Forever Queen

Forever Queen
©2000 by macmethos
All standard disclaimers apply. I don’t own Duncan, Methos, Amanda or Richie Davis/Panzer Productions do, I just like to borrow them every now and then. Consequently they are used without permission but I make no money out of this it is done for enjoyment only. This story may not be copied or distributed without my permission. As to the other characters what else can I say but long live Freddie Mercury and Queen.

London 1765
         The four musicians came out on to the stage and gracefully took their seats, retrieving their instruments they quickly checked the tuning as the excitement in the audience began to grow. At a short, sharp nod from the first musician bows were raised and soon the beautiful melodies of Vivaldi’s ‘Four Season’s’ filled the auditorium.
        The quartet were as amazing to look at as the music they played. The first in line was Frederick Mercure who played his violin with great intensity and passion, which pretty much defined how he lived his bohemian life. He was dressed in a jacket and breeches of the finest white satin with gold trim, which shimmered every time he moved. His shirt was made of cotton, his cuffs and cravat were made of lace, his stockings were of the purest white silk and on his feet he wore black leather shoes with enormous silver buckles.
        His attire drew many admiring glances, both female and male. But that was not all that drew their attention, Frederick was a very exotic looking individual. Under his short white wig was a mass of jet black hair, his complexion was also very dark, some might even go so far as to say Arabian or Persian in appearance. He never quite knew how to take this interest into his background for which he had no memory. He was just thankful to the couple that had found him and taken him into their home, giving him their name.
        Sitting next to Frederick was Bartholomew Montbatton a very serious and studious young man who held his viola almost tenderly. The fingers of his right hand sliding over the strings as if he were caressing it rather than playing it. The instrument was unusual as he had hand made it with his father, the wood was oak and had come from a one hundred year old fireplace. Bartholomew had taken great care in the creating of his viola and had managed to include into its design an ability to extend the range of the viola’s voice. This made it a very sought after instrument, but he refused to part with it.
        Knowing that all Stradivarius instruments were given names Bartholomew decided to name his viola and so he had christened it ‘The Red Special’. As with Frederick he was dressed in the best outfit money could buy, but he preferred emerald green, feeling that the colour better suited his tall, slim figure, giving it an added elegance.
        Next in line was Rodrigus Tudor who with his flowing blonde hair and baby blue eyes set more than a few of the ladies in the audience hearts a flutter. His outfit was in a beautiful peacock blue that brought out the colour of his eyes. Rodrigus played his violin with maybe a little less flair than Frederick but none the less well enough.
        Their tour of England had only just begun and he was always loathe to practice, occasionally it would show up in a performance as it did tonight. Rodrigus knew to expect a tongue lashing from Frederick, ever the perfectionist on their journey in the carriage back to their rooms. This didn’t worry him as much as it probably should, but he knew in a week maybe two no one would be any the wiser.
        The last in line was Johannes Degas his outfit was jet black, making him look more like a clergyman than a musician. He was an extremely serious young man who played his cello with equal seriousness. He was the last to join the quartet, he knew that they had previously tried out several cellist before settling on him. One of the main reasons for asking him to join he knew, was because he was able to fix the instruments should any accident befall them. The quartet were very short of money and literally could not afford to go to a qualified tradesman.
        Johannes was also in charge of their finances, such as they were. It was this that had him most worried at the moment. Frederick would virtually spend all of their money before they had even received it, he would spend it on clothes and accessaries that he felt would help to advertise them, and somehow make them more popular. This would all be very well except that on some occasions he would spend more than they had, causing the four to leave town quickly and quietly, usually under the cover of darkness.
        As different as these four individuals were, they did share a couple of things, they were all fine musicians, and they were all orphans.
*****
        In the darkened auditorium audience there sat a man who did not enjoy what he saw and heard. His name was James St John and he had come for revenge, he had been planning it for weeks now ever since he had found out that Felicity, his only and beloved daughter had been the victim to the charms of one of the four musicians. Since she had refused to name the perpetrator and it seemed unlikely that any of them would confess if confronted with the allegations he had decided to take the law into his own hands, and so he had condemned all four.
        He pulled out his watch from his waist coat and nodded, smiling softly to himself Not long now he thought Not long now.
*****
        Outside the auditorium the horse drawn carriage awaited. It was drawn by four black stallions, and as snow began to fall covering the ground in a layer of white the horses began to shift nervously ready to be off.
        But the snow was not the only thing that had them twitching their ears nervously. A stranger had approached, circling the carriage slowly and carefully. He paused briefly to look at the horses before making his way to the left side of the carriage.
        Here he crouched down and began loosening the wheels, it didn’t take him long and soon he was making his way into the shadows as the driver of the carriage arrived, climbing up to take his place.
*****
        As the concert came to an end the four musicians stood up and took their bows, flowers of every kind and colour descended onto the stage. Frederick bent down and retrieved a dozen red roses that had landed at his feet. After kissing each one he threw the roses individually back into the crowd, enjoying the squeals and sighs of delight of those few lucky females that managed to catch them.
        But no sooner had the curtain come down then the four men sprinted away, making their way out of the auditorium and over to the relative safety of their carriage. Timing was everything, but even with a few minutes head start they soon became aware of the ominous sound of their adoring fans, coming up close behind them.
        “Hurry” panted Rodrigus, trying to catch his breath “They are upon us.”
        “There” Johannes gasped, indicating their means of escape. “Yon carriage awaits us!”
        “Thank God” Bartholomew cried with relief as they made their way through the front archway and leapt into the waiting carriage.
        No sooner had all four made it inside then the carriage was off, the horses galloping as fast as they could into the cold winters night. Putting as much distance as they could from the excited crowd.
*****
        Back at the auditorium the crowd had dispersed. A man emerged from the shadows and approached the only man left waiting outside.
        “Did you do exactly as I explained?” James St John asked.
        “I undone nuts on wheels on left side of carriage, they be comin off soon I reckon.”
        “Good” reaching into his waistcoat James St John removed two gold coins. “Here’s your money, and remember” he warned sternly “you tell nobody about this - understood?”
        The other man reached out and took the gold coins “Yes sir, understood.”
*****
        A couple of miles out of town the two loosened wheels on the carriage fell off. The force of the carriage tipping and falling on its left side caused the harnesses that attached the horses to snap, setting the horses free.
        The driver was thrown from his position on top of the carriage. He landed unharmed in some nearby bushes. But sadly for the four musicians inside the carriage, they were all crushed when the carriage rolled over, killing them all instantly….

Seacouver Present Day
        “Oh man!” Richie exclaimed as he, Duncan, Amanda and Methos made their way backstage. “This is just incredible.” Everywhere they looked people were rushing around attending to one task or another.
        “You never told me you knew them” Amanda commented as she slipped her arm through Duncan’s.
        Duncan turned to look at her in some surprise “I’m sure I have” when she shook her head adamantly he shrugged his shoulders “Well its been awhile, I mean I haven’t seen them for a good fifteen years or so. Not since ‘The Works’ tour in 1985. I only found out they were in town when I received the tickets and backstage passes.”
        Just at that moment all four immortals felt the presence of other immortals. Then from behind a heavy dark damask curtain Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon emerged. Upon sighting Duncan they rushed over to him.
        “Glad to see you again Mac” Brian called out as they approached.
        But before Duncan could reply Freddie cried out in delight “Doctor Benjamin Adams, I’ll be dammed what are you doing here?”
        Duncan turned to Methos an eyebrow raised inquiringly.
        “We first met up in Switzerland when I was staying with Byron” Methos explained.
        The next few minutes were spent embracing old friends and making introductions, finally things settled down enough for a quick chat.
        Duncan checked his watch “Look I know you haven’t got much time till the second half of the concert, but you must tell me what you’ve all been doing lately?”
        “My dear boy” Freddie remarked “Haven’t you read all the newspapers of late.” When Duncan shook his head Freddie sighed and then continued “We’ve been very busy over the last few months working on a movie soundtrack.”
        “Oh” Duncan replied looking rather abashed “What’s it about?”
        “Why darling its about all of us” Freddie replied, indicating all eight immortals present.
        “We tried to get the makers of the movie to call it ‘The Immortals’, but the Producers insisted on going with the writers suggestion which was to call it ‘Highlander’ Roger interjected.
        Duncan frowned “Who’s the writer?” he asked his brow furrowing as he thought to himself Joe wouldn’t do something like this - would he?
        Brian began to laugh “You are kidding me aren’t you Mac?”
        Duncan’s frown deepened “No, why should I?”
        Brian tried desperately to get himself under control, tears beginning to stream down his face “Well he’s using the pen name of Gregory Widen, but in reality he’s, he’s…” Brian was forced to stop his explanation as another fit of the giggles hit him.
        In the end John stepped in to finish off “We honestly thought you already knew, especially as you brought him along with you. Gregory Widen is Doctor Benjamin Adams.”
        Duncan’s jaw dropped open in absolute disbelief before turning to see Methos beating a hasty retreat “Methos!”
        “Just going to check our seats are still okay” Methos called over his shoulder. But despite his rapid flight it was apparent to everyone present he was enjoying Duncan’s reaction for his eyes were twinkling merrily and his lips had curved into an unmistakable grin.
        “It’s all right Duncan the movie’s not about you its about Conner” Roger explained, trying to calm him down.
        But that only infuriated Duncan further as he roared “METHOS!” and charged off after the fleeing figure.
        He didn’t hear Brian who called out “They’ve cast Christopher Lambert as Conner and Sean Connery as Ramirez.”
        “Wait a minute.” Richie cut in “You mean to tell me they’ve cast a Frenchman as a Scotsman and a Scotsman as an Egyptian? Oh man, this I have got to see!”
        “I think we’d better go after them” Amanda advised Richie.
        “Right” Richie agreed before turning to the legendary rock band “It was great meeting you, I hope we will see you again” and then he rushed off with Amanda.
        Left on their own Queen turned and headed back towards the stage when suddenly Freddie stopped and asked “Methos?”. The other three paused and looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders and shook their heads before continuing on the way to get ready for the second half of the concert.
*****
        Amanda and Richie got back to their seats where they found Duncan and Methos doing battle verbally.
        “How could you?” Duncan cried.
        “Oh come on MacLeod, who’s going to believe the movie’s for real?” Methos tried to reassure the enraged Scot.
        “I would!”
        “There’s no way to know if it will do well or not, it may even sink without a trace” Methos went on, then he paused and began thinking aloud muttering to himself. “But if it did do well I could write a sequel or even a TV series, using Duncan rather than Conner…”
        Duncan shook his head, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. In the end he couldn’t take it any more and asked sarcastically “I suppose you’ll be writing a series about Amanda and Richie as well?”
        Methos still deep in thought replied “Amanda yes, but I’d probably kill Richie off.”
        “Thanks!” Richie cried feeling rather hurt.
        Methos ignored the comment still too wrapped up in his thoughts “And then later after another movie or two I could write a series based on my experiences and the people I’ve met. I could call it…” Biting his lip he turned to Duncan and asked “What do you think of ‘The Methos Chronicles’ as a title?”
        By this time Duncan was totally and utterly speechless. Not even his attempts to warn Amanda and Richie against any sort of comment failed as both collapsed into fits of hysterical giggles.
        At that moment Queen reappeared on stage and any further attempts to reason with Methos were lost as the crowd roared their approval, their heroes were back on stage.
*****
        Freddie strutted towards the front of the stage, his trademark cut down microphone holder in hand as he addressed the expectant crowd. “You know something there was, there’s been a lot of rumours lately, about a certain band called Queen. And the rumours are that ah, the rumours are that we’re going to split up. What do you think?”
        “No” the crowd roared.
        “They’re talking from here!” Freddie cried indicating his buttocks.
        The crowd cheered and clapped their agreement.
        “My apologies but I say what I want” Freedie continued “You know what I mean? So forget those rumours we’re going to stay together until we fucking well die, I’m sure of it.”
        The crowd roared and clapped again in approval.
        “I keep, I must tell you. I keep wanting to leave but they won’t let me, also I suppose we’re not…”
        Some people cheered or cried “No!” While one fan called out passionately “Freddie!”
        Freddie carried on “We’re not bad for four aging Queen’s are we? Really, what do you think?”
        The crowd cried out “No”.
        Freddie now became serious:
        “This is a new song, Who Wants To Live Forever…”

Finis
Note: The dialogue used in the last section of this story is exactly what Freddie Mercury tells the audience who attended the ‘Magic Tour’ concert at Wembley Stadium on 12/13 July 1986.