I was hanging at the edge and let go...and I fell safely on my room's balcony. Of cause I knew it was safe. I would never waste my life for someone so unworthy. O the grief! Why must I go through this again?
A week past so quickly as Challenger's health became well after it was announced that her Majesty the Queen would love to meet the brave expedition. Beside the Zoological department did honour him for his services. But the only thing that made him well was the adoption of a boy of five for his own. Everything was fine with Melone and Veronica. If I was asked, I would tell the only time they thought of each other was all through the day and whole night through!
As for Lord Roxton, I had been avoiding his topic for as long as I could by keeping myself busy with business. That business would be the gems. They are of the highest value and pocket me a handsome sum if I was to sell. Yes if I was to sell. But I will not. Veronica and I did go shopping and I bought her a beautiful dress for the ball. Which brings us to that treacherous ball! O well I had to go.
Veronica wore a lilac dress while I went for blue velvet. Perhaps our characters influenced our choices. It was those high-class balls with fine wines and finer decorations. Steps led the way to the hall lavishly decorated with chandeliers and silk drapes. And there he was with Elizabeth who had an angelic figure only made more appealing by the curls that fell upon her nape. Instantly Melone and Veronica took to dancing to display my teaching of the waltz.
I was too caught up in dancing with a few gentlemen, using gentlemen only because of the context of the English language as these men were of terrible moral character!
After sometime, it was announced that the explorers were to do the honour of dancing for the crowd. Of cause I was stuck with our dear Lord! I held to him lightly as possible and avoided bestowing my sight, which was filled with remorse, upon him. After one dance, I quietly retired to a corner and slid away to the balcony. As I looked at the stars, Roxton walked and stationed himself behind me. I stood there without turning.
Roxton: What's the matter...Miss Krux?
Me: Nothing is wrong Lord Roxton!
Roxton: Well it can't be! Whenever you are upset, you would come to the balcony of the tree house and look at the stars.
Me: That was there, this is here.
We stood quite for a while.
Roxton: O the memories we have. I still remember everything. I remember your scream when the sword pieced me, I still hear the cry of my heart when my bullet struck you, the way you battled Gawaine. I still feel the jealousy you had over Danielle and the way you forget with Hippolita.
I was quite speechless, as I was in fact guilty of those charges laid by John.
Roxton: But the best was when you wanted to feed me grapes by the river, where on earth did that come form?!
He said that with such humor that I started to laugh. I turned and looked at him.
Me: You have to go now. You have to propose to Miss Elizabeth.
Roxton: Who said that?
Me: I heard that you would announce your engagement to night!
Roxton: yes I will but I did not say it was to Elizabeth!
I wanted to celebrate in me the victory but I knew it was vain. He looked at me with a glare, which mesmerized me. And we kissed as doves!
That was where I wanted to be and I wanted never to let go of it when reality stepped in. I pushed myself out as he grabbed me.
Roxton: Marguerite will you not be so selfish?!
That really cut my flesh like a knife and I slapped his face. Does he not see the suffering I am going through? Was it right? Was it right for him to shovel me off his mind as being selfish?I ran out to the hall as he followed me. In the background, as I was ascending the steps, I heard an announcement.
Announcer: We have the greatest pleasure of being here when Lord Roxton would announce his proposal to the young maiden who had finally caught his heart...Ah there's Lord Roxton...
Roxton: Miss Marguerite Krux!
The whole hall fell silent as he proclaimed my name. I too turned to stone on my steps and turned.
Roxton: Miss Marguerite Krux, would you do the honour of giving your hand in marriage to...to...Miss Krux...will you...ma...ma
I looked at Roxton stuttering blindly and ran down towards him.
What is wrong with Roxton? Is he poisoned? Is he another?
As I reached to hold Roxton, something pulled me! I was fighting so hard to break free and was now screaming his name while he still continued stammering. I was so desperate that I started to cry and at that moment the force pulled me right through. I fell on the floor, still crying out for John, when someone picked me up and shook me while saying, 'I'm right here!.' I opened my eyes to see my beloved and I cried falling on his strong chest.
But there was no chandelier or drapes. There were no staircase and no footmen or orchestra. It was the bare tree house! No, it can't be. I got up and hysterically started pulling everything while convincing my self that this was a dream. I was in London. In London! Not here ...or is it a dream?
But which one? Which one is the dream?
I did not know what was happening and stood stoned for a while. But then it dawned to me, I was neither in London nor was it a dream. Then what was it? I asked John and this is what had happened.
Roxton: We came back from the ....
(Roxton tells his story and this is what had happened. )
Roxton: No luck! Ah but we tried.
Veronica: O well. That's life.
Melone: What have you been doing? You look awful!
Veronica: Cleaning. Someone has to do it. (Looking at Roxton) Your little princess is still in dreamland.
Roxton: Well then, I think I'll give her a royal wake up call.
He took a jug of water and went to Marguerite's room to find that she is not there. He went around the tree house calling her name but nothing! Worry set upon Roxton and he informed the others.
Melone: Nothing!
Challenger: Veronica can you recall anything?
Veronica: No. She came back, took a bath and went to her room...come to think of it, it was awfully quite and when talking about Marguerite, quietness is not her style!
Roxton: Someone could have abducted her! Melone, go down and see if there are any footprints, Veronica the roof, Challenger the telescope and I'll check her room.
Challenger: Someone's very worried! (Roxton was turning red with modesty)
Roxton: I've lost too many people in one lifetime.
Everyone went to his or her assignment so as Roxton who was looking around for anything which might lead to Marguerite. Knowing Marguerite, it could well be that she 'happened to find' a diamond mine or what and what not!
As Roxton combed the room, the constant turning of a book's pages, due to the wind he supposed, broke his concentration. He went over and shut it. No sooner as he turned, it opened up and did as earlier. This time, he closed it and placed a paperweight on it. To his utter awe, the paperweight was thrown off and the book flew open!
Roxton stood there stoned for a while and then took the book up. Its first line said it all! It read, 'We finally found a way off the plateau'. And the rest of the story, equally intriguing. As he turned to the last page, he eyes deceived him as at that moment, an invisible pen was writing the continuation of each scene.
Roxton: Found something!
He explained everything to the others. Melone took straight to reading it commenting that it was better than Dickens.
Challenger: I knew Marguerite was hiding something yesterday. She did not give the complete translation to me.
Veronica: What do you think is happening?
Melone: My God Veronica you came with us!
Roxton: Stop reading that! Anyway...I think that she is trapped in the book. That's why it's continuing the story.
Melone: Oh o listen to this, 'I could not even bit a proper farewell to Roxton. There was so much to be said but...O there was time. I could always tell him under the lights in London.' Well, well, well!
Roxton: I appreciate your concern but I have to find Alice who is currently trapped in Wonderland!
Everyone moved away to find a solution.
Melone: O My, 'I felt Roxton's hand down my..'
Everyone ran back and looked into the book.
Melone: Ha, ha, just kidding!
Everyone goes back.
Anyway, they figured out that Marguerite will have a hidden translation somewhere and decided to turn her room upside-down. Roxton had the liberty to go through Marguerite's lingerie trunk and also the joy of finding the diary there.
Roxton: Got it!
Melone (Seriously): O was it wrapped in the white one with the bow?
Roxton (same seriousness): No behind the pink one with the rose.
Melone: Oh!
Veronica and Challenger stood with, 'what the heck is wrong with you look?'.
According to the translations, the book will let your wishes come true but what Marguerite did not realize is that it will devour you completely. Simply to put it, Marguerite is trapped and the only way to get her out was to break the spell before the book finishes. If the chapter is closed, so is Marguerite's life!
Roxton: Melone, how far is she?
Melone: Getting ready to go to the ball. Roxton we do not have much time, only a few pages left.
Veronica: What do you think will happen at the ball?
Melone: Well according to the story, Roxton is to propose to Elizabeth.
Roxton: Who the heck is Elizabeth?
Melone: Your godmother's daughter.
Roxton: My who?! Never mind.
The translations said it all except how to break the spell. The explorers tried everything from trying to get 'into' the book to reversing the procedure but nothing.
Challenger: Where is she now?
Melone: Currently, Roxton and she are at the balcony...and Roxton is planning to propose to her.
Roxton: What?! No, No, NO, no, No! We have to stop it...I can't let him do that! I don't want her to hear those words from me I mean him! O dear!
Veronica: let her hear what she had been longing for.
Roxton: But as soon as she says yes, the story will end. And those words belong to me! O God I wish I could just rewind it!
Challenger: That's it! Rewind it!
Veronica: What?
Challenger: Tell the story backwards!
(Back to the present. It's night and Marguerite had recovered well.)
Roxton: And that's how we managed to save you.
Me: Where was I then?
Melone: O you two were like pigeons.
Me: Doves, we were like doves.
Melone: What's the difference both knows only how to poop on statues!
Veronica: But Roxton was very eager to stop himself from proposing to you.
Roxton: Well I hate not keeping a promise.
That was of no surprise to me. Why would he, someone so important, want me?
Challenger: To think about it, Roxton is a Lord and we treat him like...
Melone: Shit? Well he looks like it anyway!
Roxton: Thank you Melone! One thing I can't understand is who Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Elizabeth?
Challenger kept one of my books on the table titled Pride and Prejudice.
Roxton: Reading too many novels Marguerite?
By now, Roxton's comments on how he hated to say something he did not mean deeply hurt me that I was not in the mood for a witty reply.
Me: Sometimes Roxton, I have to rely on fiction to feel how it is to be loved.
I got up and walked away with sadness. For once I was going to hear the words I had been longing for but they were selfishly taken away!
The other's stood silent for a while. Then Melone impersonated Mrs. Throtwood from David Copperfeild.
Melone: Mr. Dick! What should Lord Roxton do?
Challenger (being Mr. Dick) : Why speak to the poor lady of cause.
Both looked at Roxton.
Roxton (Looking at Melone) : O shut up Miss Havisham!
He too walked away as Melone kept repeating he was Miss Throtwood.
I spent that afternoon thinking about London- the lights, buildings, people and also the incidents with Veronica.
Sometimes I laughed thinking about them and sometimes I just stared into nothing at all. I even turned down dinner. The dose of reality, which I got, was enough to fill me. But more than the sad ness of London being a fantasy, it was the thought of John wanting to prevent the proposal, even though he knew that it was not real, downhearted me. In a way, it was better. Now I can stop being jealous and caring and what not!
I threw off my boots and got into bed, not to sleep but to ponder. As I was covering myself, John walked in. More of jumped in rubbing himself because today was unusually cold.
Roxton: can I...(pointed at the bed)
Me: yes.
Roxton: Thank you.
He got on it and sat opposite of me so he can see my face. He then tucked his legs under the sheet as I too adjusted myself to a sitting position.
Roxton: You were lost in thoughts when I came in.
Me: Thinking about London. I never thought I'd miss that cursed city.
Roxton: Tell me about it!
We stayed quite for a while.
Me: Roxton, what do Lords do? I mean what do they really do?
Roxton: Well (he said thoughtfully) they dress up and go to the balls, poke their heads into other peoples business and well...come to think of it, nothing!
I laughed.
Roxton: Nice to see a smile on your face. Anyway, perhaps I don't know because I was not ment to be a Lord. William was that's why father loved him so much...the heir to the title. He knew all those Lordy stuff, you know how to dance and mix and drink properly. While me, I enjoy running round dirty as a pig, and gave my father headaches. And when we have to drink, I open my mouth and send vodka rushing down, I don't sip! And the women so delicate and dainty, gosh they get lost in my hand! Unlike you...you curious little cat.
Me: That's why God gave me nine lives!
We were quite again.
Me: John?
Roxton: Uh?
Me: If that was real and I was in London. And if we were at the ball and you did asked me to marry you and if I said yes, what would happen next?
Roxton: Let's see, now if that was real and it was in London. And if we were at the ball and I did asked you to marry me and if you said yes, I would have to start making the gust list to make sure that all are invited.
Me: Her Majesty?
Roxton: Her too. You will have to be turned to a Lady so I think she will come. And we will have it at the Abby. And you will be dressed in a beautiful gown with a train holding my family emblem and walk down the isle and we will say I do.
Roxton: But if that was real and it was in London. And if we were at the ball and I did asked you to marry me and if you said yes....
He said this as he crawled from under the sheets to my side. He came out and sat with his arm around me.
Roxton: I'll be the happiest person on earth!
When he said that, I was filled with happiness. But then again, it was never ment for me.
Me: Well I don't think I can share your joy as I was not the person you wanted to say it to and you were in a mighty hurry to stop yourself from asking me!
I turned away and folded my arms.
Roxton: Of cause I was! That is the most important thing I will ever say and I wanted to be there to see the joy ...in your eyes.
I turned and looked at him.
He, while nuzzling my neck, continued.
Roxton: Those words were mine to tell and ours to enjoy. That's why I stopped it.
I looked at him as his eyes reflected how foolish I was to think that he would not want me. Here he was, so warm around me. And that night was like no other night as I slept in warmth of comfort and love in his arms.
The End.
