Chapter 38
As they walked up through the village passed the rows of stone cottages, they had just passed the Post Office/General Store when the door opened and a middle aged lady with greying hair, dressed in a flowing purple dress stepped out and walked quickly towards them "excuse me.excuse me" both Cassandra and Dani stopped and turned back "I know that you don't know me but Rachel was telling me about the potion you've been making.you see herbal remedies are a hobby of mine.and I was wondering if I could talk to you about it" Cassandra smiled "you must be Morag".
"Yes that's right has Rachel mentioned me to you?" Morag said as she juggled with the packages, Cassandra looked over at Dani and could see from her face how tired she was, Cassandra put her hand on Dani's arm "why don't you go back to the Inn.I'll be along shortly" Dani nodded "are you sure you don't mind?" Cassandra put her hand onto Dani's arm "yes.I'm sure.you need to rest.it's been a long day for you".
"OK.nice to meet you Morag" Dani replied, she then turned towards the Inn and walked away. Morag managed to get the packages she was holding under one arm she then linked her free arm through Cassandra's "well let me make you a cup of tea and then we can have a nice chat" Cassandra found herself being propel towards Morag's cottage.
The Inn
Dani pushed open the Inn door and as she stepped into the Inn she closed her eyes as she yawned, when she opened her eyes she could see that there was no one in the bar, as she walked towards the bar she could see the bar closed sign leaning against the cash register. Dani felt apprehension creep up her spine "Rachel?" Dani called as she went behind the bar but there was no reply so she went through to the back room. There was a small wooden chair overturned just inside the door, Dani picked it up and stood it on it's feet, as she did so her eyes fell on the broken china figurines lying on the floor, Dani scanned the room it was obvious from the mess that there had been a struggle. Dani raised her hand to her mouth as if to stop a cry from escaping 'not again' she thought; she closed her eyes and tired to focus on Rachel just as Cassandra had shown her. Images filled her mind she could sense the fear that had been in the room suddenly her eyes shot open as her hand dropped from her mouth she said "Hamilton!"
Dani ran up the wooden stairs to her room, the door slamming back against the wall as she threw the door open, her sword was in it's case, which was stood against the wall, Dani picked up the case and dropped it on the bed. Her hands lingered over the catches for a few seconds before clicking them up and opening the lid. Dani reached out and ran her hand down the length of the scabbard 'I never thought I would ever want to use you' she thought as her hand grasped the golden hilt, she pulled the sword from it's blue scabbard and looked at the blade and her own reflection. The eyes that stared back at her didn't seem to be her own, there was no life in them, and she shook her head as she dropped the sword to her side. Dani then pushed the door back and took down her black coat that was hanging there "this ends now.one way or other" she said as she walked out of her room and through the bar, as she stepped out of the Inn Dani checked both ways to make sure that Cassandra couldn't see her because if she did Dani knew that she would try to stop her.
A light rain had just started to fall as Dani pause at the top of the last ridge; her breath was laboured from running. Dani waited there until she caught her breath, she then started to walk down the slope towards the ruined croft, as she got nearer she sensed another Immortal and Hamilton strode out from the ruin, dragging Rachel by the arm with him, his eyes searching around until he saw Dani walking towards them. Dani stopped some distance away "Well I'm here now.you can let Rachel go" she shouted. Hamilton brought his sword to Rachel's neck "you come to me first".
"No.you want me and I'm here.and I'm alone.she is no use to you now.let her go" Dani took a few steps closer. "Stop where you are.take out your sword throw it over there" Dani's hand went inside her coat and her hand wrapped around her sword, as she pulled it free from the fabric, Dani wondered if she could get to Rachel before he could hurt her but she dismissed the thought as she saw Hamilton lift his sword just nicking Rachel's skin and a small amount of blood trickled over the blade. Dani raised her sword and threw it as hard as she could, when it landed it stuck in the ground, "There now let her go" Hamilton then dropped his sword, he pushed Rachel towards Dani. Rachel walked slowly over to where Dani was now standing; "he left his keys in the car by the loch.take it and get as far away as you can" Dani looked up into Rachel's eyes, she could see tears starting to form "you don't have to do this" Dani reached out and touched Rachel on the arm "yes.yes I do.will you tell Duncan something for me?" Rachel nodded "tell him to be prepared.He will come after Duncan next.and tell him Thank you.for what he tried to do for me.now run and don't look back" Rachel's eyes searched Dani's but they had grown cold and a shiver ran down Rachel's back, she nodded and started to run towards the Loch.
Dani waited until she could no long see Rachel before she then started to circle Hamilton "so what's next.after you take my head you go after Duncan is that the plan?" Dani asked as she walked "do you want me to swear that I will not" Hamilton replied. "No.no point your promise would have no meaning.because they would only be words.they would mean nothing to you.tell me.what is it like to have no friends you can rely on?" Hamilton smiled at her "that's the beauty of all of this.I can rely on them.until.."
"Until you betray them.and come for their heads" Dani finished his sentence for him. Hamilton stepped forward a couple of paces, pointing his sword to a spot on the ground "knee and all this will be over.well for you at least".
Rachel brought the car to a screeching halt forcing Methos back into the Land Rover to avoid being hit, Rachel flung open the door and ran to Duncan "Duncan you've got to stop her.you've got to help her" Duncan grabbed Rachel's arms he could see that her face was tear stained "Stop who.calm down.who are you talking about?" Rachel looked into his eyes "Dani.she at the old croft.he's got a sword.Oh Duncan I thought he was going to kill me.he let me go when Dani came.he's going to kill her if you don't do something".
Duncan then noticed the blood running down Rachel's neck "Which croft Rachel?" the alarm in Duncan's voice obvious "the one where we found her" Rachel replied. Duncan leaped back into the Land Rover, as the engine roared into life Methos spoke to Rachel before jumping into the passenger side of the Land Rover "I'm Adam.Err could you take these bags inside for me". Rachel took the bags from Methos without replying.
"BE CAREFUL" Rachel shouted as the Land Rover sped off towards the loch.
"Do you really think it's going to be so easy.I mean after you get what you want?" Dani said as she backed away as Hamilton walk towards her "come now.I have kept my part of the bargain.now it's your turn.what happens later is none of your concern.I will have your gift and no one will stand in my way.now come here and kneel" Hamilton said as he pointed to the ground with his sword again. "Please let me have a few minutes to prepare myself.I don't think it's too much to ask," Hamilton rested his sword on the ground "I'm a reasonable man.you can have a moment.but my patience is wearing thin". Dani walked a little way from Hamilton and closing her eyes she tried to focus as Cassandra had taught her, after taking a few deep breaths Dani turned and walked slowly to Hamilton. She then knelt down, a single tear rolled down her cheek as she bowed her head, Hamilton's hand lifted her chin "any more last requests?" he asked "no" she replied. Suddenly she grasped his hand with both of hers and locked her eyes onto his, "have you?" she said as all the pain and suffering within her flowed into Hamilton's mind "so you wanted my power.well here it is.I hope your ready for it".
As they walked up through the village passed the rows of stone cottages, they had just passed the Post Office/General Store when the door opened and a middle aged lady with greying hair, dressed in a flowing purple dress stepped out and walked quickly towards them "excuse me.excuse me" both Cassandra and Dani stopped and turned back "I know that you don't know me but Rachel was telling me about the potion you've been making.you see herbal remedies are a hobby of mine.and I was wondering if I could talk to you about it" Cassandra smiled "you must be Morag".
"Yes that's right has Rachel mentioned me to you?" Morag said as she juggled with the packages, Cassandra looked over at Dani and could see from her face how tired she was, Cassandra put her hand on Dani's arm "why don't you go back to the Inn.I'll be along shortly" Dani nodded "are you sure you don't mind?" Cassandra put her hand onto Dani's arm "yes.I'm sure.you need to rest.it's been a long day for you".
"OK.nice to meet you Morag" Dani replied, she then turned towards the Inn and walked away. Morag managed to get the packages she was holding under one arm she then linked her free arm through Cassandra's "well let me make you a cup of tea and then we can have a nice chat" Cassandra found herself being propel towards Morag's cottage.
The Inn
Dani pushed open the Inn door and as she stepped into the Inn she closed her eyes as she yawned, when she opened her eyes she could see that there was no one in the bar, as she walked towards the bar she could see the bar closed sign leaning against the cash register. Dani felt apprehension creep up her spine "Rachel?" Dani called as she went behind the bar but there was no reply so she went through to the back room. There was a small wooden chair overturned just inside the door, Dani picked it up and stood it on it's feet, as she did so her eyes fell on the broken china figurines lying on the floor, Dani scanned the room it was obvious from the mess that there had been a struggle. Dani raised her hand to her mouth as if to stop a cry from escaping 'not again' she thought; she closed her eyes and tired to focus on Rachel just as Cassandra had shown her. Images filled her mind she could sense the fear that had been in the room suddenly her eyes shot open as her hand dropped from her mouth she said "Hamilton!"
Dani ran up the wooden stairs to her room, the door slamming back against the wall as she threw the door open, her sword was in it's case, which was stood against the wall, Dani picked up the case and dropped it on the bed. Her hands lingered over the catches for a few seconds before clicking them up and opening the lid. Dani reached out and ran her hand down the length of the scabbard 'I never thought I would ever want to use you' she thought as her hand grasped the golden hilt, she pulled the sword from it's blue scabbard and looked at the blade and her own reflection. The eyes that stared back at her didn't seem to be her own, there was no life in them, and she shook her head as she dropped the sword to her side. Dani then pushed the door back and took down her black coat that was hanging there "this ends now.one way or other" she said as she walked out of her room and through the bar, as she stepped out of the Inn Dani checked both ways to make sure that Cassandra couldn't see her because if she did Dani knew that she would try to stop her.
A light rain had just started to fall as Dani pause at the top of the last ridge; her breath was laboured from running. Dani waited there until she caught her breath, she then started to walk down the slope towards the ruined croft, as she got nearer she sensed another Immortal and Hamilton strode out from the ruin, dragging Rachel by the arm with him, his eyes searching around until he saw Dani walking towards them. Dani stopped some distance away "Well I'm here now.you can let Rachel go" she shouted. Hamilton brought his sword to Rachel's neck "you come to me first".
"No.you want me and I'm here.and I'm alone.she is no use to you now.let her go" Dani took a few steps closer. "Stop where you are.take out your sword throw it over there" Dani's hand went inside her coat and her hand wrapped around her sword, as she pulled it free from the fabric, Dani wondered if she could get to Rachel before he could hurt her but she dismissed the thought as she saw Hamilton lift his sword just nicking Rachel's skin and a small amount of blood trickled over the blade. Dani raised her sword and threw it as hard as she could, when it landed it stuck in the ground, "There now let her go" Hamilton then dropped his sword, he pushed Rachel towards Dani. Rachel walked slowly over to where Dani was now standing; "he left his keys in the car by the loch.take it and get as far away as you can" Dani looked up into Rachel's eyes, she could see tears starting to form "you don't have to do this" Dani reached out and touched Rachel on the arm "yes.yes I do.will you tell Duncan something for me?" Rachel nodded "tell him to be prepared.He will come after Duncan next.and tell him Thank you.for what he tried to do for me.now run and don't look back" Rachel's eyes searched Dani's but they had grown cold and a shiver ran down Rachel's back, she nodded and started to run towards the Loch.
Dani waited until she could no long see Rachel before she then started to circle Hamilton "so what's next.after you take my head you go after Duncan is that the plan?" Dani asked as she walked "do you want me to swear that I will not" Hamilton replied. "No.no point your promise would have no meaning.because they would only be words.they would mean nothing to you.tell me.what is it like to have no friends you can rely on?" Hamilton smiled at her "that's the beauty of all of this.I can rely on them.until.."
"Until you betray them.and come for their heads" Dani finished his sentence for him. Hamilton stepped forward a couple of paces, pointing his sword to a spot on the ground "knee and all this will be over.well for you at least".
Rachel brought the car to a screeching halt forcing Methos back into the Land Rover to avoid being hit, Rachel flung open the door and ran to Duncan "Duncan you've got to stop her.you've got to help her" Duncan grabbed Rachel's arms he could see that her face was tear stained "Stop who.calm down.who are you talking about?" Rachel looked into his eyes "Dani.she at the old croft.he's got a sword.Oh Duncan I thought he was going to kill me.he let me go when Dani came.he's going to kill her if you don't do something".
Duncan then noticed the blood running down Rachel's neck "Which croft Rachel?" the alarm in Duncan's voice obvious "the one where we found her" Rachel replied. Duncan leaped back into the Land Rover, as the engine roared into life Methos spoke to Rachel before jumping into the passenger side of the Land Rover "I'm Adam.Err could you take these bags inside for me". Rachel took the bags from Methos without replying.
"BE CAREFUL" Rachel shouted as the Land Rover sped off towards the loch.
"Do you really think it's going to be so easy.I mean after you get what you want?" Dani said as she backed away as Hamilton walk towards her "come now.I have kept my part of the bargain.now it's your turn.what happens later is none of your concern.I will have your gift and no one will stand in my way.now come here and kneel" Hamilton said as he pointed to the ground with his sword again. "Please let me have a few minutes to prepare myself.I don't think it's too much to ask," Hamilton rested his sword on the ground "I'm a reasonable man.you can have a moment.but my patience is wearing thin". Dani walked a little way from Hamilton and closing her eyes she tried to focus as Cassandra had taught her, after taking a few deep breaths Dani turned and walked slowly to Hamilton. She then knelt down, a single tear rolled down her cheek as she bowed her head, Hamilton's hand lifted her chin "any more last requests?" he asked "no" she replied. Suddenly she grasped his hand with both of hers and locked her eyes onto his, "have you?" she said as all the pain and suffering within her flowed into Hamilton's mind "so you wanted my power.well here it is.I hope your ready for it".