Epilogue

One month later,

Strathnaver, Scotland

Idalia watched the activities in the hall with child-like eagerness. The dancers were extremely skilled and the musicians were some of the finest she had ever listened to. The sound of raucous laughter filled the large room, and everywhere Idalia looked, she saw someone dancing to the fast-paced music with incredible fervor.

Serving hands flowed relentlessly through the hall, refilling mugs with drinks and plates with food. There was enough wine, ale, and meat to feed an entire country, and Dunn had quite literally threatened the men to eat and drink all they could.

She smiled when she saw her family and friends enjoying the reception after the difficult past two years. Leonor was talking with Andrew and closer to the musicians she saw Dunn and Katarina chatting with Adamina and Ewan. He was saying something and Adamina laughed. Idalia watched them with interest. He moved his long dark hair away from his forehead while he spoke and she was watching him intently, her cheeks slightly colored. Idalia couldn't help but wonder about them and decided to speak to Adamina about it when she had the chance. After all, she and her sisters had been rather inquisitive about her feelings for Bran when they had returned to the castle together that first time, had they not?

The hall was filled with people, most of whom Idalia did not recognize. All the council men were present with their families, and many locals from the town were there as well to take part in the wedding feast. Bran had informed her that guests from neighboring lands were in attendance, but Idalia could not recognize them in the crowd.

The ceremony had been a more muted affair. The only people who had been present were the families of Idalia and Bran, as well as a few friends from both sides. Andrew had agreed to walk Idalia down the aisle, and she saw how much pride it gave him to do so.

"Thanks for this honor," Andrew had whispered, as they walked towards Bran, who looked immaculately dressed and groomed.

"There's nothing to thank me for," Idalia had replied quietly. "You have been a true friend, and I am grateful to have you in my life." Andrew had smiled and nodded silently. He had handed Idalia over to her soon-to-be-husband and took his place behind him.

The ceremony had moved on without incident, but Idalia had felt the overwhelming urge to glance over her shoulder. She had feared for the worst, waiting for something to go wrong before she and Bran could exchange their vows. Nothing had happened, however, to her great relief. Both of them had said their vows, and when the priest had bound them together at the wrist, Idalia had allowed herself to breathe easily for the first time.

She looked down at the cord still fastening her left hand to Bran's right, a symbol of the binding of their two lives. She snuggled in close to Bran, who looked down at her and smiled, then kissed her gently on the forehead.

"How do ye feel?" he asked, his voice louder than normal so she could hear him in the noisy room.

"I feel wonderful," Idalia replied. In honesty, she was exhausted to her bones. Her sisters had come to get her ready for the day hours before the sun was in the sky, and it had been one activity after the other ever since.

Idalia glanced at Mahala, who was sitting on the high table with her and Bran, directly to her right. She saw the child struggling with a thick slice of roasted beef in gravy and reached for her plate. "Here, let me get that for you," Idalia said with a broad smile on her face.

Mahala smiled back and handed her the plate eagerly. Idalia managed to cut the meat into smaller, more manageable bites for Mahala, then handed the plate back to her. "Thank you," Mahala said before turning back to the food.

Idalia smiled at her, then turned back to see Bran watching them, a smile on his face. Idalia blushed slightly, feeling like a little girl. "What?"

"Thank ye."

"What for?"

Bran pointed towards Mahala. "For that. Ye ken she simply adores ye, dae ye nae? She daes. Given all she has been through, she finds it hard tae trust people. With ye? It seems like the most natural thing in the world for her tae dae. Thank ye for marrying me."

Bran's words stirred strong emotions inside Idalia. "Well, you're not the only one with something to be thankful for, you know?"

"Oh?" Bran laced his fingers through Idalia's. "And who might that be?"

"Thank you for making me a part of your family," Idalia said. "You have given me something I never thought I would find in my life. For a long time, I lived with fear and uncertainty. That's all gone now, and I have you to thank for that."

Bran watched her silently for a long time, and in his eyes, Idalia saw how much he loved her. She leaned forward to kiss him, and once again, she felt the world fade away in the background as his lips touched hers.