Epilogue
The end of Lucky Loki, and the beginning of a new life.
Brodie and Celestina made their way around the room, making sure everything was set for their surprise.
The youngest members of the family, Bethia and Kyla, were upstairs with Jennie and Quade’s younger sister, Avelina, who had promised to look after them.
Loki had Alex and Maddie’s twin lads under control near the back of the room with Torrian and his dog Growley and Lily.
After the toast to the bride and groom, hugs and congratulations were exchanged across the room. Quiet finally descended as Laird Alexander Grant stepped to his dais and awaited everyone’s attention.
“’Tis something else verra important that I must do today. I ask Lucky Loki to come forward, please.”
Loki stared at the room full of people from the back of the great hall, clearly unsure of what to do.
“’Tis all right, lad,” Alex said, beckoning him forward. “Torrian and Lily will watch the twins. You are needed up front.”
As he crept forward, Loki’s gaze searched for Celestina. Smiling at him, she nodded in encouragement.
Alex smirked when the lad stopped halfway across the room, staring at the Grant warriors in their plaids, unsure of where he was to go. “Closer, lad.”
Once he had passed through the crowd, a group of Grant warriors gathered in a semi-circle behind him. Loki stood in front of Alex, his wee legs trembling.
Celestina’s heart broke. Loki looked so lost standing in the middle of all those brawny warriors, especially since he was directly in front of the massive Laird Alex Grant.
She worried the poor lad’s neck would be sore from looking up at the tall Highlander.
She had begged Brodie to allow her to stand next to him in support, but Brodie had refused.
Alex cleared his throat and began, his hands clasped behind his back. “Lucky Loki, do you understand the important code of the Grants, our values of both honor and truthfulness?”
A wee voice squeaked out just loud enough, “Aye, my laird.”
“Lad, I have several questions to ask you and I only need you to answer ‘aye’ or ‘nay.’ Can you do that, son?”
Loki nodded.
“Is it true you snuck under a cart and rode in a hidden spot to follow Celestina?”
Loki, confused, glanced at Brodie before he answered. “Aye, my laird.”
“Is it also true you caused pain to a servant of a nobleman by placing stones in his shoes without his knowledge?”
Loki’s eyes widened. “Aye, my laird, but I was just trying…”
“Aye or nay, lad?” Alex barked.
He hung his head before answering, “Aye, my laird.”
The laird continued. “Is it also true you ran from my brother’s side and followed a cart out of town to find Celestina, without advising anyone of your destination?”
Loki’s frantic gaze darted around the room, searching for support. “But, my laird, Celestina…”
“Aye or nay?” Alex’s voice boomed through the hall.
“Aye, my laird,” he said in a small voice.
Celestina couldn’t take it any longer. She started toward the lad, just to let him know he was not alone, but her husband pulled her back and wrapped his arm around her waist.
“Trust our laird, leannan.”
Celestina swiped at the tears in her eyes, leaning into her husband’s embrace, but not before she noticed that Maddie, sitting by Alex’s side in front of the dais, had a linen square at her face and was mopping up tears as well. She and Maddie were definitely kindred spirits.
Staring over Loki’s wee head, Alex continued. “Is it true you went to the MacLaren keep by yourself, again without notifying anyone of your destination, just to let Celestina know her husband was injured?”
Loki’s shoulders slumped, and he hung his head in shame. “Aye, my laird.”
Alex’s voice softened, “Is it no’ also true, lad, that you stood proud and protected the Scots by using your slinger against the invaders?”
Lifting his gaze to meet Alex’s, the boy said, “Aye, my laird.”
“Is it true that after my wounded brother passed out from battle you managed to get him to the healer immediately?”
“Aye, my laird.” His voice was now strong enough to be heard across the hall.
Alex smiled. “And did you no’ use your sling to protect my sister-in-law, Celestina Grant, against a group of Norsemen in Lennox?”
The lad nodded his head, sniffling as he stared at Alex. “Aye, my laird.”
Alex stepped down from the dais, grasped Loki’s shoulders and said, “Well done, lad. You make me verra proud.” Then he nodded to Brodie and Celestina, and they came to stand in front of Loki.
Loki’s eyes grew big as saucers when Celestina pulled out the red and green Grant plaid made just for him and enfolded his wee body with it. Brodie approached his brother and handed Alex a small sword, then pinned a badge with the Grant crest on the wee lad’s chest.
Their parts completed for now, Brodie and Celestina moved back to stand off to the side of Loki, and Alex moved closer to the lad.
He positioned Loki where everyone could see him, then held his hand on the lad’s shoulder.
With his other hand, he touched the sword to Loki’s head and began, “Lucky Loki, I christen thee a Grant. I am proud to say you acted as the fiercest Highlander in all the land, protecting the weak and innocent, acting with honor at all times, guarding a member of my family when necessary, and fighting bravely for our country.”
When he finished, Alex handed the hilt of the sword to Loki, who took it into his trembling hands before Alex turned him to face the warriors behind him.
Alex nodded his head, and the warriors who surrounded him unsheathed their swords at the same time, knelt in unison, each placing their weapon on the floor pointing toward Loki, individually pledging to protect him with their lives.
Celestina’s tears flowed freely down her cheeks as she watched the expression of sheer wonder dance across Loki’s face as the warriors knelt in front of him.
Her husband wrapped his arms around her shoulders and tugged her in close for a quick kiss.
After everything the lad had done for both of them, they were both so glad to see him receive this tribute.
When the warriors finished, Loki turned around, his face lit up with joy. He stared up at Alex and said, “I made it. Is that no’ right, Laird Grant? Am I finally a Grant warrior and a member of your guard?”
Alex stood with his hands behind his back. “Nay, lad, that is no’ correct.”
Loki’s face fell and his shoulders slumped. It was time. Brodie strode over to the lad’s right side and Celestina to his left. Loki peered up at both of them, unsure of what was happening.
Alex cleared his throat. “Lad, I christened you a Grant, no’ a Grant warrior.
You will be asked to fight with the warriors, aye, but you are officially christened a Grant, with Celestina as your mama and Brodie Grant as your sire, if you will accept them as your parents in the eyes of Scottish law. ”
Loki looked first at Brodie, then at Celestina and said, “Truly, you want me?”
Brodie said, “Aye, lad, naught would make us happier than having you as our son. That is, if you want us.”
Loki let out his best imitation of a Grant war whoop and jumped into Brodie’s arms.
“Aye. I am no longer Lucky Loki.”
Puzzled by his declaration, Celestina looked at him as he hopped down and ran to her side to hug her.
“I am Loki Grant,” he said with a grin.