"Ye must," Ansel replied seriously. "Because ye're the sun itself, and this country needs yer light."
He gently shook her off, then stepped forward to stand right in front of Cailean. He took a deep breath and said, "Let's make it quick."
Cailean nodded and raised his sword.
"Wait," Maeve said quickly. "Wait."
Both men stopped and looked at her. Maeve had moved to comfort Neala and had her arms around her sister-in-law, but her eyes were on Cailean.
"Maeve, I made a promise," Cailean insisted. "Ye did too."
"I did," Maeve agreed. "We did. We agreed that nae Ashkirk would leave this castle. But what if Ansel lives, and still nae Ashkirk does?"
Ansel frowned, tilting his head as he tried to understand her meaning. "What are ye sayin'?" he asked.
"Neala, ye love this man?" Maeve asked.
"I do," Neala replied. "More than almost anythin'. I ken ye understand how that feels."
Maeve nodded. "And ye," she said, nodding to Ansel. "Ye love her?"
"Aye," Ansel replied slowly.
Cailean's eyebrows arched. He and Maeve seemed to have a silent conversation, and though he pursed his lips, he nodded. "Are ye sure?" he asked.
"Ye've fought so long tae end the fightin'," Maeve replied. "This way, ye regain yer family's legacy without havin' tae cause more death. Ye can lead us tae the new world nae with blood, but with love."
Cailean sighed, but he nodded again. "Well," he grumbled so that only those directly around him could hear, "I didnae think me first act as king would be this. We'll need witnesses."
Maeve moved to Cailean and kissed his cheek. She turned to the rebels and beckoned a few people forward. Ansel didn't recognize them all, but one of them was Malcolm Darach's son, and another, holding the hand of a handsome young man with golden curls, was none other than Nessa O'Sullivan.
"Nice tae see ye're alive," Ansel told her, unable to stop himself. Nessa smiled slightly, much to his surprise. It suited her.
A few other people approached at Maeve's beckoning, this time from Ansel's side—Ruadh, along with two other of Ansel's men. Once they'd arrived, Maeve gently took Neala's hand and led her to Ansel.
"Wait," Nessa said. She pulled a ribbon from her hair and handed it to Cailean, who nodded in thanks.
Ansel stared at Neala's hand in his, knowing that now he was holding her once more, he'd never be able to let go. He looked up and met her eyes, then used his free hand to wipe some of the tears from her cheeks.
"Will ye take this man as yer husband, Neala?" Cailean asked. "Will ye guide him and teach him, and help him learn? Will ye help him work tae earn forgiveness from our people?"
"I will," Neala replied. "I want nothin' more."
Ansel's stomach fluttered. He understood what was happening, but it was so wonderful that he couldn't bring himself to believe it.
"And ye, Ansel, will ye take me sister as yer wife?" Cailean asked. "Will ye forsake the name of Ashkirk forever before these witnesses and swear yerself tae bein' better? Will ye give us yer loyalty and understand ye've a lot of work ahead?"
At first, Ansel couldn't get the words out. But he met Neala's eyes, and calmness flooded through him. This was it. This was right. "I will. I… I cannae think of anythin' that would honor me more. I place me whole life before her, me whole bloodlinebefore ye all, and I can scarcely believe that ye accept me. I'll work for the rest of me life tae earn it if I have tae."
Cailean nodded, and Neala smiled at him with tears in her eyes, but Ansel could see that others looked less convinced.
He let go of Neala's hand for a moment and stepped forward, making sure he was in view of as many people as possible and raising his voice so he could be clearly heard.
"I forsake the Ashkirk name now and forever and commit meself tae the legacy of the McNairs," Ansel announced clearly. He knelt before Cailean. "I am yer humble servant, and if the need should ever arise again, I will fight for ye and die for ye before I let harm befall me king or this country. I will commit me existence tae protectin' nae only me life, but the lives of all of the people of McNair and of Scotland."
Maeve actually smiled. She gave Cailean a look, and he nodded.
"I accept yer pledge," Cailean told him quietly. Then, louder, he said, "As the rightful king, I accept this man's pledge. Who would protest it?"
