Chapter 9

After they spent the second day together, enjoying the loch and each other, they spent the night entangled in each other’s arms, sleeping deep until morning. Now it was time for Elspeth to meet part of Ian’s family. She was chewing on her lip looking at the gowns before her. “I can’t decide!” She turned toward Ian who was standing watching her with a smile on his face. “Which should I wear, Ian? They are all so beautiful.”

“It would please me if you wore nothin’.”

“Ian! Please this is not funny. I want your mother and sisters to like me.”

“They’d still like you if you wore nothin’. Might think you a bit touched, but they’d still like you.”

“Eweeee! Okay!” She closed her eyes and turned around in a circle, reached down and pulled up a pale, yellow dress. Opening her eyes, she said, “Okay, I’ll wear the blue!” She dropped the yellow and picked up a gown with a dark blue velvet bodice and a v that pointed to her waist, light blue silk long sleeves that came to a matching v over her hands, and full skirt of light blue silk with a dark blue underskirt.

“I’ll never understand a woman’s way of thinkin’.” Laughed Ian, then he grew quiet, looking thoughtful. “You get dressed and I’ll be right back.”

“Where, are you going?”

“Hush now. You’ll see. I’ll be right back.” He hurried from the room.

When he returned, he stood in the doorway and stared.

“Well don’t just stand there, please help me with my hair. It’s tangled and messy I can’t do anyth…what is in your hands Ian?”

He pulled his hands from behind his back and in them were handfuls of gentian flowers. Little blue flowers to match the dress. “I thought you may like these for your hair. Here I’ll help.” He pulled the ribbon from her waist and cut off a piece long enough to circle around her head. “Sit and give me your brush.”

“How would you know about a lady’s hair?” She smiled.

“I have four sisters, remember?” He picked up the brush and brushed her long tresses. He put the band around her head and tucked most of the flowers under the ribbon. Her hair flowed free, shiny, and silky down her back. When he finished he handed her the looking glass.

She held the glass up looking left to right. “You’re so thoughtful, Ian. It’s perfect! How do I look?” She stood and twirled.

“Perfect and bonnie. My mither will love you! Let’s go, shall we?” He reached for her hand and pulled her to her feet. They headed toward the castle.

“Mither!” Ian hollered. They entered through the twelve-foot glossy waxed cedar doors, banded in iron, swinging inward.

She looked up to see a woman who must be Ian’s mother and four beautiful young women come running in. “What’s the matter, Ian? Is everything…” The woman stopped and stared. She felt the weight of her gaze. “Why Ian, who is this lovely lady?” Ian’s mother smiled and floated toward them to take her hand. She blushed and smiled at the beautiful dark-haired woman.

“Elspeth McLellan, lady.” And she curtsied.

“Please,” said Moira. “Call me Moira, we don’t stand on privilege here. We’re all friends.” Moira looked at Ian. “Weel do you have anything tae say?” All his sisters came up and stood around them.

“Mither.” From her he pointed to each sister. “These are my sisters, Brenna, Fiona, Catriona, and Akira. The last two we call Cat and Kira when they are likable.” The two younger girls groaned at their nicknames but smiled happily. “This is Elspeth McLellan. She’s agreed tae be my wife!” He stood proud, smiling, and put his arm around her waist and pulled her tightly to him. Chaos erupted as they all started talking excitedly.

She turned to watch Moira gaze at her eldest son. With tears in her eyes his mother said. “Ian McGregor, you remind me of your Da. You really love her, I can tell.”

Turning toward her, she took both her hands. “Welcome tae the family, I could use another daughter. I think we shall get along fabulously.”

“Thank you, Moira. I was anxious to meet you all.”

“Och Elspeth, would you do us sisters the honors of making your weddin’ dress? We have new material brought tae us from the Orient. We’d love for you tae see and pick some oot! This is the first weddin’ in our family. Oooh, it’ll be such fun. We can wear our new gowns!”

“Kira.” Ian gave Akira the look of a stern reprimand.

“I’d love it, Akira.” She smiled. “I’ve always wanted sisters!” The giggling girls grabbed her and headed to the stairs when a scream came from the kitchen area.

“Lady Moira, come quick!” screamed Bradana. “Sorcha has cut herself badly. She was cuttin’ cabbage and the knife slipped…”

She turned quickly. “Let me!” she said running after Bradana.

Moira started to refuse when Ian said. “Let her, Mither she’s a healer.”

Everyone followed them to the kitchens. Lying on the floor in a pool of blood was a young girl with her arm torn open, blood gushing from a cut. They stilled as she knelt and placed her hands above the wound, leaned back and began chanting. The healing light surrounded her, left her hands, and entered the wound.

She heard them gasp in surprise as the wound began to knit. The only other sound in the room was her chanting. When she finished, she opened her eyes and she saw everyone staring at her, in complete silence.

Then Sorcha mumbled, opened her eyes, and Bradana ran to her daughter. She looked at Elspeth. “Thank you so much, my lady. You saved my daughter.” Then she cried and held Sorcha close.

They were walking back to the great hall, the girls all asking questions about her healing ability. She laughed and started to answer, when a portal opened, and Merlin stepped through.

“Good, you’re here Ian, Elspeth. You need to come with me now.”

Moira stepped up, “What in the world now? Merlin!”

“Moira it’s of the essence they come with me. I’ll explain later. Please Ian. Now. Elspeth?” She looked at the girls then Moira. Moira tilted her head, “Go ahead we ken how Merlin is. Please come back as soon as you can.” Moira smiled then added, “We have a weddin’ tae plan.”

She smiled, curtsied, and took Ian’s hand and they entered the portal after Merlin.

****

“My, she’s bonnie!” sighed Fiona.

“Did you see what she can do?” asked Akira.

“Kind of quick for marriage, do you think mither?” asked Catriona.

Moira laughed. “Your father and I kenned the moment we met each other that we were meant tae be together. We loved each other at first sight. Ian’s waited hundreds of years tae meet his mate. In a way that’s long enough, dinna you think?”

Akira frowned. “What did Merlin want, mither? We dinna get a chance tae show Elspeth the material.”

“I doona ken daughter, but she’ll be back. Whatever you haven’t sewed, save the rest for when she comes back. Go fold it up and make it nice for when she sees it. Kenning all of you it’s probably strung oot everywhere.”

“Aye,” Akira said. “She’s right. Let’s go.” They all agreed and went running up the stairs, in fits of giggles and laughter.

Moira stood thinking about Merlin with a worried look on her face. She looked upward. “Lachlan please bring everyone home safe.” She turned to go see how Bradana and Sorcha were doing.