Chapter 71

Northeastern France

Methos finally pulled into the drive of the manor house. He'd driven as fast as he dared back to the estate, fearful of what he'd find. All thoughts of everything else paled in his need to return. Gravel spilled up and about the tires as he fairly flew the last little bit to the house. Since that moment of Eleanor's absolute terror he'd felt nothing from her... but he knew she still lived. He could sense her. But he also sensed that she was not letting him know anything. He tried letting her know he was on his way. But all he sensed was her presence... no acknowledgment of his desire to reach her.

At the circle before the house he braked and killed the ignition, leaping hurriedly out of the car.

Eleanor sat quietly on the steps clasping her knees. She looked up at him, then stood as he raced to enfold her in his arms.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Cassandra was here."

"What? How?" Methos could not understand how the psychic had found them.

"I don't know, she didn't say." Methos brushed her dark hair away from her face, letting one finger trail lightly across the patterns at her neck. Eleanor smiled thinly. "She's gone."

"Derrick?"

"Inside." Eleanor shuddered.

"What?" Methos murmured; his lips placed against her forehead, his hands already wanting to do more than merely hold her. His fingers ached to reach beneath her clothing and know her once more. She'd withdrawn from him and he needed her.

She pulled back and shook her head. Her face bore a haunted expression that he did not understand.

Methos looked toward the closed door of the house. Clasping her hand tightly, he started to enter, making it clear he expected her to accompany him. She pulled back. Eleanor shook her head once more. She would not come with him. Reluctantly he dropped her hand and entered alone; curious as to what had frightened her... why she was so withdrawn. Within the quiet old house he found Derrick seated in the center of the ballroom, his back to the entranceway. A pale green light seemed to flicker in the boy's hands.

Methos swallowed and stepped behind the boy. Towering over him, the immortal looked down to see Aja's crystal in Derrick's hands. The boy seemed entranced. Methos crouched beside him and then stretched out on the floor resting on one elbow as he closely observed the boy's expression. Aja's crystal had always terrified Eleanor. It had shown her only death... and a death she could not deal with... even long before she had ever taken a quickening. "What do you see Derrick?" Methos asked calmly.

"It's like some old movie. It goes on and on. Always different... It's like I'm there."

Methos reached out for the crystal, "May I?" Derrick handed it to him with a shrug. But Methos saw only what he'd always seen... three children dancing hand in hand in hand by the shore of a sunlit sea. He chuckled and shook his head. Regretfully he passed it back to the boy who gazed into it once more. "Where did you get it?"

"I traded for it."

'Traded?"

"That sword you gave me. Cassandra had lost hers and needed one. I didn't need it. I'm not immortal. I let her take the sword if she'd let me have this. It didn't work for her."

Methos felt his shoulders sag in despair. Cassandra now carried the great sword! Instead of being held by someone over whom it had no power, the sword was now in the hands of an enemy. And the crystal? How had Cassandra gotten it? He'd left it hidden in the vault in London... did that mean she had been there? Did it mean all of his safeguards had failed?

Finally Methos sat up and pulled Derrick onto his lap. Perhaps if they both held it he would see what the boy saw. Carefully he placed his large hands on the crystal about Derrick's.

***

Eleanor shivered in Methos' sweater as he went into the house. She had no intention of going in there. Glancing back at the car she noted Ian Daffyd and a tall young woman with dark hair approach. Eleanor gave Ian a smile and a shrug by way of hello.

"What's with Doc, Marielle?" Ian asked as he stood beside her, using the name he had first known her by.

"Nothing."

The girl looked at her strangely. "I know you!"

Eleanor looked at her and shook her head. "You must be mistaken." She could feel the pre-immortal potential in the girl. Methos had not said much when he'd left... but she'd gathered that this girl was someone in danger from an old enemy. He had not had the time to fill her in.

"No.... I do know you... I'm Alisaunne de Pres."

Eleanor's head snapped up and she gazed intently at the girl.

The girl snapped her fingers. "I have it! Uncle Jacques gave me a picture of you once... a very old picture. Your name is Eleanor. But... you haven't aged in all this time?"

Eleanor managed to swallow and say, "Jacques de Pres? Your... uncle?"

"Now I remember... He gave me the photo the last time I saw him alive. He said if I ever met you to give you a message. Now what was it?" Alisaunne shook her head thoughtfully. Ian placed an arm about her shoulders. "That's it... He said to tell you to face your greatest fear and there you would find the answers."

Eleanor glanced at the house. She took a deep breath and held it... her eyes closed. Then she slowly let it out and swallowed. Turning she took a few steps, then hesitated at the closed door. Finally she opened it. Slowly she entered and walked toward the ballroom entryway. She saw Methos on the floor with Derrick in his lap. The two of them were holding Aja's crystal. Methos looked up at her and smiled. He raised one arm in a beckoning welcome.

Eleanor crossed the floor hesitantly and knelt beside them. She leaned back on her heels and stared fearfully at the crystal... uncertain if she wanted to be anywhere near this thing. Methos pulled her to his side and hugged her close as his hands returned to cover Derrick's on the crystal. From within his encircling arms, Eleanor stared at the pulsing green and then slowly reached out her hands and tentatively placed them on its surface. Around her the green seemed to swell and grow until she was lost within it.

Alisaunne and Ian entered the ballroom just as Eleanor took hold of the crystal. The three on the floor seemed to vanish into the glowing green light that grew and pulsed from within their hands.

"What is that?" Alisaunne asked.

"Magic," was all Ian said. It was all he knew to say.