Roderick nodded with a slight smile.
The priest kissed Roderick’s cheek, then announced, “The kiss of peace.” Roderick in turn kissed Siena briefly on the lips before he turned her to face the congregation. There were whoops of Scottish enthusiasm.
Later Siena would think that she didn’t remember anything about the ceremony other than the cut on the wrist, and that she did remember. All she had to do was look at her wrist with the linen tied around the cut to remember.
Once they were outside of the church, they stopped so Roderick could address the clan. “May I present, Lady Siena Scott. You shall pledge yer loyalty to her as ye have to me.” Everyone cheered. “Then let the feasting begin.”
Siena glanced up at her husband and she felt the blackness closing in around her as heat made her skin feel hot, and everything was swimming. She vaguely remembered being draped across Roderick’s arm. She could hear what was going on, but she couldn’t respond.
“I see ye’ve swept your bride off her feet,” Angus said with a chuckle.
“Aye, it appears the lass is overcome with emotion and she has fainted.”
“Wull, if I am marrying yer sorry ass … I’d faint, too,” Galen added.
Roderick frowned at his brothers before he scooping his bride up in his arms and heading toward the keep. Evidently, he’d overwhelmed his bride. He hoped it was a good sign.
Siena felt terrible when she came to. Agatha was holding a cool cloth to her head.
“What happened?” Siena asked, blinking with bafflement.
“You fainted, milady.”
She sat up. “How embarrassing.”
“It is probably lack of food, and you were a bit nervous. Do you think you can join everyone for the celebration?”
“I think I’m good now. If I go down again just leave me,” she said with a laugh as she experienced a gamut of perplexing emotions.
The door opened and The Green Lady swept into the room.
“I came to see if I could help,” Elen said.
“I’m not sure why I fainted but I’m feeling better … maybe a little weak.
“Drink this,” Elen said as she dug into her pouch and brought out a very small, brown bottle.
Siena reached for it. “What is it?”
“Just a few herbs that will make ye feel better. I take it myself. When ye are hundred and sixteen, ye need something to keep you movin’.”
Siena drank the potion. “It does taste good.”
“Aye.” Elen nodded. “Now it’s time to join the celebration. “We’ve waited a long time to see our Laird happy again.” She swept out the door.
“I thought she was hundred and five,” Agatha said.
Siena laughed. “I don’t think she knows her real age.”
* * *
The feastin the great hall was elaborate. The tables had been pushed to the sides of the walls, leaving a place in the middle so people could dance. The tables were filled with not only guards but also clansmen and women as everyone had been invited. They were all talking and laughing among themselves.
There was some kind of dancing going on in the middle of the floor and was accompanied by bagpipes, but it was not a dance that Siena could identify. However, it looked like fun because everyone was laughing and clapping.
Siena and Roderick were seated in the middle of the high table with Roderick’s brothers on either side of them.
Galen, the youngest brother sat next to her. He was like a younger version of Roderick, but now that she could see him up close, she noticed Galen’s eyes were hazel.
