like you’re really getting married or something.” Cassy wiped her hand on her dress. “Are you nervous?”
Tara beheld Duncan’s eyes as he walked forward to claim his prize. “No.”
“Well I am.” Cassy finished the last of her wine 89
Catherine Bybee
and stepped aside.
Tara had seen this before, in her dreams. The vows she was supposed to recite were etched in her mind. She no longer feared her role. Duncan would hold her hand and help her.
****
Fin stood at Duncan’s side, his Gaelic words hushed so only his brother could hear them. “Watch your step, brother, something is amiss. She is letting this happen for a reason.”
Duncan knew his brother was right, but what choice did he have? Tara walked toward him with outstretched hands and a radiant smile, reaching out to his soul.
Once she stopped in front of him, his worries ebbed. She glowed under the veil trailing down her long red tresses. Her full lips curved into a smile.
Her beauty was staggering.
She dropped into a deep and meaningful curtsey.
Duncan took her hand and led her to the middle of the field. A hush fell over the stands. Only the occasional sound of a baby crying could be heard.
He knew what was to happen next, not because Grainna’s man had told him, but because he had seen many ceremonies like this in his life. The only difference was Tara reciting her part first, then he was to follow.
He saw Grainna watching from the platform Cassy and Tara had left, her glare victorious.
He shuffled briefly.
“It’ll be over in a few minutes, Duncan. It isn’t like this is real or anything.” She took the cord Cassy handed to her and started. “Just repeat after me,” she whispered.
Tara took his hand in hers and started weaving the cord around it. “From the North, to the South, In the East or in the West...” she began.
90
Binding Vows
Duncan and Fin froze at the same time. Her words shook them both. “Stop her,” Fin uttered in Gaelic.
“Where you go, I’ll follow. Your light will shine my way.”
The air around them changed. The force of her vow etched into them. They weren’t handfasting pledges of love and devotion, but Druid wedding vows. Once spoken, they could never be taken back.
Once spoken by one of Druid descent, they would bind you to the other person past this life and into the next.
He knew in an instant what Grainna intended.
Tara would say these vows to whoever stood before her and without the ability to stop. She would consent to that man and give Grainna the final piece of her curse.
If Tara continued saying these vows, a part of her soul would go with him when he left this century. With him gone, she would be nothing but an empty shell.
If he didn’t pledge the same to her, she would live a short life of misery. The cruelty of such a life was beyond what even he could envision.
He felt Fin’s anguish as Tara went on.
“It is my love I give you, past my dying day.” She smiled up at him.
She was putting her soul in his hands. His heart leapt with the power of her vow. He searched her trusting eyes to see if she held any doubt. Seeing only love, something he didn’t think possible, he made his choice and let her finish.
“Where two hearts beat, there is now but one.
This tie that binds us together shall never be undone.” Finished, Tara waited.
He took the dangling cord and bound his hand to hers. The air thinned. He placed her other hand in his and placed it over the other.
91
Catherine Bybee
His look was direct, his eyes unquestioning.
Tara waited for him to speak. Her lips twitched slightly, anticipating.
When he did, it was as if they were the only two standing in the crowd of hundreds.
“From the North, to the South, in the East or in the West. Where you go I will follow, your light will shine my way. It is my love I give you, past my dying day.” The air stirred. “Where two hearts beat, there is now but one. This tie that binds us together shall never be
Tara beheld Duncan’s eyes as he walked forward to claim his prize. “No.”
“Well I am.” Cassy finished the last of her wine 89
Catherine Bybee
and stepped aside.
Tara had seen this before, in her dreams. The vows she was supposed to recite were etched in her mind. She no longer feared her role. Duncan would hold her hand and help her.
****
Fin stood at Duncan’s side, his Gaelic words hushed so only his brother could hear them. “Watch your step, brother, something is amiss. She is letting this happen for a reason.”
Duncan knew his brother was right, but what choice did he have? Tara walked toward him with outstretched hands and a radiant smile, reaching out to his soul.
Once she stopped in front of him, his worries ebbed. She glowed under the veil trailing down her long red tresses. Her full lips curved into a smile.
Her beauty was staggering.
She dropped into a deep and meaningful curtsey.
Duncan took her hand and led her to the middle of the field. A hush fell over the stands. Only the occasional sound of a baby crying could be heard.
He knew what was to happen next, not because Grainna’s man had told him, but because he had seen many ceremonies like this in his life. The only difference was Tara reciting her part first, then he was to follow.
He saw Grainna watching from the platform Cassy and Tara had left, her glare victorious.
He shuffled briefly.
“It’ll be over in a few minutes, Duncan. It isn’t like this is real or anything.” She took the cord Cassy handed to her and started. “Just repeat after me,” she whispered.
Tara took his hand in hers and started weaving the cord around it. “From the North, to the South, In the East or in the West...” she began.
90
Binding Vows
Duncan and Fin froze at the same time. Her words shook them both. “Stop her,” Fin uttered in Gaelic.
“Where you go, I’ll follow. Your light will shine my way.”
The air around them changed. The force of her vow etched into them. They weren’t handfasting pledges of love and devotion, but Druid wedding vows. Once spoken, they could never be taken back.
Once spoken by one of Druid descent, they would bind you to the other person past this life and into the next.
He knew in an instant what Grainna intended.
Tara would say these vows to whoever stood before her and without the ability to stop. She would consent to that man and give Grainna the final piece of her curse.
If Tara continued saying these vows, a part of her soul would go with him when he left this century. With him gone, she would be nothing but an empty shell.
If he didn’t pledge the same to her, she would live a short life of misery. The cruelty of such a life was beyond what even he could envision.
He felt Fin’s anguish as Tara went on.
“It is my love I give you, past my dying day.” She smiled up at him.
She was putting her soul in his hands. His heart leapt with the power of her vow. He searched her trusting eyes to see if she held any doubt. Seeing only love, something he didn’t think possible, he made his choice and let her finish.
“Where two hearts beat, there is now but one.
This tie that binds us together shall never be undone.” Finished, Tara waited.
He took the dangling cord and bound his hand to hers. The air thinned. He placed her other hand in his and placed it over the other.
91
Catherine Bybee
His look was direct, his eyes unquestioning.
Tara waited for him to speak. Her lips twitched slightly, anticipating.
When he did, it was as if they were the only two standing in the crowd of hundreds.
“From the North, to the South, in the East or in the West. Where you go I will follow, your light will shine my way. It is my love I give you, past my dying day.” The air stirred. “Where two hearts beat, there is now but one. This tie that binds us together shall never be
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