He doesn’t want to ask for help, especially from her. She’d prefer not to give it, especially to him. Can they put aside their biases or will their pre-conceptions destroy them both?

Dungarob Keep on the Scottish Northwest Coast

Morning, February 14, 1297

“Friends, clan, and family, we have a very special ceremony to open the day’s festivities.”

At the word ceremony, murmurs ran through the crowd.

A chill of premonition skittered down Seona’s spine.

They wouldn’t, would they? I don’t want this. Surely MacFearann doesn’t either. How can Raeb and Jessamyn be so heedless of our feelings? I should flat out refuse. That would serve them right.

“We will begin this day dedicated to love and lovers with the handfasting of my sister, Lady Seona MacKai and his lordship Earl Rhuad MacFearann, laird of clan MacFearann.

Seona knew she would not refuse. She loved her brother and his wife too much to cause them any embarrassment, much though they richly deserved it.

“We are honored,” continued Raeb, “to have you all as witnesses to this event. Although their joining is temporary, and chaste…”

Seona’s face flamed at the public mention of a matter that should remain between husband and wife.

“Father Magnus,” continued her brother. “Will sanctify the ceremony and bless the union. If, after the term of a year and a day, Earl MacFearann and Lady Seona wish to remain united, we will hold a wedding.”

By St. Margaret’s bones. Surely MacFearann would not agree to such a sham?

She glanced at MacFearann’s face. His mouth formed a thin line, and his hands fisted at his sides.

I’m not the only one displeased by Raeb’s high-handed action.

Her gaze met MacFearann’s as he silently took her hand.

“Did you agree to this nonsense?” she whispered.

He nodded. “’Twas the only way your brother would give his aid to my cause.”

“He said nothing of this to me.”

“We can talk later, and you may ask your brother what prompted all of this. For now, we must play our parts.”

“I’m not certain…”

“Please,” he growled. “It isn’t as if we’ll be wed forever. ’Tis only a hand-fasting and temporary at that.”

As MacFearann fell silent, Father Magnus stepped toward them. “We are gathered here on this day of love and remembrance to witness the handfasting of Earl Rhuad MacFearann and Lady Seona MacKai. Are there tokens?”

“Aye,” Raeb stepped forward. He pushed one arm between Seona and Rhuad. Two red ribbons dangled from his fist. At the end of each ribbon hung a piece of silver. Each piece was shaped to resemble half of a Christian cross with a circle surrounding the intersection of the arms and stem of the cross.

“The cross represented here,” said Raeb “is split in two. Each of you shall wear one piece. If you finally wed, the pieces will be joined together forever as will you be. It represents the hope born in this handfasting, that a love as deep as Christ’s will grow between you.”

Heavens, he speaks as if this bonding will be forever. But earlier he said…

Seona nearly panicked.

The priest took the ribboned symbols from Raeb, saying “Lift your joined hands to me.”

He began to wind the ribbons around their clasped hands. Saying as he did so. “Rhuad MacFearann, repeat my words.”

“I Rhuad MacFearann take thee Seona MacKai to be my wedded wife, until we together agree to part and thereto, I plight thee my troth, holding myself chaste for as long as we are handfasted,” Rhuad’s voice was quiet but strong and calm, contained in a way similar to how he held himself.

Then the priest turned to Seona. “Repeat my words,”

“I Seona MacKai take thee Rhuad MacFearann to be my wedded husband, until we together agree to part and thereto, I plight thee my troth, holding myself chaste for as long as we are handfasted,”

When they finished speaking, Father Magnus stepped back.

“In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, I bless this union,” he intoned. Then he turned to the watching crowd. “I present to you Earl Rhuad MacFearann and his countess, Lady Seona MacFearann.”

The crowd cheered.

No one noticed when Seona to sagged into her temporary husband’s arms.

Lady MacFearann! Thank the blessed mother that this is temporary. I could not bear having to carry that name for the rest of my days. Nor would I curse my children so.