Chapter 30
Dani awoke as the images crowded back into her mind; she sat up clasping her hands to her head as the pain returned. Duncan was already up tending the fire when the noise of Dani's sudden movement made him turn to her, he could see the distress on her face as she looked up; he reached for the flask and poured some of the liquid into a cup. He got up and walked over to her, kneeing down Duncan pour the strange smelling liquid into a cup, taking her hands away from her face he said "It's all right here drink some of this.it will help", Dani took the cup, she didn't argue, just drank down the dark liquid. Duncan waited by her side in case the liquid had the same effect as the first time. Dani's eyes did glaze over but she remained conscious, only when he was certain she wasn't going to pass out did he continue collecting their things together. Luckily the horse had stayed close by during the night, Duncan took hold of the reins and led him back to the croft, tying the reins to an exposure piece of timber. Dani was leaning back against the wall of the croft her eyes closed but he could see that the pain was drifting away from her face. Dani's eyes opened as she heard Duncan approach, he held out his hand "Come.its time to be going". Dani didn't take his hand but looked into his eyes "you shouldn't have come, Duncan.now your in danger again because of me.I've brought you nothing but trouble" Duncan knelt down in front of her and he could see the tears that were forming in her eyes "Hey.danger is part of who I am, none of this is your fault.you should know me well enough not to know I wasn't going to let you face this alone.now take my hand and come with me" Duncan said his hand outstretched again, after a few moments Dani slipped her hand into his and Duncan helped her to her feet.
Duncan lead her to the horse "I'm not getting on that!" Dani exclaimed as she tried to pull away but Duncan held onto her hand "your not frightened of a horse are you? It's easy, nothing is going to happen to you.I will lead the horse.so there's nothing to be afraid of.your in no condition to walk". Just looking into his eyes Dani could see that it was useless to argue and deep down she knew he was right. Duncan held the horse with one hand and guided her foot into the stirrups with the other. When Dani was securely seated he handed her the backpack but kept hold of his sword. Dani held on tightly to the saddle as Duncan led the horse by its reins, the sun was warm and the mist that surrounded the mountain had started to disappear back into the ground from where it had risen during the night, as they set off for the village. Duncan took a steady pace as he didn't want to frighten Dani, but as the sun rose into the sky so did the temperature, Duncan looked back at Dani he could see that she was tired and in need of a break but to stubborn to ask for one, he could hear the sound of running water and led them towards the sound. As they came to a piece of higher ground, they could see the stream and the waterfall nestled into the side of the mountain.
Duncan helped Dani climb down from the horse; she walked to the edge of the river just below the waterfall, and sat on one of the rocks that overhung the stream. Duncan then led the horse around the rocky area into the stream, as he was walking the horse down the muddy bank the horse slipped and it bumped into Duncan nearly knocking him into the water, which made Dani laugh especially when he frowned at her. After the horse had drank enough Duncan lead the horse back to the grass Duncan then joined Dani on the rock "That wasn't funny," he said sitting down but this only made Dani laugh more. Her laughter faded when she saw the serious look on his face "Dani why did you leave like that?" he asked as he threw a pebble into the stream, this was the question Dani had been dreading since he found her yesterday, how could she explain it to him when she didn't really understand why she had done it herself.
Before she could answer they both felt the presence of another Immortal, Duncan sprang to his feet scanning the mountainside but no one was visible. "Cassandra?" Duncan shouted but no reply came "we had better get going" Duncan said helping Dani to her feet "We'll rest again when we get to the village church its not far" he said as he help Dani mount the horse "now hold on tight.I'm going to up the pace" Duncan said his eyes constantly scanning the surrounding area. Dani's hands gripped the saddle as Duncan started to jog down the mountain towards the little church that they could just see on the horizon. Dani looked back at the waterfall and swallowed hard she knew who was out there, she'd sensed them before and she knew why they had come.
The Church
Duncan helped Dani down from the horse and tied it to the churchyard gate "come on.let's get inside" Duncan gestured towards the church as he put his other arm around her "hey.your shaking are you all right" Dani smiled weakly at him "I'm all right Duncan", she so wanted to tell him everything but how could she tell him all that she had seen and who was out there. Part of her wished that he hadn't found her but now he was here she knew that he wouldn't leave her, even if she asked him to.
Dani sat in one of the pews she leaned forward until her arms where on the pew in front and she then rested her head in her hands. Duncan quietly slipped back outside for the backpack and to see if they were being followed. Dani looked up as rays of sunlight came through the stained glass window that was behind the altar, it bathed the whole church in different coloured lights. She stood up as walked towards the altar, her hand reached out, her fingers running down the cool smooth surface of the golden cross, a tear rolled down her cheek as she sank slowly to her knees. "Oh God.Please end this nightmare.I don't know how much more I can take.I don't know what memories are mine anymore.I've been told that you have given me a gift.but it feels more like a curse.I did all of this to keep Duncan safe and now you bring him here.I don't understand what you want me to do Lord.show me what you want me to do".
Duncan had slipped unnoticed back into the church, he stood at the back watching Dani at the altar, and her words made his heart ache. As Dani started to sob he walked quietly towards her 'Cassandra hurry.I don't think we have much time' he thought as he got closer. Dani became aware of Duncan's approach and quickly wiped her eyes before using the altar to help her to her feet. Only when she thought she had wiped away the last trace of her tears did she turn to face Duncan, he didn't say anything, he just put his arms around her, pulling her into his embrace. They just held each other no words were needed; they just drew strength from the warmth of their bodies. "Duncan can you really help me?" Dani asked as she lift her face from his shoulder "yes.with a little the help from our friends.but you have to trust them as you trust me" Duncan walked Dani to where he had left the backpack "here drink some more of this.the Inn might be crowded when we get there" Dani took the cup and drank the dark strange smelling liquid "Do you think I could have a different flavour?" she joked, Duncan put his arm around her, "it's good to see your getting back to yourself.but you'll have to ask Cassandra when she gets here about other flavours".
Duncan went outside first to check there was no one waiting outside, he then collected Dani from the doorway where she had been waiting and they continued their journey to the village.
Dani awoke as the images crowded back into her mind; she sat up clasping her hands to her head as the pain returned. Duncan was already up tending the fire when the noise of Dani's sudden movement made him turn to her, he could see the distress on her face as she looked up; he reached for the flask and poured some of the liquid into a cup. He got up and walked over to her, kneeing down Duncan pour the strange smelling liquid into a cup, taking her hands away from her face he said "It's all right here drink some of this.it will help", Dani took the cup, she didn't argue, just drank down the dark liquid. Duncan waited by her side in case the liquid had the same effect as the first time. Dani's eyes did glaze over but she remained conscious, only when he was certain she wasn't going to pass out did he continue collecting their things together. Luckily the horse had stayed close by during the night, Duncan took hold of the reins and led him back to the croft, tying the reins to an exposure piece of timber. Dani was leaning back against the wall of the croft her eyes closed but he could see that the pain was drifting away from her face. Dani's eyes opened as she heard Duncan approach, he held out his hand "Come.its time to be going". Dani didn't take his hand but looked into his eyes "you shouldn't have come, Duncan.now your in danger again because of me.I've brought you nothing but trouble" Duncan knelt down in front of her and he could see the tears that were forming in her eyes "Hey.danger is part of who I am, none of this is your fault.you should know me well enough not to know I wasn't going to let you face this alone.now take my hand and come with me" Duncan said his hand outstretched again, after a few moments Dani slipped her hand into his and Duncan helped her to her feet.
Duncan lead her to the horse "I'm not getting on that!" Dani exclaimed as she tried to pull away but Duncan held onto her hand "your not frightened of a horse are you? It's easy, nothing is going to happen to you.I will lead the horse.so there's nothing to be afraid of.your in no condition to walk". Just looking into his eyes Dani could see that it was useless to argue and deep down she knew he was right. Duncan held the horse with one hand and guided her foot into the stirrups with the other. When Dani was securely seated he handed her the backpack but kept hold of his sword. Dani held on tightly to the saddle as Duncan led the horse by its reins, the sun was warm and the mist that surrounded the mountain had started to disappear back into the ground from where it had risen during the night, as they set off for the village. Duncan took a steady pace as he didn't want to frighten Dani, but as the sun rose into the sky so did the temperature, Duncan looked back at Dani he could see that she was tired and in need of a break but to stubborn to ask for one, he could hear the sound of running water and led them towards the sound. As they came to a piece of higher ground, they could see the stream and the waterfall nestled into the side of the mountain.
Duncan helped Dani climb down from the horse; she walked to the edge of the river just below the waterfall, and sat on one of the rocks that overhung the stream. Duncan then led the horse around the rocky area into the stream, as he was walking the horse down the muddy bank the horse slipped and it bumped into Duncan nearly knocking him into the water, which made Dani laugh especially when he frowned at her. After the horse had drank enough Duncan lead the horse back to the grass Duncan then joined Dani on the rock "That wasn't funny," he said sitting down but this only made Dani laugh more. Her laughter faded when she saw the serious look on his face "Dani why did you leave like that?" he asked as he threw a pebble into the stream, this was the question Dani had been dreading since he found her yesterday, how could she explain it to him when she didn't really understand why she had done it herself.
Before she could answer they both felt the presence of another Immortal, Duncan sprang to his feet scanning the mountainside but no one was visible. "Cassandra?" Duncan shouted but no reply came "we had better get going" Duncan said helping Dani to her feet "We'll rest again when we get to the village church its not far" he said as he help Dani mount the horse "now hold on tight.I'm going to up the pace" Duncan said his eyes constantly scanning the surrounding area. Dani's hands gripped the saddle as Duncan started to jog down the mountain towards the little church that they could just see on the horizon. Dani looked back at the waterfall and swallowed hard she knew who was out there, she'd sensed them before and she knew why they had come.
The Church
Duncan helped Dani down from the horse and tied it to the churchyard gate "come on.let's get inside" Duncan gestured towards the church as he put his other arm around her "hey.your shaking are you all right" Dani smiled weakly at him "I'm all right Duncan", she so wanted to tell him everything but how could she tell him all that she had seen and who was out there. Part of her wished that he hadn't found her but now he was here she knew that he wouldn't leave her, even if she asked him to.
Dani sat in one of the pews she leaned forward until her arms where on the pew in front and she then rested her head in her hands. Duncan quietly slipped back outside for the backpack and to see if they were being followed. Dani looked up as rays of sunlight came through the stained glass window that was behind the altar, it bathed the whole church in different coloured lights. She stood up as walked towards the altar, her hand reached out, her fingers running down the cool smooth surface of the golden cross, a tear rolled down her cheek as she sank slowly to her knees. "Oh God.Please end this nightmare.I don't know how much more I can take.I don't know what memories are mine anymore.I've been told that you have given me a gift.but it feels more like a curse.I did all of this to keep Duncan safe and now you bring him here.I don't understand what you want me to do Lord.show me what you want me to do".
Duncan had slipped unnoticed back into the church, he stood at the back watching Dani at the altar, and her words made his heart ache. As Dani started to sob he walked quietly towards her 'Cassandra hurry.I don't think we have much time' he thought as he got closer. Dani became aware of Duncan's approach and quickly wiped her eyes before using the altar to help her to her feet. Only when she thought she had wiped away the last trace of her tears did she turn to face Duncan, he didn't say anything, he just put his arms around her, pulling her into his embrace. They just held each other no words were needed; they just drew strength from the warmth of their bodies. "Duncan can you really help me?" Dani asked as she lift her face from his shoulder "yes.with a little the help from our friends.but you have to trust them as you trust me" Duncan walked Dani to where he had left the backpack "here drink some more of this.the Inn might be crowded when we get there" Dani took the cup and drank the dark strange smelling liquid "Do you think I could have a different flavour?" she joked, Duncan put his arm around her, "it's good to see your getting back to yourself.but you'll have to ask Cassandra when she gets here about other flavours".
Duncan went outside first to check there was no one waiting outside, he then collected Dani from the doorway where she had been waiting and they continued their journey to the village.