by Jennae Vale
“It did Uncle Angus. Better than I could have hoped. How are you feeling?” Maggie sat by the bed and took hold of his hand.
“I’m fit as a fiddle,” Angus replied. “Tell me all about it and dinnae leave out any details.”
Maggie looked back at Dylan, who suddenly grew a shade paler.
“What’s going on between the two of ye?” Suspicion tinged Angus’ voice.
“Well, first I’ll tell ye that Dylan and I are in love,” Maggie blurted out. Angus’ eyes darted from Maggie to Dylan, who had now gone from pale to very red in the face.
“What are yer intentions, lad?” Angus who had appeared so happy just moments before, now sounded distinctly grumpy.
“Well, Angus,” Dylan stammered. “I haven’t had a chance to ask Maggie yet because I wanted to get your blessing first. I’d like to marry your niece.”
Maggie just about fainted dead away. “You want to marry me, Dylan?”
“I do. This wasn’t the way I had intended on proposing, but I want to set your mind at ease, Angus. So, do I have your blessing?”
Maggie could hardly contain herself, practically jumping for joy. “Say yes, Uncle, please!”
Angus cleared his throat and a most serious expression settled on his face. Maggie thought for sure he was going to say no, and her heart sank, but then he burst out laughing. “Of course ye have me blessing, lad. I cannae think of anyone I’d rather have marry me niece. Ye were made fer each other.”
“Thank you, sir,” Dylan said, sounding relieved.
“Oh, thank you, Uncle!” Maggie looked expectantly at Dylan who got down on one knee in front of her.
“Maggie MacKinnon, I don’t have a ring for you, and this may not be the romantic proposal you were hoping for, but will you marry me?” Dylan didn’t have to wait long for her answer as Maggie threw herself at him, knocking him to the floor and landing on top of him.
“Yes! Yes! Yes! I will marry you!”
Angus had propped himself up on his pillows and was laughing and clapping as he watched. Dylan surrendered to Maggie’s kisses and when she was finished, he stood up and helped Maggie to do the same. She couldn’t seem to take her eyes off of him. Her dreams were all coming true. She felt like the luckiest girl in the world.
“Now that we have that out of the way, why dinnae ye tell me what happened with Brielle. I can hardly wait to find out.”
“Well, Uncle ’tis a long story, but I’ll be happy to recount it for you.”
Maggie and Dylan filled Angus in on Brielle, Sir Richard, and the battles against the Cait Sith and the giant stone men. Between the two of them, they didn’t leave out a single detail.
“So, ye say the amulet was like a tiny beating heart. Unbelievable!” Angus shook his head, seeming overwhelmed by what he was hearing.
“Aye, Uncle. It was,” Maggie confirmed.
Angus appeared very content to hear that Maggie had done what she had set out to do. “I’m verra proud of ye, lass,” he said, with tears of joy brimming in his eyes. “Now help me up out of this damn bed. I’d like to go downstairs and celebrate this momentous occasion with everyone. Check that passageway, to see if Mary is anywhere in sight. That woman willnae leave me be. I swear she appears out of nowhere, every time I try to get out of this damned bed.”
Maggie and Dylan had a good laugh over that, but they humored him and checked for Mary, before they all headed downstairs, with Angus announcing very firmly that this time, he would fight tooth and nail to stay out of bed for the rest of the day.
* * *
ROBERT HAD SENT riders off to Lena and Ewan’s with word that Brielle would no longer be posing a threat to the MacKenzies and advising them, they should all return home as soon as possible. He also suggested that Lena and Ewan return with the others, so they could visit with Angus.
“As soon as I knew ye were back, I asked Mary to prepare the best feast she could manage, to celebrate yer safe return,” Robert announced. “A toast to ye, Maggie and to ye, Dylan. Ye have returned victorious and spared us from ever having to deal with that witch again. I understand from yer uncle that the two of ye are to be married. We are all verra happy for ye. So, we drink to yer success and to yer future.” They all raised their cups in a toast and drank heartily.
A few minutes later, Mary appeared in the great hall, followed by the stable lads, whom she had evidently put to work in the kitchen. They carried great platters of food, which they set at the head table and then hurried back to retrieve more. Mary kept a watchful eye on them as the food was being delivered to each table.
“Thank ye, Mary. Ye’ve done a verra good job on short notice.” Robert bowed his head in her direction and Mary, who appeared quite flustered at the compliment, bobbed a quick curtsy and left the room, but not before giving Angus a stern look of disapproval. “Let’s eat!” Robert dug into his food and the others followed suit.
The evening meal that night was filled with tales of Maggie and Dylan’s adventures. Everyone was fascinated and full of questions regarding the battle.
“I’ve never seen a Cait Sith before,” Robert said. “I didnae believe they really existed.”
“I dinnae ken whether they exist or not, but Brielle somehow managed to conjure up three verra large ones,” Maggie said, enjoying the way everyone was listening so intently to her retelling of the showdown with Brielle.
“And the giant stone men,” Cailin said. “Ye must have been verra frightened.”
“Maggie was amazingly brave,” Dylan responded with a proud smile. “I don’t think she was scared by anything Brielle sent our way.”
“I didnae have time to be afraid,” Maggie offered. “Everything was happening so fast. I had no time to think, only time to act.”
“Well, we’re all verra happy ye’ve returned safely to us. I dinnae believe Angus would have lasted another day, before he’d set off after ye.” Robert winked at Angus, who leaned back in his chair and harrumphed loudly.
Maggie soothed him. “We would have welcomed his help, if things had gone on much longer.” She patted Angus on the arm and smiled sweetly, mouthing the words, “I love you, Uncle.” Angus returned her smile, grasping her hand and bringing it up to his lips.
“The feeling is mutual,” he whispered back.
* * *
THE ROOM WAS FILLED with the happy voices of the men who had stayed behind to guard Breaghacraig. They ate, drank and toasted Maggie and Dylan, long into the night. The MacKenzie’s even found it within their hearts to propose a toast to Sir Richard, after they all learned of his change of heart and how he had fought along with Maggie and Dylan to defeat Brielle.
When it was apparent that everyone was beginning to head off to bed, Angus spoke. “Dylan, ye’ll be rooming with me tonight in the barracks. Maggie, ye can have Dylan’s room upstairs.”
Maggie tried to hide the disappointment she suffered at this pronouncement, but it seemed from Dylan’s expression that he was equally unhappy about the situation. They kissed each other good night and before Maggie or Dylan was ready to be finished, Angus clapped Dylan on the back. “Come along, son. She’ll still be here in the morn.”
Maggie watched as a very dejected Dylan followed Angus out the door. Maggie didn’t move until they were both out of sight, and then she slowly trudged up the stairs to bed.
As she climbed under the fur covers, she heard Edna’s voice. It was so clear, Maggie could have believed Edna was in the room, although Maggie knew that was not the case.
“Maggie, ’tis me. I wanted to tell ye how verra proud I am of yer efforts. Ye were brave and strong and I can tell ye now – ye saved many a life by taking Brielle’s.”
“What do ye mean? I dinnae understand.” Maggie was confused. She thought the only thing at stake had been the bridge.
“Maggie ‘tis time ye knew the truth of it. Brielle made a bargain with me. One I didnae wish to honor, but she left me nae choice. She wanted the bridge, there’s no doubt about it, but she also threatened t
o destroy the MacKenzies if I didnae send ye in me place. She thought that ye’d be much easier to defeat. What she didnae ken, but found out when it was too late, was that ye are a much more powerful witch than I am.”
“Auntie, you’ve said that before, but I just don’t believe that’s possible. I’ve only just started to use my magick,” Maggie protested.
“Ye may have just started, but that doesnae mean that the power hasnae been there all along, my dear. Believe me when I tell ye, that ye are the most powerful witch in the MacKinnon line,” Edna stated proudly.
Maggie took a moment to digest that bit of information. “But I still dinnae see how I saved anyone’s life.”
“If ye hadnae stopped her, she would have been responsible for much death and destruction, as a result of what she intended to do with the bridge. She didnae care about what might happen in the future, she was only interested in gaining untold amounts of power from selling travel across the bridge to the highest bidders. There would be those who would have crossed with evil intention, to gain wealth and destroy their enemies. It could have changed the very course of history!
“Why didnae ye tell me, Auntie? I was so confused by yer secrecy.” Maggie thought back to the anger she had suffered, being put in the position of dealing with Brielle so that Edna could have the bridge. She was relieved that it wasnae true, but she was having a hard time reconciling the fact that Edna hadn’t told her the truth.
“I didnae tell ye, because I didnae wish ye to be carrying such a heavy burden into yer battle with Brielle. I knew ye would be under a great deal of pressure, and if ye knew that the world as we know it was on the line… well, I didnae want ye to be worried about failing.”
“Does Uncle Angus know?” Maggie was concerned that Angus had only heard Brielle’s side of the story.
“Yer Uncle doesnae ken all the details, but he kens that I love him and ye. I wouldnae have put ye both in harm’s way for selfish reasons. I knew ye could defeat her, Maggie, but I didnae ken that Angus would end up in her clutches and that terrified me. I have thought many times that the bridge is a burden I wish was someone else’s responsibility, but in reality, I’m happy to be the keeper of the bridge and I will never allow anyone to use it with evil intent. The bridge itself is not what’s important here, it’s what could have been done with it.”
Maggie was finally beginning to understand how crucial it had been for her to destroy Brielle. “What about the MacKenzies? Do you think Brielle would have hurt them if she’d won?”
“First of all, she didnae win, but, yes, I was worried for the MacKenzies. I am fond of them all and wouldnae wish to see any harm come to them. Brielle knew that and she used it against me and I believe she would have been intent on destroying them simply because of their relationship with me.”
“And what of Richard, Auntie? I’m so worried about him.” Maggie had thought of Richard often since the day he disappeared. She hoped that wherever he was, he was well and happy.
“As I’ve told ye, Richard is safe. I saw to it that he didnae come to any harm from Brielle. I could see that ye had yer hands full with her and I wanted to take that worry away from ye.”
“But where is he?” Maggie asked.
“He is where he needs to be in order to find his happiness. We may see him again yet, dinnae worry.”
“Auntie, I have some good news,” Maggie said, relieved to know Richard was okay. “Dylan and I are to be married!”
“Oh, my dear girl, I am so verra happy. I knew he was the one for ye. I wish I was there to give ye both a big hug and to welcome Dylan to the family.”
“Ye’ll be able to soon enough. We’ll be coming home soon.” At least Maggie thought they’d be going back to Glendaloch together. She hadn’t even thought to have that conversation with Dylan, just assuming that he’d want to leave Breaghacraig when she did.
“I’m happy to hear it and I cannae wait to congratulate ye both when ye get here. If ye need me, just call to me Maggie. I’m always here for ye.”
“Good night, Auntie,” Maggie said, as Edna’s voice faded away. She was anxious to get back to Glendaloch as soon as possible. She didn’t want her parents to worry unnecessarily about her absence and she felt she had a duty and a responsibility to return to The Thistle & Hive so that Edna could get away every once in a while. Edna had been tied to the inn for years and it was only recently – in fact, it was only when Maggie met Dylan for the first time – Edna had taken some time away from the inn with Angus.
Maggie was a bit chilly, so from her cocoon of furs on the bed, she stoked the fire with her magick and enjoyed the immediate increase in warmth that filled the room. She snuggled down, missing Dylan terribly. She had become accustomed to sleeping with him and it took her quite a long time to relax enough to fall asleep.
CHAPTER 20
A ngus had been pacing nervously back and forth for hours each day, as he awaited the arrival of Lena, Ewan and the boys, Rowan and Ranald.
“Uncle, they’ll be here soon enough,” Maggie assured him. “It’s been a few days since Robert sent word, so if they left right away, they should be arriving today.”
“I ken that, Maggie, but I havnae seen my daughter in a verra long time.”
“Well, I’m certain she hasnae forgotten ye, if that’s what yer afraid of.” Maggie hadn’t seen Lena herself, since she had been about sixteen years old, but she remembered her clearly. She had always admired her older, more sophisticated cousin. She didn’t get to see her verra often, since Maggie’s family lived in another town where they ran a small teashop. She was looking forward to seeing Lena again and meeting her little cousins. She understood how Angus felt, because she was nervous and excited about Lena’s arrival herself. “Yer going to wear a hole in the floor with all that pacing. Why dinnae ye come sit for a wee bit,” Maggie suggested.
“Aye. Perhaps I should.” Angus had hardly made it to the chair when cries came from the battlements and he shot through the door and out into the courtyard.
“They’ve arrived,” Cailin shouted to Angus from his position at the gate. “They’ll be here in a few moments.”
Cailin and Cormac appeared to be as excited as Angus was. Of course, they would be thrilled – their much-loved wives were coming home. Robert came running outside as well. He headed straight to the gate and Angus followed. Dylan joined Maggie as they all waited expectantly, listening to the sounds of the horses and wagons as they drew closer. The approaching party was shouting greetings, and Maggie watched as Cormac and Cailin took off running, to greet their wives when they spied them amongst the group. The commotion got louder as horses began to come through the gates. Lena and Ewan were among the first to arrive and Maggie watched Angus, knowing he couldn’t contain himself a second longer. As Lena stopped in front of him, he reached up and lifted her down from the saddle, hugging her tightly and crying with joy. Lena held on to her father just as tightly and shed her own tears. Ewan remained seated atop his horse, looking a little misty eyed himself. Two large highlanders were holding the little redheads, Rowan and Ranald, who were wrapped in furs to warm them on their journey. The men dismounted and set the boys down. Their feet no sooner hit the ground than they were circling Angus and Lena.
“Grandda! Grandda!” They tugged on his kilt and Angus finally let Lena go, so he could pick up one grandson in each arm. They threw their arms around his neck and each kissed a cheek. “Don’t cry, Grandda,” Rowan said, gently wiping the tears from Angus’ cheek.
“I’m only crying because I’m so happy to finally hold ye in me arms,” Angus said, kissing each boy on the forehead.
“Da, it’s so good to see ye again,” Lena said. “I’ve missed ye so much.” Ewan had dismounted and joined her now and they both enfolded Angus and the boys in a warm embrace.
“Maggie,” Angus called. “Come see yer cousin.”
Lena threw her arms around Maggie and then held her away from herself, so she could take a good look. “Ye’ve grown into a b
eautiful woman, Maggie.”
“Thank ye, cousin. It’s been such a long time, but I’d know ye anywhere.” They both laughed and hugged each other again. Maggie then turned to Angus, who still held his grandsons. “And who have we here?” she asked.
“’Tis me,” Ranald said.
“And me,” Rowan chimed in.
“Is that so, now?” Maggie chucked them both under the chin. “Well, I’m yer cousin, Maggie and I’m verra happy to make yer acquaintance.” They obviously didn’t want to leave their Grandda, so Maggie gave them each a kiss on the cheek, instead of trying to hold them.
“There’s quite the family resemblance,” Dylan observed. “You all have the same red hair and green eyes.”
Across the courtyard, Maggie observed Cailin and Cormac each keeping a firm hold on their wives, who looked overjoyed to be home and in their husband’s arms once again. Robert was kissing Irene and then bent to kiss and hug each of their children. Maggie brushed a tear from her cheek and leaned into Dylan for support.
“They’re a very special group of people, wouldn’t you say?” Dylan asked.
“Aye. Verra special indeed. ’Tis good to see people who love each other so much and who feel so much joy at being reunited. I only wish Auntie Edna were here. She should be here, too. She’d love to see Lena again and meet her grandbabes.” Maggie felt a bit heartbroken that Edna hadn’t been able to make this journey with Angus.
“Maybe she’ll be able to come sometime soon,” Dylan suggested. Maggie knew he was trying to make her feel better. He was so sweet and thoughtful that way. “Maybe when we go back to Glendaloch, she can take some time away from the inn to come visit.”
“You mean you’re really going to come back to Glendaloch with me,” Maggie said, excited to hear this news.
“Of course, was there ever any question?” Dylan appeared surprised at Maggie’s words. “We’re going to be married, why wouldn’t I be coming with you?”