Date: Sat, 9 Apr 1994 18:13:19 CDT Reply-To: Highlander TV show stories Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Heather Hirshorn Subject: For the Love of Devon (Pt. 3) > ***************** For the Love of Devon Part 3 **************** > > Devon Rothschild had never been so confused in her life. Well, > that was not entirely true, but she didn't like to dwell on her > past. What an odd afternoon it had been. After talking to her > father for a long time in hushed, urgent tones, her mother had > whisked her away from the happy celebration with her other > relatives and friends. Come to think of it, her mom had been > acting strangely all week, as if she had to spend every spare > second with her. Devon had thought her mother had just fallen > prey to the whole nesting thing, but now it appeared that there > was more to it. Especially when her father had kissed her gently > on the cheek and whispered "Goodbye, my precious girl," like he > would never see her again or something. Then he had turned and > walked away, not looking back. > > And then there was the whole illness thing. She had been fine > yesterday, but as soon as she had stepped into the gym for > graduation, she had felt everything from faint nausea to > splitting headaches. She had written it off to nerves, since > after the actual ceremony the sickness seemed to go away > altogether. But now, the closer she and her mother got to the > grotto, the more queasy she felt. When they saw the man leaning > on the altar, Devon thought that she was going to throw up. She > really didn't understand and was becoming very frustrated. "What is > going on?" she asked her mother. > > Before her mother could answer, the man straightened and turned around. > Oh God, was he handsome, Devon thought. And somehow eerily familiar. > She stamped down her nausea and started to ask who he was, when he > stepped forward and grasped Eileen by the shoulders. > > "Eileen. Thank you for being on time. I know how difficult this is > for you. . ." > > "No you don't! You have no idea how hard it is to lose your daughter > one day, then have her back, only to have to give her up again." For > the first time that day, Eileen began to cry in earnest. "Damn you, > Connor MacLeod!" > > Devon's hazel eyes were huge as she watched this exchange. "Tell me > what is going on!" she demanded. > > Eileen wiped her cheeks and tried to speak calmly to her daughter. > "Devon, this is going to be very hard for you to hear and understand, > but you must believe me when I tell you that I never meant to hurt > you. I did what I thought was best for everyone, and I thought I had > prepared myself for this moment. I was wrong." Her voice broke and > she hesitated. "Now, you will listen to Connor and try not to interrupt > until he tells the whole thing?" > > "Why won't you tell me what's happening? Can't we just go back to > daddy and the others?" Eileen shook her head wordlessly. She took > Devon's hands and placed her on the bench at the mouth of the grotto. > She then sat down beside her. > > Connor stood in front of them. "Devon, you must be strong." He paused, > as if making a decision. "I think I had better start at the beginning. > My name is Connor MacLeod of the clan MacLeod. I was born in 1518 in > the village of Glenfinnan." Devon opened her mouth to speak, thinking > this whole thing utterly ridiculous, but Eileen stopped her with a gesture. > Connor continued. "In 1536, I took part in a war against the Frasiers. > A black knight stabbed me in the stomach and would have beheaded me if my > kinsman hadn't stopped him. Everyone thought me dead and banished me > from the village when I healed miraculously, thinking me posessed by > Lucifer." Only his eyes betrayed the hurt these memories inflicted on him. > "I began a new life for myself with a beautiful girl named Heather and > thought that I could ask for nothing more. Then a man named Ramirez > found me and revealed my true nature to me. He trained me for the Gathering, > in which all of my kind would be drawn together to fight for the Prize. I am > an immortal, Devon, and so are you. I would like to be to you what > Ramirez was to me, mentor, friend, and most of all, father." > > Devon was silent for a moment, her face expressionless. When she spoke, > her voice quavered ever so slightly. "So what you are telling me is that you > have been around for over 400 years and cannot die?" > > "Yes and no. You can die, but only if your head is severed from your > shoulders." > > Devon turned to her mother and this time her face betrayed her fear and pain. > "If this is your idea of a joke, it's not funny at all. I am tired of this > and I want to go home." > > Eileen's expression became fierce and she shook her daughter lightly. > "You must listen and believe, Devon. When Connor gave you to us, I > didn't want to buy his story either, until he showed me proof. Do you > honestly think I would subject either one of us to this if it wasn't the > absolute truth? If I wasn't absolutely sure? I made a deal with Connor > that after your graduation, I would let him inform you of your heritage > and train you so you could defend yourself. If you don't believe him, > Devon, you will die. Please accept Connor's words. They are the truth." > > Devon opened her mouth, then shut it again. She was in a state of shock, > but somehow, this preposterous story seemed to incite memories in her. > She looked at Connor with eyes bright with tears. "Show me your proof." > > End of Part 3 > =========================================================================