Chapter Thirty-Three

The wedding was going to be glorious. More than that—it would be stunning, beautiful, wonderful. So many things to Eli. The days had passed as they'd readied the keep for the festivities, and it would be nearly perfect.

Except her grandparents weren't there.

"Eli, I need ye to promise me something," her mother said.

"I'll try. But I know they are no' coming back. And it's my wedding—and everyone else's nearly."

"Ye are already handfasted and so are the others," Merewen said. "Promise me ye will no' allow their absence to ruin yer day. Ye deserve every happy moment, and so does Alaric. And the others. No tears."

"I'll try, Mama. But I hoped she would come back, with Brigid and Jennet and Tara all here."

"She visited with them and said her goodbyes. None of them had any new treatments for her to try, but Brigid gave her something to ease her pain."

Her father came into her bedchamber. "Merewen, go downstairs and break yer fast. I'll talk with her."

Eli's mother kissed her cheek and slipped out of the chamber.

"Did they tell ye they werenae coming back, Da? Because I could tell they didnae mean to." She fought to hold her tears back. Dammit, but all those years she spent not crying must have built too many up inside her.

"Da called us in to sit with Mama. He came back late one night and called all my siblings to meet with them. It was Molly, Maggie, Simone, Beatris, Sorcha, Gregor, and Brigid. She told us she wouldnae die in front of a crowd. That if she was going to pass on, she wished to do it quietly and without the whole family hovering outside her door. She asked Da to take her away."

"They could have waited a few more days."

"Mayhap, but she has the right to die on her own terms."

"Da, I dinnae wish to live without Grandmama. Grandsire will come back, will he no'?"

"I'm sure he will. Brigid wondered if he was secretly taking her to some other healer. She also said that some people heal on their own, so that is possible too."

Eli hugged her father, so glad to have him by her side. He was her rock through everything. "I know they cannae live forever. I just wished for a wee bit more time."

"But today is yer wedding day, and ye have a fine husband waiting for ye. I have to admit, I didnae think my Elisant would ever find a man who was her perfect match, but Alaric Grant is, I think. Ye have strong feelings for him and he feels the same for ye, so I hope ye will have a wonderful marriage."

"My thanks, Da." She brushed her tears away. "I'll be fine now. I wish for this wedding to begin already!"

"I'll let yer mother know that ye are going to get dressed. I need to prepare, too."

Her father left and her mother returned. Eli readied herself, even going to another chamber so Avelina could do her hair. She knew Lily and her daughters were tacking and decorating the horses, and she couldn't wait to see their mounts. All of a sudden, her nerves tied up in knots from worry about what Alaric would think of her dress.

Much later, all dressed and ready to go, her mother held her by the shoulders at arm's length. "Ye are beautiful, my dear. Yer man will be struck speechless. Ye are ready?"

Eli glanced toward the window of the chamber. "Just one more moment, Mama. Is there nothing more we need to do?"

"Eli, we must go. Ye are late."

"I know. I had hoped…"

Merewen wrapped her arms around her. "Grandmama is no' returning. The others are waiting. 'Tis time."

She squared her shoulders and said, "Ye are correct, Mama. I love ye so. I am ready. I canno' wait to see Alaric in his Grant finery."

Her mother followed her downstairs, but when she saw her father, she stopped, suddenly overcome with emotion because it had been so long since she'd seen him dressed so fine. The white leine against his bronzed skin and the blue of the Ramsay plaid was indeed splendid. And the dark boots he'd had made special were magnificent. Her mother's voice carried over her shoulder, "Oh, Gavin. Ye are as handsome as the day we married."

She hurried over to her sire and kissed his cheek. "Da, ye look wonderful!"

"Ye better get outside. Yer groom is getting nervous, and everyone else is waiting."

"I will. But why would he be nervous?" she asked as she stepped out the door and gazed across the courtyard, full of her cousins and horses. Everyone was just so…

"Eli, ye havenae changed yer mind, have ye?" There stood Alaric, the finest looking man in the entire land. Oh how she adored him.

She shook her head, raced down the stairs and threw herself into his arms. "Never! I love ye, and I'm sorry I delayed."

"As long as ye still agree to say aye, all is forgiven."

"Of course I'll say aye. I wish to be with ye forever, Alaric. Yer heart is entwined with mine. I know no' how it happened, but we'll never be separated."

"True. We may be apart, but I will always love ye, lassie mine." He kissed her cheek then stepped back to look at her gown, walking in a slow circle around her. "Clever, lass."

"Do ye like it?" She rubbed her cheek, hoping he'd say he approved.

"I do," he said, taking in the way she'd managed to mix both plaids. The underskirt of her gown was blue with a Ramsay plaid over it, and her bodice was a light red with a Grant plaid folded over the chest and her shoulder. "Why Grant on top?"

She touched her hand to her chest. "Closest to my heart. But I am both Ramsay and Grant, ye are aware." Her plaid bodice matched his own plaid exactly, his white leine such a contrast against the colors that he looked more magnificent than ever.

"Aye, ye are, my fine beauty. I approve yer choices. Ye will be the loveliest bride there."

Torrian called out, "I'm heading out. Follow me." Torrian and Heather led the way through the gates on horseback and took a small turn toward the loch where the ceremony was to take place.

There were many horses and rows and rows of well-wishers. She and Alaric were last behind Ysenda and Lewis and Tevis and Wenna. Thea and Willum led the group. The parents of each couple escorted them, Gracie and Jamie on one side of them while her parents rode on the other, moving back and forth between Ysenda and Eli. Alaric held her close on their black destrier, ribbons of red and blue entwined in Midnight Moon's mane and tail.

It was a glorious procession. "I love being at the back, Alaric, so we can see everyone. Look how beautiful Ysenda is." Her sister spun around and waved to her. She fought the tears, swiping at them as soon as they appeared. As they made the bend, she thought she caught a flash of something silver at the top of the hill not far away. "Did ye see that, Alaric?"

"Nay, what?"

"A flash of something like a sword. Up in the trees and the brush atop the hill."

"I dinnae see anything, but Kyle and Kyler are patrolling the outskirts with a group of guards, so dinnae worry. No one will try to grab ye on this day. We are surrounded by friends."

"Good," she replied, but she had the oddest feeling that they were being watched. Grandsire and Grandmama? She dismissed it from her mind; she was too busy taking in the sight of the lovely processional. She vowed to enjoy every bit of their wedding day.

Horses pranced and minstrels played as they approached the loch, the parents moving back while the couples moved into a semi-circle around the priest, dismounting and standing together, taking their vows as a group. It almost felt as if they were pledging themselves not only to their spouses, but to their clanmates and friends.

When the ceremony finished, Alaric kissed her hard, then swooped her up and tossed her into the air, catching her as she squealed in delight. She'd never been happier.

They mounted their horse, Alaric climbing behind her as the couples joined their individual clans, banners waving and their horses galloping across the meadow to applause, competing war whoops so loud that at one point, Eli covered her ears. How she loved all their clans.

"Alaric."

"What love?" He let out another Grant war whoop, kissed her cheek and said, "Are ye no' happy?"

"I've never been happier."

Gradually, the shouts and chaos settled, and everyone made their way back to the castle. The courtyard filled with guests and the newly married couples. The families ate and danced in the courtyard, while villagers and guards celebrated outside the wall with food and drink for all.

At one point, Els stood in the center of the dance area, holding his young son and dancing in place. He didn't move his feet, because he was still unsteady, but Joya danced on one side of him while Jowell was on the other to support him. He looked so happy standing and wiggling to the music while his son giggled joyously.

Eli danced until her feet hurt, but she enjoyed every moment of it, especially when Alaric grabbed her and planted a big kiss on her lips while the crowd cheered. They had so much fun, and she made the best of it.

But a wee part of her still missed her grandparents.

When the magical day ended and people began to take their leave, she and Alaric decided to go outside the wall and speak with the villagers and guards and say good eve to those who were leaving. Darkness would be falling soon, and most wished to be settled before night was completely upon them. Rows and rows of colorful tents decorated the meadow for as far as she could see.

She swore she'd never seen so many people in one place. It was a wedding to remember.

It was then, as guests were streaming away, that she saw the reflection up on the hill. Her grandsire's sword. He was there. She swore he was up there watching. That was exactly what she thought she'd seen earlier.

Alaric was busy chatting with some guards, and she laid her hand on his arm to get his attention. "I'll be right back."

He nodded his agreement, and she raced up the hill, oblivious to the dirt on her dress and the rips in her silk hose. She didn't care. She had to see Grandmama one more time.

"Grandmama!" she shouted, hoping it would stop them from taking their leave. "One more time, Grandda, please! Grandmama!"

She reached the top of the hill and pushed through the brush, ignoring the brambles scratching her arm and the nettles against her legs. She didn't care.

She made it into the clearing. The place she was sure they'd been watching from. There! She saw it, her heart nearly exploding from the excitement that they might still be here. The chair. They had been at her wedding.

That knowledge alone pleased her.

There in the middle of the small clearing sat the chair that Donnan and Bethia had made for her grandmother. And across from it was an open area in the brush for them to peer through without giving their location away. Her grandfather was forever clever.

"Grandsire?"

All quiet. Nothing stirred at all. She moved over and brushed her fingers along the back of the chair, tears misting her eyes as she thought about the woman who'd guided her so much in her life.

The woman who'd taught her to be strong, to stand up to men, to stand up for what was right.

The woman who taught them all that a lass could be as powerful in warfare and everyday life as a man.

The woman who loved her children and grandchildren unconditionally, with every part of her being. The woman who taught her the meaning of love.

She would never forget her. She wandered through the small area, hoping she would catch a glimpse of one of them watching from afar, but she didn't.

She was nearly ready to give up when she saw it. Her breath caught as she reached for the medal hanging in the hollow of an ancient tree.

Could it be the medal Grandmama had told her about? She took it from the middle of the tree, fingering the fine chain it was on and studying the delicate pattern of knots engraved on the front before flipping it over to read the words on the back.

The finder of this medal is the chosen one of the faeries. They leave it where they know she will find it.

She clutched the medal in her fist, holding it close to her breast.

She was the chosen one? What exactly did that mean?

Alaric called out through the brush. "Eli? Where are ye?"

"Here. I'm here, love."

He stopped in front of her, looking her up and down. "Ye made a mess of yer dress, aye?"

"I guess. But I dinnae need it anymore."

He gave her that devious look she loved so much.

"What brought ye here, lass?" He reached up and did his best to tame the curls that had come loose from her hairpins in her hurry to reach the top of the hill.

"I thought I saw Grandda and Grandmama here. And look, their chair is behind ye. Proof that they were here."

"Och, so they were. So they did watch us get married. In fact, I see the small area in the bushes that someone cut with a blade. A hole to view everything from without being seen. Sounds like something yer grandsire would do. That pleases ye, does it no'?"

"It does. And I found this necklace in the tree, so I think I'll wear it." She put it on, hiding it under the neckline of her gown.

"In the tree? Did yer grandmother leave it for ye to find?"

She hadn't considered that.

She shrugged. It didn't really matter. No matter what, the necklace would always remind her of Gwyneth Ramsay.

Eli kissed her husband, then led him back down the hill, taking one last look at the chair.

Then she winked. Just in case someone was there to see.