Epilogue
Dunrath Keep was battered but alive.
And on this day the echoes of war were silenced, replaced by the celebration of a wedding instead.
Elara, Rowena, and Kirsty helped Isla dress.
They giggled and each shared stories of their own weddings.
Some were fond memories, others had been rife with tension at the beginning, but in each case love had flourished.
Isla’s stomach fluttered and her heart beat rapidly.
The air seemed more vibrant than usual and a smile was etched upon her face.
There were moments when thoughts of darker days threatened to pull her mind, but the others helped remind her of the future to come.
“We must always make sure tae see each other. There cannae be distance between our clans as there once was,” Kirsty said.
“Ye must all come tae see the bairn when it arrives, and perhaps there will be other children. They will be as close as siblings,” Elara said, smiling.
The others all beamed as well. A rosy glow came upon Isla’s cheeks as she thought about the future and children, experiencing it all with Gavin. They were the kind of thoughts she believed should occupy her mind on her wedding day, thoughts that she never had about Iain.
“And are ye gaeing tae remain here, or will ye travel elsewhere?” Rowena asked, directing her question to Isla.
“We hae nae decided yet,” she said.
A short while before she was ready, a messenger arrived with a letter for Isla. It was from Iain’s brother.
He had returned to the clan and taken over the Lairdship, and was incredibly chastened to hear about how Laird Sinclair had twisted the clan into a weapon.
He assured Isla that there would be no further hostility and hoped that she might come to visit with him to share stories of Iain.
There was enough time for Isla to pen a response, apologizing for the sins of her father and accepting his invitation.
She exhaled deeply when she finished the letter and then handed it to a messenger.
Soon after that, Lape and Kai came to fetch her.
“Are ye ready?” Kai asked.
“My daughter, ye look beautiful,” Lape said with glassy eyes.
Color had returned to her cheeks and her skin was looking supple and full again. The effects of the poison had completely worn off, and she was looking more like herself, like the mother that Isla remembered from her youth. It was good to see.
“I think I hae been ready for a long time,” Isla admitted.
Lape squeezed her tightly and spoke of how proud she was, while Kai took Isla’s arm and walked proudly through Dunrath Keep.
Isla held a collection of wildflowers in her hand while her hair was pulled back from her face.
Since Gavin loved her despite her new scars, she saw no reason to try and hide them from the world.
Her dress flowed beyond her and was caught by the strong wind as they exited the Keep.
Both she and Gavin decided that they did not wish to get married in the courtyard, where the execution had taken place, or in the Great Hall where Gavin’s father had been slain. The high seat offered a reminder of what his life had been like before the Pact.
Instead, they all gathered in the gardens, surrounded by nature, which was entirely more fitting.
Isla was breathless when she saw Gavin.
He was dressed in finer clothes than she had ever seen him wear before. His hair had been cut and his face was clean. He looked handsome and refined, and the suffering of the past ten years did not weigh heavily on his shoulders, at least not today.
Lape went to sit with Laird Sutherland and Lady McKinley, her eyes glistening with pride. Kai performed a father’s duty and presented her to Gavin. It was the second time she was a bride, but it felt like the only time that mattered.
Before they approached Aidan, they performed the rite of tended courtship. This was an old tradition of the MacLaren Clan where the courting couple locked arms, showing their bond, and walked around the people gathered to watch them wed to display their devotion to each other.
They took slow strides and with every step they contemplated their future and their feelings. This walk was to give them an opportunity to reflect upon their impending marriage, while everyone could smile and offer their well wishes.
As the Laird, Aidan presided over the ceremony, and he welcomed Isla and Gavin as their walk led them to him.
“It brings me joy and pride tae bring these two people taegether. Their lives hae been bound taegether for a decade, and now we make this union permanent. Gavin, Isla, your hands.”
They presented their hands. Aidan started to wind the rope around them, fastening their hands together.
“Will ye walk through life forever, forsaking all others?” Aidan asked.
“We will,” Isla and Gavin replied simultaneously.
“Will ye protect each other?”
“We will.”
“Will ye tend tae each other even in sickness.”
“We will.”
“Will ye stand by each other nae matter what?”
“We will.”
“Aye… ye hae been daeing all that already,” Aidan said, and this provoked laughter from everyone. Aidan tightened the knot and then stepped back. “It is my pleasure and privilege as yer Laird and brother tae pronounce ye as husband and wife.”
Gavin and Isla clasped hands. She loved feeling his skin pressed against hers, so close it was as though they were one. The rope dug into her skin, but she did not mind the gentle pain. It was nothing compared to the joy that overflowed in her heart.
She and Gavin drew closer to each other and they sealed their vows with a kiss. It was sweet and loving and it made her toes curl while tingles spread all over her body. It promised something more as well, although that would have to wait until they were away from prying eyes.
Their friends and family had spared no expense with the feast that followed.
There were delicacies from all over the Highlands, each clan sharing their preferred food.
There was fish and seaweed from Stormhaven, plump vegetables and luscious fruit from Caerloch Glen, and meat from Dunrath.
Wine and ale flowed freely, while music played all around.
There were also games, which brought delight to everyone.
The mood was buoyant and when Isla looked around she found it astonishing.
“It’s almost possible to forget there was ever a war at all,” she said.
“Aye, almost,” Gavin said wryly, savaging a piece of meat.
“Ye look handsome. I dinnae realize ye could turn out sae well.”
“I was hardly given the opportunity in Inverdane Hall.”
“Aye, well, more’s the pity,” she smirked.
“But ye hae always been beautiful,” he said, leaning into her.
“Ye are just saying that because of the dress.”
“Nae, it’s ye who makes the dress look good,” he replied.
They were soon dancing. They danced with each other at first. Others eagerly joined them, all the couples lost in their own worlds and sharing special moments.
Lady McKinley danced with her son, and to Isla’s surprise, she spotted her mother dancing with Laird Sutherland.
Partners were switched as the song changed.
Isla danced with Kai and Gavin danced with Lape.
“Marriage suits ye, sister,” Kai said.
“Thank ye, and peace suits ye, brother. Will ye stay in Stormhaven?” she asked.
The smile fell from Kai’s face. “I would love tae, but duty calls. Our clan dinnae deserve tae crumble. I cannae allow Da tae destroy our entire history. We need tae remind the Highlands that not all of us are rotten. I will start the long process of rebuilding, although I fear it will never be the same. Perhaps that is nae a bad thing. It does make me wonder if we will ever be able tae call it home.”
“We hae homes. We just found them in people, that’s all,” Isla said.
Kai chuckled and nodded. “Ye always were the wise one, sister.”
“And dinnae ye forget it,” she said, meeting his gaze.
Kai became serious for a moment. “Ye ken, I was wrong about one thing. I thought that I could outsmart Da by myself. I should hae trusted ye earlier. I should hae asked for yer help.”
“Aye, ye should hae, but we found our way in the end. It’s just a shame that others hae tae suffer for it.”
“Aye… but we’ll make sure they are never forgotten. And at least we can ensure the Highlands thrive in the wake of their deaths. They dinnae hae tae fall under Da’s shadow.”
Isla’s head dipped and her features showed conflicted emotion. “How did ye feel when ye…” she trailed away, unable to say what she meant directly. Kai knew what she meant.
“I reminded myself that he was nae my father. He chose nae tae be a long time ago. He was an enemy tae peace, and that’s who I killed. Our father died a long time ago.”
Isla nodded. The music changed and she decided to leave the dance floor to refresh herself. Lape came to find her. She kissed Isla’s cheek.
“I hae forgotten what fun this could be!” she exclaimed. Her brow glistened with sweat, but it was the kind brought on by happy exertion, not a fever. “Och, Isla, I am ready tae embrace life.”
“I’m glad ye are enjoying yerself, Ma, and it dinnae escape my attention that ye were dancing with a certain Laird Sutherland,” Isla said with a knowing smile.
Lape blushed.
“Aye… well, he’s a kind man, and I wanted tae thank him for allowing me tae stay in Stormhaven.
He was telling me about what happened tae his wife…
it was a terrible matter. And we share the sorrow of losing our children as well.
It hae been nice tae speak with someone who understands me,” she replied.
“I’m happy fer ye, Ma,” Isla said, and it seemed as though it wasn’t just the Highlands that was going to get a second chance at peace.
The feast continued long into the night.
Isla spent it all by Gavin’s side, laughing and sharing stories.
Aidan and Kirsty told her about what Gavin was like when they were children, while Kai and Lape did the same for her.
Happiness was brimming and Isla almost wished that the feast would not have to come to an end, but of course she desperately wanted to be alone with Gavin.
In time a drunk Coll slammed his mug on the table.
“Come, come, tell us of yer plans. Where will ye gae next?” he slurred. “Will ye stay here or come back tae Stormhaven?”
“Maybe they would like tae spend time in Caerloch Glen,” Rowena said airily.
Gavin and Isla glanced at each other.
“Actually, we are gaeing tae leave here for a time and travel. We wish tae live the years that were taken from us. After that, well… I suppose we will just hae tae see what happens,” Gavin said.
There was a toast as everyone wished them well. It wasn’t long after this that Gavin and Isla left the feast and disappeared into the Keep.
Their footsteps echoed through the empty halls. They ran hand in hand, grinning as they returned to their room. The door closed behind them and they tumbled onto the bed, kissing each other as though they would die without it.
The moonlight poured in through the window and the stars were the only witnesses to their love. They clasped hands and whispered secret promises as they began their married life together.
This time, Isla did not refrain from sharing her body, heart, and soul with her husband.
Thank you for reading my story!