Chapter 42
As they entered the Inn the relief on Rachel's face was evident to all of them "Thank God.you're all OK.you look like you all could do with a drink," Rachel said as she went behind the bar. Duncan, Dani and Methos sat at one of the tables while Cassandra went to see if she could help Rachel, they came back with a bottle of Ben Nevis single malt whisky and 5 glasses, after they all had been given a full glass Duncan turned to Methos "Thanks Adam.I don't know what we would have done if you hadn't found the amulet.but how did you know to look for it.I mean.I tried to contact you several times after Cassandra told me about it but Joe didn't know where you had gone" Methos smiled "Well Mac.I said I'd look into it.I just did some research.you know just one of my many talents" Cassandra glared at Methos "talent is not what I would call it" animosity filled the room, Duncan looked over with concern in his eyes as even he could feel the atmosphere getting tenser by the minute, he watched as Dani closed her eyes and the amulet started to glow and slowly the atmosphere started to ease.
Duncan sat back in his chair smiling, he lifted his glass to Dani as she opened her eyes and smiled at him silently nodding returning his toast 'just seeing you two getting along has been worth all of this' he thought to himself. "Are any of you hungry?" Rachel asked, Methos nodded "I'm famished I haven't eaten since last night" Duncan went to get up "need a hand?" Rachel patted him on the arm "That's very kind Duncan but I'll be quicker on my own.you stay with your friends.it won't be anything fancy but at least it will be filling" Rachel said smiling, she then walked off towards the back room as Duncan sat back down, he then turned back to Methos "So where did you find it?" he asked then taking a drink from his glass. Methos looked down into his glass "The Watcher's". Duncan nearly choked on his whisky "The Watchers.does Joe know?" Methos laughed as Duncan wiped the whisky his face "Yeah he set it up.I found a reference in some of the files I still have to an amulet Luther found when he was looking for those crystals.remember them?" Duncan nodded "Luther thought that it would prolong life.and according to an ancient parchment I found it will if the chosen one is mortal" Rachel returned with several plates of hot food and started laying them on the table, Cassandra looked over to Methos "What do you know about the chosen one?"
Methos thanked Rachel for the plate of food she had just set down in front of him she then went back to the kitchen for the rest, he then took a mouthful of food and as he looked up he could see that they were all waiting for him to tell them more, he raised his eyes finished what he was eating, "I found an old parchment that told of the amulet being handed from one chosen one to another.sometimes the chosen one is mortal and sometimes an Immortal.this time it's an Immortal" Methos said as nodded to where Dani was sat. Rachel came back with the last two plates and joined them at the table to eat "please carry on with your story" Rachel said as she pulled her chair close to the table The change in the room wasn't lost on Rachel either "Do you know what the stone is in the centre?" asked Cassandra, Methos smiled "I had a close look on the flight over here but I can't tell what it is.and I don't think we will ever now.but whatever it is.it works" Methos replied. Cassandra finished her drink before continuing "It is older than anything I have ever known.I don't think anyone alive knows who crafted it.and anything that is known has turned to legend long ago"
Methos thought for a moment "the parchment was from Ancient Egypt.it told of a Seer called Chaths, who had great power but he couldn't control it, like Dani.so one day he ran off into the desert.he spent many days and nights wandering trying to find peace.then one day he could no longer stand the pain anymore and collapsed crying out in despair.when he looked up there was a woman with olive skin and almond eyes walking towards him out of the heat haze.at first he thought it was a mirage.but as she touched him, he realised that she was very real.she told him that his time had come to care for the amulet.she then took off the necklace she was wearing and placed it around his neck.as the amulet touched his skin, the stone glowed and he passed out.when he came round the lady was gone and so was the pain"
Duncan leant forward "So what happened to him?" Methos looked over at Dani who hadn't said a word since he started to relate the story "from what I could make out he went back to his village and became its healer.where he stayed until just before his 90th birthday when it said something about him having a dream one night and then the next morning he walked off into the desert.his apprentice caught up with him and asked him where he was going he told him "My part in the prophecy is nearly at an end.I must find the next chosen one" he allowed the apprentice to travel with him into Syria.on the last night they were together he told the apprentice about the amulet and its power.during the night the apprentice tried to take the amulet, but Chaths woke up "it is of no use to you.you are not the one I seek.if you were the amulet would know and the stone would glow" the apprentice let the amulet go and they both settled down to sleep, in the morning when the apprentice awoke Chaths was gone.the apprentice searched the desert for two days before he found his master's body and the amulet was gone".
They all looked at Dani as she spoke "he had given the amulet to the next chosen one didn't he? .What was the prophecy Methos I know you know it" Methos looked at the other's who were waiting expectantly "the parchment was badly damaged but from what was still visible the amulet is given from one chosen one to another until it finds the final one that isn't bound by the same earthly laws as mortal man."
"An Immortal?" Duncan asked, Methos nodded "It would seem the most likely conclusion" Dani looked into Methos's eyes "there's more isn't there?" Methos nodded "the text was badly damaged but I managed to make out that it, that the chosen one must tread a path that only they will know.revealed to them in their dreams until the Champion needs them."
"What Champion.Champion of what?" Cassandra asked "I'm sorry that is all I could piece together.we will just have to wait and see." Methos said as his eyes met Dani's and he knew that she already knew and that he had to let her tell it in her own time. Methos started to yawn "sorry guys but it's been a long few days.so if you don't mind I head up to my room" Rachel got up "I'll show you where it is" Methos followed her as she got the room key and started up the stairs. It wasn't long afterwards that Duncan noticed how exhausted Dani had started to look "come on you.I think we both could do with a good nights sleep" he had wanted to go earlier but knew that Dani wouldn't leave Cassandra and Methos here on their own, without her there the mistrust and anger would return. ____________________________________________________________________
As Dani entered the room she could see Duncan sat up in bed reading, he placed his book face down, so as to not lose his place, as Dani walked over to the bed. Duncan noticed that her skin glistened with droplets of water that was left after her shower, the amulet sparkled against her white skin and for the first time in weeks her face seemed to glow. Duncan leaned over to her as she sat down on the edge of the bed, his hand gently traced the shape of her shoulder forcing the droplets of water to run down her skin until they met the dark blue towel that was wrapped around her naked body.
Dani reached up and traced the contours of his face, when her hand reached his lips Duncan kissed her palm. Dani went to speak but Duncan held one of his fingers lightly against them so she could not, he then let his hand run through her wet hair, their eyes locked as he pulled her closer, their eyes closing as their lips met and Dani melted into his arms. Even the sound of the book that had been resting on the bed crashing to the floor didn't manage to distract them from each other, the tiredness that they had both been feeling moments before was swept away as their passion grew.
As they entered the Inn the relief on Rachel's face was evident to all of them "Thank God.you're all OK.you look like you all could do with a drink," Rachel said as she went behind the bar. Duncan, Dani and Methos sat at one of the tables while Cassandra went to see if she could help Rachel, they came back with a bottle of Ben Nevis single malt whisky and 5 glasses, after they all had been given a full glass Duncan turned to Methos "Thanks Adam.I don't know what we would have done if you hadn't found the amulet.but how did you know to look for it.I mean.I tried to contact you several times after Cassandra told me about it but Joe didn't know where you had gone" Methos smiled "Well Mac.I said I'd look into it.I just did some research.you know just one of my many talents" Cassandra glared at Methos "talent is not what I would call it" animosity filled the room, Duncan looked over with concern in his eyes as even he could feel the atmosphere getting tenser by the minute, he watched as Dani closed her eyes and the amulet started to glow and slowly the atmosphere started to ease.
Duncan sat back in his chair smiling, he lifted his glass to Dani as she opened her eyes and smiled at him silently nodding returning his toast 'just seeing you two getting along has been worth all of this' he thought to himself. "Are any of you hungry?" Rachel asked, Methos nodded "I'm famished I haven't eaten since last night" Duncan went to get up "need a hand?" Rachel patted him on the arm "That's very kind Duncan but I'll be quicker on my own.you stay with your friends.it won't be anything fancy but at least it will be filling" Rachel said smiling, she then walked off towards the back room as Duncan sat back down, he then turned back to Methos "So where did you find it?" he asked then taking a drink from his glass. Methos looked down into his glass "The Watcher's". Duncan nearly choked on his whisky "The Watchers.does Joe know?" Methos laughed as Duncan wiped the whisky his face "Yeah he set it up.I found a reference in some of the files I still have to an amulet Luther found when he was looking for those crystals.remember them?" Duncan nodded "Luther thought that it would prolong life.and according to an ancient parchment I found it will if the chosen one is mortal" Rachel returned with several plates of hot food and started laying them on the table, Cassandra looked over to Methos "What do you know about the chosen one?"
Methos thanked Rachel for the plate of food she had just set down in front of him she then went back to the kitchen for the rest, he then took a mouthful of food and as he looked up he could see that they were all waiting for him to tell them more, he raised his eyes finished what he was eating, "I found an old parchment that told of the amulet being handed from one chosen one to another.sometimes the chosen one is mortal and sometimes an Immortal.this time it's an Immortal" Methos said as nodded to where Dani was sat. Rachel came back with the last two plates and joined them at the table to eat "please carry on with your story" Rachel said as she pulled her chair close to the table The change in the room wasn't lost on Rachel either "Do you know what the stone is in the centre?" asked Cassandra, Methos smiled "I had a close look on the flight over here but I can't tell what it is.and I don't think we will ever now.but whatever it is.it works" Methos replied. Cassandra finished her drink before continuing "It is older than anything I have ever known.I don't think anyone alive knows who crafted it.and anything that is known has turned to legend long ago"
Methos thought for a moment "the parchment was from Ancient Egypt.it told of a Seer called Chaths, who had great power but he couldn't control it, like Dani.so one day he ran off into the desert.he spent many days and nights wandering trying to find peace.then one day he could no longer stand the pain anymore and collapsed crying out in despair.when he looked up there was a woman with olive skin and almond eyes walking towards him out of the heat haze.at first he thought it was a mirage.but as she touched him, he realised that she was very real.she told him that his time had come to care for the amulet.she then took off the necklace she was wearing and placed it around his neck.as the amulet touched his skin, the stone glowed and he passed out.when he came round the lady was gone and so was the pain"
Duncan leant forward "So what happened to him?" Methos looked over at Dani who hadn't said a word since he started to relate the story "from what I could make out he went back to his village and became its healer.where he stayed until just before his 90th birthday when it said something about him having a dream one night and then the next morning he walked off into the desert.his apprentice caught up with him and asked him where he was going he told him "My part in the prophecy is nearly at an end.I must find the next chosen one" he allowed the apprentice to travel with him into Syria.on the last night they were together he told the apprentice about the amulet and its power.during the night the apprentice tried to take the amulet, but Chaths woke up "it is of no use to you.you are not the one I seek.if you were the amulet would know and the stone would glow" the apprentice let the amulet go and they both settled down to sleep, in the morning when the apprentice awoke Chaths was gone.the apprentice searched the desert for two days before he found his master's body and the amulet was gone".
They all looked at Dani as she spoke "he had given the amulet to the next chosen one didn't he? .What was the prophecy Methos I know you know it" Methos looked at the other's who were waiting expectantly "the parchment was badly damaged but from what was still visible the amulet is given from one chosen one to another until it finds the final one that isn't bound by the same earthly laws as mortal man."
"An Immortal?" Duncan asked, Methos nodded "It would seem the most likely conclusion" Dani looked into Methos's eyes "there's more isn't there?" Methos nodded "the text was badly damaged but I managed to make out that it, that the chosen one must tread a path that only they will know.revealed to them in their dreams until the Champion needs them."
"What Champion.Champion of what?" Cassandra asked "I'm sorry that is all I could piece together.we will just have to wait and see." Methos said as his eyes met Dani's and he knew that she already knew and that he had to let her tell it in her own time. Methos started to yawn "sorry guys but it's been a long few days.so if you don't mind I head up to my room" Rachel got up "I'll show you where it is" Methos followed her as she got the room key and started up the stairs. It wasn't long afterwards that Duncan noticed how exhausted Dani had started to look "come on you.I think we both could do with a good nights sleep" he had wanted to go earlier but knew that Dani wouldn't leave Cassandra and Methos here on their own, without her there the mistrust and anger would return. ____________________________________________________________________
As Dani entered the room she could see Duncan sat up in bed reading, he placed his book face down, so as to not lose his place, as Dani walked over to the bed. Duncan noticed that her skin glistened with droplets of water that was left after her shower, the amulet sparkled against her white skin and for the first time in weeks her face seemed to glow. Duncan leaned over to her as she sat down on the edge of the bed, his hand gently traced the shape of her shoulder forcing the droplets of water to run down her skin until they met the dark blue towel that was wrapped around her naked body.
Dani reached up and traced the contours of his face, when her hand reached his lips Duncan kissed her palm. Dani went to speak but Duncan held one of his fingers lightly against them so she could not, he then let his hand run through her wet hair, their eyes locked as he pulled her closer, their eyes closing as their lips met and Dani melted into his arms. Even the sound of the book that had been resting on the bed crashing to the floor didn't manage to distract them from each other, the tiredness that they had both been feeling moments before was swept away as their passion grew.