Chapter 2 -- The Beginning

"Ready to go?" Sydney asked Nigel, walking into the office. It was 10:00 in the evening on Friday, less than a week after Nigel had authenticated the transcript and she had agreed to go on the Hunt.

"Evening, Sydney! One moment..." Nigel said from behind a stack of papers.

Sydney had made him grade most of the term-papers, and for once he did not mind the chore. She seemed tired and generally unwell lately, so he had cheerfully taken over that and other of her more unpleasant tasks. She was entitled, he reasoned, since she so seldom let anything at all slow her down.

"Where's Bridgit?" Sydney asked, dropping her bags on the floor and sitting down on Karen's desk.

Nigel spoke without looking up from the paper he was grading, the last one in the stack, thank God. "Oh, she just called. She's on her way. Ah, done!" He placed the term-paper triumphantly on the top of the stack and smiled up at Sydney. "Say, are you still feeling poorly? Perhaps I should call Bridgit and tell her that we're going to have to postpone the Hunt?"

She shook her head quickly and flashed him a reassuring smile. "I'm fine. Just a little worn out. I'll grab a nap on the plane and be fine by the time we arrive in Ireland."

He nodded, watching her carefully. "If you say so. Bridgit says that part of our route is a fair bit off the beaten track. We're going to have to do some backpacking and a bit of mountain-climbing.

"Fun." Sydney rolled her eyes.

"Oh, Syd, you love that sort of thing!" Nigel reminded her with a grin.

Sydney smiled back. "Oh, that's right, I do. I must have forgotten in all the excitement."

Nigel smiled at her and walked over to the desk. "Syd, are you entirely sure that you're going to be able to handle this Hunt? We don't need you getting sick in the middle of the wilderness."

Sydney glanced curiously at him. "Since when do you get to mother-hen me, Nigel? I'm pretty sure that's not in your job description anywhere."

"Then call it friendly concern." Nigel eyed her uncertainly. "I am allowed to worry about my friends when they're under the weather, you know."

She smiled reassuringly and patted his shoulder. "Then you can stop worrying. I dropped by the doctor today and he said I'm getting better. I only look like crap." She grinned at him.

Nigel smiled back and nodded. "If you say so, Syd."

"I do. Now where's Bridgit?"

"Right here, Professor Fox." Smiling and lugging a small suitcase, Bridgit walked into the office. "Are we all ready?"

Sydney nodded. "I think so. Nigel?"

He nodded and rose, pulling his suitcase out from under the desk. "Shall I get those for you, Syd?" he asked, picking the larger of the two up without waiting for an answer.

"I'll grab that one..." Bridgit offered, relieving Sydney of the other.

"Guys, there's really no need..." Sydney began.

"Nonsense." Bridgit smiled at her. "You are the famous archeologist, we are the porters." She grinned, her eyes twinkling. "I've always wanted to go on an adventure, you know."

"An adventure?" Sydney asked. "In Ireland?"

"Well, it's not Africa or South America, to be sure, but still... You never know." She smiled brightly. "The car's waiting outside to take us to the airport. Shall we?"

***

The flight to Heathrow was mostly empty, and, as soon as he was sure that Sydney was sleeping, Nigel moved to the unoccupied seat next to Bridgit, a few rows down. She put down her magazine and smiled up at him.

"Good evening, Nigel."

"Evening, Bridgit." He smiled at her. "Having a nice flight?"

"I hate flying in these things, Nigel..." she admitted. "It makes me so nervous."

"Well, there's nothing to worry about." Nigel smiled reassuringly and patted her hand. "They're really quite safe. Safer than cars, even."

"That safe?" she asked sardonically. "Last I checked, car accidents are quite a leading cause of death."

Nigel smiled and shook his head. "No need to worry, Bridgit. I promise."

She smiled and nodded. "Listen to me!" she laughed, shaking her head. "On second thought, don't listen to me."

"Perhaps if we talked about something else it would help take your mind off of things?"

Bridgit nodded. "It very well might. What shall we talk about?"

Nigel shrugged. "Whatever you like."

"I have no preference." She shrugged helplessly.

"Well, we could talk about the Hunt?" Nigel suggested.

In spite of the fact that they had already exhaustively reviewed every aspect of the coming Hunt, she nodded. "Of course. Well, I've reservations at a hotel very near the Airport. No point starting out before we're quite rested. I thought we could stay there for a night and then start out fresh the next morning."

Nigel nodded. "That makes perfect sense. You plan on renting a car?"

She nodded. "A jeep, actually. Which will take us as far as the mountains. Once we're there, though, we'll have to return the jeep and go forward on our own on foot." She hesitated. "Will Professor Fox be able to handle that? She seems... not entirely well."

Nigel started. He had been wondering much the same thing himself, but loyalty to Sydney made him repeat what she had told him when he had brought up the same concern that morning. "She'll be fine. She's just getting over a nasty flu-bug, you see. Exercise is probably the best thing for her, actually."

"The flu?" Bridgit glanced past Nigel to Sydney. "Poor dear. Are you quite sure that she'll be able to handle the hiking in such a condition?"

"She seems to think so, as does her doctor."

Bridgit nodded acceptance of this. "Well, I'll stop by the Chemist's before we leave and stock up."

"That's probably wise anyway..." Nigel said, nodding.

She nodded. "I already have an extensive first-aid kit packed away, but it's mostly for accidents and injuries. Now that I think about it, though, no expedition through the mountains is quite complete without sore muscles and the sniffles."

Nigel smiled. "I'd wager that she'll be healthier than either of us before we're done in the mountains."

Bridgit smiled right back. "I dare say you could be right about that, Nigel."

Nigel opened his mouth to respond and yawned instead. "Oh, dreadfully sorry, Bridgit."

She smiled and shook her head. "No need to be. It's late. Get some rest."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded. "I am. I'm feeling a lot better now."

Nigel nodded and rose. He asked a passing flight attendant for a blanket and another pillow as he returned to his seat. When she brought him both, he moved the pillow behind his own head and carefully draped the blanket over Sydney before closing his eyes. Bridgit watched him tuck Sydney in with a faintly approving smile.

***

Sydney awoke with a start as the pilot's voice came over the intercom, informing the passengers that they would shortly be arriving at Heathrow. She rubbed her eyes, absently wondering where the blanket had come from until she saw Nigel sleeping next to her, a slight smile on his boyish face. Smiling, she gently shook his shoulder.

"Wake up, Nigel. We're almost there."

The flight attendants were coming around now, waking passengers and collecting blankets and pillows. Bridgit, Sydney noticed, seemed to be the only person in the section not sleeping. She was looking around nervously and clutching her armrests with white knuckles, despite the fact that there was not the least bit of turbulence. Poor kid. Sydney smiled and shook her head. She noticed that Nigel was still asleep, so she shook him a little harder.

"Huh?" Nigel groaned, opening his eyes and seeing Sydney. He smiled at her. "Hello, Syd..." he muttered, looking around. "Oh. Are we there?"

She nodded. "Yeah, we're about to land."

"Ah. How's Bridgit holding up?"

Sydney nodded in her direction.

"Oh. Poor child. Would you mind if I went and sat by her?"

Sydney grinned. "Why would I mind? Go." She made a shooing gesture with her hands.

"Thanks." Nigel rose and slid into the seat next to Bridgit. "Hi."

"Hey." She smiled gratefully at him and mouthed a silent thanks to Sydney, who grinned and nodded.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded. "I hate landings. Especially in bad weather."

"Oh, I'm sure if it were bad enough to be a problem the pilot--"

Nigel's voice was cut off as the pilot's voice came once more over the intercom, announcing that the weather could create some turbulence during the landing.

"How did you..." Nigel began, staring.

"It's called the Weather Channel, Nigel." Bridgit smiled. "Travel forecast."

He smiled and patted her hand comfortingly. "Are you going to make it?"

She nodded weakly. "I'll be fine. Once we're on the ground." Her laugh turned into a strangled shriek as the plane bounced.

Her hands tightened even further around the arm-rest and Nigel found himself fleeting glad that he had not offered her his hand to hold instead. "Hang in there, Bridgit." He covered her hand with his. "You're fine."

She nodded. "I know, I know." She closed her eyes tightly and did not open them again until they had made their rather bumpy landing.

Nigel was glad that she had kept her eyes closed, because, experienced air-traveler that he was, he was as pale as a ghost by the end, too. He hazarded a glance back at Sydney, who was somewhat paler than usual as well. Still, the three of them were better off than the many passengers who had their faces buried in air-sick bags.

"There, now, Bridgit, that wasn't so bad, was it?" he asked, trying to keep his voice light.

"It was awful, but it's over and we're okay." She smiled at him and peeled her fingers off of the armrest. "Sorry to make such a scene, Nigel."

"No, no, that's quite understandable." He smiled reassuringly at her. "So, how long do we have to make our connection?"

"Forty minutes. Time for a quick bite to eat." She smiled and unbuckled her seatbelt. "Shall we?"

He nodded and rose, startled by her swift change in demeanor.

She noticed his surprise and grinned. "I told you I'd be better once we were on solid ground."

***

The second flight was far more pleasant than the first, and even Bridgit eventually put her head back and closed her eyes. All three were quite well-rested by the time they arrived at the small airport near Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Bridgit made some unpleasant comments about the political situation of the region as they disembarked, but was otherwise cheerful as they checked into their hotel and had breakfast together. She seemed even more cheerful as she pointed out that they would only be in Northern Ireland for a day and a night.

After breakfast, they met in Sydney's hotel-room to go over their travel-plans one more time.

"Questions?" Bridgit asked when they had finished. "Suggestions?"

Sydney nodded. "Just one."

Bridgit looked up curiously. "Shoot."

"There's absolutely no way to cut down on the amount of time we spend on foot?"

"I'm afraid not." Bridgit smiled apologetically. "There just aren't any roads where we're going. We might be able to rent mountain-bikes, but I'm honestly not sure that's... safe." She shrugged.

Sydney nodded. "Okay, then. We start out first thing in the morning, then?"

Bridgit nodded. "Yes. And it should only take a day to drive to the mountains from here, so we can stay at a hotel again tomorrow night and then set out on foot in the morning."

Sydney nodded. "That sounds good."

Nigel nodded in agreement. "I would say so. Are we all set for supplies?"

"Almost. I want to stop by the Chemist's this afternoon, so if either of you need anything, just let me know. I'm also going to bring my bow so that we're not entirely reliant on pre-packaged food."

"Do you have a hunting license?" Nigel asked.

She nodded. "Of course I do." She rose and gathered up her maps. "If there's nothing else, I'm going to pop off for a while."

"Go ahead..." Sydney said.

"Oh, yes, by all means." Nigel nodded.

"I'll see you at dinner, then." She nodded to them and left, closing the door behind her.

Nigel stared at Sydney who was sitting on her bed. "Syd, I know that you keep saying that you're alright, but are you? Really?"

She nodded. "Of course I am, Nigel..." she sighed. "You've known me long enough to know that I wouldn't put you in danger by dragging you along on a Hunt that I can't handle."

He nodded. "I know, Syd, and I intended no criticism. I'm just worried about you. You do still seem to be doing rather poorly."

She smiled at him. "Nigel, you don't have to worry about me. I'm a big girl, and I can take care of myself."

"I know you can, Syd." He smiled and rose. "You always have before and still managed to take pretty good care of everyone else at the same time. I'm not worried."

She smiled at his confident tone. "Thanks, Nigel."

He shrugged and smiled at her. "You know, it's a fine day and I was thinking of taking a walk. Care to join me?"

Sydney hesitated, then nodded. "I'd like that, Nigel."

***

"Well, I'll see you two bright and early..." Bridgit said cheerfully as they walked to their rooms after dinner. Waving at them, she vanished into her own room.

Nigel and Sydney walked the rest of the way down the hallway to their own rooms, right across from each other, and opened the doors.

"Night, Syd." Nigel grinned and waved as he stepped into the room. He turned and leaned against the door-frame, waiting for Sydney to enter her own room.

Sydney hesitated and turned to face him. "Nigel?" she began uncertainly.

He looked surprised at her indecisive tone. "Yes, Syd?" he asked gently.

Sydney hesitated. "Sleep well, Nigel!" she said quickly, giving him a forced grin and vanishing into her room.

Nigel frowned at that display. As he got ready for bed, he wondered what Sydney had really been about to say to him. It certainly had not been 'sleep well' with the tone of voice she had used. Whatever it had been, she had actually been afraid to say it. He climbed into bed, turning over in his mind what could have had her so unsettled. He determined to ask her about it in the morning and promptly forgot about it.

When Sydney hear Nigel's door close and lock, she silently stole out of her own room and walked down to the hotel bar. She did not, generally speaking, drink much, but she needed to take her mind off of things, for tonight at least. She would have to tell Nigel the truth sooner or later, but, for the second time, she had been unable to bring herself to do so. What could she say? How could she put it in a way that would not hurt him?

"Mind company?" Bridgit asked, sliding into the seat next to Syd. "You look like you could use some."

"Oh, hi." Sydney gave her a weak smile. "I thought you'd be asleep by now. Early morning and everything."

Bridgit shrugged. "Soon. I thought I would have a night-cap first, then I saw you here and thought I'd say hi."

"Oh. Hi."

"You already said that." Bridgit smiled gently. "Are you okay? Want to talk?"

Sydney shook her head. "You wouldn't understand."

"You don't know that..." Bridgit pointed out.

"Trust me, you have no idea what I'm going through."

Bridgit regarded her thoughtfully. "You're sick and it worries you. It's understandable, but the fact that you, of all people, are worried by it, suggests to me that it's, perhaps, a bit more serious than influenza. You don't expect to recover, do you?"

Sydney stared at her, honestly surprised. "Am I that obvious?"

She shook her head gently and smiled at Sydney. "You aren't."

"Then, how..."

Bridgit shrugged. "Call it a talent. May I ask you a question?"

Sydney, who found herself liking and trusting the girl for no good reason that she could explain nodded. "Sure, why not?"

"You don't strike me as the type of person who would really fear death."

"I'm not."

"Then why so troubled by what could be your next great adventure?"

"I'm not worried for me." Sydney hesitated, glancing over her shoulder.

"Nigel?" Bridgit asked. "You worry for his sake?"

Sydney nodded. "It's... hard to explain..."

"I think I understand." Bridgit smiled and touched her hand. "You worry about how his life will be once he's alone?"

"Something like that." Sydney nodded and lapsed into silence. There were probably no words for the exact nature of her concern for Nigel, but Bridgit had touched pretty closely to the truth.

"May I ask what's wrong?"

"Leukemia."

"That usually affects children, doesn't it?"

Sydney nodded. "Yeah. I used to think it only hit children until I started feeling bad. Three blood tests later they started nagging me for a bone-marrow sample."

"Is there a cure?"

Sydney shook her head. "Nothing medical."

"But you're a believer in... other than medical cures for illness?"

"Miracles, you mean?" Sydney nodded slowly. "I've seen too much not to be."

"Then, perhaps you need not worry for Nigel as much as you do..." Bridgit suggested softly.

"I've read some of the literature associated with the Cauldron..." Sydney began. "The mythology, I guess I should say. Some of it says that the Cauldron is..."

"'The holy grail of eternal life'?" Bridgit prompted when Sydney seemed unwilling to finish the sentence.

"Nigel says that's not what you think, though."

Bridgit shrugged. "We each of us in this world have our own beliefs. There's nothing to say that they're mutually exclusive."

"I guess not." Sydney stared thoughtfully into space.

"Does he know that you're ill?" Bridgit asked softly.

"Nigel?" She shook her head quickly. "And you can't tell him."

"He will know soon enough. Why make it harder for him by keeping the truth from him?"

"I'm going to tell him." Sydney shifted uncomfortably in her chair. "I am, Bridgit, I just..."

"Haven't figured out how to yet?"

Sydney nodded. "Yeah. I mean, obviously he is going to have to be told, I just want to do it in a way that won't hurt him."

"There's no way not to hurt him at least a little." Bridgit smiled sympathetically. "But better to hurt him less sooner than more later."

Sydney nodded angrily. "I know, I know. It's just so hard..."

"Of course it is. I understand. The way Nigel talks of you, you'd think that he thought you were one of the immortal gods. It won't be easy for him." She sighed. "It can't be easy for you."

"It's not, but I'm learning to deal with it."

Bridgit smiled. "And doing a fine job of it from what I've seen. Still..."

Sydney nodded. "Still..." She sighed. "Poor Nigel."

"When two people care for each other, it is never easy to say goodbye."

"No, no it isn't."

Bridgit took her hand and pulled her to her feet. "Get some rest, Sydney. You have a long week ahead."

Sydney nodded and returned to her room. She fell asleep immediately.