Marguerite made her way down to the river, and immediately spotted
Veronica, who was crouched beside the water, filling up canteens. The
blonde huntress had obviously been busy that morning. There were almost a
dozen small fish beside her.
"Need some help?" Marguerite asked as she approached. She knew she had better say something to announce her arrival, or she would find herself on the wrong end of Veronica's dagger. Like Roxton, Veronica's instincts were sharp, and neither appreciated being crept up on because their immediate reaction was to attack.
Veronica looked over her shoulder. "No thanks," she told the heiress. "I'm on the last canteen."
"All right," Marguerite replied. She bent down to the water and began to wash with her handkerchief. "Looks like it will be a fine day for travelling. The humidity is low." Veronica simply nodded, and managed a small smile. Marguerite thought to herself, "Okay, small talk isn't working. Might as well get to the point." Out loud she began, "Veronica, about last night. . ."
"I don't want to talk about it," Veronica interrupted sharply. She immediately regretted it. Marguerite had been a good friend to her, especially while Malone was away on his journey. She didn't deserve Veronica's anger. "I'm sorry," she continued. "I didn't mean to snap at you."
Marguerite smiled reassuringly. "It's all right. I know last night was difficult for you. But, that's why I think you should talk about it. You shouldn't keep everything bottled up inside."
Veronica set the canteen down beside the others, and sat a little further from the water. After a long pause, she began quietly. "I guess I didn't realize how much it still hurts to think about what happened with Thomas. I knew it would be hard to tell Ned about it, but not that hard. I guess I tried too hard to push it to the back of my mind after it happened."
Marguerite nodded, understanding. "This Plateau constantly puts all of us into impossible situations. We always seem to be risking our lives, confronting our pasts, or being tempted by something or someone. And we usually just put everything in the back of our minds and start fresh the next day, as if nothing had happened. But, with everything that happens, it's impossible for all of us to be strong all of the time. We all have our breaking point. And we're all slowly learning that we have to deal with these situations as they come so that we don't have to reach that point." Marguerite moved closer to where Veronica was sitting. "Don't make the same mistakes I made, Veronica. Don't be ashamed of feeling. And don't be afraid of letting people help you. I shut John out for the longest time. Don't shut Ned out. Time is too precious. I finally realized that." She decided it was time to confide in Veronica about her feelings for Roxton. It was the only way to help her understand. "You know, when John and I were trapped in that cave, we thought there was no way out. We thought we were going to die that day. That was when it really hit me - all the time that we had been wasting. I had so many regrets. I thought of all of the chances I had to tell him how I felt, and I never did. Sometimes, I came close to telling him, usually due to a near death situation. But, after the situation passed, I would always make up some excuse for what I said. Even after he told me that he loved me, I couldn't say it back. But finally, that day in the cave, I told him that I loved him."
Veronica smiled. "Really?" she asked.
"Yes. But once we were out of the cave, I fell back into the same pattern. The first thing I did was ask him to keep what happened between us a secret. And he graciously agreed. But, that came back to haunt me when we got caught in those shifting planes of reality. I found myself in another deadly situation - one far worse than I had ever been in before. But this time, there was no Roxton there to save me. And this time, I didn't have the opportunity to tell him how I felt. I was going to die wondering if he knew how much I loved him, or if I had put doubts in his mind by wanting to keep it quiet, and not talking about it. And even after that danger had passed, I still took things for granted - until the other day when Roxton and I were out together. I tried to shut him out again, but he wouldn't let me, and we both finally opened up to each other."
"I'm so glad, Marguerite. You and Roxton both deserve happiness. And it's obvious to all of us how happy you make each other. But, things are different with Ned and I, especially now that I know there's a chance that I may never be allowed to leave this Plateau."
"But, don't you see? That's one of the reasons I shut Roxton out for so long. I was worried about what would happen once we got off of this Plateau - once we got back to London. He still doesn't know exactly what he's in for. And I still don't know how we're going to deal with everything when that day comes. But, I finally realized that it doesn't make sense to stay miserable worrying about the future when you can have happiness today. If you love Ned, and I think you do, then grab onto that happiness now. You can worry about the future when the time comes. He loves you, Veronica. You should have seen his face when you weren't there this morning. He was crushed."
"He was?" Veronica asked.
Marguerite nodded. "Listen, I know it's difficult. I just want you to think about it. For now, we should probably get back with those fish."
"You're right. Let's go." Both women rose. Marguerite grabbed the canteens and Veronica picked up the fish. "Marguerite? Was that all that happened between you and Roxton in that cave?"
Marguerite smiled slyly.
---------
Meanwhile, back at the campsite. . .
Ned was astonished. He had known about Roxton's arrest for the stolen iridium, and that his arrest had been a cover up for an agent who was working to gather information for the British. Roxton had revealed that to him after Ned had relived his own nightmares from the Great War. He had thought it an amazing coincidence that Roxton was involved in the scandal that he had been covering for his newspaper. But to find out that Marguerite had been that agent - not to mention that Summerlee and Challenger had been involved as well. "You mean to tell me that not only was Marguerite the triple agent that you were telling me about, but she was also the Black Widow of Vienna?"
Roxton laughed. "Yes. Illuminating, isn't it?" He smiled devilishly. Before he could comment further, laughter came from the direction of the river. "Now that sounds promising. Looks like she eased Veronica's mind a bit. Black Widow or not, she has a heart of gold now."
"She certainly does," Malone agreed.
Marguerite and Veronica emerged from the jungle, laughing.
"Finally," Finn said. "I'm starving."
Veronica set the fish down beside the fire and approached Malone, who was writing in his journal. "Hi," she said shyly.
He put down his pencil, and looked up at her with a tentative smile. "Hi. How did you sleep?" he asked.
Veronica blushed a little, thinking of how good it felt to be in his arms all night. "I slept well."
"I don't think the others are as well rested as we are. Maybe we should offer to take an extra long watch tonight so that they can catch up."
"That's a good idea," Veronica replied. "Maybe we could talk some more tonight."
"I'd like that," Ned replied softly. Veronica smiled at him, then went over to talk to Finn while Ned continued writing in his journal.
Marguerite walked over to Roxton, who handed her a cup. "Your coffee awaits, my lady."
"Thank you, Lord Roxton," she answered, smiling.
"May I ask what was so funny?" Roxton inquired.
"You may," Marguerite replied. "But don't expect an answer," she teased. Roxton shot her a curious look, and began to help Challenger, who was cleaning the fish.
TBC!!
"Need some help?" Marguerite asked as she approached. She knew she had better say something to announce her arrival, or she would find herself on the wrong end of Veronica's dagger. Like Roxton, Veronica's instincts were sharp, and neither appreciated being crept up on because their immediate reaction was to attack.
Veronica looked over her shoulder. "No thanks," she told the heiress. "I'm on the last canteen."
"All right," Marguerite replied. She bent down to the water and began to wash with her handkerchief. "Looks like it will be a fine day for travelling. The humidity is low." Veronica simply nodded, and managed a small smile. Marguerite thought to herself, "Okay, small talk isn't working. Might as well get to the point." Out loud she began, "Veronica, about last night. . ."
"I don't want to talk about it," Veronica interrupted sharply. She immediately regretted it. Marguerite had been a good friend to her, especially while Malone was away on his journey. She didn't deserve Veronica's anger. "I'm sorry," she continued. "I didn't mean to snap at you."
Marguerite smiled reassuringly. "It's all right. I know last night was difficult for you. But, that's why I think you should talk about it. You shouldn't keep everything bottled up inside."
Veronica set the canteen down beside the others, and sat a little further from the water. After a long pause, she began quietly. "I guess I didn't realize how much it still hurts to think about what happened with Thomas. I knew it would be hard to tell Ned about it, but not that hard. I guess I tried too hard to push it to the back of my mind after it happened."
Marguerite nodded, understanding. "This Plateau constantly puts all of us into impossible situations. We always seem to be risking our lives, confronting our pasts, or being tempted by something or someone. And we usually just put everything in the back of our minds and start fresh the next day, as if nothing had happened. But, with everything that happens, it's impossible for all of us to be strong all of the time. We all have our breaking point. And we're all slowly learning that we have to deal with these situations as they come so that we don't have to reach that point." Marguerite moved closer to where Veronica was sitting. "Don't make the same mistakes I made, Veronica. Don't be ashamed of feeling. And don't be afraid of letting people help you. I shut John out for the longest time. Don't shut Ned out. Time is too precious. I finally realized that." She decided it was time to confide in Veronica about her feelings for Roxton. It was the only way to help her understand. "You know, when John and I were trapped in that cave, we thought there was no way out. We thought we were going to die that day. That was when it really hit me - all the time that we had been wasting. I had so many regrets. I thought of all of the chances I had to tell him how I felt, and I never did. Sometimes, I came close to telling him, usually due to a near death situation. But, after the situation passed, I would always make up some excuse for what I said. Even after he told me that he loved me, I couldn't say it back. But finally, that day in the cave, I told him that I loved him."
Veronica smiled. "Really?" she asked.
"Yes. But once we were out of the cave, I fell back into the same pattern. The first thing I did was ask him to keep what happened between us a secret. And he graciously agreed. But, that came back to haunt me when we got caught in those shifting planes of reality. I found myself in another deadly situation - one far worse than I had ever been in before. But this time, there was no Roxton there to save me. And this time, I didn't have the opportunity to tell him how I felt. I was going to die wondering if he knew how much I loved him, or if I had put doubts in his mind by wanting to keep it quiet, and not talking about it. And even after that danger had passed, I still took things for granted - until the other day when Roxton and I were out together. I tried to shut him out again, but he wouldn't let me, and we both finally opened up to each other."
"I'm so glad, Marguerite. You and Roxton both deserve happiness. And it's obvious to all of us how happy you make each other. But, things are different with Ned and I, especially now that I know there's a chance that I may never be allowed to leave this Plateau."
"But, don't you see? That's one of the reasons I shut Roxton out for so long. I was worried about what would happen once we got off of this Plateau - once we got back to London. He still doesn't know exactly what he's in for. And I still don't know how we're going to deal with everything when that day comes. But, I finally realized that it doesn't make sense to stay miserable worrying about the future when you can have happiness today. If you love Ned, and I think you do, then grab onto that happiness now. You can worry about the future when the time comes. He loves you, Veronica. You should have seen his face when you weren't there this morning. He was crushed."
"He was?" Veronica asked.
Marguerite nodded. "Listen, I know it's difficult. I just want you to think about it. For now, we should probably get back with those fish."
"You're right. Let's go." Both women rose. Marguerite grabbed the canteens and Veronica picked up the fish. "Marguerite? Was that all that happened between you and Roxton in that cave?"
Marguerite smiled slyly.
---------
Meanwhile, back at the campsite. . .
Ned was astonished. He had known about Roxton's arrest for the stolen iridium, and that his arrest had been a cover up for an agent who was working to gather information for the British. Roxton had revealed that to him after Ned had relived his own nightmares from the Great War. He had thought it an amazing coincidence that Roxton was involved in the scandal that he had been covering for his newspaper. But to find out that Marguerite had been that agent - not to mention that Summerlee and Challenger had been involved as well. "You mean to tell me that not only was Marguerite the triple agent that you were telling me about, but she was also the Black Widow of Vienna?"
Roxton laughed. "Yes. Illuminating, isn't it?" He smiled devilishly. Before he could comment further, laughter came from the direction of the river. "Now that sounds promising. Looks like she eased Veronica's mind a bit. Black Widow or not, she has a heart of gold now."
"She certainly does," Malone agreed.
Marguerite and Veronica emerged from the jungle, laughing.
"Finally," Finn said. "I'm starving."
Veronica set the fish down beside the fire and approached Malone, who was writing in his journal. "Hi," she said shyly.
He put down his pencil, and looked up at her with a tentative smile. "Hi. How did you sleep?" he asked.
Veronica blushed a little, thinking of how good it felt to be in his arms all night. "I slept well."
"I don't think the others are as well rested as we are. Maybe we should offer to take an extra long watch tonight so that they can catch up."
"That's a good idea," Veronica replied. "Maybe we could talk some more tonight."
"I'd like that," Ned replied softly. Veronica smiled at him, then went over to talk to Finn while Ned continued writing in his journal.
Marguerite walked over to Roxton, who handed her a cup. "Your coffee awaits, my lady."
"Thank you, Lord Roxton," she answered, smiling.
"May I ask what was so funny?" Roxton inquired.
"You may," Marguerite replied. "But don't expect an answer," she teased. Roxton shot her a curious look, and began to help Challenger, who was cleaning the fish.
TBC!!