A Highlander's Promise

The Feast

Dear my supportive readers,
I want to thank you for sticking around and being patient with me. The sole reason I continue to upload is because of you.

Thank you.

Naomi Naami

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"You are something, aren't you, Ceana?" Ian said as he calmed from his fit of laughter.

"I couldn't help it! You must agree that 'twas hilarious," she responded looking for some justification while she wiped a tear from her eye.

"Do you think he's mad at me?" Leora asked sheepishly as she bit her bottom lip forgetting that she, too, was wearing elderberry. The taste of the tart and earthy fruit syrup took her by surprise.

"Not at you," Ian reassured her and then he turned to Ceana with a worn out look. "Let's hope he won't stay mad for too long."

"Well, I think my work here is done," Ceana gloated and proudly took the bottle of syrup along with the brush and headed back towards her chamber laughing.

Before Leora could trail behind her and leave Fionn's chamber, Ian reached out to her and his arm took hold of hers. She turned back in bewilderment and then looked forward again to find that Ceana had already left down the hallway.

"Leora, do you still have those floral wreaths I asked of you?"

Turning her attention back to him, she nodded. Then after remembering how secretive he was about it the first time he had asked her, her mouth formed a devilish grin.

"You wanted them for this, didn't you?" she asked with her eyes narrowing on his.

"Well, I just thought it would be funnier for Maon to wear on his head-"

"But you said at LEAST one, so you knew you were going to lose?" she interrupted him with her question, suspicious if he had played it all out this way.

"No, of course not!" he countered. Ian opened his mouth to respond, trying to come up with something clever to throw her way. But at the sound of no words leaving his mouth, it suddenly dawned him that just because he would have made Maon wear it, by no means meant he and Fionn had to. He lips began to close and he tilted his head to turn his gaze towards the ceiling.

"Sure," she nodded sarcastically as if she believed him. "So do you like to dress up in women's garb? Do you go all out because you enjoy it?" Having the upper hand of the situation, Leora wasted no time goading him on. The least she could do was ruffle his feathers to be somewhat defensive.

"What? No!" Ian quickly refuted her. "You should have no misconceptions," he stated with a solemn face. If there was one thing he didn't want anyone to take away from this exhibition, it was that he purposefully lost just to satisfy a hidden pleasure.

Leora felt his hold taut on her arm and lowered her head slightly, thinking she had gone too far. She swallowed before she opened her mouth to apologize for her insinuation, however, he saved her from doing so.

"But you are exactly right, Leora. I don't know what I was thinking? There sure is no need to further embarrass myself tonight," he laughed lightly, as he tried to alleviate the tension between them. He was sure the sight of bearded men in dresses was enough to humor everyone.

He met her eyes with a friendly smile, letting her know that he did not take her words personally. Reassured from her earlier attempt at jest, Leora quickly straightened out and a mischievous expression found its way back to her face.

"You're right, wearing it would only humiliate you even further." She put her hand on his arm that still had hold of her, looking into his eyes with a tinge of revenge she said, "'Tis a good thing you reminded me."