Page 37 of Bride Takes a Laird
“My bonny bride will have no other but me, so I am willing to accept her.”
For his brash comment, he received several strikes from their comrades to his shoulders and back offering congratulatory banter. Magnus tried to hold back his smile because it was good to see his men making merry again. They had been too solemn of late.
“Winston, will ye be garbing yourself as the green man?”
His soldier nodded vigorously. “Aye, I am prepared to make a showing as the green man.”
His brethren chortled and ruffed up Winston with jabs, pokes, and light punches to his body. Winston’s grin was wide at being the focus of the men’s jubilation.
Magnus cleared his throat to gain their attention. “Winston, ye will take many men with ye to collect the boughs and garlands. When ye return to the fief, ye can attach them to the windows and doors of the maidens. There’s a good amount of men who are marrying during the festival.” Magnus watched as the procession of bachelors passed by him. Their grins and jests lightened him. Though he hadn’t been ableto reap the benefit of his marriage at the celebration, many considered marrying on the first of May a blessing. Families allowed the courting rites of their lassies and negotiations of marriages were well settled before and at the end of the day.
“Wyren, will ye find a few men to ensure all hearths are darkened before the bonfires are lit this eve? Once we light the two bonfires, we’ll allow the farmers to bring the livestock through.” Magnus noted his brother’s acceptance of his task.
Wyren nodded and pointed to some of the men standing around him and spoke low, giving them directions for their task. The men scattered to perform their duties. Those who remained in the area to collect wood and boughs would return later. The rest of them took to their mounts and headed for home.
Of all the rituals and rites of the festival, Magnus found the blessing of the fire to be the most coveted and sacred, but the worshiping at the stone was just as poignant. When the fires were lit and as the animals passed between the fires three times, they would then be put to the summer pasture where the animal’s fertility would be ensured. Some years they had doubled their livestock numbers. He hoped to do so again this year.
Magnus returned with some of the men and rode through the gate of his home. He left his horse in the large corral to give his warhorse time to settle before he was taken to the stable. His gaze lingered over the grounds of his home. The womenfolk set up tables, strung banners, and pennons from cottage to cottage. There were games set for the children, and barrels of ale situated along the lane for the adults. A platform was erected near where the bonfires would be lit for the musicians, a bunch of rowdy men who were well known to partake of the barrels more often than they should.
Magnus hurried and ate his mid-day meal and then continued with the preparations. Near dusk, he marched toward the keep’s tower and awaited Kendra, who was to join him. His home took on an etherealappearance with all the decoration and the clan’s people adorned in their best garments. That night the Camerons would celebrate and nothing would stop them from enjoying the festivity, not even his mother’s mourning.
Kendra appeared and stood by the door of the keep. Magnus stopped short when he got a glimpse of her. Clad in the overdress she’d worn at their wedding now, she’d draped it with the Cameron tartan. Pinned to it was his grandmother’s brooch. The late afternoon sun shone on the silver and sent a glint at him. His breath about ceased at the sight of her. How fortunate was he to win her hand? Magnus thought that perhaps he should send a missive to the king, thanking him for forcing him into the marriage.
Kendra approached and stood before him. “We never had festivals like this near my home.”
Magnus raised his hand and used his knuckles to caress her soft cheek. “Come, after they light the fires, we just might sneak off and do our own sort of celebrating.” He smiled and she clasped his hand.
The minstrel began singing:Nine woods in the cauldron, burn them quick and burn them slow, bring on the maidens, here we go…
Magnus wrapped his arm around Kendra and guided her along the lane. They passed his clan’s men and women who sang along to the minstrel’s tune. Two soldiers ran along the lane and when they got to the wooden structures, they set their torches to it and the flame took hold. A long moment passed before the wood ignited and sent a glow about the faces of his clan.
“How beautiful.”
“The fires are bonny, but we use the sacred woods which represent protection, wisdom, healing, power, and success, amongst other things. I have joined this festival since I was born, and likewise, all of my clan. Not a year passes that we do not light the fires.”
“Still, it is incredible. I wish I had such merriment whilst I was growing up.”
He nodded and understood because now that Christianity had taken hold, most people only partook of the rites of their religion and celebrated the Feast of the Finding of the Holy Cross. Priests performed mass outside where many gathered around a bonfire and the land was blessed. Magnus was glad they didn’t have any clergymen on his land presently because that allowed them to continue to revere the old rites. But his clan probably wouldn’t ever cease celebrating the old ways along with the new.
Winston’s marriage was held between the two bonfires. Men carried Winston down the lane and shouted for all to make way. His soldier was garbed as the green man, completely covered in leaves, twigs, and moss, which represented the forest’s cycle of life, death, and rebirth. What skin showed on Winston was painted with the bluish-green hue of the leaves. All gathered and some of the women tossed flowers before the bride as she marched with her family to her destiny. Each proclaimed their love and agreement to wed. Their union was announced by the bride’s father and all the clan cheered. He’d never seen his soldier look so pleased. Kendra likewise smiled and seemed to enjoy the ceremony.
Men marched toward the fire and lines formed for the running through the flames. A man backed up and then sprinted toward the fire. He jumped over it, through the high-licking flames, and fortunately came away unscathed. Some were less fortunate and their tartans caught alight. Instantly, they were put out and suffered some minor burns on their skin, but nothing major.
Kendra’s eyes widened at the fanfare. Her mouth hung open as she watched the men take their turns. “Tell me you will not jump through the flames.”
Magnus chuckled. “I haven’t jumped through the flames in a long time. Aye, for I leave it up to God whether He will bestow good fortune on me. I believe He has. The men think the flames will bless them with good fortune,” he explained. He laughed when Jake ranthrough and jumped so high that the flames had no chance of catching him.
“It is good to hear you laugh, Magnus. I wish you were always so lighthearted.” Kendra leaned against him and grinned.
“This day always brings me joy.”
“Is it the only day?”
“For now,” he said and turned, guiding her away from the revelry. Magnus returned to the keep, to a table sitting near the entrance. “Let us have supper and then we will take a walk in the woods.”
“Beyond the walls? Really? I want to see what your land looks like.”
Magnus pulled a trencher from the small stack in the center of the table and set it before her. He took one for himself and piled it with mutton, sweetcakes, and raw carrots. Kendra spooned pottage onto hers and they ate silently. He hadn’t taken her beyond the wall before and was not too concerned because this night the woods would be filled with his soldiers.