Part Two

Veronica wandered back into her room and eased into her bed, perplexed by her actions that night. Her dream of being with Roxton had stirred memories and emotions that had been forgotten for over seven hundred years. Though she had always cared for Roxton as a friend, her feelings for him had never run deeper than that. But her dream had ignited a passion and desire that had been buried long before; she remembered what it had been like to love John Roxton...and it wasn't just something that she could easily forget.

What will Malone think? she wondered fleetingly, then cursed herself for the thought. She cared for Malone a great deal, but...heck, who was she kidding? She loved Malone, try as she might to stop. It was difficult to love anyone so powerfully, so deeply after all the hurt that she had suffered. But if being with Roxton was her fate, what was the point in holding on to Malone any longer, only to let him go? She wouldn't stand losing someone she loved again, not after what had happened with her parents. She wouldn't-- couldn't-- go through that again.

The floor board creaked and Veronica looked up to see a bare-chested Malone standing in the doorway. Involuntarily, she felt a shiver of anticipation run through her, despite her newfound resolution to stop loving him.

"Malone, what is it?" she inquired, growing concerned as she noticed the grim look on his face.

"It’s Marguerite." Malone informed her. "She’s gone."


Warren stopped beside a massive, firm tree and dropped his pack. "Why don't we rest here a moment?" he suggested. "Catch our breath."

Marguerite sighed with relief and dropped her own pack. "No arguments here. My legs are ready to collapse on me." She leaned up against the tree and sank to the forest floor, silently enjoying the unusually peaceful afternoon on the plateau.

"What made you change your mind?" Warren asked finally. They had conversed about various topics during their journey, but until now, they had both avoided the subject of Marguerite’s sudden change of heart.

Marguerite sighed and looked away. "Well, there were a lot of reasons...the food, for one. Try as he might, Challenger just can't cook worth a thing. And I've always wanted to be a queen...well, except for that time when I almost was made a queen against my will, but that’s a different story--"

"It was Roxton, wasn't it?" Warren prodded gently.

Marguerite gave a short, bitter laugh. "Am I that transparent?"

Warren gave her a sad smile. "You are to me."

Marguerite met his gaze and could feel his longing for her. It was nice, flattering, to be wanted that badly. She didn't exactly love him, but she could learn to. And maybe her memory of the previous life would return and she would realize that it was him that she truly loved all along.

"Well," Marguerite spoke up, mind resolved, "you don't have to worry about Roxton anymore. He’s made his choice, and so have I." She could tell that he was still doubtful, and-- truth be told-- so was she. She cleared her throat and changed the subject. "So, how long were we married?"

The suspicion faded from Warren’s eyes and he smiled, slipping into memories. "Nineteen wonderful years."

Marguerite’s eyes widened. "No kidding. We must have been children when were got married."

"Practically." Warren admitted. "You were fourteen, I was nineteen." Seeing the shock on her face, he added, "It was more common back then."

Marguerite leaned forward and hugged her knees. "That’s a long time to stay with one person. We must have really loved each other."

"We did." Warren confirmed, meeting her gaze. "And I'm willing to do anything-- anything to get that back again."

Marguerite was about to reply when she found that she was suddenly in a darkened chapel, lit only by candles. She could see a younger version of herself sitting before the altar, hugging her knees, trembling. A teenage boy that had the same coloring and features as Warren was sitting next to her, looking at her with the utmost compassion.

"My mother is dead." the younger Marguerite informed him, eyes glittering with unshed tears.

"I know." Warren said gently.

Marguerite stared blankly ahead as tears began to silently roll down her cheeks. "I suppose that means I'm queen now."

"I suppose so." Warren returned.

Marguerite couldn't hold it in any longer. She began to sob. "I'm so scared,Warren."

Silently, Warren took her into his arms and held her for a long moment, allowing her to just cry. Gently, he kissed the top of her dark head. "I'll take care of you, Marguerite. I'll take care of you forever."

Marguerite gasped. She was back in the jungle, and Warren was at her side, a concerned look on his darkly handsome face. "Are you all right?"

Marguerite smiled at him, gratified by his love for her, both in the past and present. "You said forever." she reminded him, then lightly brushed her lips against his own.

Warren did not reply, just returned the kiss.


"Hurry up!" Roxton snapped at Summerlee, who was slowing them down once again. "Marguerite could be in trouble."

Challenger was quick to come to Summerlee’s defense. "Relax, Roxton. Marguerite probably isn't in any immediate danger. It seems as though she left of her own free will."

That was what was bothering Roxton the most. Still, it wasn't Summerlee’s fault. "I'm sorry, Summerlee. It’s just that Marguerite left because of me. If anything happens to her..."

"Roxton," Veronica spoke up, "Marguerite made her own decision. It isn't your fault that she left."

"Yes, it is." Roxton countered. "She never would have run off so rashly if she hadn't seen us kissing."

Malone stopped dead in his tracks. "What?"

Roxton wasn't in the mood to deal with this right now. "You heard what I said. I'm sorry, Malone, but there’s not really time to explain right now--"

Malone folded his arms stubbornly. "So make time."

Veronica took a step toward him. "Ned, you heard Warren. If what he said is true, then Roxton and I are supposed to be together." Seeing the dismay on his face, she added, "You can't fight fate, Malone. Believe me-- I've tried."

Malone was silent for a moment, and then he abruptly lunged toward Roxton and punched him squarely in the jaw.

Roxton fell back a step and looked at Malone in surprise. Gingerly, he reached up and felt his jaw. "Feel better?"

Surprised by Roxton’s reaction, Malone cooled down a bit and replied, "Yeah, actually, I do."

"Good." Roxton said, grabbing his hat, which had fallen to the forest floor. "Now, let’s go find Marguerite."


The night was silent, still. Roxton stealthily made his way out of his home, slipping through the shadows, warily watching for any sign of life. His heart was pounding in his chest. In the back of his mind, he knew this was wrong, and yet he couldn't seem to stop himself.

Finally, being even more cautious now to make sure that no one was watching, he darted into the stables and shut the door behind him.

She was already there, waiting for him. A vision of loveliness if ever there was one. The love of his life...his other half...his angel.

Marguerite.

"I thought you weren't going to come." she said softly, stepping closer to him and running her fingers over his arm as if to make sure that he was really there. He felt electrified by the touch.

"And miss even a moment with you?" Roxton returned, barely managing to keep in the emotion that was surging through him. "Never."

He kissed her soundly, firmly, with more passion than he had ever felt with Veronica. It was uncanny how much he desired this woman, and yet...it was more than that. Much more. This wasn't just some physical escapade that he was on. He was in love with this woman, though Heaven only knew how he had tried to resist her. He loved Veronica, yes, but he was not in love with her. Marguerite had awakened feelings inside of him that he never knew were possible, had set his mind and body and heart aflame. And as much as honor forbade him, as much as guilt for betraying his wife and good friend tried to dissuade him from being with her, he just couldn't leave. She was his destiny.

Roxton awoke with a start, eyes widening as the whole impact of his dream hit him. Fate wasn't working against him. Seven hundred years before, he and Marguerite had found each other, and now they were meant to be together, still. He actually felt tears of relief in his eyes. She wasn't gone from him forever.

Beside him in the tent, Malone stirred. "Roxton, are you awake?"

Roxton pondered warily for a moment whether or not he should answer. He didn't especially feel like getting punched again. "Yes," he finally said, knowing he deserved whatever wrath Malone inflicted on him, "I'm awake."

Malone was silent for a long moment. "I'm sorry for punching you."

Roxton smiled into the darkness. "No, Malone. It’s me who should be sorry. I probably would have done the same thing in your shoes." He shook his head ruefully. "But you don't have to worry about that every happening again. It was a big mistake."

"Mistake?" Veronica repeated from the other side of Roxton. He could hear the hurt in her voice. "It wasn't a mistake, Roxton. You heard Warren-- we were meant to be together. It’s fate."

"No, it isn't," Roxton insisted. "I don't love you, and I'm convinced that I never really did."

Veronica was silent for a long moment. "What are you talking about, Roxton?"

Roxton proceeded to tell her about the dream-- the secret night rendezvous, the feelings it conjured.

Veronica had sat up while he was speaking, and when he was finished, she reached out and slapped him. "How dare you."

Roxton looked at her in surprise. This really wasn't his day. "What does it matter now? It’s not like you're in love with me."

There were tears in her wide, blue eyes. "No, but I was-- and you betrayed me. And now you don't even seem to care."

She rose hastily to her feet and hurried out of the tent. Roxton started to get up to go after her, but Malone beat him to the punch. "It’s all right, Roxton." he said, grabbing his gun in case they ran into trouble. "I'll take care of it."


Malone found Veronica sitting on the bank of a stream, idly pulling a leaf apart and throwing its remains into the water. She sighed as Malone approached. "Think I made a big enough fool of myself back there?" she inquired bitterly.

Malone seated himself next to her and turned his gaze to the stream. "You didn't make a fool of yourself."

She shook her head. "I don't know why I reacted that way. I wanted to hear that it was a mistake and that Roxton and I weren't really meant to be together, but when I did, I got angry. I don't understand."

But Malone did. "Because you're stubborn. And once you set your mind on something, it’s hard to get you to change it again." he informed her, voice tinged with admiration. "What I don't understand is why you set such stock on the whole idea of destiny and fate."

Veronica lowered her gaze. "When I was a very young girl, a Zanga priestess told me that I was destined to be alone. I didn't believe her, just ignored the whole thing-- and then I lost my parents." She paused, battling back tears. "I guess I just thought that if I had done something, if I had paid more attention..."

"It isn't your fault that your parents disappeared." Malone said gently. "And besides--you aren't destined to be alone. You have me."

Veronica smiled at him, eyes glittering with tears. "Thank you." She gasped as she suddenly slipped away. She was in a thatched roof cottage, polishing her swords. There was a rough, no-nonsense look about her, and she was clad in the armor of a warrior.

The door opened and a familiar brown haired, blue eyed man entered the room. Veronica rose rapidly to her feet, nearly topping her chair to the ground.

"Malone," she hissed, "what are you doing here? Roxton is going to be back any minute!"

Malone swallowed heavily. He was drenched from the heavy rain pounding outside, and he looked as though he felt as forlorn as he appeared. "Veronica, please-- you have to listen to me. I'm in love with you."

Veronica turned away, torn between being outraged and elated. "Malone, we've discussed this before. I'm married to Roxton. I can't possibly--"

"But you don't love him." Malone protested. "Veronica, please--can you look me in the eyes and tell me you don't love me?"

Veronica met his gaze, resignation pushing her forward. She had to do this--for both their sakes. "I don't love you."

Malone stared at her, dumbfounded. There were actually tears in his eyes. "Then I guess you've made your decision." he said, voice shaking, and then he turned and disappeared into the rain.

Veronica stared at the open door for a moment and then sank to the ground. The tears came first, and they were soon followed by the painful sobs that wracked her body. She had lost him, now...forever.

She was back. Veronica could still feel the tears on her cheeks, and she looked at Ned in wonder.

"What?" he inquired. "What is it?"

"You were there." Veronica informed him, still filled with awe at what she had seen. "And I loved you."


Marguerite walked arm in arm with Challenger through the village commons, revelling in his companionship. He was her closest friend and confidant and was almost like a second father to her, though she loved her own father too much to really give him any comparisons. Still, Challenger had always been there for her, and she trusted him completely.

"My dear, is something troubling you?" Challenger inquired after a long moment of silence. He had been periodically attempting to make conversation with the dark haired beauty, but to no avail. She seemed to be lost in her own thoughts.

"What makes you think that?" Marguerite returned lightly, trying to avoid the subject.

Challenger chuckled. "Well, you do have many virtues, my dear, but silence is not one of them."

Marguerite could not help but smile in return. "I have a lot weighing on my mind right now, Challenger." she admitted. "I still don't know what to do about Phillip. I can feel a rift growing between us."

Challenger frowned, and Marguerite immediately felt contrite for her words. Challenger had never married and was therefore unable to have children, and here she was complaining about a minor problem with her own. "Forgive me for burdening you with my problems." she apologized quickly.

Challenger shook his head. "No, my dear-- it’s not trouble at all. It’s just that...I can feel your pain. You know, Marguerite, I've never pitied myself for not being able to have children." He squeezed her arm affectionately. "I feel as if I have a daughter."

Marguerite returned to reality as Warren gently shook her shoulder. "Marguerite," he said softly, "Marguerite."

Marguerite rubbed her eyes and yawned a bit. She felt almost as if she had been sleeping, but obviously she had continued to move during the vision since she was now standing before a massive wall that hadn't been there before. She turned to Warren wonderingly.

"That’s right." Warren informed her, eyes shining. "We're here." He could see the anxiety in her face, and he gently took her hand. "Don't worry. Everything is going to be just fine."

Taking in a deep breath, Marguerite slowly walked forward and passed through the gate.

There were people inside--bulky masses of people-- and silently, they all turned to stare at her and watch as she made her way through the crowd. Then, slowly, one by one, they all got on their knees and bowed before her.


"So you see," Roxton said after Veronica finished telling about her dream, "fate didn't bring the six of us together to be as we were before. Fate brought us back so that we could experience the loves that were denied to us in the last life."

Veronica turned and gave Malone a fleeting smile. "I suppose you're right. No hard feelings about before?"

Roxton smiled good naturedly and shrugged. "What’s a little slap in the face among friends?"

Challenger cleared his throat. "I'm afraid there’s a little flaw in your theory, Roxton. It appears that Marguerite has chosen to be with Warren."

The other explorers were silent, and the air was suddenly very tense. All eyes were turned to Roxton.

Roxton shook his head. "No. I don't believe that Marguerite loves that man." I can't believe it, he added silently to himself.

"And if she does?" Summerlee asked gently.

Roxton looked at him grimly. "Then I'll fight for her."

End Part Two


Go to Part Three.

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