Epilogue
The dancing and drinking went well into the night, and Breana sat at a table a little to the side, simply drinking the joy in.
Her own mood had grown a little pensive since, a while into the feast, Maeve had taken her aside and told her the news—that she'd learned from Ansel Ashkirk that their father was dead.
Breana had already known it, but the confirmation had still felt like a blow.
She wasn't upset exactly, she'd already cried all the tears her father deserved and more, but it was still a strange feeling.
Over the next weeks, she'd need to find time to help Maeve work through her own reaction, but for now, she'd let Maeve continue to pretend that everything was fine.
Breana smiled as she watched Cailean twirl Neala around in the dance, though even that smile came with a flicker of sadness.
Her brother-in-law had been reunited with his sister, and she was overjoyed for him, but guilt itched at the edge of her mind, too.
She had been given a chance to go to Nessa, and decided to continue her mission instead.
Was it the right thing? And if they went to Nessa now, would she even be able to bring her home?
She resolved to talk with Maeve and Cailean in more depth as they planned the route ahead, and deal with the Nessa problem as soon as she could.
Perhaps, if Neala could come back from the dead, then Nessa, too, could be saved.
"Breana?"
She blinked and looked up, seeing Eoin smiling down at her. "Should ye nae be restin'?" she asked. "Yer wound reopened only hours ago."
Eoin grinned. "The healers checked me over and warned me tae take it easy, but I'm permitted tae walk about so long as I dinnae exert meself," he promised.
"Come. It's a wee bit noisy in here, and I really want tae talk tae ye now that we're nae racin' against the sands of the hourglass.
" He held out a hand. "The night is dry, and the clouds are gone.
The moon and stars are waitin', and I want tae show ye how bonny they are. "
His smile was like the sun peeking through the cloud in Breana's mind. She returned it with one of her own, taking his hand and getting to her feet. The two of them walked together hand in hand out of the great hall, unnoticed except for a brief knowing look from Maeve.
Breana followed Eoin through a corridor and up a set of spiral stairs.
They exited through a small wooden door at the top of the tower and ended up on a little balcony.
Breana didn't ask how Eoin had known this was here.
Instead, she gasped in delight and moved forward to the balustrade, leaning over to take in the sight.
The countryside shone in the moonlight, bathed by the stars. Nothing had really changed, and yet at the same time, everything had. It seemed to Breana that the beauty of nature itself had been enhanced by the events of their victory—as though Scotland's very land was celebrating with them.
She turned to tell Eoin something, but the words died on her lips as she saw that he was kneeling before her.
"What—" she started.
Eoin took one of her hands in both of his.
"I saw miracles tonight. More than one. Can ye believe it?
Two dead McNairs brought back tae life, reunitin' with each other against all odds after twenty long years.
A rigged, unwinnable battle endin' nae only in victory but with absolutely minimal bloodshed.
The son of our darkest enemy makin' a choice we may never understand and settin' the princess free.
A lost home returned tae those who had long left it.
How many more miracles can we experience?
It may sound gluttonous, but I believe there's room for one more. "
Breana's surprise softened into a smile. "What are ye gettin' at?" she asked, enjoying how her hand felt between his.
"Ye brought me back from the dead too, Breana," Eoin told her.
"Nae just by physically savin' me life, though God kens I'll never be able tae repay ye for that.
I was a ship on course tae the rocks, forgettin' tae live as I raced ahead.
But ye reminded me tae live again. Ye reminded me what it was tae dream. "
A wave of warmth traveled down from the top of Breana's head to the very tip of her toes as she looked into those wide blue eyes in the moonlight.
His earnestness, his gentleness, and the way he was looking at her almost moved her to tears.
"I told ye," she whispered. "Ye've a whole life of dreamin' tae live. "
"An' now I ken that I want tae chase those dreams," Eoin agreed.
"And I want tae do it with ye by me side.
Me heart was yers, Breana, long before that kiss.
I cannae name the exact moment or day, the exact cause or reason.
Perhaps it was slow as I got tae ken ye, or perhaps it's been here since the first moment I saw ye.
But I love ye with every part of meself.
Me dreams are of ye, and the life we could have together.
Would ye do me the honor of allowin' me tae be yer husband? "
Breana tried to answer, but the way her heart was soaring, the words simply wouldn't come.
Instead, she caught his face with her free hand and leaned down to kiss him.
It was a deep, passionate kiss, every feeling she'd had over the past days behind it—all the fear and hope, all the sorrow and joy, and most of all, all of the love and comfort she'd felt by Eoin's side.
He kissed her back with enthusiasm, making her feel his own adoration with every movement of his lips, and for the first time in forever, Breana felt whole.
The kiss ended and Eoin got back to his feet, letting go of her hand and taking her into his arms. They held on to each other, both laughing and crying, resting their foreheads against each other as they enjoyed this moment.
After an eternity, Eoin spoke.
"So, just tae be sure… that was an aye? Because ye didnae actually answer—"
"Oh, hush!" she laughingly scolded. "Of course, I want nothin' more than tae be yer wife, ye silly man. Neither one of us comes from a name we can be proud of. But together we can build somethin' incredible. I just ken it. That's me dream."
"What a coincidence. It's mine as well," Eoin told her. He leaned in and kissed her again, more softly this time. "What other dreams do ye have?"
"Many," she replied. "Especially now that I ken ye'll be with me."
He moved his kisses to her cheek, trailing little gently pecks along until he found her ear, then playfully nipped at the lobe. "What dream do ye have for right now? Do ye wish tae go back inside and make yet another grand announcement?"
Breana made a pleased little noise at the feelings that rippled through her from each of his kisses. Playfully, she responded, "Well… all I really wish for now is a comfortable bed. I'm exhausted."
Eoin drew back and said, "That can be arranged, me betrothed. One of the servants already showed me where the rooms are. Let's go and claim the best one."
They giggled and laughed as they went back inside then hurried through the corridors hand in hand, stopping every so often to allow the still-injured Eoin to catch his breath, punctuating each break with more stolen kisses.
He confidently led her to a room, and they burst inside, laughing about nothing in particular, Breana's soul alight with joy.
Finally able to rest and breathe easily.
When his mother and sister died, Eoin had truly believed that he would never have a family again.
The dawn of his wedding day, though, proved that belief more wrong than he could have ever imagined.
Almost every one of the rebels attended, as well as a good portion of the refugees he had befriended during their time at Bruce Castle.
Most of the non-combatant refugees would return there to be cared for by Kier and the guards of the rebuilding Bruce Clan, though the rebels themselves would, slowly, be permanently migrating here to McNair Castle, the new base of Cailean's campaign against the False King.
Some of the Bruces, including Dirk, and several of the other warriors and healers would remain under the watchful command of Kier, but most of the key players in the rebellion—including the whole council minus Kier, along with Fergus, Darren, and Ferda—would settle here until the False King was overthrown at last.
Even more humblingly and wonderfully, familiar faces traveled to attend the wedding and offer their support.
Eoin and Breana had been thrilled to see Laura attend with several of the White Sparrows, including Donella, Delphine, and several others.
She'd brought some of the convent girls as well, including Ciara, Iona, and Catriona, the latter of whom had casually noted that she was glad she hadn't killed Eoin when she got the chance.
Even more delightful than seeing them again was witnessing the joy emanating from Neala as she welcomed her two families together.
Eoin felt privileged to be a part of it.
Yes, Eoin felt himself at home here, and when Cailean had asked him to be the captain of his guard, he accepted it as the great honor it was.
It had caused some surprise from those who expected that Cailean would appoint Darren, but as Cailean himself explained, Darren was currently his heir and his second-in-command overall.
When the war was over, though, Darren would most likely return to Bruce Castle and the clan over which he would rule one day and Cailean needed a captain of the guard who would steadily lead the McNair men through good times and bad.
Being entrusted with the role was almost the greatest feeling of Eoin's life, granting him happiness beyond his wildest dreams.