"So," Maeve said, breaking the silence at last. "What do we do now?"
"We could kiss again," Cailean teased her, though he had to admit that he also enjoyed the idea immensely. "We could just stay here for the rest of the day and?—"
Maeve laughed and gently smacked his arm. The sound of her laugh was like warm sunlight, and he felt his soul lift to hear her so carefree, so joyful. She deserved to be like that all the time. Happiness suited her, and if he could remain honored by being part of that happiness, then he knew it was a life well-lived.
"Much as I like the sound of that, ye ken what I mean," she playfully scolded. "What comes next?"
It was a good question, and as much as he would like to stay in the moment that the world was just the two of them, the weight of his newfound commitment slowly settled on his shoulders. It was a burden, and a heavy one, there was no denying that, but with Maeve at his side, he felt like it was one he could bear.
"Do ye think it's too much? Tae manage somethin' as new and precious as this, and manage tae lead them as?—"
"A king," she corrected him, touching his cheek gently. "Ye're a king, Cailean. Dinnae forget it."
Cailean didn't know how he felt about that yet, but the touch of her skin against his gave him strength. "Whoever I must be, I'll be that with ye by me side," he said. "We've got a lot of work tae do, but I'll need ye with me. Can I count on that?"
She smiled at him, that rosy, sunny smile that he loved so much. "Always," she told him. "Whatever ye need from me, I'm here." She glanced away at the sky and said, "Even if it means we have tae wait before…"
"Ye'll never have tae wait for me," Cailean told her. "We'll just have tae… balance."
"Balance." Maeve chuckled. "Well, neither of us have been good at that. But maybe we'll balance each other well."
"What we have is somethin' I didnae ken I was lookin' for," Cailean admitted. "But now that I've found it…" He leaned down and kissed her again, lightly this time, once on the lips and once on the forehead. Even that little flutter was enough to make his pulse pound again. He could have stayed there with her in his arms forever. "I never intend tae let it go."
Her eyes held a softness that he knew would never leave his mind. She spoke gently, though she was clearly teasing him as well. "What is it we have?"
"That's easy," Cailean said, and to his surprise, it was. He took her in his arms again, and the words leaped to his lips with ease, as if they'd just been waiting to be formed. "I'm fallin' in love with ye, Maeve O'Sullivan. I've never felt like this before, never kent a feelin' like it, but I ken I want nothin' more than tae be with ye."
She leaned into him and kissed his cheek softly, just once, so gently it was like a butterfly floating against his lips. "Good," she said. "Because I think I may be fallin' in love with ye as well. God kens it's as new tae me as it is for ye."
The sun was high in the sky now. They'd whittled the entire morning away, here in one another's arms. Cailean didn't feel any regret about it, but he knew that he couldn't stay here forever. Maeve was warm against him, and though he was reluctant to pull away, he kissed her hair one more time before letting go. There was so much that he had to do, so much that they had to do together, and now at last he felt ready for it. He wiped his hands and got to his feet, holding out a hand to help Maeve up as well. She took it and they both stood, though their hands lingered within each other's touch.
"Are ye ready?" she asked him gently. "Ready tae be that king that I ken is inside ye?"
Cailean didn't know if he'd go that far. He still felt a lot of doubt inside about his own abilities, about how right it was that he should be the one to take the throne, but…
He had too much to lose now. His sense of duty needed to outweigh his fear. And besides, until he could believe in himself, he needed to remember that he had people he could lean on, who believed in him on his behalf. Kier, Senan, Ewan, and Hamish. Darren, Fergus, Ferda, and so many more of the rebels. The woman on the farm and the blacksmith in the village.
And now, Maeve. Wonderful, beautiful, steadfast Maeve. The woman who'd changed everything, then changed it again. What couldn't he achieve with her by his side?
"I'm ready tae try," he told her. "Is that good enough for now?"
Maeve took his hand. "Ye'll try, and ye'll succeed," she promised him. "And I'll be with ye."
"That's all I ask," Cailean told her, and he meant it. "Now, come on. Let's go save yer sister and take back Kier's castle once and for all."
* * *
The sun had started to set when the council gathered in the war room, ready to hear why Cailean had summoned them at last. He could see the way that they were watching him with anticipation and excitement, and wondered how long they had truly been waiting for him to be the one to do this — to call a meeting and decide an action.
Too long, he decided. He owed it to them to be the leader that they needed.
"What brought about the change of heart, lad?" Ewan asked. "What made ye decide we need tae take back Darach Castle — forgive me, Bruce Castle?"
Cailean tried not to glance at Maeve, who stood by his side, but he couldn't help it. When he looked back at the elders, Kier was watching him with a knowing look in his eyes. Senan wore a slight grin on his face. Ewan chuckled, and Hamish subtly gave a little nod of approval.
Embarrassed but also pleased, Cailean said, "I've realized that me duties and me family are more important than me fear," he said, and the words felt right. "Forgive me for makin' ye wait so long."
"Nae apologies," Kier told him gruffly. "Only movin' forward. What's the plan?"
