Disclaimer: Highlander and its characters do not belong to me and I'm not making any money off of this, yadda, yadda, yadda.
The three men barely spoke a word to each other during their journey save for a few comments about London or the weather. Adam was consumed with the memories of the previous evening. Every detail played over and over in his mind. It was difficult for him not to laugh at the pleasure of it all. He hated the idea of leaving London but swore to himself he would return soon.
Richard dwelt on his dreams and the feelings of impending devastation he knew was to come at the hands of his brother. The voices from his nightmare played over and over in his head. His muscles resisted any attempt at relaxation. He hadn't even remembered riding the last several miles.
Phillip was the only one alert and scanning the woods for possible danger. Even though the three of them were simply dressed, any travelers along England's roads were almost certain to invite trouble. They were nearly to the Christian estate, but he didn't want to let his guard down.
Phillip heard the loud snap of branches and undergrowth before the loud boom of a flintlock rifle echoed throughout the forest. Both Richard and Adam were snapped from their respective reveries in an instant. Before they could spur their horses to move faster, another gunshot sounded and an agonized cry emanated from Richard's throat.
Adam spun around in his saddle to watch as his brother clutched his left shoulder.
"Richard, I'm coming!"
Two men ran from the cover of the trees while two others came up on horseback from behind.
Their attackers seemed only to have the two guns in their possession and with each weapon having already discharged, they weren't prepared to reload. Not being very organized worked in the trio's favor as all three men had readied their guns prior to their journey. Phillip pulled his horse to a stop and aimed squarely at one of the shorter men on foot. The smell of gunpowder raced up his nose as he watched his intended target fall to the ground.
Adam's shot found it's mark in one of the men on horseback. Blood raced to his face as he saw the man catapult off his horse and strike the ground hard. The adrenaline pumped through his body as he focused his attention on the other horse rider. Taking his sword from the sheath at his side, he turned galloped directly toward the burly man.
Richard was wounded but not helpless. His gun fell to the ground after he was shot but he managed to unsheathe his sword with his right hand. He drove his horse toward the second man on foot and managed to strike him in the midsection.
His blade ready, Adam charged toward the man on horseback, realizing too late that his opponent held a throwing dagger in his hand. Adam could only watch as the gleaming piece of steel connected with his chest.
"ADAM!"
His brother's scream seemed distant as he fell forward over his saddle. The sounds of fighting stopped immediately as Phillip ran Adam's attacker through with his sword. Adam's horse slowed and then stopped as its rider slumped against the animal's neck.
Both men leapt from their horses and raced to remove Adam from his mount. Adam's blood flowed steadily down the front of his coat. He lay with his back resting on Richard's lap.
"Adam…Adam it will be alright. We'll get you home. We're nearly there. Hang on."
Richard pulled the dagger from Adam's chest. He took his coat off and pressed it to his brother's torso. Phillip caught Richard's eyes and nodded slowly. Richard's heart sank. Despite the years of fear and hatred towards the man lying in his arms, Adam was still his brother. His parents would be devastated. Adam's raspy voice broke the silence.
"Richard…tell father I'm sorry. He's always been right about me. You've always been right….."
His eyes closed and both Phillip and Richard sat quietly for a long while. Phillip was the first to stir, getting up to gather their weapons and round up the horses. He put his hand on Richard's shoulder and squeezed lightly.
"We need to tend to your wound."
"It's not that bad. I'll be fine until we get home. Help me get him on the horse."
Phillip's head rose and fell in agreement. As Richard stood, he paused and looked Phillip in the eye.
"I'm not sad, Phillip."
"What?"
"I'm not sad about him dying. I'm sad that father and mother will be hurt, but I'm not going to miss him. For that, I feel guilty. But….I just feel…relief…that he's gone."
"Richard, you're in shock..."
The young man's deep voice cut him off. "No, no, it's alright. I shouldn't have said anything. Let's get him back home."
Phillip watched as Richard climbed up on his horse, his brother's body lying across the front of the saddle. He wanted to say some words of comfort. Something that would help Richard deal with the loss of his brother. But deep in his heart, he felt the same way. He would not miss Adam Christian.
As he was pruning the roses in the front garden, Miles saw the horses approaching far down on the main road. He ran back to the house and bounded through the front entrance. His voice echoed through the large house.
"They're back! They're back!"
The sound of footsteps carried it's way through the house. Eleonore came running from the kitchen as Methos flew down the main staircase.
"It's about time!" Methos said in mock annoyance.
"Well, they certainly have good timing, they made it just before supper. Typical men!" Eleonore's laugh rang through the entry hall. Methos chuckled with her.
"With those three at the table, that means the rest of us won't even get to chew the marrow off one of the bones!"
Their exit from the house coincided with Madeline and Charles walking from the side garden, waving their arms in greeting.
As Methos looked from them to the approaching riders, the realization of what he was seeing hit him like a fist in the chest. Richard rode atop his stallion, his head lowered. A bloodstain spread across the fabric of his shoulder. The body of a man draped across the front of his horse. He looked quickly to the second rider. Phillip. The empty horse was Adam's.
"Oh. God."
His legs propelled him forward, running faster than he had in years. The repetition of the word 'no' spilled from his mouth. He reached Richard's horse just as he heard Eleonore's cries rise behind him.
"No! No! No!"
As Methos dragged Adam's limp form down from the horse, his body made an offensive thud on the dirt. He turned him over and saw the blood on the front of his coat. He looked from Phillip to Richard.
"What happened?"
Phillip spoke softly. "We were set upon by bandits on our way here. Richard was shot but Adam was run through with a dagger trying to defend his brother."
The thoughts began coming in a flood. A violent death. He would come back. And soon. Eleonore. Richard. They didn't know.
Methos scanned the faces of his loved ones. Eleonore was bent over her son's body, stroking his hair and calling his name quietly. Richard stood next to his horse, his shoulders hunched and his face pale.
He saw Luke coming out the front door, hastily scanning the group of people gathered around for any sign of what was happening. Once the man's eyes rested upon Adam's still and bloodied form, the realization hit him as well.
"William…" The physician's tone was urgent…almost pleading.
Methos shook his head and stood up. "We need to bring him to his room."
Eleonore wasn't listening. Her grief consumed her. He allowed Phillip, Luke and the other men to carry Adam inside while he supported Eleonore. Richard followed slowly.
As they lay Adam on his bed, Methos looked around the room at the people he loved. Only one of them knew Adam's secret. They knew Methos was an immortal so the experience of Adam's revival shouldn't be a terrible surprise. But for Eleonore and Richard, this would most likely be the most shocking experience of their lives.
He'd always hoped that Adam would live a normal life. When he was a boy, Methos simply wanted him spared the pain of living alone. But as Adam grew older and Methos began to see the quiet and sullen boy become more devious and frightening, there emerged a recognition that Adam's destiny was driven as much by his biological father than his status as an immortal. When Adam was born, Methos felt that the child being an immortal would be a special bond. But as the boys became men, it was apparent that Richard's gentleness and strong character was more like his own than Adam's immortality would ever be.
Methos sighed deeply. It was time that everyone knew the full truth. He prayed that Eleonore would understand why he'd kept this secret. Now Methos would have to admit who, and what, he was to his sons. He simply prayed that Adam's new found power wouldn't destroy them all.