Her mother entered with a tray of fruit and cheese. “You have half an hour to eat,” she said, setting the tray down, “then Mama’s bathing chamber is yours. We’ll get you dressed and then Aunt Avelina, Lise, and Liliana will weave the flowers in your hair.” Her Ramsay aunt and cousins had a way with flowers, and everyone in both clans were always clamoring for them to fix their hair.
“My thanks, Mama.” She hurried over, hugged her mother, and said, “And now I’m glad we waited. Everyone is here and I’m so excited. Everyone!”
Her mother turned to leave before glancing back, eyes narrowed. “You’ll not be late for anything. Do you hear me?”
“Aye, Mama. You’ll see how perfect it will be. All of it.”
Perfect wasn’t exactly how it all went, but she did survive the day. Even through all of the following:
Two of the roasted pheasants burned and sent smoke traveling all through the keep.
Chrissa tripped on her dress and rolled down several stairs, though fortunately she didn’t break any bones.
There were so many tents and banners outside that all her cousins had to go out and have everyone move for the ceremony.
It rained late in the morn, soaking everyone.
Two trays of fruit tarts went flying through the air when Maeve screamed upon seeing Daniel and Constance and all their bairns come inside, just because she’d always loved Daniel.
Daniel, always the talented one, caught two tarts flying through the air with his one hand.
The dogs all ate well between the pheasants and the fruit tarts.
But they laughed through it all, and after the rain stopped, tables dressed in ribbons and flowers were arranged in the courtyard and in the hall. They’d invited so many that the set up overtook the entire archery field and the lists, where there was no parrying allowed. Her procession was to start out near the lists and would end at the chapel in the courtyard. Chrissa started out so far away that many would miss the beginning, but with the rolling hills, they’d see her once she reached the meadow.
And so it began.
Chrissa, mounted on a white horse, was led down a path lined with Grant warriors by her wee cousins, Grant bairns bedecked in their feast day finery. The bairns led her to the base of a hill, where her grandsire and parents waited on horseback. The plan was for them to climb the hill until they reached the meadow, then stand and wait, overlooking all of their guests, until the ceremony began. The meadow was full of clanmates and others who came to watch from far and wide. Menzies, Drummonds, Ramsays, Camerons, they were all there.
As soon as Chrissa reached the base of the hill where her parents awaited her, she nearly lost her composure. One look at Alexander Grant in his fine leine almost brought her to tears. He was such a handsome man. And her mother was absolutelybeautiful in a dark red gown with a bodice made from the Grant plaid, her handsome father next to her.
Chrissa wore a white under gown with the red Grant plaid draped in folds and pleats over her. She wore her grandmother Maddie’s pearls, and a gold belt rested on her hips. Lise and Liliana had decorated her hair with flowers of red and gold.
“You are beautiful, lass,” Grandsire said. “Grandmama would be proud. The pearls are lovely.” He held his hand out and she took it, the two climbing to the pinnacle hand in hand on horseback, her mother and father riding on either side of them.
When they crested the peak, the crowd beneath them exploded in cheers and applause. Here the wee bairns of the clan stepped back, making way for each of Alex Grant’s living children, who rode up the hill from the keep and stopped in front of Chrissa and her grandsire on horseback. Jamie, Connor, Elizabeth, and Maeve looked splendid in their finery. They led their horses in a bit of a show as they turned in unison and then led the procession while Chrissa’s siblings—Alick, Broc, and Paden—fell in behind their elders.
“Do you think Mama is watching, Papa?” her mother asked, her voice choked with emotion.
“Indeed I do, daughter. And Jake and Aline.”
They nearly reached the portcullis to deafening cheers, but she was surprised at what she saw. The chapel had been moved to a position a good distance in front of the gates at one end of the meadow.
In front of the chapel at the end of the meadow was her beloved. Drostan stood with Magnus, his mentor of sorts in the warrior camp, and the priest. Her husband looked so handsome she nearly cried over that.
Jamie and Connor stopped them just in front of the chapel, then turned awaiting someone.
All the onlookers had to step back to allow the newcomers to join them.
Chrissa and her sire were still at the rear of the procession, but they turned to watch the ceremony, and what a sight it was.
Two rows of Grant warriors in full dress joined them on Grandsire’s right side.
On the left, led by Logan and Gwyneth Ramsay, they were joined by Aunt Brenna, Torrian, Lachlan, and two rows of Ramsay warriors.
To the right of the Grant warriors came another group, Clan Cameron warriors led by Aedan and Jennie, all on horseback, and two more sets of warriors approached them on Logan’s left. First the Menzies, with Avelina and Drew leading, and then Diana Drummond and Micheil Ramsay leading the Drummond warriors.
The last group to join them was led by Loki and Bella. Their warriors, also in Grant plaids, fell in on the other side of Clan Cameron.
