Chapter 6 Legends
Campfire, After Roxton And Mari Followed Marguerite
Beginning of Chapter 5
"They both have birthmarks," replied Mari hotly knowing they were laughing at what she said, but not understanding why. She continued on, not caring if they wanted more or not, "the Chosen One's on the right shoulder, and the Guardian's on the left foot. My mummy's birthmark is on her right shoulder, and my daddy's is on his left foot, so there," finished Mari with a huff.
With her final statement, the whole camp began to quiet down, only a few chortles were heard from the lizards, but Tribune's raised hand earlier signaled for their laughter to cease. "And who is your 'daddy?'" asked Tribune knowing the answer already, and it appeared that Roxton, now, knew too.
"Him," stated Mari as she pointed to Roxton confidently, with her impish grin on her face. Marguerite's eyebrows rose to her hairline if that were possible with shock written on her face, her face also became a light color of green too. She broke the dumbfounded spell of the explorers when she made a mad dash to the tree line to empty her stomach's contents, without providing the others a retched show. Roxton quickly followed her to assist her in anyway he could, the only thing he thought he could do at that moment was grab her hair out of her face why she vomited.
Campfire, After Roxton And Mari Followed Marguerite
"What!?!" exclaimed all the remaining explorers.
"So, Marguerite and Roxton shacked up before they got here on the plateau, but Challenger, I thought you said that none of you knew each other until the plateau?" Finn asked innocently.
"Finn, if what you mean by 'shacked up' is recreational activities that lead to creating a new life, then yes it appears so," answered Challenger as he slowly stroked his beard, pondering the new evidence that once again shocked the little group.
"Mari, talked about a Chosen One and her Guardian, Veronica do you know any stories about them?" asked Malone.
"Excuse … me … but I am still here, do you think I would have actually ventured here to warn you if I did not know all the facts?" questioned Tribune. "I would hope you would know me by now."
"Oh, we know you well enough, Tribune, you are a self-centered, egotistic, self-indulging cold blooded creature!" responded Veronica.
"Why, thank you my dear Veronica, I am glad you have all paid attention to my ways," replied Tribune. "Now, if you would let me continue, I will tell you all what I have learned through the legends that surround your little tree house family. Oh, don't look so surprised, your tree house family, is quite well known around the plateau. Many tribes and villages know that the Protector's daughter resides there, and that she allows several others to cohabitate with her, such as a wizard, you Challenger, a raconteur, you Malone, a foreseer, you Finn, and now the Chosen One, her Guardian, and their little waif."
"But, how would people know about Marguerite being the reincarnation of the last Chosen One? I … we didn't even know, until she and I stopped the shifting plains" pondered Veronica.
"Ah … very good insight Veronica, however, Malick and his cohorts, have spread the news like wild fires. He knows that the plateau, the source of life, can only be reestablished with the Chosen One and the Protector, working together. The Protector can not reestablish harmony without the Chosen One; therefore, the Chosen One was alive again. Besides … his father had a contact, a Xin, a Xing, a Xan, something like that … on the outside that suspected Marguerite may have been the Chosen One," answered Tribune with his all too knowing aristocratic tone.
"So, up until now, the plateau has been reasonably stable, or at least since the last Chosen One existed?" questioned Malone.
"Well, as stable as it can be with the Protectors having the extra pressure, without the Chosen One's line, to help keep the harmony within the source of life," continued Tribune, but stopped his explanation when a rustling of leaves occurred to his right.
"Mariiiiiiii, what are you looking for?" asked Finn as the child emerged from the trees in search of something within her father's bag.
"Uhm, daddy said to get mummy a cloth and dampen it for her," replied Mari as she continued to dig for a cloth. Finn joined the search, found a cloth, and dampened it for Mari. Mari quickly gave Finn a hug, and dashed back toward her parents. Finn followed her to the edge of camp to make sure she made it safely back to her parents, with the threat on her head she wanted to make sure she didn't disappear on them.
Finn rejoined the others, with a 'what' shrug in response to her family's all knowing smirks, as Tribune began to tell the rest of the Chosen One's fertility legend as he felt Mari, did not tell it well. He also continued from there about how the last Guardian was framed for his children's deaths probably by Malick's ancestors, and the Chosen One's 'blind revenge' that result in the plague, etc. He also spoke of how the last Chosen One, Morrighan, threatening to return and get 'even' with those responsible for her children's and husband's deaths. "I suspect Malick and his cohorts fear that Morrighan found out about their ancestors' deception, and would return to finish their line."
"BUT … that doesn't explain the threat on Mari," Malone interjected, as he gazed upon the 'munchkin' who now sat on Challenger's lap as she had slipped off of Finn's earlier when Challenger indicated to her that she should sit on his lap. How that little girl has capture everyone's heart, in such a short time. Finn and Veronica treat her, as I do, as their niece, but Challenger … who would have thought Challenger was such a 'teddy bear,' as Finn coined it earlier this week, he treats her as a 'granddaughter' and you know what they say 'grandparents' love to spoil their 'grandchildren!'
"Yes, we would definitely like to know about the threat on our daughter," stated Roxton with an emphatic tone added to warn Tribune that he better tell the full truth, as he and Marguerite appeared before the group hand-in-hand. Roxton lead Marguerite back to the spot they vacated earlier in the evening, but both stopped on their way to caress their daughter's head.
"How cute … John … I never would have suspected you would be such a family man, and with Miss Krux, after all you could have any obedient wife from any village or tribe, on the plateau, who would swoon all over you, every minute of everyday. Why would you pick Miss Krux to wed?" mocked Tribune in order to annoy them both for his pleasure.
Roxton linked his fingers with Marguerite, and gave them a light squeeze, when he felt her start to pull away. "Actually, Tribune, I much prefer that my wife not be submissive, I much prefer her to be my equal and made of fire and steal, but thank you for your concern!" as he sat down he pulled Marguerite down in front of him, as he rested his back against the fallen tree trunk they sat on earlier.
"Maut, vutox wunat maso losa zeinana haut[Mummy, you want me to zap him (the author made this up, lol)" asked a peeved Mari in an old Gaelic language the druids once used. All heads turned toward the little girl and to their surprise they saw the usually happy go lucky girl, angry with a look directed in Tribune's direction that meant business.
"Nuwt, haut nuwt wirft jut! (No, he's not worth it!)" replied Marguerite with a half smile for her daughter's benefit. "Niwl, jesh vaut unt maso, pash! (Now, join your father and me, please!)" and with that Mari, kissed Challenger on the cheek, then scurried over to her mother and father to cuddle and settle in for the night in their protective arms.
"Now, Tribune, you were going to enlighten us with the bounty," Veronica pointed out with as much aggravation added to her tone for everyone's behalf, at his rudeness.
"WELL," Tribune haughtily stated, "I did not intend for you to become all hostile toward me, or the little waif to threaten me, with her looks. I'm not sure you deserve to hear the rest from me, since you are treating me as an enemy rather than a friend."
Challenger, stepped in at this moment after taking a cleansing breath, and asked politely, "Tribune, would you please continue? We would all like to hear this, so we can protect Mari, from Malick and his followers. It is getting late, and we have not had more than two hours of sleep before you arrived, so please accept my apology on behalf of all of us, that we are a bit tired, and now with this threat a bit frustrated."
Tribune, took a moment to rub his chin, to prolong his answer, so he could enjoy the others squirm. He knew that he was in control, because he had the information they desired; he also knew that they had to make it swiftly to Avalon, before one of his followers took it upon himself to snatch the child, and reap the profits Malick continued to raise daily.
"Hmmmm, I accept your apology, Challenger, now if no one else has any objections I will continue," Tribune gave a long look, under his eyelids, toward the group to see if someone else would interrupt his dialogue once again. How a good monologue, can go to waste with so many interruptions, they are so lucky I am patient with them.
"Alright, the word is, Mari, is the only one with control of her powers right now. They are minimal compared to Malick, so he wants to eliminate her because even though she is no match for him right now, Veronica and/or Marguerite are with her help. Besides if he takes the child now, Marguerite will stop at no end to save her, leading the rest of you to him," ended Tribune, as he lowered himself from his sitting position to get ready for bed.
"THAT's it!?!?" Finn cried. "We could have found all that out at the next village!"
"Yes … but you learned it from me … a good friend, not from some stranger that may take advantage of it."
"I thought that's what you were doing, Tribune, using our association for later use when Veronica and Marguerite's positions in Avalon will help you reestablish your kingdom!" sarcastically commented Malone.
"Well … it is a gamble for me … you … see I am the only one I trust within my band of lizards … let me enlighten you some more … each day the bounty doubles … so watch your back … right now the lot of them are sleeping … and not the wisest lizards at that … but money is money and even the dumbest creature understands that more zeros behind the dollar sign means more money … so if I were you I would start heading for Avalon, and quickly!"
Tribune noted the discomfort that now surrounded the group, "You do know your way to Avalon, right? That's where you were headed, right?" You got to be kidding me, these people think they are the smartest creatures alive. Where do they think they were going, right to their deaths I imagine?!?!
"Well let me enlighten you again … since you people are to dense to figure it out yourself … Mordren's c.o.h.o.r.t.s started that storm … he failed to take the Trion … he died … by Veronica … you don't think his son would be happy about that would you? So, let me ask you this again, are you headed to Avalon? It better be yes or you are all as good as dead, we passed headhunters two miles back, and eliminated them for you! I'm sure there are more on their way, and tripling by the minute."
The explorers looked toward Veronica and Marguerite, and then down to Mari, who had again fallen asleep in her mother's arms. The others could tell that Marguerite and Roxton were very disturbed by the bounty, at least it had to be ten times worse than how the rest of them felt. Marguerite had pulled Mari closer to her body as Roxton had her, and they both slightly rocked to and fro, if you looked closely you could see both their eyes brimming with unshed tears of the terrible possibilities that could occur to their little family. "Tribune, we don't know how to get to Avalon," Challenger answered for all of them.
"You don't know how to get to Avalon, but Veronica has the Trion, and the waif is now with her mother and father. You had to have gotten them some how!" Tribune incredulously exclaimed.
"Well, a shaman gave me the Trion about five months ago, and Malone found Mari in a field, after the plateau was shifted back into place. Well, Mari, did appear during the shifting plains to help Marguerite, she did not leave Avalon on foot and make the journey on her own, my mother transported her to Marguerite's location," clarified Veronica to the incredulous Tribune.
"But the child must know," screeched Tribune, "have you asked her?"
"Yes, I asked her when we were alone, but she said that she didn't have the ability to find it," stated Marguerite. All the explorers' postures deflated with Marguerite's announcement.
"MMMMarguerite, were those her exact words," asked Challenger after a few minutes of mulling over Mari's words, as the others continued to stare into the fire with despair in their eyes.
"Yes, why do you ask George?"
"Well … Marguerite … I know that it is late … and children need their rest … but … could we wake her … it appears it is a life or death situation … We have all wondered this, but have been avoiding it to give you both time to bond and reacquaint yourselves without bombarding you both with questions. It appears tonight many have been answered, and maybe we can also find another missing puzzle piece while we're at it." As Challenger requested that Mari be awakened, Marguerite had begun to cuddle Mari more tightly to her, and stroke her back in a comforting manner. Roxton felt the fear radiating from Marguerite, fear of loosing everything, he knew the comforting administrations were more for herself than Mari's sake. He also knew that even though he was 'daddy' now, Marguerite had been 'mummy' much longer, and would want to make the final decision.
"He's right Marguerite, we need to get Mari to safety. We need to make sure that she really doesn't know how to get to Avalon, after all she is her mother's daughter. If she really did say 'she didn't have the ability to find it' maybe she knows someone that can. After all you have to admit, she might have pulled a fast one on you my dear, using your evasion tactics by leaving out minor but important details," teased Roxton to ease some of Marguerite's anxiety, which worked a bit to the point she wasn't as tense.
"Mari … Mari … wake up …" softly cooed Marguerite, as she softly caressed and kissed her face to lovingly wake her up. She's so dead to the world right now, if she were awake she would feel the fear of loosing her, radiating from John and me. I can't loose her again, not after we have reunited, and not if the next time I loose her is to death. God, I couldn't live … I don't even think for this unborn child … to loose a child once is hard enough … but to have found it and then loose it again, a tragedy even Shakespeare did not attempt. She's stirring now, yes, she's not happy to be awakened again tonight. I know when she is almost fully awake, because she tenses slightly at the fear radiating off of John and I. "Shhh, everything is okay, we just need you to tell us about how to get to Avalon."
"Mummy … I told you … I don't have the ability to get us to Avalon …" cried Mari.
"Yes, we know … but is there someone that can help us get there?"
Mari, sat up and turned around giving everyone around the campfire a dirty look to let them know she was not happy, especially to point out the obvious. "Mummy, Aunt Veronica has the ability with her Trion, but she can only use it," stated Mari in a tone that said 'duh' as Finn would say. "Only people with special keys have the ability to get in and out of Avalon, and … Aunt Veronica has the REALLY BIG KEY!"
"Mari, will the Trion lead us to Avalon, or does it just open a passageway?" inquired Malone. Mari's eyebrows shot down in deliberation, as she mulled over all the stories that were told about Avalon.
"Well … I never left Avalon before … but … only special people were aloud in and out … like Grandpa Summerlee …" Mari commented off handily as she continued to think about the stories she heard in Avalon to help figure out a way to Avalon.
"Mari … how did Summerlee get to Avalon … did he ever tell you how he got there?" asked Malone.
"Uhmmm, yes he did … he fell down a waterfall … just like Alice in Wonderland fell down a hole," snickered Mari, "but he said he found paradise where she found a mean queen of hearts."
"Did he ever say anything else, about his fall?" continued Veronica.
Mari's eyebrows shot down again in concentration, it was very adorable because she was trying so hard to help. "Uhmmm, he said that he never ... hit the bottom ... though ... not like Alice. I'm sorrrrryyyyy, I'm not ... any help ... I ... didn't know ... you couldn't ... get to Avalon ... Aunt Veronica ... I never asked ..." Mari said as she began to cry of exhaustion and feeling she let everyone down.
"No, Mari, you did wonderful, my dear! You told us more than we knew before, besides you gave us great news that Summerlee is still alive. Now, I think we should all turn in so we can get some rest we need be more alert tomorrow for the possible dangers that may lie ahead of us. I will take first watch, Malone I will wake you in an hour," stated Challenger.
All the explorers settled down for the remainder of the night around the fire. Tribune laid down on his side of the fire still mumbling his disbelief, Malone and Veronica settled in on their side, as Finn settled on her side, as Challenger moved toward the large oak to start his watch and contemplate Mari's comments. Roxton grabbed his pack and pulled out his blanket to lay it beside Marguerite's, as Marguerite settled Mari in front of her so she and Roxton could spoon behind her.
Sleep did not come easily for any of the explorers, they continued to ponder the new information Tribune and Mari bestowed upon them that night (however the two deliverers were fast asleep). In one week the small family had gained a child, and now had to protect that child from the evils of Mordrin's decedents. Twenty minutes passed and still the small group continued to scrutinize the information Mari provided about Avalon and Summerlee. Marguerite saw Challenger shoot ramrod straight from his position from the corner of her eye. "George … what is it!" demanded Marguerite with only a whisper. Roxton was amazed at how Marguerite could still hold an authoritive voice even when she whispered, it was quite impressive really.
"What … oh Marguerite, I was just thinking … Mari said Summerlee never hit the bottom … what if there was a passageway somewhere hidden in the undercutting of that waterfall we tend to come upon once or twice a year?"
"That's a possibility … it would explain how Malone saw Summerlee when he fell down the cliff, when the river was dried up, a year or so ago," pondered Roxton. Malone, Veronica, and Finn soon joined in the quiet discussion.
"That could explain a lot of things …"
"What do you mean Vee?"
"Well, it would explain why … well … how only few people have been to Avalon, and how suitable a passageway, in the undercutting, to Avalon would be because of the natural coverage the waterfall provides. I mean the rocks that are near the water are quite slipper, and people with common sense would avoid the edge of a waterfall anyway, let alone attempt to climb down near the water's edge." All the explorers mulled this new information over in their heads.
"I'd say that is our best bet for now. Tomorrow let's head in the direction of the waterfall, or at least where it was before the shifting plains."
"I agree with Ned, it would not hurt to try this lead, especially in light of the dangers that maybe popping up; and, with the plateau lands shifted back into their rightful place it may take days before we come upon the waterfall," continued Veronica.
"Great idea Veronica and Malone, and while we are at it we can continue to remap the plateau," exclaimed Challenger.
"Only if we make a rough sketch, George, we do not have the luxury to dawdle around, we must get Mari to safety, as well as, ourselves," interjected Marguerite knowing Challenger could get carried away/absent minded, and forget the whole purpose of reaching the waterfall without providing him constant friendly reminders.
"You are absolutely right Marguerite we should not forget our purpose, but it would not hurt to sketch out a map, just in case, a need may arise to use it," agreed Challenger.
"So … we are definitely headed toward the waterfall tomorrow morning? Does anybody know where exactly we should head? And how far this little trek is going to take?" asked Finn.
"Well tomorrow we will arrive at the Zanga village. Before the shifting plains began the waterfall was two days North West of the village; and, now knowing that the village is two days away instead of one from the treehouse I would estimate that the waterfall is now about four days give or take away from the Zanga's village," assessed Challenger.
"Then let's get some rest, so we can head out tomorrow, bright and early, day light will be approaching soon," insisted Finn.
"Alright we are all agreed we will continue to the Zanga in the morning, at least to trade for some supplies, such as rope and food. And Finn is right dawn is approaching so I bid you all good night," finished Roxton as he pulled Marguerite down beside him to resume their family spooning. The others followed suit, but instead of Challenger taking watch Malone did instead.
Author's note: I work in the school's so most of my writing right now deals with IEPs and evaluation reports at this time. I will try to have something for you during Christmas break. My chapters may not be as long in the future. Thanks for reading. Oh, the original cast is not mind just borrowing them for a bit, but Sarah, Mari, and Malick are mine.