“I could not have done it without the two of ye, though.”
“Ye would not have done it without us, and I am sorry if at times we pushed ye onwards, but that it is only because we believed in ye and we still believe in ye,” Duncan nodded to Andrew who blushed a little.
“And we shall still be here tae make sure that ye are kept on the right path,” Stewart added, “marrying a lassie is no light undertaking, I should know, I married yer mother,” and both men laughed.
At the mention of Rhona Andrew looked around as if expecting to see her in the doorway of the Great Hall and Stewart, sensing Andrew’s thoughts, crossed over to the window to look out on the courtyard below.
“I am as anxious tae see yer mother as ye are laddie, she will not be long, why dinnae ye find Nairne and the two of ye can meet her together?”
Nairne was with her mother, and they were just descending from her chambers when Andrew came bounding up the stairs.
“Ye are like an excitable puppy,” she laughed as he kissed her.
“Excited tae see ye with only a few steps to take, rather than hours of walking through the forest. “I am waiting for my mother tae arrive, she is due any time soon, will ye come and wait with me?”
“Aye, and I shall show ye the ramparts of the battlements, I know them well, after spying out yer escape route.”
Outside the courtyard was busy, the castle gates were thrown open, and many of the villagers were passing in and out, greeting their Cameron liberators and bringing goods and wares to sell and trade. The scene could not be different from that of the castle under Murdoch Mackintosh these long years passed and many of those who came greeted the Laird and Nairne, congratulating them on their forthcoming marriage.
“This way,” Nairne led Andrew to the steps up onto the battlements, “I know this castle far better than its new Laird, though ye be far more familiar with the battlements than I.”
She led him up to the gatehouse, and along the battlements to where they could see over the forest and up towards the mountains beyond.
“Tae think that this forest was what separated us for so many years but was also the place where ye and I found the love between us,” Nairne took hold of Andrew’s hand.
“Aye, it will always have a special place in our hearts, we must often walk there together and remember how lucky we are now tae be together.” And the two looked out across the vast canopy of trees laid out before them.
Standing there together, looking out upon that peaceful scene, it was hard to imagine that only the day before it had been witness to such a dreadful battle. With Murdoch gone there was nothing more to threaten them and Nairne and Andrew stood silently together, their hands joined, finally able to express the love they truly felt for one another.
They had stood upon the battlements for around a quarter of an hour before a cry from across the way caused them to turn. There, emerging from the forest, was Andrew’s mother, Rhona, accompanied by Cairstine and Alistair. Her hands were raised in greeting, and her face radiated a smile such as Andrew had never seen. It was as though a great burden had been lifted from her, and she looked up at the castle with tears in her eyes.
“I have come home,” she cried out, as Andrew and Nairne rushed down to greet her.
* * *
“My dear, brave, Andrew, how good it is tae see ye, the last day was nothing but worry until the runner came tae tell us that victory was ours,” Rhona embraced her son, kissing him on his cheeks.
“Dear mother, how good it is tae see ye and yes, ye have come home, the castle is ours, your home again, after all these years,” and, taking her in his arms he kissed her forehead.
“I had not thought I would live tae see this day, and look, Cairstine, there is the banner of our proud clan, fluttering above us once again,” turning she smiled again, “this must be Nairne? I have heard so much about ye and what I had not heard dear Cairstine here has told me. I am so pleased tae meet the lassie who so charmed my son.”
Nairne stepped shyly forward, unsure whether Rhona would forgive her for being the daughter of the man who had so cruelly mistreated her, but there was no look of malice in Rhona’s eyes, only that of happiness and the two embraced.
“I am sorry,” Nairne began, “I … I am sorry for what my father did, and I ask that no one judges my mother or me upon our association with him.”
“Judge?” Rhona said, “dear bonnie lassie, no one will judge ye upon who yer kin so, unfortunately, happens tae be, none of us can choose such relations and besides, I married yer father’s brother, did I not? Surely that shows there is good in the Mackintosh line and I am ever so happy that ye are tae be a Cameron.”
“So, yer opinions have changed, mother?” Andrew took his mother’s arm as he led her into the courtyard.
“Yer Godmother told me a few things, and I am grateful tae her for reminding me that the course of true love never did run smooth, we cannae help who we fall in love with, Andrew, and that is a fact. I would have done better tae remember that, and from what I hear of the battle it was Nairne here who saw to it that ye came tae no harm.”
“She was spectacular, mother, ye should have seen her, the bravest lassie I have ever known, she would have taken on a whole army, although she did look amusing in her armor, like a bairn.”
“I dinnae feel very brave at the time,” Nairne stated, as they passed into the courtyard and the clansmen gathered to greet their mistress.
“It doesn’t always matter how we feel, the important thing is what we show tae other, Nairne,” Rhona took her by the hand, “I am sorry that I prevented ye and Andrew from seeing one another, I was just … well, ye know.”
“Aye, all that is in the past, and now we can look forward tae the future.”
It was then that Una appeared at the door of the keep and she and Rhona looked at one another and smiled. The two women had never met, but each knew the other by the look in her eyes, the look of one released from a terrible fate. For Una it the long years of marriage to Murdoch and for Rhona, it was the dreadful burden of knowing that he had desired her all these years. The two ran to each other and embraced, an embrace which gave rise to a friendship that would last the rest of their lives.
“I am pleased tae welcome ye home, Rhona,” Una said, as she stepped out into the courtyard.
“Little has changed, but everything has changed, our hearts have changed, and we are lightened of our burdens,” Rhona smiled, as Stewart and Duncan appeared.
“The laddie did well,” Stewart and Rhona embraced, “I had my doubts as ye know, but when it came tae it he did well, and we must all thank him for that.”
“He is like his father and will grow ever more like him, of that I am certain. Iain would have been proud of his son this day, and he will be proud of him in these years tae come.”
Andrew blushed a little and taking Nairne by the hand he drew her aside, embarrassed by the attention he was receiving.
“Come now, Nairne, shall we walk intae the forest? There is no one tae prevent us from doing so now, come, I shall race ye.”
And with that, the two set off into the forest, following the paths they knew so well and knowing that their lives would be carefree and lived as one. No longer would the forest separate them but instead would be home. Filled with love for one another and without the burdens of the past to encumber them they ran through the woods towards the pool, and there they leapt into the waters, refreshing themselves after all that had happened.
Chapter Forty-One
‘A Wedding is Prepared’
The marriage of Nairne and Andrew was the happiest occasion which the glen had seen since that of Rhona and Iain, all those years ago. It was to be performed at the castle, in the chapel which had so long lain unused during Murdoch’s time. The priest from the village Kirk would perform the ceremony and invitations were issued forth far and wide so that the whole glen came alive with the excitement of the forthcoming wedding.
Andrew had ordered that a
great feast was to be held in honor of the occasion and that it would not only be noble Lairds and ladies who would be invited but all the folk of the forest, the village and the mountainside. There was to be no division between his people, and from now on, they were to live in peace and harmony.
The gathering took place in the Spring, long after the horrors of that fateful day on the battlefield were forgotten. Clansmen began arriving the day before, and soon the castle was filled with laughter and excitement at the impending nuptials ahead.
Andrew had remained to live at the castle, but Rhona and Stewart had returned for a while to the crofts, where much work was needed before finally, they returned home. They had arrived that evening along with Cairstine and Alistair who, despite Andrew’s invitation, had not wished to return to the castle to live.
“We are happy in our cottage in the woods and besides, where would the Laird run off tae if we were no longer dwellers in the forest there?” Cairstine had joked, but they had agreed to stay at the castle for the wedding, and their arrival had brought much happiness to Andrew, who had always loved his Godmother dearly.
Duncan too had moved back to the castle, and it was generally agreed that the crofts on the mountainside were no longer needed, though some hardy folk still chose to remain there, assured by Andrew that they would always be under his protection.
“A fine day it looks tae be for the wedding,” Duncan said, as he shook his nephew’s hand.
“Aye,” Andrew replied, “a happier day this castle has not seen in many years, and I intend tae make it so for all who come here.”
“Ye are a good laddie,” Duncan replied, “and yer mother is right, yer father would have been very proud of ye.”
* * *
“Nairne, ye look as pretty as a picture, the prettiest bride I have ever laid eyes upon,” Una’s eyes shone with pride as she stood back to admire her daughter on the morning of the wedding.
The dress been sent from Edinburgh and was made of white lace with a pretty sash around the waist. Nairne had never worn such a thing before, her father keeping her in the plainest and most simple of clothes. But now, dressed for her wedding day, she looked every bit a lady and every bit the wife of a Laird.
“What was yer wedding day like, mother?” for, despite the evident unhappiness Una had endured at the hands of Murdoch, surely some happiness was had on such a day.
Una sighed as if the question brought back painful memories, but smiling patted Nairne on the shoulder and breathed in deeply.
“Well … it was, not perhaps the happiest of days, which is why I want ye to be happy now, Nairne. I want tae share in that happiness with ye, but there was one moment I do remember. I was getting ready here in this very room, I had come tae the castle just the day before, the marriage having been arranged without yer father and I having ever met, he was everything we know him tae be but my own father, who gave me away, God rest his soul, he gave me the prettiest bracelet tae wear. Ye have seen it many times before, I wear it each day, and it has always been a reminder tae me that something better can come. Well, something better has come, but I have something for ye too,” Una picked up a little box on a table at the side of the room.
She passed it to Nairne, who opened it with trembling fingers. Inside was a necklace, very finely made, of gold inset with a stone, red and shiny. Taking the chain from its box, Una placed it around her daughter's neck.
“I want ye tae have this, Nairne and wear it often. Be reminded of the happiness which is now yers and dinnae ever forget the hardships we have endured tae be happy,” Una embraced her daughter, a tear running down both their cheeks as they held each other close, the ordeals of those long years now over and happiness ahead.
* * *
“A smart laddie, a smart laddie indeed,” Rhona smiled as Andrew struggled into his tunic that morning.
“It feels tae tight, mother, I can hardly breathe,” he said, laughing.
“Then it must be on correctly, yer father fitted it just fine, and ye are of a similar figure.”
The tunic for Andrew had indeed belonged to his father and Rhona had found it in a case in the cellars of the castle, stored with her own wedding dress and other items which brought back memories of the past. It had needed a good clean, but now her son looked just like his father, dressed in his clothes and with the same handsome features which Rhona thought of every day.
It felt strange to be back in the castle, as though the last twenty-one years had not occurred, and she and Andrew had not lived in exile. She was pleased to be home, and the preparations for the wedding had taken up much of her time. Now, as the wedding day arrived, she could not be prouder of her son, the handsome young man who took up his place as Laird.
“I feel just like I did on my own wedding day,” Rhona said, as Andrew fixed his sword to his belt and straightened out the tunic.
“Ye were married here? In the castle chapel were ye not, mother?”.
“Aye, yer father and I had met each other many times before and he had captured my heart, we had a very happy marriage, until it was taken away from us,” Rhona sighed, “I remember the day well though, a great feast, just as we shall enjoy tonight and the castle filled with merriment and laughter. I was a very happy bride, indeed.”
“And I am sure ye looked as pretty as Nairne will look.” The boy kissed his mother softly on the cheek.
“Nairne will look far prettier than I, ye should have seen the dress when it arrived from Edinburgh, I have never seen anything so exquisite.”
“And ye I have tae struggle intae my father’s old tunic,” Andrew laughed again.
“There is nothing wrong with yer father’s old tunic, now, come here and let me look at ye,” and she glanced him over him as though inspecting the clansmen, “there is just one more thing.”
Reaching into her pocket, Rhona drew out a brooch, it was one which Andrew had never seen before, gold and with the Cameron crest upon it. She handed it to him and smiled.
“This is all I have left of yer father’s possessions, at least it was until we returned here. It was the smallest and lightest thing I could escape with on that fateful day, and I put it intae my pocket as we left. I have kept it there ever since, a reminder of yer father and the man he was. Today seems like the right day for ye tae have it, wear it proudly for ye are a Cameron and the son of yer father,” Rhona watched proudly as he pinned the brooch to his tunic.
“Thank ye, mother, I shall treasure it, I promise ye,” and taking her hand, the two left his chambers, making their way through the castle to the chapel where a wedding was about to take place.
Chapter Forty-Two
‘The Nuptial Feast’
The castle chapel was filled with guests and well-wishers, a hush descending as it was announced that the Laird was on his way. Respectfully they stood, as Andrew Cameron entered, bowing their heads, as he made his way along the aisle towards the altar.
The priest was there waiting, the candles flickering, as the chapel came alive once again to that happy scene. There was no room for anyone else, and many were crowded along the corridor outside, as nobles and peasants jostled alongside one another to witness the marriage of Andrew and Nairne.
“Are ye nervous, laddie,” Stewart whispered to Andrew, as Rhona took her place next to her husband.
“I would rather face Murdoch Mackintosh on the field of battle,” Andrew replied, laughing.
“His daughter is far more beautiful,” Stewart shook his head and smiled.
“Ye will be fine, laddie,” Duncan added, from his place on Rhona’s left.
“Says the man who has never married, nor shown the slightest interest in doing so,” Rhona replied to her brother, who shook his head and laughed.
“Is there room here?” Cairstine and Alistair bustled in through the throng of guests.
“Cairstine, what took ye so long tae get here?” Making room, the other squashed together to provide the further seats needed.
“The crowds in t
he courtyard prevented us from getting through, ye are a popular laddie, Andrew, and make no mistake.”
“Everyone that matter is here now, except for Nairne and her mother.” Andrew glanced anxiously behind him.
“Let us hope she is not late, though she has every right tae be so, it is her special day,” Rhona smiled remembering her own wedding, but just then the pipes could be heard outside the chapel, the announcement that Nairne had arrived.
Highlander's Rightful Claim (Scottish Medieval Highlander Romance) Page 24