"Alpin." Her voice came out strangled.
He knelt.
Right there in the village square, in front of everyone, Alpin MacDougal—laird, warrior, the man who'd saved her life—knelt in the dirt and looked up at her with an expression that stole her breath.
"Mhairi Munro," he said, and his voice carried across the silent square. "Would ye consider becomin’ the lady of this clan? Would ye stand beside me, nae just as the woman I'm protectin’, but as me partner? Me wife?"
The world seemed to stop.
Mhairi stared down at him, her mind reeling. This was too fast. Too public.
Too everything.
But also... it felt right.
Righter than anything she had felt in months.
"Ye're serious," she whispered.
"Completely."
"We've only known each other a few weeks."
"I've learned enough in these weeks tae be certain." His thumb stroked across her knuckles. "But if ye need more time, if this is too soon, I'll wait. I'll court ye properly, follow every tradition, give ye however long ye need tae be sure."
Mhairi looked around the square. At the villagers watching with bated breath. At Kenina and Peadar smiling encouragement. At the children who'd stopped playing to see what would happen.
Then she looked back at Alpin.
At that man who'd fought for her, protected her, given her space to heal and grow. Who'd offered her a future instead of a cage. Who'd knelt in the dirt in front of his entire village and offered her everything.
"Aye," she heard herself say. "I'll marry ye."
The square erupted.
Cheers, applause, whistles of approval. Someone started beating a drum in celebration. Children began dancing.
But Mhairi only had eyes for Alpin as he rose to his feet, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her soundly in front of everyone.
When they finally broke apart, both breathing hard, the villagers were on their feet, surrounding them with congratulations and well-wishes.
"About time," Callum said, appearing from somewhere with a grin. "I was startin’ tae think ye'd never actually ask her."
"Ye kent he was plannin’ this?" Mhairi asked.
"We all did." Peadar clapped Alpin on the shoulder. "He's been workin’ up the courage fer days."
"I wasnae workin’ up courage," Alpin protested. "I was waitin’ fer the right moment."
"And ye chose tae dae it in a destroyed village square after a day of foragin’?" Kenina raised an eyebrow. "Very romantic."
"It felt right." Alpin's arm tightened around Mhairi's waist. "After everything that happened today, after seein’ how close we came tae losin’ more people, I didnae want to wait any longer."
"Well, congratulations tae ye both." Kenina hugged Mhairi. "Welcome tae the insanity of being married tae a Highland laird."
More villagers pressed forward with congratulations. Someone brought blankets to wrap around them against the evening chill. Torches were lit throughout the square, turning the destroyed village into something almost festive.
"Tae the laird and his lady!" someone shouted, raising a cup.
