Embroidered Fantasies

Epilogue

The great room was decorated with colorful banners. Garlands of wildflowers and fragrant herbs hung all around. A huge fire roared in the hearth that was big enough for her to stand upright in when it was cold. The smell of savory meats and spices filled the air along with the voices of the large group gathered there.

Roxanne sat at the large table perched on the dais at the head of the room. The chair she was seated in was the one Arron had been working on the day after she’d first arrived, the one she’d admired. Sednar and Radnor had presented it to her as a wedding gift.

To her right sat her husband. Radnor looked large and impossibly handsome in a heavily embroidered vest, which showed off his chest to perfection. His wrist and armbands glinted in the light as he inclined his head to hear what his sister was saying to him.

Her husband. Just saying it to herself made her want to laugh. It also made several interesting parts of her body tingle.

To her left sat the second husband of her heart. Sednar was just as good-looking in a similarly embroidered vest. As always, he wore his hair with the two thin braids in the front. Today, he also wore a heavy silver torque around his neck, the symbol of his position as elder brother.

He threw back his head and laughed at something Emon, the blacksmith, said to him. It made her feel good to see him so happy. Life had changed her these past weeks.

Slowly, but surely, the people of the keep were beginning to treat both brothers differently. The fact that she’d stayed with them and was incredibly happy had been noticed by one and all.

No woman had ever been taken care of the way the Craddock brothers had cared for her while she’d been recovering from her ordeal. She’d done her best to get around the keep, talking to people, asking them about their jobs and families. It surprised her sometimes just how interested she was. In her old life, all she’d wanted was to be alone.

But here, she felt a part of something. It was a wonderful feeling.

She still couldn’t believe how many people had come to celebrate their wedding.

The past few weeks had been a whirlwind of preparation. Genita, who preferred to be called Genny, had arrived several days ago from Bakra castle with her two very large, very fierce warriors in tow. There was no doubting how much Jarmon and his brother Garrik loved her.

And just yesterday the two older Bakra brothers, Zaren and Bador, had arrived with their wife, Jane. Roxanne had immediately liked her. They had much in common, both being tapestry brides. She’d spent several long hours talking to Jane, asking her myriad questions about life here. She knew both Radnor and Sednar worried from time to time, but she was happy with her choice.

The only thing she’d left behind in her old life was a tiny apartment’s worth of used furniture and a handful of clothing. Nothing to truly mourn or regret. Not when she’d gained so much.

As if sensing her attention, Sednar leaned toward her. “Having fun, my sweet?” Her smile grew bigger. “I am. I can hardly believe this.”

“Believe it,” came the voice on her right. Radnor caught her hand in his and raised it to his lips. He turned her hand over and pressed his lips against her palm.

“When I brought that dusty tapestry home, I thought it was nothing but a piece of embroidered cloth. Instead, it made my wildest fantasies come true.”

“I’ll make more of them come true later,” Radnor promised before nipping at her fingers. She laughed and tugged her fingers away and turned coyly to Sednar.

“And what about you?”

He grinned. “I’ve got a few fantasies of my own…” He let his words trail off, but she could hear the promise in them, the pledge. She leaned over and kissed him before turning to Radnor and doing the same to him.

Around them, people cheered.

“I think later just became sooner.” With that, Radnor rose from the table and bowed to the crowd. “If you’ll excuse us, I think my bride is fatigued from the festivities.” His lascivious grin left no doubt what he was planning to do to help her rest.

Roxanne laughed as she rose beside him, giving him an elbow in the ribs. He didn’t even grunt or move. The man was built out of stone.

Radnor scooped her into his arms and headed toward the stairs. Behind him, she heard solemnly Sednar address the crowd. “I must go check on them. My brother might need some help.”

The crowd roared with laughter and began to chant. “Craddock bride! Craddock bride!”

Tears pricked her eyes as Sednar caught up to them on the stairs. “Are you all right, love?” Radnor asked.

“I’m better than fine,” she assured them. “I love you both. You’ve made me so happy.”

“It’s only just begun,” Sednar promised her as he held open the door to their room.

They all entered and he shut the door, closing out the rest of the world and leaving them alone together.