Chapter Twenty-Eight

Rhiannon stood on the battlements where she and Camden had first made love and drew a deep breath of fragrant morning air perfumed with newly blooming heather. Camden had asked her to wait up here for a signal of the bagpipes to come to him.

The tranquility of the morning calmed her sudden nervousness.

She was not nervous to marry the man she loved.

Nay, she knew that the rest of their days would be filled with joy.

They had both suffered so much already, she with her family, and he while being held prisoner in the Holy Land away from those he loved.

Rhiannon lifted her chin, allowing a whisper of the breeze to tug at her thick cascade of hair.

She wore it loose about her shoulders as he liked it best.

The staff, dressed in bright plaids, brought the grounds of the inner bailey alive with their joyous dancing and lilting voices. Yesterday's tragedy was but a memory on this day that she and Camden would marry.

Camden.

He waited across the courtyard for her to join him. The sound of bagpipes rose above the din of voices, calling her forward to join her groom. Knowing she had started her journey toward him, Camden looked up and a slow, sensual smile came to his lips. Rhiannon forgot to breathe as she drank in the sight of him.

He wore his plaid green and blue and red cloth over a crisp white shirt that did nothing to hide his bold masculinity. He was powerful, forceful, yet gentle. And he belonged to her from this day forth.

With the bagpipes soaring, she continued to drift toward him down the stairway, through the castle and out of the keep. As she neared, he clapped his hands, twice. Instantly, the warriors formed a makeshift aisle, drew their swords, and held them in an arch for her to pass beneath. Rhiannon's breath caught in her throat as Camden took her hand, smiling into her eyes. "You are breathtaking, my love."

"As are you, my husband." Rhiannon was very glad she had decided to wear the Lockhart plaid as her wedding gown. It was her family plaid now.

At the end of the row of swords, Violet waited for them, wearing a new dress made from Lockhart plaid as well. Rhiannon held out her hand. There were no longer shadows in the girl's eyes, only joy.

Camden took Violet's other hand and walked with the two women toward the eldest Church councilman who had offered to return this morning to perform the wedding ceremony.

When they stopped, Rhiannon released Camden's hand and knelt before Violet. "Before your uncle and I marry, there is something I must ask of you."

"What?" Violet grew serious.

"Will you, Lady Violet Lockhart, accept me as your mother? I cannot replace the mother who bore you, but I will promise to love you as she would have loved you all of your days."

Violet's face brightened and she threw her arms around Rhiannon's shoulders. "Nothing would make me happier."

Rhiannon ruffled the little girl's curls. "Then we will be a family, the three of us."

Violet released Rhiannon. "Hurry and marry each other so I can have a new mummy and daddy."

Rhiannon stood and placed her hand in Camden's larger one. She stood proudly before him as they took their marriage vows. At last they were pronounced man and wife. The sound of bagpipes rose and swelled over the thunder of cheer and applause from the crowd.

"Before we seal our vows with a kiss," Camden said in a suddenly somber tone, "I have something I must give you." He stepped back to where Orrin stood, and accepted two narrow wooden boxes, one longer than the other, from his hands. When he joined her once more, Camden held the object out to her. "My gifts."

With hesitant fingers, she lifted the lid of the longer box, and tears misted in her eyes. "Camden," she whispered brokenly. Inside the box lay a newly milled bow and six arrows.

"For the woman who can protect herself, though her husband hopes she never will need to do so."

Then she opened the second box. Inside lay the Charm Stone.

He picked up the Stone and held it out to her. "Now that you are a Lockhart, you have the power to use it," he said.

She accepted his gift, twining it in her fingers. "Thank you." Filled with overwhelming joy, she slid her arms around Camden's neck. "But I have nothing to give you in return."

With a possessive hand at the small of her back, he pressed her closer. "You have given me two gifts I never expected." At her startled gaze, he brought his lips to hers and kissed her with a reverence that touched her very soul. After what seemed like an eternity he broke the kiss, but did not release her.

"And what is that?" She looked up at him with her heart in her eyes.

"Freedom and love." He cradled against his chest. "For a warrior who once had neither of those things, they are the most precious gifts of all."

And from her vantage point, still holding on to Rhiannon's skirt and her uncle's leg, Violet looked up. Not at her new mother and father, but at the Charm Stone that dangled from Rhiannon's fingers. The red stone at the center of the coin seemed to glow with happiness beneath the warmth of their affection.

Warmed by their love and the happiness within, Violet smiled. The Charm Stone's magic had certainly worked to heal two wounded hearts.