Extended Epilogue

One month later, MacMillan Keep….

MacMillan Keep was larger than MacLean Keep, and situated in a more open area of moor land, though still somewhat near the sea. Darren found the change of scenery enjoyable, almost as enjoyable as the company.

He’d finally found a war leader to replace Adrian, this time trained and questioned extensively by Mar-cus, before his brother had returned to MacDougall lands, and his duties there. By now, the man was fair-ly proficient, enough so that Darren hadn’t felt uncomfortable leaving him to watch over the clan with Bard, while he went to return Ryan to Laird MacMillan, and then visit his brothers.

According to Erin’s latest letter to Alayne, the child was growing well and healthy, a joy to all. Erin, while delighted with the fact that the process was so easy thus far, had been lamenting that her belly was growing enough for her to struggle with finding clothing she could wear comfortably.

Alayne had responded by producing a small chest of dresses that would be easy for a woman in the final stages of pregnancy to wear, and comfortable besides. Her preparations had also included a pair of slippers that were soft and easy to slip on, made slightly large to accommodate possibly swollen feet.

And so their plans had expanded from ‘see Ryan off on the ferry’ to, ‘accompany Ryan to Laird MacMillan, pay respects, then travel to visit Laird MacDougall and Marcus, then visit Laird Stewart and Keegan’, because his youngest brother would never forgive him for not going to visit, after everything that had happened. He’d no desire to receive another angry letter from Keegan or his wife.

Now they were approaching MacMillan Keep, and Darren found himself studying the keep and comparing it to his own. He would always prefer MacLean Keep, since it was his home, and where he would raise his children, but he couldn’t deny that MacMillan Keep had an elegance and presence all its own.

At the very least, the guards would have a much easier time than his own warriors did, in seeing approaching riders. By the time they approached the main gates, the portal was open, and he was fairly certain their approach had been watched for a good half a candle-mark or more.

Daemon was waiting to meet them, with Lyla at his side, as they rode into the courtyard and dis-mounted. Lyla hurried forward to embrace Alayne, while Daemon came forward to clasp Darren’s arm in greeting. Daemon’s manner was polite enough, but there was something reserved in his manner as his eyes flicked to Ryan.

Darren wondered at the reserve, only to receive an explanation as the second young woman wait-ing behind Daemon raced forward and flung her arms around Ryan. “Ye’re back! ‘Tis so good tae see ye!”

“Alyn.” Daemon’s voice was low, a note of disapproval clear in it. “Be polite and greet our guests.”

The young woman pouted, but released Ryan long enough to give a passable smile and a curtsey. “A pleasure tae see ye again, Laird MacLean. And tae make yer acquaintance, Lady MacLean. I trust ye’ve had a peaceful journey.”

“Aye, that we did.” Alayne smiled at the younger woman. Darren saw a flicker of interest in her eyes, and stifled a groan.

Alayne, ye cannae interfere with whatever’s going on here. Please, please dinnae start trouble I’ll have tae resolve.

As Daemon gestured the last man forward and introduced him as Cai, his steward, Darren watched his wife. The look in her eyes made him want to thump his head on a wall.

He didn’t know what shape the trouble was going to take, but he knew, sure as the sun rose in the east, that trouble there would be. And if Alayne wasn’t in the thick of it, she would still most certainly be involved.

***

Alayne had seen the way the young woman had greeted Ryan. She’d also seen the way Laird MacMillan ordered the two of them apart. What she didn’t understand was why. It was clear the two were affection-ate with each other, if not madly in love. Why did Daemon look so disapproving?

She wasn’t going to ask in his hearing, but as soon a Lyla led her away so the men could talk among themselves, she spoke up. “It seems Ryan has a lass he fancies.”

“Och, that. ‘Tis naething o’ the sort, or if it is, Daemon doesnae ken it.” Lyla shook her head. “Tis one o’ the few matters about which my husband is a fool still.”

“Can I ask fer an explanation?”

Lyla sighed. “Ye may as well ken, fer if ye’re at all like me, then ye’ll only be tempted tae go lookin’ fer answers, and getting intae trouble because o’ it.”

She seemed reluctant to talk, so Alayne made an educated guess. “Is she his younger sister?”

“Nae. Cousin. Even so, they both lost their parents around the same time, and Daemon took over the rais-ing o’ her. He loves her deeply, but he’s so protective, I fear sometimes he smothers her. She tries nae tae resent him fer it, but there’s times I worry that one day her temper will explode and tear them both tae pieces.” Lyla grimaced, and the worry was a shadow in her eyes.

“And Ryan?”

“They’re close friends. If ‘tis more than that, they’re fair discreet about it. But…” Lyla shook her head. “Daemon’s determined nae tae risk even the chance o’ more developing between them. I could tell him that his disapproval only makes her want the lad more, but he’d only exile Ryan, and Ryan doesnae have any other kin. He’s a foundling, ye see.”

Alayne nodded. He’d mentioned something of the sort, during his stay at MacLean Keep. “Daemon can-nae be holding that against him?”

“He isnae. I dinnae ken quite what he does have against Ryan courtin’ Alyn, save he’s protective, and Ryan has a bit o’ a reputation as a light o’ love. Nae so much tae be called a rake, but enough tae make a protective father figure wary o’ his behavior.”

“And ye think that’s it?”

“I cannae say. I can only say that Ryan and Alyn spend as much time taegether as they can, and Daemon daes his best tae keep them separated. ‘Tis one reason he was willing tae have Ryan visit ye fer so long.”

Alayne frowned. She liked Daemon well enough, but it still seemed unfair to Ryan and Alyn. If they were well-matched and fond of each other, why shouldn’t they be wed? It wasn’t as if Daemon lacked alliances, with his wedding to Lyla, and Lyla’s connection to the MacLean clan and their allies.

There had to be something else. She asked the most obvious question. “Does he think Ryan will stray and break her heart?”

Lyla frowned in thought for a moment before she shook her head. “He might fear it, but I dinnae think Ryan’s the type. Rather, I think he’s much like Marcus – he’s a light o’ love only because he kens, or thinks he kens, that he cannae have the woman his heart truly desires.”

“Ye think he’d stand true, if Daemon would stop interfering.”

“Either that, or they’re true friends, and he’s keeping her out o’ more trouble than Daemon kens – playing a lover tae keep the vultures away.”

Alayne could both picture that, and appreciate it. There were times when her father had been trying to marry her off for his own benefit, when she would have appreciated that sort of interference. She was aware that she was lucky she’d wound up with an honorable and loving husband like Darren, instead of married off to the man who could offer the most gold for her with no consideration for how abhorrent the man might be.

She tipped her head. “Is there any way tae learn which way the wind blows for certain?”

Lyla blinked. “There might be. But ‘twould be difficult without alerting and angerign Daemon.”

“Then we’ll have tae be very careful with our plans. But I’ve seen enough unhappiness in life, I’m nae o’ a mind tae let yer stubborn husband stand in between two who might be happy taegether.”

Lyla stared at her for a moment, then smiled wickedly and took her arm. “I’m glad we’ve become friends, Alayne. I have a feelin’ this is the beginning o’ a delightful relationship.”

Alayne smiled back. She knew Darren probably wouldn’t approve of their plans, but for the moment, she didn’t care. “I agree.”

Against all odds, she’d found her happiness with her husband. And if she could find joy with a man who’d once been an enemy and who she’d been forced to wed, then it was possible for anyone.

And who better to help others find joy despite adversity, than one who’d walked through the fire to find love?

The End.