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“I have always been happy to be in yer service, my lady,” Nelly replied sweetly. “Now,” she said briskly, “what will ye wear on the morrow for yer wedding? I will need to see the gown is fresh.”
Fiona thought a moment, then said, “I will wear the dark green velvet houppelande with my husband's plaid across the front and my own clan badge holding it. I would do Colin MacDonald honor.”
In the morning while Fiona was dressing, Moire Rose came again to Fiona's chamber.
“I have seen to a wee feast this morning,” she said.
Fiona thanked her. “Today we all begin anew with each other. There is dissension in the world all about us, but here at Nairns Craig, ye and I will make a place of peace for our family, for when my sons must go to war, they will understand how truly valuable peace is, and fight all the more for it.”
“I was verra bitter when my Donald left me,” Moire Rose told Fiona frankly. “I knew he was wed to another. I knew he would not leave her, and yet I foolishly thought I might hold him with his son. But he hadother sons.” She sighed deeply. “I was a verra foolish lassie. I would not listen to my father, and I rejected my own son until finally my Donald took the boy from me, allowing him to visit only my father each summer. Seeing my own bairn return from Islay so happy and thriving only compounded my bitterness. And after my father died, I continued my intemperate behavior.”
“But since Alastair was born ye have changed, Moire Rose,” Fiona said.
“Aye, yer coming at first angered me, and then my wee grandson came into this world. I looked at him, Fiona, and realized then that I could not waste any more time in anger. I let myself lose my only child even before he was born. I have no one to blame but myself. Donald MacDonald was honest with me. I accept yer proposal that we all begin anew today. Ye have brought happiness into this house, although I realize it has not been easy for ye. Ye loved another once, I believe, but I will ask ye no questions. I already have yer word that ye will not bring shame to my son, and I believe ye.”
To Fiona's surprise her mother-in-law enfolded her in a bony embrace. “Thank ye, my child, for what ye have done for all of us and for the gift of love ye have brought us all.”
Fiona gently hugged Moire Rose back, kissing her on the cheek before breaking off the embrace. “I had best finish dressing,” she said softly.
The older woman nodded. “Aye. They're already waiting on ye in the hall. Nairn is so nervous, ye'd think this was the first time he was marrying ye.” She chuckled. “I offered him a wee dram of wine, but he refused me, saying that ye had bid him come sober to his marriage.”
Fiona could not help but smile at the woman'swords. “I also bid him bathe himself,” she said mischievously.
“He smells like a bouquet of flowers,” Moire Rose assured her. Then with a nod she left.
Fiona pulled on her clean white stockings and a pair of soft leather ankle boots. Nelly tipped a soft cotton chemise over her mistress, followed by the forest-green velvet houppelande. Next the servant brushed her mistress's long black hair, fitting it into the silver caul. She affixed over it a silver brocade and green velvet fillet with a single green stone in its center that rested in the middle of Fiona's forehead. Lastly, Nelly carefully draped the length of plaid called Hunting MacDonald, which Colin MacDonald favored. It was a leaf green with both narrow and wide white stripes, and here and there within the pattern were woven blocks of a darker green. At her mistress's shoulder Nelly pinned the silver brooch of the Hay chieftain. The badge was circular with a falcon rising out of a crest coronet. Engraved upon the badge was the clan motto: Serva Lugum, Keep the Yoke. Fiona smiled. She had, it seemed, been yoked since birth. There was little chance she would ever be unyoked.
She descended into the hall with Nelly by her side, Nairn's piper leading them as he played. To her surprise the sun was shining through the high windows. It was a good portent, she thought. There were branches of colored leaves decorating the room, and all the castle folk were assembled. She heard Alastair whimper from the arms of the girl chosen to watch over him. Upon the high board were Father Ninian's traveling crucifix and a pair of silver candlesticks, and in them burned good beeswax tapers. The piper ceased.
“Are ye ready to proceed, my daughter?” the priest asked her.
Fiona nodded, reached out to take Colin's hand, and drew him before Father Ninian. The priest began, but Fiona heard little of what he said. The man by her side should have been Angus Gordon, but Angus Gordon had so easily given her up for dead, or lost, and taken a milk-and-water English wife to please his king.Damn him for it! No,she told herself fiercely, she had to put her anger behind her. She could not, would not, start this real marriage to Nairn with a heart filled with bitterness. Colin was a good man, and he loved her. He deserved a wife who was faithful not only in body but also in mind.
Farewell, my Black Angus.She would think of him no more.
They were wed. Nairn kissed her heartily, then turned about and declared a holiday for the castle folk and all his clansmen.
“What will ye have of me, Fiona mine? For this day I will give ye anything it is in my power to give ye. I love ye that much,” he declared loudly before everyone in the entire hall. “Ye have but to name yer gift, and it is yers!”
“Make peace with yer mam,” Fiona said quietly, but everyone heard her and looked in surprise from the bride to Moire Rose. Fiona beckoned her mother-in-law to them. “I will have peace in my house, Colin MacDonald. Yer mam and I have made our peace, but we will have no true peace until ye make it, too. That is the gift I would have of ye, my lord and husband.”
Mother and son looked at each other, neither certain of what to say, but then Moire Rose said softly, “Fiona had said this would be a new beginning for us all, Nairn.” Tears filled her blue eyes. “Ye look so much likehim,my son.”
“Now there is something we already have in common, madam,” Nairn told her gently. “We both loved Donald MacDonald.” He enfolded her in his big embrace while those in the hall erupted into cheers.
“Ye have performed a miracle, my lady,” the priest told Fiona sincerely. “God will bless ye for it. It was surely fated that ye come to Nairns Craig.”
“Be certain ye tell the king that when ye see him,” Fiona whispered. Hearing her son howling, she started to leave the high board to go and feed him. “I will be back after I have let yer son drink his fill,” she told her bridegroom, who, she had to admit, looked very handsome in his kilt and white shirt.
He grinned, calling after her, “He will need a playmate shortly, sweeting. We must think on it.”
Fiona turned, saying, “A puppy, perhaps, Colly?” Then, laughing, she hurried to fetch the child.
“Ye are a fortunate young man, Colin MacDonald,” the priest said. “Many cases of handfast, or bride-stealing, don't end as happily as yers has. Remember the tragedy of yer wife's parents. Don't forget to thank our good Lord when ye pray this night. I shall say compline before ye seek yer beds. And tomorrow after the mass I shall be on my way. I will not return until the spring.”
“Are ye certain,” Nairn asked Father Ninian, “that ye will not stay with us, good Father?Yewould be more than welcome.”
“Nay, my son,” the priest replied. “I will renew myself at Glenkirk Abbey this winter, immersing myself once more in the religious life of my house. But come the first wind from the south, the sight of the snow melting on the bens, a violet beneath my foot, and I shall be on my way once more to bring what Christian comfort I can to these highlands. Perhaps when I amolder I will settle in one place, but not now, my lord, although I thank ye for the offer.”
