Author's Note: Hi, me again. Just wanted to remind you disclaimers are in
chapter one. Oh! This will be the first of two chapters. You have to thank
Sherri for it. She figured out the mystery word in chapter seven. Now on
with the show.
Chapter 8 - Convincing Ned
Roxton, Challenger, and Veronica waited in silence for seemed like eternity. They stood in the shadow of their lodgings, doing their best to avoid the bright moonlight that seemed to flood the village. Periodically, Veronica or Roxton would shift slightly in order to check the distance between themselves and the tree line that marked the boundary of the village. Finally, they heard Ned and Darrus' voices.
"Don't we usually start on the other end of the village?" Ned asked, scanning the perimeter.
"Yes, but tonight is different," Darrus explained as they neared the rendezvous point. "Tonight, there are people who would like to talk to you."
"People...the strangers?" Ned questioned as he caught sight of them. His steps faltered for a moment as he caught sight of them.
Veronica was the first to respond. "Hello Ned," she tentatively said, giving him her most charming smile.
He seemed to be confused, but the moonlight made it difficult to read his expression. "Ned," he repeated as if digesting an important piece of information.
"That's you," Roxton encouraged. "You are Ned Malone, a part of the Challenger expedition. We came to explore the plateau and became stranded. Veronica took us in and we all live with her in the treehouse," he continued eagerly, hoping to trigger some memories.
"You're a reporter, remember? You keep track of our adventures in these," Veronica added, presenting him with the journal she was carrying.
Ned gingerly took it from her and began to flip through it, stopping occasionally to read an entry. The other watched as recognition dawned on his face.
"I remember writing this," he said, tapping a passage. His familiar, boyish grin faded into a perplexed frown. "How can I remember writing this? I've never seen any of you before today." He looked at each of them in turn, searching their faces before snapping the journal shut and handing it back to Veronica. "I'm not sure what's going on-"
"But we are sure," Challenger interrupted. "In spite of what has been done to you, your memories have begun to resurface."
"What do you mean, in spite of what's been done to me? Nothing has been done to me," he protested indignantly.
Challenger continued, ignoring his outburst. "Four days ago, you and Marguerite were abducted from a stream near our home."
Ned's right hand slipped to the dagger on his hip. "That is a lie," he hissed, taking a step back.
Darrus' firm grip froze him in his tracks. "No, Re-Ned Malone. What these people are telling you is true. I know because I took part in it," he confessed.
The others watched as Ned sat down hard, stunned. "I don't...none of this makes sense. I *know* who I am. I am Renn, son of Nessos, future leader of the Keergan people."
"Nessos' son?" Roxton whispered as Veronica shushed him.
"You are not Renn. You have been given yemmor and his memories. The true Renn was killed in a raid on the village by a hostile tribe. You are Ned Malone. I know this is the truth because I was the leader of the party that stole you and your friend," he explained as gently as possible.
Ned gazed up at them, looking utterly adrift. Unable to stand his haunted expression, Veronica sat down next to him and took his hand. "How can this be true," he asked her. "I don't remember being this Ned person. I barely remember you. This is all so strange. I don't want it to be true, but it feels right."
Encouraged by this declaration, Challenger said, "We have things back at the house that will speed up the process that allow your memories to return." Ned gave him a dubious look, but did not release Veronica's hand.
Roxton crouched down, making himself eye level with Ned. "How about we make a deal, Neddy-boy. You and Marguerite come back to the treehouse with us tonight. If things don't look and feel familiar and your memories don't start coming back, then we'll bring you back to the village."
Ned gave him a skeptical look. "I will have to talk it over with my father. If he agrees, we can leave tomorrow morning."
"You and I both know that Nessos will not allow you to leave, tomorrow morning or any other day. And when he denies your request, you know that Mirra will refuse to travel with you," Darrus pointed out, killing the flimsy attempt at avoiding the trip.
Ned scowled at Darrus before turning to address Challenger. "I will have to talk to Mirra. My sister will not disobey our father, but I am curious to see if you can prove what you claim and to learn about this 'treehouse'. I will do my best to convince her to go with us." He trotted off in the direction of the hut, disappearing into the shadows.
The group breathed a collective sigh of relief when, ten minutes later, Ned returned with Marguerite in tow. She studied the group apprehensively, staying close to Ned. "I don't know about this." She grasped his hand as they approached.
Ned gave it a reassuring squeeze. "You're not afraid, are you?" he asked with a teasing grin. Of course he knew the best way to ensure she would not back out on them.
She stiffened in response to the taunt and glared at him. "I'm *not* afraid. Besides, if you're going to go through with this, it can't be that difficult," she said derisively.
Challenger, Roxton, and Veronica smiled at the familiar behavior, another hallmark that their friends were returning.
"Hello Marguerite," Roxton said softly as he approached her. His tentative smile wavered when she tightened her grip on Ned.
"That's not my name," she said sharply, her gray-green eyes flashing. Ned frowned and nudged her. Marguerite shot him a warning glance, but did not speak.
Challenger could feel the tension radiating off the group. "Ah well, the sooner we get going, the sooner we can be back at the house," he suggested, eager to get their two companions home. Everyone muttered their agreement and they set off in the direction of the treehouse.
To be continued.
Chapter 8 - Convincing Ned
Roxton, Challenger, and Veronica waited in silence for seemed like eternity. They stood in the shadow of their lodgings, doing their best to avoid the bright moonlight that seemed to flood the village. Periodically, Veronica or Roxton would shift slightly in order to check the distance between themselves and the tree line that marked the boundary of the village. Finally, they heard Ned and Darrus' voices.
"Don't we usually start on the other end of the village?" Ned asked, scanning the perimeter.
"Yes, but tonight is different," Darrus explained as they neared the rendezvous point. "Tonight, there are people who would like to talk to you."
"People...the strangers?" Ned questioned as he caught sight of them. His steps faltered for a moment as he caught sight of them.
Veronica was the first to respond. "Hello Ned," she tentatively said, giving him her most charming smile.
He seemed to be confused, but the moonlight made it difficult to read his expression. "Ned," he repeated as if digesting an important piece of information.
"That's you," Roxton encouraged. "You are Ned Malone, a part of the Challenger expedition. We came to explore the plateau and became stranded. Veronica took us in and we all live with her in the treehouse," he continued eagerly, hoping to trigger some memories.
"You're a reporter, remember? You keep track of our adventures in these," Veronica added, presenting him with the journal she was carrying.
Ned gingerly took it from her and began to flip through it, stopping occasionally to read an entry. The other watched as recognition dawned on his face.
"I remember writing this," he said, tapping a passage. His familiar, boyish grin faded into a perplexed frown. "How can I remember writing this? I've never seen any of you before today." He looked at each of them in turn, searching their faces before snapping the journal shut and handing it back to Veronica. "I'm not sure what's going on-"
"But we are sure," Challenger interrupted. "In spite of what has been done to you, your memories have begun to resurface."
"What do you mean, in spite of what's been done to me? Nothing has been done to me," he protested indignantly.
Challenger continued, ignoring his outburst. "Four days ago, you and Marguerite were abducted from a stream near our home."
Ned's right hand slipped to the dagger on his hip. "That is a lie," he hissed, taking a step back.
Darrus' firm grip froze him in his tracks. "No, Re-Ned Malone. What these people are telling you is true. I know because I took part in it," he confessed.
The others watched as Ned sat down hard, stunned. "I don't...none of this makes sense. I *know* who I am. I am Renn, son of Nessos, future leader of the Keergan people."
"Nessos' son?" Roxton whispered as Veronica shushed him.
"You are not Renn. You have been given yemmor and his memories. The true Renn was killed in a raid on the village by a hostile tribe. You are Ned Malone. I know this is the truth because I was the leader of the party that stole you and your friend," he explained as gently as possible.
Ned gazed up at them, looking utterly adrift. Unable to stand his haunted expression, Veronica sat down next to him and took his hand. "How can this be true," he asked her. "I don't remember being this Ned person. I barely remember you. This is all so strange. I don't want it to be true, but it feels right."
Encouraged by this declaration, Challenger said, "We have things back at the house that will speed up the process that allow your memories to return." Ned gave him a dubious look, but did not release Veronica's hand.
Roxton crouched down, making himself eye level with Ned. "How about we make a deal, Neddy-boy. You and Marguerite come back to the treehouse with us tonight. If things don't look and feel familiar and your memories don't start coming back, then we'll bring you back to the village."
Ned gave him a skeptical look. "I will have to talk it over with my father. If he agrees, we can leave tomorrow morning."
"You and I both know that Nessos will not allow you to leave, tomorrow morning or any other day. And when he denies your request, you know that Mirra will refuse to travel with you," Darrus pointed out, killing the flimsy attempt at avoiding the trip.
Ned scowled at Darrus before turning to address Challenger. "I will have to talk to Mirra. My sister will not disobey our father, but I am curious to see if you can prove what you claim and to learn about this 'treehouse'. I will do my best to convince her to go with us." He trotted off in the direction of the hut, disappearing into the shadows.
The group breathed a collective sigh of relief when, ten minutes later, Ned returned with Marguerite in tow. She studied the group apprehensively, staying close to Ned. "I don't know about this." She grasped his hand as they approached.
Ned gave it a reassuring squeeze. "You're not afraid, are you?" he asked with a teasing grin. Of course he knew the best way to ensure she would not back out on them.
She stiffened in response to the taunt and glared at him. "I'm *not* afraid. Besides, if you're going to go through with this, it can't be that difficult," she said derisively.
Challenger, Roxton, and Veronica smiled at the familiar behavior, another hallmark that their friends were returning.
"Hello Marguerite," Roxton said softly as he approached her. His tentative smile wavered when she tightened her grip on Ned.
"That's not my name," she said sharply, her gray-green eyes flashing. Ned frowned and nudged her. Marguerite shot him a warning glance, but did not speak.
Challenger could feel the tension radiating off the group. "Ah well, the sooner we get going, the sooner we can be back at the house," he suggested, eager to get their two companions home. Everyone muttered their agreement and they set off in the direction of the treehouse.
To be continued.