A knock sounded at the door and then Osgar entered. He stopped when he saw Elspeth and grinned at her. “You look like our mother,” he said. Elspeth had been very young when their mother had died and so did not have any visual memory of her.
“I thank you brother, as I believe she was a beautiful woman,” Elspeth said, teasing him. She took his arm and together they walked down the stairs and outside of the keep and on toward the chapel.
“Did you tell Magnus about the land?” she asked him, focusing on the crunching sound of the stones under her feet to keep her thoughts away from her pounding heart.
“Aye. He seemed overwhelmed by the offer. I wonder if he realized that is the way of things for us. I will give him some time and I will explain how the title of the land will transfer to him. I have already petitioned the king.”
“I am sure he understands,” Elspeth said. “He is probably thinking of which parcel he will accept.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean his own brother has offered land to him as well. He may be thinking he has to make a choice.”
“That explains a great deal,” Osgar said. “I will be sure to make him understand that he can have both. And what about you? Do you have a preference for where you will live?”
“As long as ’tis with my husband, I care not.”
“I couldn’t agree more. I just want you to be happy. I have to say, Magnus is much changed from when I first met him. Back then I thought him to be pigheaded and a bully.”
“Osgar!”
“Nay, ’tis true!”
“I certainly hope your opinion of him has now shifted.”
“Aye, more than you can ever imagine. Today I will be proud to call him brother and do not hesitate offering your hand to him.”
Elspeth took a deep steadying breath. She was pleased to hear it. Disappointing her family would not be something that would ever sit well with her; however, if it was necessary to secure her own happiness she would do it.
They rounded the corner and the chapel came into view. She caught sight of Magnus standing on the steps and her breath caught in her throat. He wore his trews with a bright yellow tunic held in place by two wide, black leather straps crisscrossing over his chest. Thick, dark furs were draped over his shoulders highlighting his blonde hair. His face was smoothly shaven making her fingers itch to touch.
He locked gazes with her and everything else in the world fell away. This moment was for all time. This timeline or another timeline; this realm or another realm did not matter. All that did was this man and the commitment they were about to make to one another.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The moment Osgar placed Elspeth’s hand in Magnus’, a loud crash of thunder boomed around them. When she jumped, he squeezed her hand and smiled.
“You have no need to worry,” he said. “It is Thor sending us his approval.”
She looked up at the sky with wide eyes, then pointed upward. Magnus looked up to find several ravens circling overhead like they had done before.
He chuckled. “It appears Odin will not be outdone.”
“Let us go inside before we become drenched,” Osgar said, guiding them into the chapel and away from the sudden downpour.
Together they walked to the altar where the priest stood. He raised his arms in the air and brought them together, while raising his head skyward.
“Lord God, bless this union between our dearest Lady Elspeth and her pagan husband. Forgive him for his sins as he has not yet taken the sacraments.”
He looked pointedly at Magnus. There had been no discussion with him about converting to her faith and there would be none. Elspeth tugged on his hand and when he looked down at her she was smiling and shaking her head.
The next several minutes passed by in a blur as he stayed focused on the woman before him. The priest said more of the same prayers for his soul and their marriage and for his God to guide Magnus to see the Christian light. Elspeth’s hand squeezed his every time, he hoped in reassurance, or at least that was how he took it. How much longer did this ceremony have to go on? He wanted to hold and kiss his wife and this was fast becoming a new kind of torture.
“Do you accept this woman as your lawfully wedded wife, under the eyes of God and these witnesses; in the company of the greatly exalted Laird MacAlpin whose benevolence is unmatched; whose—”
“I do accept this woman as my wife,” Magnus said. He couldn’t take one more moment of this man’s irritating speeches.
“Ahem,” he said narrowing his eyes at Magnus before refocusing his attention on Elspeth. “And do you my dearest Lady Elspeth, take this pagan as your lawfully wedded husband, before the eyes of God and these witnesses; in the company of—”
