Epilogue

EPILOGUE

One Week Later

" Y e look beautiful," Adam said from the doorway as Emily admired her wedding dress.

She ran her hands over the familiar fabric with a happiness she couldn't name.

Given the circumstances of their first wedding, they had decided that they should hold another ceremony to officially mark the day.

They had invited all the right people this time, including Emily's family.

Adam looked impossibly handsome in his kilt and clan colors, and she ran her eyes over him hungrily.

"And dinnae look at me like that, we dinnae have time," he groaned, entering the room and pulling her into his arms.

"Why do we never have time, yet we seem to spend all our time together like that?"

"I cannae say. We should keep experimentin' and see what comes of it."

She laughed, pushing him away playfully and laughing harder at the look of disappointment on his face.

"Is me family here yet?" she asked.

"Aye, yer faither and braither have just arrived. They are in the dinin' hall."

Emily grinned at him, and he smiled in return.

It had been a wonderful week since she had returned to the castle.

Freya had been ecstatic that she had come back, and they had spent many happy hours sorting more of the books in the library. Emily and Adam had only grown closer in the following days, and they had spent hours in one another's arms, ensuring that no man would ever be able to claim that their marriage wasn't legal again.

As they left her room and walked down the corridor hand in hand, Freya appeared ahead of them, her usual book under her arm, her glasses perched on the tip of her nose.

"Dinnae ye look beautiful!" she said excitedly to Emily and gave her a long hug which Emily returned.

Freya herself had dispensed with her usual red and orange dresses and was in a dark green gown that made her hair look even more fiery than usual.

"As do ye," Emily replied, and they all made their way down to the hall together.

Her father and brother were standing amongst the other guests and the members of the council. The room was decorated in the colors of both their clans, showing the union that would bring the two peoples together. Everything seemed brighter and more beautiful to Emily's eyes than it ever had before.

Lucas approached them as soon as they entered the room, bowing low with a cheerful smile and congratulating them both. Lord Barclay had chosen to retire at the end of the year, and Lucas had been voted to succeed him.

Despite being the youngest member of the council, his innovative ideas and tactical thinking had won him many votes of confidence, namely from Adam himself.

"Ye are lookin' very well, indeed," Lucas said as he admired Emily's gown. "We are so happy ye have returned and that ye will be joinin' us."

Emily frowned at him. "Joinin' ye?" she asked, puzzled. "What do ye mean?"

Lucas cast a glance at Adam, matching her confusion, until a heavy hand landed on Emily's shoulder.

"Why, yer position on the council. Did I forget to mention it?" Adam asked innocently. "I must have had other things on me mind."

Lucas bowed and hurried away as Emily turned to her husband with a knowing smile. "An official member of the council?" she asked in amazement. "But I thought ye didnae need the help of yer wife for clan business, M'Laird?"

Adam pulled her toward him, lowering his lips to hers in a brief kiss. "Perhaps I was mistaken," he growled. "I think I need me wife for many things."

"Put her down, for heaven's sake," came Moira's voice from behind them. "It is gettin' ridiculous."

Adam moved away from Emily as his mother approached them, looking over Emily with a critical eye.

"Just as pretty as ye were before, though there is a little more of a spring in yer step."

"Thank ye again for lendin' me the gown."

"It is yers now. I can never wear it again—it would come down to me knees."

Emily laughed loudly at that. She really had joined a family of giants.

They mingled with the crowd, receiving many well wishes. Barclay was courteous and polite to Adam but nothing more. Adam had been relieved to hear he would be stepping down. They had never seen eye to eye.

Emily was navigating the crowd with her hand in Adam's when a new arrival caught her eye from across the room. She let out a little cry of delight.

Adam stiffened at the sound. "What is it?" he asked, looking around them in concern.

"Ceana is here!" Emily cried, watching her old friend enter.

Ceana was the only other woman in the room of average height, and as she looked around, her face lit up when she saw Emily. She dashed across the room, through the crowd, and almost bowled her over in her enthusiasm as she hugged her tightly.

"Emily! Och, ye look stunnin'," Ceana said enthusiastically, her bright eyes flicking to Adam as Emily took her hand in hers. "I cannae believe I am finally here."

Emily glanced up at her husband, who was watching Ceana with great curiosity.

"Adam, I'd like to introduce ye to me best friend in the world, Ceana MacLean."

Adam bowed low as Emily watched her friend assess her new husband. If Adam needed to impress anyone, it would be Ceana. She had not exactly been thrilled when Emily had told her the circumstances of their union.

"Well, ye are as enormous as she said," Ceana stated frankly, and Adam raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Emily snorted. "They are all enormous."

"Nay, ye are just wee," Adam replied affectionately.

"How is yer faither?" Emily asked, turning to her friend and seeing her smile fade.

"About the same. The healer is doin' everythin' he can, but I dinnae think he will recover."

Emily hugged her again, squeezing her tightly. "Come and sit with us at the high table. I have much to discuss with ye, and I havenae had the chance."

They moved through the crowd, with Adam behind them, as Ceana turned back to him enthusiastically. "Ye must both come and visit the distillery whenever ye can—ye are always welcome."

"Ye dinnae need to ask me twice," Adam said, and they all went to take their seats as the little band of players struck up a lively tune.

As the food was served and more wine was poured, Emily looked around her, feeling deeply content. She had never been so happy or settled, and it was all thanks to her husband.

She glanced at Adam, only to find him already watching her.

"Is this a better weddin' feast than the first one?" he asked.

"Aye, much better. Me faither and braither are here, and ye are actually happy to have me at yer side."

She said it lightly, but a shadow flashed across Adam's face.

"I was happy to have ye at me side before. I was just a stupid fool nae to recognize it sooner."

Emily squeezed his hand beneath the table. "At least ye recognize ye are a fool. I dinnae need to point it out to ye quite so much."

Adam snorted as he grabbed his glass and saluted Doughall from across the room. Laird MacGordon's voice rang out as he finished his wine and asked for another bottle. He was in a jovial mood—or as jovial as he ever got.

"Has there been any word from Laura?" Emily asked Adam.

"Aye," he replied. "She has finally written to tell us where she is. I am attemptin' to stop me maither from leavin' this instant to go and bring her back. She is doin' well, or so she says. She sends her best wishes, having heard I am married, and she wants to meet ye as soon as she can."

"I would love to meet her," Emily said happily. "Does she look like Freya?"

Adam considered that. "Perhaps a little wilder, if that can be believed. Laura isnae someone ye would ever find in a library. She prefers climbing trees and mountains."

"She sounds wonderful. I cannae wait for her to visit."

"Neither can I. She'll love ye. I think Freya prefers ye to me anyhow. I doubt Laura will be any different," he finished wearily.

Emily grinned.

As the supper continued, there was much merriment to be found in the room, and everyone was in the highest of spirits. Adam laughed and joked with the clan members who came to wish him well, and Emily had never seen him so relaxed.

She spent an hour happily sitting with her father and Bruce, reminiscing about their lives before she had become Lady MacNiall. Her father was doing well.

The specter of James Stewart had been banished forever, and they were all glad of it.

As the festivities wound down and the guests began to disperse or return to their rooms, Emily found she was one of the few people left in the dining hall.

As she turned, looking for Adam, she saw Theo coming toward her. He bowed to her with the same warm smile he always had.

"M'Lady," he said respectfully. "Laird MacNiall has asked me to escort ye outside."

Emily frowned. "Has he? I was wondering where he had gotten to."

Theo offered her his arm, and she took it, walking through the long dining hall and out into the corridor.

"Did ye manage to eat durin' the feast? I noticed ye were standin' guard much of the time."

Theo gave her a fond smile. "That is me duty first and foremost. The cook has set somethin' aside for me. Dinnae worry yerself, M'Lady."

Emily fell silent, walking contentedly beside him as they reached the entrance to the castle. There, he stopped and moved away, throwing his arm out in the direction she should follow.

"This is where I leave ye," he said cheerfully, but his eyes softened as he said it. "I am very glad ye have returned, M'Lady."

Emily felt warmth rush through her at the friendly glint in his eyes as he bowed again and walked away.

She frowned, unsure how she was ever to find Adam in the sprawling grounds of the castle. But she needn't have worried.

As she walked down the steps, she saw a metal bowl on the ground, only about ten inches wide, but a bright flame burned on the surface of the oil inside it.

She walked over to it, only to see another further ahead. Then, when she looked up, half a dozen were leading her toward the stone courtyard in the distance.

She increased her pace, excitement simmering beneath her skin as she walked beneath the arch, only to see more bowls leading her to the right. She smiled as she realized where he was leading her—it was the same place where they had first kissed.

Only I am nae tryin' to flee this time.

She continued down the path until she reached the archway.

Adam stood in the center, a multitude of rugs and pillows beneath his feet. It reminded Emily of the den Freya had built, and she wondered if his sister had been involved in the planning.

"Yer man-at-arms said ye had summoned me," she said with mock outrage. "Dinnae ye ken that I will be ordered by nay man?"

Adam's eyes were glittering in the darkness. "Oh, I think ye follow orders when ye cannae help it," he said darkly.

Emily shivered pleasantly under his brooding gaze. "What is all this for?" she asked, looking around them at the torches on the walls.

It was very cozy, despite the cold weather, and fur blankets were scattered at Adam's feet.

"We didnae have a proper weddin' night. Both of us will remember that for all the wrong reasons, so I wanted to make up for it."

Emily walked into his arms, and he hugged her.

She looked up at him in awe. "I love ye," she said earnestly.

"Nae as much as I love ye," he said, lowering his head and kissing her. "Come, sit with me. I even brought some seed cake, in case ye are hungry."

"I am always hungry," she said eagerly as he unwrapped four pieces. "But what will ye be eatin'?" she teased, taking all four slices for herself.

Adam laughed and pulled her back into the cushions so that they were lying on the soft blankets, looking up at the stars.

"Do ye remember when ye first came to this place?" he asked.

"I do," she said guiltily. "I was rather angry with ye at the time."

"Aye, and what did ye feel for me that wasnae deserved? I had kidnapped ye from yer weddin', commanded ye to help me, and wouldnae let ye flee."

Emily snuggled up to him. "And I am very glad ye did."

"Truly?" he asked, sounding a little uncertain.

"Aye," she said teasingly. "Otherwise, I wouldnae have this castle by the cliffs, and I would never have met yer sister."

She shrieked with laughter as he rolled her over, capturing her lips with his own in a deep, soulful kiss.

They sank into the blankets, happy and content beneath the twinkling stars.

The End?