Epilogue

EPILOGUE

I n the days after Fairfax was killed and MacDougal captured, the army in the valley had scattered. With nobody to lead them, they seemed to have lost their taste for fighting. Domhnall had breathed a sigh of relief. With the looming threat gone, spirits were once again high—perhaps even a bit higher than before—and attention had turned back to preparing for the coming Yule feast.

Ciara felt a mixed bag of emotions. She was well relieved that Fairfax was dead and would never be a threat to her again. She no longer had to worry about being clapped in irons and dragged back to a place she no longer considered home and forced into a marriage she never wanted. She would never again have to worry about being a pawn in somebody’s political game.

But her father, as cruel and evil as he had been to her, languished in the cells beneath Dunvegan. She knew it was what he deserved. And part of her was glad that like Fairfax, he would never again be a threat to her. But there was another piece of her that lamented the fact that her father would spend the rest of his life in a cage, if the king didn’t decide to repay his treachery with a headsman’s blade. Despite everything, he was still her father.

“Are ye all right?” Magnus asked.

“Aye,” she said. “I’m fine. Just thinkin’.”

“About yer faither.”

She nodded. “He refused tae see me.”

“I’m sorry, me love.”

“Dinnae be. If this is what he wants, so be it,” she said. “But I willnae lie and say it doesnae still hurt a bit.”

“’Tis natural. Like ye said, he’s yer faither.”

“I sometimes wonder if it would have been more merciful tae have killed him the night ye captured him.”

“I think ye’d have been just as torn up inside if we had. He’s yer kin, so there’s never goin’ tae be a good answer that leaves ye feelin’ whole.”

“Aye. Ye’re right,” she said. “I just have tae remember this is the path he chose. ‘Twas nae mine. He did this tae himself.”

“Aye. That he did. And I ken ‘tis easy tae say, but ye’ve got nothin’ tae feel guilty about,” Magnus replied softly. “If he’d had his way, me and mine would be dead and ye’d be trapped in a marriage tae a monster.”

She nodded and looked out to the ocean, watching as the sun slipped toward the horizon, closing the book on another day. They stood together on the highest ramparts of the castle. It was freezing up there, but it somehow felt cleansing to her. Though the sky overhead was clear, dark clouds rolled in from the east, promising a bitterly cold night and very likely, more snow. Ciara held Magnus’ hand tightly, letting the love she felt and the peace he gave her push out all the dark thoughts in her heart. She turned to him, mustering a small smile.

“I’m just glad we came through all this alive,” she said. “I’m glad ye came fer me.”

“Like I said, I always will. Ye’re mine and I’ll never let anythin’ bad happen tae ye.”

“And ye’re mine.”

He nodded. “Aye. That I am,” he said. “Speaking of which…”

A shy, awkward smile touched his lips, and he looked… tentative. Magnus was always so sure of himself, so the uncertainty she was on his face was odd. It was something she’d never seen in him before, and it piqued her curiosity.

“What is it?” she asked.

“I need tae ask ye somethin’.”

“What is it? Are ye all right?”

“Aye. I’m fine. I just…”

Ciara frowned. Magnus’ uncertainty scared her. But when he lowered himself to a knee, she felt her heart leap into her throat. He held onto her hand but her other balled into a fist at her side and her face flushed a deep scarlet.

“Ciara, I love ye. More than I thought I could love another person,” he said as he pulled a beautifully ornate gold band from his pocket and held it up for her to see. “Would ye dae me the greatest honor in the world of bein’ me wife?”

Tears streamed down her face as she looked from him to the gold ring he offered her. As much as she wanted to say yes and throw herself into his arms, she couldn’t. Not without extracting a promise from him first.

“Magnus, ye ken ye make me happy, dinnae ye?” she asked softly. “Happier than I ever thought I could be?”

His face clouded over, and she saw a glimmer of fear in his eyes. “And ye make me just as happy, Ciara. ‘Tis why I?—”

“Me people need a leader. More than that, me clan needs a good man tae be that leader,” she said. “Tis been so long since we’ve had a good man and me clan has suffered for it.”

Magnus cocked his head. “What are ye askin’ me?”

“If I’m tae marry ye—and believe me, nothin’ in this world would make me happier—I’d need ye tae take up as the new laird of me clan and promise me ye’ll lead me clan as yers,” she said.

Magnus got to his feet and stared into her eyes. “Ciara, there’s nothin’ I wouldnae dae fer ye. Tae be with ye. If that’s what ye need tae be with me, then that’s what I’ll dae.”

Her heart swelling larger than she thought it could ever be, she threw her arms around him and together they laughed. He stepped back and slipped the ring on her finger and Ciara held her hand up, admiring the way it gleamed in the dying light of the day and felt the tears streaming down her face. Magnus brushed them away with his thumb then leaned down and gave her a soft, gentle kiss that made her soul ring with joy.

“We should go tell me braither,” he said. “I dinnae ken what he’ll say.”

A tremor of concern passed through her, but Magnus gave her a reassuring smile. “Dinnae worry. ‘Tis nae his decision tae make. I’d just like tae have his blessin’, is all.”

“Of course.”

Hand in hand, they took the stairs from the ramparts down into the castle and found Domhnall in the great hall. Kai sat in his usual chair and Domhnall sat in his. He read from a parchment, his face dark and clouded over.

“What is it, Domhnall?” Magnus asked.

He looked up from the parchment and Ciara saw the man’s eyes lock in on the band of gold around her finger. He didn’t miss a thing. He stared at it blankly for a moment before a wide smile lightened his expression as he got up and approached them. Domhnall wasn’t a man given to expressions of emotion, but he threw his arms around his brother, laughing heartily as he clapped him on the back. Then he turned to Ciara and took her hands in his, giving her a smile, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

“Are ye sure ye ken what ye’re doin’?” he asked. “Are ye sure ye want tae be takin’ up with this one? I’m sure I can find ye a better match.”

Magnus laughed and punched his brother in the arm, and they embraced once more. Domhnall took Magnus’ hand and then Ciara’s in his own, his smile wistful but sincere.

“I’m happy fer ye both,” he said.

Magnus cleared his throat. “I’m grateful, braither. But there’s one thing?—”

“Ye’re goin’ tae be laird of her clan. Aye, I figured.”

Ciara exchanged a look with Magnus then turned back to Domhnall. “And… ye’re all right with that?”

“Aye. I’m grateful me braither found a good woman tae spend his life with. He deserves that,” he said. “As dae ye. Me braither’s a good man. I have nary a doubt he’ll be a good laird.”

“Thank you, Domhnall,” Ciara said as fresh tears streaked her cheeks.

“I wish the both of ye nothin’ but joy in yer lives together.”

“Thank ye, braither,” Magnus said.

“I’m goin’ tae throw ye a feast tae honor the day,” Domhnall said. “If that’s all right with the both of ye.”

“Of course,” Ciara cried.

Kai came over to congratulate them as Domhnall walked back to his chair and sat down, picking up the parchment he’d been reading when they walked in. Magnus stepped closer to his brother and looked down.

“What are ye readin’ that has ye so troubled?” Magnus asked.

“’Tis a missive from the king. He’s sendin’ some men tae claim yer faither, Ciara,” he said. “He’s goin’ tae be tried for treason.”

She frowned but nodded. “I expected as much.”

“I’ll ask that his life be spared, but I cannae make any promises.”

“I understand. And thank ye fer tryin’.”

“Is that all?” Magnus asked.

He shook his head. “Unfortunately, nae. He’s also demandin’ that Thora marry a lad he’s chosen tae make an alliance.”

“Oh fer the wee man! Nae again!” Magnus exclaimed. “Isnae it enough that ye married someone he proposed? I mean, it ended well fer ye, but he still got what he wanted!”

“He’s the king. He can dae what he wants.”

“I dinnae want tae see me sister unhappy.”

Domhnall looked at the parchment and sighed. After a long moment, he balled it up and thew it into the firepit in the center of the hall.

“We’ll deal with that later,” he said. “Fer now, let’s talk about gettin’ ye married and makin’ plans fer that. I ken Katherine is goin’ tae be excited.”

Their laughter rang through the hall as they talked about their wedding. The wine flowed and it wasn’t long before the rest of the family filtered in, and the food was brought out for their evening meal. Everybody was excited and happy for them for them. And though Ciara was overjoyed, she couldn’t help but feel for Thora, who had no idea what was happening. She’d been there and silently vowed to do whatever it took to ensure the woman’s happiness. She had been able to find it and believed she deserved the same.

Magnus looked at her. “I love ye.”

“I love ye. And I’m lookin’ forward tae spendin’ me life with ye.”

He kissed her softly. “Nothin’ could ever make me happier.”

But there’s more…

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