Page 40 of Time of the Warlord (Stones of Scotland #5)
I n the end, it took Niamh almost two months to organize the wedding - because she refused to accept anything less than the best for her brother. Besides, it took a while for the king and queen to arrive - and even longer for Niamh to arrange accommodation that she thought would be suitable. Ciaran rolled his eyes at all her fussing, but Sadie insisted he leave his sister alone.
“I need to marry her off,” he grumbled, but Sadie knew he didn’t mean it. He wanted his sister to find love, just as he had.
And Sadie was happy enough to wait for the ceremony. As far as she was concerned, they’d been married since that beautiful evening on the shores of the loch. They didn’t need any other ceremony. She slept in Ciaran’s bed every night and woke up wrapped in his arms. They were husband and wife in every way necessary.
Still, that didn’t stop Sadie from feeling excited as the big day approached. Niamh had spared no expense - the small church was to be draped in silk and filled with autumn flowers, while Sadie had a wedding necklace made with so many precious stones that she could barely lift her neck. There was going to be dancing, and drinking, and enough food for twice as many guests.
“Everything will be perfect ,” Niamh beamed. Ciaran rolled his eyes, but Sadie knew he was excited really.
Bethany and Comgall arrived the day before the wedding, accompanied by a rather huge entourage. Princess Maeve was with them, clinging to her father’s hand.
“No sign of Matthew?” Sadie quietly asked Bethany. She and Ciaran had sent word when they first arrived back, of course, but they’d had no reply from Dunadd.
Bethany shook her head.
“Not a word,” she said, sadness in her eyes. “I don’t think he’s coming back. But… I know he hasn’t forgotten us.”
There was something strange in her words, almost as if she knew where Matthew had gone. Sadie decided not to pry any further.
At Niamh’s assistance, she spent the night before the wedding back in her old guest room. She dressed there in the morning, as well, with an excited group of ladies milling about her. Niamh was the one who placed the necklace around her throat and draped the veil over Sadie’s fiery hair, tears in her eyes.
“You look beautiful, Sadie,” she said, her voice catching in her throat. Sadie reached out and hugged her. She might miss her own sister on a day like this, but Niamh was family now, as well.
They walked to the fort’s church side by side, with the other ladies trailing along behind them. Sadie could hardly swallow through the lump in her throat, but she managed to keep a bright smile on her face as she stepped through the door.
Niamh truly had worked miracles on the tiny building. It glowed with color and life - and, most of all, with the warmth of Ciaran’s smile. Sadie’s steps picked up pace as she made her way towards him, suddenly ridiculously grateful that it was such a small church. She could not wait a second longer to place her hands in his.
The ceremony flew past. Sadie said the necessary Gaelic words, even when they felt a little heavy on her tongue. Thanks to weeks of lessons, she’d managed to say it all without the help of the language chip. She’d be fluent in no time, Ciaran assured her.
And then it was done. They were married in the eyes of the Church - as well as the eyes of both their families, and Ciaran’s closest friends. Sadie closed her eyes as her new husband bent to press a kiss to her lips and the congregation roared their approval.
She’d set out on a quest for the truth. And she’d found it - but along the way, she’d found even more. Love. So Sadie clutched her husband close and kissed him again, even harder.