Epilogue
Moira rested for the rest of the day and the babies had a nap, while Niall and Isobel helped and coordinated the servants with the final preparations for the feast. Moira was aflutter with nerves as she got ready, which was strange as she was only seeing her family.
But she was welcoming them to her new home, and she realized that she felt the same way now as she did when she was leaving her brother.
Then it struck her that she had started to think of this place as home.
She wasn’t sure when it had started happening, and she certainly didn’t mind it.
She smiled and then gathered her children to welcome the rest of her family.
Jamie led the procession to the castle, and then opened the door to the carriage.
It was a stately affair that was quickly betrayed by a whirl of noise as Gregor and Lileas burst out of the carriage and ran straight for Moira.
Their arms were outstretched, and they had a hundred things to tell her.
They both spoke so quickly, but Moira was simply overjoyed to see them.
She bundled them up in her arms and squeezed them tightly.
“Come on ye two, give yer aunt some room,” Marcas said as he stepped out, and then offered his hand to help Kirsten.
“They’re fine; it haes been tae long since I’ve been able tae give them a squeeze!
” Moira said. She smiled widely as she saw Marcas and Kirsten, offering them warm hugs.
Marcas then went up to Niall and the two men shared a firm handshake, while Kirsten paid Isobel a compliment about her dress.
Isobel blushed and thanked her, and then the new family went inside.
There was much to catch up on. It was a joy to have all her family in the same hall.
Whatever animosity that had existed between the two clans had vanished, and it gave Moira hope that peace could be a lasting tradition and the legacy that they could give to their children.
Gregor and Lileas were intrigued by their cousins, and neither child could believe that they had once been that small.
They had all come a long way, and Moira was glad that it could continue. She smiled with Kirsten later on in the evening when she shared a private moment with her.
“Ye seem tae hae settled here nicely,” Kirsten said.
“Aye, it haes nae always been easy, but it’s gradually began tae feel more like home.”
“Aye, well, naething gaes easy for our family,” Kirsten said with a smile. Moira laughed and indeed agreed. “Niall seems charming as well, and a doting father,” Kirsten added.
“He’s a sweetheart,” Moira said. Kirsten squeezed her hand and wished her well, saying that it was wonderful to see that Moira had found love. Then Marcas came to find her. He raised a glass and toasted to her success.
“I know ye didnae want tae come here at first, but I’m glad that it’s worked out for the best. I couldnae hae lived with myself if ye haed been unhappy,” Marcas said.
Moira nodded and hugged him tightly. They turned to look at the Calbraiths and the Monroes joined together in camaraderie rather than war.
“We did it, Moira. We finally did it. We put an end tae it all,” Marcas said in a quiet voice.
“Aye, we did. Dae ye think Da would be proud?” Moira asked.
Marcas smiled.
“Aye, I think he would. For a while there, I was afraid that our clan would never be the same again, nae after what happened tae Da and Ma. But look at us now. We hae a new generation. The future is bright for us.”
“Aye, it is, and it’s only gaeing tae get brighter,” Moira said with a smile.
She and Marcas spent some more time reflecting on their lives and how they had put their tragedies behind them to embrace a happy future before they returned to the table.
The adults were laughing at something the children had said.
Moira sat beside Niall and gazed at him with complete and utter adoration in her eyes.
Seeing him like this, so open and friendly with her family, made her see that there was no reason to doubt the alliance at all.
The Calbraiths and Monroes weren’t like men and spirits.
They weren’t destined to be at war. There was always a chance for peace when it was borne from love.
Niall glanced at her and caught her looking at him. He smiled, and in that smile was contained all the love in the world.
“I would like tae make a toast,” Moira said, rising from her seat.
“I know that it haes been a long road for our clans tae sit around a table and laugh taegether like this, and long may it continue. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that ye can never hae enough family.
As such, I would like tae make a pledge tae ye all here and now that Niall and I are gaeing tae hae more children,” she said, looking down at her husband.
There was a moment of silence as everyone waited for Niall to comment.
“I think we should wait for these two tae grow up a wee bit first,” he said, laughing happily. Moira sank into her chair and cuddled into him as he whispered something that made her smile. She blushed and basked in the love of her family, knowing that it was never going to leave her.