Page 49

It had been settled. Right there upon the Scottish hillside under the awakening stars it was determined that Enya would wed Donnan.

Now, her father along with the happy couple were walking together back to the keep to relay this all important piece of information on to the Lady Morwenna.

Gwyn smiled knowing her mother would be pleased.

Although she must admit she may be surprised at his choice, she knew over these last months, it was obvious she had a high regard for him.

As Gwyn stood upon the hill overlooking the murkiness of the lands around them, she was troubled.

Iver had said very little since he had arrived and nothing directly to her.

While he had asked the laird if he could remain behind and walk her back to the keep after they had a chance to speak, his ominous silence was terrifying.

In those spoken words, there was no emotion nor hint of his thoughts.

Of course, she could not speak of her fears aloud and her words only reverberated loudly within her mind.

'Please tell me, Iver, that you believe me! And more importantly, do you possess any of the feelings I have inside?'

Gwyn could feel the heat of his body as he stood so close and next to her side staring over the same valley she had called her own.

As the breeze picked up and the darkness further cloaked the land, his arm brushed her shoulder.

Slowly, she reached her hand down and felt for his.

When their fingers made contact, she grasped of him desperately.

She ached for his touch. Tightly she held his hand within hers, all the while attempting to convey to him that which was on her mind.

Without speaking, Iver stepped before her and in that same moment she was crushed within his embrace.

As Gwyn's head lay upon his chest, she could feel the heavy thunder of his heartbeat which was keeping the same torrential pace with her own.

The breath hitched in her throat as a she began to tremble almost violently as the tears burned as they cascaded freely down her face.

"Oh, Gwyn! Please, do not cry."

Iver was here and standing before her and she was within his arms. Almost with desperation, she grasped at his body and held him tightly, never wishing to let go. She was so afraid she would awaken from the dream that she must surely be having and he would be once again gone from her forever.

She moved her head from his chest as she lifted her hands and her gaze to his face. Slowly she touched of his strong chin as she breathed his name over and over again, attempting to tell her mind and her heart that he was real.

"Iver…my Iver…my love…are you really here with me?"

"I have been asking myself that exact same question of you, Gwyn."

Unhurriedly, he moved his hands to cup her face. He made gentle circles with his thumbs over her cheeks as he attempted to erase her tears. As he touched of her tenderly, he stared deeply into her eyes.

"Oh, Iver, I must admit my heart is beating so heavily, I am afraid it will jump from my chest. I see your face, I feel of your skin but I am so afraid I will wake and discover this has all been a cruel dream."

"I too, had these very same thoughts. But I will say, if it is a dream, then I wish never to awaken."

Gwyn placed her hands over his as she turned her face to place a kiss upon his fingers.

Unhurriedly, she released his hands and touched once again of his face.

Slowly, she pulled him down to her and when their lips finally touched, it turned immediately into a wild frenzy.

They kissed hungrily as their hands moved boldly over each other.

It was nothing less than pure desperation.

It now made no difference to Iver that his reunion with Gwyn was nothing as he had once imagined.

All that mattered was she was now securely within his arms and their emotions and needs clearly mirrored the other.

He knew from the moment she grasped of his hand, there were no more questions and no more uncertainties of her love.

While he trusted in his friend's words, it was her actions that solidified her feelings.

As she boldly touched of his body and kissed him hungrily, he gently picked her up and tenderly placed her upon the ground. Iver laid his strong form over hers with his need to claim her tugging powerfully within his chest.

"Having you beneath me…oh, God, Gwyn do you have any idea how you make me feel?"

Memories came flooding back of the love they shared on that hillside behind the Chattan keep and all she had given to him then. He moved his hand from her shoulder and down her arm and all the way to her knee as he kissed her again.

"It is true, Iver, I am real and I am here with you."

He kissed her words away as he moved his hand to capture her breast. He heard the moan as it came from her lips while her back arched at his touch. When he could feel the peak tighten below the material of her gown, his heartbeat grew quicker, if that was even possible.

There was no doubt as to what he would do when the words came almost recklessly from Gwyn's lips.

"Please, Iver, I am desperate for you to make us one. Love me, hold me and promise me you will never let me go."

There was no denying the urgency in her words nor his need to comply.

With nothing more to say between them, Iver moved his body to kneel between her thighs.

In one motion, he pulled her skirts upwards and freed his own manhood.

Wrapping his arms around her tightly, he pressed the whole of his need within her.

As he felt himself fully encased within her warmth, he knew in his heart this was precisely where he was supposed to be.

"Oh, Gwyn, you are my love and my life!"

It was then when he claimed her as his own. In perfect harmony, they danced as if they had done this one-thousand times together. She was as familiar to him as he was to her. His hands held her so tightly beneath him as they gave desperately to one another.

Together they moved wildly as Iver felt her clutching desperately at his body.

On an on they savored these moments that only they would share.

He wanted desperately to please her and to prove to her the power of his love.

When her passions had peaked and she cried out his name into the night…

there had been nothing in his entire life that had spoken to him of such sweet surrender.

And he knew there was no more that needed to be said.

Their bodies had spoken all that was necessary to hear and their minds would consciously comply.

There were no more questions and no more doubt for she was his and would be always and forever.

Much later as Iver lay upon his back with Gwyn within his arms in the aftermath of their passions, he felt the extreme tightness of her embrace.

A smile appeared upon his lips as he kissed her forehead gently, completely understanding her desperation.

He did not wish to interfere in the magic of the moment nor worry her further, but there was much that needed to be said.

"You are my love and my life. I hope you know I had wanted to say this to you so many times in the past, but it was not my right.

I also realize now that everyone thought I had died and for that pain inflicted upon you, I am so very sorry.

It grieves me that there had been no way to get word to you.

Yes, I was gravely injured upon the battlefield, that much is true.

But you must know it was you who was on my mind continually and it is you who gave me the will to survive. "

Iver breathed in deeply of the cool night air as he tightened his embrace around the Lady Gwyn.

"You more than anyone, understands our lives are not always our own.

There are many who have believed in me over the years and many have already given their lives to fight for what I have always believed to be true.

Nevertheless, there are still others who depend upon me and I cannot turn my back on them.

Not now and definitely, not ever. As much as it pains me to tell you this, I cannot stay long. "

Iver paused as he felt Gwyn's body stiffen within his arms. When she did not speak, he continued softly.

"You must understand I have always felt my destiny was to lead.

That is why given the opportunity, I willingly left all that was familiar to me and embarked upon a journey that ultimately brought us together.

But I owe it to my uncle and the Chattan to fight for what is right and to protect all those within my new homeland.

Even though it pains me to say this to you after all you have endured, I cannot abandon them now. "

He paused and while she still held of him desperately, he continued to speak, wanting only to defend the actions he knew he must take.

"There are so many who want to stand up but are afraid and are held against their will under the cruel leadership of the Fraser.

My people need me to come to their aid and prove to them that together we can take back what is rightfully ours.

Those who have taken over are strong, but their numbers are not so great.

And they rule with anger and instill fear everywhere they turn.

I have discovered it is not loyalty that holds their peoples together. "

Once again, Iver kissed her forehead as he spoke.

"I hope you understand when I say it is my time and I know what is to be my duty. I firmly believe it is my destiny to return to the north and fight for what is rightfully the leadership of the Chattan."

Even though her grip upon his body was still firm, he felt Gwyn's body relax slightly and he knew then, that she understood. Iver felt in his heart she had been raised a laird's daughter and had been married to the Laird Errol. She, more than anyone would appreciate the ways of their world.

"But before I go, please tell me you will do me the honor and become my wife. I need for the whole world to know my heart is, and always will be, yours. Regardless of what else may come, I want you to be mine."

Gwyn closed her eyes as the words sang sweetly in her ears.

How she loved this man and knew in her heart they were destined to always be together.

Whether that was for just one more day, one more year or for more decades to come, she was not certain.

Nevertheless, what Gwyn had learned was she would take each moment as it came and never would she have regrets. Of this mindset, she was certain.

Gwyn felt as Iver shifted below her and placed her head gently upon the ground as he leaned upon his elbow to gaze down into her eyes. There was such a pleading in his face while waiting for her response and it warmed her heart.

"My dearest Iver, there is nothing in this world that would give me more pleasure then to become your wife. It is an honor, my laird, that you have chosen me."

When he smiled down at both her words and the use of that title, she continued.

"I have known since the first moment I met you that you were destined to be great and you would serve your people above all else.

I understand in my heart all that is your duty and trust you will prevail.

You must for both me and for your bairn that I now carry.

I am hopeful it will be a son who is as good and as powerful as his father! "

Iver's heart had never been so full of love and devotion as it was at that very moment.

He knew he had been granted much in his life.

He had the strength and fortitude to lead and a band of followers who were loyal.

He also had a woman who loved him and then soon there was to be a bairn.

His bairn. He slowly placed his hand over her stomach and the dream of what was yet to come.

With wonderment, he gazed up into the most beautiful woman's eyes as he replied.

"You have made me quite humbled, my lady.

I could not be more proud to become your husband and the father of this wee one.

But it is not only me who should feel blessed.

This child is quite fortunate because he will have the devotion and the duty of his mother.

And in my heart I know she is one who could never be equaled. "

Slowly, Iver moved to capture the lips of the one woman he loved and the one he had promised to marry.