Disclaimer: I own them, I own them not. I own them, I own them not. Nope this flower says I don't own them, but I think this particular flower is just pessimistic.
A/N: Hey thanks for all the wonderful reviews again! I tell you, I have a newfound respect for the writers of TLW. Who else but these wonderful people come up with these complicated explanations for Challenger to come up with every week? It took me 15 darn minutes to think up and another 20 or so figuring out a way to explain it well enough. I don't know how you the writers or anyone else for that matter can do that. But thank you again for the reviews
Marguerite and Richard rode toward Avebury. They didn't say a word to one another. Richard had just explained his story. He told her that he had been detained by a man named Sir James Dupree, a Frenchmen, who had lived the most recent years of his life in Guilder. James had convinced Richard that there was a conspiracy being formed against the king. Of course it was his duty to find out the truth and defend his King at all cost. He had written Madeline, and told him nothing more than he had a slight delay and would be home two weeks later than he had planned. But there turned out to be no such plan, and when he returned, the princess had been kidnapped.
Marguerite definitely wanted to meet this man. They knew that something was planned against them, so they decided the only way to get everything was to set back to normal was to figure out exactly who and what was causing this. And most importantly, how.
Marguerite was to pretend to be Princess Madeline. 'Well, I've pretended to be worse,' she thought.
"Maybe, you should fill me in on everyone. I mean if I am going to be your Princess Madeline, I think I should no at least some major facts about my life," Marguerite pointed out.
"You are one of the most sought after women in all of London, some seek you for your exquisite beauty, others for your position to the throne, and some, like I, have loved you form afar from the moments our eyes met."
"When did "we" meet?" She asked. "When we were children. I was training to become a knight, I was only fourteen. You were nine or ten; you were playing on the standing stones when I rode by. I thought you were very pretty for a girl of your age. I didn't realize at the time who you were. I didn't again realize that it was you I saw until you were twenty-one and you were coming of age."
"The standing stones of Avebury…" Marguerite whispered.
******************************************************
"I want to know who lied to me about Richard's death," Madeline said to Roxton, "You have no idea how much pain that put me through, so much agony."
Roxton smiled at that. How many times had he almost lost her? How many times had he just wanted to be with her with no interruptions, or dinosaurs, or cannibals, or headhunters, who's only purpose was to kill them. He had to admit, it just got damn irritating.
"We will find out," he said, 'We HAVE to' he thought. "We just need to get some sleep tonight. Go with Veronica, she will find a place for you to sleep."
"Good night, Lord Roxton," she called after him. "Good night," he said, not turning around.
************************************************************
"Well what else can you tell me?" Marguerite asked.
"Your dearest and closest friend is you lady-in-waiting, Victoria, who is madly in love with the town crier, Elliot. They make a comical pair. And your father's dearest friend, the wizard, of sorts, Chantler, who is always trying to explain away his magic. He is always trying something new and always having it cause some sort of destruction. He lives in the castle, works in the dungeon, and since he is so close to your father, feels it is his duty to constantly protect you when your father is absent.
You know once he even tried to replace the moat with some lightning rope," he laughed at this, "Very interesting man."
"Look!" he cried, "We are here. Are you ready?"
"As I'll ever be," she replied.
When they arrived at the castle walls, the drawbridge was immediately lowered. They were greeted by a whirlwind of excitement. Floods of people came to greet them. Then finally the crowd parted, and there was "her" father, King Arthur.
She stared at him in shock. "Arthur…..Summerlee?" she whispered under her breath.
****************************************************
The next morning the explorers were packed and ready to go at dawn. They started out north, going to the far edged of the field.
"What are we going to do first?" Malone asked.
"I need to do some test to find where and when we can get through the plane. It should only be a few hours." Challenger replied. There was a crashing sound heard through the edges of the jungle.
"Raptors?" Malone asked.
"No, too small. It sounds like humans," Veronica said, never letting her eyes stray from the direction of the sound.
"What human would be stupid enough to make all that noise?" Roxton asked. Before anyone could answer, a man came crashing out through the jungle running like a mad man.
"Blast those overgrown lizards," they heard him curse. When he spotted the group, he froze. "Well, well, well, fancy meeting you here," he grinned. "It's been much too long since I have seen you Ms. Krux."
'Oh, no not today,' Roxton thought. "Am I supposed to know him?" Madeline asked under her breath. "Apparently so, but we don't," Roxton replied. 'Damn Marguerite's secrets' he thought.
The man strode up to them. "Come, Come now, Marguerite, you look as if you've seen a ghost. I mean you really didn't think that by shooting me you could kill me that easily. I really thought you would know better than to leave without making sure that you mission is complete."
"James? James Dupree?" Madeline looked like she was about to pass out. "You know this man?" Challenger whispered.
"Yes, I killed him 3 years ago" Madeline said in a flat dry tone. Her eyes, filled with hate, bore back into his.
"After all we meant to each other, you cant even remember my name?" he mocked in feigned hurt. "Jacob Dupree, at your service."
"Well, how did you get here?" Roxton asked, stepping between Madeline and Jacob.
"Interesting question, you see Xan heard that you were still here, still alive so he wanted me to come back and give you something," Jacob said.
Roxton stepped to the side of Madeline as Jacob continued, "You see you had a deal with Xan, and he feels terrible about not bringing up his side of the deal, so I have come to give you this." At this he reached into his pocket, and before anyone could draw their weapons, produced a pistol. "Now you see if you want to shoot me, go ahead, but I promise that I will still get your precious Ms. Krux. So I suggest you put them down, slowly." They did as he said. "So I guess I have you where I want you Ms. Krux, please come with me." He smiled.
"No! She isn't going anywhere. Leave her alone!" Roxton screamed. Everything then went in slow motion. Jacob pointed his gun at Roxton. Madeline instinctively stepped in front of him; the gun went off and hit her in the stomach. Malone had got his gun during this and shot Dupree in the chest followed by a knife in the stomach from Veronica.
"NO!" Roxton cried. He cradled her his arms, "No NO! Why did you do that? Madeline, answer me! Madeline! MADELINE!" That was the last thing she heard before it went dark.
*************************************
"Welcome back my daughter," King Arthur cried, "You have been missed, I sent all my troops to find you, I had such high rewards for the one who found you, and now you are back. This is truly a joyous day!"
" I missed you too, Father," Marguerite said, hugging the old man. 'I do miss you, Summerlee,' she thought.
"Well, Sir Richard, my deepest thanks and gratitude for returning the Princess to her home. There will be a banquet in your honor tonight, where you will get your reward." The King continued, "Come let us prepare." With that he whisked Marguerite away from the crowds and away from Richard. 'Oh please don't forget anything, just this once, don't mess anything up. This would be so much easier if only Roxton where here. Where is he? I wonder if he is coming after me? What is he is hurt? Oh Roxton, please be all right. I love you.' When she came out of her thoughts she realized that she was in her chambers.
The doors opened and in came a woman, looking exactly like Veronica. "Victoria!" Marguerite cried running to her. "Princess! I just heard you where back, are you all right, did they hurt you. Oh, the adventure you must have had!"
"Yes I did have quite an adventure, but I am fine," Marguerite franticly tried to change the subject, " I must get ready for the banquet it is almost sundown already!"
The rest of the afternoon, Marguerite was waited on hand and foot. All Marguerite could think about was Roxton. At nine, the banquet was to start. Marguerite and Richard were seated together, seeing as they were the guests of honor. As the guests started to arrive, Richard told her all their names and ranks. She tried her hardest to remember everyone.
Then Lord Henry entered. "That pompous ass had the audacity to show up here!" Richard seethed.
"Who is that?" Marguerite asked, "He looks remarkably like my….. Fourth husband."
"Fourth??" Richard said shocked. "Yes, well, divorce apparently wasn't a popular thing around this time was it" she said, slightly ashamed. "I married him for his connections to France, he had lots of access to military secrets. Trust me I had more trouble with his…." Then she saw him. Jacob Dupree, that son of a …
"Marguerite, are you alright?" Richard asked.
"Who is that man standing next to Lord Henry?" She shot back without any hesitation.
"James Dupree, a very rich, very powerful Frenchman. Why do you ask?" Richard was worried now. Before she could answer people were coming toward them to congratulate Richard and the Princess. When one group of people left, another followed. This seemed to continue for hours, until the last two made their way towards them.
"Lord Henry, it is an honor and a pleasure to see you as always," Marguerite smiled.
"Charmed, I'm sure," he replied in a flat tone and kissed her hand. "It seems that the feast is about to begin, shall we go out to the terrace and speak for a moment?"
Marguerite had a bad feeling about this. She looked at Richard. He nodded his approval. "Only if I come with her," Richard spoke up, " I wouldn't want any rumors about the Princess's honor to be started."
"Of course," Dupree said grimly, with a slight smirk. Marguerite held on tightly to Richard's arm. 'Something is wrong. If Madeline did anything to them in this time like I did in mine, we are all dead.' Marguerite thought as they made their way to the terrace.
TBC….. It feels like I write and write, but then there still isn't that much to read, stick with me the conclusions coming up soon. LOVE YOUR REVIEWS, keep'em coming. You don't know how much I appreciate them I am having a lot going on around here, so I will have the next chapter up soon, but you might have to wait a few days or a week. Sorry! Life calls. See ya!
