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“Fia,” said Alastair, hurrying over, looking like he’d seen a ghost.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Fia, God has answered my prayers. Look who is here.” He held out his arm as a monk walked up next to him.
“Who is this, Alastair?”
“This is Brother Toran.”
“Nice to meet ye,” she said, still not understanding why Alastair seemed so excited to introduce her to the holy man.
“He’s my brathair, Fia. He didna die after all. Toran was taken in by a nunnery when he was close to death. He has spent three years healin’, but now he has returned.”
“I’ve also joined the order to thank God for givin’ me a second chance at life,” said Toran.
“I see,” she said, feeling happy for him.
“I am pleased to meet ye, Lady Fia.” Toran took her hands in his. “And I am sorry to hear my faither has passed on before he found out that I was still alive.”
Caitlin walked past, and Alastair called her over. “Sister,” he said, putting his arm around her and including her in the circle. Caitlin looked up, confused. “Our brathair, Toran, is home.” Alastair glanced over to Fia and winked. Then, he and his siblings walked off talking. Fia had never seen Caitlin smile as much as she was right now. Alastair seemed to take her advice to heart, and she liked the changes in him.
“Lady Fia,” said Finn, coming to join them with a large canvas bag in his hands. “A woman just dropped this off at the gate and asked me to give it to ye.”
“What is it, Finn?”
“I dinna ken. She said it was a weddin’ present.”
“Well, did ye ask her to join us? Where is she?”
“There she is,” said Finn, pointing to a woman in a cloak standing in the shadows by the door.
“Ask her to come here, please. I want her to join the celebration. It’s the least we can do after she arrived with a present.” Fia took the bag from him and peeked inside. Her jaw dropped when she saw the contents.
“What is it?” asked Morag excitedly. “Take it out so we can see it, too.”
With a shaking hand, Fia dug into the bag and lifted out her crown.
“It’s your crown!” exclaimed Willow.
“I thought you said Richard has it and that is why he retreated,” added Maira.
“I thought so, too.” Fia’s eyes fastened to the crown in thought. Suddenly, she had no idea if Lorraine delivered the message or if bandits stole the crown before it even got to Richard. Or had Richard sent it back to her in thanks? She turned toward the woman at the door, wanting to ask her, but saw Finn looking around in confusion and shrugging his shoulders when their eyes met.
“The woman. She’s gone,” said Fia.
“Who do ye think it was?” asked Morag.
Fia had a feeling it was Alastair’s mother, coming to see that her sons were safe. But if it was, why hadn’t she stayed? Was it because she was so devoted to the vow she’d made years ago to Queen Philippa that she gave up her own family to carry it through? Fia decided she would never know the truth.
She put on her crown, her eyes meeting her husband’s from across the room. He pointed to his head and then hers, and smiled. She now felt like a queen.
“Fia, what do you think happened?” asked Maira.
“Was it your action that caused Richard to turn around and leave Scotland?” Willow wanted to know.
“I dinna ken. And I doubt that we ever will, now that Lorraine is gone and canna tell us.” Fia almost wondered if it was better that she never knew the truth.
“Mayhap, ye should ask Richard,” suggested Morag.
