Where the two men had gone, she didn't know. Not having heard what had transpired between them after her departure with Joe, she was unaware of the seriousness of their argument. She supposed one had challenged the other to a fight, and she just hoped nothing got out of hand.
The clanging of metal caught her attention, and suddenly her thoughts were brought back to the night of her abduction. That sound could only mean one thing...
Rounding the corner of the block, the glint of steel catching a refraction of light from the street lamp blinded her. From what she had glimpsed, the men both held swords and were lashing out at each other. It took a moment for her eyes to readjust to the darkness, and she could do nothing but gape at the site before her.
Although the confrontation was taking place on a street adjacent to the bar, it was in total seclusion. No traffic, pedestrians, or pets were wondering about. As if they had planned this.
But Kiernyn knew this wasn't planned. The look in Adam's eyes had revealed that he was angered at Jonathan Cameron for even attempting to hit on her. Inside, her heart fluttered at his defending her honor, but at the same time, she knew it was stupid. Who in their right mind would fight with swords?
With graceful movements, Adam parried and defended and never once let his guard down. Cameron was becoming enraged at the calmness of his opponent and expressed this rage with horrifying cries. The sound caused Kiernyn to cringe.
Apparently, Adam was well trained in the art of sword fighting for he appeared to have the upper hand. How in the world? she wondered. Blue eyes could not stray from the astounding scene.
After a few quick defensive moves, Adam thrust his sword forward and plunged the blade into Cameron's stomach. Bile rose to her throat, and she knew she would be sick. But she was not prepared for what happened next.
With sword high above his head, his lips moved to speak. Whatever words he had uttered, they were not pleasant by the expression he held. Then with a final stroke of the sword, Cameron's head was removed from his body.
The cry caught in her throat, and only a raspy sound emitted. This caused Adam to jerk his head in her direction, but he was helpless to wipe the terror from her face. The blue mist rising from the dead man's body had taken its hold upon his form and caused his head to snap back, his arms to outstretch. And thin, crisp jolts of white light electrified him.
She had fallen to her knees, watching the spectacle. A dream it was no more. This had been nearly the same as she had witnessed that night, and it was no illusion.
His sudden cry tore at her heart. What was happening to him? she wanted to scream. But as petrified as she was, she could neither move nor speak. And as suddenly as the quickening had begun, it was over.
Methos, now on his knees, called on what remaining strength he had to lift his head in her direction. Not how he had planned to reveal his life to her, he was now in a fix. The sheer horror that shrouded her did not reveal to him that his explanation would be easy, but he knew it never was and never would be.
Catching his breath, he extended his hand toward her as one would do to a pet as if to say, "It's all right." Kiernyn had not moved an inch since he had realized she had followed them into the street. What he wanted to do was to show her everything was fine, but that was not going to be an easy task. First, he needed to gather his wits and be rid of Cameron.
Slowly, he was back on his feet and dragging the lifeless body into the alley behind the building that was across from the bar. Hopefully, he would have time to come back later and properly dispose of the body. But now he turned back to Kiernyn.
Still on her knees, her eyes followed his every move. Once he began his advance on her, every thought in her mind was to run although she was unable to move. Then he was before her, his golden eyes searching her blue ones for what she thought was forgiveness.
"Kiernyn..." he began, but choked on his words. Whatever he was about to say had broken him up.
A sob of untold emotion escaped her, and she was finally able to move, only to collapse forward. Methos was down on his knees once again to catch her. She tried to shirk his hold, but he gripped her shoulders fiercely.
"Kiernyn, I'm not going to hurt you!" he exclaimed, attempting to lock his eyes with hers. "Look at me, please."
Her head jerked from side to side in denial. Methos released her shoulders to still her jolting, turning her head up to his. "I won't hurt you..."
Wide with trepidation, her blue eyes finally focused on his golden ones. He continued in a soothing voice, "You've got to let me explain. That's what you wanted to do tonight, wasn't it? To hear me tell you everything?"
Not sure she wanted to know everything now, she did not answer. Although his manner and appearance were the same, this was not the same person she had made love to the previous night.
"Well, that's what I'm going to do, whether you want me to now or not." The statement made, he had intended to guide her back to the bar to retrieve his Explorer, but when that awareness struck him, he cursed.
Kiernyn was slowly regaining her wits, not losing any of the shock yet, though. When Adam's attention left her, somehow she knew someone else was near. From around the corner of the building of which they were crouched in front, Duncan appeared. There was no way Adam could have seen him. It was as if he had sensed him. Then she remembered the look on Cameron's face in the bar and how Adam had been there.
"What's going on?" she finally managed as tears began to stream down her cheeks.
One look at the two and Duncan knew he was too late. "Joe called...but I guess you already found Cameron."
Methos still held her face in his hands when he nodded. "Um, Duncan. Would you mind taking Kiernyn back to the bar, or home, or wherever she wants to go?"
She turned a piercing blue question toward him. Methos nodded his head. "I'll be along later. I promise we will talk."
Duncan held a hand to her, and with legs like jello, she rose to her feet. Methos did not pay attention to the arm his friend draped around her shoulders to aid her in walking. He needed to take care of that body. Wouldn't do for the cops to find him, he thought.
Joe would wait until the Watcher had left before approaching them. That was why Duncan had chosen a table he thought was out of eyesight from the bar. This night had apparantly already dug up questions that would be entirely too difficult to answer. He didn't envy Methos one bit the task he would soon perform.
Soon, the Watchers grew weary of waiting. Methos had not returned and for the other Watcher, Cameron had not either. The younger man gave Joe a goodbye pat on the shoulder and made his exit. No doubt to investigate. It wasn't five seconds later that the rush hit Duncan, and Methos entered the bar.
Kiernyn was in her chair, elbows on the table with her head resting in her hands lost deep in thought, or so Duncan supposed. Methos made his way to Joe first, said a few words and then sauntered over to the table. She never looked up, even when Duncan rose and mumbled a goodbye.
Taking a moment to prepare himself for a long night, Methos sighed and ran his hand through his hair. He had wanted to take her some place where they could be alone, but he wasn't so sure she wanted to be alone with him.
"What you saw, just now," he began, slowly because he did not know exactly what or how he was going to explain, "has been going on for centuries."
Her eyes were on him, that's how he knew she was listening. At least she was not ignoring him. "It's how we survive..."
"We? I don't go around chopping people's heads off," she whispered. How she wanted to scream!
Methos shook his head. "No, not we as in you and I. We as in...immortals." He paused to let it sink in.
Blankness filled her eyes. "Immortals? Is this your funny way of trying to hide from the truth?"
"No," was his immediate response, no hesitation. Glancing around the bar, the people milling about told him this was not the right place for his next train of thought. "I'm telling you the truth. I can show you, prove to you that what I say is true, but I can't do it here. Would you allow me to take you somewhere we could be alone?"
Waiting for her answer, he examined her questioning azure eyes. He had been acustomed to reading her depths, but now he could not determine if what was reflected there was still horror, or worse, hatred. She took her time before responding, trying to piece together the thoughts that tumbled through her head.
"Is Duncan immortal too?" Her question was serious, or so Methos thought.
"Yes," he didn't hesitate to answer. Let Duncan deal with this later if it presented a problem.
"And Jonathan Cameron?"
Again, Methos gave the affirmative. "The only way we can die is to lose our head."
"That's why you carry the sword," she mumbled. "Garret was one too. I saw you, the lights..."
"It's called a quickening," Methos explained. "We receive the soul, I guess you could say, of who we defeat."
"Why do you kill each other?"
This was going easier than he had expected. She was full of questions, just as he knew she would be. "We've been around for centuries, but we are bound by certain rules of the Game. There can be only one in the end. That's why we kill. But I have been out of the Game for quite some time. I just happen to run into a bad guy here and there."
Kiernyn didn't catch the humor in his voice. "So, what, I mean who are you really? How old are you, really?" That was all she wanted to know at the moment, just who this person was she had been ready to spend the rest of her life with.
Methos had not expected that question, not so soon. It wasn't enough that he had revealed what he was. A little hesitant, he pondered if he should tell her she was sitting before an ancient man. "I've gone by several names, Adam Pierson being the last, and I've gone by that name for about two decades now. My real name is...Methos."
One elbow slid off the table, and she sat up straighter to cover slip. How odd that name, his name was, she thought. "And that makes you..." she prompted. His life suddenly took on an entire new meaning to her. Either he was a pathological liar, or he was telling her he would live forever, most likely in the nut house. Just last night, Adam had been a completely different person, a person she had fallen in love with. How could he take a turn for the worse, now when her life had seemed perfect?
The shadow that had invaded her eyes told Methos her thoughts. How could he expect her to believe him? "Kiernyn, I know you don't believe me, not yet anyway. If you really want to know about me, my life, you're going to have to trust me."
"No!" her voice loud enough to catch Duncan and Joe's ears from across the bar. "You asked me to trust you once, and I did, and now look what's happened! You've just killed a man!"
"Shhh..." he warned, hovering over her as if to make her disappear in the sight of the other patrons. "We don't need to alert all of Seacouver." His breathing quickened from the sudden squeezing he was experiencing in his chest. This wasn't going as he had planned. "What I did was not wrong. Of course it looks that way, but if you'll only let me explain."
Kiernyn stood and shook her head. "I've heard enough. Don't ever come near me again!" Tears streamed down her face. Her heart was in pieces. She did not want to mean what she was saying, but Adam had gone crazy!
As soon as she was sure everyone in the bar was staring at them, she pushed past the man who claimed to be an immortal and stormed out of Joe's. Methos was afraid to turn toward Duncan and Joe. Everything Duncan had told him had been worthless. To think what her reaction would have been had she not seen the beheading. She would have had him committed!
Without even a glance in their direction, he followed Kiernyn's path out the door and hoped he could catch her. "Kiernyn!" he called but knew she wouldn't answer.
His feet carried him in the direction they had traveled the night he had first kissed her. Pain as he had not felt in so long constricted his chest once again. He had to catch her, make her understand. He couldn't lose her, not again, it would be too much for him to bear.
Chestnut colored hair caught his attention just as she was disappearing around a corner. Hadn't she learned her lesson about walking home alone at night? "Kiernyn!"
She had quickened her pace at his voice. "Leave me alone!" she shot back, not once turning to look at him.
Only a few jogging steps and he had caught up to her. What a blessing her short legs had been to him at that moment. He stepped in front of her so she would be forced to look at him. "You've got to hear me out. There have only been a few who I've felt I could trust with my life, and Kiernyn, you're one of those. You asked once before about the woman you remind me of...well I think you hold a part of her in your soul. The first time I saw you, I knew."
She had halted her retreat and looked him in the eye. "You lied to me."
Methos hung his head. "I had to, for your safety at the time, and for this. It's not every day that I tell people about myself. I'd be in the looney bin for sure, and I know that you think I'm crazy, but I'm not lying to you anymore."
At the renewed question that clouded her vision, he was almost sure she was starting to believe him, or at least was willing to listen. "I told you that I could show you..."
He withdrew his sword from beneath his coat, and Kiernyn backed up a few steps. "No, I'm not going to do anything to you. Watch." Shirking his coat off so that it fell to the gound, he drew the blade next to the skin of his arm. From the slit of the wound he had just inflicted upon himself oozed bright red blood.
Kiernyn's face filled with horror. "Adam!" Some instinct told her she needed to wrap the wound, but he waved her away and indicated to watch his arm. Tiny blue sparks ignited around the cut. Just as quickly as the blood had flowed from the wound, the sparks seemed to sear it shut. No scar or other marking was left where the skin had been punctured.
Curiously but cautiously, she extended her hand to touch the area that had miraculously healed. His skin was as smooth and soft as she remembered, with no blemish. It was impossible, but she had just witnessed it with her own two eyes. "How?"
"The only way I can die is if I lose my head. I know how absurd it sounds, but it is true. There's lots of us, living each day as if the next will never come. That's what most of us do."
Kiernyn noted the sadness of his statement and she knew that she believed him. Yes, it was crazy, but after seeing what she had seen in the last week, there was no other explanation. Now, all her thoughts jumbled together. There were so many questions she wanted to ask but knew she would never get to ask them all. "Who am I?"
The questioned baffled Methos for a minute. Did she think she was like him? But suddenly, he realized she was referring to Guinevere. "Someone from long ago. So long, that she's believed to be a legend."
Sapphire eyes questioned for more, and Methos knew it was going to be yet another long night. "Would you allow me to escort you home so that we might have a place to talk?"
Kiernyn shook her head. "No, Kevin will be there." Hesitating a moment, she continued. "Can we go to your place?"
Giving her a chance to change her mind, Methos finally nodded. He didn't know if it would be such a good idea, but since she was willing to talk and to listen, he gave in.
Deciding to aid him, she asked, "How long ago was it?"
This caused him to look up at her. It was now or never. She had come this far, listening and accepting his story. Methos decided that nothing else that he could tell her would give her as big of a shock as he already had. "It was about fifteen hundred years ago..."
Pausing, he allowed her to react. But she was silent, merely soaking in his words with her azure eyes. Methos continued, slowly at first, but then finally delving into the details of his days in Camelot and how he knew that she was Guinevere born again.
Kiernyn's face was devoid of emotion. The information was allowed to sink in without any reaction. When Methos stopped, he reached for her hand and set aside the coffe cup. "Please, say something. Anything. Yell, whatever but don't shut me out."
Slowly, she closed her eyes to let her thoughts organize. For what seemed like an eternity, Methos waited for her to retaliate or break down. Finally, she squeezed his hand and her blue eyes were revealed with tears in them. "Ad...what do I call you?"
Smiling, he replied, "Whatever you want to. I've been going by Adam Pierson for quite some time. But my real name is Methos. Though, I'm trying to keep a low profile."
All she did was nod, and the tears started to flow. Methos had never seen anyone cry as she did at that moment. Sorrow mixed with fear and uncertainty showed in her eyes, and he didn't know how to react. "Kiernyn? Why do you cry?"
With the back of her free hand, she wiped away the tears while her other hand was still in his. "Why do you stay with me?"
"What do you mean?" Truly, he was dumbfounded by her question.
A sob caught her voice for a moment. "You'll live forever. Why waste your time with me, when I'll die in the near future?"
It was a question he wasn't prepared for. Never had he thought on the subject until he had met Alexa, and he swore that he would never again get involved. But he had found himself down that same road, at least this time, he knew he had more time. Or at least he suspected he did. "Kiernyn, no matter how much time we have together, I want to spend every minute with you so that I may keep you with me forever. I love you."
There, he said the three words he thought he might never say again. And would Duncan and Joe have passed out! But, once said, he didn't regret it and actually felt good about it. For once in his lifetime, he felt alive.
Kiernyn examined him for a minute and then smiled through her tears. "Even though you sound ludicrous, I believe you. And I love you, too."
Methos leaned forward and gently brushed her lips with his. He could feel the emotions within her as she clung to him. Never did he want to let go, but he wouldn't allow himself to think of her delicate life. They would make the most of the time they had together, and then a horrifying thought occured to him. Breaking the kiss, he cupped her cheeks in his hands. "There is something very important that you must know before you decide if you want to be with me or not."
Kiernyn gave him her full attention. "What is it?"
After a deep breath, he revealed the vital information. "If you are to be with me, you can never have children. Immortals are barren. We cannot sire children. I have to ask you if that's something you want to give up?"
A look of astonishment overcame her. "No children?"
Methos shook his head sadly. "Not by me, anyway." He had a feeling this would be it, the straw that would send her running.
Another sob overcame her. But her tears were done, and she composed herself before speaking. "Then that's a sacrifice I'll have to make."
Methos was stunned, apparant by the way his mouth hung open. "Are you sure?"
Nodding, she put her hand to his face and smoothed it across his cheek. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you, as long as you'll have me."
"You can count on that," he whispered and pulled her to him. She still shook from the shock of it all. He was now seated on the floor, and he pulled her into his lap and gently rocked her back and forth, stroking her hair, until she fell asleep with exhuastion.
Duncan had stayed the night before quite a while after the dramatic scene Methos and Kiernyn put on for the audience, which ended with Methos chasing after her. Not much conversation passed between Watcher and his subject, but his presence said a lot. If Methos needed to talk, he and Joe would be there for him.
But, the oldest immortal had not returned. Joe hoped that it was for a good reason and that nothing horrible had come to pass. Mac hadn't been around all day, and he was beginning to wonder about him also. Becoming so wrapped up with Methos and his recent voyage to the past, Joe had not spent a lot of time with his friend. The pain of losing Richie was still strong, and only time and the support of friends could heal that. And now, the bartender was beginning to worry.
The door swung open, and he half expected to see Methos or MacLeod, but was disappointed by the sight of a young teenager. "You got a bathroom?" the kid questioned.
Joe pointed to the youngster's left. "Yeah, second door on the left." Not who he had expected.
Surely Methos would come, he thought to himself. After everything that had happened the night before, he would be insane not to relieve his and Duncan's worries. But then again, that sounded just like something Methos would do.
The kid called out a thanks and exited the bar. Joe had gone back to straightening up the glasses and did not notice the patron who had come in just as the kid was leaving. After a few moments, a cleared voice got his attention. There stood Methos.
"Hell, man. Where have you been all day?" Joe rounded the corner of the bar and met him half way.
From the way his t-shirt was crinkled and his hair not in orderly fashion, Joe guessed that Methos had not been awake for very long. "Well Joe. I've been at home, asleep. Kiernyn's at her house. I took her home just now."
Silence filled the space between them. Joe ducked his head toward the immortal as if to say, "and..."
Methos took the hint. "I told her everything. She knows about Camelot, Guinevere, and immortals." He sighed. "She has decided that she believes me and that she's willing to give us a chance."
Both men's faces were filled with relief. Joe was sure that Kiernyn would think Methos was insane. "She's very understanding. I could tell that woman had a fine head on her shoulders."
Methos tried to hide his grin. It was just like Joe, always being the father figure. "So, how about a drink?"
The old man hobbled back behind the bar and pulled his companion a draft. They had reached an awkward moment. In the time that Joe had known Methos/Adam Pierson, he had been with only one woman. And when Alexa had died, Joe thought Methos had been fatally wounded in the love department. Now, with Kiernyn, he was able to relive the past, only with a better outcome. Finally, Methos could achieve the happiness he had sought for centuries.
Knowing neither knew what to say, Methos thought it would be best to reveal his recent plan. "Hey, I think that I'm going to leave town for a while, just need to get away for a bit."
The Watcher's eyebrows furrowed. "Is Kiernyn going with you?"
"I haven't asked her yet. I'm not even sure where I'll go, but I'll give her the choice." He still didn't sound sure of their relationship.
"Are you thinking that she may back out?" Joe was no longer afraid to voice his thoughts. They had reached the point that it was no longer necessary.
With a sigh, Methos shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. I'm afraid..."
"She's not Alexa," Joe stated, bluntly.
The immortal's eyes closed for a moment, caught up in a memory. "Yes, I know. But she's still fragile."
Never had he heard Methos talk this way, except in Alexa's case. "Kiernyn is a strong woman. She's survived these past couple of weeks. She knows what you go through. And she's still here. Doesn't that tell you something?" His tone was not forceful, more gentle than what his words would have otherwise indicated.
"It tells me I need to spend my every waking moments with her, hoping that I don't meet 'the one' if it's not me or MacLeod. It tells me that I'll be living my life in fear that any day may be her last." The glass of beer was set aside, and Methos began to drum his fingers on the bar. "It tells me that I've finally found her, Joe. I've finally found her."
Almost choking on his last words, he hung his head to fight back the tears of joy and fear. Too often he had tucked away the pain and sorrow that had touched him over the centuries, and recently, he felt at ease baring his soul to Mac and Joe, but only on a few occasions. He was still acustomed to hiding his feelings deep within the recesses of his heart and mind.
This, Joe knew, was one of the rare occasions that Methos had opened up to him. The hard pressed immortal very seldom allowed him access into the book that was his life, and the words were becoming clearer every day. Methos was a man, just as any on the earth, in that he faced the same obstacles as every human did, but with a few added bonuses.
Joe realized that through the immortal's life, his hiding wasn't just to stay out of the game. It was his attempt to be a part of the real world. First Alexa had been his link, but the pain of losing her so soon had crushed him and left him believing his search was hopeless. Kiernyn was now his ticket to that reality.
Putting a hand on his shoulder, Joe whispered, "I wish you all the luck in the world."
Methos looked up into the man's warm and friendly eyes and smiled. Friend, that's what Joe Dawson would be to him for life. Not just Dawson's life, but Methos' life.