Chapter 82

Cassandra suddenly glared at Methos. She adjusted her stance and lifted the great sword with a grim determination to end this once and for all. Yet, even as she did so... one thought crossed her mind... "Killing him is too easy... he needs to suffer as I have suffered."

From outside the house she sensed MacLeod's approach and could hear him yelling. He'd be here soon... but he could not interfere in what she would now do... none of them could.

Cassandra's eyes took in the slight movement of Derrick starting toward her. Eleanor pulled him back and shifted the boy behind her. The look on her face was one of utter peace. Eleanor once more reached out one hand toward Cassandra and motioned with her fingers for the sword.

Cassandra closed her eyes and dug deep within herself for the cold hard knot of emptiness and hatred at her core. Finding it... she knew just what she had to do... Methos must lose everything! She screamed and turned... thrusting the great sword deeply into Eleanor's chest.

Methos' cry of anguish filled the air, "Noooo!" He clasped his own chest as if the sword had entered there.

From the hall she heard MacLeod's voice cry out in horror. "Cassandra... what have you done?"

Cassandra pulled back the sword and watched as Eleanor reached down in wonder at the blood pouring from her wound. Already her face paled and her eyes were losing the spark of consciousness. Slowly she began to collapse.

"Eleanor!" cried Derrick who tried to hold her... but she continued to fall.

Cassandra readied for the final blow, "This pays for all!" she spat at Methos. "You took everything from me... now I take everything from you!" She swung the sword toward Eleanor's exposed neck only to find the boy in her way.

His blue eyes widened slightly... but there was no fear there. If Eleanor were to die... he would die with her. Of what use was his future if she was not there?

Cassandra halted the blade inches from Derrick's neck. "Move..." Cassandra begged the boy. " I don't want you! It's not your time!"

Derrick said nothing. He simply looked at Cassandra and held Eleanor's dead body close to him.

"Nooo!" Cassandra lowered the sword and screamed into the air. Even as she did so... MacLeod leapt forward to restrain her and pull her away from the fallen immortal and her small guardian.

Methos crawled quickly to Eleanor's side and pulled her body into his lap. He stroked her hair and shook with relief. Derrick put his arms around them both, crying as well.

MacLeod spoke harshly into Cassandra's ear. "Drop the sword Cassandra! Let it go! Let the sword go... let your hatred go... let it all go!"

"Never!" she screamed and attempted to once more wield the blade... but MacLeod held her tightly.

"How can one so old and so wise not have learned that we have to let the past go," he said quietly. "If you leave no room in your heart for anything but hatred and revenge... it will eat away at you until there is nothing left."

"What would you know? What have you lost?" Cassandra struggled once more... but could not free herself from MacLeod's arms.

Suddenly he loosed his grip on her and grabbing her arms... turned her to face him. "What do I know? What have I lost? My father disowned me! I killed my teacher! I killed my student! I've killed my friends over the years! And for what? For some prize that we're all supposed to fight for? I've lost everyone who ever really mattered to me! Now... all I can do is live and honor their memories and face an uncertain and lonely future. Let the past go Cassandra! Let it go or it will consume you!" He pushed her away. "Don't make me kill you too." He pulled his katana from his coat and gazed at her sadly.

Cassandra glanced down at the great sword in her hands as though it were a living thing. When she looked into MacLeod's eyes she saw only that honest and stubborn determination to do what needed to be done. He was the champion... the protector... She had known this since he was a boy. To her left Methos continued to cradle Eleanor's body as if he had truly lost her. Derrick's gaze slowly met hers and the boy rose... walking to her with an outstretched hand.

"The sword is mine Cassandra..." He reached for it as she let it fall into his hand. The boy held it close and regarded her solemnly. "It always was."

As soon as she let it go... Cassandra felt her rage pass. There was still no peace in her heart... or compassion for Methos. But she would let him live. Once more she would walk away and he would live. Not for his sake... but for MacLeod's because he wished it. For Derrick's sake because he asked it. For Eleanor's sake... because she needed Methos and Derrick needed her.

Cassandra tossed her wild mane of hair, "One day... he will turn on all of you... and you will remember that I could have ended it." She took a deep breath, pivoted and stormed out of the house... Behind her she could hear a collective sigh of relief.

Methos hugged Eleanor's still body to him and waited. As yet, he could sense nothing... but it had always taken her so very long to come back... even that first time. He would wait... and this time... he would not let her leave... he would not let her push him away. He would be here. When she awoke... the first thing she would know was that he was here... he was holding her... he would never let her go. As he had the last time, he whispered to her, "Come back to me" and reached out through their bond to somehow let her know.

He felt Derrick's hand on his shoulder. The boy gave him a slight squeeze, then let go and turned to MacLeod. "Let's you and I take a long walk Duncan... We have some things to discuss."

Duncan nodded and placed a protective arm about the boy as they walked out into the morning sunshine. Yes... there were quite a few things they needed to discuss. Derrick knew there were many things he could not tell the Highlander... Not yet! But, there were a few things his old friend needed to know. Perhaps he should take that drive with Duncan to Waterloo after all. And then... Derrick glanced back at the immortals on the floor, he needed to be with them... He needed to still be a child for them for a little while longer... but maybe he could let Duncan in on some of it... just a little bit... After all... Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod was the champion. He still had an important roll to play in the future. Besides, Derrick thought Duncan would like sharing in a secret that he could keep from Methos for a while. It might be fun for him to know more than the elder immortal just this once. Not all the truth, of course, but a little of it. Derrick smiled with amusement. He did love his little games.

***

Methos waited.

Finally as the shadows shortened into late morning, Eleanor took in a small almost painful breath and whimpered slightly. He held her tightly and lay his cheek next to hers murmuring in the long-lost Gaelic of her youth, "I'm here Aella... I'm here."

"Edward..." she whispered and turned in his arms slightly. "It hurts so much... I always forget how much it hurts."

"Shh... I'm here... the pain will pass..."

"Edward... take me home... I want to go home..."

Methos smiled and nodded, "That would be nice. I think maybe this time... we should go home."

***

Three days later, Methos pulled to a stop on a ridge overlooking a small farm in an isolated Scottish glen. Below in the fields... a small herd of horses lazily moved about. A modest farmhouse... a bit reminiscent of an ancient villa in its style nestled beneath tall oak trees. Wildflowers sprinkled color in the long grass, and the buzzing of bees from the hives could be heard as a low hum on the breeze.

"Horses!" cried the boy and ginned. "Can you teach me to ride Adam?"

Methos laughed, "I think that can be arranged."

"Can I get out to see them?"

Methos nodded.

"Be careful Derrick," Eleanor called as the boy exited the car. She was still pale and pain was still evident in her expression as she shifted to watch Derrick.

Methos stroked her hair. Already he saw a few more stands of gray there than yesterday... and yesterday there had been more than the day before. "He'll be fine..."

"It's amazing how much the same and yet how different it all looks." She looked at him sadly. "How long do you think we'll have before someone finds us? Or before... "

"He lifted her left hand to his lips and kissed her fingers, thoughtfully rubbing his thumb over her gold ring. "Hopefully long enough. MacLeod won't tell anyone where we've gone... not even Joe. The Watchers will search... but I've made certain over the centuries that there was never anything to tie me to this place. All we can do Aella is make the most of whatever time we have."

She smiled and tears brimmed in her eyes. She freed her hand from his and stroked his chin with a smile. Her fingers trailed down onto the symbols still visible on his neck. "Time... we wasted so much of it... there's so little left... Let's not waste a moment more."

Methos leaned over to kiss his wife... a long, slow, deep kiss... the kind he knew she liked.