by Sherry Ewing
“What should we call them?” Catherine asked, attempting to hide a yawn.
Douglas looked down at his family, knowing in the years to come, he would do all in his power to keep them safe. Henry had been anointed King of England, and Douglas knew ’twas only a matter of time before the king once again demanded Douglas’s fealty.
He shook his head from his sudden melancholic mood. He stole a look at his wife, her eyes filled with concern.
“What is it that troubles you, my dearest?” she asked.
“’Tis nothing tae worry about. We must name our bairns. Mother says they remind her of father, especially with their thatches of red hair.” He gave another soft laugh.
“How about Aiden and Amiria?” Catherine suggested with a beautiful smile.
“Aiden and Amiria.” He tested the names upon his lips and nodded in approval. “Good choices, my dearest wife.”
“I was thinking about names while you were down below drinking ale.” She yawned again. “I guess I am tired after all.”
“Ye must rest. Let me take the bairns so ye may dream of me,” he teased, carrying them both to their cradles by the hearth.
“Douglas,” Catherine called to him.
He went back to the bed and kissed her again. He swore he would never tire of doing so in the years to come.
“I am yers to command. What can I do for ye, my beautiful wife?” he asked quietly, tucking the coverlet around her as she snuggled down into the bed.
“Nothing,” she murmured. “I just wished to tell you I love you.”
“I love ye as well, my lovely Catherine. Now go tae sleep and dream of me.”
“I will meet you in my dreams…”
Douglas watched as she drifted off to sleep before he went to the window. Lifting the latch, he opened the shutter and looked outside. Dawn was just touching the horizon and a stream of light made its way inside their chamber.
His bairns stirred, and he went and picked each one up, lifting them into the rays of the new day.
“Welcome to the light, my bairns,” he whispered.
Every story had a beginning, and this was the start of his life after marrying his beloved Catherine. He prayed they would have a long and happy life together, no matter what their future held.