Epilogue

One week later, Mackintosh Castle

A warm sun shone over the Mackintosh lands that day. It was still early in the morning, but Elayne and Dunn were already out of bed, Dunn insisting that he had something important to show her. He had made her dress and have a hasty breakfast before the two of them grabbed his horse and made their way through the woods, although he hadn’t told her where he was taking her.

Still, Elayne was enjoying the day. It was rare to see a sky without clouds in those parts, and she was certain everyone would take advantage of the good weather day, spilling out into the courtyard and the surrounding lands.

Elayne’s arrival had been nothing like what she had imagined. For days, she had feared it would be difficult to adjust to the change and to her new life, away from her father. She had also feared that Dunn’s family wouldn’t accept her so easily, though Dunn had assured her that would not be the case. She had learnt to be wary of family interactions, but this was so different from what she was used to from her father.

Dunn’s brothers and their wives, his sister, their friends, they all welcomed her to their home with open arms, already making her feel as though their clan was her home. Dunn had been right, after all. She had nothing to fear when it came to his family.

“It’s nice here,” she said, craning her neck to look at Dunn over her shoulder as they rode. “Where are ye takin’ me?”

It was not the first time Elayne had tried to find out their destination, but just like every other time she had asked, Dunn only smiled. “Ye’ll see.”

They spent the rest of the short ride in a comfortable silence, enjoying the cool breeze and the warmth of the sun. Eventually, Dunn steered the horse away from the path, until a lake appeared before them, its waters clear and inviting.

Elayne held her breath at the sight. Flowers bloomed all around the bank, the green grass sprawling all over the ground around them. There were no sounds there other than the breeze, the water, and the birds that flew above them and nestled in the branches of the trees.

“Dunn, this is beautiful,” she said as he helped her off the horse. Once he had secured the reins around a tree trunk, Dunn took her hand and led her closer to the lake. It didn’t take Elayne long to understand why he had taken her there.

She was still hesitant to entertain the idea of going swimming in the lake after almost drowning not once, but twice. With Dunn by her side, though, she felt a little safer. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her; she knew. All she had to do was trust him.

“Will ye come in the water with me?” he asked.

Elayne considered declining for a moment. She didn’t have to go in the water to appreciate the beauty of the place. She could tell from Dunn’s hopeful look that he wanted her to agree, though, so she nodded and took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart.

The two of them undressed leisurely now that they had all the time in the world. Dunn took her hand and led her into the lake, once again holding onto her so that she wouldn’t be scared, and Elayne was grateful for it. That side of the lake seemed to be deep, and soon her feet didn’t reach the bottom.

“I am holdin’ ye,” Dunn assured her. “I willnae let ye go.”

Slowly, the fear seeped out of Elayne and she could finally relax against him. Dunn’s arm was wrapped tightly around her waist as they both treaded water, his warm skin a stark contrast against the chill of the water.

She had no doubts about it. Dunn would always keep her safe.

“Dae ye like it here?” Dunn asked after a few moments of silence. “Are ye happy?”

It was an odd question for Elayne to answer. She was happy, more than she had been in a long while, but that happiness was marred by the pain that still gnawed on her, the regret she held for her father. Though he was still alive, there was still the risk of the gallows. Perhaps it was what he deserved, but Elayne couldn’t bear the thought of losing the only tie left to the family that birthed her.

She didn’t want to burden Dunn with any of that, though. “I am,” she assured him, giving him a sweet smile. “How could I nae be? I have ye, I have a new family. I wish I could stay here longer an’ ken them better, but we will probably have tae return tae Castle Macgillivray soon.”

Though the decision had not yet been made, the lairdship of the clan would most likely go to Dunn now, since they would soon wed, this time for real. With Dunn taking over, they would have to be there, at least for the first several months of the transition.

Besides, they had another wedding to attend, other than their own. Blaine had finally found the guts to ask Isobel’s hand in marriage, and Elayne couldn’t wait to return and plan the wedding with her.

“They can visit us, too,” Dunn pointed out. “I’m sure they will be happy to come.”

“They must,” said Elayne, beaming at him. “After we wed an’ return home, we must throw them a feast.”

Returning her wide smile with one of his own, Dunn leaned closer to capture her lips in a soft kiss. “As ye wish. I cannae wait tae be yer husband. I’ll make ye the happiest wife in the world.”

“I’ll remember that,” Elayne teased, giving him another kiss, this time deeper and longer. Neither of them could keep their hands off each other for long, even though they were constantly near each other, spending their nights together in bed. “An’ thank ye fer helpin’ me tae nae fear things. Without ye, well, without ye, I would have been Laird McCoy’s wife now an’ I’m certain me life would have been ruled by fear.”

“I’m the one who should be thankin’ ye,” said Dunn. “I’m glad ye convinced me tae pretend tae be yer husband.”

“Even though it was dangerous?”

“Even so,” said Dunn. “I would dae it all again if it meant I would have ye in the end.”

Elayne didn’t know how to respond to that other than offer a whispered confession of her love to him. It hardly seemed enough compared to everything Dunn had done for her but she was determined to be the best wife she could be for him in return.

Despite everything, she could answer his question truthfully, she thought. She truly was the happiest she had ever been.