Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

The first hints of light painted the edges of her vision, casting a soft glow upon the fabric of the tent. If she had slept, it did not last long. Her mind had been racing, wandering wild through the grounds and to the place where she imagined he was now.

As she blinked, a figure caught her attention– a presence that felt both familiar and completely unexpected. Caelan stood at her bedside, his silhouette a shadow against the gradually brightening canvas of the morning. Reaching out, he touched her cheek, his rough fingers brushing aside a strand of hair.

What a bonnie dream, if only he werenae dressed.

Caelan leaned closer, his breath hot against her ear. "Leona," his voice was smooth as silk, filling her senses and causing her to smile in delight. "I need ye to dress and meet me outside. There is somethin' I wish to share with ye, lass."

Her heart quickened in response. She reached out as he turned away, her fingertips just missing the fabric of his kilt. 'Tis a dream, a bonnie sweet dream. But what if it wasn't? What if Caelan had truly snuck into their tent to wake her? She smiled at the thought, but also couldn't pretend that his gentle touch did not feel real.

As he stepped towards the opening, Leona watched as he vanished.

She continued to lay there, convincing herself it was a dream and she ought to close her eyes again. Yet, the call of curiosity was strong, and she couldn't shake the feeling that this was a moment she should not miss. Leona pushed back the covers and rose from the bed, moving as quietly as possible.

Dressing herself in a bit of a rush proved to be a challenge. Her fingers fumbled with the laces and the fabric until she simply tied a tight knot in hopes for the best. Outside their tent, she could hear the faint sounds of the camp awakening like distance echoes. The only sound that was louder was the drumming in her chest.

With her garments finally in place, as best as she could muster, Leona stepped out of the tent. The air was cold, and she could see the steam from her breath. Beneath her feet, the dew-kissed ground shimmered.

And then she saw him. Caelan's strides were purposeful; his gaze locked onto hers as he approached. Behind him, being led by the reins in his hands, were the horses they had ridden together to Gleann Cloiche.

Leona grinned. "Ye wished to share the horses with me?"

"Oh, aye," he teased. "Is it nay a good surprise?"

Taking the leather strap for her mare, her fingers brushed against his skin. His flesh was warm, and she was half tempted to take his hand in hers, but she thought otherwise.

Kneeling at the side of her mount, he laced his fingers together– forming a sort of step for her. Leona placed her foot there, looking down at him with a crooked smile. In an effortless motion, he hoisted her up, and she took to the saddle.

Caelan placed a firm hand on the mare's chest, his eyes never leaving Leona's.

Leona nodded and then glanced back at the tent. "I should tell them."

"Jamie will tell them shortly," he promised before turning to his own horse. Leona watched as he pulled himself up and settled. Shooting her one more look as he gripped the reins, he smiled. "Follow after me, lass."

They rode away from the heart of Gleann Cloiche, leaving behind the tents and camps, leaving it all in their wake. The only sound was the wind rushing through her hair and the horses' hooves thundering a steady rhythm against the earth.

The landscape seemed to stretch endlessly. Hills, painted green, ebbed and flowed against the horizon. But Leona's gaze seemed to remain on the shape of his shoulders, the waves of his hair in the wind, and the determination she knew was on his face.

Eventually, they slowed to a stop. Leona looked forward, smiling as the sun rose. Hues of purple and pink stretched out across the sky, colors dancing in the air and tangling together. She laughed in amazement.

Caelan slipped from his horse and came to her side. He reached up, and she let herself fall into his arms, chuckling as he spun her against him. But the sound of her laughter stopped the moment her feet touched the ground.

Reaching into his sporran, Caelan's empty hand returned with the same small box she had seen in his tent. Gently, he took her wrist and turned her palm upwards, placing the twine-wrapped gift there.

"What is it?" She asked, blinking.

Caelan chuckled. "Open it, lass."

Slowly, she pulled at the threads which had been neatly braided together. As she opened the box, she gasped, nearly dropping the whole thing in the process. Seated on a plush piece of velvet was a ring. With shaking hands, she took it, turning it over in the light. It shimmered a deep purple; if it were not for the sunlight, she would think the stone was black. The band was silver, the metal twisted to mimic vines.

"Caelan…" She whispered.

He reached out, taking the ring from her. "Give me yer finger."

Shaking, she held out her hand and watched as the ring slid to her knuckle. It fit her perfectly, though she was almost too afraid to move. This was not only something that she was sure had been expensive, but it was also precious. Leona brought her hand to her chest, holding the ring close to her heart.

She looked up at him, shaking her head. "What if I lose it?"

Caelan laughed. "Then I would have to punish ye rightfully."

He reached out, caressing the side of her face. Slowly, he leaned in and kissed her. It was soft, delicate, and full of a suppressed passion. Leona melted against him, her hands finding and tangling in his hair. "I daenae wish to wait to wed ye," he told her softly, his words humming against her lips. "'Tis torture nae bein' able to have ye. Nae bein' able to see ye."

Finally, he pulled away and looked down at her. "I want to take ye as me wife when the sun sets, lass. I daenae wish to wait a day longer."

The air was thick with anticipation as his words hung in the air, the rising sun a witness to the moment. Leona's heart raced. Her voice seemed to echo through the morning. "When the sun sets, I will be yer wife."

He smiled and kissed her once more.

News of their change in plans spread like wildfire throughout Gleann Cloiche; excitement and a sense of panic seemed to ripple through the air. The wedding itself had been planned to take place in two days, but now that time had been sliced to fit into less than one.

Leona sat in front of the mirror in her now empty tent.

Her hair had been brushed out, her gown was in the process of being adjusted due to the height differences between herself and her mother, and she had bathed. Leona's entire morning had been pure chaos, and now that she had a few moments to herself, she didn't know what to do.

With a deep breath, she closed her eyes. It was all happening so fast that it felt almost surreal. One moment, she believed she was having a pleasant dream about Caelan, and the next, she was preparing to wed him.

Her mother, Maisie, Isobel, and Sophie had all stepped away to collect some wildflowers that would be woven together to form a headpiece for this evening. Though Leona thought she could do without.

As her mind wandered, she wondered what Caelan was doing. Was he as nervous as she was? Was he faced with the same undeniable excitement as well? Leona sighed and then stood, moving to the table where a tray of fruit had been set out for her. Absent-mindedly, she picked at the small berries but stopped as her eyes fell on her ring. Frowning, she spread her fingers, turning them and letting the stone catch the light.

Leona couldn't deny the bubbling excitement that seemed to threaten to boil over. She could pretend it was just for the event, a joining of clans, and her duty to her family. But there was something more, something deep in the waters of her soul that was surfacing slowly.

She closed her eyes for a moment, taking slow, grounding breaths in an attempt to manage the swirl of emotions inside her. Nerves and excitement warred within. Leona was uncertain which one would be triumphant. This day was a turning point in her life.

Her soon-to-be husband was still an enigma to her, but Leona was growing impatient of not knowing him completely. It wasn't just the intimacy she craved from him, though that was undeniable. There was something about the idea of her future, and she was beginning to imagine Caelan within it. Despite everything that had happened, all the doubts and uncertainties, she realized this was what she wanted.

Leona let out a sigh, letting her mind wander to him once again. Above all else, she wondered if Caelan felt the same way as she did. Was he ready to give himself to her? She had no real reason to doubt him now.

The sound of the tent door opening drew her attention. Leona turned, expecting the others to have returned. But the hooded figure standing there was not Maisie, Isobel, her mother, or Sophie.

Slowly, the figure pulled down the fabric that obscured her face.

Shaking her head, Leona could barely contain her disgust. "Out."

"Please," Flora said in a soft voice, pleading. "Ye need to ken this."