“Happy Christmas to ye all, and to all a happy new year,” he cried, raising his glass, as around him the clan toasted their new Laird.
They had now been joined by the forest dwellers, led by Brodie Macintyre and Hamish. The young lad was welcomed as a brave warrior after Duncan told the tale of his heroism in saving the Laird from his sad fate, and Brodie too was acclaimed for his part in leading the men of the forest in support of Duncan.
The celebrations drew on long into the night, but as the yule log burned low, Duncan and Arabel stepped out from the Great Hall and walked together out into the snowy courtyard. The moon was bright overhead, reflecting off the snow, a thousand stars twinkling up above, a sense of Christmas peace enveloping the castle after the dramas of the evening.
“I thought ye would be killed, Duncan, I was so worried,” Arabel said, placing her head on Duncan’s shoulder as he held her closely to him.
“Aye, but fortune was on my side,” he said, kissing her forehead. “Fraser had nay support from ordinary folks, and the nobles know that tis’ my claim and not his which is the rightful one. Perhaps it was a foolish thing to come here, but what choice did I have? I am Laird but I did nae come because of that, I came because of ye, Arabel.”
She smiled at him and the two shared a kiss as above them a shooting star raced across the sky.
“I love ye, Duncan and I am grateful that ye came back to me,” she said.
“I love ye too, Arabel and I promise that I shall never leave ye again,” he replied. And as the two stood together there in the castle courtyard on that snowy Christmas Eve, each knew the other’s promises to be true, for in the end love will triumph over all adversity, and the story of Arabel and Duncan was testament to that.
Epilogue
With the winter thaw came the wedding of Duncan and Arabel. The forests were alive with all the signs of spring and they were married in the little kirk by the river, just below the castle. It was a beautiful sunny day and the children of the castle had decked the kirk in wildflowers, as the clan gathered to witness that special day.
Young Lena acted as Arabel’s bridesmaid and a guard of honor was formed for the Laird, led by Donald McGowan and Brodie Macintyre. Alistair acted as Duncan’s personal attendant and the two men looked every bit the noble clansmen, dressed in their tunics with swords hung at their sides. Together they walked to the kirk and Duncan and Arabel exchanged their vows, promising to be faithful and true to one another for the rest of their days.
A great feast was held in the castle, and the merriment and joy lasted well into the night. There was dancing in the courtyard and much good food and drink was consumed by the guests who numbered not only nobles but also the ordinary folks of the forest, all of whom delighted in seeing their Laird and Arabel married.
After the wedding the serious business of ruling the clan could begin, and Duncan soon became known as a wise and benevolent Laird who was kind to all and worked tirelessly for his people. Since his father’s death, little had been done for the good of the people and there was much work for Duncan to do in putting right the mistakes of his uncle.
Fraser Campbell was never heard from again and it was rumored that he had gone far into the north where he had taken on a croft and was raising cattle. He had been universally disliked and there were none amongst the clan who mourned his loss. Duncan preferred not to speak of his uncle and soon Fraser Campbell was long forgotten, confined to the annals of the clan’s history whilst Duncan worked tirelessly for its future.
A year or so after the wedding Arabel gave birth to a healthy bairn, a boy, whose name was Andrew. He was a bright wee thing, with black hair and green eyes and anyone who saw him would say he had his father’s face.
Duncan was a proud father and he would take Andrew on his back around the forest, visiting the cottage of the Macintyre’s, where Christina would fuss over them both. They had decided not to move down to the castle, though Hamish had done so, and he was now learning the skills of a warrior under the tutelage of Donald McGowan.
“He shall make a fine warrior,” Duncan had remarked and so it was the lad growing up to be as good a swordsman as the Laird himself and accompanying him on many a battle.
Alistair Campbell went off to Edinburgh and eventually settled down with a lass named Nairne. The two were very happy together and would often visit the castle to stay with Arabel and Duncan. On those occasions the four of them would walk into the forest, following the deer and telling stories of their youth.
On one such outing they came upon the tree into which Arabel and Duncan had carved their initials all those years ago. Leaving Alistair and Nairne on the path, the two clambered up the bank and came to the trunk, Arabel running her fingers along the grooves in the wood.
“Tis’ still there, even after all these years,” she said, smiling at Duncan who laughed.
“We should carve into it again,” he replied, taking out his dagger.
“And say what? Are we nae still as in love as we were all those years ago? There is nothin’ else to add,” she said, smiling at him and taking his hand.
“Aye, I suppose nae. I love ye just as much today as I did on that day when first we carved our initials into this tree,” he said.
“And what a lot of years have passed since then, tis’ a long while to think back on,” she said, taking his hand as he helped her down the bank.
“Aye, but years make nay difference when ye have love. Love is timeless,” he said, and each knew his words to be true.
*** The End ***
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The Castle Courtyard on a Snowy Christmas Eve Page 8