The Handfasting Read Free

enclosed in Gavin’s right hand and her left was clasped in his left hand. 
Jamie took a strip of tartan and bound their hands together. 
    Emma’s eyes
flashed up and she gifted Gavin with a radiant smile.  Her smile was so genuine
that it made Gavin’s breath hitch in his throat.  She was so outwardly happy to
be bound to him like this that it made his heart soar.  The only problem was
that he knew he must leave her.  How could he ever leave his beautiful lass? 
Leaving Emma would be like living in a world where there was no sunlight.  She
was the center of everything in his world.
    Jamie unfolded a
scrap of paper that he had dug out of his sporran.  He had scribbled down the
handfasting rites, not wanting to forget the words.
    “Gavin, ye’ll go
first.  Repeat these words after me,” he said, eyes darting to Gavin’s.
    “Aye,” Gavin said,
nodding.  He still looked into Emma’s eyes as he spoke.
    Gavin mirrored the
words that Jamie read, speaking directly into Emma’s blue eyes and professing
his commitment before her and the Lord.
    “I, Gavin
Mackinnon, in the name of the spirit of God that resides within us all, by the
life that courses within my blood and the love that resides within my heart,
take the Emma Abernathy tae my hand, my heart and my spirit, tae be my chosen
one,” he said tenderly, swallowing hard as the implications of his vows to the
woman before him settled in.  “Tae desire thee and be desired by thee, without
sin or shame, for naught can exist in the purity of my love for thee.  I
promise tae love thee wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and
in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond, where we shall meet,
remember, and love again,” Gavin said, repeating the words that Jamie read from
the scrap of paper. 
    A knot settled in
Gavin’s stomach as he spoke to Emma about loving her in this life and beyond. 
He watched in discontent as a shroud of worry cast over her beautiful face.  He
knew that she was thinking about the possibility that he might not return to
her.
    Jamie continued,
and Gavin squeezed Emma’s small hands as he continued his vows.  “Ye are blood
of my blood, and bone of my bone.  I give ye my body, that we two might be
one.  I give ye my spirit, ‘til our life shall be done.”
    Tears cascaded
down Emma’s face as she watched Gavin speak his vows to her.  Hearing him speak
of his love and commitment to her caused her heart to overflow with happiness. 
How was she ever going to let him leave tomorrow? 
    Gavin fought the
urge to wipe Emma’s tears from her face.  He hated to see her cry.  He hated
that he was the reason for her tears.  He wanted to capture her sweet face in
his hands and wipe away her tears, beg her to believe that everything would be
alright.  He could not do this, not now, for his hands were bound to hers by
the strip of red tartan.
    “It’s yer turn
now, Emma,” Jaime said, struck by the overwhelming emotions that flowed between
Gavin and Emma.  Even a fool could see that they were deeply in love.
    “I, Emma
Abernathy, in the name of the spirit of God that resides within us all, by the
life that courses through my blood and the love that resides within my heart…”
Emma’s voice began to tremble as she spoke her vows.  She broke off, collecting
herself, and was strengthened in her resolve as Gavin squeezed her hands
encouragingly. 
    She swallowed the
lump in her throat and repeated the words after Jamie.  “I take the, Gavin
Mackinnon to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my chosen one.  To desire
thee, and be possessed by thee, without sin or shame, for naught can exist in
the purity of my love for thee.  I promise to love thee wholly and completely
without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life
and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love again.”
    Emma’s resolve
crumbled when she spoke these words.  Could she live out the remainder