Chapter Twenty-One

 

 

The baldric had been specially made for the occasion. Andrew looked down at it and was once again struck by the vibrancy of the colors.

His boots weren’t spotless but it was still winter after all. The mud had frozen under the snow but each day it was churned up afresh by the residents of the castle coming and going across the courtyard, making preparations for the wedding.

Andrew stood outside the chapel, Gillis beside him. “Are you ready for this?” Gillis asked.

“It’ll be your turn next,” Andrew replied.

Gillis slapped him on the back. “Then I will look as nervous as you.”

“Och, I’m not nervous man.”

“Then why do you look so pale?”

“Quit your blathering at me. I’m in no mood for it.”

“Then you better get inside. They’re all waiting.”

He headed through the doorway. The chapel was crammed with people. He couldn’t help comparing it to last time it had been this full. On that day the ceiling had collapsed and several people had died. He glanced up at the falsework, as if afraid it might have been removed once again.

It was all safe. The abbot of Melrose was standing at the front of the chapel. Next to him was the bishop. The two of them nodded as Andrew walked toward them. He stopped when he reached them.

“Good to see you again Andrew,” the bishop said. “Are you well?”

“Quite well, your Grace,” he replied. “And Walter. I am glad you could come.”

“I would not have missed it,” the abbot replied. “Nor would she, I’m sure.” He nodded toward the back of the church as the crowd fell silent.

Andrew turned in time to see Beth appear. She was holding a bouquet of flowers. How had they even found them in the depths of winter? Her dress was whiter than the snow outside and her face hidden behind a veil as she made her way slowly down the aisle, the people smiling as she passed them by.

Her mother stood next to her, looking far better than on the day she’d returned to them. She still hadn’t explained what happened to her while they were apart, insisting that they focus instead on the wedding preparations. “All in good time,” was all she would say when they asked.

Andrew was beginning to think she would never tell them. Not that it mattered. What mattered was standing facing him as the abbot began to speak to the crowd. “Under the sight of God we come together today to bless the union of Beth Dagless and Andrew MacIntyre. I stand before you as a humble servant of God and ask you all to pray for them and for all of us.”

The crowd murmured an amen. The bishop took over. “We all of us here and across the world have the power within us for both forgiveness and vengeance. I was grievously injured when the ceiling of this very chapel collapsed. Many died that day and vengeance was talked about in hushed voices that I could not help but overhear.”

He paused, allowing a smile to spread across his face. “Anger would tear apart the clans of the highlands. Compassion would bring them together. The MacLeishes are here today as are the MacIntyres. That is the power of forgiveness and it is a force far mightier than the sinful that would attempt to tear our people asunder. Andrew MacIntyre is a good man and I do not say that lightly. If he wishes to marry this woman I give them both my eternal blessing. Amen.”

The abbot nodded, stepping forward as the bishop retreated. “A great building such as this glories God and brings His light to shine upon those of his subjects who worship Him with pure heart and spirit. A great union is a stronger sign still that love is in our hearts and God in the souls of all those present here today.”

“Och, will you not get on with it?” Duff MacLeish shouted from the back of the church. “We’re freezing our arses off back here.”

Andrew tried not to laugh as the abbot turned pink, losing the thread of what he was saying.

“The vows,” Andrew whispered.

“Oh yes. Would you, Andrew MacIntyre, take this woman to be your wife from this day until the end of your life, to hold and keep in safety and love, to worship and honor with your obedient spirit and all the blood of the clan that is in your body.”

“Aye,” Andrew replied, not taking his eyes from Beth.

“And would you, Beth Dagless, take this man to be your husband from this day until the end of your life, to hold and worship, to obey and honor with your spirit, your soul, and your heart?”

“Aye.” There was just a hint of a Scottish accent to her voice.

“Then I declare these two husband and wife and to you all I ask you to give good cheer to Laird and Lady MacIntyre.”

A resounding shout went up around the chapel as Beth lifted her veil, revealing those sparkling eyes that he swore grew brighter with every passing day.

“You may kiss,” the abbot said over the noise.

Andrew leaned toward his bride, embracing her firmly as the noise around him died away. All he felt was her and nothing else. Nothing else would ever matter as much as she did.

“Now onto the hall before we starve,” Duff shouted above the cheers. “I hear yon lass has prepared a feast.”

“If by yon lass,” Janet said, “you mean me, you better address me more politely.” She glared at him as Beth rolled her eyes at Andrew.

“They seem to hate each other,” he said. “This should be fun.”

“I’m sure it will,” Beth replied with a twinkle in her eyes. “Though I get the feeling they might end up sitting together by the end of the day.

The feast went on for many hours. The bishop making the first speech when the time came.

“I want to say a few words,” he said, waving his arms to silence the revelers. “As a token of the church’s thanks for the glorious chapel you have built here, and for the abbey you have founded, Andrew, I have been authorized by the council of the north to give you the rights to the quarry by the water.”

Andrew was speechless. In one fell swoop his financial problems were over. The quarry by the water was one of the richest quarries in all the highlands. He could not only finish rebuilding the castle at almost no cost, he would be able sell the extra stone to finance all the other work.

“It’s not a free gift,” Gillis whispered in his ear. “He knows that way you’ll get Pluscarden abbey built faster.”

“Aye,” Andrew whispered back. “But what’s the harm in that?”

Duff stood up next. “I consider Andrew MacIntyre the reason my son is alive, not dead  and the reason I am enjoying this delicious meal. I thank you too bishop whatever your name is. This man today has lived up to the name of MacIntyre and I am proud to be in a union with him. May we bring hell itself down onto the English’s sorry arses. Sorry, bishop.”

The bishop nodded benevolently before tucking back into his chicken leg.

The abbot stood up. “I want you all to know that I love this man and this woman who have married here today. Even the noisy oaf at the back has my love.

Duff, you’ll be pleased to know that Derek is settling in well at Melrose. He confessed his sins and repents them all in fear of the everlasting fires of hell that come to all sinners. He is the perfect novice and perhaps one day you will forgive him his sins as God has.

“Perhaps,” Duff shouted back. “We’ll see. Now enough with the bloody speeches. Let’s get back to eating.”

A cheer went up. Andrew looked at Beth and smiled. It had finally happened. For so long he thought he would lose her and now she was his wife. He could not have been happier.

Beth’s prediction came true. By the time she tiptoed out with Andrew her mother was sitting almost on the lap of Duff MacLeish, feeding him one morsel after another.

“How does it feel to be married?” Andrew asked, slipping his hand into hers as they made their way up to his bed chamber.

“I’ve had worse days,” she replied with a grin.

He pushed open the door, stepping aside to let her enter. Once they were both in, he locked the door, and then poked the fire to bring it back to life.

“Are you glad you stayed here?” he asked. “Don’t miss anything about your own time?”

She shook her head. “Not a thing. Where else would I get to help build a whole new castle?”

“The bishop thinks you were sent by God.”

“What do you think?”

“I think I’m glad we’re alone at last and I’m glad you decided to stay.”

“I had to stay. You need me to help you build a castle strong enough to defend against English invasion. Don’t you mind though?”

“Mind what?”

“That I’m English.”

“Perhaps I’ll let just one English invade my castle.”

“Is that a promise?”

He took hold of her, lifting her onto the bed. In the great hall the feast continued with laughter and song. In the laird’s bed chamber the fire died down as the laird and his new bride lay together in the darkness.

Outside the snow continued to fall, carpeting the entire castle and all the surrounding land in a white blanket. By the morning it would be a foot deep. Neither Andrew nor Beth would notice a thing. They were far too busy making up for lost time.