Page 51 of A Celtic Vow
“It turns out the longer I’m an Unnamed One, the stronger I become at healing.” She smiled at Aodh. “What you’re essentially doing is trying to heal the harm your dragon has done, so that allowed me to assist. When that happened, I was able to manifest you and Constance at our castle while you were at Liam’s. So although you were transparent, our people saw and heard everything you said and did in Meath.”
“And,” Aodh prompted, glad to see Riona and Declán well. To see them so in love. “How were we received?”
“You be the judge,” Riona replied as she and Shannon moved them quickly on with magic, and the castle on which he’d so recently rained fire loomed in the distance. “I think you might be pleasantly surprised.”
It turned out she was right when he realized how many people stood on the battlements, courtyard, drawbridge, and meadow beyond. If that weren’t enough, more animals than he could count poured out of the forest, not just in support of their druidesses but their dragons. So said one little black dog similar in appearance to Zeke being brave enough to hop up onto his horse in front of him.
“Looks like my Luna has forgiven you.” Riona chuckled as she and Declán rode on one side of him and Constance, Declán, and Shannon, the other. A show of support he appreciated.
Constance met her chuckle when Luna looked down her nose at her brother Zeke with an air of superiority before he pranced out ahead and led the way with his head held high.
Declán and Riona’s people were silent at first upon their approach until, slowly but surely, they began clapping. Humbled him with their forgiveness. Even so, he took in the damaged castle and couldn’t help but feel the sting of what he had done. Restorations were underway, but there was no missing that, however mightily built, this place had suffered.
Truth told, while they might have found forgiveness in their hearts, Aodh wasn’t sure he could find it in himself as they rode into the courtyard and stopped beside the small oak. Yet another extension of King’s Heart. Rather than say a word, because they had already heard everything in his heart, he swung down from his horse, sank to a knee, and lowered his head. Showed them rather than told them how deeply sorry he was.
How humbled he truly was by their forgiveness.
All went silent at his actions. At the Great Dragon King of the North, as some called him, bowing to them rather than the other way around. He stayed that way, waiting, hoping they understood how strongly he felt before a small hand rested on his shoulder.
“I thought ye might want this, Dragon Aodh,” came a child’s voice. “That ‘twould help heal yer heart some?”
He looked up to find a little girl smiling and holding out a basket of freshly baked bread in one hand and his crown in the other. A crown he realized Eircc must have made sure Liam and Shannon received before they headed south. For a split second, he swore he saw an old man with long white robes standing there instead, but it must have been his imagination because a blink later, he was gone.
“Would ye like to hand them out, then?” The wee lass looked tentatively from him to Constance. “Like ye did in the Kingdom of Meath?”
“We would.” He was touched when he realized numerous children waited nearby with more baskets. More food. “Thank ye, wee one.”
“Ye’re welcome.” Her smile grew wider. Her innocent words were charming. “But first, mayhap ye would like to be a king again?”
He met her smile and nodded. “Aye, lassie.”
Clearly happy to hear it, she placed his crown on his head, and everyone erupted in cheers before he and Constance did the same thing here they had done before. Spoke with people and handed out bread and other foods.
“I just wish they had come from my own food stores,” he said at one point to Declán, “rather than yer own.”
“Despite everything that happened, we are not lacking, brother,” Declán replied. “This that ye do is a show of goodwill.” He looked at Constance, who smiled and laughed with a group of women and children, her vibrant dress standing out wherever she went. “Goodwill that comes naturally to ye and yer druidess. Goodwill that should be seen and experienced by all.” He perked a brow. “As should ye finally making her yer queen,ta?”
“Ta,”he agreed, never as eager as he was when he joined Constance beneath the oak a short time later. It was hard to believe they had disliked each other so much days before. That he could have ever felt anything but love for her.
Something he made clear when they recited their vows, and he told her how much he adored her. That he wanted her by his side no matter what happened. He was about to pull her into his arms and kiss her when Liam stopped him.
“Before ye do what yer longing to do, brother.” He pulled a delicate crown from his satchel and handed it to him. “Bea saw to it that yer smith forged this the moment Constance arrived.” He smiled and shook his head. “It seemed she might have seen things even yer brothers didn’t over the years.”
So it appeared because there were two dragons intertwined on the front of the crown. Dragons clearly in love.
“It’s beautiful.” Constance teared up. “How thoughtful...and telling.”
“Very,” he agreed because it could only mean Bea had seen them together as young, frolicking dragons. Saw them fall in love. “’Tis the perfect crown.” He placed it gently on Constance’s head. “For the perfect lass.”
The sounds of cheering faded into the background as he finally pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly. Showed her with a kiss how much he cared about her. Loved and worshiped her.
“Should we stay on for a bit before heading to King’s Heart?” Declán suggested when they finally parted. He gave them a knowing look. “There are plenty of chambers and—”
“No.” However much she clearly didn’t want to say it, Constance shook her head. “It’s best, Aodh and I get to King’s Heart, then go from there.”
“I’m sorry,”she said into Aodh’s mind.“Because I’m as eager as you to consummate things.”
While tempted to argue, he understood her urgency. Felt the same.
