Page 21 of The Bells of Triumph (Highlands’ Lost Valley #3)

20

TARTANS UNTANGLED

I t seemed odd to celebrate when their victory hadn't been complete, but Seamus had insisted.

“I will nae allow Campbell to continue to stop us from living our lives. What we have accomplished here today is worthy of a feast, so a feast we will have.”

His proclamation sent people all over the castle. Some gathered wine and whiskey from the cellars, while others scrounged up whatever food could be found. A handful offered to cook fresh meat and season it well, while the healers worked to get everyone they could well enough to join in the festivities. Before long, a six-person band started in the corner, complete with a flute and violin and a handful of other instruments that added so much color to the feast. Those of the men who were unwounded pulled tables into position and collected chairs from anywhere they could be found, not stopping until there was a seat for everyone.

Flora stood in the same spot she had been in since she and Seamus had come down from the tower several hours previous and admired the view. Children ran in between the adults working, and a few younger couples were already dancing in what little open space was left. There was a bittersweet tang to the atmosphere, but she was pleased to see that everyone was more focused on the sweet side of things.

More than anything, she was pleased that Seamus had managed to regain his resolve. Today had taken a great toll on him, one that she doubted he would ever fully convey. Between Campbell having made his escape and the rebels turning against him, she doubted that he would ever recover. But then Finn, of all people, stepped up and saved it all.

Brid had rushed to his side once the room started to move. The two of them became so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't notice the rest of the room. When Connor managed to pull her away, Finn looked over at Flora sheepishly. She sent him a smile that was warm enough that he made his way to her.

“I suppose ye hate me, after all of this.”

He barely got the words out before Flora flew her arms around Finn's shoulders and squeezed tight. Finn didn't move for a moment, clearly caught off guard by her response. She just held him that much tighter until he returned the gesture.

“I have missed ye so much, Finn,” she whispered, surprised at the wetness in her eyes. “I have missed my friend.”

Lost for words, he said nothing as he held her close.

“Get out of the way! We are workin' here!”

Errik's bellow forced Flora and Finn apart. They looked up to find that Errik was on a ladder being pushed around by four other rebels, his sword out and swinging towards the Campbell tartans hanging from the rafters. He swung again and the first one fell. The room cheered in response as the heavy fabric fell to the floor. A third swing and the second tartan fell, resulting in the same reaction from the hall. On and on, Errik went until all traces of Campbell were removed.

A handful of boys gathered the fallen tartans and drug them to the front of the castle, positioning them so that anyone who came into the castle would have to walk over them first. The thought made Flora smirk.

It didn't take long for the makeshift rugs to get so covered in mud and muck that the Campbell colors couldn't be seen anymore. People from Murray Village and the surrounding villages filtered in and out of the castle for the next few hours. Each one wanted their turn to shake Seamus' hand, to thank him. Some even asked to join Seamus' army, looking for the chance to get even with Campbell now that they thought it truly possible.

“Come, stand beside me,” Seamus asked, whispering his request in her ear.

Finn didn't seem put out at all as Seamus pulled her from his side. Still, she shot him a smile that was full of hope that soon, they might be able to resume their friendship.

“What is going on?” she whispered back to Seamus.

He all but drugged her to the dais and positioned her to stand next to him. Before he could answer, the next group of villagers came to the front to shake Seamus' hand. Judging from their similar features, Flora guessed that they were all family. A middle-aged mother with the slightest hints of gray framing her face plowed forward leaving her husband, a ruddy faced, thin man, two girls and two boys, all under their second decade, all the perfect mix of their parents, to follow her.

“We wanted to come as soon as we heard the news,” a frazzled old woman told him.

She stretched out her hand and took Seamus', shaking it over and over, moving his entire body with her enthusiasm.

“We were avid supporters of yer father, ye ken. And it is just so sad that he could nae be here today to see yer victory. We have long since waited for this day. I told me husband, I said, ‘we must keep an eye on that red-haired lad, he will be our Laird one day.’ Did I nae say that Angus? That is what I said.”

Flora bit the insides of her cheeks to keep from laughing at the well-intentioned woman. Her husband's cheeks were red with embarrassment. He sent them both an apologetic look over his wife's shoulder, clearly used to having to make apologies for her ability to have an entire conversation without need of another person.

“And look at ye now, all grown and making things right again. I feel so proud, as if ye were my own boy. I told Angus that this would happen and now that it has, I can hardly believe it myself.”

The woman stopped to take a breath for the first time since they approached the dais, and Seamus took the opportunity to cut in.

“I thank ye for making the journey to come see us. Allow me to introduce my wife…”

Flora didn't hear the rest of what Seamus said.

A polite, warm smile plastered itself to her face while her mind whirled in delight. He had called her his wife. Though they had both known that was her title for several weeks now, they hadn't told anyone yet. It seemed strange yet entirely fitting that the first people to know that they were married were strangers from Murray Village, coming to congratulate them on their victory against Campbell. The longer she thought about it, the more her smile spread. Her cheeks turned a warm shade of pink, catching Seamus' eye. He sent her a cheeky smile of his own before turning back to the conversation he was having.

She didn't catch another word the woman said, even as she grabbed Flora for a tight hug. Flora merely returned the gesture in a daze. When they finally stepped away, Flora turned to Seamus with doe eyes, filled with surprise.

“What are ye doing, Seamus?”

Her question was whispered, but still carried the same air of shock in it.

“I told ye, I wanted ye to stand by my side, so I could introduce ye to the clan.”

His nonchalance only added to her shock.

“Aye, but as yer wife ?”

“That is what ye are, aye?”

They were interrupted again with the next group of well-wishers. And just as he had with the first family, he called her his wife. She was still unable to contribute much to the conversation, but no one seemed to notice or mind. At some point, Seamus threaded his fingers through hers and pulled her into his side. She knew that he was enjoying making it clear to anyone with eyes that they were together. And if she was honest with herself, she enjoyed it too.

“This is nae what we discussed, Seamus,” she whispered through a smile during their next break in visitors. “We were nae going to tell anyone about our handfasting until after things with Campbell were settled.”

“I grew tired of waiting,” he answered.

Not caring who was watching, he turned to her with a serious expression and took both of her hands in his.

“Ye are my wife, and I could nae be more proud to be yer husband. I have wanted the entire world to ken that since the moment we said our vows and tied my tartan around our hands. Do ye nae wish others to ken? Are ye ashamed of me?”

“Nay!” she nearly shouted. “Of course nae, Seamus. I meant only that this is nae what we had discussed. Yer announcing me as yer wife took me by surprise.”

“This is our clan, Flora. And they deserve to ken who is responsible for their freedom. Ye have been by my side, unfailingly, since the day I met ye. Even when I led ye to believe I had betrayed ye, ye still trusted me. I want our people to ken that is the kind of Lady they have.”

She flushed all over again, unbelievably pleased at his speech.

For the next hour or two, things continued on in the same manner. The rebels feasted while she and Seamus greeted any and all who wanted to come to the castle to see for themselves that Campbell had been ousted. Flora thought the day couldn't hold any more surprises, but she learned quickly just how wrong she was with the next group who came in.

“Where were they when we were storming Drummond Castle or Glenkirk or even here?” she whispered, watching with wide eyes as five broad shouldered men approached.

Before they uttered a word, the entire group knelt in front of Seamus and pulled out their swords. With both hands clasped around the hilt of the sword, they each stood their sword on the ground in front of them and bowed their heads.

“We have come to ye today to pledge our allegiance to ye,” the man at the front announced, getting the attention of the rest of the room. “We have been foolish in biding our time, waiting to see how things would play out, when we should have joined ye the second we heard about yer plans. Please allow us to make up for our mistake by joining ye now and helping ye on yer quest to find Campbell and end the threat.”

Seamus didn't respond for a moment. In fact, no one spoke. One by one, the other men in the room began to kneel too. Some were rebels who had already pledged themselves to Seamus, while others were men from the village who had been unable to join in the fight for one reason or another. Their sons also knelt, while the wives and mothers and daughters in the room tucked their chin in reverence. Flora was covered in goosebumps, overcome with emotion at the sight of it all. This is what Seamus had spent his entire life waiting for. This is what they had fought so hard to get; a clan that was safe from harm, where its people could prosper and lead merry lives. She blinked back tears as she looked at Seamus. He was equally overcome, though he did a much better job at hiding it. She could see it in the way his hand tightened around hers and the corners of his eyes grew smaller. But to the rest of the room, he looked steady and sure, just as a Laird ought to look.

“I thank ye for yer words,” he finally answered, his voice rough and thick with emotion, “and I am happy to have ye join us in our mission to protect the Murray Clan from Campbell.”

The group of five who had started the whole thing stood. Seamus offered them each a handshake, while the rest of the room stood, too. Slowly, things began to return to normal. The music started once more, the children resumed whatever game they were playing. The last of the food and ale was put on plates and poured in cups. But Flora knew that she nor Seamus would be able to move on from what just happened, no matter how much time had passed.

With no more villagers filtering in, Seamus opted to move throughout the room, talking and laughing with anyone and everyone. Flora was content to stand back and watch him do the work that he was born to do. Loosely holding a half-full mug of ale, she leaned against a wall on the side of the room and took it all in, the smile on her lips never fading.

“I misjudged him.”

Finn's admission came only minutes after he had joined Flora on the wall.

“I did nae think that he could ever be a good Laird after spending so much time with Campbell. I could nae imagine a man whose character was so impenetrable that he could endure a lifetime of Campbell and come out a decent man. But I was wrong.”

“He is something of a miracle,” she agreed.

“Flora, I want ye to ken how sorry I am.” Finn turned to face her square on, as if he was preparing for a fight. “I was wrong about Seamus, but it was more wrong of me nae to trust ye. I should never have treated ye as I did. For that, I am deeply sorry.”

She stretched out a hand and squeezed his arm.

“I forgive ye, Finn. Of course, I forgive ye. All I have wanted is a world where we can all be safe and enjoy life together. That is all I want.”

And as she looked around the room, watching Seamus laugh heartily beside Liam and Errik while Brid and Connor talked to each other, their heads tucked together, with Iona telling a story that had the entire table enraptured, she felt as though she had just that. Relief coursed through her. For the first time since before she could remember, the people she loved were safe. Campbell was still out there, posing a threat, but for now, they were all together and safe.

“Are ye ready to get some sleep?” Seamus asked gently another hour later.

“Aye,” she yawned, hardly able to keep her eyes open any longer. “But what about the clan? What about Campbell?”

Her diligence was unlikely to let her sleep anytime soon, knowing that Campbell was still out there, wrecking havoc.

“Some of the rebels who did nae fight today have offered to run a patrol around the borders. Errik and Liam have taken care of all the arrangements. At least for tonight, the clan will be safe.”

His words soothed her soul, giving way to the exhaustion that was creeping in around her mind. Her body was weary, having spent all of her energy in the battle today. But even more so, her mind was drained. She had spent so long worrying about Campbell and Finn and Seamus and everyone else that to finally have it all settled left her feeling a mix of relief and listlessness.

“Then let us get some sleep,” she told him.

He took her by the hand and led her out of the Great Hall and through the castle corridors. She hardly paid any attention to where they were going, too captivated by the idea of finally getting some sleep.

“It feels like it has been several lifetimes since I was able to roam these hallways freely,” he confessed, his voice quiet but still echoing against the stone floors and bare walls.

“What do ye mean?” she asked, a little more awake than she was a moment ago.

“Once Campbell took over, I was nae allowed to go anywhere without his guards following me. As I got older and more defiant, he stopped letting me out of my rooms much at all. I think the last time I felt safe walking through this castle was the day before Campbell invaded.”

Her heart broke as she imagined a young Seamus, locked in his room, aching for his mother and father to comfort him.

“And do ye feel safe now? Can ye walk these halls without worry now?”

She nearly held her breath as she waited for his reply. Just as badly as she wanted to see Campbell defeated, she wanted to patch up Seamus' old wounds. She wanted to love him so fully, so completely, that it was as if those wounds were never there in the first place.

“Aye,” he answered, breathlessly, as if his reply surprised him just as much as it did her.

She squeezed his hand and didn't let go.

The rest of their walk through the castle was made in comfortable silence. She was determined to soak up every second she had alone with him, as they were few and far between. He seemed just as content to let it be so.

Just as she began to recognize where she was, Seamus pushed open the creaky old door that led to his room. The last and only time she had been inside, she had thought him a traitor yet was still arguing for him to return to the Lost Valley. Campbell had appeared and demanded that Seamus share her. The thought of it all had her stomach turning. She never wanted to feel so disgusted by Campbell and so unsure of Seamus again.

As though he were thinking the very same thing, Seamus gathered Flora up in his arms and held her tight as he walked them inside and shut the door behind her.

“I will never let anything happen to ye, my love. I will never leave yer side again.”

She pressed a kiss to his cheek and sighed as he set her in the threadbare blankets strewn over his bed.

“Good. Now come to bed.”