Epilogue
One week later
Hold still, ye're fidgetin' like a bairn."
Mhairi tried to obey, but it was hard to stand still when Kenina was lacing her into a gown of soft cream silk with delicate embroidery at the cuffs.
"I cannae help it," Mhairi said, gripping the bedpost. "Me hands willnae stop shakin'."
"That's normal." Kenina pulled another lace tight. "I was the same way when I married Peadar."
Kenina tied off the last lace and stepped back, her eyes softenin'. "There. Perfect."
Mhairi turned to look at herself in the small mirror Freya had brought up earlier. The woman staring back at her looked different. Older, maybe. Or just changed by everything that had happened in those past weeks.
It had only been a week since the battle. Since Ashcombe had died. Since they'd evacuated the village and brought everyone there to MacDougal Castle.
It felt like a lifetime.
"Ye look beautiful," Freya said from where she sat on the bed, her own dress already pristine. "Alpin's goin' tae forget how tae breathe when he sees ye."
"He'd better nae." Mhairi smoothed her hands down the silk, still not quite believing this was real. "I need him conscious fer the vows."
Kenina laughed, the sound bright and warm. "Trust me, he'll manage. Although that man looks at ye like ye hung the moon and stars. "
A knock at the door made all three of them turn.
"Come in," Mhairi called.
The door opened, and Callum stepped inside, looking uncomfortable in formal attire. His usual warrior's garb had been replaced with a fine tunic and trousers, and he kept tugging at the collar like it was trying to strangle him.
"Me laird sent me tae check on ye," he said. "Make sure ye hadnae changed yer mind and climbed out a window."
"Tell him I'm nae that easily frightened." Mhairi grinned. "And tell him if he's nervous, he can always run away. I'll understand."
Callum's mouth twitched. "I think we both ken he's nae goin' anywhere. Man's been pacin' the solar like a caged wolf all mornin'. Peadar threatened to tie him to a chair if he didnae settle."
The image made Mhairi laugh despite her own nerves.
Alpin, her fierce warrior laird, nervous about their wedding. It was sweet.
"Is everyone ready?" she asked.
"Aye. The priest is waitin' in the great hall, and half the clan is already seated. The other half is still tryin' tae find space." Callum's expression softened. "It's a good turnout, lass. Everyone wanted tae be here."
Warmth bloomed in Mhairi's chest. A month ago, she'd been a stranger. Now she was one of them.
"Then I shouldnae keep them waitin'."
Kenina handed her a bouquet of wildflowers tied with ribbon.
"Ready?" Freya asked.
Mhairi nodded, even though her heart was hammering against her ribs. "Aye. I'm ready."
They descended together, the castle alive with voices. As they approached the great hall, Mhairi drew in a breath.
It had been transformed. Flowers hung from the rafters, candles burned in every sconce, and people packed every available space. Warriors stood along the walls, villagers filled the benches, and children sat cross-legged on the floor near the front.
But Mhairi barely saw any of them.
Because there, at the far end of the hall, stood Alpin.
He was dressed in his clan colors, his fair hair combed back, his face clean-shaven for once. He looked like he'd stepped out of a dream. Tall and strong and completely focused on her.
Their eyes met across the crowd, and everything else faded away.
Mhairi started walking, one foot in front of the other, keeping her gaze locked on his. The crowd was silent now, watching, but she didn’t care.
All that mattered was getting to him.
When she reached the front, Alpin stepped forward and took her hand. His fingers were warm, steady, and when he smiled at her, it was like the sun breaking through clouds.
"Hello, lass," he said softly.
"Hello, laird," she whispered back.
The priest cleared his throat, and the ceremony began.
Mhairi barely heard the words. She was too focused on Alpin's face, on the way he was looking at her like she was the only person in the world. His thumb brushed across her knuckles, a steady rhythm that grounded her.
When it came time for the vows, Alpin spoke first, his voice carrying through the hall.
"I, Alpin MacDougal, take ye, Mhairi Munro, tae be me wife. I promise tae protect ye, tae honor ye, and tae stand by ye through whatever comes. From this day forward, ye're mine, and I'm yers. Always."
Simple words. Direct. So very Alpin.
Mhairi's throat tightened with emotion as she spoke her own vows.
"I, Mhairi Munro, take ye, Alpin MacDougal, tae be me husband. I promise tae stand beside ye, tae fight with ye, and tae love ye with everythin' I am. From this day forward, ye're mine, and I'm yers. Always."
The priest blessed them, spoke words about union and partnership and faith. Then he nodded to Alpin.
"Ye may kiss yer bride."
Alpin didn’t hesitate. He pulled Mhairi close and kissed her, deep and thorough and full of promise. The hall erupted in cheers and applause.
When they finally broke apart, breathless and grinning, the crowd was on their feet. Shouting. Celebrating.
"Lady MacDougal," Alpin said against her ear. "How daes it feel?"
"Perfect," Mhairi whispered back. "It feels perfect."
The feast that followed was chaos in the best possible way. Tables groaned under the weight of food, ale flowed freely, and music filled every corner of the hall. People danced and laughed and told stories.
Mhairi sat at the high table beside Alpin, his hand never far from hers. He kept touching her with small gestures that said more than words. A brush of fingers. A hand at the small of her back. A kiss pressed to her temple.
"Ye're bein' obvious," she murmured.
"I dinnae care." He grinned at her. "I just married the most beautiful woman in Scotland. I'm allowed tae be obvious."
"Flatterer."
"Honest man." He leaned in closer. "And later, when everyone's too drunk tae notice we've left, I'm goin' tae show ye just how honest I can be."
Heat flooded Mhairi's cheeks. "Alpin MacDougal, ye're terrible."
"Aye. But I'm yers."
She couldn’t argue with that.
Across the hall, Peadar and Kenina were dancing, swaying together. Peadar was still moving carefully, favoring his injured side, but his smile was genuine.
"They're leavin' tomorrow," Alpin said. "Headin' back tae their own lands."
Mhairi's chest tightened. She'd grown close to Kenina. The thought of her leaving saddened her.
"I'll miss her," she admitted.
"She'll visit. And we'll visit them." Alpin squeezed her hand. "Ye're nae losin' her, lass."
That pulled a smile from her. "When did ye become so wise?"
"I've always been wise. Ye just didnae notice because ye were too busy bein' stubborn."
She elbowed him in the ribs, and he laughed, catching her hand and pressing a kiss to her knuckles.
The celebration continued late into the night. Eventually, Mhairi found herself standing with Kenina near one of the windows, both holding cups of wine.
"I cannae believe ye're leavin' already," Mhairi said.
"We have to." Kenina's smile was sad but resigned. "Our own people need us. But this isnae goodbye, Mhairi. We'll see each other again."
"Ye promise?"
"I promise." Kenina set down her cup and pulled Mhairi into a hug. "Ye're me friend. And that daesnae change just because there's distance between us."
Mhairi hugged her back, tight and fierce. "Thank ye."
"Right back at ye." Kenina pulled away, her eyes bright. "Now go. Yer husband is starin' at ye like he wants tae carry ye out over his shoulder."
Mhairi glanced across the hall and found Alpin watching her, his expression intense. When he caught her eye, he raised one eyebrow in silent question.
Ready?
She nodded.
They slipped out together while the celebration raged on, climbing the stairs to the chamber that was now theirs.
Inside, a fire burned in the hearth. Someone had scattered flower petals across the bed.
Alpin closed the door behind them and locked it.
"Come here," he said, his voice low.
Mhairi went to him.
He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her, slow and deep. His fingers found the laces of her gown.
"I love ye," he whispered against her mouth. "God, Mhairi, I love ye so much."
"I love ye too." She pulled at his tunic. "Show me. Show me how much."
He did.
The next morning dawned bright and clear.
Mhairi woke slowly, aware of Alpin's arm around her waist, his chest pressed against her back. She turned in his embrace, finding him already awake, watching her with that soft expression he wore only for her.
"Good mornin', wife," he murmured, brushing a kiss against her forehead.
"Good mornin’, husband." The word still felt new on her tongue, sweet and strange and wonderful.
He pulled her closer, and she settled against him, listening to the steady beat of his heart.
Outside, she could hear the sounds of the castle waking, footsteps in the corridor, voices calling to one another, the distant clang of the smithy.
"What are ye thinkin' about?" Alpin asked, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on her shoulder.
Mhairi hesitated, then decided on honesty. "Isobel. I'm worried about her."
His hand stilled for a moment, then resumed its gentle movement. "I ken, lass. We'll find her. I promise ye that."
He tilted her chin up so she was looking at him. "But fer now, let me worry about that. Ye've been through enough. Ye deserve a bit of peace."
"I have peace," she said quietly. "Here. With ye."
Something flickered in his eyes, surprise, perhaps, or gratitude.
He kissed her again, deeper this time, and she lost herself in it, in him, in the warmth and safety of his arms.
When they finally pulled apart, he rested his forehead against hers. "I dinnae ken what I did tae deserve ye, Mhairi. But I thank God fer it every day."
"Ye saved me," she said simply. "Ye gave me a home. A family. A life I never thought I'd have."
"We saved each other." His thumb brushed across her cheekbone. "And this is just the beginnin', lass. We have a whole lifetime ahead of us."
A lifetime.
With him. With this clan that had welcomed her as one of their own. With a future that stretched out bright and full of promise.
The search for Isobel would come.
The reckoning with Graham Ashcombe would come. But for now, in that moment, wrapped in her husband's arms, Mhairi let herself simply be happy.
"I love ye, Alpin MacDougal," she whispered.
"And I love ye, Mhairi MacDougal." He smiled, that rare, beautiful smile that transformed his face. "Now and always."
Outside, the sun climbed higher in the sky, bathing MacDougal Castle in golden light.
And inside their chamber, surrounded by the warmth of the fire and each other, Mhairi and Alpin began their new life together.