Seventeen years later

Muriel sat in the drawing room with Caitriona next to her. Even after the eighteen years that had passed since they attended school together in Edinburgh, they had never stopped writing to each other. She visited her when she could, and Caitriona did the same, sometimes alone and sometimes with their families. Muriel preferred the latter. She could spend a lot more time with her friend when she didn’t have to worry about everyone at home and when her friend didn’t have to do the same.

Caitriona’s children, only two years younger than her own, and her husband were there as well this time which meant Muriel could finally have her for a couple of months before she had to return home. Her visits were always a delight, not only for her but also for everyone around her. They loved to hear about all the trouble she used to get herself into when they were still at school.

“They have grown a lot, have they nae?” Caitriona asked, looking at her two children. Next to them sat Anna, Ron and Amelia’s daughter, and Muriel’s own two children. They were all in the drawing-room, the young ones talking animatedly by a large window that overlooked the back of the castle, bathed in golden sunlight.

Muriel remembered Anna as a small child, and now she was a young woman, as beautiful as her mother. Her own children had grown up and were almost adults. Ron had inherited her strawberry blonde hair, whereas Ailis had inherited her father’s dark onyx hair.

They had also inherited her and Liam’s stubbornness. It was the one thing Muriel didn’t want them to have, but nature had her own plans.

“They really have,” Muriel said; sipping on her tea. “The years flew by.”

She wondered how long she would have with them before they each created their own lives for themselves. Anna would marry soon, she thought, and Ailis would do the same not long after. Ron was already a strong warrior, even though the last thing that Muriel wanted for him was to fight.

She wanted her children to have long, happy lives. The mere thought of something happening to Ron because someone else expected him to fight was unbearable.

At least it had been a long time since the McAlpine clan had had any sort of conflict. They lived in times of peace, and Muriel hoped that it would be the only thing her children would ever know.

“Do ye remember when we were their age?” Caitriona asked. “We were wee devils.”

“Och aye,” Muriel said; hiding a laugh behind her hand. “It’s me biggest fear sometimes, that they’ll act like we did.”

She remembered all the mischief, all the rebellion, the sleepless nights she and Caitriona spent together. She remembered the trouble she used to get into with her tutors – all the wine that they had drunk when they shouldn’t have.

“At least Ailis and Ron dinnae seem as naughty as we were,” she added with a shrug. “As far as I ken, they dinnae behave like us.”

“As far as ye ken,” Caitriona said. “Nae one kent all the trouble we got into back then.”

Muriel had to admit that was true. They had managed to get away with a lot.

“But we didnae live at home,” she pointed out. “I’m certain that me maither would have kent immediately if she were there.”

“Och aye, that is true,” Caitriona said. “I suppose that’s a relief. I havenae caught mine doin’ anything verra naughty so far.”

Muriel wondered what she would do if Ailis fell in love with a mercenary and tried to run away with him while putting herself in danger – willing to throw herself into a fight to save the one she loved. She wondered what she would do if Ron did everything Liam had, sneaking into keeps and risking his life for a woman he barely knew.

She would be afraid for them, that much was certain. But she liked to think that she would also be proud of them for standing up for the ones they loved.

She would rather have children as foolish as she and Liam had once been than children who were cruel or too scared to fight for what they believed in.

“What are ye two whisperin’ about?”

Liam’s voice startled her who hadn’t heard him sneaking up. She jumped, almost spilling her tea over herself, and shot him an unimpressed look.

“When will ye stop walkin’ like a cat?” she asked and couldn’t help but smile as he leaned down to kiss her softly. Even after all the years they had spent together, Liam never stopped being sweet to her, just as sweet as when they were newlyweds.

Muriel couldn’t have imagined a better life for herself. Liam had given her everything she had ever wanted and everything she never knew she wanted. He had given her their two children. He had given her all his love.

“When ye stop jumpin’ when I scare ye,” he teased; perching himself on the couch next to her. “Caitriona, yer husband is terrible at huntin’. I’m never goin’ with him again. He didnae let me drink a single drop of wine.”

“I think that’s what makes him good at huntin’, Liam,” Caitriona said with a shrug. “What’s the tally?”

“Three geese for him, one for me,” Liam admitted. “To be fair, I truly think I’m better when I have some alcohol in me. He must ken that. That’s why he doesnae let me drink.”

“Aye, I’m sure that’s it,” Caitriona said with a chuckle.

“Next time, I’ll take wee Ron with us,” Liam said. “It’s time he goes on his first hunt.”

“I doubt he would want that,” Muriel said. Though he was a skilled fighter, she didn’t think he had it in him to kill an animal for anything other than survival. The boy was obsessed with them growing up, going so far as to sneak into the stables whenever no one kept a close eye on him. He had even raised and trained his own horse by himself and would not be separated from it. The horse wouldn’t let another rider on the saddle, and Ron would always refuse to ride another horse.

“Weel, he can do the drinkin’, then,” Liam said – earning a gentle shove from Muriel. “What? He’s a grown lad!”

“He’s a bairn,” Muriel said even though, at seventeen, that wasn’t true anymore. It hadn’t been true for a long time.

“Aye, aye, alright,” Liam said, giving in. “He’s a wee bairn.”

Muriel hoped that Ron hadn’t heard any of that. He hated it when people treated him like a child, though few still did. It was the same for Ailis. The two of them always insisted that they were grown.

Muriel supposed it was the same for her when she was their age. She remembered thinking that she knew everything when, in fact, knew nothing.

“It all turned out fine, didnae it?” she asked quietly, mostly talking to herself. “Even after everythin’ we went through. It’s been so long; it hardly seems real.”

Muriel would recall those weeks in her youth when she thought her entire life was over every now and then. She tried to avoid thinking about Macleod and her father, but it was at times like this that she remembered them. Her kids had never met their grandfather. She’d never seen him again, and she’d never learned what had happened to her stepsister. News about her clan would occasionally reach her , but she let Liam handle the majority of it. She didn’t want to deal with anything until the time came. She guessed it wouldn’t be long before her father died, but she had no idea what would happen then. The McNeil family would require a laird, and perhaps the duty would fall on Liam’s shoulders.

The only question she had was about Hextilda’s fate. She’d wanted to know if her father had punished her for what she’d done if he even cared. When she found out he hadn’t, it didn’t surprise her , but it did sting. Hextilda had hoped that her father would avenge her, as much as she expected it because she came from a powerful family.

Muriel reasoned that she was only hurting herself by seeking proof that her father loved her. It wasn’t long before she stopped inquiring about her family.

Ach weel… he’s still young. He can handle it.

Muriel looked at him in the early morning light. His once-black hair had turned grey at the temples, and he had wrinkles around his eyes. Even with his grey hair, he was the most handsome man she had ever seen; the lines around his eyes were a testament to all the times he had smiled in his life.

She, too, had changed, her hair gradually greying and her skin becoming a little more weathered. She still felt like a child at times, as if she was stumbling through life, unsure of what to do.

But she always had Liam by her side to provide her with a helping hand.

Muriel spent the rest of the day with Caitriona, the two of them riding their horses to the lake nearby. By the time they returned, dinner was ready and their families joined at the table. When they were all together, it was always chaos, with their children laughing and joking and the adults shouting over each other as the wine flowed, but Muriel wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

She stayed up late, as she used to when her friend was around, the two of them talking well into the night. When she finally retired to her chambers, Muriel was expecting to find Liam asleep, but he was wide awake, going through a stack of papers.

“Are ye bringin’ work to the bedchambers noo?” she asked with a fond yet exasperated sigh. For all the resistance Liam had put up when Ron had asked him to be his advisor, he sure took his position more seriously than anyone else in the castle.

“Weel, I wanted to finish it tonight,” he said with a small shrug. “But noo that ye’re here, I cannae focus on work.”

As he spoke, he placed the stack of papers on the bedside table and then pulled the covers back – gesturing at Muriel to join him. She undressed first, taking her sweet time only because she knew just how impatient Liam could get, and after she brushed her hair, she joined him, letting him pull her close.

“Did ye ever think we’d have everythin’ we have today?” she asked, her voice low as her hand came to rest on Liam’s chest.

“Hm… what have ye been thinkin’ about?” Liam asked instead of answering. He knew her so well; he could always tell when her mood changed and when there was something on her mind.

“Caitriona and I were talkin’ about the bairns, and it made me think of everythin’ we went through when we were young like them,” Muriel said with a small shrug.

“I kent that I would do anythin’ to keep ye happy,” Liam said. “And that was enough for me.”

Liam cupped Muriel’s cheek; bringing her face closer to press their lips together in a sweet kiss. He knew exactly how to kiss her to make her shiver, and he hummed happily at her reaction. Muriel felt like a teenager again every time their lips met, flustered by all the attention.

“Ron and Amelia are already lookin’ for a husband for Anna,” Liam said after a short pause. “Perhaps we should do the same for Ailis. And find a wife for wee Ron.”

Muriel sat up at that; pinning Liam with her best, most terrifying glare. “We will do nae such thing,” she said. “All three of them are perfectly capable of findin’ a spouse on their own. I willnae force any of them to marry someone they dinnae want. Ye should ken better than that. Ron and Amelia should ken better than that.”

Liam raised his hands in surrender; giving Muriel a placating smile that she had come to know well throughout the years. “Pretend I didnae say anythin’,” he said. “Though they will hardly find husbands and wives if we dinnae arrange for them to meet other people.”

Muriel supposed Liam had a point there. “Fine,” she said. “But we will allow them to choose as they please. If they please. They are still verra young. I willnae marry them off so soon.”

“Weel… as they please within reason,” Liam said. “I willnae let me, daughter—”
“Liam,” Muriel warned – interrupting him. “May I remind ye that nae one approved of ye for me?”

“That is verra different,” Liam said. “I wasnae a bad man.”

“I’m sure ye willnae like anyone,” Muriel said with a knowing smile. “Nae one is good enough for Ailis and Anna, isnae that right?”

“Och aye, of course,” Liam said while laughing and shaking his head. “I see… I suppose ye may be right. As ye always are.”

“Ye’ll do weel to listen to me,” Muriel said; her expression softening as she lay back down, letting Liam embrace her once more – her previous agitation dissipating. The two of them fell into a comfortable silence and it wasn’t long after that Muriel began to hear Liam’s soft snores. It made her chuckle, the way he could fall asleep so fast these days, though she knew he was exhausted from all the work he had to do around the castle, simply because he didn’t trust anyone but himself and Ron to do it right.

“I love ye, Liam,” Muriel whispered against his neck, closing her own eyes.

“I’ll love ye forever.”

The End.

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