I said, “This is partly why we hae come, mo reul-iuil. I am thinking on memories and how we hae lost the wooden heart I had carved for ye, ye remember the one ye had over our bed at Kilchurn?”
“I never knew what happened to it. I’m sorry I lost it.”
“On the morrow we’ll ride our horses out tae the King’s forest and I will cut a branch tae carve ye a new one.”
“Oh, you will? That’s… you’re making me cry.”
“I ken, I daena mean tae, I am tryin’ tae be romantic. Tis our fifth anniversary, according to this book, as the crow flies, tis the wooden one.”
Tears welled up in her eyes.
I smiled. “Ye always cry in front of the book.”
“Why do you have to be so romantic?”
I chuckled.
“So that’s why we’re here, to get the wood?”
“Tae bring the chests, tae get the wood, I think tis important tae carve it from the forest we are growin’, the trees are here and also in our kingdom, tis a symbol.”
“It’s a great symbol, I love it so much, perfect. Is this the secret?”
I said, “What secret?”
“Never mind, I’ll just let it all unfold.”
“Good.”
I covered her hand with mine. “Ye are as lovely, weepin’ there at the altar as ye were five years ago weepin’ at the altar.”
“I do seem to weep a lot, you’re always so calm.”
“Nae, not calm. While ye weep I tremble with fear; twas difficult tae keep m’hands steady when we married at the church in Amelia Island. I shook like a lad, twas embarrassin’.”
She laughed under her breath. “Well, you did learn about time-traveling, found out you were going to be a king, discovered the modern world, and agreed to marry a disgraced Youtuber, basically at the same time. There was plenty to fear.”
“Tis true, yet without all of that, I would hae still trembled at the sight of ye.”
Kaitlyn leaned into my side, her head restin’ against my shoulder. “Thank you. I love you.” Then she asked, “Do you think the chapel will remember us when we’re gone? When Sean and Lizbeth are in the kingdom and we don’t come here anymore?”
I was quiet, considerin’. “I think, the book will remember our story, the stones will remember our vows, and if our family is like a tree, this castle is our roots, the roots canna forget the tree.”
She looked up in my eyes.
I squeezed her hand. “We will carry a piece of it with us. Always.”
She nodded quietly and we left the chapel.
CHAPTER 10
KAITLYN
DRESSING IN MY CHAMBER
We separated for a bit so that Magnus could go up to the walls and speak with Liam and Sean and some of the men he knew, and my job was to get dressed for the evening meal. On short notice, the Earl had requested the kitchen put together something special. The scent of baking breads, boiling greens, and roasting meats permeated the corridors of the castle.
Just as I was preparing to change, there was a quick knock on my chamber door. It was Sean’s wife, Maggie, with two lady’s maids. “Did ye need anything for yer dress, Kaitlyn? Lizbeth has sent me tae see tae ye.”
