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Gwyn stood upon the hill holding within her arms the one who knew her best and was the greatest friend she had ever known.

The one who had been by her side continually all the while protecting her from everything around her that could harm, including herself.

How she loved this man dearly and as her brother.

Gwyn was startled as she heard the words from her father clearly through the air and a few paces behind her.

"Gwyn?"

She tightened her arms one more quick time around Donnan as she stepped from his embrace with a smile upon her face. As she gazed over towards where she knew her father to be, the breath caught in her throat for all who stood before her.

Her eyes moved from the confused look upon her father's face and over the stricken eyes of Enya.

But it was when they alighted upon the one she knew could only be a ghost, she knew her eyes were deceiving her.

Her breath came rapidly as she clutched onto Donnan's arm for the sight before her was simply not possible.

What she was seeing could not be true because he had been run through and his bloodied sword had been retrieved from the battlefield…

It was not true…could not be true…as her mind screamed, 'God, please make it be true!'

The world began to spin out of control as the darkness of her mind consumed her completely and Gwyn lost all mindful thought of her conscious reality. Only darkness remained.

*****

Iver could only stare at the one who he had thought was his most trusted friend and the one he had hoped some day would have become his wife.

Together, they were in a tender embrace and when she had turned and gazed upon him for the first time…

it was obvious the fear of discovery had shocked her and left her in such a state where even now, as she laid upon the ground she was resting tenderly in Donnan's arms.

How he had missed Gwyn and dreamed of her every waking moment ever since she left his side on that fateful day.

It was only she who he had lived for. She was the one who had made him fight to survive and eventually risk everything for his own freedom.

While she would now most likely never know of his deep love and devotion, in his mind he knew it was only his Gwyn who held his heart.

The pain of this new reality cut him fiercely and Iver could not move nor breathe. He had trusted Donnan with his life and now it appeared he had taken from him the only woman he had truly ever loved.

In every one of Iver's dreams, when he finally was able to heal from his injuries and then break free of the Chattan dungeons and return to Gwyn's side, they had each been the same.

She would see him arrive upon his steed in the bailey and she would come running.

Or he would enter their gathering hall unannounced and she would see him across the room and come running.

Or she would be out on the hillside on a sunny day, she would see him and come running.

It was always the same. She would be overjoyed and he would take her into his arms and hold her and kiss her heatedly.

The thoughts of their sweet reunion had gotten him through the most difficult of times.

Nothing could have prepared him for seeing her within another man's arms even though it was Donnan. He had always loved him as a brother but had never dreamed he would be the one to claim his Gwyn's heart.

The agony she had shown upon her face when she first saw him was clear.

And telling. She had obviously been shocked at being discovered.

He could take no more of the pain so he began to turn from the dream he had that was now fading as quickly as the sun was moving below the horizon.

The darkness that began to descend upon the land was the same as what was now cloaking his heart.

Donnan had felt such a sense of relief as he and the Lady Gwyn had spoken so freely.

He was thankful for her honesty and her will to always do what was appropriate.

Regardless of what others would think. She had done so many things unselfishly for everyone else and he had such a high regard for her.

Nonetheless, the words she had spoken were true and she knew it.

He did not love her and could never love her the way a man should love a woman.

Then again, her resolve had been true and she did not love him either. Her heart had only belonged to Iver.

When she asked him if he loved Enya…how had she known?

He had tried so very hard to conceal his feelings knowing his first duty was to Gwyn.

And he knew it always would be. If she had accepted his hand in marriage, he would have married Gwyn and been a faithful husband and father for the rest of their lives.

But now? He had more hope in his life then he knew he ever had a right to possess.

Donnan would get down on bended knee and ask Enya to do him the honor of becoming his wife.

She was so beautiful and as gentle and caring as her sister.

But she had one thing that Gwyn did not and that was a mighty hold upon his heart.

From the moment he met her he knew she was special.

Every time he was near her, it only became more apparent and now that he knew Gwyn approved…

When he heard the words of the Laird MacLaren he was startled by his voice.

He had been so engrossed in his conversation with the Lady Gwyn he had not heard him approach.

When they turned and he saw who was near, it was as if the world had suddenly shifted, yet was now right again.

His cousin and the one who he had deemed brother and friend had returned from the dead.

When Tavish had said there was no body, he could only hope and in his most inconceivable notions he had never believed it could be true.

Heaven above, the man still lived and was standing before them all.

There was an excitement unlike any other that had rushed through his body. That was until, he spied the look of anguish upon his Enya's face and the devastation upon Iver's.

As he watched the Lady Gwyn collapse, he could do nothing but hold her and protect her as he would always do.

He knew in his heart as everything happened before him and it was all a misunderstanding.

He had to make everything right before it all spiraled further out of control.

When Iver turned and began to move quickly away, it was his own voice he heard that was roaring into the eve.

"Iver, stop! Do not dare to leave me again!"

*****

Donnan knelt upon the ground holding the Lady Gwyn as her father, her sister and Iver stood staring down at him. One was visibly confused and the two others were obviously pained by the looks within their eyes. He realized it was now or never and he had to speak to explain everything.

"Each of you must listen to me and promise me you will not interrupt until I have finished with what needs to be said."

When they each stood silently before him with unchanged expressions, Donnan continued.

"Iver, ever since we left the Chattan holdings, the Lady Gwyn has done nothing but agonize over you.

Then, when we were told of your death…good God, Iver, it nearly killed her!

You have no idea the depth of her pain and all she went through.

For so long I was afraid for her. But she is a very strong woman and one more committed to you, Iver, then you probably ever deserve.

She loves you, there is no doubt in my mind and has chosen to honor you always. "

Donnan paused briefly as his eyes next moved to Enya.

"Enya, you must know because I would never wish to keep anything from you. I tell you this only so you will understand my actions and my motives behind them."

He drew in his breath deeply knowing she would be hurt.

"I offered to marry the Lady Gwyn. Iver had asked me to always care for her and protect her, and I thought that was my duty.

I thought she needed someone to always look out for her.

But what she reminded me of was that being in a loveless marriage is more painful then being alone.

Even if there is a bond of friendship…she chose to be alone. "

Donnan drew in another deep breath as he once again spoke.

"I care so deeply for this woman who I am holding within my arms and more than I can ever put into words.

And I would protect her with my dying breath.

But Enya, it is you who I love. It is you who I wish by my side for the remainder of our lives.

I am so very sorry that I have hurt you, that was never my intent. "

Again, Donnan paused as he moved his gaze to that of the laird.

"Laird MacLaren. I know this is all very sudden, but I would be honored if you would grant me the hand of your daughter, Enya. I love her and would always protect her with my life until the day that I die."

When the laird could only stare at this strange turn of events, it was a voice from below all of them who spoke.

"Father, all that Donnan has proclaimed is true.

He is loyal and he is an honorable man. He only wished to marry me because he felt it his duty to Iver to do so.

I told him I would not do that for there is only one person I have ever loved and would wish to honor the remainder of my days.

Donnan told me of his feelings for Enya and the embrace that we shared was because I was welcoming him into our family and hoping he would someday become my brother .

Please father, if you will not do this for Enya, then I beg of you to do this for me!

There is no one that is more deserving of her hand than he. "