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Chapter 23
When Fia and Alastair entered the great hall sometime later, the crowd cheered and clapped knowing they were now, indeed, man and wife.
“Congratulations, Fia!” Willow and Maira rushed over to hug her. They pulled her to the side to talk to her while the men conversed with Alastair.
“What was it like?” asked Willow. “Did you scream when you found your release?”
“Was he fierce with his lovemaking or was he gentle?” Maira wanted to know.
Fia noticed Morag watching them from the other side of the room, looking very left out of the conversation. “Morag, come join us,” she called out, watching her sister’s face light up as she ran over to join them. Cerberus was on her heels thinking it was a game.
“Get outta here,” complained Morag, trying to shoo the dog away. Fia was about to help her when there was a loud whistle from the other side of the room. The hound looked up and darted toward Alastair. Fia waited for it to jump on him as always, but Alastair stood tall and held out his hand and told the dog to sit. To her surprise, it did. Then Alastair plucked a smelt from the tray of a server and tossed it to the dog, turning to get back to his conversation with Fia’s father and uncles.
“Thank ye for includin’ me in the conversation.” Morag looked happier than she had in a long time.
“Ye are my sister, Morag, and I am sorry I have no’ included ye in more things in the past,” Fia told her. “I have somethin’ to tell all of ye. It has to do with the queen’s secret group.”
“I am a member now as well,” Morag reminded her, touching the heart brooch on her bodice.
“Aye, ye are, Morag and that is why I included ye.”
“What do you want to tell us?” asked Maira.
“Where is your crown?” added Willow, straightening her crown as she spoke. “It seems you would want to wear it on your wedding day.”
“Aye, I noticed that it was missing as well,” said Maira. “Did the MacPhersons take it from you?”
“No,” said Fia. “I gave it to another member of the secret group. Her name is Lorraine. She was tryin’ to get it to Richard with a message from me that the Scots were waitin’ to ambush his troops.”
“Ye did what?” asked Morag in shock. “If faither finds out ye went against the Scots, he will be furious.”
“Morag, I only did it to try to save many Scots’ lives as well as English.”
“It must have worked,” said Maira. “The English retreated and came home.”
“And the Scots never had a chance to attack,” added Fia. “Lots of lives were spared but, unfortunately, Lorraine died in the process.”
“Nay,” said Willow. “That is horrible.”
“Alastair’s mathair was a member as well,” Fia continued.
“She was?” Morag’s eyes opened wide.
“You didn’t tell Alastair any secrets, did you?” asked Willow.
“I had to tell him. I also promised no’ to be involved in the group any longer because it is too risky. I wish ye would all think about it as well.” She touched the wooden heart on the bracelet she wore, silently apologizing to Imanie for her decision.
“But look at all the good you did, Fia.” Maira did not like the idea of letting it go. “The queen thought this was important, and so do I.”
“Me, too,” said Willow.
“Same as me,” added Morag.
“I canna tell ye what to do, but I want to ask ye to think before ye do anythin’ that might be dangerous. Sometimes it is hard to see, but the best-laid plans can also come back to haunt ye.”
“You aren’t to blame for Lorraine’s death,” said Willow. “It could have happened to her at any time.”
“That’s right,” said Maira. “You need to think of all the good you’ve done by giving up your crown to save the lives of so many others.”
