80. Chapter 80 - Kaitlyn

Archie and Ben were each on the horses, Mario and Thor, Zoe and Isla were sharing Dràgon. The rest of us were on foot. Haggis bounding and rushing around sniffing the new world. Sean was looking around, taking it all in as Fraoch was talking happily about the landscape, explaining it all. Hayley said, "How long have you been here, my love?"

He chuckled, "I daena ken, we arrived a few days ago," then he and Magnus said at the same time, "It feels like we hae been here for a long time."

Magnus said, "I canna remember this park, yet it all feels commonplace, the kind of familiar that means I hae spent many a day ridin' through it."

I wore Jack in a sling on my front, my hand held by my husband as he guided us down the path towards his old home, our new home.

Then we came to our first glimpse of the castle up on the rocky crag, towering over the landscape. I remembered it, from my shifting past, the timber walls, the upward slope of the grass and the path to the front gate.

As we climbed, Magnus turned and swept out his arms toward the view. "Allow me tae introduce ye tae our kingdom, Alba."

Isla kindly said, "Wow, Da, it's beautiful."

"Aye, bairn, tis. Archibald, dost ye see the flags upon the walls?"

"Aye, Da, they are ours."

Magnus smiled. "That they are."

I glanced up at his face. "How you feeling, highlander?"

He said, "Verra satisfied, ye are here." He drew my hand up and kissed the back of my fingers. We turned toward the gate as it was being raised.

Magnus's friend, Cailean, who I had met briefly, somewhere, some time ago, was standing with his arms out, "Welcome!" Armored guardsmen filed out, and lined up along the path, so we would pass between them as we approached the gate.

Sean said, "Och, tis verra grand."

I said to the kids, "Watch how they bow, it's like a wave." As we passed the guards bowed their heads and only lifted them after we had gone by.

Archie whispered, "Cool."

Jack waved, "Ba-ba!"

Cailean said, when we stood before him, "Och aye, Mag Mòr, here is yer family!"

He clasped my hands in both of his, warmly and fondly, "Queen Kaitlyn, welcome tae Stirling, tis a pleasure, I feel as if I hae met ye before as Mag Mòr speaks of ye so kindly and often."

Magnus said, "Tis a jest on how much I talk, Cailean?"

He laughed, "Nae, tis a remark on how lonely ye hae been."

Fraoch said, "Nae, ye are too polite, Cailean, ye ken he talks too much."

We all helped the kids down from the horses, and then Magnus stood with a hand on each of the children's shoulders. "Cailean, this is my eldest son, Archibald. My daughter, Isla, and m'son, Jack." Jack waved, grinning, then tucked his head into my shoulder.

Cailean said, "Tis a beautiful family Mag Mòr."

Magnus said, "There are still more! Sean, m'brother," he clapped him on the shoulder, "has come, this is Fraoch's wife, Madame Hayley, and we hae Chef Zach, ye hae heard me speak about his food?—"

Cailean teased, "Endlessly and exuberantly."

"And his lovely wife, Madame Emma, and their children, m'nephew Ben, and niece, Zoe."

Cailean said, "Finally I meet them all."

Fraoch said, "Except for the many who hae yet tae arrive. We will fill the castle once they all come."

Cailean said, "But for now, I meet the Prince! Og Archie, ye are the spittin' image of Mag Mòr! Follow me, I want tae shew ye something!"

He led us all through the gates, the morning sun warm on the walls, and our eyes were greeted with a full courtyard, a hundred people or more, and they began to chant, Long Live the King! Long Live Mag Mòr! Long Live the King!

Cailean said, "Tis good?"

Magnus said, "Aye, tis verra good." He looked down on Archie. "Tis good, Archibald?"

And Archie looked up at his father and said, "Aye."

I clutched Magnus's arm and kissed his shoulder. "You fixed it, my love."