Sorry this one has taken forever but they should be a lot faster from now on since my exams are finally over and I have 2 months off for the summer! And just for the record, the name Eamon is in no way connected to the guy that sings that song!

CHAPTER 11 CONNECTIONS

Marguerite and Roxton moved through the desolate street before meeting the square at the centre. The devastation that the couple saw was more then anyone could have imagined. The village was gone; the ash that remained was the only reminder that one had existed at all. A few lonesome houses stood in the midst of the forest, their beams shattered and sheared. The child walked hand in hand with Roxton, looking around for her home, her family, anything. "It's all gone."

"I'm sure your family are around here somewhere," reassured Marguerite. "Most of the warrior men have been defeated by your village."

"Have we won?" asked Gemma, suddenly excited.

"Well, no, they still have Veronica, the Protector, but...."

"We're still at war," she interrupted. "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do people fight?"

It was such an innocent question but it filled Marguerite heart with sadness. She didn't know why people had to fight, she didn't know why people had to die, she didn't know why the world had to be this way.

Roxton noticed the sudden change of expression in Marguerite's face.

"We will find your family Gemma." He tightened his grip around her tiny hand as he slipped an arm around Marguerite. They continued to walk until a large middle-aged man came running up towards them.

"Gemma, Gemma?"

Gemma looked at him, her face was blank. "My name is Gemma," she announced.

"Oh, thank God," replied the man. "Gemma, your mother and brothers have left, they headed into the forest last night," he paused for breath. "They asked me to let them know if you were alive, oh you're alive," he cried. He quickly scooped her up in his arms. "I'm James by the way, a family friend." He directed his speech at the two adults. "I'm afraid I won't be able to relieve you of the little angel just yet," he continued. "I'm part of the Protector investigation. You do know about that right? Who are you? Oh my God, you're Marguerite."

Marguerite restrained a smile at the man's antics. "Yes, and this is Lord John Roxton," she announced.

"Oh pleased to meet you Lord Roxton." He reached out a hand, which Roxton impetuously shook. "What brings you here Lord?"

"Oh, nothing much, I'm a.... close friend of Veron....., er, the Protector."

"You've met the Protector?" he asked anxiously. Calming himself, he resumed to business. "You don't happen to have any information on the matter do you?"

"Wish I did, sorry, as much as I'd like to old chap."

"Oh well." he thought for a moment. "Gemma's mother told me that if I was to find her, I was to bring her to the entrance of the clearing tomorrow morning." He paused for a moment. "Oh yes, here," he stated breathlessly as he handed Roxton a tattered piece of paper. "I hope you don't mind, I'm awfully busy." Roxton stared back at the man blankly. "Well, better get back to it then." He placed the child back down beside the couple and stepped backwards down the road. "Well, nice meeting you," he cried, "You don't mind do you?"

Before anyone could stifle an answer, he was already gone, back through the deserted rows of housing that were left standing ineptly around the village.

Marguerite stifled a laugh. "See what I mean John, they're in love with Veronica." She remembered her sister for a moment. "We'll find her," she whispered. "And, we'll find your family too, did you hear that Gem, they're safe."

"What about my daddy?"

Marguerite looked down at the ground. "I'm sure he's fine too, he's probably helping to save Veronica." Gemma smiled.

Dusk had fallen. Marguerite, her family, Roxton and Gemma were inside the house, waiting for news of Veronica's whereabouts.

"This is ridiculous," chanted Marguerite. "Why can't they find her? There are only a limited number of places she could be."

"Calm down Marguerite, give them some time," ordered Roxton. The events were getting to the both of them. Despite their never-ending adventures of the plateau, neither had been ready for anything like this.

"Time, time? They've had all bloody day," she shouted. Seeing the look on Gemma's face she regained herself. "Sorry, I'm sorry, it's just, this, all of this, is my fault. If I hadn't been here, and Veronica hadn't met me, and if I hadn't have.... If anything's happened to her..."

Roxton stood up and put a gentle arm around her. He noticed the worried look on Elita's face as he showed his affection for their betrothed daughter. "Marguerite, how can this be your fault? If it's anyone's fault, it's mine. I was the one that made her leave the safety of the Treehouse when I stupidly ran out. She came after me."

Just then, there was a hollow knock at the wooden door. Eamon immediately went to answer it. The others listened intently from the sitting room.

"Priest. We've located the Protector. She is in the West Tower of the Saints Church. May I have permission to order all of our men back to the village?"

"Certainly," replied Eamon.

Marguerite ran to the door. "How's Veronica?"

"We're not sure, she's been up there a long time but she is still alive without a doubt," replied the leader of the army.

"We're going to find her," stated Marguerite in a tone that even her father would have trouble disputing.

Elita could see the hurt in Marguerite's face. When her and Abigail had been best friends, they had been inseparable until the day had come when Abigail had been taken away indefinitely. But at least she had always known that Abigail was safe. Marguerite had no idea how Veronica was or what she had been through.

Shortly after dawn the following morning, Roxton, Marguerite and Gemma set out to the clearing which had been mapped on the piece of paper the pair had received the day before. The commotion of last night's fighting had died down as Pentanious had ordered his men to return to their villages in search of new volunteers. As the three neared the edge of the village, Marguerite suddenly noticed a woman no older than herself coming towards them. As the woman neared, she seemed to start running. Soon she was yelling something incomprehensible which became clearer as she approached.

"Gemma? Gemma? Is that you?"

At first Gemma seemed to look around her, perplexed as to where this voice was coming from. As she turned and saw the figure that was now only a metre or so away, she instantly recognised the woman before her.

"Mummy!"

"Gemma, oh I'm so sorry darling, I didn't mean to leave you." She picked the little girl up and took her into her arms, absorbed in the moment. When she looked up, she did not expect the sight that stood before her.

"John?"

"Louisa?"

end!

Believe me I do try to control my desire to leave cliffhangers,, sigh........................