A few days passed. No one said much of anything to each other. There was a sadness upon the island. There was also a lethargy, and a restlessness. Methos and Joe speculated on what was next. Fitz tried to engage Darius, but he was increasingly withdrawn and haunted. Anne looked lost. Amanda looked angry. Duncan looked grim. Richie looked hapless. And Rebecca? No one really knew, as she stayed away from the villa as much as possible, out in the woods.
Then, the clouds gathered over the island again. They grew black and angry. The wind bellowed, rattling the windows, causing candles to flicker. Lightning flashed, a strange, animated lightning. A Quickening lightning.
Duncan was not nearly as worried, as Rebecca had made her way home at the first sign of nature getting rowdy. He looked out at the barge, concerned about his boat being trapped in that stone rack with waves possibly picking up. But the lagoon, shielded from the worst of the wind, didn't stir up that much, so the barge appeared safe.
The storm. It felt...oh yeah, there was something...supernatural about it. Joe, Methos and Richie made their way up to the villa, collars, hoods and hats held down against the fury. Duncan ushered them in, shutting the door. The wind howled against the villa, equal parts sad and angry. No one spoke. The only other sounds besides the wind were a ticking clock...
...and the sound of a sword being sharpened. Darius was preparing his sword, whistling a tuneless whistle, gazing into nothing.
It grew night outside, and the storm only grew more intense. The villa was cozy against the elements, but the dimness, the shadows, the flickering flames added to the pensive, haunted mood.
Then Constanza stood in middle of the room.
Most started, a few barked exclamations of surprise, especially Ritchie's "Jeezus jumping on a pogo stick, Darius with his whetstone.
Constanza looked at the gathered throng with a raised eyebrow. He then looked at Darius, his head cocked. After a moment, he turned to everyone else and said, "Tomorrow, you return. However, you will go to England, instead of France."
"Why England?", Duncan asked, an arm around Amanda. The others watched Constanza in the ring of chairs. Rebecca stood in the corner, looking at Constanza wide eyed. Darius didn't look at Constanza at all.
Skriiiitch....skriiiiitch...
"Your final destination is there. The end of this chapter is at Stonehenge. There, the purpose of the twins will be fulfilled."
"What purpose is that?", Amanda asked Constanza hesitantly.
"They will release the Quickening they carry. The balance will be restored. The Game can then continue to it's conclusion," he added with a note of satisfaction.
"But, after that ends...", Duncan said, with a bit of dread, reaching a hand to the trembling Rebecca. She walked forward and took it, never taking her eyes off Constanza. Amanda put an arm around Darius' shoulder, kissing him on his cheek. He momentarily ceased his sharpening, then continued.
Constanza paused, trying to come to grips with the emotional impact of what he was about to say. He then just went for it.
"They will end," he said.
There were gasps and exclamations from everyone. Rebecca looked terrified.
Skriiiitch...skriiiiitch...
"End? What does that mean?!?" Ritchie asked, anger in his voice.
"Their purpose will be complete," Constanza explained, looking perplexed.
"Balls to their purpose!" Fitz snarled, "What will be left of their lives?"
Constanza shrugged, "Their lives as they exist now? That will be over."
Duncan was out of his seat and in Constanza's face, "You tell the gods that's unacceptable. I won't accept it. They are children, for God's sake! It's NOT FAIR!!"
Constanza's face went stony, "What is fair, Duncan MacLeod? The destiny of these children involve the fate of the rest of the world. Their individual lives pale by comparison.
"All lives, all individual lives, all hang on that! But it's all those lives, and the moments that make them, that make up that picture, Constanza! You can't be dismissive of the lives of anyone, ANYONE, if that big picture is to be worth a DAMN!!" Duncan roared. He reached out to grab Constanza's collar. Duncan's hands passed right through him.
Constanza gazed at Duncan, who was raging, but a deep sadness had obviously overtaken him as well. Amanda wept. Anne comforted her. The men looked shaken. Fitz looked ready to break down.
Skriiiiitch...skriiiiiitch
Suddenly, they heard the door slam. Rebecca was gone, into the dark fury out doors.
"Damn..." Duncan swore. Everyone was up and heading into the dark. Except Darius.
Skriiiiitch...skriiiiiitch
Fitz looked at Constanza. The mysterious man looked neutral. Fitz looked down at Darius.
Skriiiiiitch...skriiiiiitch...
Darius looked up at Fitz, his expression unreadable.
Fitz swore, opened the door, and charged out into the storm.
The forest surged menacingly in the howling wind, looking like giants shaking their fists with each lighting flash. Fitz saw no one. But he found his bearings. He made his decision and charged forth. Eventually, he found himself in the clearing he had spent so much time with Rebecca as she grew up. He heard little girl laughter in his head...
"Fitz, why are leaves shaped like they are?"
"That's the way the good Lord made them, luv."
"Why?"
"Don't know, lass. The Lord is the one with the degree in botany, not me."
"Fitz, how long will you live?"
"Long enough to have all the fun I'm entitled to, lass, I hope."
"Fitz, am I pretty?"
"Yes, luv, you will break hearts one day, to be sure."
Yes, he was hearing her voice...
"Fitz...Fitz..."
"FITZ!!!! OVER HERE!!!"
He looked up out of his revere, and saw a shadow waving at him from a clutch of swaying trees. He ran up and the shadow grabbed him in a weeping hug. It took his hand and led him on...to a cave.
Inside, the shadow lit a flame. A lantern lit up the shadow. A disheveled, tear streaked Rebecca, somewhat wild eyed, looked at him intently.
"It's going to end, Fitz. It's not fair. It's NOT RIGHT! I WANT TO LIVE!"
Rebecca ran up and threw her arms around his neck. Strong arms that held tightly.
He sighed and wrapped his arms around her waist, "Ah luv, I don't know what to say. Words aren't enough."
"Then don't say anything," Rebecca said, and kissed him. With nova like passion and fierceness. Her full bosom pressed against his chest, hardness on the peaks pressing into his torso.
"Wait a minute now!", Fitz said, grabbing her wrists and looking at her, hard, desperate, desirous. "Hold on! I gave an oath to Duncan..."
Her eyes were aflame. Her breath was heavy, "Fitz, I'm going to die soon. I don't have much life left. Please let me LIVE what I have left. PLEASE..."
She closed with him again, soft lips kissing his neck, cheeks and lips. Fingers found the fastenings on his clothes, and they began to come away. His lean, muscular body began to reveal itself.
His hands returned to her. They expertly began to seek her peaks and valleys. She sighed and her fervor increased. The heat began to climb.
'Duncan is going to kill me,' he sighed inwardly, as he leaned forward to take her.
Outside, the storm raged, the lightning flashed, the wind blew and the trees frenzied.
Inside the cave, cries...and sighs...