Part 3: The Present
~*~
AUTHOR'S NOTE: ::grins sheepishly:: I guess I let my procrastinating take over...well I've finally written the next two chapters to this story (praise be for Christmas holidays!) and I've started on the fifth and final one. Many thanks to all the people who have reviewed my story and those who have emailed me about it!!! It was very much appreciated.and it finally convinced me to finish this thing ::grins:: THANK YOU!
~*~
They wove around corners and ducked through doorways only to arrive back in the same front hall Marguerite had first walked into.
But rather than stopping there, they cut off to another doorway directly opposite of them, and navigated down a rather lengthy hallway only to emerge at the foot of a sweeping staircase that looked as though it belonged inside Buckingham Palace rather than this drab place.
Sophie began to climb up the stairs, but turned around suddenly when she realized that her 'pupil'-so to speak-wasn't behind her.
The auburn-haired woman stared down expectantly at the other, curiously studying Marguerite's plaintive scowl.
"Is there a problem?"
Marguerite's narrowed eyes shifted to glare at the woman. "Yes, I most definitely have a problem with all these stairs.
Sophie broke out into one of her unnerving smiles. "They are not that bad once you start." When she saw no change in Marguerite's stance, she gave a small sigh. "You'll be done before you know it."
Marguerite felt as though she could have stood at the foot of the massive staircase all day long if she had to, but something in the way her companion looked at her made her do nothing but give in.
Making it quite plain that she had no intention of bearing with the rather tenuous climb that lay ahead, Marguerite began to walk up the stairs, making her complaints rather vocal. She didn't want Sophie to feel as though she were giving in willingly.
In the end, Marguerite's reasoning won over Sophie's. The stairs were indeed a long haul, and in the end both women were nearly out of breath as they took a small break on the top step.
"I owe you an apology," Sophie commented, "Those stairs are a pain."
Satisfied, Marguerite flashed her a triumphant grin. " Apology accepted."
They sat in silence for a little while; one trying to regain her energy so she could face whatever lay in store for her, the other preparing herself for the next stage of the journey.
In one swift movement, Sophie rose to her feet, and extended a hand down to the heiress. Marguerite, plaintively ignoring the outstretched hand, stood up and sent a wary glance down the hallway that lay in waiting.
"After you."
Sophie simply grinned, and stepped up onto the landing.
~*~
The once quiet tree house was bustling with activity, but for all the wrong reasons. Ever since a weary Roxton had returned with a pale Marguerite cradled protectively in his arms, not a single person was able to find any peace.
In a matter of moments, Challenger and Summerlee had kicked the other three out of Marguerite's room so as to be able to assess her condition and clean out the wound in some state of calm.
Roxton sat at the table, hands clenched together on his chest as he ran the day's events through his mind. How could he have been stupid enough to let her go to the stream on her own? They both knew better than that.but, then again, Marguerite was never the one to accept protection with ease. He let out a long sigh, and buried his head into his hands, trying to ease some of the tension that had built up.
Veronica and Ned stood together on the balcony, both staring aimlessly out into the jungle. They both felt somewhat responsible for what had happened, and thoughts similar to those of Roxton flashed through their minds.
"If only one of us had gone to watch her back." Ned trailed off, unable to finish his thoughts.
"There was nothing we could do," Veronica-always the voice of reason- pointed out. "She would have sent us straight back. You know how she gets."
He glanced over his shoulder at the distressed hunter, and shook his head. "I just wish we were able to do something.it would probably help to ease the guilt."
"We did everything we could, Ned." Veronica's hand reached out to grasp his own. "We managed to bring her back in a record amount of time. Even Summerlee said there was nothing else we could have done."
"I know, but still."
The voices of Challenger and Summerlee grew progressively louder as they came out from Marguerite's room, looking rather satisfied with something.
The three others immediately looked up-Ned and Veronica moving closer to where Roxton was sitting-and anxiously awaited the news.
"There's good news and bad news," Challenger proclaimed, settling himself down at the head of the table.
"The good news: Marguerite's going to be just fine," Summerlee said with a warm smile on his face. The fretfulness on everybody's faces eased up as the botanist rested a hand on Roxton's shoulder.
'The bad news?" Ned asked, still looking apprehensive.
"The bad news is that she'll be unconscious for a few more days, just to help her body recover from the shock it suffered," Challenger explained. "Other than that, I suggest you savour the peace, because it won't last for long."
Challenger's attempt to lighten the mood worked, as everybody broke out into a smile. Roxton looked up a Summerlee, rising from his chair.
"Could I see her?"
The old botanist nodded, and took over the chair as Roxton disappeared into Marguerite's room. He poured himself a cup of tea, all the while smiling as the others began to lighten up and start arguing over their next destination on the plateau. It was nice to see them finally at ease.
~*~
Marguerite looked so peaceful resting in her bed that Roxton almost felt as though her were intruding. But the white bandages wrapped around her head were a stark contrast to the idea, and he drew up a chair close to her side.
He simply sat that way for a few moments, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest assuring him that she was alive and breathing.
Tentatively, he reached out for her rather pale hand, taking it gently into his own and resting it against his cheek.
"Come back to me soon, Marguerite," He whispered softly, unable to draw his eyes away from her ghostly face.
~*~
Little did Roxton know Marguerite was already back.in a manner of speaking. She and Sophie had been there when the three explorers had returned in a rush, cradling her rather limp body, and had stayed ever since.
Marguerite felt a blush rise to her cheeks as she observed the hunter's actions, incredibly touched by the gesture of affection. Never had she felt such a warm feeling of contentment as she did now, knowing that the others were that worried over some nasty little scrape on her head. Perhaps things weren't quite as bad on this godforsaken plateau as she had thought.
Sophie stood back, watching Marguerite with a repressed grin on her face. All was turning out the way she had wanted it too after all.
"Come, we have a bit more to do before I let you go," Sophie declared stepping up to the heiress. Although she wished that they could stay forever to let Marguerite discover just how much she was cared about; time was running out, and it was going fast.
Marguerite tried to hide her disappointment as she nodded. "Just lead the way."
Sophie caught the last glance Marguerite sent the hunter, but said nothing instead clapping her hands to return them back to where they had begun.
Marguerite sighed as those damn white walls appeared, replacing the wooden ones of the tree house. What she wouldn't give to be back with the others, joking about the latest journey or discussing new routes to look for a new way off of the plateau. She could even tolerate Malone's attempts at cooking if only it got her away from this dreary place.
Sophie was already walking towards a smaller set of stairs set off to one side, and Marguerite caught up in time to realize that they had another steep climb ahead of them.
"Why can't you install elevators? It would save you the trouble of having to drag your guests up hundreds of stairs."
Sophie merely grinned and lifted up her skirts to give her easier movement. "It won't be as bad as the first set. I promise."
The heiress eyed the steep staircase and had serious doubts but decided to get it over with. She figured if the faster things went, the quicker she'd be back in her own domain with someone who wasn't a auburn-haired nut intent on re-opening old wounds, so she followed the woman up, careful not to trip over the trailing skirt of her companion.
~*~
Comments? Questions? Ideas? Just send em to: sail_the_seas@hotmail.com
~*~
AUTHOR'S NOTE: ::grins sheepishly:: I guess I let my procrastinating take over...well I've finally written the next two chapters to this story (praise be for Christmas holidays!) and I've started on the fifth and final one. Many thanks to all the people who have reviewed my story and those who have emailed me about it!!! It was very much appreciated.and it finally convinced me to finish this thing ::grins:: THANK YOU!
~*~
They wove around corners and ducked through doorways only to arrive back in the same front hall Marguerite had first walked into.
But rather than stopping there, they cut off to another doorway directly opposite of them, and navigated down a rather lengthy hallway only to emerge at the foot of a sweeping staircase that looked as though it belonged inside Buckingham Palace rather than this drab place.
Sophie began to climb up the stairs, but turned around suddenly when she realized that her 'pupil'-so to speak-wasn't behind her.
The auburn-haired woman stared down expectantly at the other, curiously studying Marguerite's plaintive scowl.
"Is there a problem?"
Marguerite's narrowed eyes shifted to glare at the woman. "Yes, I most definitely have a problem with all these stairs.
Sophie broke out into one of her unnerving smiles. "They are not that bad once you start." When she saw no change in Marguerite's stance, she gave a small sigh. "You'll be done before you know it."
Marguerite felt as though she could have stood at the foot of the massive staircase all day long if she had to, but something in the way her companion looked at her made her do nothing but give in.
Making it quite plain that she had no intention of bearing with the rather tenuous climb that lay ahead, Marguerite began to walk up the stairs, making her complaints rather vocal. She didn't want Sophie to feel as though she were giving in willingly.
In the end, Marguerite's reasoning won over Sophie's. The stairs were indeed a long haul, and in the end both women were nearly out of breath as they took a small break on the top step.
"I owe you an apology," Sophie commented, "Those stairs are a pain."
Satisfied, Marguerite flashed her a triumphant grin. " Apology accepted."
They sat in silence for a little while; one trying to regain her energy so she could face whatever lay in store for her, the other preparing herself for the next stage of the journey.
In one swift movement, Sophie rose to her feet, and extended a hand down to the heiress. Marguerite, plaintively ignoring the outstretched hand, stood up and sent a wary glance down the hallway that lay in waiting.
"After you."
Sophie simply grinned, and stepped up onto the landing.
~*~
The once quiet tree house was bustling with activity, but for all the wrong reasons. Ever since a weary Roxton had returned with a pale Marguerite cradled protectively in his arms, not a single person was able to find any peace.
In a matter of moments, Challenger and Summerlee had kicked the other three out of Marguerite's room so as to be able to assess her condition and clean out the wound in some state of calm.
Roxton sat at the table, hands clenched together on his chest as he ran the day's events through his mind. How could he have been stupid enough to let her go to the stream on her own? They both knew better than that.but, then again, Marguerite was never the one to accept protection with ease. He let out a long sigh, and buried his head into his hands, trying to ease some of the tension that had built up.
Veronica and Ned stood together on the balcony, both staring aimlessly out into the jungle. They both felt somewhat responsible for what had happened, and thoughts similar to those of Roxton flashed through their minds.
"If only one of us had gone to watch her back." Ned trailed off, unable to finish his thoughts.
"There was nothing we could do," Veronica-always the voice of reason- pointed out. "She would have sent us straight back. You know how she gets."
He glanced over his shoulder at the distressed hunter, and shook his head. "I just wish we were able to do something.it would probably help to ease the guilt."
"We did everything we could, Ned." Veronica's hand reached out to grasp his own. "We managed to bring her back in a record amount of time. Even Summerlee said there was nothing else we could have done."
"I know, but still."
The voices of Challenger and Summerlee grew progressively louder as they came out from Marguerite's room, looking rather satisfied with something.
The three others immediately looked up-Ned and Veronica moving closer to where Roxton was sitting-and anxiously awaited the news.
"There's good news and bad news," Challenger proclaimed, settling himself down at the head of the table.
"The good news: Marguerite's going to be just fine," Summerlee said with a warm smile on his face. The fretfulness on everybody's faces eased up as the botanist rested a hand on Roxton's shoulder.
'The bad news?" Ned asked, still looking apprehensive.
"The bad news is that she'll be unconscious for a few more days, just to help her body recover from the shock it suffered," Challenger explained. "Other than that, I suggest you savour the peace, because it won't last for long."
Challenger's attempt to lighten the mood worked, as everybody broke out into a smile. Roxton looked up a Summerlee, rising from his chair.
"Could I see her?"
The old botanist nodded, and took over the chair as Roxton disappeared into Marguerite's room. He poured himself a cup of tea, all the while smiling as the others began to lighten up and start arguing over their next destination on the plateau. It was nice to see them finally at ease.
~*~
Marguerite looked so peaceful resting in her bed that Roxton almost felt as though her were intruding. But the white bandages wrapped around her head were a stark contrast to the idea, and he drew up a chair close to her side.
He simply sat that way for a few moments, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest assuring him that she was alive and breathing.
Tentatively, he reached out for her rather pale hand, taking it gently into his own and resting it against his cheek.
"Come back to me soon, Marguerite," He whispered softly, unable to draw his eyes away from her ghostly face.
~*~
Little did Roxton know Marguerite was already back.in a manner of speaking. She and Sophie had been there when the three explorers had returned in a rush, cradling her rather limp body, and had stayed ever since.
Marguerite felt a blush rise to her cheeks as she observed the hunter's actions, incredibly touched by the gesture of affection. Never had she felt such a warm feeling of contentment as she did now, knowing that the others were that worried over some nasty little scrape on her head. Perhaps things weren't quite as bad on this godforsaken plateau as she had thought.
Sophie stood back, watching Marguerite with a repressed grin on her face. All was turning out the way she had wanted it too after all.
"Come, we have a bit more to do before I let you go," Sophie declared stepping up to the heiress. Although she wished that they could stay forever to let Marguerite discover just how much she was cared about; time was running out, and it was going fast.
Marguerite tried to hide her disappointment as she nodded. "Just lead the way."
Sophie caught the last glance Marguerite sent the hunter, but said nothing instead clapping her hands to return them back to where they had begun.
Marguerite sighed as those damn white walls appeared, replacing the wooden ones of the tree house. What she wouldn't give to be back with the others, joking about the latest journey or discussing new routes to look for a new way off of the plateau. She could even tolerate Malone's attempts at cooking if only it got her away from this dreary place.
Sophie was already walking towards a smaller set of stairs set off to one side, and Marguerite caught up in time to realize that they had another steep climb ahead of them.
"Why can't you install elevators? It would save you the trouble of having to drag your guests up hundreds of stairs."
Sophie merely grinned and lifted up her skirts to give her easier movement. "It won't be as bad as the first set. I promise."
The heiress eyed the steep staircase and had serious doubts but decided to get it over with. She figured if the faster things went, the quicker she'd be back in her own domain with someone who wasn't a auburn-haired nut intent on re-opening old wounds, so she followed the woman up, careful not to trip over the trailing skirt of her companion.
~*~
Comments? Questions? Ideas? Just send em to: sail_the_seas@hotmail.com