“So you’re calling me a sheep?”
“No, that’s not what I…” He smiled. “You’re teasing me, aren’t you?”
“Maybe.” She winked and blew him a kiss as a horn echoed around the room.
The talking died down as Alan stood up, his tankard held high in the air. “I wish to read you a poem.”
Callum frowned. His father had never shown any interest in poetry.
“It was told to me by my father on my wedding day and today I hand it to my son who may one day pass it to his.” He cleared his throat, his voice becoming quieter.
“Our land we bought with blood violent spilt,
Many have died to stitch the MacCleod quilt,
We remember them now and shall never forget,
All they’ve done for our clan and yet,
Today we look beyond all that is gone and past,
To the future of these two and may their love last,
Until the end of time when the last star doth fall,
So please raise a glass in cheer one and all.”
An earsplitting roar went up around the room and Alan turned to Callum. “To my son and his wife, may they grant me a grandson to add one more panel to the MacCleod quilt.”
“I have something to say.”
The room fell quiet. At the furthest table a figure was rising. It was Moira. She had not been seen since Orm’s funeral and was still wearing the clothes of mourning. In her arms she held a tiny sleeping baby.
She looked straight at Callum as she continued. “If Orm were here today he would have something to say but I must say it on his behalf.” She paused, a tear rolling down her cheek. “May God bless your marriage as He once blessed mine.” She sat down again without another word, rocking the baby slowly from side to side.
The feast continued long into the night. Outside snow began to silently fall, coating the castle and the land beyond in a blanket of white. The thick flakes hissed when they landed on the torches that illuminated the courtyard.
Eventually the door to the great hall opened and Callum emerged with his new bride. Behind them the abbot walked slowly, muttering his prayers. The door was pulled closed once more to keep the heat in as the three of them walked up the stairs to the bedchamber. The noise died away as they climbed. Kerry paused at an arrow slit to look outside at the falling snow. “It’s beautiful,” she said.
“Aye,” Callum replied, kissing her cheek, “though nowhere near as beautiful as you.”
