"And I'll hold ye to that, Laird McGibb. Just daenae betray me trust again," she whispered, a smile breaking through the tears.
His hand brushed her cheek gently, his thumb caressing the warmth of her skin. "I'll spend me life earnin' it, Maisie. Startin' now."
The hall around them faded into insignificance, the world narrowing to just the two of them, their hearts beating in tandem as the promise of a future together hung in the air, as electric and alive as the first spark of a fire.
EPILOGUE
The morning air at McGibb Castle was crisp and alive with the scent of salty ocean air as Maisie stood at the altar, her fingers trembling slightly as she held Caiden's hands.
The chapel had been transformed for the occasion, with garlands of wildflowers and tartans draped over the stone walls and the sound of a gentle breeze mingling with the low hum of a harp.
Guests from neighboring clans had gathered, their eyes filled with curiosity and admiration, whispering among themselves. Among them were the McGowan clan, notably Lavina and Theodore.
Maisie's heart raced, a mixture of excitement and reverent anticipation thrumming through her chest as she glanced at Caiden, whose dark eyes held her like a promise.
The preacher, an elderly man with a long silver beard and a voice that carried, began the ceremony with solemnity.
"In the sight of the Almighty and before this gathered clan," he intoned, "we bring together these two souls, Lady Maisie Lewis of Clan McGowan and Caiden Byrne, Laird of Clan McGibb, to bind them in love, honor, and mutual respect."
He held up a braided cord, the symbol of their union, and explained its significance. "By this handfastin', ye bind yer hearts and hands, pledgin' to cherish one another through joy and sorrow, through plenty and want, until the end of yer days."
Caiden stepped forward, his hand brushing gently over Maisie's, grounding her in the moment.
"Maisie, me own heart," he began, his voice low but steady, "I ken I've been a fool in the past, but here and now I swear to ye, I will love and protect ye all the days of me life. I pledge me hand, me heart, and me home to ye, through every storm and every calm. By this cord, I bind meself to ye, forever yers."
Maisie drew in a steadying breath, her pulse racing as she met his gaze.
"Caiden, I have feared the dark days, yet me heart has never wavered from ye," she said, her voice trembling with sincerity. "I pledge to stand by ye, to honor ye, and to walk beside ye in all the days to come. With this cord, I bind me life to yours, in love, loyalty, and hope everlastin'."
The preacher gently wrapped the cord around their joined hands, the braid of red, green, and gold weaving tightly as a symbol of their commitment.
"By the power vested in me and in the sight of all gathered, I pronounce ye handfasted as husband and wife," he declared.
The clan erupted in cheers and applause, the sound echoing across the hills, while Caiden and Maisie shared a trembling, joyous smile. Their hands remained entwined, warmth and electricity passing between them, a silent vow deeper than any spoken words.
Caiden lifted Maisie's hand to his lips, pressing a soft, reverent kiss to her knuckles.
"Ye are mine, Maisie, now and forever," he murmured, his eyes dark with devotion. Maisie's cheeks flushed as she returned his gaze, the weight of the moment settling around them like a blessing.
She whispered, "And ye are mine, Caiden, through every storm and sun."
The clan gathered around to offer their congratulations, slapping backs and raising voices in celebration.
Maisie felt a sense of belonging wash over her, the love of her family and the acceptance of Caiden's clan wrapping around her like a protective cloak.
She had feared losing herself in the past, but now, in this sacred moment, she knew she had found a life she could call her own.Her heart soared with joy and a quiet certainty, knowing that whatever trials lay ahead, they would face them together.
Caiden and Maisie stepped back slightly, the braid still around their hands, and the preacher blessed their union with a final invocation.
"May ye walk together in strength and in joy, may your hearts remain true, and may the bonds ye have forged this day grow ever stronger."
The couple exchanged a lingering, passionate look, their souls entwined as tightly as their hands. Around them, the courtyard shimmered with the laughter, music, and love of all those who had witnessed the beginning of their new life together.
As the harp struck a joyful note and the clan erupted in song, Maisie leaned her head against Caiden's shoulder, feeling the solid warmth of him beside her. She knew that the past could not touch them now; their hearts had spoken, and their hands had been bound.
The handfasting was more than tradition, it was the seal of their love, a promise that no power on earth could undo. In that moment, amidst the cheers and the sunlight, Maisie and Caiden were finally, irrevocably, one.
After the wedding feast, Maisie stood close to Caiden in the dim glow of the candlelight, her heartbeat thrumming in her chest as he reached for her hand in his bedchamber.
