Date:         Sun, 30 Oct 1994 22:21:13 EST
Reply-To:     Highlander TV show stories <HLFIC-L@PSUVM.PSU.EDU>
Sender:       Highlander TV show stories <HLFIC-L@PSUVM.PSU.EDU>
From:         the dungeon of souls <gielskcl@BIGVAX.ALFRED.EDU>
Subject:      "Unwelcome Inheritance" Act II, part 3

"Unwelcome Inheritance"
by Caile Donachaidh Kane
Act II, part 3
comments (&flames) to <gielskcl@bigvax.alfred.edu>

_Part 3_

     Shae stared at her swords with an extreme sense of purpose. She
was tired - they hadn't gotten much sleep. She smiled to herself and
thought that a litte extracurricular never hurt. Just the same, now
she was tired, almost too tired to deal with this. Almost.
     She looked down at the swords again. They'd turned the crates over
in the living room and laid the swords out on top. The vision of the
day before seemed far away now, not so frightening. The sound of footsteps
caused her to turn her head.  Duncan was coming in.
     "Hey," he said, putting his arms around her and kissing the top of
her head. "Are you ready?"
     "I think so."
     "You can quit at any time, just tell me when."
     "All right. I just..."
     "What is it?"
     "I'd like to sit down, please. Otherwise, you may have to hold me
up."
     "Are you sure you're all right?" Concern filled his voice. In answer,
she turned around and hugged him tightly. Then she let go, and stepped
back.
     "Okay - let;s do it."
     She sat down, and pointed to the first sword. He put the German sabre
in her hands and waited.
     Darkness. A candle being lit. Moonlight. Fire, a bonfire. Screams,
tortured screams. The fire was huge. White robes. Trees. Shouts. Cold air,
a gust of wind. The screams continued on and on. Laughter, a tall white
robed figure, arms raised, a shout: "*SAMHAIN*!!"
     Reality filtered back through. She saw Duncan's shudder. She shook
herself and gave him the sword.
     "You know what the eerie part is?" he asked her. She shook her head.
"Your eyes... stayed open the entire time. You looked dead."
     "You don't have to watch."
     "I want to." He paused and looked at the sword. He put it down. "What
did you see?"
     "Samhain. The annual autumn sacrifice festival of the Druids."
     "Scary?"
     "Strange." She looked at the swords. "Give me the claymore."
     It was heavy, and cold in her hands. There were flashes of light.
She moved her hands to the iron cross of the pommel.
     A cold blast of air. Cliffs, rocks, waves crashing. Rain. Roar of water
interspersed with thunder. Wind whipping her hair in her face. Smell of salt
water in the air. Keening. Falling... black water, cold water...
     She came back suddenly, pulling her hands from the sword and bringing
them up to her face.
     "What?" Duncan asked worriedly, taking away the sword.
     She shook her head. "Why on earth would I jump from a cliff?" But
as she said it, she realised the answer. Then Duncan said it for her:
     "Grief."
     She nodded, and pointed to the epee with the filligree guard. As soon
as her fingers touched the silver, it came.
     Warm sunlight. Fields. Stone walls. Brown robed monks scurrying to
prayers. Chants. Tolling bells. The bench under the apple tree in the abbey
courtyard. Another monk, seated there, reading a missal. With tears in her
eyes she realised who he was...
     "Darius," she whispered.
     Duncan looked up sharply.
     He smiled, stood up, holding out a flower, a white rose, she took it,
he spoke to her, she couldn't understand! Warm soft voice, so soothing. She
sat beside him, cried to him, she could feel the tears on her cheeks, and
his voice in her ear...
     Duncan realised that she was crying, and resisted taking the sword
from her. But it was over, she was shaking herself and looking up at him.
He took the sword.
     "I wish," she said softly, "that I had known Darius, I wish he was
here..." She started to cry harder, and he dropped the sword. He went to
her and held her until she stopped crying, and was breathing gently against
his chest.
     "I think that's enough for today," he said, stroking her hair.
     "I think you may be right," she answered.
     He started to get up, but she held him tightly. "Please don't go
anywhere. Stay with me."
     He nodded. "All right." He leaned back into the couch with Shae in
his arms and rocked with her 'til they both fell asleep.
*****************
further parts will be forthcoming
=========================================================================