Intrigued with J&G Reeves-Stevens outline of TLW Season Four, I decided to take a small portion of their treatment and, well, run with it. Actually, I took two of their ideas.
Some fans will probably like this fiction and others may think … I ran too far! :)
Enjoy! Season Four Episode.
Episodes Referenced: Cave of Fear, Trapped, Heart of the Storm.
Affirmation
by Beckers
[]
He found it easy to ignore the chatter behind him, the jovial stratagem coming from the treehouse's common-room supper table. The participants, consisting of his own friends and their three visitors, appeared to be immersed in an amicable but significant conversation. Roxton sensed, however, a grudging acceptance from Veronica of both their company and what they had to impart.
They were all leery of strangers these days. More times than not the unknown wanted to do the treehouse dwellers great harm. They had been fooled too many times by friendly faces with seemingly good intentions.
Nonetheless, this time it did appear different. Not only had these visitors saved Marguerite's life but Roxton knew at least one person on the mission quite intimately. This time there seemed to be no doubt. They were who they said they were, saviors from beyond the plateau, friends who could show them a way back home.
On the corner balcony, peering over its side, Roxton watched her from above.
Marguerite, excusing herself early from their company, paced back and forth on the jungle floor just inside the electric fence. The idea of someone arriving to take them home normally brought an over-eager joy to the woman but this time Marguerite had grown moody. Her arms were folded, wrapped tensely around her upper body as if she were cold. No, Roxton knew, the weather had no connection with the woman's current disposition. If anything Marguerite was very warm, heated by the sting of a presumed betrayal and disappointment.
Roxton did not blame the brunette beauty for turning from him, departing the treehouse when he could do nothing but acknowledge the truth. Roxton thought he would never see Lady Monique Jameson again. He had actually counted on it after their last parting. But here she was on the plateau - the girl a handsome young Lord John, in his confused and naïve youth, had married.
Marguerite and Veronica brought Lady Jameson and her two male companions, Fredrick Balloch and jungle native Tancua, back to the treehouse just after they saved Marguerite from an attack.
Not many of the ape men foraged around their area anymore but every once in awhile a family or small group would show by the lakes and display aggression if they felt their territory was being encroached upon. One of the bigger females got the drop on Marguerite while she was washing a blouse near the creak. Fortunately, the beast was quickly dispatched by Lady Jameson and one well placed bullet.
Roxton's reaction, upon seeing Monique, was a near affirmation of what Marguerite perceived as a nightmare. What the woman had told her was true. She and Roxton had wed, however briefly, and when she learned of his disappearance in South America felt it important - along with others in their affluent circle - to pull together their own search party and attempt a rescue. Monique did confess to an ulterior motive, something for the history books she said, but ultimately The Challenger Expedition - particularly Lord John Roxton - was the reason for their journey.
Then, when an excited and affectionate Lady Jameson saw Roxton, walking up the steps from the lower level of their treehouse home, she sprinted to him. Her arms extended then wrapped around the well muscled shoulders of her one time husband in an enthusiastic greeting. "You haven't changed a bit, love!" she called.
"You have." Roxton replied with a nervous smile. She was no mere slip of a girl anymore but a fully grown, charming - and quite lovely - woman. "I can't believe you're here."
God, how it must have looked to Marguerite! Roxton knew he needed to talk with her, explain the situation to the woman in a manner that was both calm and rational. He needed Marguerite to comprehend how it was, the pressures he faced after William and Father died. And she needed to know that while there would always be affection between he and Monique it was not the deep love he felt for the mysterious and captivating Miss Krux.
"Veronica, are you crazy? That will never work!"
When Roxton heard Malone's usually supportive tone arise, somewhat vexed, over the others about the common-room supper table, he turned from his surveillance over the balcony railing.
"And why not?" Veronica asked, annoyed. "They made it this far and want to see the Yanos. Why can't they walk a few miles more?"
"Alone through cannibal territory?" Challenger asked, trying to sound reasonable.
"On this plateau?" Malone added, 'Where anything can happen?"
With a sigh, thinking a few more minutes more or less may not matter with regards to the disenchanted woman below, Roxton approached to see what the fuss was about.
[]
"You know, you could have told me you were married, Roxton."
He had come down on the elevator and approached Marguerite's lavender clad back quietly and very cautiously. It did not surprise him that she knew who it was without turning around to look at him. Marguerite had been expecting him and, Roxton knew, she was not going to allow this latest revelation go away without a thorough explanation.
"Monique was a long time ago, Marguerite. I didn't think her significant to us, here and now. Besides," he added, "the opportunity to tell you I had once married never really presented itself."
"Is that so?" Marguerite turned halfway around, her striking eyes burning with a not so suppressed indignation. "It never occurred to you while we were racing for our lives, trying to out run a T-Rex or raptor, to look over your shoulder and shout: 'Hey Marguerite, by the way, I was married.'"
"I didn't think …" he started.
"Or," she continued without a pause, "while exploring one of the numerous miserable caves on this God forsaken plateau it never crossed your mind to ask: 'Did I ever tell you about the time I was married?'"
"Marguerite, it was almost twenty years ago!" Roxton exclaimed, "I guess I sort of … forgot."
"You forgot?" You were married and you forgot?" Marguerite huffed skeptically and now turned fully to face him. Her hands were formed into fist and she balanced them on either side of the smooth slope of her hips. Marguerite, lips pressed together and body shaking slightly, looked as if she was two emotions away from cuffing Roxton crosswise about the face.
"It lasted a week!" he exclaimed, somewhat desperate. "Not even a week!"
Marguerite paused to rein in her temper. She wanted to scream, perhaps to have a tantrum, but it would do no good, nor clear away this situation, if she lost control now. Biting the inside of her lip, nearly drawing blood, the pain allowing her to focus, Marguerite calmed and asked, "Did you love her?"
"Monique and I cared for each other …"
"Did you love her, Roxton?!" Marguerite snapped.
[]
To be continued ...