Celtic Fury (40 page)

Rory was lost in his musings as he thought about how Brielle continued to inspire him to goodness. Why just last week, Maggie had come to the keep seeking a word with Brielle. Rory was reluctant to allow it, knowing that Maggie could say hurtful things concerning how he had shared her bed many a night before speaking the Ancient Vows to Brielle.

Brielle agreed to meet with the girl. Upon their meeting, Maggie broke down in tears, begging Brielle’s forgiveness. She had been the one to tell Jerome McManus how to find Brielle. She confessed she had done it out of spite so that Rory would once again come to her bed, never realizing how much harm could have come from that spiteful thing. Rory expected Brielle to be furious, but instead, she just smiled and told Maggie, all was well now, even knowing that ultimately her abduction had lead to her own brother’s death. She never put that upon the girl. Instead, she once again offered forgiveness, where Rory was sure he could not.

Their days were spent doing the things that brought normalcy to their lives. Rory knew it was important to do those ordinary things in order for them to look ahead instead of looking back. During the day, Rory worked training the MacDougal forces, while Brielle learned the many aspects of being a MacCollum in
the very well run keep of the
clan. Their nights were spent making love and enjoying being in each other’s arms. Rory was certain he had never felt so content as he did knowing that Brielle was snuggled safely in his bed beside him every night.

Now, he was waiting to wed her properly, to finally combine the ancient rite to the Christian one. Rory’s heart was thrumming in his chest as he waited for Brielle to join him before the altar of God. He was anxious just to get a glimpse of her and he could not wait to see her. He glanced over at his brothers. Although he was still not back to his full health, even Liam stood beside Rory. Rory looked into the pews and he saw his beloved sister, Bronwyn and her two babies. She and Drew had arrived that morning, just in time for the wedding. Little Ian waved happily at his uncle and Rory nodded to him with a wink. Just then, the doors of the kirk opened and to the strains of the piper, Caleb MacCollum walked Brielle down the aisle to join him.

When Rory saw her, it was as if time had frozen and all outside distractions were gone. She was beyond beautiful. She wore a stunning silk gown, in the English style, but donned his plaid over her shoulder. That marked her as his, and he felt pride building inside him. Her hair, unbound, hung past her waist in soft curls. How he longed to tangle himself in that glorious mane as he had done so many nights these past few days. Her eyes met his, from across the church and he felt her love envelope him. It was the most powerful thing he had ever encountered. Rory felt suddenly overwhelmed. How had he gotten so lucky to be blessed with this beauty?

As Caleb led Brielle to Rory, Rory felt consumed with emotion. He swallowed hard to control it but he was struggling to keep it down. He felt the burning behind his eyes and he swallowed again. Brielle’s eyes were bright but as they drew closer to the front of the church, she could feel Rory’s sentiment as if it were her own. Their eyes held and he swallowed a third time.

I love ye’, Ruiri, with all I am.

Nodding, he agreed,
Aye, Sweetheart, as I love ye’.

As their hands were joined and wrapped with the ribbons of marriage, t
he rest of the world fell away.
They were lost in each other, barely aware of the others around them. Time was of no meaning as the long nuptial mass went on around them.

When at last, their vows were spoken and their union blessed, Rory and Brielle left the kirk and stepped into the glorious day. Spring had finally come and with it, the birds and flowers to beacon the passing of winter. The day was warm, and the scent of the trees gone to leaf was heady with the perfume of nature’s bounty. The dappled sunshine warmed Brielle’s cool flesh as Rory stood and kissed his wife unabashedly in front of all those who had attended their wedding. That kiss got cheers from all present. It spoke of passion still to come, which Rory could not wait to experience...again and again.

Rory helped Brielle into the open carriage. As his hands lifted her to her place beside him, Brielle felt that now familiar charge of energy race through her as his hands touched her. She suddenly could not wait to be alone with him, either. As the wedding procession made its way back to the keep, Rory and Brielle kissed; unable to refrain from touching even for a few brief minutes.

Rory whispered, “I am so in love with ye’, Brielle. I feel like my heart is now whole again.” 

She placed her hand against his jaw and she touched her lips to his again. “Oh, my beloved Ruiri, ye
’
have filled my empty heart. I am so happy.”

“As I am, too.”

His arms drew her closer, pulling her into his arms.

As the carriage rapidly approached the keep, skirting the pristine forest on the eastern side, Rory saw a strange shimmer amidst the trees. He looked over at Brielle and saw her eyes had been drawn to that spot as well. He gave a command to halt the carriage and leading Brielle down out of it, they walked towards the trees at the edge of the outer forest walls. Rory took Brielle’s hand and approached the shimmering light within the trees.
There in the dappled sunshine,
Caitlyn stood before them, smiling, her hands extended toward the couple. While she seemed to float just about the ground, she was whole and real. This was no mere wisp of fancy or even a specter to be feared.

Brielle murmured, “Lady…” 

Rory's head swung swiftly to look at her, astonished that she saw what he did. He asked, “Ye’ see her too?” 

“Aye, Ruiri. I see her.
I always have.
” 

The wind
seemed to
whispe
r
, “Be happy with each other. The past is done…and now ye’ have the future.” 

Rory
answe
red, “Dear Caitlyn.”

Brielle now spoke,
“Thank you, Lady, for leading us to each other. I will protect his heart at all costs.” 

Caitlyn nodded and they heard the breeze whisper, “T’is time for me to go.”

“Aye, my first love. Be at peace now.” 

To Brielle she actually spoke and said, “Thank you for loving our Ruiri. I leave him now in yer’ hands. ”
She started to vanish and Rory said, “Caitlyn, wait…I…”

“I take the love with me, Ruiri. It never has ended. It goes on with me as it shall now stay with you.”

Both Brielle and Rory lifted their hands as if to wave goodbye.

Caleb and Morag watched the strange behavior of the newlyweds from a distance.
Caleb turned to Morag and asked, “What are they doin’?”

“I suspect they are saying goodbye to Caitlyn.”

“Do ye’ see her, old Woman?”

“Nay, but I
sense
her presence. She is no longer held here. She is giving them her blessing, she is releasing our Ruiri to Brielle now.” 

When the couple turned back to return to the wedding celebration, Morag said, “She is gone.” 

“So then, it is over?  No more trouble in the future?”

“They will have their trials as all couples do, but their love will keep them and guide them through it. Now Caitlyn is released. For now, all is as it should be.” 

The couple made their way back to the well-wishers to begin the wedding feast and to begin their lives together. Rory hugged Brielle and brushed the tears from the corners of her eyes.

“Ye’ really have seen her all along.”

Brielle nodded, looking up into the eyes of her tall husband.

“I told ye’ I did. I saw her the first day, when ye' found me.” 

“And I didn’t believe ye’. I am sorry for that, Brielle.”

“Shhh, it was a hard thing to believe. I am sure ye’ didn’t believe you saw her yerself. I was not certain I
actually
did. I owe her so much. Her sacrifice enabled me to be with ye’. I would not be in your arms today if Caitlyn had not been sacrificed by my brother. While I am sad for her parting, I am so grateful to be able to love ye’
in her place
.” 

He kissed her lips and said, “I love ye’ so much, Brielle. I am not he same man who was betrothed to Caitlyn. I think ye’ are the perfect mate for me.” 

He held her for a lingering moment; enjoying the promise of his future with this woman, he now called his wife. All the blackness was gone and as Caitlyn’s soul was finally at rest, he realized the living soul of this beautiful woman—
his
beautiful woman
,
had healed him
and would continue to bring the healing into his heart
. Rory was sure he had never been so complete. Feeling the heat rise between them as she held him, made Rory long for not only their future, but for their time to be alone, when all the feasting was done. Brielle was life. She represented light and hope. She ignited passion in him with the smallest of contact, to form a burning fire within him. Brielle was his here and now and she was his destiny. Their journey was going to be a wondrous one and Rory looked upon the future with joy and great anticipation.

Epilogue I

Gabrielle MacCollum felt her heart flutter at the sight before her. Her big, handsome husband had just entered the keep. He was not returning from war or raids, this time, or from the training of his men. No, this time he was returning home after a morning out in the fields. He had spent the morning with Brighid Caitlyn, their little daughter, teaching her to ride her very own horse.

As their beloved child put her tiny hand in Rory’s, Brielle’s heart leapt again. Rory was holding a fistful of wild flowers and heather; the bouquet only a small child would have picked. Brielle suppressed a giggle, not wanting to give her hiding place away, but as she thought about her very masculine, virile and lethal warrior carrying the ragtag little nosegay picked by his child, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of unbridled joy. Rory had also woven a circle of wild flowers, which now sat a top of the shiny straight dark hair of his beautiful little daughter. Brielle marveled at how the pretty little child resembled her father in so many ways.

The two had not yet noticed Brielle watching them from her hiding spot. Brielle loved to share these private moments between a father and his daughter by watching; herself half hidden in the shadows. The two positively adored each other and that gladdened a mother’s heart so deeply. Tonight was going to be the perfect time to tell Ruiri that Brighid was going to have a little brother or sister, but for now, she kept that secret to herself for just a little longer. She watched Ruiri stoop down and whisper something to Brighid Caitlyn. Giggling, the little girl snatched her precious bundle of flowers and ran right to where Brielle was hiding. Of course, Rory had known she was there all along!

“Mama, Daddy and I picked these for ye’…and Daddy made me a flower princess, see
,”
she said twirling before her mother.

“I see that. What a beautiful princess ye’ are!” 

Bending down to meet her daughter, Brielle hugged her for the gift. Rory joined them and helping Brielle up, he held her tightly in his arms. His lips wandered down her cheek and she said, “Ah Ruiri, ye’ knew I was there all along.” 

Kissing her hair, he said, “Dunna’ I always, Aye?  Ye’ were easy to find. I felt ye’ before I saw ye’. Ye’ canna’ hide from me.” 

Brighid Caitlyn hugged around her mother’s legs and said, “Aye, Daddy said ye’ canna’ keep secrets from him. He said ye’ speak a magic language that I canna’ hear.”

“Oh?  He told ye’ that faery tale, did he?”

The little girl looked astonished. Adamantly she replied, “Oh, t’is not a tale, Momma. Daddy wouldna’ tell me a tale. He told me that yer’ hearts speak to each other and sometimes ye’ dunna’ need to say words…because Daddy loves ye’ so much.” 

Rory kissed Brielle again and he smiled into her beautiful face.

“That’s right, Brigheed
,”
he said with the deep delicious burr Brielle loved so much.

“Ask yer’ ma what I told ye’ to ask her.”

“What is it, Briggie?”

“Daddy wants me to ask ye’ what’s my brother’s name?” Glancing at
Rory, Brielle said, “Briggie,
ye’ dunna’ have a brother.” 

Nodding her precious head excitedly, Brighid said, “Yes I do. Daddy says he is living in yer’ tummy and that he dinna’ get borned yet.”

Brielle turned her eyes to Rory. He was grinning at her.

Ye’ know?
 

Bringing her hand up to his lips, Rory said, “Of course I do. I dinna’ want to spoil yer’ surprise, but I’ve been bursting with the news of it. I’ve been wonderin’ why ye’ were waitin’
so long
to tell me, Aye?”

“I just wanted to be sure, my love.”

They had not been able to conceive since Brighid had been born, well near four years ago and Brielle had started to think Brighid would be her only child. Rory had been so loving when she expressed that fear, telling her that it would happen; that sometimes these things just took time. He had assured her that even if it was so, Brighid was gift enough for him. In seeing the look of joy on Rory’s face, Brielle was so happy to be able to give him another precious babe. Brighid tugged on Brielle’s skirt.