Notices: This writing is the continuation of the story named "Awakening" that's why the she-Immortal is mentioned here as Ida.

Many thanks to Isolde, KK, and Rita for their beta reading, remarks, corrections and patience. *g*

by Ida

(12 February 2002)

After two days of wandering without food or drink, in one piece of light shirt, even Eden would seem like hell. At least that was what she thought, the more she contemplated about it. Of course, it would’ve been unimaginable to start off to see Kronos with all her accessories, and ask him for entrance with her favourite sword tucked under her belt. It was not as if the master of DarkOver let her in out of pity. No, he let her in for the same reason she came… for the sake of the game. After the first few hundred years all Immortals met boredom, met sorrow when losing their close friends, and that you just can not get used to… and they all got to search for some kind of life purpose to help them through the storms of the centuries. There were those who found that in religion, such as Darius, or chased the vague concept of Right and Wrong such as "Boy Scout" Duncan MacLeod. The girl found it in life itself. In the adventures, the challenge, the feeling of adrenaline rushing through her veins. She wasn't interested the Game of the Immortals but looked at life as if it was a delightful game, and she was not even concerned of whether she lost or won (as long as her head stayed on her neck). The essence was the joy of the life.

For this reason she often found herself in unusual situations, like this one. Who would’ve thought that a dragon would kidnap her and leave her in the middle of nowhere on top of a colossal rock, which she hardly managed to get off in one piece!

As she thought about Draco, she became anxious. He undoubtedly knew something, an answer for which she had looked for thousands of years. On the one hand, she wanted to meet with him again to get those answers, however, she also wanted to stay as far away from him as possible because she did not want to answer any more of his questions. The dragon knew a lot and gave reason to believe he knew even more about her, and that thought filled her with anxiety.

She was just wandering along a path she found that morning, when the familiar buzz warned her of the presence of another Immortal. As she did not even have a kitchen knife with her, she had nothing to defend herself with. The girl got herself into a serious panic, then thought about it. There was no sense if she let her emotions appear. She was old enough to know that there are other ways of settling something, than the sword.

So she settled herself, she stood in the middle of the road and straightened her back. Two horsemen appeared. One of them was a mammoth sized figure; he rode a bony, brown horse. Instead of a sword, he had an immense hatchet hanging down from the holder stitched to the side of the saddle, but the Immortal gave no sign of wanting to take it out from there. The other was slim, he had an unmistakable eagle nose. His burning, sharp glare scanned the girl.

They didn't draw their weapons. Neither of the men moved. In the midst of the men's gaze, she felt chilly fingers stroking her spine. It was clear that they must be of the Horsemen, although she only saw the other three for a mere second, almost three thousand years ago. Ida suddenly caught herself soundlessly praying for a word or for a smile… for anything to ease the tension. Ultimately, the slim Immortal broke the silence.

"We were looking for deer, brother, but it seems we found Kronos' latest 'dear' instead. What a lucky strike!" The words were addressed to the other Horseman, but his steely glance did not turn away from her.

"You are right brother." replied the giant Immortal. Both men grinned and the girl felt an unspeakable relief.

“You must be Ida. Kronos mentioned that he met an Immortal with distinct blue eyes the other day,” continued the slim Horseman.

“Met? Well, you could call it that.” She smiled while trying to guess who she was dealing with by eliminating possibilities.

“I’m Methos. And this is my brother, Silas." The Immortal gestured towards the giant.

“How do you do. Can you tell me the way to the next populated area? I’m on the road for two days and I'm starting to have enough.”

“Populated area?” Methos laughed. “You can’t find such a thing here apart from the residences of the Talon Ladies.

“Talon Ladies? Who are they?” This was a bit new for the girl.

“Ladies of DarkOver. They possess such amulets, that give them power in DarkOver. There are even two of them living close to here. One of them is Noelle Black, who lives with Kronos. The other is Cee Lingdian.”

“Amulet? Draco said something about mine!” The Immortal took the medallion hanging on her neck out. “But if it has any powers, I have no idea, how to use it.”

“Wish for something. The others do that. And what they wish for, appears.” Shrugged Methos. "Or at least that is what I've been told." He grinned slyly.

“OK, I’ll give it a try.” The girl grasped the medallion in her fist, she frown from the concentration. “I wish for… ” Suddenly there was a rain of letters falling on their heads. Hundreds of envelopes flooded the surroundings, covering the three Immortals. Methos gave her a crushing glance.

“So it works. But why mail? What do you need so many letters for?”

The girl blushed slightly and smiled confused.

“As a matter of fact I didn’t ask for mail, I asked for a meal. It’s two days since I’ve eaten, except some berries. I don’t understand how the letters got here. I think I have to practice… ” She repeated the above method with the amulet. "Oops … sorry."

The downpour of more letters frightened Methos’ horse, and if he'd not been an excellent rider, would have been thrown to the ground.

Silas laughed loudly. "There is some food in my saddle bag. I think Brother, it’ll be better if we gave it to her, before she starts off some more serious *magic*."

“You are right, Silas.” Methos smirked sourly, while cleaning a few greeting cards of himself. “After all, the words food and fool are similar too and I don’t want to guess what might happen… if she changes her request. Then we had better take this one with us." His head shook. Sometimes I'm seriously worried for my brother, Kronos, he thought. Maybe he's getting soft?

Ida decided not to be offended by the ironic comments of the Immortals. First of all, they had weapons she did not. Second, they had food she did not. Thirdly, they knew the road and she did not. Lastly, they had horses and they were inclined to take her with them, thus saving her more walking.

After she took care of her hunger, the newcomer climbed up behind Methos and they took off. Although she did not know exactly where they were heading to, she relaxed. Her eternal optimism told her, that there was a big bath waiting for her at the end of the road, full of hot water, along with velvet sheeted bed. A girl had to have dreams, she smiled to herself.

***********

There was a curious person blinking onto the calm water of the lake. His glittering round face mirrored in the lake and his dim light coloured the coastal forest dark blue. The silhouettes of the trees were shadowed on the ground causing a strange chiaroscuro under the leafy boughs. The navigator of heaven’s silver boat found out with surprise that he couldn’t find all of his admirers in their bed. Ida stared at the full moon from the shore, while she was leaning against a trunk of an old oak-tree. The wind brought the sound of wolves howling from somewhere very far. The Immortal shivered although she didn’t even know herself whether it was the suddenly wakened wind, the howling or her own thoughts that caused it.

That was a fortnight since she'd been brought here to the camp of Horsemen. And since then she had a strong feeling as if they were taking a journey into the past. Into the Bronze Age to be precise.

She never ever expected that she would be deprived of the essential conveniences of modern civilisation after the turn of the new Millennium. But it was happening! The camp of the Horsemen comprised some small huts and tents hidden in a coastal glade. There were only two inhabitants or rather three since two weeks ago.

After her arrival, the Horsemen stated their rules what were expected to be obeyed. It seemed that the orders were their obsession, she thought a bit cynically. First it was Kronos, when I arrived in this land, and then Methos and Silas dictated their demands to me.

To tell the truth neither Kronos nor his brother's rules were too complicated or unfeasible, so she had no objection to them.

It was put on record if she wanted to stay with them she had to do her share of work. The newcomer completely agreed with the Horsemen in this request. The second rule was that she was not allowed to leave the camp area. She had some reservations about obeying but the bad memories of her latest survivor-excursion persuaded her not to protest. The final rule, she was forbidden to try any kind of magic.

This last provision was not completely observed by Ida. Once, within the allowed distance, she went to the shoreline, out of sight of the others and gave her trinket another try… with a crushing result. The ancient piece of bronze completely refused to comply. It was the best of the alternatives when there was not any reaction. And the 'mail-bomb', which had frightened Methos' horse at their first meeting, was just part one of the light mishaps. Finally she gave up trying in order to maintain her own integrity. She didn’t take it to heart, if she was able to get on well without magic powers for three thousand years, she would get on well from now on.

Days passed with monotonous dreariness. The Horsemen left camp every morning to go hunting or on discovery trips of which she was not certain where they went. In the meantime she completed everyday tasks, which consisted mainly of cooking. Work in the kitchen never counted amongst her favourite past-times, and neither did she excel at it too much, that showed, especially in the first few days. On such occasions Methos mumbled something with a morose voice about Caspian, although the girl couldn’t quite understand what was meant.

On the other hand, Silas proved himself rather patient and he explained and showed her a few things, so the quality of the food improved significantly in just a couple of days.

However, this fact didn’t improve her rather tense relationship with the eldest Immortal. It seemed when Methos could he took the chance to stay as far from the girl as possible.

Fortunately Silas didn’t have such preconceptions.

Although he was usually quite quiet, he always had a few words for their guest. In the beginning, the girl felt simply grateful for this, then as she got to know the dangerous-looking giant better, she recognised the special sense of humour and the wisdom of the nature-loving person he was. Their conversations became longer and deeper. She got to like him without wanting to she even came to respect the Horseman.

She was awoken from her dreams by the presence of an Immortal. Silas came out behind the trees and headed towards her. It surprised her a little, even more so as she was just thinking about him. What could he have been doing here so late?

The immortal man stopped just a few steps from her and smiled.

"I couldn’t find you in your tent. Are you disturbed by it too?" He gestured towards the shining full moon.

"There are many things that disturb me." The girl shrugged her shoulder.

"Such as?" There was genuine interest in his voice. This encouraged the outsider.

"Such as the whole thing." She gestured widely with her hands. "I was living my life happily just a few month ago … until an ill fortunate accident. All at once, I found myself on the wrong side of the cage at my own workplace …" A wince crossed her face as she recalled the memories. "Then a strange dream came and now I’m here in a world ruled by the Leader of The Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and where you have every chance that you will be kidnapped by a preposterously oversized reptile, who knows more about your life than yourself," she chortled nervously. "And at present I take part in a Bronze Age survival mission, a la Horsemen." As she looked at the other, she came to her senses. "Forgive me, Lord Silas, I didn’t wanna be disparaging."

The Horseman only responded a few minutes later. His voice seemed sad when he talked.

"You don’t like DarkOver?"

"It isn’t that." She shook her head. "DarkOver is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. I just… don’t know what to do. I feel like I have no place in this world." She looked in Silas’ eyes. "I know DarkOver means something completely different for you and your brothers. But I have nothing to anchor me here." She turned away and lowered her head. "Forgive me, this is my own fault. I have always strived for the unobtainable during my life. I didn’t wanna bother you with my own unhappy mood. It’s just I’m so … lonely."

Just like me, thought the Horseman, but he didn’t voice it. "Don’t even think about it," he gestured finally and smirked. "Maybe we overdid the joke."

"What joke?" she asked suspiciously. Her previous morose mood disappearing in an instant.

"This Bronze Age Camp… " He stopped himself, realizing he'd unwittingly given the game away. But, seeing her so discouraged he decided to enlighten her on. What did it matter, she'd find out sooner or later anyway.

"Why? So you do not live here?"

"Well, not exactly." He smiled. "This is only our summer residence, where I come out sometimes with my brothers to reminisce about the old times." Silas chuckled. "That is one of the reasons why we forbid you to leave camp. You could’ve ended up at one of the cottages."

The girl couldn’t utter a word for a few minutes because of being so shocked. She shook her head in disbelief; she couldn’t decide what to say to the admission. Then suddenly laughter came out of her with elemental force. Silas joined her and they continued for several minutes, so much that the Old Moon got fed up with it and pulled a cloud with sparkling sides in front of his eyes.

“Still, I’m sorry that I messed up the surprise,” said Silas while wiping away his tears. “Kronos will be angry for sure when he finds out about me giving away the secret.”

“So. Then Kronos also knows I’m here. Perhaps it was his own idea?”

“No, Methos came up with it. He can hardly stand if someone showers a wagonload of letters on his head. Just a joke my dear.” He chuckled again.

“That wasn’t my fault… it doesn’t matter. And how long do you wanna go on with this mock camping?

“Kronos said he would come to us when it’s time. He didn’t forget you, he is just very busy.”

“I see. In that case, we can not do anything else than wait for him.” she shook her head with incredulity. “You got me good through.” She rubbed her arms as if cold.

“Are you cold?” The Immortal came closer and raised a wing of his coat.

She took the invitation, snuggled up to the man and put her head on his broad shoulder, giving herself completely to the calming presence of the other and to the warm feeling emanating from his body. They enjoyed it in silence for a few minutes, then the girl giggled again.

“You know, I feel easier now.”

“Because of the comfort?”

“Of course not. I am almost three thousand years old, Silas, I’ve lived in thousand times much worse conditions than this. I was only concerned that…” She leaned closer to the man and whispered in his ear as if telling a secret. "That I’d be bored to death.”

*******

The sun had already rose high and was giving out pleasant warmth when she awoke. She lay in the smooth grass next to the lake and she was carefully covered with a mammoth sized black leather jacket. Silas wasn’t around anymore and she didn’t feel the presence of another Immortal. The rays of the Sun shook yesterdays’ bad mood from her. Perhaps the thought that Kronos didn’t forget her after all? She decided on swimming a bit before going back to the camp. She was just about to start undressing when a strange smell caught her senses. Brimstone.

“Draco?” she asked quietly, then continued louder. “Draco! I know you are here. Come out!”

“Helloooo there!” A huge head appeared out from the middle of the lake. “The water feels nice today.”

“Greetings, Draco,” laughed the Immortal. “It's good to meet with you.” She was herself surprised that she wasn’t afraid of the dragon. She only admitted it to herself, but she was much more afraid of Methos, for example.

“Hmm. If a conversation starts like this…” Draco stepped from the water and shook himself a bit. The water dropped off his scales in an instant. He took a place on a flat stone next to the lake, near the girl. “Where exactly did we leave it at last time?”

“Top of an incredibly colossal rock,” answered the girl while climbing a smaller one and sitting down. Her face became level to the eyes of the dragon this way. “From which I could hardly climb down…”

“But you are here now, correct?” Draco looked at her with a mischievous sparkle in his eyes, which made the girl think that the dragon had a particularly good laugh at her expense.

“I could have fallen!”

“So? You are Immortal.”

“Oh, you… However…” the girl realised that for her to get responses from the dragon, she had better change the subject. “Listen, Draco. You promised answers last time.”

“Really? Possible, but I was expecting some as well. You disappoint me, little one. It is not very clever to keep secrets from me.” Draco shook his massive head. “Not clever and completely pointless. Just as pointless as reminding me of my promises. You think you landed in a fairy tale, where you can have three wishes? If so, you are mistaken.”

“I didn’t think for a second that this was a fairy tale,” the girl utilized her most tantalizing, most pleasant voice and for certainty’s sake she doubled it with a charming look. “But I also don’t believe that you are an evil dragon, who leaves defenceless women alone."

“I’m a dragon, not a man … your fancies don’t tease me.” Contrary to his words, she could have sworn that Draco was perplexed. “All right, then let’s play according to the rules of fairy tales. You can ask three things. No more.” He couldn’t even believe himself he just said that. “But,” he added ominously, “First you answer me." He grinned then spoke in a quiet but determined tone. "The first question has already been asked, who taught you?”

“Cassandra. Cassandra taught me for a while,” she whispered with a lowered head. “I hope you are satisfied now.”

“No. I already said, there’s not much point to keeping any secrets from me. What are your reasons for keeping them anyway?”

“Oh, nothing on earth!” she proclaimed angrily, then put her chin into her palms with desperation. “Anyhow, what do you think Kronos will say when he finds out I was the student of one of his enemies?”

“I don’t think he will be too happy. But one thing is for sure,” chortled the dragon. “He will not kill you.”

“He won’t?” The girl asked hopefully.

“No,” validated Draco with an open smile. "There will be no killing in my land. It is the fundamental rule of DarkOver. Killing the Immortal kind more exactly headhunting for them are forbidden in this realm. But anything else is allowed."

“Anything else? You think now you relaxed me?” The answer came added with a devastating look.

“No. But I didn’t even intend to. Kronos is who he is and I wouldn’t bother about how he governs his kingdom. In any case, as long as he keeps to our agreement,” the dragon's voice once more took on an ominous tone. “Otherwise I wouldn’t think you have to worry about Cassandra. Or did you come here because of her?"

“This has nothing to do with Kronos!” The girl raised her voice and violently shook her head. “Cassandra taught me, this is true, but there were others too. I have not even heard about her for many years. I learnt from her how to use the way of dreams… but I never gave a damn for her Crusade against the Horsemen. I did not care about her anguish, her bitterness, her negativity… and she could not understand that of me… That I… that for me Kronos… Oh, shit!” She crossed her arms angrily.

The silence became heavy between them.

“You really love him?” The voice of Draco suddenly became so peaceful, almost tender, that the girl looked up surprised.

“No.” She smiled bitterly. “This is not love. This is a curse. The curse of Aphrodite, who sent such a man to my bed for the first time who knew everything about how to please a woman and showed me everything that night. Maybe it has happened because of the Mystery, I did not know… But I have been looking for him in every man for the past three thousand years since… ”

“Have you ever found *it*?”

“Once I thought I did. But fate wanted it differently.” she shrugged. “It was so long ago.”

“Hmm. Maybe we can find a way to turn fate's hand,” said the dragon quietly, then added louder: “Ok. You answered my question. Your turn. Remember, only three questions.” He raised one of his mighty claws and gestured with it towards the girl.

“Thank you, Sir.” beckoned the girl towards Draco. “In that case, first of all… ” She frowned because of concentration. “You said I wasn’t born in Greece. Then where?”

“On the eastern plain. To be more exact in a region called, “Between the Five Rivers”. You were only a child when your tribe had to flee from the hordes attacking from the east. They went west, but the frequent battles broke them apart. That is how you ended up in Greece. I hope I satisfied your curiosity. Well, what is your second question?”

“The wound-mark. What does this mean on my head?” She touched the barely visible, round scar.

“Your tribe lived according to ancient rules. They respected nature and the ghosts that lived in it. Those men and women who could make contact with the souls of ancestors were greatly honoured, because they had to make a special and difficult sacrifice for this honour during the initiation ceremony. For them to be able to connect with the souls, they opened a gate to their skulls. While on this path, the soul can easily leave the body to find answers in dreams. You carry the mark of this with you.”

After a long silence, the girl chuckled anxiously and put her hand on the mark.

“Gate to the soul of ancestors? I don’t buy that.” She shook her head. "That is nonsense. That's … that's crazy!"

“Remember your dreams, my child. What did you see in them?”

The dreams … visions that came so easily, disturbing her consciousness, even when she did not desired it. They showed her the way so many times whether they were so much awaited or surprise visitors. As if she wasn’t living in only one, but two parallel worlds… she shook her head to shake off the irksome images.

“I don’t remember. Everything is so hazy,” she whispered. “And this thing?” She lifted the amulet. “What do you know about this?”

Draco stretched one of his mighty claws and lifted the medallion with a surprisingly gentle movement. He scrutinised the ancient piece of bronze with an odd smile as memories of the past flooded into his thoughts.

“Your tribe not only asked the ancestors for advice, but also a huge dragon, who lived at the junction of the five rivers. The tribe respected the dragon and they sometimes gave him sacrifices.” Draco seemingly considering old memories as his head bobbed slowly. “Yes, especially sheep… sometimes even horses. White horses." He grinned. "Before they started off towards the sunset to find a new land, they gave their last sacrifice to the dragon of the five rivers. He didn’t go with them, but gave them an amulet as a reminder. The one you have on your neck. This is the story that I know about you and your past.

“Wait! And what powers does it have? You didn’t mention that…”

“Alright… but if we count it, this is already the fourth question, but I’ll answer anyway. I know you tried to use it. And of course you did not succeed. Do not be surprised. The amulet has enormous powers, but not everyone can use it. One day it will follow your lead. But first you have to earn that.”

“Earn it? How?”

“Don’t you get bored with questions, little one?” The dragon was breathing heavily. “Anyway, it isn’t my duty to judge that.”

“Then who’s is it?”

The dragon didn’t answer. He looked at the Immortal with his head at an angle.

“Kronos, right?” questioned the girl sceptically, then when she saw that there wouldn't be any answer, she sighed giving up. “Of course it’s Kronos…”

Draco didn’t utter a word and sat unmoved, like a statue. Only his dark, eyes sparkled continuously. You insist on him too much, little one, thought the dragon. One day you will find out that Kronos not the only person in DarkOver who has a kind of power.

“Something else… were you that dragon, Draco?” asked the girl quietly and touched the medallion.

“In those days my kind were still… many in number,” he answered sadly. “In those days people respected ancient laws.”

“None of us has any place in the real world anymore,” murmured the Immortal. The sadness that took over both of them resulted in silence for a while.

“But there’s no need either.” The dragon raised his head. The happy, slightly serendipitous sparkling moved back into his eyes. “But now it would be best if you went back to the camp. I think you are already expected.”

“Ah, who would expect me?”

"Stop questioning, little one." Draco gave an exhausted groan puffing out some smoke. He shook his massive head. "Go and check it yourself."

“OK. I won’t ask anything else. I thank you for everything, Draco. Visit me again.” She bowed towards the dragon gracefully, then jumped off the rock, threw Silas’ large leather coat on her shoulder and took off towards the camp.

Draco looked at the departing girl for a long while. There was sadness mixed with pity in his vast, dark eyes.

End (… for now)

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