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She waited out the laughter, and took the ring tucked in her bouquet. “All right then. This ring, a circle that never ends. Will you have it from me and me with it, Harken? I’ve loved you as long as I can remember, and wasn’t so happy about it some of the time. I don’t know why, as I’ve never been happier in all my life than in this moment. You’ve been patient with me, which only made me love you more. I pledge to you all you’ve pledged to me. I won’t promise to cook all the meals, as you’re better at it, but I’ll work this land beside you and tend all on it.”
“A better bargain for both of us,” he said.
“That it is. I promise I’ll try that patience of yours, as I won’t be able to help it, but I’ll love you, Harken, through all that comes. You’re all I want as well, and I give you all I am or ever will be, and take all of you if you’re willing. Be mine, as I am yours.”
“I’ll take you, Morena.”
Keegan moved under the arbor to wrap a white cord around their joined hands. “Brother, Sister, you are joined here as husband and wife. A pledge and promise of love and unity. Bright blessings on you, and all who come from you.”
They kissed, to the cheers of all assembled, then kissed again before turning and lifting their joined hands.
“I am his wife.”
“I am her husband.”
Morena laughed when he scooped her up, spun her around.
So began the feasting and music, the cups lifted in toasts. Torches and candles lit bright as evening slipped toward the longest night.
Breen watched Morena and Harken take their first dance beforeothers joined in. Some sat at tables ringing the blaze of the solstice fire, and more slipped inside to sip a whiskey by the hearth or rock a baby to sleep.
As the moons began their sail, a hush.
“Don’t tell me we have to make speeches.” Mildly panicked, Breen grabbed at Keegan’s arm. “Nobody told me about speeches.”
“No. Look.” He gestured west.
A light bloomed, cool and white, spread up and out from the Far West.
“Fin’s Dance,” she remembered.
“Aye, as I told you, the moons give their light to the stones to mark the winter solstice, the longest night. Now listen.”
In the hush she heard the stones, though miles away, softly singing. And the song, like the beat of angels’ wings, spread like the light as every dance across Talamh answered.
They sang a song of peace and promise.
Marco moved beside her and groped for her hand. When she looked at him, she saw tears of wonder gleaming in his eyes and felt her own on her cheeks.
This is why, she thought as her heart filled, this is why we fight. So two people can pledge their love, and spread it. And for the light, for the song, for the wonder, for the beauty.
And she was part of it, part of the wonder and the song.
The solstice fire burned, the torches and candles blazed. For a moment trapped in time, all of Talamh stood united. Slowly, the light in the west quieted, and the song ended.
“So the wheel turns on the longest night.” Keegan looked down at her. “A first for you in Talamh.”
“Yes, a first for me. Anywhere. What do we do now?”
“Now. Well, we dance.”
The music piped again, so she danced, and danced.
And she looked on in delight at her grandmother and Sedric’s energetic step dance. She drank wine, and enough of it to agree to sing a couple of duets with Marco before she danced again with young Kavan, hooting along with the music, on her hip.
Bollocks danced on his hind legs to entertain children—and earned more scraps than a single dog could eat for his trouble.
As the night stretched out, she dropped down at a table by the solstice fire beside Aisling.
