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Scouts had picked up a large army moving towards the Calbraith clan. Red slashes streaked across the sky, a bad omen that blood would be spilled. Men armed themselves and strapped leather armor around their bodies. They stretched and hollered, getting the blood pumping through their veins. Moira and Maura watched with fretful looks as the men departed. They had already said their goodbyes. Maura had given Kevan a long kiss and made him promise to return. The thought of losing him only made her realize how much she cared for him. She did not want to see the flame they nurtured be extinguished so quickly. After speaking with Wallace, it felt as though they were finally going to have the marriage that she wanted, and it would be cruel of fate to take it away.

Ruairi looked like a man bred for war. He led a small force and lifted his sword to the sky, rallying the man. Niall and Wallace strode out to the head of the army. There was still an element of distrust between the two men. Maura wasn’t sure she trusted Wallace either. The man was known for his strategic mind, and there was still a high chance that this was some scheme of his to weaken the Calbraiths, but Kevan had vouched for his uncle. If this battle was successful, then at least it might lead to a lasting peace between the two clans.

Maura watched the army leave, and prayed that they would return.

Niall led his men out and glanced at the archers in the trees with their bows ready. In the distance there was a rumble of thunder, an ominous sound that promised death. It had been a long time since Niall had been in a fight like this. His rule had been built on peace and cooperation, and for the most part, the land had not been troubled by war. He thought of the woman he loved and his children, and how he would hate it if this day was marked by fate as the day of his death.

He clutched his sword and breathed deeply, remembering all his training and all the lessons he had learned. In the back of his mind, he heard an old woman’s whisper, a promise that the spirits of the forest would watch over him, and it made him feel safe. He brought his sword down. Arrows flew from the forest, so numerous they looked like a great cloud crashing through the sky. The air was shaken by the death cries of men as they fell and were then trampled by the rest of the army, which could not stop for anything.

Niall looked over to give the nod to Wallace, but the man was already gone. Laird Calbraith prayed that his judgment was sound and that he hadn’t just given his clan to the enemy. Snarling, he summoned his rage and threw himself into battle, losing himself to the song of steel and blood.

Kevan watched his uncle ride off. There was a stony resolution in his heart as he marched into battle. Maura had tried so hard to fight against this eventuality, but sometimes in life there were things that simply couldn’t be avoided, no matter how much he fought against them. Things like his marriage, and things like John’s death. He had spent much of his recent history fighting against the inevitable, trying to bend his life to his will, but now he realized he had to give up control and let things unfold as fate had decided. He was never going to be happy otherwise, and Maura was clearly the best wife that could ever have been chosen for him. She was spirited, fierce, and ingenious. He intended to make it back to her alive, and when he did, he had something special planned. He looked down at his wrist, glancing at the bracelet that Maura insisted he wear. It was a superstition of hers that spirits lived in the forest, and this bracelet was said to offer their protection. He wasn’t sure he believed in spirits, but he believed in her, and if he could carry a part of her into battle with him then he knew that he was going to be safe.

His muscles bristled, and he thought of how Wyl had manipulated events to try and hurt him. His blood burned with rage as he ran into battle. These men had taunted him and beaten him. They had tried to shame him, but he was still standing. He was still ready to fight. His grip on the sword was tight as he roared like a lion and crashed through the enemy, sending them flying to the ground, enveloping each of them in dark death. He would repay the beating they had given him tenfold by the time the battle was done. He ignored the thought that they were his clansmen. Wyl had formed a patchwork army of traitors, mercenaries, and bandits. The men who had beaten Kevan were not true members of the clan, and the world would be better off with them gone. He also thought of John as well, and how this would be vengeance for him.

A storm raged around Kevan as many of the enemy soldiers wanted the glory of killing him. Their mouths frothed with anger and their swords flickered as they came crashing down. Kevan deflected all their blows, but there were so many. The world was a blur. They whispered and hissed at him, and it seemed as though their victory was as much in killing him as it was in defeating the entire army. His muscles strained with blazing fire, but still he stood; still he defended himself for John, for the clan, for Maura.

Ruairi was a man bred for war. Ever since he was little, he had trained for battle, looking up to his uncle Jamie with awe. Aside from a few skirmishes with bandits, Ruairi had never been able to display his prowess properly, but now he was given the chance. He lined up alongside his father and his uncle, seeking to make them proud. But doubt flickered in his mind. The last time he had led a band of men into battle, he had been too reckless and a man had died; an innocent man. Maura had caught him and told him that Wyl had manipulated affairs, but Ruairi’s had still been the killing blow. While Maura had been off on her adventures in the McGrory clan, Ruairi had wrestled with his emotions and tried to think of a way to make up for his mistakes. He had helped her with her plan to rescue her and Kevan from the carriage, being the one to fire the arrows, but now, in battle, he felt he could prove himself. He made an oath that he would do anything to prevent Kevan from dying.

Ruairi may not have understood love or marriage, but he knew that Kevan meant a lot to Maura. She had done so much for Ruairi that he wasn’t going to make that sacrifice be in vain, so he shadowed Kevan on the battlefield. He prowled the lines of war like a panther, and was impressed by the prowess of Kevan. But so many of the enemy seemed to be focusing on him, and soon he was swarmed. They were like flies peppering a carcass. Ruairi battled his way through to Kevan, straining in the hope that he wasn’t too late. He barreled through and saw that Kevan was fighting off three men, each of them bringing their swords crashing down upon him in mighty hammer blows. His knees threatened to buckle, but he kept standing, although it was only a matter of time. A sword came down and Ruairi burst in, lunging forward, and deflected the blow. He roared as he slashed and cut one of the men down. Kevan took another, and then the points of two swords met in the chest of the third man. Ruairi and Kevan glanced at each other and shared a nod before they moved off together, being carried by the tide of battle.

The sounds of battle were distant and fierce. Moira and Maura waited with trembling lips. There was nothing they could do to busy themselves, and in this instance, Maura wished that she had spent more time on the training ground with Ruairi so that at least she could have been with them. Being clouded with uncertainty was the worst feeling in the world. She continually glanced in the direction of battle. Wounded soldiers limped back and gave snippets of battle, but none of them had any decisive information that would help assuage her anxiety. But, in the end, there was silence.

The men came home.

Wallace had lived up to his word. The allied forces of the Calbraiths and the McGrorys had ended Wyl’s attempt to grab the power of the McGrory clan, and all the surviving enemies were rounded up and summarily punished. Wallace and Niall walked back arm in arm, as did Kevan and Ruairi. Their bonds had been forged in the fire of battle, and they were not easily broken.

20

“Where are ye taking me?” Maura giggled as Kevan led her by the hand through the darkness. He had blindfolded her, so her footsteps were uneven. The only thing she knew was that she was in the forest near her home. Recovery from battle was taking some time so she and Kevan had not returned to the McGrory clan yet, although Wallace had ridden ahead of them to get things in order and reveal everything that had happened. Maura was overjoyed that Kevan and all the others had returned alive. He had some kind of surprise planned, but she was in the dark about what it was, literally and figuratively. They had to move slowly so that she didn’t twist her ankle or suffer some other kind of injury. Eventually, they came to a stop.

Kevan walked behind her and pulled away the blindfold. Maura blinked as her eyes became adjusted to the soft light that illuminated the clearing. The ember glow of the torches also gave off warmth. Her smile widened at the sight that greeted her. Moira, Niall, and Ruairi were there dressed in their best clothes, as was a priest. Scone was there as well.

“What is this?” she asked in disbelief.

Kevan took her hand and led her up to the priest.

“Well, I know that our wedding wasnae exactly the wedding of yer dreams.I was nae the best husband, nor the most enthusiastic, and I know how important yer family are tae ye sae it must hae been difficult for ye tae nae hae them there. Ye hae done sae much for me and sae much for all of us that I wanted tae give ye the wedding ye deserve. I want tae start the rest of our lives off the right way. Sae Maura, will ye marry me?”

“Yes! Yes, a thousand times yes,” she said through emotional sobs. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked around at her family. She was grateful for Kevan’s presence, as she could use him to steady herself. She thought he might have been taking her out to the forest for a romantic interlude, but she had never thought that something like this would happen. Her voice trembled with emotion as she spoke her vows, this time with more meaning than before. She gazed into Kevan’s eyes as he promised that he would love and cherish her for as long as he lived, and somehow, she knew that it would be a very long time.

They kissed, and her family rushed to congratulate them.

This was what marriage should have felt like. This was everything she had been dreaming of.

Kevan and Maura remained in the forest as her family returned to the house. The night was cool, but it was offset by the warmth of the torches. Shadows flickered in the distance, echoes of spirits that flitted around the forest. Through a canopy of leaves, twinkling stars were visible, bright and shining. Maura rested her head against Kevan’s broad chest and enjoyed the feeling of his strong arms wrapping around her.

“This was perfect,” she said.

Kevan kissed her on the head. “I’m glad ye liked it. I know I hae nae been the perfect man, but I want tae be. I love ye, Maura. Ye hae a fine spirit. I couldnae ask for a stronger person tae lead a clan with me.”

“Aye, and I hae a few ideas in that area.”

Kevan smirked. “I haed no doubt ye would, but let’s leave those serious matters for later. It’s our wedding night. There are other things tae dae.” His eyes danced with desire and delight. Tingles ran up and down Maura’s spine. They kissed; their lips were scorched with affection, their breath mingling, becoming one. Her body melted into his as they sank to the soft, mossy ground. Eager hands unclasped her dress and explored the warm, aching flesh underneath.

“What about the spirits?” she asked playfully.

“Let’s give them something tae watch,” Kevan said, and rolled over her, overwhelming her with his lust and passion. They clasped their hands together as Maura arched her neck back and allowed him to trail kisses all the way down her body. The chill night of the air was fought back by the radiating heat that his touch summoned. Their legs entwined, and what had once been so fraught with nerves was now natural and comforting. His body was an extension of her own, and there were no secrets between them at all. Their hearts beat as one as their sharp moans pierced the quiet of the forest.

As they kissed, love bloomed in her heart. She opened her body up to him and welcomed the tender touch of his strong fingers. Her most sensitive areas thrummed with passion and delight. He kissed the swell of her breasts, and as she looked down, she could see the tremors of her heartbeat. Deep, rumbling moans burst out of her as he placed his hands in between her legs and touched the damp fire there. They locked lips and she cradled his body, feeling all the straining muscles that were imbued with such strength. She reached down and felt his manhood, curling her fingers around the heat, knowing that it was all for her. She moved her hand to the rhythm of his terse moans, lovingly pleasing him, conjuring pleasure and delight in every part of his body. She kissed his neck and breathed in his masculine scent. It was overpowering, intoxicating, and now that she had been exposed to it, she wondered how she had ever lived without it. His hard hands roamed around her soft, supple skin. She reached down and pulled him over her, wanting to feel the heaven of him inside her again. He caressed her arms as he looked deeply into her eyes, and their bodies came together. Tender sweetness followed a sharp pain.

He buried his head against her neck as his powerful body thrust into her. Her fingers curled, her nails dragging against his skin. Her head arched back and fervent moans escaped her mouth as a maelstrom churned inside her. It felt as though her skin was on fire, and there was a sense that it was all too much to handle, so she clung to Kevan for dear life as the waves of pleasure burst through her again and again, growing with intensity until it felt as though she was floating through the air.

Kevan’s body was tense. Where she was light, he was heavy. Where she was soft, he was hard, and she could feel all of it inside her. Whispering in his ear, she begged him and coaxed him until his entire body thundered and rumbled like an earthquake. He panted like a wild animal in his frenzy and then intense erotic heat flowed inside her.

She was his wife, and finally knew what that meant. Wife and husband were not just words or titles, formalities to seal a treaty. They were roles that each of them had taken willingly, promises they made to each other. Doubts fled from Maura’s mind as Kevan accepted the love she had to give and repaid it with his own. When she looked into his green eyes, she saw the world open up before her, and it was beautiful. And, in the end, she realized that, in a way, she had had the privilege of choosing her own husband.

She knew she couldn’t have made a better choice.