Chapter Sixteen
The morning went by quickly on the drive to McFadden's house on the outskirts of Paris. Upon locating the modest home, Duncan parked in front and quickly went to knock on the door.
A woman opened the door and greeted him. She was a beautiful with dark shiny hair and green eyes wearing a smart looking suit. Inviting him in with graceful hand gestures, he followed her down a narrow hallway. She opened the door to a private study.
She said, "Frank will see you in moment. Can I get you some tea?"
Duncan nodded saying, "Yes please if it's no trouble." He sat down to wait.
Looking around the study Duncan could feel the history there. The books kept in airtight cabinets were hundreds of years old. He got up to look out of curiosity reading the bindings he saw many first editions.
When McFadden came in his wife was right behind him with a tray. He was a handsome man with red hair and blue eyes.
Frank took the tray from her and set it on the table telling her, "I'll pour my sweet you can leave us alone now."
She smiled and closed the door after her. Duncan remained quiet out of respect while Frank poured tea for the both of them.
Frank then made the statement, "I summoned you here because of the Gathering." He leaned forward handing Duncan a cup and gestured toward the sweetener and milk.
He began, "The misunderstanding over the millennium has been great. Fairy tales have made all Immortals believe that the Gathering was the end however it is not."
Putting his cup down Duncan interrupted him, "If the righteous immortal is the only one left then humanity will be ruled by peace for eternity." He said quoting the stories.
"If there were only one Immortal left then evil could easily defeat him before any other Immortals were born to mature and fight the demon." Frank made clear the implications now.
He explained, "The birth cycle of Immortals could be stopped forever."
Still believing the myths Duncan asked, "Why can't the last Immortal be strong enough to defeat the evil? What about the prophecies told over the centuries?"
Frank patiently explained again, "Duncan even if the last Immortal had all the power of all the Immortals how can he defeat the Evil a million times older than he? That demon has much to gain from a blood bath."
"I don't understand what you're talking about." Duncan asked with his tea now forgotten.
"Consider it MacLeod," continued Frank. "You went up against Ahriman so if you had all the power of all the Immortals which means killing your friends and killing me too." He forced Duncan to look at him with this knowledge. "How would you defeat Ahriman forever?"
With some confusion Duncan replied, "I honestly don't know how that would be done. I thought you would know."
Frank slapped his hand on the table rattling the tea set. He exclaimed, "My point exactly. No one has ever questioned what would come after a Gathering. Everyone assumed that the last one left would know what to do."
"So what will happen now?" Duncan asked McFadden, "What if this gathering was summoned by the demon?"
"The challenges will take place anyway because they will still come and they will want to fight. My obligation is to make sure the gathering will commence in an orderly fashion. Only the strongest and most worthy can survive."
He laid out the rules of the Gathering in simple terms. "A challenge becomes set when two Immortals accept. There is no time limit. No interference and there will be No exceptions. All must acknowledge the Quickening."
He continued, "Before the Gathering influence, any corrupt Immortal would have a chance of defeating the righteous ones. Not exactly fair is it? During the Gathering let's just say the playing field will be leveled and the corrupt Immortals won't be able to draw upon their accumulated power to defeat those who have honesty in their heart."
Thoughtfully Duncan asked, "What will become of immortals in the aftermath?"
Frank prophesied, "Afterwards the Immortals will be sufficiently strengthened to withstand thousands of years of onslaught from the evil that threatens all of humanity."
"If humanity makes it that far," said MacLeod knowing the destructive nature of mankind.
"Oh civilization will survive the wars and disease even with a smaller population. However, there must always be immortals to help and guide them. We are the same and we are different you must know that MacLeod."
McFadden sat back to finish his tea letting all he said to sink in.
Duncan began to think about Beth and her situation. He wondered if she was still in France or maybe she changed her mind. He did not know at that moment she was in the back of a truck beginning to awaken after having died from the poison.
Watching the highlander's face Frank hesitantly asked, "So have you found love again MacLeod?"
Duncan answered quietly, "I'd like to say yes, but I don't know how she feels."
Cautiously Frank inquired, "Tell me about her is she an Immortal?"
Glad for the distraction from talk of the gathering Duncan opened up to this stranger that felt like an old friend. He answered, "Her name is Elizabeth Windsor. She has managed to live for 200 years and never have a first quickening."
McFadden looked surprised and pleased by this news. He asked him, "You feel in your heart she's the one for you?"
"I'm not sure why," he replied. "But I do feel a strange force when I'm near her."
The Grand Immortal looked anxious this time, "MacLeod as the current champion I will need your help at the Gathering. I have calculated by the stars and six months from now, it will occur in Scotland. All the Immortals will converge there."
"What about Egan Lasco and his crimes against the immortals. When will he be brought to justice?" asked Duncan still angry at the betrayal.
"The timing of his crimes is merciless. Influenced by the demon as another way to keep us busy," explained Frank. Then he proclaimed, "There must be someone on the inside that will help bring him to justice."
Standing up MacLeod asked, "What do you need me to do at the Gathering?"
"I will tell you that when you arrive in Scotland next week." He stood up to escort him to the door stating, "Above all else I want you to make sure that Elizabeth Windsor travels with you and that she doesn't break her vow to never take a head. And that's an order," insisted McFadden.
Duncan looked surprised stopping mid-stride on his way out the door. He questioned, "How did you know about her vow?" sensing an ulterior motive.
Frank smiled as he pointed out, "How else could she go so long without her first Quickening after becoming Immortal."
He looked doubtful saying, "I may not be able to bring her. Yesterday she told me she's leaving for the states."
Frank asked him, "Do you have the resources' to find her?"
Duncan replied, "Yes but what if she doesn't want to go with me."
He insisted, "You must find a way MacLeod." Going over to his glass cabinet he opened it and searched for a leather bound book. He opened it and read silently.
Finding the paragraph he read aloud, "An immortal woman with nobility in her heart and without being aware of the quickening shall be there to lead."
Peering at the book written in Latin, MacLeod asked, "How do you know that?"
Shutting the book Frank replied with authority, "This is something that you cannot question."
Deahna appeared at the door to see him out saying, "Duncan MacLeod, this is the time for all immortals to step up and be counted. You must lead the chosen."
He smiled at her wisdom thanking her. The Gathering was no longer fiction as the facts followed him out the door and to his car. Duncan had other worries to contend with and among them, where was Beth. Would she willingly go with him to the gathering?
Watching the champion drive away with his mind full of new information Deahna turned to her husband asking, "Why were you reading to him from my old journal?"
He explained, "I made up that part to convince him I needed her at the gathering."
She replied, "You know that's going to come back and bite you in the ass."
Shutting the door he agreed, "I'm sure it will."
WATCHER AND IMMORTAL AGREEMENT
Hereby states that no mortal/watcher shall interfere with the Immortals in the process of their Game.
Watchers are prohibited to aide one Immortal over another or to acquire a monetary gain of any kind at the expense of Immortals.
Theirs is a fight we cannot comprehend or aide in anyway. We must keep clean the observations and follow wherever they lead in the understanding that they do what is right and just.
This agreement was signed by the Grand Immortal Frank McFadden and Matthew Jameson, President of the Watchers on 12-09-1995, on behalf of all involved.
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