Epilogue
The morning dawned bright and clear on the day that Morag and Christopher were to be wed. A week had passed since the events at Campbell Castle, and while they knew that the future would not necessarily all be smooth sailing, today was a day of peace and joy and love.
Morag dressed long before her presence was required, up before the birds as she barely contained her excitement.
To shed her old name, her old self, and be reborn as someone free and new and happy, and with Christopher by her side—it was more than she had ever dared to dream about, and yet everything her heart had ever desired.
Mary, unharmed from her travels, had helped her dress, as well as Elsie and, to Morag's surprise and humble gratitude, Aila Kincaid, who had arrived with her husband and young Cassie the night before to reunite with her son and attend the wedding.
"We cannae stay long, the way things are," Aila had told her as she pinned a beautiful white flower in Morag's dark hair. "But I couldnae miss me son's weddin'. And I needed tae meet ye, me new daughter. Welcome tae the family."
Morag felt light as a feather when she finally arrived at the tall, ancient oak tree under which the ceremony was to take place.
Christopher looked so handsome in his dress kilt that he nearly took her breath away, and tears prickled in her eyes as she took him in.
He stared back at her, the warmth in his expression stronger than the sun.
Rolland took her arm. He had offered to walk her down the aisle in lieu of a father, and she'd accepted the offer with all the gratitude she felt.
She knew what it symbolized—an end to any badness still lingering between them, and a promise that by uniting with the Kincaids, she was symbolically joining the Murrays as well.
Rolland winked at her as the two of them walked up the aisle, and she grinned back at him.
Not many attended the wedding at both Christopher and Morag's request, but those who did were all close to their hearts.
Flora and Seamus, Elsie and Rolland, Arran, and even Alexandra were there, as well as Aila and Lachlan with little Cassie between them, all family now, all here to see the moment when love triumphed over all else once again.
Seamus stood in front of the tree and, when Morag joined them, he kissed her knuckles before telling her to face Christopher and take his hands.
"You look nice," she whispered, teasing as always.
He winked. "You look breathtakin'," he said.
Morag's cheeks warmed and she imagined they must be as pink as her dress. Seamus began the ceremony soon after, declaring it a day of pride and victory for all of their families, a day that served as proof that good would always triumph.
"When Elsie and Rolland married, we saw how strong our existin' bonds could become," Seamus said. "And now, as Morag sheds the Caindach name and takes Christopher as her husband, we see that light can always find us, even through the dark."
Christopher squeezed Morag's hands and she smiled. How could a man so beautiful love her? And yet, she did not doubt that it was true. She was determined to live a life that was worth that love, and she knew he felt the same in return.
"Morag," Christopher said when Seamus prompted him to say his vows.
"What can I tell ye that hasnae already been said?
I could tell ye how ye're more bonny than the sunrise, but ye've spent yer life bein' told ye're beautiful.
I could tell ye how ye're brave and strong and how ye saved me life, but I'll spend forever repayin' that.
I could say how ye're a hero for turnin' yer back on everythin' ye've ever known, but I'm sure ye'll hear that enough over the weeks and months and years tae come.
So instead what I'll tell ye is simply this: I love ye, Morag.
I love ye like the moth loves the flame.
I love ye as the tides love the moon, entranced by her very nature tae ebb and flow.
I love ye like the first breath of day and the last smile of night.
Ye're everythin' tae me, and I give ye everythin' I am.
I am thankful forever, me love, that when ye were granted freedom, ye chose tae spend it with me. "
A tear ran down Morag's cheek but she could not stop smiling. She glanced at the crowd and saw that Elsie was happily crying, her head on Rolland's shoulder, and Aila was dabbing away wetness in her own eyes.
Then it was her turn. "Christopher," she said, surprised by how strong and confident her voice sounded.
"When I met ye, ye wore the guise of another man.
Ye tried tae play the monster, and yet, from that first moment, I saw the beauty behind the beast. Yer eyes held the kindness that yer words belied, and yer heart shone through no matter how hard ye tried tae quash yer goodness.
Ye call me the moon? Aye, well then, ye are the sun, bringin' the warmth that drew me out from the eternal darkness that my life had been.
Ye are the stars that finally lit my way, guiding me through what I once thought was an endless night.
Ye are the birdsong at dawn and the first blossom of spring.
I love ye in a way I once thought impossible.
Ye are me mind, me heart, me soul, and when I think of freedom, I think of ye and me together.
I was lost, and now I'm found. I was trapped, and now I'm free.
And me heart is yers, as yers is mine. I love ye with all of it, and I always will. "
Christopher's eyes shone too, and he squeezed her hands again. Seamus performed the handfasting, then Arran moved forward to offer the rings. Christopher and Morag slipped them onto each other's fingers, Morag's heart racing with joy and her chest about to burst with excitement the whole time.
"I pronounce ye man and wife," Seamus announced, and Christopher swept Morag into his arms.
She laughed in surprise and joy as he dipped her then pressed a deep kiss to her lips, one which she returned with as much enthusiasm to laughter and applause from the gathered crowd.
"Well, then," Seamus added with a laugh. "I suppose ye may now kiss."
They separated at last, and Christopher kissed her cheek. "Me wife," he whispered. "Mrs. Kincaid. It's good tae meet ye."
"Mr. Kincaid," she breathed. "Me husband. It's good tae be here at last."
Radiant, though clearly more used to Elsie, was gentle with Morag as she mounted. Elsie had cheerfully allowed Morag to borrow her treasured steed. And like a true champion, Radiant obeyed her commands at the lightest touch.
"I cannae believe yer sister is allowin' me tae ride her horse, especially a Kincaid steed this fine," Morag said as she and her husband rode along the winding path from the castle to the main village.
"And why nae? Ye deserve him. And Elsie's yer family too, now," Christopher reminded her.
The wedding feast would take place later that night and Christopher had stolen her away, insisting he had something to show her before any further celebrations could take place.
He would not tell Morag where they were going, but it excited her to follow him, wondering what plot he could have possibly come up with in such a short time to take her by surprise.
She had thought that they would enter the village proper, but to her intrigue they kept going past it, around the outskirts until they reached a small hill rising a little distance away.
The horses traversed the hill easily, and when they reached the top, there was a tiny two-horse stable there for them to eat and drink while Morag took in what Christopher had brought her to see.
A house stood at the crest of the hill, simple but well-built from stone, lovingly crafted to look warm and inviting even from a distance.
It had two floors, and even from here it was clear that the top floor windows granted a view of the entire valley.
For a moment, Morag simply didn't understand what they were doing here.
"Welcome home," he said.
She stared, astonished. Christopher laughed at her expression and took her by the hand, leading her inside.
It was surprisingly spacious, though cozy, with a large hearth dominating one wall.
There was comfortable furniture already inside, clearly donated from the castle, and even a few tapestries on the walls.
Morag gasped and ran upstairs to find more of the same—a large plush bed, a fine writing desk, and a comfortable chair.
"This is ours?" she asked.
"A gift from me family. From our family and from the Murrays as well," Christopher confirmed.
"It will be hard tae leave the Kincaid lands behind, but I'm startin' a new life with ye, and I just ken that here is where tae do it.
We're close tae Elsie and Rolland, but also far enough away tae live how we please. "
Morag didn't say anything, struck speechless.
She moved to the bedroom window and stared out.
Sure enough, she could see the village and even the castle on the horizon.
And beyond them the silver rivers and rolling green hills of the Highlands.
It was like a painting, yet more vivid than any artist could dream of capturing with the finest brush.
Christopher moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin against her head as they stared out into the wonder of their new life.
"Do you like it?" he murmured.
"I love it," she said. "I love you."
She turned to face him, and they held each other there in their home, safe and warm and knowing they were loved.
War was coming, and there would be dark days ahead.
Morag would have to face her father, and it would not be easy.
Christopher may even have to fight his brother.
But right now, together and in love, they knew they could withstand it.
They kissed, and that kiss was a promise—that come what may from the war with Campbell, they'd face it together.
Thank you so much for reading my book!
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