Chapter 15 #2
“I think that’s very kind of ye,” Islay said.
She reached out and clasped her father’s hand.
It was a tender moment between a father and a daughter, two people who had not always gotten on.
Often in families, it was those who had the most similar personalities who clashed, and this was true in Islay and her father’s case.
But deep down, they both respected and loved each other.
Islay knew that whatever her father chose to do, he did it with love and the best of intentions.
Of course, she believed that he had overreacted by posting guards on her doors, but she had a feeling it was more for show than anything else.
She doubted he would actually have them drag her back if she tried to flee.
Islay was also glad for her younger sister as well.
Islay had been forced to grow up too quickly, and she was pleased that her father had the awareness to realize that he had made mistakes with Islay.
Iona would have a chance to be a lass yet, although ultimately, she would have to meet the same fate as Islay.
However, now that the alliance was going to be sealed, there were not as many political ramifications for Iona.
There wasn’t as much of a need for her to marry someone her father chose, so she would be free to marry for love.
A flash of envy flared in Islay’s heart until she realized that although her marriage was arranged, love had still blossomed.
Although she had tried to fight it, perhaps too willfully, there was no doubt about the feelings that ran through her heart.
She enjoyed a small smile as she thought about Callum.
“What are ye thinking about?” Laird Gallach asked.
“Oh, just the future,” Islay replied.
The rest of the day passed without incident.
Islay’s nerves grew as she prepared for the wedding.
Kirsten and Iona were there to help her get dressed and to place flowers in her hair.
They exchanged excited words about the future, and as Islay thought about what was to come about the wedding night, she felt her skin tingle.
Wild thoughts of being held in her husband’s strong arms brought waves of pleasure, while she blushed whenever she thought of his hot flesh pressing against hers.
She fought them partly out of stubbornness, but also because these thoughts were so powerful, they were overwhelming.
Kirsten shared a secret enchanting smile with her, as though she knew exactly what thoughts were running through Islay’s mind, but Iona was completely unaware, too innocent to think of marriage as anything other than a deep friendship.
Islay wore a pearl-colored dress, which flourished and billowed like a foaming bath around her feet.
She wrung her hands and felt the bare skin where a ring would soon be.
Forcing a smile, she met Laird Gallach outside of the main hall and inhaled deeply, attempting to quell the raging nerves that rumbled and churned within.
She told herself that she was being silly.
It wasn’t as though this was the first time she was meeting Callum.
She had spent plenty of time with him at this point, so it wasn’t as though she was going into the unknown.
He stood there, at the far end of the hall, dressed smartly in his tunic, looking proud and strong.
Here was a man who any woman would have been proud to call her husband, and he was going to be hers.
With every step, Islay grew closer to her destiny.
Even though nerves rose like the crest of a wave inside her, they ebbed away as soon as she made eye contact with Callum.
His younger brother, Hendry, stood beside him.
Everything inside told her to be calm, and that she was safe.
In his eyes, she saw her future, and her smile widened until she reached him, when she was beaming as radiantly as the sun.
Laird Gallach placed her hand into Callum’s palm.
She noticed a slight tremor...was he nervous as well?
“I’m glad ye didnae run,” Callum said, the corners of his mouth rising in a smirk.
“Ye would only find me and drag me back here. I thought I would save ye the trouble,” she teased.
The wedding had been arranged since they had been young children.
For something that had been waiting to occur for so long, Islay was surprised it was over as quickly as it was.
It had been years in the making, but only moments passed before she and Callum were joined together before the eyes of gods and men.
A rope was draped around their wrists, joining them together, before Callum placed a simple band of dark metal over her finger.
They kissed, and a cheer rose from those who were present.
But they all faded away in Islay’s mind.
The rest of the world melted as she gazed into Callum’s eyes and lost herself.
In them, she saw a future that she had always tried to run from, a man she had always seen as the enemy.
Oh, Islay, how wrong ye were.
Callum lifted his hand to show everyone his triumph at having this woman as his wife, and there was another cheer.
He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her into him tightly.
Islay laughed a deep, throaty laugh, and cheered along with everyone else.
The loose rope slipped away from their wrists and slithered to the ground, resting there like a snake.
Islay and Callum shared another kiss, but that wasn’t all they shared. Now, they shared a future, a life.
But just as the ceremony ended and the marriage was sealed, there was a crash as doors were flung open and windows were smashed. People rose in a worried outcry as bandits stormed the room.