moonprincessnat

Sacred Trust by lanning is one of the best Highlander novels out there. Each time I read it, it seems like the first time. I'm completely sucked into the story and not only feel for Methos, but with him. (Actually, I think I cried three times the last time I read it.) The writing just rings so true, that you can't help but experience the emotions that the characters are going through. It is Duncan/Methos slash, but their relationship is really secondary to the plot (which is how I think it should be). In fact, we get to see the type of relationships that Methos has with several people--Duncan, Joe Dawson, Darius, and many more who we meet as the story progresses. The story begins a few weeks after Macleod has challenged and defeated Byron, one of Methos' students. Since that night, it seems that both the Highlander and the ROG have spent the majority of their time drunk--separately. Joe, Richie, and Amanda are trying to watch out for both of them, but the babysitting duty isn't going well. Duncan keeps reliving some of Methos' most painful memories in his dreams, and it's slowly driving him mad. Methos, for his part, seems bent on suicide by carelessness, and is waiting for Macleod to challenge him. Just as Joe has succeeded in uprooting Methos from his perch on Maurice's bar stool, they are nearly run over by a hysterical young Watcher who turns out to be Jack Shapiro's assistant. The Watcher is ranting about the Watcher bogeyman, an Immortal named Lucius who is responsible for the deaths of over 2000 Watchers. It seems that he's active again. What follows is a desperate chase as the Clan Macleod attempts to elude the grasp of the psychotic Immortal who hates all Watchers and Methos in particular.

The Restoration Series by D.L. Witherspoon is one of the very first Highlander fan fiction stories I ever read. And, it's one of my favorites -- I reread it every few months or so just to revisit the characters. In this series, Methos is revealed to be so much more than anyone ever imagined, but he's still the same old loveable cynic and mischief maker. Macleod may have defeated Ahriman, but that demon looks like a pussy cat compared to the evil Methos is up against. I guess this would be considered General--Macleod and Methos have a very close friendship--no romance involved. One of the highlights of the series is the faculty at Seacouver University, where both Adam Pierson and Duncan Macleod teach. Their fellow professors have come up with all sorts of interesting explanations for the strange behaviour often exhibited by the two Immortals--Interpol agents, spies, super-heroes--it's a riot. This author has also written several very good Sentinel stories, as well. Her site hasn't been updated in over a year, but I keep checking in hopes that something new will appear. I keep hoping she'll do some more Highlander, or maybe enter the Smallville fandom... I'd love to see her write dialogue for Clark and Lex. ;-)

So, someone on one of the many fan fiction related mailing lists I'm on requested a recommendation for a Duncan/Methos amnesia fic. Immediately, Brothers and Other Strangers by Valentin came to mind. The story picks up after Revelation 6:8, and Methos has just returned to Paris. Depressed about the whole Horsemen fiasco and certain that Macleod will never want anything more to do with him, Methos drinks himself into oblivion. The next morning, Adam Pierson, age 35, doctoral candidate and owner of a bookstore, grabs a light jacket and heads out the door. Concerned when he discovers that Methos isn't carrying a sword and claims no knowledge of the Watchers, Joe Dawson sends Macleod to check up on him. Macleod, of course, thinks it's all a trick by the master manipulator, but events prove him wrong. Faced with Adam, a quiet scholar who absolutely refuses to touch a sword, Macleod slowly begins to realize that maybe what he thought he wanted (a gentler, kinder Methos), isn't what he wanted at all. I really love the dialog in this story--Adam's responses to the impossible situation in which he finds himself are just too funny!