He put out his fingers to touch my cheek at my dimple, to lift my chin. He was going to kiss me — he leaned in, but then paused, his fingers brushing away. He straightened and put his hands behind him.
He said, “I look forward tae it.”
Fraoch clapped Lochie on the back and smiled at me. “Lady Ash, are ye ready tae marry our brother, Og Lochie? He’s a bit scrawny, he daena like tae fish, he daena hae a full beard yet, but he makes up for all his many failings with enthusiasm.”
Lochie laughed as red spread up his cheeks.
I met Lochie’s eyes. “Yes, I’m ready.”
He took my hand, enveloping it in his warmth and led me toward the chapel with his family following behind.
CHAPTER 27 - KAITLYN
THE CHAPEL AT STIRLING CASTLE - JUNE 18, 1291
Magnus held the door, beaming at us as we entered. I whispered, “Are you happy?”
“Aye, tis a verra good thing, all thoughts of danger are gone when we hae such a blessin’ upon us.”
Magnus stood beside Lochie and the priest asked him who speaks for Lochinvar. Magnus said, “I, Mag Mòr.”
Then Magnus was asked a series of questions that I didn’t understand. He answered, “Of the age.” Then he answered, “Nae.” Then he said, “I, Mag Mòr, hae permitted the marriage between Lochinvar and his bride.”
Then Magnus came to sit beside me in the front row. He picked up my hand and held it on his thigh, while we watched Lochie marry Ash at the altar. Lochie shook with nervousness, she trembled. Lochinvar repeated an oath, promising to “...have and tae hold her, in bed and at the table, whether she be fair or ugly, and for better or worse, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”
And then he gave her a ring and said, “With this ring, I thee wed.”
Two young men came in and held a canopy over Lochinvar and Ash’s head while the bride and groom knelt in front ofthe priest. He said a very long Mass. So long that I began to worry about Ash’s knees. I didn’t worry about Lochie’s, he was Magnus’s brother, he could probably kneel for a long time if he felt he had to.
It was very sweet seeing Ash’s hand resting on Lochie’s as the priest prayed over them. I was filled with happiness watching the love they had for each other. I was so proud of Lochie, he had done really well.
The priest asked them to stand, had us all bow our heads in prayer, and then the wedding was over with a kiss.
I put my head on Magnus’s shoulder.
“Ye overcome, mo reul-iuil?”
“Yes, I’m just...” A tear slid down my cheek. “It’s just beautiful.”
“Aye, young love, we are blessed tae witness it. It means a great deal tae me that Lochinvar honored me by doin’ it here.”
CHAPTER 28 - ASH
LOCHINVAR AND ASH’S BEDCHAMBER, STIRLING CASTLE - JUNE 18, 1291
“So, how did this happen, that we are going to bed at ten in the morning?”
He pulled my gown off over my head. I had already put the veil and my belt on the small table in the room. My boots had been kicked off to the side in a pile beside his.
“I dinna sleep last night, too excited, did ye sleep?”
“Barely, too excited, too.”
Our room was small but nice, a good rug on the floor, lots of lush bedding, a canopy, and a good fire roaring in the hearth.
We had wine and some bread and cheese on a table for a snack, but we weren’t hungry though we had barely eaten breakfast — it felt like being jet lagged,this had to have been a full day already, wasn’t it?
I unbuckled his belt and let it fall away. He carefully pulled my chemise over my arms and head and then stood breathless looking at me in my pink underwear and bra. “Och, ye promised me, and here tis, centuries later.”
