Angus cleared his throat and a most serious expression settled on his face. Maggie thought for sure he was going to say no, and her heart sank, but then he burst out laughing. “Of course ye have me blessing, lad. I cannae think of anyone I’d rather have marry me niece. Ye were made fer each other.”
“Thank you, sir,” Dylan said, sounding relieved.
“Oh, thank you, Uncle!” Maggie looked expectantly at Dylan who got down on one knee in front of her.
“Maggie MacKinnon, I don’t have a ring for you, and this may not be the romantic proposal you were hoping for, but will you marry me?” Dylan didn’t have to wait long for her answer as Maggie threw herself at him, knocking him to the floor and landing on top of him.
“Yes! Yes! Yes! I will marry you!”
Angus had propped himself up on his pillows and was laughing and clapping as he watched. Dylan surrendered to Maggie’s kisses and when she was finished, he stood up and helped Maggie to do the same. She couldn’t seem to take her eyes off of him. Her dreams were all coming true. She felt like the luckiest girl in the world.
“Now that we have that out of the way, why dinnae ye tell me what happened with Brielle. I can hardly wait to find out.”
“Well, Uncle ’tis a long story, but I’ll be happy to recount it for you.”
Maggie and Dylan filled Angus in on Brielle, Sir Richard, and the battles against the Cait Sith and the giant stone men. Between the two of them, they didn’t leave out a single detail.
“So, ye say the amulet was like a tiny beating heart. Unbelievable!” Angus shook his head, seeming overwhelmed by what he was hearing.
“Aye, Uncle. It was,” Maggie confirmed.
Angus appeared very content to hear that Maggie had done what she had set out to do. “I’m verra proud of ye, lass,” he said, with tears of joy brimming in his eyes. “Now help me up out of this damn bed. I’d like to go downstairs and celebrate this momentous occasion with everyone. Check that passageway, to see if Mary is anywhere in sight. That woman willnae leave me be. I swear she appears out of nowhere, every time I try to get out of this damned bed.”
Maggie and Dylan had a good laugh over that, but they humored him and checked for Mary, before they all headeddownstairs, with Angus announcing very firmly that this time, he would fight tooth and nail to stay out of bed for the rest of the day.
***
Robert had sent riders off to Lena and Ewan’s with word that Brielle would no longer be posing a threat to the MacKenzies and advising them, they should all return home as soon as possible. He also suggested that Lena and Ewan return with the others, so they could visit with Angus.
“As soon as I knew ye were back, I asked Mary to prepare the best feast she could manage, to celebrate yer safe return,” Robert announced. “A toast to ye, Maggie and to ye, Dylan. Ye have returned victorious and spared us from ever having to deal with that witch again. I understand from yer uncle that the two of ye are to be married. We are all verra happy for ye. So, we drink to yer success and to yer future.” They all raised their cups in a toast and drank heartily.
A few minutes later, Mary appeared in the great hall, followed by the stable lads, whom she had evidently put to work in the kitchen. They carried great platters of food, which they set at the head table and then hurried back to retrieve more. Mary kept a watchful eye on them as the food was being delivered to each table.
“Thank ye, Mary. Ye’ve done a verra good job on short notice.” Robert bowed his head in her direction and Mary, who appeared quite flustered at the compliment, bobbed a quick curtsy and left the room, but not before giving Angus a stern look of disapproval. “Let’s eat!” Robert dug into his food and the others followed suit.
The evening meal that night was filled with tales of Maggie and Dylan’s adventures. Everyone was fascinated and full of questions regarding the battle.
“I’ve never seen a Cait Sith before,” Robert said. “I didnae believe they really existed.”
“I dinnae ken whether they exist or not, but Brielle somehow managed to conjure up three verra large ones,” Maggie said, enjoying the way everyone was listening so intently to her retelling of the showdown with Brielle.
“And the giant stone men,” Cailin said. “Ye must have been verra frightened.”
“Maggie was amazingly brave,” Dylan responded with a proud smile. “I don’t think she was scared by anything Brielle sent our way.”
“I didnae have time to be afraid,” Maggie offered. “Everything was happening so fast. I had no time to think, only time to act.”
“Well, we’re all verra happy ye’ve returned safely to us. I dinnae believe Angus would have lasted another day, before he’d set off after ye.” Robert winked at Angus, who leaned back in his chair and harrumphed loudly.
Maggie soothed him. “We would have welcomed his help, if things had gone on much longer.” She patted Angus on the arm and smiled sweetly, mouthing the words, “I love you, Uncle.” Angus returned her smile, grasping her hand and bringing it up to his lips.
“The feeling is mutual,” he whispered back.
***
The room was filled with the happy voices of the men who had stayed behind to guard Breaghacraig. They ate, drank and toasted Maggie and Dylan, long into the night. The MacKenzie’s even found it within their hearts to propose a toast to SirRichard, after they all learned of his change of heart and how he had fought along with Maggie and Dylan to defeat Brielle.
When it was apparent that everyone was beginning to head off to bed, Angus spoke. “Dylan, ye’ll be rooming with me tonight in the barracks. Maggie, ye can have Dylan’s room upstairs.”
