Chapter 19

19

" E rin, ye're sure this is how it's done?" Scarlett's blunt inquiry cut through the bustle, her hands pausing over a particularly stubborn knot.

"Aye, just like so," Erin replied, demonstrating again. She hid a smile; patience wasn't a virtue easily found in either sibling.

"Ye've got an eye for this," Hayden chimed in from the stool he balanced on. Erin tutted at his praise and directed him to move the ribbon along a little more.

Most of the Tartan Day Celebration would be held outside on the green near the keep, but the Scottish weather was a fickle fend, and indoor preparations were essential. The beautiful blue skies could be swept aside as quickly as Magnus changed his mood.

Hayden wobbled on his stool, hastily climbing down as Magnus entered the room. It had not gone unnoticed by Erin that the younger brother wouldn't do anything even slightly risky when Magnus entered the room. Scarlett quietened her usually bubble character down, keeping her gaze on the ribbons she was tying. Neither would make eye contact with Magnus, but Erin was happy to claim his attention for herself. She walked confidently across to Magnus, greeting him politely, but the siblings remained subdued.

Scarlett was tense, her movements becoming mechanical. Hayden's flirtatious demeanor waned, replaced by a guarded expression. Erin observed the shift; Magnus's presence sapped the merriment from the air. She watched, her heart thrumming a curious rhythm, as Magnus's gaze swept the room, lingering briefly on his siblings before settling on her with an intensity that stole her breath.

"Everything is in order," she said, mustering her calm. Her voice didn't tremble, but the fluttering in her chest betrayed her composure.

"Good," he replied calmly, but something flickered behind his eyes, a mirror of the tension that gripped Scarlett and Hayden.

Magnus shifted, his broad shoulders rolling back as if preparing for battle rather than celebration. Erin's curiosity piqued; this was a side of him she hadn't witnessed—the laird, always so self-assured, now grappling with an unseen adversary within his own keep.

"Ye seem... on edge, me laird," Erin ventured, her words careful not to wound the pride of a man who bore enough scars.

"Observant," he acknowledged gruffly, his gaze never wavering from hers.

"Is there anything amiss?" she pressed gently, the question hanging between them like a gauntlet thrown.

"These big events have a habit of drawing old enemies from the woodwork. I've been warned against dropping me guard." Magnus's jaw clenched. "Ye just worry about making the hall fancy." He paused and glanced over at Hayden. "Have him straighten that bow, it's crooked."

Erin smiled. She wasn't surprised Hayden had left the ribbon at an angle in his haste to be down on the ground when Magnus entered.

"I'll find me a strong man to help me hang the ribbon."

"No need for that. Hayden is more than capable of hanging things. He'll help ye while I'm planning the…" He didn't finish the sentence, but Erin didn't need him to. He would take care of the security.

As the final preparations were made and the hall stood ready to welcome the dawn of Tartan Day, Erin couldn't shake the feeling that something pivotal was about to unfold. A tale of love and loyalty woven into the very fabric of their lives, waiting to be told. She found Magnus stalking the corridors in search of someone, and his face brightened instantly when he saw her. Magnus beckoned, his gesture as commanding as the mountains that towered over his ancestral lands. "Come with me," he said, an urgency in his words.

Erin's heart quickened as she followed him through the heavy oak door and into the crisp Highland air, where the scent of pine and peat mingled with the promise of spring. They walked in silence until they reached the stables, where the soft sounds of snorting horses and rustling hay filled the space between them. Erin bristled with the excitement of the unknown, and she half hoped to be given a dirk to defend herself against the perceived foe in the days ahead.

"Here," Magnus said, his hand sweeping toward a magnificent bay mare with a coat that shimmered like burnished copper under the fading light. The horse nickered softly, its intelligent eyes settling on Erin with a quiet understanding.

"For me?" Erin whispered, disbelief in her tone as she stepped closer, her hand outstretched to touch the velvety muzzle. This was far better than a piece of sharpened metal.

"Aye, for ye," Magnus confirmed, his eyes never leaving her face, searching for her approval.

"Thank ye, Magnus." Her gratitude was genuine, as she had often found freedom in riding when the captivity of indoor life had grown too strong for her. After six years of being locked up, she often craved anything that made her feel free. "She's beautiful."

"Ye deserve beauty in yer life," he replied, his voice barely above a murmur. "I'll admit the idea came from yer maither. I asked what she thought was an appropriate weddin' present for ye."

"She was right." Erin stroked the mare's neck, lost for a moment in the simple joy of connection. She was very close to her siblings, especially her two sisters, and she wished Magnus had the same bond with his. A question tugged at her thoughts, urging her to break the comfortable quiet. "Magnus, why do ye keep everyone at arm's length? Yer own kin no less?"

He stiffened, the shadows of the stable playing across his scarred face as he turned away, busying himself with adjusting a saddle strap that did not need adjusting. "I've had to fight for every scrap of respect since I was a lad. Me faither's death left a power void, and there were those who thought a wee lad couldnae fill it."

"Ye were but a child," Erin murmured, realizing that the weight he carried was far heavier than she had known.

"I was fourteen," he corrected, his words clipped. "Old enough to bear arms, too young to inspire loyalty. Those scars ye see?" He gestured absently to the marks that laced his skin like a warrior's tapestry. "Proof of many attempts on me life. I kept Scarlett and Hayden at a distance...to protect them. If I fell, they wouldnae be dragged down with me."

"But Hayden would have become Laird, and he was…"

"Nine. Aye, but young enough then for others to rule in his stead."

"Ye've been alone in this fight for so long," Erin said, her concern laced with a newfound understanding as she stepped closer.

"Alone is how I survive," Magnus replied, his gaze meeting hers, an unspoken challenge flickering in his brown eyes.

"Survival is nae the same as living," Erin countered softly. "How long has it been since the last coup?"

"Some would have me believe the bridge attack was one. There was also the fire in the store and the damaged fields on our weddin' day."

"Then ye are right to be ready, but ye need yer family close now. They are nae children any longer."

Tension hung in the air as she challenged him on his beliefs. He appeared for a moment as if he would turn and charge off back to the castle, but he stayed beside her.

"Perhaps," Magnus conceded. "But it's been so long, maybe it is too late for things to change."

He gave her a pleading glance, as if she held the secrets to changing him from the distant brother into someone else. Someone he didn't know how to be."

Erin felt a shiver run down her spine. There was no doubt this was a big change in all their lives, but she had seen how far he had come in just the short time she had known him.

"Ye have been fighting fer so long," she said softly, moving closer to him, taking his large hands in hers. "Fighting fer yer clan, fer yer siblings... fer yerself."

He turned towards her, eyes searching hers as if they held some secret map to uncharted lands within his soul. "Aye," he admitted, the word rumbling deep from his chest, "But 'tis all I ken."

"Ye've kept them at arm's length because ye love them fiercely," she whispered, her own heart swelling with a realization that had crept up on her. "And that is why I—" She hesitated, her breath hitching. "That is why I am falling in love with ye, Magnus Black."

His eyes, always guarded and shadowed, now sparked with an emotion he seldom allowed to surface. Surprise, and vulnerability. Something she felt herself at this very moment.

"Ye think I can change?" he asked, his voice barely audible over the shifting of the horse in the stall beside them.

"Och, I daenae just think it—I know it," Erin assured him, her resolve as steady as the stones of their fortress home. "And what better way to start than by celebrating Tartan Day with yer brother and sister?"

A small, hesitant smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, transforming his stern visage into something unexpectedly tender. He leaned down, his lips brushing against hers in a kiss that was sweet with promise to try.

"Perhaps ye are right," he murmured against her lips, pulling back just enough to meet her gaze. They both knew it wasn't going to be easy, but together they could weather any storm.

"So are we takin' this beauty out on a ride or did ye just show me to tempt me?" Erin turned back to the horse, swiftly changing the topic to a lighter conversation. "Are we bringin' yer siblings with us?"

"Aye, a ride is just what we're all needin'," Magnus nodded. "I'll have them prepare to leave in twenty minutes."

Twenty minutes was surprisingly little time for Erin to change into her riding clothes, and by the time she had returned to the stables, Hayden and Scarlett were both ready and full of beaming smiles.

Magnus, dressed in his traditional tartan kilt, stood by their horses, looking every bit the stern laird with a hint of warmth that Erin had come to recognize. His gaze lingered on her for a moment too long, a silent acknowledgement passing between them before he turned his attention to Hayden and Scarlett.

"Ready to show yer new sister how beautiful our lands are," Magnus rumbled, his voice carrying the weight of authority mixed with a newfound lightness.

Hayden winked playfully at Erin, his mischievous grin contagious. "Aye, ready as can be, brother," he quipped, mounting his horse with an experienced ease that spoke volumes about his time spent riding the highland trails.

Scarlett's face was filled with joy as she adjusted her saddle, shooting Erin a knowing look. "Ye'll ken yer way around in no time," she said with a confidence that Erin couldn't help but admire.

As they set off towards the rolling hills that surrounded the castle, the air was crisp with the promise of a new relationship between the siblings. Erin rode close to Magnus, feeling the warmth of his presence beside her as they navigated the familiar trails. The beauty of the landscape unfolded around them, a tapestry of green hills and blooming heather that stretched as far as the eye could see.

Magnus cast occasional glances in her direction, his expression unreadable yet laced with a newfound tenderness. Erin couldn't help but steal glances at him as well, noticing how he was already more at ease with his family, the riding and the views taking the pressure off the need to talk.

"Ye ride well," Magnus commented, his voice breaking through the peaceful silence that enveloped them.

Erin smiled at the unexpected praise, her heart swelling with a mixture of pride. "Thank ye, husband," she replied, her tone light yet tinged with sincerity. "I learned from watching Flynn on our family's lands when we were but bairns. After me sisters and I were taken, I could hardly remember anything about me life before, but when me sister spoke of the boy on the horse, I remembered the image so clearly. Ridin' has been important since me return to me family."

His gaze softened, a rare warmth shining in his eyes. "Family is important," he murmured, the words heavy with unspoken truths.

Erin felt a tug at her heart, a longing for the family she barely remembered. But here, beside Magnus, amidst the rugged beauty of the Scottish landscape, she felt a sense of belonging she hadn't known since before their abduction. "We all have trials sent to test us, but we grow from them, they do nae grow within us."

The sound of bagpipes drifted from the castle in the distance, mingling with the laughter of children and the chatter of guests who had come to join in the festivities. The sun climbed higher in the sky, casting a golden glow over the land and bathing everything in a warm light that felt almost magical.

Magnus guided his horse closer to Erin's, a silent gesture that spoke volumes of unspoken promises and uncharted territories they were beginning to explore together. The subtle brush of his leg against hers sent a shiver down her spine, a sensation both thrilling and terrifying in its intimacy.

As they crested a hill, the vista below unfolded like a painting come to life. The clan's tartan waved proudly in the breeze, banners fluttering with ancient symbols of their heritage. The village looked stunning from afar, nestled amongst the rolling hills, scattered with white dots of sheep grazing in the distance. As they rode on, Hayden and Scarlett relaxed in their brother's presence, and the conversation flowed between them. They were so relaxed, Hayden started showing off how well his horse could jump the fallen trees littering the edge of the trail.

Erin considered the whole ride to be a job well done on her part. There would be more work needed, but the three siblings had now shown one another that they were willing to try, and that was a bigger hurdle than anything Hayden's horse could jump.