. She called on her control over the weather and as she jumped she managed to get a wind to help her so she landed as gracefully as a Goddess in Legolas’ open arms. They fit so perfectly together, Scott thought briefly before the noise from Gandalf’s battle brought his thoughts back on the present.

“I’ll go next,” Logan said and held Rogue tight in his arms, ignoring her protests that she wanted to try and jump herself and he jumped. He landed close to the edge and Ororo and Legolas helped him to safety as he eased Rogue out of his embrace.

“Little Ones, come here,” Boromir called and took Merry and Pippin in his embrace and jumped with them. The others helped him as he landed on the other side. Gimli jumped but his tight small built almost didn’t permit him to make it but Legolas caught hold of his bead and succeeded in getting him safely across. Casting a quick look at Aragorn Scott could see they would soon have to have a talk about who should lead them. Giving Aragorn this victory Scott let him be the last to jump as he jumped over with Sam who protested that he only wanted to jump if Frodo was with him. Last came Aragorn with Frodo safe in his embrace.

When everyone was safe they all turned to look at Gandalf who was still having trouble with the fire demon.

“Maybe we…….” Scott began.

“Orcs!” Legolas warned and quicker than the human eye can see he had caught an arrow that had been aiming straight at Ororo's heart. He threw the arrow to the bottomless deep below the bridge and began to fire at the Orcs who began to show up everywhere.

“Run. We have to get out of here,” Aragorn yelled as he too began to fire arrows at the Orcs. They all began to move towards the end of the cave where Logan thought he saw a faint light; were they finally through the mountain?

“Got one,” Scott said satisfied as he had succeeded in getting an Orc with his eye beams though it had been hard and the beam was now very weak. Ororo again tried to call on her powers but again found it impossible. Logan tried to run as a shield before Rogue, knowing he wouldn’t die if hit because of his quick healing powers. He got to test that theory as an arrow hit him in the shoulder and he quickly pulled it out.

“Logan!” Rogue yelled fearfully.

“I’m alright,” he reassured as he continued to run towards the exit. Logan noticed that though they were all under heavy fire from the Orcs' arrows they seemed to like Legolas as a target which was strange considering he had a bow and arrows and a deadly aim while most of the X-men and the Hobbits were sitting ducks.

“Any particular reason why these guys hate you so much, Blondie, or is it just on general principle?” Logan yelled to him and winced as he saw Scott being hit in the leg. Knowing Scott didn’t have his healing powers; Logan’s own wound were almost healed now, Logan ran to Scott and supported him as they ran on.

“Orcs were once Elves. They hate us more than anything else in this world,” Legolas answered as he kept returning fire.

“Gandalf!!!!!!!!! NO!!!!!!!” Frodo yelled and all turned to look at the wizard. He had succeeded in throwing the fire being into the bottomless pit below the bridge but the being succeeded in grabbing a hold on the wizard’s leg and was pulling him with him down.

“No!” Frodo started to run back into the heavy arrow fire to get to the old man.

“Frodo!” Boromir called and stopped him, taking him up into his arms and prevented him from running towards his friend.

“Let me go!” Frodo demanded as his eyes were fixed on the wizard. Scott tried to see if his eye beams could reach the being but his powers were too weakened.

“Continue, you fools,” the wizard yelled at them as the fire being dragged him with him into the bottomless pit and what would surely be the man’s death.

“NOOOO!” Frodo yelled and kicked out after Boromir to get free.

“Be still, Little One. There is nothing you can do,” Boromir whispered but Frodo wouldn’t listen. He didn’t like Boromir nor did he trust him and now he had prevented him from helping his friend.

“There is nothing to be done. Move!” Scott yelled as the Orcs seem to draw closer. Aragorn snapped out of his own misery and sorrow and lead them towards the exit and indeed……..they were out of the mountain but at what price? The fellowship had lost a valued member. Scott wondered if they could go on now.

“Can things get any worse?” Logan bummed and Scott considered it.

“Probably, Logan. Probably.”

The weather was as cold and dark as the mood in the group. Boromir tried to comfort Merry and Pippin while Frodo, Aragorn and Legolas all stood alone. Scott saw tears running down Frodo’s cheeks, Legolas looked very sad and shocked. Ororo stood beside him and wasn’t sure how to comfort him so she just held his hand. Sam sat close to Frodo yet let him grieve in peace.

“These lands will soon be covered with Orcs. We have to move,” Aragorn said as he adjusted his weapons. Scott, Logan and Rogue stood off to one side. They hadn’t known the old man long enough to truly grieve his passing and their hurt was no deeper than any feeling of hurt you get when you hear someone has died. Letting the others grieve in peace Logan had helped Scott remove the arrow from his leg and put a bandage around it. The wound hurt but he could walk on it. The returning daylight had painfully powered his blasts, giving him a giant headache but he could see that Ororo was happy to have her powers back as she flew a few millimeters above the ground.

“Legolas, move them out,” Aragorn commanded and Scott knew he turned to Legolas because he knew that as his friend Legolas would obey his command no matter if he agreed with it or not.

“Give them a moment for pity’s sake!” Boromir all but yelled, grief clear in his voice. Well, someone sure wasn’t happy with the King’s leadership, Scott mused.

“We have a mission to complete. We will travel to the Golden Wood of Lothlorien,” Aragorn told them as he went to Frodo and guided him towards the others. Legolas had gotten Gimli to his feet and everyone was standing up, more or less ready to move out.

“And that would be where for all us non natives? A map would be nice right about now,” Scott mumbled, knowing from Aragorn’s body language he wasn’t going to tell him.

“I can’t see why the Hell we should continue helping you. Demons and fire beings…….We’re way out of our lead here,” Logan protested.

“Lord Elrond has entrusted us all with a mission. Will you go back on your word?” Aragorn asked, anger in his voice. He didn’t trust these strange people one bit.

“Are you callin’ me a liar?” Logan asked dangerously and his claws appeared on his hands.

“Stop it!” Scott demanded and stood between Logan and Aragorn. “This solves nothing.”

Logan drew back and his claws disappeared back into his skin but he stayed alert.

“I won’t take orders from a stuck up royal brat,” Logan protested.

“He is Aragorn, son of……..” Legolas began to his friend’s defense.

“I don’t give a shit if he’s God himself. I don’t take orders…….” He cast a quick glance at Scott. “Maybe on occasion from One-Eye here but certainly not from you, Blondie, or from your King.”

“And why is that?” Aragorn demanded to know, his brow frowned.

“You’re not my King or my friend and frankly I don’t like you,” Logan said with all his usual tact.

“Neat, Logan,” Scott complained.

“We can’t walk into enemy territory divided. We have to solve this,” Legolas said, the voice of logic and wisdom.

“Agreed,” Scott and Aragorn said at the same time.

“Look, first of all on the issue of us staying……Logan, we have to stay. We have nowhere else to go and no way to get back to our own world. I know you fear for Rogue’s safety but we have no choice. Besides, we did give Lord Elrond our word……..more or less.”

“You are a great asset to this fellowship,” Boromir said and Scott was sure that praise was something he rarely gave but when given he meant it.

“So, we stay but who shall lead us?” Rogue asked, looking from one man to another.

“Gandalf asked me to lead the group,” Aragorn told them.

“Oh, yeah and I always let dead guys decide my future fate for me,” Logan said darker.

“I would love to teach you respect, stranger,” Aragorn said angrily, his eyes a glow.

“Will you two stop it?!” Scott all but yelled irritated.

“Let’s vote on this,” Ororo suggested.

“Good idea. All in favor of Aragorn leading us raise your hands,” Scott asked and Legolas and Gimli raised their hands, as did the Hobbits. Boromir seemed doubtful but did raise his hand in Aragorn’s favor and to Scott’s surprise so did Ororo.

“He’s a good man and he needs this. This is his war, his people, his battle, his duty…..and his honor,” Ororo whispered to Scott and he smiled and nodded he understood.

“That’ll be 9, with Aragorn, in his favor,” Scott said and turned to Logan with a ‘what can you do?’ shrug.

“No way. Why can’t you lead us?” Logan bummed, refusing Aragorn his victory.

“Because we are 12 in all. No matter what Aragorn has majority. He stays as leader,” Scott saw Logan was set to protest again. “That’s final, Logan.”

“All right but don’t blame me when he gets us all killed,” he said darkly.

“Okay, let’s move,” Aragorn demanded and the group began their walk towards Lothlorien. After two days they reached a wood that Scott suspected was the Golden Wood Aragorn had mentioned.

“Stay close, Little Ones,” Boromir said to Merry and Pippin, drawing his sword. Something about the wood made him uneasy.

“It says a witch Elven Queen once ruled here. It’s said her spirit has remained,” Gimli warned. Everyone was alert.

“I hear something,” Legolas warned too late as suddenly the group was surrounded by Elves. Ororo stood close to Legolas, ready to use her control over the weather should it prove necessary but Legolas shook his head at her in no. She stayed alert but calmed down a little and as she looked to Scott she saw that while his hands were still on his glasses he too had seen Legolas’ signal and had stepped down a little.

“Damn pointy eared fellows. I didn’t hear them sneak up on us,” Logan complained and popped his claws.

“No human would,” Boromir said.

*Greetings. I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn. We seek Galadriel, Queen of Lothlorien* Aragorn said to the man who seemed to be in charge in the Elvish tongue, leaving all but Legolas staring at him as they had no idea what he had just said.

*She is expecting you, King Aragorn. Follow me* the elven leader said and indicated they should follow him.

“He will take us to the Queen. We are to follow him,” Legolas explained as they began to be lead deeper into the forest.

“Oh, great,” Logan complained, not liking this at all. Even Legolas seemed uneasy and Logan smelled…..not fear on him but awfulness……respect. Whatever they were about to come into contact with was huge and powerful.

They had been taken before the Elven Queen and her husband and she had spoken with them in their mind; warning them of unseen danger and urged them to be true to each other and their mission. Aragorn was raised among and by Elves and held great respect for them. It was in the strength of men, especially himself, he had doubts. The warning the Queen had whispered worried Aragorn. Was it the newcomers who were the threat? He didn’t trust any of them fully but the white haired, unusual coloured woman they called Ororo was so like the Elven people he admired that it was hard not to like her. The other woman, Rogue, reminded him a little of his own love, Arwen. No, the women didn’t worry him. It was the two men who were the key problem. Scott was a leader but reasonable. Logan on the other hand seemed to take great pleasure in being rude, annoying and very dangerous. Aragorn trusted him the least.

"You should rest. We are safe here. No evil can enter the Golden Wood. You’ll need all your strength when we move on tomorrow," Aragorn said to Boromir and sat down beside him.

"I will find no rest here," Boromir said softly, his voice shaky. He had heard her, the Queen, inside his mind. She had told him there was hope still but he couldn’t see it. His city would fall and his people fail. He couldn’t let that happen. They all trusted him, believed in him.

"Why not?"

"The Queen spoke of hope yet I see none. I fear my city shall fall to ruins, its glory forgotten," Boromir voiced his fears, forgetting he was speaking to the man who claimed to have right of leadership over Gondor instead of himself.

"Surely not. As long as we stay true to each other we still have a chance," Aragorn said softly, following Boromir’s gaze out over the darkening wood. Even in the darkness the Golden Wood still seemed to sparkle with goodness, peace and beauty beyond words. It was so elfish and reminded Aragorn of his childhood in Rivendell that he had at once felt at home here.

"Have you ever been to the White City? Seen its beauty;, its glory? The white spears glowing in the evening sun?" There was real love and passion in his voice as Boromir spoke of his home.

"I’ve seen it," Aragorn said softly. He didn’t have Boromir’s strong feelings for Gondor and because of that, a part of him wondered if the other man, because of his passion and love for his country, would not be a better ruler than himself. Aragorn had never held any wish to rule and that was why he had never claimed the throne though the war seemed to have forced him into a decision.

"One day, our paths will lead us there and the tower guard shall take up the call: The Lords of Gondor have returned," Boromir told him, a smile and a dreamy look coming over his face.

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, feeling more connected than ever before.

"Lord Elrond raised you?" Boromir suddenly asked and Aragorn nodded, taken back by his question though happy for the chance to explain.

"Yes. He’s my father in every way but blood."
"As Legolas is your brother?" Boromir asked insightfully. Aragorn nodded.

"He cares deeply for you," Boromir said, remembering Legolas’ repeated defense of the young King. "For the thousands of years old Elven Prince of Mirkwood to think so highly of you…….you must be a great warrior…..and friend," Boromir finally said and Aragorn nodded, accepting the words in the manner they were given; respect and with a new understanding.

"Why did the Steward allow his oldest son to take this dangerous journey?" Aragorn asked him.

"I’ve been haunted by dreams of Gondor and my own destruction and I sought answers. And then……I had recently lost my love and I needed to get away from the memories," Boromir admitted, his voice clouded with grief.

"I’m sorry. I didn’t know," Aragorn said sympathetically. No wonder he was so closed off.

"She was killed when Sauron’s forces attacked our lands," Boromir explained, pain and grief written on his face and in his voice. Aragorn was painfully reminded of Boromir’s speech at Lord Elrond’s council about how the blood of his people kept the other lands safe. The death of his love was probably the reason for the strong grief and deep of emotions Aragorn had heard in his voice when he had spoken those words. Aragorn loved Arwen with all his being and always had. He couldn’t imagine what kind of agony it would be to be forced to live without the one you love.

"We will avenge her," Aragorn vowed and Boromir smiled though he fought tears.

"Thank you," he said ever so softly and Aragorn smiled back.

"Welcome," he answered, feeling they had created a strong bond here tonight that nothing could break.

Scott felt very alone in the beautiful and peaceful forest. Logan and Rogue had gone to their tent, Ororo and Legolas were talking together and he was telling her of his teachings and way of life. The Hobbits were sleeping, eating or playing like small children while Gimli had gone to his tent for privacy. Aragorn and Boromir sat off together and seemed in deep conversation.

They had been in Queen Galadriel’s realm for several hours now and Scott had loved it here since he had first seen the land. It was beautiful beyond words; rich with sculptures, statures and carvings in woodwork…everything was so bright, light and elegant…so fitting the Elves.

Scott had been unsure of what to expect of the Queen but when he had seen her all his doubts had been laid to rest, if only for a moment. She was stunning like an angel; kind, soft, gentle and compassionate yet strong and powerful…she was magical. She almost seemed to glow. She hadn’t spoken in words, but like a telepath, within their minds. She had warned him of coming danger, showed images in his mind of the pure horror and evil that was Sauron, and she had told him to believe in a dream; told him to stay true because that was the only way they could win. Logan, Ororo and Rogue had heard the same as him and while the two women thought she spoke true, Logan had his doubts. He hadn’t liked what he had been unable to smell anything on her; he called her a ghost and didn‘t trust her but, since the people Logan trusted could be counted on one hand, Scott didn‘t let his warning control his own decision though he paid attention to it; Logan‘s instincts were often right. Scott had seen into her eyes and found great power and wisdom there. He was sure she believed in what she had told them but his logical side still had doubts if all this magic was really happening.

He had noticed that Aragorn had made a special greeting to the Queen; taking his folded right hand to his lips, kissing it, taking it to his bow and then putting his hand by his side. Legolas had made a similar greeting to the Queen that Ororo had been able to copy to the letter. What had amazed him had not been the nod of acknowledgement the Queen had given Aragorn and Legolas but the small hand gesture of a greeting and nod of her head that she had given Ororo. The Queen had amazed him further by addressing Ororo by the name given her when she had been worshipped as a Goddess; beautiful Windrider…and she had said this name in Ororo’s native Swahili. She had said that Ororo was the bridge that would connect and unite the two parties within the Fellowship and that new hope would be found within her. Scott still wondered about the deeper meaning of those words but it was clear to him that the Queen was as powerful as she was beautiful and he knew the Fellowship was lucky to have her with them, as she would pose a formidable adversary.

He sighed as the night drew long and he was still without answers. He would have to rest now; they had a long way to travel tomorrow and if their future trip proved to be just half as dangerous as the one they had already traveled then they all needed all of their strength. He went to his tent and got ready to rest. Out of habit he searched for Jean only to remember she wasn’t with him. He missed her warmth and her smile. He missed holding her close at night but more than anything he missed her words of encouragement and her advice. He was more or less traveling on faith alone here and he had no one to voice his concerns to. The others looked to him and trusted his judgment; Logan’s defense of him as a leader after they had lost Gandalf bore evidence to the great faith his friends had in him. He prayed he wasn’t betraying that trust in his faith in Aragorn’s abilities to led them but he saw no other way. He couldn’t lead them. Aragorn wouldn’t allow it and he knew Legolas would stand with his friend. Gimli would take the King’s side as well and so would the Hobbits though he might be able to get Boromir on his side and through him Merry and Pippin as well but that was all. If he had insisted on leading them he would only succeed in breaking the Fellowship and the Queen’s words had strengthened him in the belief that they needed the safety of numbers. Besides he didn’t know this land, he wouldn’t know where to go. He didn’t know how to get back home, Rivendell was under attack itself so that just left traveling to Mt. Doom like they were doing now and for that trip Aragorn was a better choice as leader…just like Ororo had seen.

He turned in bed, trying to find rest, but thoughts of Jean kept him up. He missed her terribly and more so with each passing day. He didn’t know why she hadn’t come along or for that matter why not all the X-Men had. They all had great powers and would have been a great help on their journey. Especially why Jean was left out troubled him. She had been in a strange car accident a month before he had been transported here. A meteor had hit her car and she had been taken to the hospital. To everyone’s surprise she had escaped with only a light concussion, but the accident seemed to have enhanced her powers tremendously. Her powers seemed to grow with each passing day and when she had found she could fly with the help of her strengthened telekinesis she had taken the name of Phoenix. Scott worried about her though she claimed she was fine. As a man of logic, he wanted and needed to know the cause of her boost in power as they grew to be seemingly limitless. Was there no limit to them? Such a thought was unheard of; everything had its limits and its price and it was the price he was afraid of because such great powers had to be paid with an equally great price.

Why would someone so powerful be left behind? That thought kept haunting him. She would be a great ally to the Fellowship. A dark thought crossed his mind. Such power as great as hers would make a great ally…or a great foe. No, he shook his head in denial. Jean would never harm anyone…at least not the Jean he knew. No, such thoughts brought him nowhere. Facts were that she wasn’t here and so she was no help or threat to the Fellowship in any way.

Thinking of Jean also made him think of who or what had brought them here. After having seen the Queen today and seeing how powerful she was, he thought that maybe she had brought them, though she hadn’t said anything. It would explain her knowledge of them but then, since she had spoken in their minds, Scott figured she was a telepath and as such she could have read everything in their minds without any beforehand knowledge. Another candidate to bringing them here was the Lord Elrond but he had seemed genuinely surprised to see them so Scott doubted it unless the Lord of Rivendell was a very good actor and he had a feeling that Elves didn’t lie. Then there was Gandalf but he had seemed as surprised as Lord Elrond but, unlike the Elven Lord, Gandalf was human and therefore quite capable of deceit and lies. He was a possibility though with his death that option didn’t please Scott, as that would mean it would be impossible for them to travel home. Thinking of going back also made him consider just where they were in the first place. Lord Elrond had called it Middle-Earth and Logan had thought they were on another planet, but Scott wasn’t sure of that. There were too many similarities for this to be another planet; no, he was sure Middle-Earth was what he simply called Earth. However, it was obvious this wasn‘t the Earth he knew. He considered two options; either they had time traveled so they were either in the past or the future, and since there were no modern facilities and the race of Elves and others didn’t exist in his time, then the past was the best guess though way, way back in the past. The other option was a parallel universe where Earth had evolved differently. The letter seemed almost too surreal, even for him, but he knew that time travel was possible; for starters his own son, Nathan, had the ability to travel in time and had returned to his father when he had been over forty about a year ago while Scott was only 27. Yes, he was pretty sure they had time traveled here but since none of them had the ability they sure hadn’t done it on their own. If one of the Elves, or Gandalf hadn't done it then maybe someone he knew had. Nathan wouldn’t have separated him from Jean nor time traveled him without telling them first…however, the Mother Askani, who had looked after Nathan in the future, had time traveled Jean and him before without telling them or explaining their mission. She was the only other option he could think of besides the Elves and Gandalf, but again she always time traveled him with Jean and she had never time traveled Ororo, Rogue or Logan before. Scott lay awake trying to think of clues to solve the mystery but had to give up. He knew too little of this new place and the true strength and powers that rested within the Elves and Gandalf because something in him warned him of discarding the old man totally. Scott knew somehow that he was far more than he seemed though he wasn’t sure what.

Sleep began to claim him and heavy thoughts gave way to the simple longing he bore for Jean. He didn’t know if he would ever see her again and that pained him the most. His thoughts on Jean, he looked to the stars that were visible through the strong Elven tent material. Suddenly he swore he saw a Phoenix shape in the stars and it blinked down to him like diamonds, but when he looked again it was gone. Must have been my imagination. It is dark and with my red shades it is hard to see shadows clearly. The shapes must have played tricks on me, Scott decided, but still wondered. As the night drew away everyone went to bed and Scott dreamt of Jean, a bird made of fire and a Phoenix. No one noticed the Elven Queen walk through the camp nor that Frodo was awoken by it and followed her.

“I can’t tell you how much fun this trip has been; demons, fire monsters and the longest fuckin’ rowing trip in the history of man……” Logan began as they had finally come to shove after many hours hard canoeing from the Golden Wood.

“Yes, doesn’t it make you feel lucky to know you got this opportunity?” Scott teased as he dragged his canoe to shore.

At first daylight they had moved out from Lothlorien where the Queen had seen them off. She had given them things to aid them on their way, among other capes which she claimed would make them invisible to Sauron’s crystal ball….or something along those lines. As a man of logic Scott found there was too much magic in this world for him to feel at ease. Lothlorien had seemed very changed in daylight or maybe something had happened during the night that he had missed. In any rate the magical and peaceful feeling he had gotten from the place the evening they had arrived had gone like the morning rain. The place had still looked beautiful beyond words but he had felt there was a power, a hidden danger there he couldn’t explain that made him uneasy. Frodo and Boromir especially seemed changed as they had moved out. Frodo had seemed burdened, saddened and when Boromir had helped him into the canoe with Aragorn Frodo had all but ran from him.

The Elven Queen had known more than she had let on; Scott was sure of it. What annoyed him was that he feared someone would pay for her and everyone else they had met in this strange land for that matter, love for riddles. Boromir on the other hand had seemed to give up any hostility towards the King and they had talked and laughed together as friends when they had gotten the canoes ready. On their way down the river Legolas had taken Ororo, Aragorn had Frodo and Sam, Boromir had Merry and Pippin, Logan and Rogue had taken a canoe together while Scott had been with Gimli. On their way up the river they had passed two gigantic statues of men holding out hands as in warning. The sight of what were apparently statues of old Kings of Gondor had moved both Aragorn and Boromir. Scott would have loved to find out how they had built those statues……

“We’ll rest here for a while,” Aragorn said as they had all gotten to land and settled down around the riverbank.

“Oh, and now when we were having such fun,” Logan said sarcastically as he sat down with Rogue who giggled at his words, which made him smile. Scott sat down beside them and rested, looking out over the river and the woods.

“I sense a darkness, a shadow. Danger grows near,” Legolas warned Aragorn.

“No, really? We’re in danger?” Logan mumbled mockingly. Both man and Elf ignored him.

“I know we have little time. Let me know when you know more about this sensation you feel,” Aragorn requested of his friend and bond brother.

“I will, Estel,” Legolas promised and smiled despite the drawing dangers at his human brother. Aragorn was the most remarkable human he had ever met and his respect for the Elven culture was great. He had known Aragorn since childhood and though he was many 1000th years older than the young human Legolas found wisdom and bravado beyond his years in Aragorn that had earned him his love and respect.

“Thanks,” Aragorn said and smiled back, feeling better and more at ease with himself now. He felt happy for Legolas’ use of his childhood nickname ‘Estel’ or Hope as the Elven word translated into as it brought back a feeling of togetherness and warmth that he needed in this time of darkness.

“Have you seen Boromir? I can’t find him,” Scott suddenly asked, a frown covering his brow. He had walked around the camp but hadn’t been able to find him anywhere. Logan looked around, trying to find their friend.

“I haven’t seen him since he helped Pippin and Merry to shore. Maybe they know where he is,” Rogue answered his question.

“I just asked them, they say they don’t. However Pippin told me Boromir had talked with them before he…disappeared. He said that Boromir had told him and Merry that they were as his own younger brothers or sons to him and that he cared deeply for them and asked them to remember that no matter what happened,” Scott explained, concern heavy in his voice.
”That sounds an awful lot like goodbye to me,” Logan admitted and stood up, helping Rogue to her feet with him.

“Where is Frodo?” Sam asked worried. He had only dozed off for a little while. He prayed his beloved friend was all right. He should have taken better care of him.

“He isn’t here,” Aragorn suddenly realized.

“And neither is Boromir,” Scott told them. Aragorn frowned.

“I’ll go look for Frodo. Legolas, stay here and stay alert,” Aragorn ordered.

“Now, this is why I wonder who in their right mind would let a child be a chosen warrior,” Logan mumbled darkly on Frodo’s disappearing act.

“We should try and find Boromir,” Rogue suggested and Logan nodded.

“Ororo, we’ll go look for Boromir,” Scott said and came to her where she sat on a fallen tree, keeping an open eye out for any hint of danger.

“Okay. Be careful,” she said and he nodded before he bent down and softly kissed her check.

“You too, Wind Rider,” he asked before he disappeared into the woods with Rogue and Logan.

“Frodo, you shouldn’t wander so far away from camp,” Boromir told him as he gathered wood for a fire. He tried to fight the urge to look towards the Ring that hung around Frodo’s neck in a chain. As time passed his desire to take it had become greater. Why couldn’t anyone see that the Ring could save his Kingdom and set his people free?

“Stay back,” Frodo warned fearfully, not liking the look in Boromir’s eyes as he came closer.

“I see you suffer more and more for each day. This burden is weighting you down. Why go to the mountain? We can easily go to Gondor from here. With the power of the One Ring we could defend my country and get rid of Sauron’s evil forever.”

“Don’t come nearer,” Frodo warned and took a step backwards.

“Why do you recoil? I am no thief,” Boromir said, hurt in his voice. He was the son of the Steward of Gondor and no thief nor villain……..he just wanted to protect his people. How could that be bad? He only wished what was right; he just wanted to stop the bloodshed of his people. It wasn’t just his right to protect them; it was his duty.

“You’re not yourself,” Frodo warned, seeing the light in Boromir’s eyes fade as if a battle for his soul were racing within him; tearing him to pieces.

“I only ask for the strength to help my people!” Boromir yelled and threw the gathered firewood on the ground as something in him broke; honour, strength, help, need, want, power……it all blended into one as Boromir made a grab for Frodo.

“Don’t!” Fordo yelled frightened as he ran from Boromir but he quickly ran after him.

“You just want to use the Ring for yourself………or give it to Sauron!” Boromir accused, his thoughts getting even darker at this thought of betrayal.

“No, I will not,” Frodo denied as Boromir got hold of him and tried to tear the Ring from Frodo.

“Give me the Ring. It’s mine. It should have been mine!” Boromir demanded just as Frodo succeeded in putting the Ring on and therefore become invisible to Boromir by its power.

“Hmm?” Boromir looked in wonderment as he grabbed only empty air. Suddenly he heard some leaves rush as Frodo ran away. As the Ring moved further away from him its power began to fade and light returned to Boromir’s opal green eyes.

“Frodo...?” he asked confused. What had happened? Where was he? Where was Frodo? Suddenly memory painfully returned to him in full force and Boromir drew a sharp breath as he fought tears yet they fell from his eyes anyway.

“What've I done...?” he mumbled, breaking down and crying into the leaves on the wood floor. He had betrayed everyone; driven Frodo away. He had betrayed his country, his father, his oath, his word and his honour. By all what was holy………what had he done and how could he ever make such a terrible fault right? Was that even possible?

"Frodo?"

Aragorn’s voice brought Frodo to a halt. He held the Ring in his hand as he turned around and looked fearfully at the human who he for the first time noticed was much larger and stronger than him. What if the Ring had taken him as it had taken Boromir? The Elven Queen had been right; this task he had to do alone.

"Don’t come any closer," he warned, fear in his voice.

"I would never hurt you. I’ve sworn to protect you, " Aragorn protested and went to him and knelt before him so they were eye to eye.

"Would you do it? Would you see the Ring destroyed?" Frodo asked softly and opened his hand and showed the Ring to Aragorn; something in him wanting Aragorn to take it so he himself was freed from the burden of carrying it. Carrying the Ring was weighting him down as Boromir had said; it was tearing his soul apart and darkening his mind. He had to carry it but he didn’t wish to.

Aragorn looked briefly at the Ring in Frodo’s hand and was reminded of his ancestor’s failure; it was because of the weak blood in his veins that this threat was even real. He dared not believe he had the strength to do what his ancestor had failed at. Softly he closed Frodo’s fingers around the Ring with his much larger hands.

"I would have followed you into the darkest reaches of Mordor," Aragorn said softly, tears in his voice. Frodo nodded, fighting tears.
"I know, " just as he said it his sword glowed blue; Orcs were near. Aragorn quickly got to his feet and stood protectively before the Hobbit as he drew his sword.

"Run. Leave," Aragorn ordered as he began to fight the hob of Orcs racing towards him.

Frodo cast frightened looks after Aragorn as he ran away.

"Something is not right," Legolas said softly as he starred out into the woods. He felt a growing darkness, a shadow coming closer. Darkness was near and evil was gaining more power.

"I know. I feel it too," Ororo agreed as she came to stand before him. Suddenly Legolas seemed to tense.

"Estel!" he whispered pained, closing his eyes briefly and a hand went to find an arrow for his bow.

"What’s wrong?" Ororo asked worried.

"Aragorn is in peril. We must go to him," Legolas explained. Ororo nodded, putting a hand on Legolas’ arm.

"We will."

"I will go with you," Gimli said and Legolas nodded acceptance.

Ororo turned towards the Hobbits.

"Stay here," she ordered as she went with Legolas and Gimli deep into the woods in search for Aragorn.

"Frodo is still out there. I’m going after him," Sam decided, unable to bear the thought of his beloved friend in danger any longer.

"Wait," Merry called after him but too late; he was already gone.

"I have dinner," Pippin said as he came back into the clearing, holding some berries in his hands. "Hey, where did everybody go?"

"To look for everyone else," Merry explained.
"Oh."

"We should go look for someone too," Merry suggested and Pippin considered this.
"Let’s go after Boromir. He may need our help."