Methos' Drunken Tales Chapter 6 - The Definition of Insanity

Please forgive this long brake between chapters, with the summer break from school I hope to catch up with this story. Two old friend join us in this chapter - Rebecca and Marcus Constantine. Also I would like to thank my Beta readers Cameo Cat, Feritkid, Anaika Skywalker, and Winter. As always I don't own Highlander I make no money on this.


The Definition of Insanity

Hindsight, or our ability to see our past clearly, is a learning function that, when damaged ...

Renders us unable to look at the past to guide ourselves through the present and into the future.

Without this ability, we cannot learn from our mistakes.

We cannot clean up the wreckage of our actions.

We are locked into a cycle of repeating the same thing over and over again, expecting different results.

This is commonly known as the definition of insanity.

BARBARA S. COLE - The Gifts of Sobriety


The Sanctuary - April 2012

Methos smiled at Amanda when she offered him a fresh beer and continued his tale.

"I rode all day and into that evening, replaying the argument with Darius over and over again in my mind like I was watching a movie. Maybe I was wrong to fall in love with an innocent like Lydia, maybe her destiny was to become the Duchess de Cléroy. Maybe he was right this time?"

"But Methos, if you had let her marry the Duke he would have eventually killed Lydia, and since when is pursuing true love wrong?" Duncan asked.

"Oh my old friend MacLeod, you are an incurable romantic. But I doubt even you would defied a direct command from Darius." Methos gave his friend a sad half smile.

Duncan put his beer down, and taking a deep breath, shifted in his seat, "But the Darius you are speaking of lived a thousand years before I met him. He had orders from The Emperor Constantine that he was following, and had known Lydia most of her life. Plus Methos he knew your sordid history, so I am sure he thought he had Lydia's best interest at heart. Perhaps Darius believed he was doing the right thing keep you two apart."

"Duncan, that all may be true but you forgot one critical piece of the puzzle, the white Quickening he won. We all remember you're dark quickening and how you assimilate characteristics and personalities from that quickening."

Duncan sadly nodded and acknowledged what Methos said.

"Well it seems that during the white Quickening Darius assimilates characteristics and parts of the personally of Emrys. It seemed that the feud I have always had with Emrys got transferred to Darius. The main problem was Darius did not understand or know why he had these strange feelings about me because before I was one of his closest and oldest friend." Methos downed his beer and gave the group a sad smirk. "But they are both dead and the white Quickening is lost for eternity so what in the scheme of things, does an old feud matter now?"

"Methos we are not talking about today, but 806; and as I remember it, things were very different then and you were the only one who thought they had all the answers." Ceirdwyn commented on the conversation.

"I never claimed I had all the answers Ceirdwyn. I just thought that maybe I could save Lydia. You're the one who thought you had the right to decide who should live or die." Methos angrily shot at tall brunette.

"I never wanted to see that sweet little innocent girl get hurt! How dare you accuse me of that! After everything was said and done all you wanted was Lydia who was just going to grow old and die. Plus you were afraid to tell her you were immortal knowing she might grow to hate and fear you. You're a fool Methos to have spent lifetimes chasing mortal women, who in the past just hated you for being forever young."

"If I'm such a fool Ceirdwyn, why after all these years are you still chasing me?"

"I'm not! Methos you egotistical bastard, I'm here with Duncan."

"Thou protest too much, my lady. Ceirdwyn you knew nothing about Lydia's true nature and you still don't." Methos sarcastically chuckled. "You didn't care who suffered as long as you got what you wanted."

"That's not true!" Ceirdwyn walked over and slapped Methos.

"Are you two sure you were never married? Cause you fight like a married couple! I've had enough. I'm going to the head. Let's take a break while these two bicker." Joe got up and walked away.

"We did get married once in Spain, 1531." Ceirdwyn recalled as she backed away from Methos.

"Woman, you're memory is wrong, that's not what happened. The priest was Ramirez and we all were very drunk. Somehow before the night was over we three ended up in bed together. Since then I have avoided drinking Spanish wine, I still miss that damn Egyptian peacock." Then Methos changed the subject, "Mac, next year bring your kinsman instead of her."

"Methos I thought you and Connor hated each other?" Mac smiled trying to lighten the mood.

"Precisely," the old immortal said.

"Methos, why do you have to be such a prick?" Ceirdwyn complained.

"I'm joining Joe in the head." Methos got up to leave.

"It's just like you to go running off!" Ceirdwyn called at Methos' back.

"Forget it Ceirdwyn, Methos is very good at disappearing, when you press him." Duncan was finally waking up and realizing there was more to this than just an old love story.

Methos followed Joe in to the head, smiled and asked, "So, Joe...?"

"Methos, why do you hate Ceirdwyn?" The old Watcher barked at him before he finished his sentence.

"Joe, I realize you may not feel this is the best place for a conversation..."

"The location isn't my problem! Actually, it's good place since we can talk without anyone else butting in. I want to know why you always have to act like such an ass around your old flames?"

What Methos loved about Joe was that he didn't have to maintain a false facade around the old Watcher. Over the years Joe had become a compass that pointed Methos in the direction of his true self. Joe saw through most of his lies and deceptions being the one person who could keep the old Immortal honest. The only other man that had been able to do that so thoroughly was Emrys, and Methos was sure the two men would have been friends.

"That's crazy, Joe! It's Ceirdwyn that's been, difficult. What was MacLeod thinking, bringing her here? Plus what do mean I act like an ass when I'm around an old flame, when did ever see me around a so-called old flame? "

"Methos stop changing the subject and Cassandra for one! Ceirdwyn came here like the rest of us to toast Rebecca! Just because you have an old feud with her you have to start acting like a prick!"

"I wasn't!"

"You were! Ask Amanda or Rich. Well, not Amanda since she's mad Mac brought another woman, but Rich and I are pretty impartial."

"Joe, you haven't been impartial since Vietnam and joined the watchers." Methos stabbed his finger at Joe's chest.

Joe took a deep breath and centered himself. He knew how these verbal sparring matches usually went. Methos' way.

"Blah, blah, blah. As your friend I'm asking you to please act like a civilized person around Ceirdwyn. I can see something's gone down between you two…

"Yeah, a couple of times."

"I can tell she gets under your skin..."

"May...be." Methos used every bit of his thousands of years of experience to try not letting it show how close Joe was getting to the truth.

"There, you're doing it again; shutting everyone out. It's got to be awfully lonely being you."

"What do you expect of me Joe? I can't change the past. Sure, I've made plenty of mistakes."

"Now you're back to that."

"What do you mean?"

"Methos, the myth, the guy who lives a ten thousand lifetimes, but never really lives out one. Who disappears when the going get tough..."

"Joe, that not fair! Fine I did leave for awhile but I came back didn't I?"

"Ya. But how much longer before you bug out on me again, because someone like Cierdwyn comes to town and you need to go but never explain why?"

Methos stepped up to his friend and looked him in the eyes. "Try to understand Joe I am doing my best to stick around. You don't understand it's almost a miracle to find someone worth staying put for, someone like Alexa, Lydia or Darius or you - Joe. I didn't realize until he was dead how much Emrys met to me. James Joyce said in Ulysses, A man of genius makes no mistakes. His errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery."

"Methos you're no genius" Joe shot back.

"Yea you got me there how about, fine then let the answers be wrong, let the philosophy be mistaken — errors are more valuable than truths: truth is of the machine, error is alive; truth reassures, error disturbs.

"That a bunch of crap, and I bet it not original is it Methos?"

"No, Yevgeny Zamyatin said it and you don't know who he was either?

"NO!" Joe realized this was just one of those situation, and how do debate with a guy who's lived practically lived forever?

"Ok then how about this, - If you live long enough, you'll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you'll be a better person." Methos gave Joe a broad smile.

"For crying out loud, who the hell did you steal that quote from?"

"Bill Clinton, well at least you know who he is."

"It would be just like you to pick a quote from a guy who was a politician, and one who was impeached. Ok I give up what were we talking about?" Joe chuckled at his friend.

Methos got serious again and looked Joe in the eyes, "I'm trying not to repeat old mistakes, like leaving and not keeping in touch. Joe you're my oldest friend excluding Amanda and I want to stop screwing thing up between us."

"Good, but what about you and Cierdwyn? And don't feed me a crap line like you gave MacLeod about Cassandra. One of a thousand regrets!"

"No, Joe, you're too smart for that. Back before I met Lydia, Cierdwyn was my student and occasional lover, but I stopped caring for her in that way and Cierdwyn couldn't accept it. Because of this she has jeopardized the lives of several mortals I loved. She did it to Lydia she did it others. She might do it to you Joe, and because of that I can no longer trust her. Which could be a problem considering her present relationship with MacLeod, not that he could do anything to protect her if she got in my way again."

Dawson tried to hide his shock as Methos spoke. He never considered himself in Methos' eyes same league as Alexa, let alone Darius. And while he was just learning about Lydia and Emrys, it was obvious Methos had cared deeply for both of them. Joe wondered what he had done to earn Methos' respect and love. Granted, Joe had been the only one to defend Methos when the horsemen had resurfaced. They had been friends close to 30 years, but that was nothing more than a flash in the pan for an Immortal who had lived 50 centuries. It sounded as if Methos might be willing to kill Cierdwyn to protect him, even if Mac got in the way. Joe wasn't even going to try to wrap his head around that without another couple of drinks.

"What are we doing talking here in the can? You want to get another drink? Don't forget you still owe me the rest of this story! Then you can tell me what Cierdwyn did that got you to act so crazy." Joe smiled at his friend.

"Fine buddy, as long as you're not driving home?"

"No, Richie said he is giving me a lift. Hey, where are you living these days?"

"Here and there. Mostly there."

"I have told you what a son of a bitch you are, right?"

"Many times. Come on Joe, let's find that drink" Methos said with a laugh. He smiled and for a moment his hand softly touched Joe's back as they walked into the tavern room.

Once back in the main room, Methos and Joe got some fresh beer, then Amanda hooked her arms around both men and guiding them back to a comfortable sofa sitting in between the two old friends. The Methos started to tell the story hoping this was the part he had stopped at, his conversation with Joe plus thinking of what this day meant to him left Methos a more wired that usual. It was nothing a few more drink would cure.

"Now where was I in the story, oh yea it was a fourteen-hour ride back to the town. My pace was slow and steady and I this time was not going to kill my horse. I hoped Ceirdwyn saved me some food, I had not eaten since our picnic."

"Upon my return I found that Ceirdwyn was preparing a special treat, a bath. In 805 tubs were a luxury only for the wealthy, our friend here owned a large soaking one. Ceirdwyn's servants started to heat the water and fill her tub as soon as word came I had passed through the City Gates. Frankly, the idea of washed off the weeks of road grime and having a leisurely soak sounded magical. Plus even Immortals get sore muscles."

"Methos! You get angry with me for telling them about our tryst but you're going to tell them about the TUB!" Ceirdwyn cried out.

"You, my dear, are the one with the dirty mind. I just said I was going to take a bath not..."

"Oh no, you said you wouldn't lie and now you're starting to!"

"I'm not staring anything!" Methos complained.

"Tell me you're not going to lie, tell them you pulled me in the tub with you and we made love!"

"Cierdwyn, that's not important to anyone but you!" Methos insisted.

"Oh no, I find it fascinating," Richie Chimed in.

"Shut up, Richard!" Amanda scolded him.

"Enough with the sexual high-jinks! Can I just hear the story?" Joe complained.

"Can tell the story for awhile?" Ceirdwyn asked in an innocent voice. Methos I promise to leave out things that you would find personally embarrassing."

"If you insists, but I am not sleeping this time and I will interrupt you if I disagree with your version." Methos asked Amanda to bring him a fresh beer, the looked up and gave the onlookers a broad sarcastic smile.

Ceirdwyn took a seat where everyone could hear her and started spin the tail of so long ago.

"Methos did admire me and my warrior spirit. I reminded him of how women had been in his mortal days. Four thousand years ago times were far more difficult and no faint, blushing flower could survive.

"After Methos and I had made love, I left the room and he thought of his other Immortal lovers. He avoided Cassandra like the plague, not wishing to take her head even while knowing she still wanted his. Nefertiri was buried with her Queen Cleopatra; what a waste that was! Rebecca was his closest friend and occasional lover, but they had known each other for thousands of years. Most of the young female Immortals never lived more than a few years because their strength was not enough to defend themselves against the male Immortals. So the list of truly great female Immortals was short and Methos counted himself fortunate to know most of them in the biblical sense." Ceirdwyn told the group.

"And you know this how?" Methos confronted Ceirdwyn.

"Rebecca told me, that you often reminisce in this manor. So For the sake of a good story I embellished."

"Damn you Ceirdwyn, just tell the story," Methos swore in a tongue Joe was glad he didn't understand.

"After his bath Methos ate then crawled in bed and slept for many hours. The next day was the Duke's dinner he and I practiced our swords combat. Methos and I both enjoyed a chance for some exercise. In the afternoon we dressed in fine cloths and went to Duke castle. See Methos, I added no embellishment."

Methos settled in, sprawled on a sofa, smirking while nodding his head in disapproval. Then he tossed his arm over Amanda kissed her on the cheek sighed and drank his beer.

Ceirdwyn's tell the tale of 805 France...

After passing through the Duke's guards, Ceirdwyn and Methos approached the Dukes dining room. They became alert at the same time, feeling the distinct buzz of another Immortal.

"Do you think the Duke could have become one of us already, Ceirdwyn? He wasn't two days ago."

"I don't know. We will just have to go see my good Knight!"

Carefully they peeked in and looking at the main table Methos saw two familiar faces. Marcus Constantine and Rebecca were both sitting at the long raised table on either side of the Duke.

Methos immediately bent to complain in Ceirdwyn's ear. "Charming, Constantine is here, and you know he's going to bring up the same argument he started the last time we crossed paths. I don't understand, why the man refuses to realize I didn't steal the love of his life!"

"Don't worry about that, just tell me who is the red haired woman with Marcus?" Ceirdwyn changed the subject, wanting to distract Methos.

"She, Constantine, and I all shared the same master. The last time I saw her oh over ten years ago, she was living in an abbey in Kingdom of Wessex. That's on the island of Britain, just south of your birthplace, and she went by the name of Rebecca."

"How well do you know her Methos?"

Methos stared at the other Immortal pair, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Methos, snap out of it. How well do you know her? As well as we know each other?" Ceirdwyn inquired.

"I've known her for years; she's like a sister to me. Now be quiet." Methos gave Ceirdwyn a glare.

"Is this Rebecca another one of your Immortal lovers?"

"That is none of your business." Methos leaned over and gave Ceirdwyn a quick peck on the cheek. "Please, let's not go back to arguing. This dinner just got ten times more difficult with Constantine here. Besides Constantine loves you and despises me. Plus he will be angry seeing us together, remember what happened in 98 AD? I thought he was going to act like Mount Vesuvius and blow his top off after he caught up with us."

Ceirdwyn had the laugh at the vision of Marcus Constantine, losing his head like a erupting volcano.

Methos started smiling, "Its not like I didn't keep up with your sword lessons. I just thought there was more interesting things to do than watch Christians get fed to the lions and feasting until we had to go to the vomit."

"Remember the honey covered ants?" Ceirdwyn smiled thinking about falling in love with Methos. Marcus Constantine had led the troops who killed her people, and then he took her captive. But he turned around and became her first teach plus Immortal lover. They had stayed together until that fateful day she met Methos, and she and Methos had run off together for the next twenty years. Until Constantine had caught up with them and she had left fearing the men would fight. Over the next seven hundred years she ran in to Methos every now and again, and they would take up just where they left off, enjoying each other's passions. Whenever she saw Marcus she avoided him until recently when Marcus was happily married to a mortal women. Now the three of them were together again, all single and she had once more been with Methos.

The Duke's Guard announced the pairs, as the Lady Ceirdwyn and Methos the Knight who fought the Accused. Ready or not the night was beginning.

Then Ceirdwyn jabbed Methos in the ribs, "Why haven't you ever told me about Constantine and you sharing a master before?"

"Because it never came up, now quite we must greet our host," and with that Methos and Ceirdwyn stop chatting between themselves.

"Good evening Lord Duke" said The Lady Ceirdwyn and Methos as the bowed and curtsied.

"Welcome fair lady and Sir Knight." Duke du Cléroy greeted them. "I introduce to you my other guest Marcus Constantine from the holy city of Rome, and the lady Elizabeth of Trent who is from your native Kingdom of Wessex on the island of Britain."

"Lady Elizabeth of Trent why it is good to see you again," Methos looked at Rebecca trying to ignore Constantine.

"Good Knight I have come here to visit Marcus since he is mourning the death of his dear wife. What a surprise it is to find you here in the Dukes court." Rebecca smiled at Methos.

She always knew Methos he had alternative motives; Rebecca wondered what Methos was up to now? He was using that old name Emrys had given him. Rebecca looked at Marcus for guidance and she saw anger in his face. How strange. Why was Marcus is angry with Methos? They were old friends; it must have to do with the Lady Ceirdwyn.

"I am sorry to hear of your loss Marcus, I grieve with you. I also lost my wife a few years back. It is so good of the Lady Elizabeth of Trent to be there for you." Methos offered his condolences.

"You've forgotten that Lady Elizabeth is my own dear cousin. I see you must have gotten over your grief my good Knight. Lady Ceirdwyn it is so good to see you again." Marcus commented to Methos.

The Duke broke in "The good Knight and the Lady Ceirdwyn are old family friends."

"Oh I am sorry Ceirdwyn I did not know that, you never told me that story before." Marcus started chuckling.

"I was not aware you all were already acquainted with each other," the Duke sounded a bit confused.

Methos explained, "In my many travels I met both Constantine and The Lady Elizabeth, but the two ladies have never met before. The lady Ceirdwyn and your honored guest Marcus Constantine are business partners. Correct?"

"Why yes good Knight, The lady Ceirdwyn was a business partner of mine. Actually I made her introductions to the good Duke myself. I help her set up her first tavern here, but the Duke knows all this." Marcus countered.

"Well now that we all know each other it should be a lovely evening!" the Duke said with excitement.

Methos whispered in Ceirdwyn ear sarcastically, "Oh yes this should be a charming night. Your mentor, and another one of my old friends all immortals, and the Duke dying to become one of us, how much fun can one have?"

Ceirdwyn elbowed Methos again in his ribs and gave him a glaring look. "Yes Sir Knight tis to be a lovely evening" she said in an anxious tone.

Dinner was severed the conversation was pleasant, but Methos was aggravated that Rebecca and Marcus were here. He wanted to talk to the Duke alone but that was impossible. After dinner the Duke had arranged a sword fighting demonstration. Two of the Duke guards came out and started parleying. Marcus abruptly started to complain, "These men were making a good effort, but were poor swordsmen. If you want to see good swordsmen let me and the good Knight Methos demonstrate instead."

Methos rolled his eyes then whispered to Ceirdwyn, "See I told you Marcus was going to make trouble. Now we have to fight in a demonstration for the Duke! Charming, I can't take his head here."

"Methos be serious!" Ceirdwyn snapped back at him.

"I always serious when I use my sword." Methos smiled, trying not to show his frustration and went out in front of the main table to met Marcus.

"Marcus why do you want to demonstrate my superior swordsmanship, you know I am better than you. Besides you cling to that archaic Roman style of fighting, get with the times man!" Methos teased Marcus.

"I improved since our last encounter; I had other instructors and improved my style. How could you know you're better than me? " Marcus heatedly questioned Methos.

"It simple Marcus, I just am. Fine are we fighting to first blood?"

"That is no fun Methos let go to who ever draws second blood."

"Are you just out to punish yourself my old Roman friend? Fine do as you wish; I want to impress the Duke. It's hardly fair with your short Roman blade against my Viking broadsword even if you uses your shield, and use one swords and a knife." Methos smiled.

"Oh these old Roman blades have worked extremely well for hundreds of years. The Romans conquered the world with this sword, my old friend." Marcus replied.

"Marcus you know what your problem is?"

"And I suppose you are going to enlighten me Methos?

"Marcus your overconfident, En-guard!" Methos said as he bowed to his opponent and Marcus followed suit.

End chapter 6

Chapter 7 – A Knight in the castle.