Epilogue
ONE YEAR LATER…
“Are ye still choppin’ wood when ye have more servants than any other laird in Scotland?” Eleanor asked as she neared the section of the courtyard that was used for chores. The sun shone down on them all, creating a warm atmosphere that warded off the chill from her bones.
Servants and soldiers alike milled about the courtyard, going about their duties as the humdrum of the day continued in peaceful solitude.
It was not even eight in the morning, and already, Callum had built a pile of wood at his side.
It was not like him to leave her alone in bed, but she knew that his mind was full of the things to come in the future.
More and more lairds had come forward after the incident and swore their allegiance to Callum and the Fraser clan. The result had been that Callum had gained more lands than he knew what to do with.
Swinging the axe one last time, Callum brought it down with a mighty blow, sending splinters of wood flying into the air. The heady scent of sawdust carried on the breeze as Eleanor held back, moving her hand in front of her face to ward off some of the dust.
“The servants have enough to occupy their time,” Callum said as he took a step back and left the axe embedded in the wood.
Sweat beaded his brow as he dusted his hands together.
His off-white shirt was covered in dust, but Eleanor still felt as if he were the most handsome man that she had ever seen.
“And ye daenae have enough to occupy yer own time?” Eleanor cocked her head to the side as she tried to wrap her arms around her ever-growing belly.
Turning toward her with a smirk, he closed the distance and placed his hands over hers on her belly. “Aye, for now I have more time with me wife, but in a few months, we will never be alone ever again.”
Eleanor’s heart felt as if it would burst as she slipped her hand over her husband’s and smiled. “Fiona says she can hear more than one heartbeat,” she sighed contentedly, thinking of the joy that their unborn children would bring to their lives.
Callum’s hand suddenly stilled beneath hers as the realization of her words set in. “Would one of those heartbeats happen to be yers?” He slowly lifted his head and met her gaze.
Dipping her head, Eleanor began to laugh until she almost cried. The weight of her belly shaking forced her to lean on his shoulders for support as she struggled to keep in her mirth.
“Perhaps Fiona is going deaf. She isnae a bairn anymore.” His words made her laugh even harder as he continued to frown.
“I daenae see what is so funny, lass. I ordered one bairn, and nae two.” His hands began to move over her belly again as his brows knit together in a frown. “What will we do if both the bairns are boys? Who will become Laird? There will be fightin’ over the succession and who was born first.”
Eleanor stopped laughing and shook her head. “Ye are puttin’ the cart before the horse, me Laird. What if ye have two daughters and nay sons?”
“Daenae even suggest such a thing,” he said playfully.
“I am nae suggestin’ it, me Laird, I am tellin’ ye that we daenae ken what the future holds. Ye will have to be content with whatever bairns the gods choose to bless us with,” she said sternly. “Daughters must be just as wanted and welcome as sons.”
Callum’s face softened. “Daenae call me Laird in that tone, macree, ye only ever use that title when ye are less than pleased with me.” He seemed sheepish as he looked down, the corner of his mouth hooking into a smile.
“I just want us to be happy with whatever we have. Bairns are a blessin’ from above and should be treated as such.”
“Then let us hope that we are blessed with either.” He looked lovingly at her belly with all the dreams of their future swimming in his eyes. “Whatever they may be, I ken that they will have the best mother in the world.”
I love this man.
“And I hope for an easy delivery no matter what bairns come out,” Fiona suddenly spoke up as she came walking toward them.
After the battle, Fiona had stayed on at the castle, taking her rightful place as the clan’s healer.
All talk of her being a witch had long since died, as she had saved more than a few of the men after the battle.
Callum had spent quite a long time rooting out all of the men who had sided with Donald Kincaid.
But time had passed, and the castle was beginning to fall into an easy rhythm with only trusted men at his side.
It had not been easy to exile the men who had accepted bribes, but everyone knew that it had been the right thing to do in the end.
More than that, the clan had begun to thrive.
The fields beyond the walls were greener than Eleanor had ever seen them, and laughter now echoed through the halls where once there had been whispers of doubt and fear.
Women moved freely about their work, children played without hesitation, and the men who remained carried themselves with a renewed sense of loyalty.
It was no longer merely a stronghold, but a true home for all.
“Aye,” Callum agreed as he let go of Eleanor’s belly. “A safe and healthy birth for both the bairns and their mother.”
Fiona nodded. “And to think that I had to force the two of ye into marriage.”
Callum’s brow once again dipped into a frown as he glared at the healer. “Ye didnae force us, Fiona. It was me idea to begin with, and then me idea to get married for real.”
Fiona seemed thoughtful for a moment as she pursed her lips. “Was it truly yer idea, me Laird?”
Eleanor thought back to the time in the cabin when she and Callum had first met.
They had both been suspicious of each other, and it had been Fiona who had encouraged them to put their differences aside and make an alliance.
It had not seemed like her idea at the time, but now that Eleanor thought of it, it did seem like Fiona had played a larger part than usual.
Laughing much louder this time, Fiona hung her head back, not caring who saw her laughing like a fool.
Joining in, Eleanor chortled as she glanced at Callum.
Everything in the world seemed right as she watched the way he frowned.
She had not been sure what it had meant at the start, but she now knew that frowning was just part of who he was.
He was a tough laird on the outside and a much softer lover on the inside.
Her cheeks flushed with color at the thought as she averted her gaze. Their lovemaking had not ceased much since the news of her pregnancy.
And yet, there had been quieter moments too, nights where he simply held her, his hand resting protectively over her belly as though he could guard them all from the world.
In those moments, Eleanor had come to understand that his strength was not only in battle or command, but in the tenderness he showed when no one else was looking.
Fiona shook her head, obviously enjoying the confusion that she created within Callum.
“Never mind all of that now, I only came to remind the mother that she needs to rest. It is good to take small walks, but I want her in front of the fire with a book in her hands,” she said more sternly and narrowed her eyes at Eleanor, who had promised to rest more often.
With only four months left to go, Eleanor had doubled in size from what she had been at the start.
She had taken up reading again when Fiona had suggested that she find something less strenuous to occupy her time.
It had been difficult at first, but Callum had helped her work through her difficulties with her brother and put the past behind her.
She now enjoyed reading again and even discussed the books with Marion.
As if the thought had summoned her dearest friend, Marion came walking toward them with a smile fixed on her face.
She looks happy.
Eleanor’s heart swelled with pride as she watched the confident gait in her maid’s step. Even Marion had come a long way from the shy and withdrawn young woman she had once been.
“Beggin’ yer pardon, me Lady, me Laird.” She curtsied to them both and smiled at Fiona. “We daenae mean to interrupt, but we were wonderin’ if we could have a word with ye both.”
“We?” Callum asked with one eyebrow raised.
Color flooded her cheeks as Marion averted her gaze. “That is, Iain and I wanted to have a word with ye,” she said quietly.
“And that would be me sign to leave the lot of ye be,” Fiona said before stepping away and walking back toward the castle.
Marion waited until they were alone before looking over her shoulder and nodding toward Iain, who had been training nearby with some of the younger men in the castle.
He took his cue and laid down his sword, instructing the men to take a break for some ale before striding toward the small group.
“I hear there is a matter of great importance that ye wish to discuss with us,” Callum asked as he gently drew Eleanor to his side.
Eleanor had wondered when the announcement would come; it had been a long time in the making, but none of them had wanted to press the matter until the time was right.
Taking Marion’s hand in his, Iain smiled at them both. “Marion and I wished to ask yer blessin’ on our marriage. We have waited until all of the matters in the castle were settled, but we now wish to be wed.”
“With yer blessin’, that is me, me Lady. I would still like to stay on as yer maid, and Iain would like to keep his place as well, but we want to solidify the love we have built over the past year.” Marion gazed up at Iain, her eyes filling with so much love and adoration.
“Of course, ye may have our blessin’, we wouldnae have wanted it any other way,” Eleanor answered for Callum before he could say a word.
“Aye, we are both very happy for ye.” Callum placed his arm around Eleanor’s shoulders.
The happy couple beamed with pride as Iain did the same, drawing Marion to his side. Their reunion had been difficult at first after the battle, but with some encouragement from both Fiona and Eleanor, they had managed to find each other in the end.
Taking their leave, Marion and Iain set off, leaving Eleanor and Callum to themselves once again.
“I am happy for them,” Eleanor said and slipped her arm around Callum’s waist. “It has been a long time comin’.”
Callum nodded. “Aye, I am happy for them, but I wonder if ye will be happy for yer brother as well?”
Cocking her head to the side in a question, Eleanor looked up at him. “Me brother, what does he have to do with Marion and Iain gettin’ married?”
“Nothin’,” Callum conceded. “But I daenae think that he will want to wait much longer if he meets a lass of his own. Just the other day I saw him speakin’ with Freya.”
Turning fully toward him now, Eleanor narrowed her eyes.
“Ye stay out of that, do ye hear me, Callum Fraser? I am grateful that ye gave me father and brother a place to stay as well as places on yer council, but I willnae have ye meddlin’ in affairs of the heart.
If Andrew is to choose a bride, he must do so of his own accord. ”
Lifting his shoulders, Callum shrugged. “Why is it fine for Fiona to interfere, but I am nae allowed to speak me mind?” he complained.
“Because Fiona is a wise old witch, while ye are just a laird, me Laird.” She tilted her face up toward him and smiled, teasing him with her lips as her gaze dropped to his mouth.
“I see where yer loyalties lie,” Callum teased her back and drew her against him, claiming her mouth as his own with a kiss.
Pulling back, Eleanor felt slightly flustered as she looked around to see if anyone had seen them. “Me Laird, ye cannae take such liberties in the middle of the courtyard!” she scolded him when she saw that nobody else had been looking.
“And why nae? It is me castle. I should be able to kiss me wife wherever I like,” he said nonchalantly.
“Ye may kiss me wherever ye like, as long as nobody else is lookin’!” she retorted, but allowed herself to be pulled against him again.
Callum laughed this time, enjoying the embarrassment that was creeping over her cheeks. “Will ye ever get used to the highlander ways, or will ye always be that lass from Edinburgh?” He gazed lovingly into her eyes.
“I, me Laird, will always be the lass that ye fell in love with. Or would ye have me be anyone else?” She raised her brows before placing her hands on his chest and pretending to push him away.
“Nay, lass, I wouldnae have ye be anyone but yerself.” He planted a chaste kiss on top of her head and pulled away just as Bran came bounding toward them.
Eleanor laughed. “Ye see, me Laird, even yer dog kens when ye should make better decisions.” She scratched the top of Bran’s head and allowed him to lick her hand once.
Callum bent down and petted his head as well.
“Away with ye, ye silly beast,” he said half-heartedly.
The battle had taken its toll on Bran, and Callum had since retired him, but the dog still insisted on tagging along wherever they went.
He slept outside their door on a cushion every night and stayed by Eleanor’s side wherever she went.
Things seemed more than just perfect as they watched him bound away once again. Love abounded in the castle along with trust and a slight penchant for mischief.
Gone were the days when Eleanor had wondered if love had been something that only fools believed in. She now believed it with every fiber of her being.
Drawing her to his side, Callum rested his cheek on top of her head as she placed her hand against his side. “I love ye, macree.”
“I love ye too, Callum,” she said softly, knowing in her heart that all would be well for the future.
The End?