Chapter 6
Moira awoke the following morning with hope and love in her heart. So far, her time with the Calbraiths had been more like a fairy tale than she had expected, and she couldn’t wipe the grin off her face. Niall was already awake.
“I was just watching ye sleep. Ye looked so beautiful, I didnae want tae wake ye,” he said, and then kissed her.
“I’m nae sure I want tae wake up. I feel like I’m dreaming,” she admitted.
“Oh this is all real, and sae was last night,” he whispered.
They shared a giggle. Moira blushed at the memory of what they had done.
As it turned out, she enjoyed sex more than she thought she would.
The pain hadn’t been as intense as others had described, and the pleasure, well…
that was something that could change a life.
Even just thinking about it made her head swim.
They lay in bed for a while. She nestled up to her husband and enjoyed the feeling of his long arms wrapping around her, but eventually, the world called and life needed to be lived.
Thankfully Niall wasn’t going to abandon her to his duties just yet; he revealed his intention to take her on a tour of her new home so that she might make herself familiar with her new surroundings.
They got dressed and ate breakfast, and then were on their way.
The lands the Calbraiths owned were not as expansive as she was used to.
Their keep was set in the midst of woodland, and while there were some fields, there were only a handful of animals grazing nearby.
Paths led away from the keep, running all across the Highlands.
One went to the nearby shore, and a lot of the trade was for seafood, so the smell of fish was difficult to escape.
Niall walked with confidence; when he showed her his home, he spoke with pride.
“I’m just glad that we hae been able tae move on from the bad times,” he said after they had been speaking for a while. “The wars that hae existed between our people…I cannae help but feel as though they hae held our clans back.”
“Aye, I feel the same. We always lived in fear of an attack.”
“As did we.”
All her life, Moira had thought of the Calbraiths as the vicious enemy, as men and women who wanted nothing more than to destroy and steal anything they wanted, but the reality was that they were much like the Monroes.
They had lives and ambitions, and some of them were afraid as well.
A part of her wondered how there had even been war in the first place when they had been so similar, so afraid of the same things.
But that didn’t matter now. The threat of war was no longer a pressing concern because of her marriage.
“I wanted tae say something else tae ye, Moira. It was something I also said tae Marcas. I wanted tae apologize for what happened with yer Uncle Roderick. My father was a fool tae trust him. He was blinded by his ambition, but I knew there haed tae be a better way for our clan tae prosper. If Roderick could betray his own blood, then what would stop him from turning his back on us? But Da wouldnae listen to me.” He spoke with a great heaviness in his voice.
“What happened tae him?” Moira asked.
Niall arched his eyebrows and scratched his chin. “After what happened with Roderick, he was ashamed. He felt as though he had let the clan down and he couldnae show his face again. Word got out about Roderick’s disappearance, and Da decided tae make the same choice.
He said that he haed made a great error and that he could no longer lead the clan.
He said it was time for someone else tae take over, for someone tae find a new path.
Sae he gave the clan tae me and then he left, saying that he hoped he could make up for his dishonor elsewhere.
He was always a man of principle but still, sometimes I wish he would hae stayed. ”
For a moment, Niall looked younger than his years, and his easy confidence vanished. Moira knew the look well. She had seen the same thing in Marcas and in herself.
“I know what it’s like tae lose a parent. No matter how old ye get, there’s still a part of ye that wants tae be with them.”
“Aye, truer words hae never been spoken. I know of yer loss. I’m sorry that he died in battle with us.
That’s what I hope tae avoid with this alliance.
We must move forward,” Niall said. He was saying all the right things and yet…
was it that easy? The enmity between the clans had existed for generations.
Was it going to be as simple as Moira and Niall banishing the past to where it belonged?
“I haed a lot of fun at the wedding, although I was disappointed tae nae spend time with Jamie and Isobel more,” Moira said.
“I’m sure ye will get the chance. Jamie prefers tae keep tae himself,” Niall said.
“All I’ve seen him dae is eat,” Moira said, laughing lightly.
“Aye, he likes tae keep his strength up, that one. Sometimes I think he was born at the wrong time. All he’s wanted ever since he was younger was tae be a warrior like the heroes of old and fight in a war, but I dinnae want any wars tae happen.
But that doesnae stop him from training. He seems tae enjoy himself though.”
“And Isobel? She certainly seemed popular at the wedding.”
Niall wore a wry smile. “She’s always been trouble, but she doesnae mean any harm. She just likes tae enjoy life. I think she was the one of us who was happiest when Da said he was leaving. They never saw eye tae eye.”
“Why nae?”
“It all gaes back tae our childhood, really. Grizel used tae tell us stories, silly wee things tae pass the time. Anyway, Da never had any time for them and thought she was a strange old hag, but Isobel…well…Isobel couldnae get enough of the stories. She believed everything Grizel was telling her, no matter how impossible it seemed. Isobel would never forgive Da for denying everything.”
“And what about ye?”
Niall had a pensive look on his face. “I think that if there were ever any spirits in the world, they died out a long time ago, or they’re keeping tae themselves.
I never haed much time for the stories. Some of them I didnae mind, like the ones about the heroes, but all this talk of spirits?
” He shook his head. “I agree with my da on that, but I dinnae argue about it as much as Isobel. She can believe what she wants tae believe.”
“There are times when I like tae believe there’s more tae the world than we can see. I dinnae know if I agree with Grizel and Isobel, but there are times in the night when the moon is high and the stars dance in the sky that I can believe magic exists.”
“Well, then ye and Isobel should have a lot tae talk about,” Niall replied with a wide smile. Moira nodded as they continued to walk, greeting various people as they went. Occasionally they stopped as a cart was pulled along, carrying goods to be traded with nearby towns.
“Why dae ye give Grizel as much freedom as ye dae if ye dinnae agree with what she believes? Why dae ye hang all the wreaths up?” Moira asked, as it still puzzled her why Grizel was given such an important role in the clan.
Niall chuckled. “There are a few reasons. One of them is that Grizel doesnae listen tae anyone but herself. She does what she wants, and unless I want tae force an old woman out of the clan, I hae tae let her hae her own way. She’s harmless, really, and she was always kind tae us when we were children.
I cannae find it in my heart tae turn her away.
Where would she gae? She would nae be able tae look after herself. ”
“The spirits could look after her,” Moira offered.
“Aye, that they could. But I cannae trust her safety tae things that may nae exist. She is still a Calbraith, and it would be wrong of me tae turn her away. But the truth is that it was something my mother wanted.
Mam believed in the spirits tae, and she was very close tae Grizel. Unfortunately, Mam died, and she asked Grizel tae always watch over us. I think it frustrated Da that Mam made this request, as it meant that he couldnae turn Grizel away. I keep her tae honor my mam.”
Moira was touched by his tender emotions. She reached out for his hand and squeezed it gently, offering him a smile.
“I know what it’s like tae lose yer parents. For a long time, Marcas hae been my only family, but I suppose I hae a new one now.”
“Aye, that ye dae,” Niall said. Moira couldn’t help but fall in love with him every time she looked at him. To think that she had fallen in love with a Calbraith man. In the years that came before this, she would never have thought it possible.
As they continued on the tour, Moira found herself glancing towards the woods, wondering if there was anything deeper to the mysteries they held in their dark depths.
It was easy to dismiss the talk of spirits as crazy and wild, but Moira liked to think there were unseen forces that moved in the world, that there was more to be known and discovered.