Kahleena MacCarthy ~ To Meet a Highlander (22 page)

             
Zarik paced his room. He'd ran his hand through his hair so many times that it was a wonder if hadn't fallen out.

             
“I'm such a dumbarse.”

             
“That you are. And at the expense of my sister.” Trystan walked into Zarik's chamber, aware he'd not heard him coming.

             
“Now I have to listen to ye? Ye cannae say anything I'm not already saying to myself. So save us both some time this night and go to bed.” Zarik was in no mood as he grabbed another bottle of ale from the shelf in his room. He didn't even bother with a glass.

             
“So you'll be hung over and smelling like a drunk when you marry my sister too?”

             
“Look, I dinnae want to hurt ye, Tsarina's yer sister and I'd not have her even more upset with me on our wedding day. But I'm not of the mind to argue or explain or to do much of anything else.”

             
“I appreciate your honesty.” Trystan took a few steps forward. “So I'll make it simple.” With that he swung and landed a huge right hook on Zarik's jaw. For a moment, Trystan braced himself for Zarik's lunge. But he stopped and straightened.

             
“All right. I'll give ye that one. I ken when I have something coming to me. Now get out of my chamber.” Zarik was pissed, but he couldn't say he wasn't deserving of it. He didn't bother to wipe the blood off that was running from his lip.

             
“What is going on in here? Zarik, why are you bleeding?” She looked from her brother's shocked face to Zarik's annoyed one. “Well?”

             
“I hit him.” Trystan said without remorse.

             
“What on earth for?”

             
“Tsarina, everyone, well, almost everyone it seems, knows that he planned to bed a whore. Once again, making quite the fool of you. How long are you going to allow it? Come home with me?” Trystan was tired of pleading his case. Had he been a man from this time, he'd simply have carried her out and made her listen to him.

             
“She will marry me.” Zarik seethed.

             
“He's right, Trystan. I have no choice. I've given my word, plus there's no telling what in the future will be tossed off balance if I don't. I can't take that risk. He didn't do it. So, it's a minor incident, I guess.”

             
“You really believe that?” Trystan couldn't believe his ears.

             
“What?”

             
“That he didn't do it and that it was a minor incident.”

             
Tsarina shrugged.

             
“I didnae do it. Ye have my word.” Zarik said with complete honest. “I may be an arsehole, but I do speak the truth. I'd not lie.”

             
“Come back with me.” Trystan pleaded again.

             
“Trystan, come to my wedding tomorrow or don't. But do not cause a scene. I love you, you're the only family I've had in ages. I want you there. But I'm tired of this argument. You can't make me do what I don't want to do.”

             
“But I can. Technically.”

             
“What's that mean?” Tsarina was confused.

             
“I hate to go all barbarian on you. So, can you just come back with me?”

             
“Barbarian?”

             
“Tsarina, in this time, as your only blood family, I can take you from here. I can forbid the wedding. You'd have no choice but to do as I say. The MacKinnon's no longer look out for your safety and well-being. I do.”

             
Tsarina couldn't believe her ears. Was he serious? “You wouldn't.”

             
Trystan simply shrugged and walked from Zarik's chamber.

             
Zarik, not affected, walked over and closed the door. “Did ye come to finish what we missed last night?” His eyes twinkled in anticipation.

             
“No, I didn't. I came to see what all the noise was about.” Tsarina slapped his hand away from her waist. “It woke me up.” She lied.

             
“I promise you'll leave happy.”

             
“Oh just like you to be arrogant about it. I guess I'll find out tomorrow if you're as good as you say.” Tsarina opened the door and walked back to her room wishing she could fall asleep and nap for a year so that she'd not have to deal with tomorrow.

Chapter 15

             
“Good morning, Tsarina. Get up lass. It's yer wedding day.” Igrid was so giddy, Tsarina, for the first time in ages, wanted to punch someone right in the stomach.

             
“Well, I'm glad one of us is happy about it.” Tsarina grudgingly pulled her feet from her bed and onto the cold stone floor.

             
For the good portion of three hours she was bathed and scented and dried. She wanted to scream.

             
A knock at the door brought her out of her thoughts. As Trystan entered, he had a look on his face that could only mean bad news.

             
“Trystan, what is it?” Tsarina instantly became panicked. Had her wedding day once again become a battle?

             
“Everyone out.” Trystan looked at the women surrounding her. “I need to speak with my sister.”

             
Each one looked at Tsarina. As she nodded for them to go, she hoped nothing had happened to Zarik.

             
“Tsarina,” Trystan spoke as he closed and latched the door after everyone was out. “I've been up the entire night. Galen as well. I've talked out different scenarios of how this all plays out. There's no play book here. I'm used to those. You know?” Trystan smiled and she couldn't help but to smile back. “There's no easy way to say this and I know you aren't going to be happy. But believe me when I tell you that you're the most important thing to me. You're the only family I have. Because I'm wanting to let you have some choice for yourself, I'm giving you two options. Now, Tsarina, you must choose one, or I will.”

             
As Trystan paused, Tsarina could feel something forming in her stomach. She had the sudden urge to vomit. “Trystan, you're scaring me.”

             
With a heavy sigh, as though the weight of the entire world had suddenly been dropped on his shoulders, Trystan continued. “Tsarina, your choices are the following. Option one is to come home with me and get back to your life, the one you belong in. Option two is to remain here, I'll remain as well. Since you'll need a husband, you'll marry Galen.” Trystan watched the emotions run across her face, shock, upset, angry, determined, angry.

             
“What? Have you lost your mind? I'll be doing no such thing. Get out of my room. I have a wedding to get ready for.”

             
“All right. So, you'll be marrying Galen then. I'll let him know.”

             
“I'll be doing no such thing. I'm marrying Zarik. The same person we've had this conversation about countless times before.”

             
“No, little sister. You forget the time period you're in. I'll be speaking with Niall immediately. I'll send the girls all back in to continue fussing over you.” With that, Trystan was out the door and Tsarina was more pissed off than she'd ever been.

             
“Could it really happen, Igrid?” Tsarina asked when the women were all back in with her.

             
“I dinnae ken, lass. I dinnae ken.”

**

             
Trystan took a deep breath, glanced over at Galen, and knocked on Niall's study door. After being told to enter, they quietly did so.

             
“Ahh, Trystan. Galen. So good to see you both. I ken it yer both ready for the wedding this afternoon?” Niall looked happier than either had seen him thus far.

             
Galen and Trystan took a moment to look at one another. It was Trystan who decided to speak. “Niall, that is what we've come to speak with you about. We hope that you'll understand that we mean no disrespect. We appreciate everything you've done for Tsarina.”

             
“I see. So, what is it the two of ye are in need of me for this day? I'd like to get to seeing my son. As he'll become chief in a short time.” Niall sat back in his chair.

             
“That's just it. Tsarina has opted to not return to our time.” Niall gave Trystan a nod. “So, it left me with few options. I am her relative. Once I arrived, it took the burden of Tsarina from the MacKinnon clan. We'd be honored if you'd allow us to stay here.”

             
“Of course. We'd be happy with that as well. Tsarina needs blood family.” Niall beamed a smile.

             
“Well, don't accept so quickly.” Trystan warned him. “You see, as Tsarina's responsible relative, I've decided that while Tsarina will marry today, it will not be to Zarik.” There. He'd done it. The ball had been dropped. Now, he and Galen waited.

             
“Oh.” Niall tried to hold a laugh. “I dinnae ken the two of ye really ken my son verra well. Do ye ken what he'll do if he's not the one to marry her?”

             
“That's where you come in.” Galen spoke now. “According to the rules and laws of this time period in Scotland, you have to honor next of kin. As her brother, Trystan's the only one Tsarina has that can speak for her. It was different until he got here, of course. And Trystan appreciates everything you've all done to keep her safe. You have to honor Trystan's decision and with that, so does Zarik.” Galen let out a breath.

             
“So, lad, ye'll be the one marrying in my son's place?” Niall asked. Seeing Galen's nod, he continued. “Ye might verra well then die this day, lad. So be it.” With that, Niall got up and left his study. The two of them staring, open-mouthed, after him.

             
Niall wondered how he was going to stop bloodshed today. Once again, on Tsarina's wedding day, it seemed inevitable. Slowly, as though it were his own life in danger, Niall knocked on Zarik's chamber door.

             
“Da, what brings ye up here so early? I'm not even beginning to ready myself.” Zarik let out a nervous laugh. He had never been nervous about anything, not even the possibility of dying or being tortured. He was nervous today, though.

             
“We need to talk.” Niall spoke with regret in his voice.

             
“What's happened?”

             
“Ye'll not be becoming chief verra soon.” Niall saw the look of relief on Zarik's face. He'd never wanted to be chief. “Aye, I know that's good news to ye. But, ye'll also not be marrying this day.”

             
Zarik looked at his father as though he'd just been run through with a sword by him. “What?”

             
“It seems Trystan has become wiser than we thought in our ways. He kens that he's the right to determine Tsarina's fate. And he's done just that.”

             
“So, she's leaving?” Zarik wasn't sure what was worse. Not marrying her, or never seeing her again.

             
“Nay, she's remaining. But it'll be Galen that marries her this day.” Niall saw the rage, followed by the blood lust cross his son's face. “Now, wait a minute, Zarik. Ye ken we must honor his wishes. There's naught we can do about it. I'll see ye at the wedding and ye'll be wishing them much happiness.” Niall walked out before an explosive argument could break out.

             
A slight ways down the hall he heard Zarik's rage, as he was certain most of the keep did as well.

**

             
Tsarina headed to her wedding ceremony. Galen was up there already, looking handsome. He just simply wasn't Zarik. While she was attracted to him, she didn't get the funny feelings she got around Zarik, she didn't stumble over her own words and question her own feelings. Galen was large, but a warrior he was not. Why she wanted a blood thirsty brut was beyond her, but for some reason, she did. Her skin torched just thinking about how Zarik's hands would feel all over her body.

             
After speaking with Niall earlier, she knew she had no choice but to do as her brother had told her to. It was the way of the times and all sides had to honor it as he was responsible for her well-being over anyone else. That responsibility would then pass to Galen when he married her in just a few short minutes.

             
She tried to paint a smile on her face and hoped she had been able to hide the red eyes she'd had most of the day. This definitely was not the way she'd pictured her wedding day all those year ago when she'd dreamed of it as a little girl. This was no fairy tale wedding and her Prince Charming certainly was not going to carry her off on his white stallion.

             
Somehow she'd managed to get up to where she needed to be, and placed her hand in Galen's. He gave her a warm smile. Tsarina couldn't help but to wonder if he'd been forced into this as well. Perhaps he didn't want to marry her any more than she wanted to marry him. Would they manage to be happy under those circumstances? At least she and Zarik had the lust thing going for them.

             
She looked forward to see the same priest that had been there several days ago to marry her and Tor. So much had chanced and she believed she saw sympathy in his eyes when he looked at her. Pr perhaps it was pity.

             
The priest began to speak. “Ceud mìle fàilte! (One hundred thousand welcomes!) The MacKinnon wishes to say something before we go further.”

             
Niall stood, reaching out to grasp both Galen and Tsarina by a hand, knowing this day had not turned out as anyone had expected. Knowing, even in these circumstances, he must do his duty as chief. “If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character. If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home. If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation.  If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world. So let it be! A huile la sona dhuibh's gun la idir dona dhuibh! (May all your days be happy ones!)” Niall released the hands of both of his new clan members. With a nod from him, the priest resumed the ceremony

             
Tsarina and Galen faced the priest again, waiting for him to continue.

             
Trystan looked on with a smile on his face. He'd be stuck in this time, but his sister would be safe and not stuck with an ass hat for a husband.

             
Caelan, Drostan, and Tor stood on, stiff, but not causing an issue.

             
When the priest got to the point of asking if anyone objected, everyone seemed to breathe a sigh of relief when no words were spoken.

             
Niall leaned over to speak with Odhran. “Where is your brother? He needs to be here. What will the people think of his temper? He's soon to be chief?”

             
“Da, I dinnae ken where he is. I've not seen him at all today. He may have simply taken off again.” Odhran shrugged and continued to watch the wedding, waiting for the sweets that were going to be in good supply after the vows were spoken.

             
“It is with great pleasure...” The priest was finally at the end of the ceremony, glad to be done with it and free to move on to some other location in the morning. Clan MacKinnon had become crazed since his last visit. “That I present to you, married in the eyes of God, Galen...”

             
“Stop this foolishness at once.” Zarik came up, still dressed in clothes for a wedding, extra swords and daggers placed on his body. He looked as though he were marching into battle.

             
“Zarik,” Niall spoke venomously. “What is this? Come sit with us, the ceremony is about done.”

             
Without sparing a glance to his father, Zarik walked up to Tsarina, cutting his arm along the way. He pulled her hand from Galen's and cut her arm as well – though not as deep or as long – Tsarina still let out a squeal of pain. Pulling a cloth from his sporran, he placed their arms together, blood on blood and wrapped them together, speaking as he did so.

             
“Ye must repeat after me, quickly. Exactly as I say. Tugaim mo chroí duit go deo, mo chroí iomlán. Cairdeas, grá, dílseacht. Thabharfainn fuil mo chroí duit. Gealltanas síoraí.” Zarik spoke quickly and clearly. Rushing her through repeating several words at a time. One arm, bound in blood to hers, the other gripping his sword, daring anyone to interrupt before they had finished. Once they had both said their vows, he continued. “Is mise a fear céile. It is done. She is mine.”

             
Shock filled the wedding guests. Galen's bride had just been stolen from his hand at his wedding ceremony. And by the son of the chief of the MacKinnon's.

             
“What the fuck is going on here?” Trystan was livid.

             
“It would seem to be that I've just married yer sister.” Zarik said with a smile. “'Tis our custom this way. We adopted the ceremony in the eyes of God thing not so long ago. Most still put more faith in this one and, before ye ask, aye, it is binding. The blood oath cannae be broken.”

             
“What? This can't be done, Niall, I had your word.” Trystan was furious as an even broader smile crossed Zarik's face.