Page 22 of A Knight To Call My Own
He knew what she had found, so he rose up and pulled forth an aged green ribbon from the bottom of the chest. ’Twas a favor Lynet had bestowed upon him in her youth. She had embroidered the token herself when she was no more than ten summers. The stitching was far from perfect, but he had not cared. He could still close his eyes and see her, as if ’twas but yester morn when she had asked to tie it to his arm. Her eyes had been such a brilliant shade of blue that summer day. He had been honored to receive his first ever token of affection from her, especially since he himself had been so young at the time and more or less full of self-worth. He had kept the ribbon with him always in remembrance of a pixie-like faerie who had followed his every move.
“You saved it?” Her voice was barely loud enough to hear. But Ian could tell she was pleased by his gesture of keeping this bit of remembrance from her childhood.
“Aye.”
“I cannot believe you kept my favor all these years.”
“How could I not?” Ian did not take his eyes from her as he made a large loop in the ribbon. Her breathing accelerated, as if she realized what he was about to ask of her. “Handfast with me Lynet, and let us put an end to this calamity to claim you in marriage by anyone other than myself. Handfast with me, and I promise you will not regret your decision.”
“Dristan will be furious that we-”
He cut off her words and sat up clasping her cool hands in his own. “I care not what Dristan thinks.”
“But everyone will be so disappointed in me. That I would use such trickery when the games have yet to be completed…”
“Dristan and your family will forgive us our trespass. I only care that you will agree to become my wife.”
Her breath left her whilst she pondered his words. “For how long?” she managed to whisper.
“For as long as you would like to make the arrangement between us. I will leave the length up to you.”
Tears welled up in her eyes, and Ian was not sure if they were tears of joy or of remorse. Her words confirmed they were the latter. “I could not bear to become your wife in every sense of the word, only to have our union mean nothing come a year’s time if you so choose to end our marriage. What if there is a child? What would become of us then?”
He pulled Lynet into his arms, and her hands wrapped carefully around his waist. “Then we will make our marriage vows to last for always. We will handfast now ’til we can call Father Donovan to us and seal our union afore the holy eyes of God.”
“But my family may disown me for such a lack of prudence.” Lynet sat up, wiping the moisture from her eyes.
“Let me worry about your family. I will take care of everything, if you would just tell me you will agree to our joining, sweet Lynet.”
He watched her emotions race across her face ’til her visage transformed to one of a firm resolve. “For once, I shall think of no one other than myself,” she whispered, and she raised her eyes to gaze into his own. She smiled, and her happiness tugged at his heart. “Aye, I will have you, Ian MacGillivray, for my husband.”
Ian’s breath left him in a rush of excitement, and he leaned forward to brush his lips against Lynet’s. “Angus! Connor! Get your sorry arses in here, and witness our union,” Ian called merrily, giving her no choice to change her mind.
His guards entered as Ian took the ribbon and draped it over his wrist. Clasping Lynet’s hand, he moved the favor ’til it rested around their joined limbs. With a nod towards his guardsman, Angus pulled the cords together and tied a knot, sealing their fate.
Angus cleared his throat and leveled his gaze on the suddenly shy woman. “Will ye take this man fer yer husband, milady?”
“Aye, I will indeed,” Lynet said sweetly with a rosy blush to her cheeks.
“And Laird MacGillivray, will ye take this woman tae wife?” Angus inquired, yet again.
“Aye, most assuredly will I take her.”
Angus remained serious in his words whilst he clasped his palm over the couple’s tied hands. “The length o’ the handfast will be the standard o’ one year’s time, me laird?”
Ian shook his head. “Nay…our union will be for a period of forever and a day.”
Angus nodded his approval. “Speak yer vows then, tae one another.”
Ian smiled into Lynet’s sparkling eyes as they recited their vows together. “I take thee as my spouse, for today we are as one. Like the stars above, you shall be my constant light, a place I turn for comfort and security. Like the earth beneath our feet, our union will remain solid and true. I remain yours alone ’til death claims me, and, even then, my soul will find yours.”
“Kiss yer bonny lass tae seal yer vows spoken this night,” Angus said reverently.
Ian waved off his guardsmen as he drew his wife into his arms. Nothing had ever felt so right as to embrace this young woman and know she was his to hold for all time. He broke off their kiss, and she sighed in pleasure whilst she fingered the edges of the thread still keeping them bound. ’Twas a sight he would remember with great fondness, for many years to come.
~***~
Lynet broke their silence by beginning to untie the keepsake she had bestowed upon her knight so many years afore. She was beyond words of what had just transpired between them. Taking the favor, she carefully replaced the ribbon in the wooden chest and closed the lid.
