Elyn woke with a start. She threw herself upright and stared around the room, confused and upset that she didn't recognize her surroundings. She shook her head furiously and tried to rub the fog from her eyes. It was only on her second yawn that she remembered where she was and what the sunlight that morning meant. It was her wedding day.
She leapt from her bed and tossed the sheets on the floor in a crumpled heap. She snatched Katrine's hair pins off the bedside table and started dressing her hair up to match the day before. After, she cleaned herself as best as possible before slipping the gleaming emerald gown back on.
A knock on the door surprised her. She stared at the hard slats of wood. "Who is it?"
"We're here to help ye get ready for your wedding, Lady Maxwell."
Elyn sighed, not used to being helped with anything. She hadn't expected to be waited on. She stomped to the door and pulled it open, revealing the wide eyes of a servant.
"Lady! You've already dressed!" she gasped.
Elyn resisted rolling her eyes and waved her in. She shut the door behind the servant, who seemed apologetic.
"I'm so sorry to disturb ye! King Maxwell insisted I come down here and help ye."
Elyn froze up and shook her head. "It's fine, I was too excited to wait. Just... let's keep this between us. What's yer name?"
The woman nodded. "Moira."
"Moira," Elyn repeated, smiling immediately. The name of her mother. She wished she could share that with the servant, but she couldn't blow her cover. "That's a nice name."
Moira blushed and looked away. "It's good enough. Now let's see," she said. She tugged at Elyn's dress and tried to loosen it, and she gasped. "This fits perfectly, I canae believe it. And without taking any of your measurements, too!
Elyn turned crimson.
She shook her head. "Looks like you're already ready to go then. Ye look lovely."
Elyn nodded. "Thank ye." She bit her lip and turned away to look out the window over the unfamiliar highlands. She wished she was looking out from Eilean Donan, but she had to make due. It wasn't important where she was, after all. Only who she was going to be with. She laughed a little. "It's funny," she said, a bit of a twinkle in her eye. She wasn't talking to Moira so much as she was just reminding herself. "I didnae think I'd ever get married. Can ye believe that?"
Moira shook her head and smiled. "It's been a long time comin', waiting for yer marriage to Gavin. I hope he's a kind man... I've only heard bad things."
Elyn bristled and turned to Moira, her gaze narrowing. She furrowed her brow and shook her head. "I've only heard good things, and I donae know if it's proper for ye to be commenting on my husband-to-be." She channeled how she thought Katrine might speak to a servant, but the feelings were real.
Moira frowned and shut her eyes. "I'm sorry, yer right." She turned to leave. "I'll be going, it seems like ye have it under control."
Elyn frowned and called after her. "I'm sorry, lass, I'm nervous, is all."
Moira smiled. "That's normal, I felt the same way on me weddin' day." She paused, thinking. "Do ye want me to tidy up yer hair?"
Elyn nodded, a smile spreading across her face. "Aye, that'd be lovely."
After Moira finished braiding and decorating Elyn's hair, she stepped back and beamed. "Very well. I'll let ye get finished up, I'll see ye outside." She slipped out of the chamber and clicked the door shut.
Elyn admired at herself in the mirror again. She traced her hands along her waist and smiled, tickled that her cheeks were so rosy. For being out in the highlands for the last couple of days, and in a dungeon before that, she cleaned up pretty well.
***
Gavin's dungeon door pounded. He had been awake since the sun rose that morning, preparing himself as best he could in the meager chamber. A guard walked into the room, carrying a bucket of water. He stared through the cell bars.
"Yer awake already. Good. Now I donae have to waste any water waking ye." He gestured for Gavin to move to the cell entrance. After Gavin approached, he peered into the cell.
"Where are the others?"
Gavin answered quickly, anticipating the question. "Colin took them away... he wouldn't say where."
The guard chuckled. "Old fool." He unlocked the door and let him Gavin out.
"Come with me," the guard said. "Canae have you stinking up the entire hall, we'll get ye ready."
Gavin followed the guard out of the dungeon chamber and up into the living quarters. He was presented a clean room that one of the servants offered up for him to get ready in. The guard explained, "If he wed you to his daughter with how ye are now, it'd be making a mockery of all of Scotland."
Gavin nodded and didn't say a word. The guard threw up his hands and sighed, before leaving. When Gavin was alone, he finally looked over the clothes that had been set out for him. Traditional highland garb: a dirk, a kilt and argyle. He grinned as he slipped the clothes on, they weren't new or especially clean, but they were more comfortable than the dirty furs and tattered cloth he had been wearing. He washed his face and made himself presentable, tying back his hair and admiring himself in the mirror.
Today, he'd marry Elyn MacDonald. He had been destined for this day, and he laughed at the thought that despite all the efforts of Robert and his clan, it would still happen. Even after twenty years of planning and scheming, he was still destined to wed her. He beamed, his cheeks turning a dull ache of red as his heart raced at the idea. Even as convoluted and strange as the circumstances were, he knew right then, he wouldn't have it any other way. At the end of the morning, his hands would be fasted with Elyn's forever and ever.
He brushed the wrinkles from his clothing and donned his dirk. It was a dull replica of the real thing, and Gavin smirked at the idea that Robert might have exchanged the real one on purpose. The man was clever, but not clever enough. He considered Elyn's plan to discover the hidden will, and how far Barron must be from reaching Eilean Donan. He must already be on his way back with men, didn't he? Gavin gulped. He knew that the plan wasn't foolproof, especially if Katrine was in the castle somewhere, but it was their only shot. Despite his fear, he couldn't help but smile.
He could finally give Elyn the wedding he hadn't been able to before.
***
Elyn was escorted from her room by two maidens. They carried the small train of her gown and walked quietly behind her, while servants and guards throughout the halls smiled and waved her on. She couldn't help but blush, even though she wondered if they would be as joyful if they knew who she really was.
She was led outside the castle and to the church. She eyed the stables suspiciously as they passed by them, wondering if Katrine was awake and watching through a slat in the wood. If she was still planning on trying to stop the wedding. Why wouldn't she be? Elyn pushed the thought from her mind, not wanting the maidens or bystanders to be confused by her knitted brow and frown. She waited outside the church and the maidens peered in for her.
Moira turned to Elyn. "Looks like they're nearly ready. Are ye ready?"
Elyn nodded vigorously, with more excitement than she meant to expose. "Aye."
Moira chuckled and waved Elyn forward.
Elyn passed through the doors to the church and found the pews filled with villagers and highlanders. They all turned to her as she stepped in, and she flushed immediately. Her eyes scanned the villagers, and she saw Gregary sitting among the highlanders. Her heart skipped a beat, but he caught her eye and nodded. So, Katrine was secured. Elyn stared ahead and saw Gavin standing at the front of the church, clearly doing his best to restrain his excitement. She felt bad that he had to pretend at all â where she could be as overjoyed as she wanted. It's what Katrine surely would have done. Presiding over the service was the false King, Robert Maxwell. He lowered his eyes and grinned as he spotted Elyn, and she felt her stomach twist a bit.
The pipes started playing a gaelic song, one that Elyn had never heard before. She felt her heart swell as she stepped forward, moving delicately toward Gavin. Her eyes were fixed on his, and she couldn't control her breathing. He slipped a little smile, and she grinned even wider. Her cheeks flushed deep red, and he fumbled with his hands. Dressed in his kilt and argyle, he was more man than Elyn had dreamed, even after she had seen him on the battlefield. Her heart swelled as she stepped up to his level. The pipes quieted, and she kept her eyes locked with his.
Robert breathed deeply, his sigh disrupting her reverie. He began to recite the wedding vows, and as he did, he pulled Gavin and Elyn's hands together. They threaded their fingers and clasped their palms, and Robert began to tie a length of ribbon around their wrists.
"As this ribbon is knotted, it symbolizes the mortal, yet everlasting, connection your two souls will make. Never ending, until death parts your soul from your bodies."
Elyn felt tears welling her eyes, only barely listening to Robert's voice. It was as if the entire room and the world had faded away into the background, and the only thing she could hear was the rush of blood in her ears and the brush of the ribbon against her wrist. Gavin beamed and his eyes wetted, but he miraculously maintained his composure. She bit her lip as Robert trailed off, and then she heard Gavin say the words that promised him to her forever: "I do."
Robert seemed satisfied with his answer, and then he turned to Elyn and repeated the question. She nodded and felt a tear break free and stream down her cheek, dropping from her chin to her dress. "I do."
Robert tightened the knot on the ribbon and stretched out his arms. Gavin and Elyn kissed, their propriety fading as the kiss lengthened. Robert beamed and stated the newly decreed couple as, "Gavin and Katrine MacKenzie."
Elyn was lost though, still flushed with emotions and adrenaline. She wrapped her arm around Gavin's neck as he slipped his behind her back, pulling her up and closer to him. As Robert lowered his arms, he chuckled a wicked laugh. He lowered his voice so only Gavin and Elyn could hear him. "Now that I have your Kingdom, Gavin, I donae have much use for ye..."
Gavin stared at him. Elyn tugged on Gavin's shoulder, trying to dissuade him from doing something foolish. The door to the church clanged open, and a disheveled woman dropped her hands to her knees, breathing heavily. Elyn felt her heart sink.
"Stop! Stop the ceremony!"
Elyn turned on Robert and saw his face contorting with anger. His lip curled up as a vein throbbed in his forehead.
"Katrine?" Robert shouted, his voice holding an exasperated edge to it. Katrine looked haggard, and Elyn cursed under her breath. Gavin quickly slung his arm under her and picked her up, and ran down the aisle and past Katrine. The crowd seemed to be at a standstill, shock freezing them in place. The two had already slipped out the open door of the church by the time they heard Robert's howl from inside the walls. His voice was too distant to make out, but the tone carried everything they needed to know: they were dead in the water.
Gavin started toward the castle gates, and headed directly for the stables. Elyn shook his shoulder and dragged his attention to the castle entrance. "Go back inside there! We have to find the will!"
Gavin turned abruptly, shifting his grip on Elyn to keep her from falling. She stared past his shoulder and watched for men to start pouring out of the church. Two guards sprang out and looked around, before pointing and yelling at Elyn and her highlander. She pleaded for Gavin to move faster.
After Gavin reached the entrance, he pushed past the confused guards and ran up the hallway toward the stairs. Elyn was bewildered, she couldn't believe that Katrine had barged in just in time.
Elyn laughed, nearly knocking Gavin off balance as he ascended the stairs two steps at a time, still holding Elyn in his arms.
"What is it?"
"Did ye see Robert's face?"
Gavin shook his head, but cracked a smile anyway. "Where to? Why are we here?"
"The King's chambers, there! We have to find the will!" Elyn pointed to the king's chamber at the top of the stairs. Gavin raced to it and set Elyn down. He tried the door, but the handle only jiggled against the lock. As he threw his weight into it, it shivered. Elyn stared down the stairs, the sound of armour and swords following close behind them. "Hurry!"
With another powerful shove, the door broke free from the lock. They clamored inside and pushed over a bookshelf, dumping books across the floor. Elyn started digging through the mess, papers and ledgers scattered all over the place. A couple piles of ashes at the front of the fireplace made her heart sink. Had it already been destroyed?
Gavin pulled on another piece of furniture and shoved it against the door. Just as he pulled back from it, the mob outside met the door and slammed against it. The wood creaked loudly but stopped abruptly against the bookshelf. Gavin looked around and found a fire poker, wielding it like a blade. He turned to Elyn, his hair fraying and falling into his face with sweat. "Where is it!"
Elyn threw her hands up, looking around the room in a frenzy. "I donae know!" She collapsed to her knees and pulled some fallen papers from underneath the bed. The door shivered again and the wood cracked. The bookshelf slid against the stone floor, and Gavin shoved it back into place.
"Come out!" a voice called from outside. Gavin scowled and cursed.
On her knees, Elyn stared at the paper. It was nothing. She reached under the bed a bit deeper and felt around for anything else that might have fallen, and she felt a seam in the stonework. She probed it with her fingers. "I might have found something!" she called out. She collapsed to her stomach and peered under the bed, but it was too dark. She scrambled back to her feet. "Help me move this!"
Gavin dropped the fire poker and came to her side. Together, they grabbed the corner of the bed and shoved on it, its legs clawed the stonework and buckled as the floor ripped the wood apart. It shuddered to a stop, and Elyn fell to her knees again. "A bit more!"
Gavin, alone, shoved on the bed again, groaning as its weight gave way to his strength. It shuddered and moved again, before one of the legs collapsed and the bed fell lopsided. It was enough. The loose stone that Elyn had touched was exposed, and she noticed there were several of them. She moved nearer and pried at the stone, pulling it up in fragments.
Underneath the stones, she found the corner of some paper sticking out of the pulverized sand and dirt. She fished it out and found a sealed letter with a familiar insignia on it: King James'.
"I found it, here it is! This has to be it!" Elyn said. She sprung to her feet and handed it to Gavin. He stared at it in disbelief, brushing the seal with his thumb. The army outside slammed against the door again, and it gave way, splintering and collapsing into pieces over the downturned bookshelf. Gavin snatched the fire poker and threw his arm in front of Elyn, before standing his ground.
"Didnae think we'd make it in here did ye?" the soldier at the front of the group scowled. The man was clearly higher ranked than the highlanders behind him. He advanced on Gavin and Elyn. Gavin called out and pointed his poker at the man.
"Stop! We found something..."
"I donae care what ye found."
"It's from the late King. Would ye dare ignore the words of the late King?" Gavin bristled, and Elyn gazed at the sweat glistening on the back of his neck. The captain of the guard stepped forward and frowned. Gavin handed the sealed letter to him and he broke it. He unfolded the paper and gazed at it, his expression changing from annoyance to awe.
"King Maxwell isn't the true King?"
"He's a criminal," Gavin said. "He's been trying to take over Scotland for decades, he probably murdered the King and planted a fake will â did ye even read what it said?"
The captain nodded but kept his eyes on the paper. "I read it myself. It decreed that Robert Maxwell would take the throne, but this paper is dated later and claims the throne should go to the King's niece, who is in France. She's too young to command the throne though..."
"That means..." Gavin looked to Elyn, and a wisp of a smile teased her lips.
"That's us," Elyn said. "With our marriage, you united the MacKenzies and MacDonalds."
Silence filled the room as the realization set in. The flicker of the fire glowed on the side of Gavin and Elyn's faces, their eyes fixed on each other. Elyn felt her heart swell and her mouth dry. Why did everyone else have to be there?
Suddenly, a noise in the hall pushed through the crowd of guards. Robert freed himself and stumbled forward into the room, then he wiped his brow and glared at Gavin and Elyn, before turning to the captain of the guard.
"What are ye doing? Kill these traitors! How dare they break into the King's chambers!"
The captain stared at Robert, "Robert, what is this?" All the highlanders' eyes were on Robert.
Robert stared at the broken letter in the captain's hands and then back to Gavin. "Trickery, only a fool would believe whatever lies are written on that paper."
"It bears the late King's seal and his signature. Are ye denying the handwriting of our King?"
Robert shook his head and frowned. "I donae know what you're saying."
Another man forced his way through the crowd and collapsed to his knees inside the King's chambers. He looked at the men with confusion and worry. "Sir! An army is at the front gates! They demand to see Gavin MacKenzie or they're threatening to burn the castle down!"
"Let them do it!" Robert scowled, kicking the man over to his side. "I donae care about this castle! I donae care about any of you animals! I didnae kill the King so I could be treated like a criminal." He shut his mouth suddenly and stared at the group of highlanders with horror in his eyes.
The captain glared at Robert and clenched his jaw. "What was that?" He turned to Gavin and shoved the letter back into his hands. "It sounds like yer free to go."
Robert tried to fight his way back out of the room, but the group of highlanders had hardened. They wrapped their arms around him and pushed him to the floor, scraping his face against the hard stone. Elyn and Gavin huddled together as the captain dug his knee into the back of the King, and bound his wrists together. "Take him down to the dungeon. And you," he pointed to Gavin. "Get down out there before Iverlochy is destroyed."
The bewildered party of highlanders parted and let Gavin and Elyn slip by. The newlyweds rushed through the halls and down the stairs to meet the army that saved them.
***
Outside the castle walls, a battalion of highland warriors swarmed the city gates. Barron led the front of the them, and he was calling up over the wall to one of the Iverlochy men.
"Where is he? Ye got five minutes to make him appear or we'll be pouring through the castle ourselves to free him!"
The guard atop the wall looked confused and frightened, he consulted one of his men and tried to gain control of the situation. Before he had a chance to say another word to Barron, Gavin and Elyn nudged him aside and waved down to Barron.
Barron's stern face broke into a wide smile, and he cheered. He cupped his hand over his mouth and shouted back up to the couple. "Gav! Yer alive! I thought fer sure that slimy weasel already executed ye."
Gavin told the guard to open the gates and let Barron and his men in. He looked over the wall and grinned. A cool breeze swept across the highlands and cradled Elyn and him. Elyn leaned on the edge of the wall. Barron had come prepared and with incredible speed. At least a hundred men strong, more than would be necessary to storm the gates and charge in.
"We'll see ye on the other side, Barron, come in."
Inside the castle gates, Barron dismounted from his horse and hugged Gavin. A bit misty eyed, he looked over Elyn and made sure she was safe from any harm.
"I'm fine," Elyn said, looking to Gavin. "And we're married now."
"Are ye now? And ye didnae even invite me." Barron laughed. He waved Patrik over to the group.
The rest of the army looked restless, maybe too excited from the journey and disappointed that they weren't able to spill any blood that day. Gavin slipped his arm around Elyn and squeezed her tight, turning her face crimson.
A commotion turned their attention to the castle, and the captain of the guard burst out with Maxwell and Katrine bound in chains. They were following closely behind him, Katrine's head hung low, and Maxwell's turned up with a stubborn look. The captain approached Gavin and Elyn, and gave them a sincere nod of apology. Gavin hardened his eyes and greeted him.
"What is it?"
"We have to deal with these two, and I need orders. As you are the most highly ranked Highlanders here, and this man committed treason that was directly harmful to your clan, I reckoned you'd want to decide what his fate should be."
"What about her?" Gavin pointed to Katrine. She gave Elyn a pitiful look, mouthing her regret.
"She's his daughter, and as far as I'm concerned, just as guilty," the captain said.
Gavin looked to Elyn for guidance. She nodded toward the back of Iverlochy, where the scent of the sea carried over the wall. Gavin closed his eyes and thought for a moment.
"Throw them in the dungeon for now. Otherwise I might do something I'll regret."
Robert Maxwell laughed at the judgement, shaking his head without an ounce of shame. He drew ire from the onlookers in the village square, including MacKenzie and Macrae men alike. "That's the best ye can do, isn't it? Too soft."
Gavin shook his head and turned toward Elyn. "Get rid of them."
The captain nodded. "Understood, sire."
"While we're at it, two of yer men, I suspect," Barron said, "are locked up in the dungeon. They'll probably be a bit dehydrated."
The captain nodded and quickly handled the task of dragging Robert and Katrine down to the dungeon where they would get to enjoy a couple of days of solitude.
"What happened to Colin?"
Barron laughed. "Somewhere in the highlands I'm sure, making his way back here. He slipped away one night on our way to Eilean Donan, and I haven't seen him since."
Gavin cursed. "I wished I could have taken care of him myself... the scars he gave me aren't even battle scars." Gavin turned toward Castle Iverlochy and chuckled, shaking his head with humility. "I canae believe I'm in charge of this whole mess now."
Barron knitted his brow. "Whole mess? What do ye mean?"
"We've just become Scotland's most powerful couple. The King's heir is too young to succeed... and out of the country."
Barron's eyes grew wide and he dropped his shoulders. "What does this mean for Eilean Donan?"
"I donae know yet, Barron," Gavin said. "We should get yer men inside for a meal, they look desperate for some kind of relief. The villagers look a bit upset anyway."
Barron grunted and waved for his men to dismount and follow him. Gavin and Elyn slipped inside the castle first and made their way down the hall, alone for a couple of moments together. Elyn slipped her arm under his and squeezed his forearm, and Gavin chuckled and gave her a kiss. "I already donae like all this responsibility, Gavin."
He chuckled and squeezed her back. "I think ye will get used to it, runag." He gave her a warm smile, and she knocked her head against his chest. "After all, it's our wedding day," Gavin said. "We should enjoy it."
"I wish that my family could be here for it..." Elyn said.
Gavin stopped suddenly and turned Elyn to face him. He shook his head and rubbed her arms. "Elyn, this isn't getting me out of the hot water I was in before. We'll still do our ceremony at Eilean Donan when we return... we just have to wrap some things up here first."
Elyn nodded eagerly and laughed. She threw her arms around Gavin and he immediately picked her up, giving her a small twirl before setting her back down.
The sound of a hundred highlanders bursting into the hall behind them caught up to them. Elyn sidled up next to Gavin and tugged on his arm.
"I'm not very hungry for food..." Elyn said.
Gavin nodded. "I think I understand ye... we won't be long."
***
After the lavish feast that filled the castle with laughter and the faint smell of cooked beef, Gavin and Elyn were the first to retreat back to the castle's chambers.
Elyn pulled Gavin into the royal bedroom and latched the door shut. The room was still the wreck they left it in, with the bed pushed at an awkward angle, and the bookshelves knocked over. Gavin and Elyn paid no mind to the mess, only taking care to keep anything fragile away from the hearth.
Gavin kneeled and stoked the fire, coaxing the flames from a rumbling growl to a satisfying roar. With the room brighter, and long shadows cast over the disarray, he stood up. Elyn surprised him by wrapping her arm around his waist and turning him to face her. She caught his gaze and locked eyes with him, feeling the anticipation already making her chest and face flush with warmth. Gavin swept her up in a powerful kiss, their pent up passion finally free to unravel in the privacy of their room.
"Lady MacKenzie," Gavin said, whispering and tracing his thumb on Elyn's chin. She met his eyes and she flooded with emotions. Gavin whispered, quieter this time, "runag."
Elyn met his lips and they let themselves melt into the warm sheets of the bedding. Even with her eyes closed, she swore she could see sparks and fire light filling the room. His hands grazed her skin with a tempting touch. He unlatched her well-worn wedding gown, and pulled it free from her shoulders. She gasped as her skin was exposed to the dry air, unaware of how suffocating the dress had become throughout the day.
The fire crackled, almost rhythmically, as she undressed him as well. Gavin traced his fingers over the long marks on her stomach from where she was beaten, and his brow knitted with worry. She felt soothed by his touch, blushing with a hint of humility.
"I thought ye would think they were disgusting..."
He met her eyes again. "Impossible," he said. He let her finish taking off his clothes and she gasped, her hand quickly covering her mouth when she saw his own scars.
"Gavin..." She reached out and touched them, and he didn't flinch. She traced the dark marks, her fingers meeting where they terminated.
"I have them too..."
The distant sounds of the party still going on downstairs echoed through the halls. The sun was still hanging by the last threads of the day, but Gavin and Elyn had forgotten about all of it. Gavin swept his hand across Elyn's cheek, before curling his fingers around the back of her neck. She let out a small gasp as he brought her in for a kiss, locking their lips together and silencing her. She pulled back and climbed on top of him, running her hands raggedly across his chest and the scars that lined his stomach. She admired the small beads of sweat that dewed on his chest and forehead. Their slow burn turned the air humid and tacky. Gavin scooped her up and gripped her buttocks, turning her onto her back and balancing himself over her. She stared up into his eyes and felt lightheaded, the excitement almost blinding her.
"Gav..."
He shushed her, pushing his finger to her lips. She gave them a small kiss as he pulled his finger away, which made him grin with delight. He parted her knees and lowered himself between her thighs. Her knees pressed against his temples as he savored her anticipation, her excitement making small breaths catch in her throat with every deft movement. She lost herself, the room feeling like it was swirling around her. It didn't satisfy her though, it only made her more desperate for him, for her Laird. For her Highlander.
She raked her fingers through his hair and pulled on him, making him fight to keep his pace. After countless gasps and interrupted moans, he lifted himself up and she felt his hardy excitement graze the bottom of her leg.
He gave her a mischievous look, a powerful and daring one that made her heart squeeze inside her chest. He lowered himself over her and entered her, and she braced herself for their long-awaited reunion. How long had it been, compared to how long it felt? She tried to remember how many days it had been since he left for Iverlochy, but couldn't. She couldn't even remember how long it had been since she had met him and her world had changed. He groaned and his brow knitted as they slid together on the bed. She tried to meet his eyes, but was too overcome with the heat in her chest to focus on anything else.
She narrowed her breathing and reached to pull him closer to her. He stumbled down and collapsed on the bed, and she took advantage of his surprise to turn him onto his back. Elyn's hips hugged his, and she pushed herself along his abdomen, while curling her fingers through his chest hair, grazing his pectorals as they flexed with the rise and fall of his chest. They moaned together, and their passionate lust grew more feverish.
His hands grabbed her buttocks and he took control. She relinquished the small amount of control she had earned, and let herself disappear in the pleasure. Her Highlander was her Husband now, and she trusted him more deeply than anyone else. The man that fled Eilean Donan was gone, replaced with the strong spirit of the warrior that took her that night. His pride wasn't worth the loss of his people and everything he cared about, and she felt a thrill rise through her at the thought. The castle and clans weren't just his, but theirs. He released her buttocks and squeezed her thighs, just as a deeply twisted knot inside her started to unravel. She quaked.
The knot slipped apart, and she cried out. Sweat coated their bodies, despite the chill of the night already setting in throughout the castle. "Elyn..."
Their climaxes met each other, and to Elyn, felt as swirling and aggressive as the storm that brought them together. She clenched his shoulders as her body shook against his, and he grunted and locked his arm around the small of her back. They cried out together and both collapsed against the bed, their breath fast and shallow, their bodies sublimely sticky.
Elyn squirmed to slip under Gavin's arm. He exhaled and traced his finger over her collar bone, and then he let out a deep chuckle in her ear. She felt a shiver of comfort travel up her spine as he laughed and kissed her cheek.
"Together..." Elyn whispered.
"What was that?" Gavin turned and lifted his head.
"We're together forever now, Gavin..."
"Aye..." he mused. "I won't let us be pulled apart again, I can promise ye that. It was agony, not the torture of being lashed for petty revenge, but that I didnae know what happened to ye. How far away ye were, if ye were even safe from harm or being killed."
Elyn was silent. She nudged her head against Gavin's chest and nodded. "I know. I feel like the only thing that kept me alive was knowing ye were alive... and knowing ye were going to marry Katrine if I didnae do anything. I really thought I was gonna lose ye."
"Ye aren't mad about that, are you?"
Elyn shook her head and her hair fell down. It spread out across Gavin's chest. "Nay. I knew ye were only agreein' to it because of Maxwell."
"I didnae have a choice."
"I know. It donae matter anymore."
They slipped their arms and legs under each other, weaving their bodies together like a knot. Anything to feel a little closer, after nearly losing each other for good.