Sealgaire ~ the Epilogue
As the car brought them down a long, secluded, winding road, the spires of the Castle Sealgaire came into view.
“Niall! It’s so huge!” Heather said excitedly.
“Well, yes, Love. Castles tend to have some size to them.” Niall laughed, pulling her close. “But to us, it’s just home sweet home.”
Shioban leaned over and asked, “Will you be wanting the grand tour right away, or did you want to get settled first, Ma’am?”
Heather didn’t even hear the question. She was engrossed with the view out the car window as more and more of the castle became visible. Excitement caused her to grip Niall’s hand more tightly than she normally would.
“I’ll take care of that myself, Shioban. Not that you don’t do a fine job.” Niall added quickly. “I’ve just been looking forward to this for a very long time.”
Finally, the car stopped, the door was opened, and Heather found herself standing before Castle Sealgaire.
“Welcome home, my Queen.” Niall said with a grand bow.
“Niall, its…it’s…incredible!” Heather stammered. She was too moved for words to even notice Niall sweeping her into his arms to carry her inside until they started to move forward.
“Wait! We’re not married yet!” Heather protested, but Niall wasn’t hearing any of it.
“Do you really believe that just because we don’t have a paper that we’re not already joined forever?” he asked, raising his eyebrows at her in mock horror.
“How can I argue with that logic?” Heather laughed and allowed herself to be carried in.
The second they cleared the door, they were swarmed by Niall’s family. Niall put her down, and they were both wrapped up in bear hugs before introductions could be made. When everyone had been hugged to within an inch of their lives, Niall began the introductions.
“Ma, this is Heather O’Roarke, my bride to be.” Niall said with pride, keeping an arm around Heather.
“Ah, what a bonnie lass, she is!” The old queen said. “My name is Ciara, but if ye call me anything but Ma, it’ll break my heart!”
“Well I certainly wouldn’t want to do that!” Heather replied. “Ma it is! I’m so pleased to meet you; Niall’s told me so much about you!”
Heather felt half in love with her future mother-in-law already, after hearing Niall speak of her during their quiet talks at night. He got into more detail on the plane, so she’d be better prepared when she got there. She was thrilled to find out Niall’s mother was a witch, and she’d have some guidance with her newfound powers. The woman’s kind, gentle face spoke volumes about her.
“Well, he hasnae told us nearly enough about you, lass, but the fact that he sent for the ring and the smile he wears now tells us everything we need to know!” Ciara laughed, giving Niall a pat on the cheek.
Niall had told Heather that, while his Ma was a witch, she never practiced anymore, since she lost his Da in an accident. She always kept a cheerful disposition, but they could all tell there wasn’t much joy in her anymore. He hoped that, in taking Heather under her wing, that it might bring the sparkle back to her eyes.
She turned her attention back to Heather and continued, “I understand we have a budding witch in the family now! Thank the heavens I finally have someone to pass down my best spells to!” Seeing the look of panic on Heather’s face, she added, “Now, surely there’ll be some trial and error, but that’ll just make things more interesting around here! It’s about time we had some excitement in the place!”
Heather could only laugh and nod at her future mother-in-law’s enthusiasm. She could see so much of Niall’s mirthful spirit in his Ma.
‘Looks like Niall was right; my sad lack of magic skills is just what the doctor ordered!’ Heather thought.
Ciara studied her future daughter-in-law as well. “Look at ye; skin and bones, ye are! We’ll have ye fat as a calf in no time! Colin is smiling down from Heaven on us today.” She added, referring to Niall’s late father.
“Colin?” Heather asked. “I thought the name Niall was passed down to each generation.”
“Aye, that’s right, lass. His given name was Niall Colin Sealgaire, but when he was a wee one, there were already two Niall’s in the castle, so they took to calling him by his middle name, Colin.” Ciara explained. “He’d be dancing a jig to see his boy so happy! Niall gets his love of dancing from his Da, ye know.”
“He’d be pleased as punch!” A blonde added as she elbowed her way forward. “And so will you, when you see Niall in action on the dance floor! Has he taken you dancing yet? I’m Abby, by the way, and this is my husband, Niall’s brother, Fergus.” Before Heather could get a word in edgewise, Abby blurted out, “And guess what? We’re expecting another babe!”
More hugs ensued, while Fergus grumbled that they were going to announce it later, so as not to overshadow the homecoming. Heather wouldn’t have the wonderful news put on the backburner on her account, and told them so.
“How could you think this would make our homecoming any less? It makes it that much more special! A baby in the castle - this is wonderful news! Have you bought anything yet? We should make a list!”
Fergus and Niall pulled the girls apart, laughing. “We’ve only just found out!” Fergus said. “There’s plenty of time to spend all our money on a nursery, and they’ve just got in from an eight hour flight!”
Niall wrapped Heather up in his arms. “If I’d have known you’d be that excited about a babe, I’d have gotten started on it already!” he whispered in her ear, making her blush.
Turning to his brother, he asked, “Now, where are those two boys of yours? They must’ve grown a mile since I’ve seen them last!”
Fergus laughed and said, “Well, Young Colin has been glued to the Lady Giselle ever since she waltzed through this door, all grown up. She’s certainly no longer the pesky little sister of his best lads now, is she? Seems he didn’t just get his grandfather’s name and red hair, but his eye for beauty, too.” He winked at his mother, who waved him off with a smile. “The sound of thunder you hear above you is Shea. Since he joined the track team at school, he feels the need to run everywhere. Sounds like he’s on his way down now.”
The group had a laugh, as both Heather and Niall greeted Shea. The little guy stared up at his “Aunt Heather” until his mother pulled him away. Finally, the family moved on, vowing to meet up with them at dinner, once she’d had her tour of the castle. The happy couple couldn’t believe how great it felt to be home, but their moment of peace was short lived.
In the next moment, Heather was faced with rows of staff, waiting patiently to greet them. She looked questioningly at Niall as he proceeded to steer her down the line with a gentle hand on her back.
“As you said, Love. It’s a big place.” Niall smiled and set about the introductions.
She met them all, feeling self conscious as the staff stared at her as though she were from Mars. The men bowed and the women curtsied to her, and while Niall simply bowed his head to each, she tried to say a kind word, whether she simply repeated their position and asked a question about it or remarked “What a lovely dress!” She knew it would take forever to get to know them all, but she wanted them all to feel that they each made an impression on her.
As the staff returned to their business, some fetching their bags from the car, Niall began the grand tour. She laughed when they reached the throne room.
“An actual throne? Seriously?” Heather couldn’t help herself.
Niall began his tutorial. “Although I’m just a wealthy business man from a successful family to the public, to the werewolves, I come from the same line of kings they have always known. From the time of the first King Niall, all the succeeding kings have been werewolves.
As times changed and monarchies became things of the past, the Sealgaires disguised their position, becoming simply, ‘prominent citizens’. We get away with keeping the thrones and everything else due to our historical status. Sealgaire castle is an actual landmark and as such, we provide tours on a regular basis. We’re just secluded enough to conduct pack business safely away from prying eyes, but public enough to hide in plain sight.”
“There’s so much history here.” Heather said, taking in the relics and portraits that lined the room. “I have a lot of studying to do!”
“Only if you want to, Love. There’s always someone about who knows any fact you may need.”Niall smiled at her and hoped the memory of her forced studies at Bruno’s didn’t put a dark cloud over her homecoming.
“Besides, there’s more value in observing the present in a position like ours. Positions and relationships change every day. Keeping up on those things is like watching a soap opera on TV; you’ll see who is feuding with who, who can sit next to who at the summit, which pack leader is close to being challenged. It’ll be fun. The rest will all fall into place.”
Heather smiled at his attempt to brighten her mood on the topic, and her attention returned to the thrones. “So, we’ll actually have to sit on those?” she asked, pointing at them.
“Only about once or twice a year.” Niall assured her. When greeting guests for the balls, or officiating a summit, which is when all the packs under our reign gather. For the regular pack business, we just gather outside or in the ballroom.”
“There’s a ballroom?” Heather thought her heart might actually stop.
The minute they entered the ballroom, Heather was drawn to the portraits that hung on the main wall. Seeing nothing else, she walked right up to them.
“Niall…is that?” She couldn’t finish the question; couldn’t come to grips with what she was seeing.
“The first King Niall and Queen Angelica. Now do you see why everyone stares at you?”
Heather ran her hands through Niall’s long, shaggy hair, pulling it back from his face and couldn’t believe her eyes. “It’s you.” She said simply.
“And you.” He answered, pointing towards Angelica’s portrait. “If you think this is blowing the staff away, wait until all the packs meet you at the wedding. You’ll be coronated there, as well.”
“Coronated, like given a crown?” Heather’s head was spinning.
“You’ll get to choose from all the crowns of the past queens, or have one of your own made. Shioban will talk to you about that later.”
“A crown? A real crown? I think I need some air.”
“Your wish is my command, my love.” Niall said, leading Heather through the ballroom and out the back door near the kitchen. For as far as she could see, they had their own private beach.
Heather walked to the water’s edge and took it all in. She’d watched the ocean from her window at Bruno’s for over a year, yearning to feel her toes in the sand and imagined countless times how she’d plunge right into the cresting waves.
Pulling her eyes away from the beautiful sight before, she looked at Niall, caressing his cheek. “You built me all those sandcastles because I couldn’t be there myself. This beach is just like you described it in our story. Well, except for pirates, of course.”
Niall smiled at that. She continued, “Do you know how many times I imagined the two of us, splashing in the waves, building castles together, just lying in the sun?”
“Now you have your own beach, and we can do those things anytime we want.” Niall answered before kissing the top of her head and holding her close.
“Can we stay here awhile?” She asked, looking out at the endless sea.
“Aye, love. That we can do.” They stayed there, Niall’s arms around her to keep her warm, until the call came for dinner.
The family ate and talked for what seemed like hours, getting to know each other better, before they called it a night. Heather was thrilled to be part of a family again, and felt doubly blessed to be part of such a loving one.
“Have I told you about the balcony off our suite? We can throw the doors open and bring the beach right up to our room. If it’s warm enough, you can fall asleep to the sound of the waves. Would you like to see it?” he asked, already guiding her upstairs to their room. “We can take our wine out there tonight, if you’d like.”
Heather couldn’t imagine a more wonderful thing, and putting her hand in Niall’s they walked slowly up the stairs.
Niall showed Heather the balcony, pointing out all the things on the castle grounds they hadn’t gotten around to seeing yet.
“And there, to the right; see it? That’s one of the trails that you can take hiking through the woods. It comes out by Fergus and Abby’s home. They’ve build a beautiful cabin there in the woods.” Niall stood behind her, so that her gaze could follow where his arm pointed.
Heather turned in his arms to face him. “Why don’t they live in the castle?” she asked.
“They enjoy their privacy. They’re close enough to walk over, but separate enough for their liking. They enjoy having their own home.”
“Home.” Heather echoed. “I love our home. I love you. Niall, I’m so happy. Promise me it’ll always be like this.”
“Aye, Love. That’s a promise I can keep.” They kissed until a knock signaled the arrival of their wine.
Giselle came onto the balcony, bringing their wine, and Colin followed close behind, with a vase of flowers for his new Aunt Heather. Colin held the vase out to Heather, but kept his eyes glued to Giselle when he said, “Welcome to the family! These are for you!”
“Isn’t he thoughtful?” Giselle whispered to Heather as she took the vase from Colin and placed it on the table with the wine.
“And quite a good looking young man, too.” Heather whispered back. To Colin, she said, “Thank you, Colin. Thank was very kind of you.”
Niall tried to get the attention of the teens, who stood gazing at each other. “Thank you, Giselle and Colin. We can take care of everything else, so you two go find something to amuse yourselves for the rest of the evening. Colin? Colin?”
“Oh, sure. Sure thing. You two have a lovely evening, now.” Colin said as he held the door for Giselle.
Giselle blushed at the gesture and threw a quick grin Heather’s way before leaving.
“Well look at that.” Heather said.
“Interesting.” Niall answered. “But right now, I’d rather look at you.”
They drank and flirted, kissing between sips and savoring the wine from each other’s lips. As they finished the bottle, they decided they might want to move things inside for the night. Heather smiled seductively at him as she wrapped her arms around Niall. “Now, about those bags from the mall…”
“You can’t possibly be awake enough for that after all the travelling we did today!” Niall was beyond surprised, figuring they’d be asleep the minute their heads hit the pillow.
“What can I say? I got my second wind.” Heather shrugged.
His smile soon matched hers, and he pointed to the armoire. “Any bags they found when they unpacked for us would be in there. Don’t worry - if it’s in a bag, they won’t open it.” He added when he saw her face go crimson.
“I’m just going to believe that, because it makes me feel better about meeting their eyes tomorrow.” Heather said. “Now, my bag is filled with things for you. What’s in yours?”
“What a coincidence; my bag is filled with things for you. Let’s switch, and see what we find.” Niall answered.
The pair, after making sure there was no mistake, laughed and laughed. They pulled out the hats and put them on.
“I couldn’t resist when I saw it in the costume section!” Heather finally got the words out between fits of giggles. “I thought of the beach and our pirate story, and…” she trailed off into laughter as Niall modeled his own version.
“Aye, I thought the same thing!” he chuckled. “I guess there’ll be two swashbucklers in this room tonight!” He reached back in the bag to pull out the cherry flavored whipped cream and began to shake the can.
Heather reached back into hers, pulling out the lacy red lingerie that Niall picked out for her. “Are you sure you’d rather see me in this than my old nightshirt?” she asked in a purr that stopped all the laughter on the spot.
“Only for a wee bit.” Niall answered. Holding up the can, he added, “Then I’ll be needing my dessert.”
Heather almost lost the ability to speak from the desire she heard in Niall’s voice. “So, who wins?” she whispered.
“The way I see it, we both do. Let’s make a wish…”
The next morning, they had guests waiting for them when they rose. Balin and Shioban were at the dining table in the grand hall, with notebooks and catalogs.
“Well good morning!” Heather sang out. “How is everyone this morning?”
“I can see from the smile on your face that you’re just fine!” Shioban replied, grinning back.
Niall poked his face between the ladies, his smile matching Heather’s. “I do what I can.” He said, taking full credit for Heather’s smile.
“Enough of that, if you want me to keep my breakfast down while we do this!” Balin chimed in, fidgeting in his chair.
Heather shot a questioning look to Shioban, which Shioban answered. “We’re just fine. He was much happier this morning before he started getting a ribbing from the rest of the staff this morning for settling down.” She said with a hand on his arm.
Balin smiled despite himself, remembering his morning with Shioban. “Aye, she’s right. We’re better than fine, lass. As a matter of fact, we’d like to ask a favor while we’re doing all this wedding planning.”
Niall held his chest as if suffering a fatal heart attack. “Am I hearing this correctly? Balin, are you asking me to marry the two of you?”
“You can do that?” Heather interrupted.
“King.” Niall pointed to himself. “I can do lots of things. I can show you…”
“No! Ewwww! That’s just wrong.” Balin interrupted. “Yes, I’m asking if you would marry Bonnie and me in a small, private ceremony, sometime after we get this circus of yours out of the way.”
“Don’t you want everyone there?” Heather asked.
“That’s not really our style.” Shioban said. “Just the two of us and the two of you, of course. For us, that would mean far more than a grand ceremony. Remember, I deal with crowds of people every day. I just want this to be about us.” She smiled up at Balin, and he nodded his agreement as he looked back into her eyes.
“What about tonight?” Niall asked. “We could do it in the chapel tonight, and you won’t have to wait for us to come back from the honeymoon.”
“That’s fine by me.” Balin said, a silly grin spreading across his face as he looked down at his fiancé. “Bonnie? This would be the time to back out.”
“Not a chance, Jackie Balin. Tonight it is!”
And so it was.
With Balin and Shioban planning a honeymoon at the same time as Niall and Heather, the wedding committee set about choosing everything they needed for the wedding of the century. They’d decided that their wedding song would be the only non-traditional thing. They chose “Lullaby” by the Dixie Chicks.
There were many errands to run, many fittings to be done, and many arrangements to be made; some via long distance, due to the maid of honor, Polina, still being in the States. The days that followed seemed to move in a blur, except for the time Niall and Heather could steal away for themselves. They’d sneak off to sit in the dunes on their beach and listen to the ocean while they built castles in the sand. They spoke of their future, of the children they’d have, the places they’d travel, of the lives they’d live.
After a few weeks of planning, the time had finally arrived. They’d decided to go with period clothing, to honor the fact that the First King Niall and his Queen Angelica were reunited in spirit as Niall and Heather were united in marriage. Nothing in Niall’s imagination prepared him for the sight of Heather, wearing Angelica’s crown and a replica of her dress, walking towards him down the aisle on Cyd Roseland’s arm. She took his breath away.
"They didn't have you where I come from
Never knew the best was yet to come.
Life began when I saw your face
And I hear your laugh like a serenade.
How long do you want to be in love?
Is forever enough, is forever enough?
How long do you want to be in love?
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up.
I slip in bed when you're asleep
To hold you close and feel your breath on me.
Tomorrow there'll be so much to do
So tonight I'll drift in a dream with you.
How long do you want to be in love?
Is forever enough, is forever enough?
How long do you want to be in love?
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up.
As you wander through this troubled world
In search of all things beautiful.
You can close your eyes when you're miles away
And hear my voice like a serenade.
How long do you want to be in love?
Is forever enough, is forever enough?
How long do you want to be in love?
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up.
How long do you want to be in love?
Is forever enough, is forever enough?
How long do you want to be in love?
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up.
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up.
*Lullaby by the Dixie Chicks
