The feast lasted for the rest of the day and well into the night. Bryn and Malcolm got very drunk and ended up sobbing in each other’s arms as they thought about their childhood memories. The only person who still retained some priggishness was Iris, who sat with her arms folded and was only there because her presence was required. She wasn’t even moved when Malcolm made a leery approach to dance with her, although by the way she blushed, Caitlin wouldn’t have been surprised if she ended up softening her opinion of Frasier men by the end of the evening.
Caitlin spent as much time at the party as possible, enjoying the good mood and the feeling of conviviality in the air, but deep inside she just wanted to be alone with Rhys. They had been robbed of their morning with each other, so after a few secret glances, they snuck out again and ran upstairs to the bedroom.
They hurriedly stripped each other of their clothes. Rhys’s hands were all over her like a ravenous animal and she surrendered to his fervent kisses. It was intense and he kept telling her over and over again how sorry he was, and how afraid he had been to lose her.
“And I was afraid tae lose ye tae,” Caitlin said. “I thought for sure I was gaeing tae die, and then ye were standing there, standing in front of me like a hero.”
“Ye are the brave one, riding intae battle like that,” Rhys said.
They drowned in kisses and fell onto the bed, writhing together. This time Rhys was not as slow as before, or as tender, but Caitlin didn’t mind. She wanted to feel herself being torn apart by her love. Vibrant emotions rose to the surface and overwhelmed her mind. Heat spread all across her body, making her tingle. She welcomed the warmth. The previous night it had all been astonishing and her enjoyment of it had been marred by a sense of having to get used to all the unfamiliar feelings, but now she was becoming an expert and she could let them wash over her easily, without any hesitation at all. Her hands peeled away his clothes and reached that delicious skin. She reached down into the darkness of his body and felt his desire for her, moaning as she did so. She climbed on top of him and devoured him with kisses, and then rode him like she had ridden the mare earlier. She was taken to heaven and beyond, with all the delights of life and love exploding inside her.
It was hectic and rushed and intense, but the flurry of emotion left her breathless and whimpering. She clung to Rhys as the passion subsided and her heart returned to its normal rhythm. She played with the curled hairs on his chest and traced the length of his scars with her finger, kissing him gently to declare her love. She nestled in his arms, loving the way she fit perfectly against his body, as though she had been made to fit there, as though it was the only place in the world where she belonged.
“I liked it when ye were talking about the future,” she said, “and mentioned children.”
“Well, it’s the way of the world,” Rhys said, although he looked a little flustered.
“I thought ye were a wild man, never tied down tae anything,” she teased.
“That was before I met ye,” he said earnestly, and gave her a quick kiss. Affection and adoration swelled within her and she knew there were no limits to her love for him. She squeezed him tightly.
“It would be an honor tae raise children in a time of peace. They wouldnae hae tae be scarred by war like us. They would never hae tae worry about their parents gaeing off tae battle.”
“They wouldnae,” Rhys said, and a thoughtful look passed across his face. “But there is one thing that I cannae shake from my mind, one thing that we could hae discovered if we hae gone tae war.”
Caitlin stiffened and looked at him with fear in her eyes. Her brow crinkled as she wondered where this drifting thought was leading him. He smirked. “Ye did claim that ye were good with a sword, but I suppose we’ll never find out how we would dae in a duel.” His tone was teasing and Caitlin immediately broke out in a laugh.
“There’s a way tae change that right now,” she said, arching her eyebrow in a challenging manner. She threw off the blanket and got dressed.
“I was only joking!” Rhys protested, not wanting to leave the warmth of the bed, especially not when her softness had been pressed against his muscles.
“Ye hae laid down the challenge now, are ye nae man enough tae take it?” Caitlin put her hands on her hips and pursed her lips. Rhys growled and pulled on his clothes. Before they left the room he picked her up in his arms and whirled her around in the air, lifting her feet off the ground. She squealed with joy and lost herself in another kiss, and then they ran out of the room, laughing uproariously, down to the courtyard.
They fetched two swords from the armory. The courtyard was empty. Everyone else was still in the keep celebrating, although many had fallen into a drunken stupor. The married couple had managed to find their way out to the courtyard without being disturbed or interrupted. The moon shone down and bathed the courtyard in silver light. Their swords gleamed as they took their positions opposite each other. Caitlin was slight, while Rhys was cut in the image of his father.
Caitlin’s sword was narrow and light, while Rhys’s was heavy. They met as man and wife.
She shifted her weight in the way she had
