Bella sat up, pulling the blanket around herself.
Boyd pressed the pouch into her hands.
Bella's fingers trembled as she loosened the drawstring and tipped the contents into her palm.
A gasp escaped her.
It was a necklace, the most beautiful piece of jewelry she'd ever seen.A delicate silver chain with a pendant shaped like half a sun, the rays extending outward in intricate detail.Tiny gemstones of amber were set within the rays, catching the morning light.
"Boyd," she breathed.
"Do ye remember what I told ye?"Boyd asked softly."When we were young?"
Bella's eyes filled with tears."We're like two halves of the sun."
"Aye."Boyd's voice was rough with emotion."Apart, we're incomplete.But together, we burn bright enough to light up the whole sky."He moved behind her to fasten the chain around her neck."I had this made years ago, Bella.After I became the Monk and had coin to spare.I kept it.Waiting."
"Waiting for what?"Bella whispered.
Boyd pressed a kiss to her shoulder."For the day I could give it to ye and tell ye that I never stopped loving ye."
The pendant settled just above her heart, warm from his touch.
"I love ye, My Bella," he said fiercely, turning her to face him."I have loved ye since we were young.I loved ye when I thought I hated ye.And I'll love ye till my very last breath and beyond."
Bella kissed him, pouring all her love into it.When they finally broke apart, she rested her forehead against his.
"I have something for ye as well," she said, her voice shaking.
She retrieved her small purse and pulled out a leather-wrapped package, pressing it into his hands.
"At the market yesterday, I saw this and it felt like fate."
Boyd unwrapped it slowly, then went completely still.
In his palm lay a leather necklace with intricate Celtic knots tooled into the leather.And hanging from it was a pendant.Half a sun.Silver and matching in design to the one now resting against Bella's heart.
For a long moment, Boyd simply stared at it, his throat working, his eyes bright.
"Ye bought this yesterday," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper."Before ye kenned about mine."
"Aye."Bella's tears were falling freely now."The silversmith said it represents a bond between two people.I thought of ye, Boyd."
Boyd looked up at her, wonder and love in his expression."After all these years, we're still connected."
"Two halves of the sun," Bella whispered.
She fastened the leather necklace around his neck with shaking fingers.The silver pendant settled against his chest, right over his heart, the perfect complement to the one she wore.
Boyd held both pendants in his palm.It was symbolic.Two halves finally made whole.
"Perfect," he murmured and kissed her once more.
Then they made love with breathtaking tenderness, wearing nothing but their matching gifts.
***
LATER THAT MORNINGafter they had washed, dressed and shared a light meal together, Boyd and Bella got ready to begin their day.
