“It was nothing compared to the one she made in the forest when we first met. I kent that she would make it.”
Flora flushed at their words, but Seamus could only smile at her with pride.
“Now what?” Brid asked, wiping her hands off on her apron.
Iona came up beside her, wiping the sweat off her brow. As soon as she noticed Seamus, she ran to him and threw her arms around his shoulders.
“Ye gave us quite the scare, Cousin,” she told him. “I am glad that ye are all right.”
Seamus looked at her, seeing his mother in her features more and more, especially now that the memory was fresh.
“It is up to us now, ye ken,” he told her.
“What do ye mean?” she asked, stepping back to wind up at Finn's side.
“Campbell has killed both of our fathers, our families. He has left us clans that are in ruins, with people who need strong leaders to help rebuild their lives. We are all that remains of our families' legacies. We must do them justice.”
“I did nae think of that. With my father and grandfather gone, there truly is nae one else.”
“Aye, but yer clan could nae be in better hands,” Finn assured her.
“We have great people around us, people we can trust. They will stand by us, as they have today,” Seamus said, addressingthe group. “Ye all will guide us and do what we cannae for our people. Today's victory would nae have happened without ye all. Likewise, the rebuilding of our clans will also nae happen without ye.”
He pulled Flora into his side, fitting her beside him snuggly, right where she belonged.
“Next,” he continued, “we focus on our people, and we help them heal from all this hurt. And then we see to it that they prosper.”
Flora studiedherself in the mirror, admiring the intricate braiding work Iona had done with her hair.
“It is hard to believe that it has already been a month since we reclaimed the clans,” Iona told her, tucking the last few rose buds in her dark brown hair forming a type of crown out of it all, with the white and pink flowers shining like gems.
“Aye. Most days feel like they are weeks long. We have been so busy with the clan that I am surprised today is even happening. Brid has worked tirelessly to pull this all off.”
“Ye deserve it. After all that ye and Seamus have done for the clan, the least we can do is give ye the wedding ye want.”
Flora blushed, feeling grateful and so loved that she could hardly put words to it.
“Ye ken, it is funny. I am more nervous now than I was the day that Seamus and I handfasted. Perhaps it is all the people. That day, it was just the two of us.”
“And today, the entire clan has turned out to watch the two of ye get married,” Brid told her jokingly.
“Can ye blame them? Their Laird is declaring his Lady. This is an event they will remember for the rest of their lives.”
“Thanks,” Flora said sarcastically. “That makes me feel so much better.”
Iona and Brid laughed between themselves as they did the finishing touches on Flora's look.
“It will be a wonderful day. Just wait and see.”
Not long after, both girls left Flora to find their seats in the Great Hall. The servants had been busy transforming it into a wonderland, complete with flowers running down every table and greenery tied to the beams overhead. With the candles lit and the sunset in the window behind the dais, Flora was convinced that she had never seen anything more beautiful.
“I dinnae think that I have ever seen anything more bonny.”
Flora nearly jumped out of her light blue dress at Errik's words and the way they mirrored her thoughts. He and Liam stepped into her room, both dressed in their Murray tartans with leather belts, swords hanging at their sides, and boots stopping just below their knees. They looked every bit the highland warriors.
“Iona and Brid did a wonderful job,” she complimented.
“Nay, lass. Their work might be well done, but it is yer beauty, nae theirs. Seamus will nae ken what to do with himself.”
