Page 34 of Love Me Forever (Highland Duo #2)

G ray skies greeted her on her wedding day, but it seemed as if the sun shined brightly in and around the keep. Everyone was busy, each in their own way preparing for the wedding.

A grand feast was to be held in the great hall, and all were invited. There would be eating, drinking, and merriment, for everyone was happy for Brianna and Royce.

Moira and Anne insisted that Brianna rest before the ceremony and celebration, but she was not tired. She felt full of life, and she felt happier than she had been in a very long time.

She did, however, feel that she needed time alone, and she had slipped on her fur-lined wool cloak, pulled up the hood, and sneaked out of the keep.

She walked the narrow, barely detectable path to the stream that ran not far from the keep.

It was a path she and her brother had traveled when either were troubled and in need of solitary time or time together, just the two of them.

It was the place where Ian had informed her of their parents’ passing and where he had told her that Arran’s escape had been successful.

She came here now to lay her past to rest.

A snap of a branch caught her attention, and she did not need to turn and see who had followed her. “I expected you.”

Ian walked up behind his sister and slipped his hand into hers. “I could always tell when you needed to come here.”

They strolled along near the stream.

“This is what you want?” Ian asked.

She had expected the question from him. He wanted to make certain that she was certain.

She laughed. “I must admit that a few days ago I probably would not have been able to answer you, for I simply had no answer. My heart knew what I wanted, but my emotions ruled, and I could make sense of nothing.”

“Not so now?”

She smiled. “Now I know for certain what my heart has attempted to convince me of. I love Royce and all my fears and doubts will not change my feelings for him. So, my answer is aye, I wish very much to wed Royce.”

“He is a good man and I feel he will treat you well.”

“I feel the same.”

“Then why did you come here?”

She squeezed his hand. ‘To let go of the past.”

“Do you wish to be alone?”

She shook her head. “Nay, it is not necessary. We have shared much together, and it is good that you are here with me now.”

The winter wind whispered a soft melody as they continued walking.

“Do you believe that love is blind?” Brianna asked.

Ian laughed. “It is we who are blind. Love seems to know exactly what it is doing, and I believe it cautions us when necessary; we, however, do not listen.”

“I think you are right. Looking back on when I first met Arran, there were signs of his selfishness that I chose to ignore. I made an unwise choice.”

“Now you make a wise choice.”

“Very wise,” Brianna said, hugging her brother’s arm.

“I must tell you, though that sometimes I fear I will wake to find this has all been a dream.”

Ian pinched her arm.

“That hurt,” she said, retaliating with her elbow to his ribs.

“If it hurts you cannot be dreaming.” Ian rubbed at his side. “It is good to see that once again you are fast to defend yourself.”

“Your wife was a great help in helping me to regain my strengths, and I have no intention of ever giving them away so easily again.”

The wind grew blustery, and Brianna shivered from the sting at her cheeks.

“I think we are in for a storm, for I feel something brewing,” Ian said, turning them so that they headed back to the keep.

Brianna was quick to agree. “I feel the same myself.”

She recited a silent prayer in hopes that it would help ease her own unease. She could not quite say what caused the feeling, and it had only recently appeared, shadowing her excitement.

A yawn warned that she grew tired.

“There will be much merriment this evening. If you wish to enjoy it, I suggest a nap.”

“A short one, for I wish to enjoy this entire day.”

They returned to the keep, and Brianna retired to her bedchamber to nap.

Sleep eluded her, her restless thoughts keeping her awake.

She had not expected to love again, and she certainly had not expected to realize that she had not truly loved her husband the way she had thought she did.

She wondered if perhaps she had loved the idea of love.

With Royce it was different, and she could, after stepping past her stubbornness, understand the depths of the love she had for him and he for her. Finally, life would be good again.

Her eyes had barely drifted closed when Moira and Anne rushed into the room.

“Time to get ready,” Anne announced excitedly.

“You feel well?” Moira asked, concerned.

Brianna sat up with a yawn and a stretch. “I feel wonderful. How could I not? It is my wedding day.”

Moira hugged her and smiled. “And it will be a wedding day you will long remember.”

Anne fussed over the white wool dress that lay draped over the chair. “You should see all the food, and the great hall is decorated in its finest winter greenery. It will be a grand celebration.”

The two women helped Brianna to dress, and when they were finished, they stepped back to examine the bride. Tears welled in their eyes.

“You look beautiful,” Moira said, and Anne agreed with a vigorous nod while wiping the tears from her eyes.

She felt beautiful, but it was not the dress that caused the feeling, it was Royce, for he forever commented on her beauty until she finally began to believe his words.

Anne scooped up the head wreath fashioned from winter greenery and dried herbs and hurried over to Brianna to place it on her head.

It was a snug fit and complimented her rich dark hair that fell past her shoulders in a mass of riotous curls.

Her freshly scrubbed face glowed, her cheeks were tinged soft pink from her stroll in the crisp winter weather, and her lips glistened as though touched by the morning dew.

A pounding on the door caused the three women to jump.

“I am here to escort my sister,” Ian said proudly.

Moira let him in, though not before she showered kisses on him and whispered, “I am so thrilled for your sister.”

Guilt assaulted him and he grabbed his wife around the waist and hugged her tightly. “I wish our wedding could have been different.”

She kissed his cheek. “We have each other. That is all that matters to me.”

“I am a lucky man.”

“That you are,” she agreed, “and I will show you how lucky tonight.”

He nuzzled her neck. “Promise?”

“Promise,” she whispered softly and sealed it with a kiss.

Anne and Brianna grinned as the couple turned their attention to them, Ian’s eyes widened when he saw his sister. “You look radiant, Brianna.”

“I feel radiant,” she said, certain she would continue to smile the day away.

“All is ready in the hall, and Royce grows impatient,” Ian said with a chuckle.

Brianna walked up to her brother and slipped her arm around his. “And I am just as impatient.”

“Then let us go and celebrate this glorious occasion.”

Moira and Anne proceeded them through the door and hurried ahead of them into the great hall.

A fire roared in the large hearth, the mantel draped with greenery, pines, and berries.

The tables were prepared for a feast with a variety of foods and drinks.

The hall was packed with villagers and Royce’s men, all scrubbed clean and dressed in their best garments.

The cleric who was to perform the ceremony stood before the dais in his plain brown robe clutching a book and staring at Royce.

The poor little man looked frightened to death, and she could not blame him.

Royce looked intimidating, dressed in his finest garments with his shiny sword draped at his side, and the scar on his face reminding all of his courage and strength.

Royce smiled at her when their eyes met, and though they were only a few steps apart, she wanted to hurry to his side, grab hold of his hand, and never let go.

He seemed to feel the same, for he did not wait, he took the extra steps to her and eagerly took her from her brother.

“Keep her safe,” Ian said to him before releasing his sister.

“You have my word,” Royce said and took hold of Brianna’s hand.

They took their places before the cleric, ready to exchange vows.

The little man began to speak, but his voice faltered, and he had to take a moment to clear his throat. When he spoke again, his voice trembled, but this time he was persistent, and after several minutes his trembling subsided, and he spoke the Lord’s words with confidence.

Brianna barely heard his words, her attention focused on Royce and the way he looked at her.

He loved her; she could see it in his eyes, it was written on his face, and she could feel it in her heart.

She had never thought she would find such a strong love, and a small part of her continued to fear that this was all a dream.

Royce seemed to understand and squeezed her hand, as if letting her know that he was there beside her and that this was all real and that soon, very soon they would be husband and wife.

It was, however, not soon enough for Brianna. She wanted the ceremony done and finished. She wanted to be his right this very moment, and she could not say why it was so very important to her, but it was.

The words were slow in coming from the cleric, or perhaps it was Brianna’s own impatience that made them seem so. When finally, their vows were exchanged, she wanted to cry with joy, but there was more to the ceremony and she would need to be patient.

When it was done, the last word spoken, the cleric finally quiet, Brianna looked to Royce and her smile grew wide. He took her into his arms, shouts of joy and cheers filled the hall, and Royce whispered in her ear, “I love you from the depths of my soul.”

Her arms wrapped around his neck, and she pressed close to him, needing to know he was real, this was real, and that they were husband and wife. “I thank God for you.”

They kissed and the cheers grew louder.

They were briefly lost in their own world, and then family and friends crowded them, offering congratulations and demanding that it was time to celebrate.

Royce whispered in her ear so none could hear, “Later it will be just you and I, and we will love.”

She squeezed his hand in response and smiled, already impatient for the celebration to be over and yet looking forward to sharing this joyous time with family and friends.

A sudden chill descended over her. A strange chill, for the hall was warm and comfortable, and she could not understand where the chill came from.

“Are you all right?” Royce asked, drawing her close to him.

She nodded, feeling foolish. She had nothing to fear—Royce was now her husband and would protect her. He was, after all, a legendary warrior, and few would dare go up against him.

Ale started flowing, music playing, and people singing—the celebration had begun. The last of well-wishers drifted off to join in the fun, leaving the newlywed couple to finally have a moment alone with family.

Ian and Moira and Anne and Blair stood by the couple talking, their voices rose so they could be heard over the merriment.

Then suddenly the joyous voices faded until only murmurs were heard, and all eyes centered on a lone figure that entered the great hall. A dark hooded cloak covered his features, and he appeared a shadow in the bright hall.

He moved with steady strides and confidence.

A chill raced over Brianna, and she moved closer to Royce as though seeking his protection and not understanding why she needed it until the figure came to a stop before them and threw back the hood.

Brianna’s eyes widened in shock and her body began to tremble.

“Hello, dear wife, I have missed you.”