Disclaimer: I don't own TLW or any of the people that live there. So go pick on someone else you...you...LAWYERS!

AN: I am so sorry this chapter took so long. I had orientation to go to which was like three hours away. Then I went to the beach for three days. Not to mention I had major writer's block. Better late than never though right?

Destiny Calls

Chapter 2: The Map

By: TheChosenOne3

Marguerite sat up in her bed, drenching in sweat. She had had that dream again, the dream of her parents' murders. It had been tormenting her all week, whether she was awake or asleep. Marguerite had scarcely closed her eyes in three days, for fear of seeing it all again. Her exhaustion was beginning to show and she knew it.

But this time was different. This time when she awoke Marguerite felt a presence. Someone had been in her room only moments before she woke up. It was not a presence of one of her friends; she could distinguish each of their separate auras blindfolded. This presence was cold and threatening. It was evil and yet it was...familiar somehow.

"You are next Chosen One." Marguerite jumped at the icy chill that blew past her ear. When she turned around to face it, no one was there. The wind carried the message to Marguerite once more before fading with the rising sun.

Marguerite shivered at the artic emptiness that the mysterious voice filled her with. She stood there shuddering for a few more minutes when she heard someone at the entrance of her room. She spun around quickly, expecting some sinister-looking hooded creature to be standing there. It was just Veronica.

"Veronica don't do that!" Marguerite shouted quietly, so as not to wake the others.

"Sorry Marguerite I was just going to come wake you up. I need to talk to you." Veronica whispered urgently. Marguerite knew by the distraught tone of Veronica's voice that this was serious.

"I agree. I was going to try to talk to you some time today, but now is as good a time as any I suppose." Marguerite sat down on her bed and motioned for Veronica to do the same. When they were both comfortable, Veronica began.

"Marguerite I had a dream last night. I don't remember the details anymore, but there's this feeling I have. Something is going to happen and soon. I just don't know if it is good or bad." Veronica was studying Marguerite's face intently to see if this was a surprise or if Marguerite had been sensing something too.

"I've been experiencing the same foreboding for the past three days, ever since I started having dreams of my parents."

"Oh Marguerite why didn't you say anything?" Veronica exclaimed with sympathy.

"It's nothing but bad dreams Veronica. Besides I didn't want to change the atmosphere in the treehouse, it has been so comfortable lately. You would all feel sorry for me, but wouldn't want to say so. So you would all just keep giving me funny looks until tensions rose so high we all couldn't take it. Then you would elect someone to talk to me about it, most likely John. Then the unfortunate person chosen to come consol me, would fall all over himself or herself trying to approach the subject. After a few painful minutes, for both parties, the crisis will have been reconciled. I thought it best for all of us that I just keep it to myself until they passed." Marguerite kept her eyes on her hands, which were fiddling with themselves in her lap. She did feel kind of guilty for not telling them about her dreams. She knew that they would have wanted to help her in any way possible, but there was nothing anyone could do to help. It was something Marguerite would have to deal with on her own.

Veronica smiled, in spite of herself. Marguerite's prediction of what would happen had she said something was comical if only because it was so accurate. Veronica knew that Marguerite trusted everyone in the treehouse with her life and, probably more difficultly, her heart; she did not believe that Marguerite was trying to push everyone away again by not telling them about something like this. Veronica knew what nightmares could do to you if you let them, but then again so did Marguerite. No, Marguerite was sincere in her motives for keeping a new secret from them. That still wasn't going to save her from Roxton's wrath.

Veronica glanced at the woman who sat beside her. She gasped slightly at Marguerite's appearance. Her hair and clothes were both unkempt from the night's tossing and turning. She had deep circles under her eyes and her skin was far more pale than normal. She looked like a ghost.

"You haven't slept at all in three days have you? Marguerite you can't keep things like this from us. It's dangerous, for us all. You are in no condition to do housework much less fire a gun if need be. You know that they are all going to notice, don't you?" Veronica's lecture ended abruptly when she saw Marguerite hang her head in shame, or maybe it was because she was too tired to keep it up, it was probably a combination of both.

"Yes I know. We have to tell them about what we are feeling too. I wasn't going to say anything, but now that it is both of us, it is more than just after-effects of my dreams." Marguerite was trying to decide whether to tell Veronica about the voice she heard and the aura she sensed this morning. Before she made up her mind Veronica spoke.

"Marguerite why were you standing in the middle of the room all jumpy when I came in. I mean I was prepared to get the bucket to wake you, but..." Veronica let the sentence hang there. She watched Marguerite carefully.

Marguerite sighed heavily. "This is going to sound crazy, but I felt someone in my room when I woke up from my nightmare. I knew it wasn't you or any of the others, but it still seemed vaguely familiar." Marguerite's voice drifted off, as if she was trying to recall a memory, but could never quite reach it.

"That doesn't explain why you were jumpy. If the presence was familiar then..."

"It was familiar Veronica but it was not friendly. In fact it was menacing." Marguerite stated lamely. "Never mind. I'm just tired. I'm sure it was nothing."

Veronica let Marguerite brush it off, but she was not going to forget about it so easily. The look in Marguerite's eyes when she turned around that morning was too intense to just write it off as a bad case of the creeps. There was more to it than Marguerite wanted her to believe.

"What ever you say Marguerite. Why don't you get some more sleep and I'll go start breakfast."

"Veronica I couldn't sleep if I wanted to. I'll make the coffee and the tea. I'm just going to get dressed first." Veronica nodded. She knew that she alone could not force Marguerite to sleep, she needed reinforcements. Veronica got up and went to the kitchen to begin breakfast.

A few minutes later a fully dressed Marguerite entered the kitchen and went straight to the stove to put water to boil.

"They are still going to notice you know. You are still as white as a sheet, except for the circles under your eyes." Veronica let a little teasing into her voice just to make sure Marguerite would not be able to mistake her comment for an insult.

"A girl can try can't she?" Marguerite knew Veronica was right, but that didn't mean she had to make noticing easy for them.

They prepared breakfast in silence, each woman was wondering what she was going to tell the others when the time came. 'This is going to be a very interesting morning.' They both thought sarcastically.

Before they knew it Roxton, Finn, Malone, and Challenger were all sitting around the breakfast table, chatting and patiently waiting for breakfast to be served. Marguerite stayed with Veronica in the kitchen under the pretence that she was making more coffee. Veronica watched, amused, as Marguerite cautiously made sure that no one got too good a look at her.

Soon, breakfast was ready and Marguerite could hide no longer. She and Veronica carried the plates of fruit, raptor meat, eggs, and toast to the table. Marguerite was careful to draw as little attention to herself as possible.

Everyone ate their meal contently, complimenting Veronica on the fine job she did in preparing it. Marguerite was relieved that no one had said much to her besides the usual morning greetings. Unfortunately her luck did not last.

"Marguerite what miraculous event has occurred that woke you up from your beauty sleep at such an appalling hour?" Malone asked using Marguerite's own description of the time her companions ate breakfast.

"I just couldn't sleep that's all." Marguerite really tried to keep up a cheery tone, but failed when she had to stifle a yawn. When Malone looked as if he was about to continue, Marguerite shot Veronica a pleading look, silently begging the blond to help divert the reporter's attention.

Before Veronica could come to the brunette's aid, Roxton jumped into the conversation.

"Why couldn't you sleep? You were so tired last night I thought that Veronica was going to need her bucket of cold water to get you up." Roxton chuckled at the memory of a soaking wet and shivering Marguerite chasing Veronica all over the treehouse with the obvious intent of doing more than just screaming and yelling. He looked over to Marguerite, who was sitting next to him, to see if she found the memory funny as well. He dropped his fork when he saw how pale and weak Marguerite looked.

"Marguerite you are white as a ghost!" He exclaimed, not being able to think of anything else to say. That, of course, got everyone else's attention. Challenger, who was seated on Marguerite's other side, immediately switched from "family-man" to "doctor" mode.

"Have you been sleeping well? When was the last time you ate? Do you hurt anywhere?" Challenger's rapid-fire examination was making Marguerite's head spin.

"One at a time George. No, I haven't been sleeping well. I don't remember the last time I ate. I have a slight headache and I am a little light- headed, but other than that I am just tired." Marguerite wanted nothing more than to run back to her room and hide, she knew what was coming next.

"Well Marguerite, you have a slight fever, probably from exhaustion and malnutrition. Do you mind telling us why we are only hearing about this now?" Challenger was concerned and was doing his best not to let his concern turn into anger.

"I've just been having nightmares for the past three nights, that's all. There's no life-threatening entity keeping me up all night, just the memory of my parents' deaths. I've tried to get some sleep between chores, but every time I close my eyes I hear their final words and see the looks on their faces as they realize what was going to happen. I can still feel the joy and contentment radiating from that maniac. When I wake up I am breathing hard, pouring sweat, and feeling a void that is growing stronger and closer. I didn't want to worry all of you when I knew there was nothing anyone can do, but wait until they pass." Marguerite did not look into anyone's eyes. She felt guilty for not telling them, but she did not regret her decision. She was right and they knew it.

"Marguerite you should have told someone about it. You endangered yourself and all of us, just for the sake of your own pride." Roxton wanted to yell at her, to make sure she understood what could have happened if she let her condition get any worse without letting anyone know, but he knew they were reprimands without any conviction. How many times had he been up for days on end right after he lost his brother? He just didn't want to think about Marguerite dealing with this on her own.

"I'm sorry John. I'm sorry everyone. I just didn't want the rest of you worrying over something that you have no control over." The room was silent until Veronica took pity on Marguerite.

"We have bigger problems to worry about. Marguerite wasn't the only one who woke up from an...uncomfortable dream. I can't remember what exactly the dream was about, but I do know I woke with this feeling that something was coming or is going to happen, but I don't know what. It is more than just coincidence that Marguerite and I are feeling the same thing at the same time. What if this has something to do with what Morrigan said about the whole destiny thing?" Veronica didn't miss the extremely grateful look Marguerite gave her.

"Morrigan didn't exactly give us any details about that Veronica. We can't assume anything without proof and women's intuition is not enough evidence to prove anything." Challenger stated firmly, ever the "see to believe" man.

"Challenger how many times has Veronica's or my 'women's intuitions' as you so quaintly call them, gotten us out of trouble, especially when we both agree?" Challenger did not have a rebuttal to Marguerite's point. She smirked with satisfaction.

"You may have a point Marguerite, but George is right. We need solid proof before we do anything drastic." Roxton stated authoritatively. When he used this tone, Marguerite was the only one who ever dared to argue with him, but she was not in the right mind-set to dispute anything.

Marguerite and Veronica looked at each other. They knew what they were feeling wasn't just some hormonal thing. Finn and Malone were disappointed with the decision, but both kept their mouths shut. Veronica and Marguerite knew they were going to have to convince Roxton and Challenger before they could do anything.

"Fine but we warned you, just remember that." Veronica said in a light- tone that told Roxton and Challenger she was teasing and serious at the same time.

The table was silent again. They continued eating their breakfast with more to chew on than just the food. After a few minutes Finn said something that got everyone's attention.

"Marguerite aren't you going to eat?" Marguerite jumped as if she had just been awoken abruptly.

"No thanks Finn, I've got coffee." She replied when she settled down a bit.

"I didn't ask if you wanted tea, I asked if you were going to eat." Finn was torn between concern and amusement. It wasn't very often that one saw Marguerite so out of it, but the reasons behind it took the humor out of the situation completely.

"Marguerite it would be best for you to go back to bed and get some rest." Challenger said in his fatherly tone.

"Oh I'm fine George." Marguerite said. To make her point she got up to take her dishes to the kitchen. Before she could even pick up her plate, she swayed and sat back down heavily when her legs gave out from under her. If not for Roxton's and Challenger's hands on either side of her, steadying her, she might have fallen back from the force of which she sat down in the chair. "Okay so maybe I'm not at my best, but..."

"No buts Marguerite. You are not well and you are not going to get out of bed again until you are." Without another word spoken, Roxton picked Marguerite up and carried her to her room.

"I'll make some of my mother's insomnia tea. It may just be strong enough to give her some sleep without nightmares." Veronica went to the kitchen to make good on her promise.

"I have some plants in my lab that should help lower her fever. Finn would you help me prepare them?" Challenger did not wait for Finn's reply before heading to the lab. Finn was only too happy to have something to do besides clean up the breakfast dishes.

"Don't worry everyone. I'll clean up the table." Malone said sarcastically to himself. Although he was secretly glad that he would at least get to spend some time with Veronica.

***************

"John I'm tired, not an invalid. I can walk you know." Marguerite commented when Roxton gently placed her on her bed. She grinned at Roxton's light blush.

"Yes, you did such a marvelous job walking to the kitchen." It was Roxton's turn to grin at Marguerite's flustered face. "I'll be right back with some tea that should help you sleep."

Roxton went to the kitchen and took the cup of tea on a tray that Veronica had all ready for Roxton. He went to thank her, but found her in a conversation with Malone so he decided that appreciation can wait. He then returned to his lady love and found her exactly as he left her, lying on her bed staring at the ceiling.

"Here you go milady. Nice warm tea to help you get some real sleep for a change." Roxton sat down on the side of her bed as she sat up. She took the cup from him and tried to bring it to her lips, but her hands were so shaky she couldn't keep the cup steady. Roxton took a hold of her hands and stopped the shaking. She gave him a look of sincere gratitude and slowly they raised the cup to her lips.

After the brew was gone, Roxton set the empty cup back on the tray and made Marguerite lay back down. Roxton kissed Marguerite on the forehead and turned to leave so she could get her rest.

"Wait Roxton, don't leave yet. Could you just stay with me...until I fall asleep? I don't want to be alone right now." Marguerite's frightened and weary eyes cut Roxton deep. She was suffering and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He smiled and nodded. Marguerite smiled back and moved over in her bed to make room for him. Roxton took off his boots and got into bed beside Marguerite.

"Thank you John." Marguerite said quietly. He turned to face her, wrapped his arms securely around her waist, and pulled her tightly to him. She was soon asleep with her head resting on his chest instead of her pillow.

"Anytime Marguerite. Sleep well." Roxton whispered against her hair. He kissed her on the top of the head, then he too fell asleep.

Their friends let the dark haired couple sleep. They knew that Marguerite needed rest and Roxton needed to make sure Marguerite had no more nightmares. So the four split Roxton and Marguerite's chores between them and set to work. Whenever they had the chance they checked on Marguerite and Roxton.

Marguerite slept the entire day and night. Roxton however woke up a few times, but did not get up for fear of disturbing Marguerite. She seemed to finally be able to get some rest and he'd be damned if he was the one to disrupt it. The others brought him food and books while he kept his vigil over his soul mate.

Roxton knew that deep down in his heart he and Marguerite were soul mates. They were meant to be together, he has known that all along. Now it seemed that he was finally able to convince Marguerite of the same thing. He knew that when the time came for Marguerite to fulfill whatever destiny had been mapped out for her, it was not going to be easy on any of them. He knew that their limits were going to be pushed harder than the plateau had ever pushed them before. But what had him really worried was that somehow he knew that Marguerite was in more danger than any of them.

He watched Marguerite sleep peacefully for the first time in three days. She was looking better already. The dark circles were practically gone and her color was returning. All she needed was a bit more sleep and some food and she would be fine. He was relieved when Challenger came into check on them and confirmed Roxton's assumptions. Roxton fell back asleep a lot more light-hearted.

On the edge of his consciousness, Roxton heard a voice say, "You cannot protect her forever Guardian. The Chosen One will be mine." Roxton slipped into his dreams before he could reason what he heard.

The rest of the day passed by quietly. Finn, Veronica, Malone, and Challenger ate an early dinner and retired to bed before the sun set. The extra chores left them all a little more worn-out than usual. Even the ever energetic Finn was practically falling over her own feet.

***************

A little before first light, Marguerite shot straight up. She was breathing hard, but not sweating. Beside her, Roxton sat up as well, on full alert.

"Marguerite are you okay? Did you have another nightmare?" Roxton placed his hands on Marguerite's shoulders. She turned to him, with a slightly stunned expression.

"No, I didn't have another nightmare. But I did have a strange dream. There was a woman who looked exactly like Veronica, I think she was Veronica's mother. She said, "The time has come Chosen One. You must journey to Avalon. You can now find your way. If you get lost, just trust your instincts. I must go now. I will see you soon." She touched my shoulder and disappeared, then I woke up." Marguerite absent-mindedly stroked her locket, while she recounted her dream to Roxton. She didn't notice the weird look that settled on his face until she looked back at him.

"What is it John?"

"I think I had the same dream. A woman who looked like Veronica said, "The time has come Guardian. You must go to Avalon. Do not stop protecting her, she will need you very soon." She disappeared and I woke up." Marguerite and Roxton were quiet for a moment, each wondering what the dreams meant, when they heard movement from the common room. They looked at each other then the both jumped out of the bed and headed upstairs.

"Why are you all up this early?" Marguerite asked as she and Roxton joined the party that they were apparently not invited to.

"I had a freaky dream and came up to get a drink of water." Finn stated. She looked around at the faces staring at her. After a second she bit back a laugh and said, "Freaky means weird."

"Well then I had a...freaky dream as well." Veronica said, awkwardly rolling the foreign word off her tongue.

"Make that four weird dreams. Marguerite and I had each had one as well." Marguerite nodded her head in agreement with Roxton.

"Nope, we now have five strange dreams." Malone said. All eyes went to Challenger.

"We might as well make it unanimous." He said with enthusiasm.

"I don't know about the rest of you, but Marguerite and I had practically the same dream. Your mother, Veronica, told us that the time has come and that we had to go to Avalon. But she called Marguerite Chosen One and she called me Guardian." Again Marguerite nodded her head.

"My mother came to me too. She said, "Protector of the Plateau, my daughter, the time has come for us to be reunited. You must go to Avalon. You will know the way. I miss you, but I know I will see you soon. Until then my darling." She left and I woke up." Veronica was close tears. Malone put his arm around her and she smiled up at him.

"The same went for me, except she said, "The time has come Key. You must go to Avalon. You will find what you are searching for there." Then I woke up."

"Me too, but Vee's mom said, "The time has come Hope. You must go to Avalon. The future rests in you." Then I woke up. How weird is that?"

"Again, it's unanimous. Mrs. Layton said, "The time has come Keeper. You must go to Avalon. There you will find the answers to the questions you have been working on." Then I woke up. This most curious. All six of us had the same dream, at the same time, but with slight variations. The dreams were universal and personal. How intriguing."

"Well what were those names she called us? I get Vee's and Marguerite's, but she called me Hope. I just don't get it." Finn was frustrated and excited.

"So is this enough proof for you two? Or do you need written instructions to Avalon before we head out." Veronica's smug look made Roxton and Challenger feel stupid for doubting the two women.

"Ask and you shall receive." Marguerite muttered. She was sitting at the table looking at something. The others gathered around to see what she was looking at.

"What are you talking about Marguerite?" Finn asked as she leaned across the table to get a closer look at what Marguerite was looking at. She was staring intently at the Layton's journal that Malone found in the hollow earth.

"Where did you get that Marguerite? I had it in a drawer in my room." Veronica asked.

"It was just lying here on the table. But it is all here Veronica. These are the directions to Avalon." Marguerite exclaimed excitedly. Marguerite was pointing to the Celtic runes in the last two pages of the journal.

"I thought you said you couldn't understand it." Veronica exclaimed, snatching the book from Marguerite in her excitement.

"I couldn't before. But for whatever reason I can now. I think it has something to do with Abigail having touched my shoulder in my dream." She looked around at the confused faces of her friends, then went on. "She didn't just touch my shoulder, she touched my birth mark. I thought I felt something pass from her, but I just wrote it off as my imagination." Marguerite was now pacing around the table.

A stunned silence settled over the treehouse. No one knew what to say. Marguerite studied the runes again, translated them, and wrote them out in English. It was an area unknown to the explorers, including Veronica.

"That's enough proof for me, what about you George?" Roxton said as he studied the directions Marguerite had written out.

Challenger looked them over and said, "We better pack. It looks like we have a week's worth of travel ahead of us."

Smiles broke out around the room. Everyone was excited and eagerly began packing supplies.

"To Avalon we go." Finn sang as she bounced off to her room.

"The time has come Destined Ones. May the strongest win. And I plan to." The silver eyes that have been watching the treehouse with interest vanished without a trace.

To Be Continued...