Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Marie sat in front of the fireplace in the great hall at Dunstaffnage, but it wasn't in the present as she had hoped. Their travel back through the portal had been delayed longer than she believed.

Now over two weeks had passed since the dinner incident. The funeral preparations and castle business kept John busy. Laird MacDougall acted like John became the secondary captain, often including him in all castle and clan business, which left little to no time for them to see each other.

But today, it was different. John's parents' funeral had finally arrived. John had sent a message to her. She held the note in her hand now. She read it often.

Marie,

It is my sincerest wish you join me in the funeral procession for my parents. Please stand by my side. For this day, I will need your strength and wisdom. It is my dearest hope with the conclusion of my parents' funeral we can finally return home. Home to the future.

Forever yours

John

No declaration of love, no mention of becoming his future bride, he only spoke of his need for her.

She sat and held the letter as she waited for John to arrive. So, they attended his parents' funeral, his second funeral for each. She folded the note and put it in her pouch. Was the thread left of their relationship enough? Was his need for her and love sufficient along with her desperate need and love for him?

"Marie, are ye ready?" John's voice startled her.

****

John stood as he stared at her in the main hall by the fireplace, much as he had that night in the future. The one where he sent Colin to the past when he understood so many things. His duty to the stones and how it affected all those he served—how the rocks might put Marie in danger. If he kept her from them would be the only way he kept her safe.

He understood differently now. The evil Fae would use anyone close to those who protected the stones as a weapon if they believed it would get them a Stone of Iona. He knew then he loved her, but life was much simpler.

Now everything seemed so complicated. The stones, the magic, his parents' death, Marie—if he kept her close, loved her, would she constantly be a target, in jeopardy from the Fae, the stones? Would he be able to keep her safe and get to her in time?

He loved her too much to place her in the path of danger, and he wasn't sure if he asked her to be with him was the best choice for her. But he loved her with all his heart and soul. He wanted her near, wanted to touch her, hold her, love her. But if the price became her death at the hand of his duty, he didn't know if he could live with the guilt. He gazed at her again, finding solace when she stayed with him today. He would sort out the rest later. Today, he buried his parents for the last time, his final goodbye, and he wanted his love beside him.

He stepped forward, close to her. She was more beautiful in period clothing than any woman he had seen before and would ever see again.

"Marie, are ye ready?"

She jolted and whipped around in the chair.

John strode to her and offered his hand. "'Tis time. I am happy ye are joining me today."

She glanced at his hand, then back at his face. Streaks of tears stained her cheeks. Were they tears for his parents or him? He couldn't tell.

Laird MacDougall entered the hall with the rest of the funeral procession. "Aye, here we are. A solemn day for ye, John, it is."

John took Marie's hand and guided her to stand next to him.

As Laird MacDougall approached, his eyes went to their joined hands. "She will be joining us today, lad? She's not yer wife. 'Tis highly inappropriate."

John held Marie firm, even when she tried to remove her hand. "Aye, she's joining me, my laird."

Laird MacDougall glanced between them both. Lady MacDougall took his arm as she whispered in his ear. Laird MacDougall nodded and turned to the castle's main door.

The group gathered at the castle entrance and formed the funeral procession with the caskets lined up, ready to go. The village gathered outside to bid farewell to their favored boat captain and his loving wife.

Marie sniffled next to him as they started forward and followed the group. He squeezed her hand and turned to tell her it would be okay, but they emerged outside the castle to the crowd of mourners.

The first person to stop John and shake his hand was his da's first mate from the ship. "Yer da was a right man. It was, John. Ye should be proud ye found him before he died."

John turned and used his free hand to shake, but Marie tried to tug hers free. He gripped her harder and refused to give in. The next man shook his hand, wished him well, and so on down the line of villagers as they followed behind the laird and lady of the castle. Each time John tried to turn to Marie, another villager hailed him and expressed sorrow for his parents' passing.

While no one found their passing strange, his da at the hands of an evil priest and his wife, in her sleep, both died at the exact moment. John found it odd. He recognized their deaths occurred as a Fae spell, but he liked to think of them happy together in heaven.

A woman approached and took John's hand in hers. "Yer ma, she was my best friend. Hers was a death of heartbreak for her. It was as if she understood her lover's spirit had left the earth, and her time had arrived to join him in heaven. It was true love. Ye must know that. I'll miss them. God go with ye."

As she turned away, she stared Marie down and flashed the sign of the crow to ward off evil. Marie stiffened beside him, but he placed his free hand on her arm. This became his first glance at her face since they left the castle. Her eyes filled with tears, and she looked tired and worn. He wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and kiss her concerns away.

He leaned down and whispered, "Marie, I am glad ye are with me today. Ye bring me strength."

She glanced away from him but nodded.

The crowd filed into the chapel yard behind the laird and lady for a brief graveside service. The laird insisted on something grander for his favorite boat captain, but John's parents would want something private yet reserved for close friends and family.

As the priest began a short sermon, John stood over his parents' coffins for the second time in his life. The surreal feeling wouldn't leave him. He glanced at Marie. Her head bowed as if in prayer. He squeezed her hand in his once, and she clasped back once—reassurance.

He gazed out over the loch, quiet and smooth as if the waters bowed in reverence to the sea captain who once sailed its waters. He remembered all his parents sacrificed to be together, for love. Was love enough? For him and Marie, would love be enough? A breeze lifted his hair, then flowed down his neck. A brush against his cheek and his mother's voice spoke as if she stood before him.

"John, my sweet son. Yes, dear, it is enough. It remained enough for me to see ye for those last moments and know I will carry them forever in my heart. Ye always questioned so much, son, instead of embracing life, living life. Yer true love, I can see her, ye know. She's a beauty. Don't lose her. I'll always be here for ye, in yer prayers."

John gasped and peeked at Marie, whose head remained bowed. He tried tilting his head to see her face, but the priest's call grabbed his attention.

"My son, please step forward and give yer last prayer for yer parents." Marie tried to drop his hand, but he drew her with him. He stood there bowed over his parents' coffins.

He couldn't say out loud what he wanted. The people present didn't know of the Fae spell, the bargain his da made in exchange for his and his love's lives. Ma, Da. I love ye. Thank ye for all my blessings in life. Da, thank ye for yer sacrifice. I'll make it matter.

His da reply whispered in the wind. John, I love ye so. This remained worth it, one last adventure, eh? Keep yer Marie safe. The duty is yers now. The stones and Marie, ye must keep them safe.

Marie sniffled beside him. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to her. She glanced at him as tears ran down her cheeks.

He dried them for her and whispered, "Marie. I promise everything will be all right."