Ned slowly turned to look towards Dougal, a weary look upon his face. Murtagh knew all too well the problem. They didn't tell Jamie what Daniea said but deep down he knew. Her reaction said it all and to be honest he couldn't blame her after his actions. Slowly approaching Rupert and Angus, who decided a stiff drink from their flasks were in order, he wearily asked for their help.

"I know this…." His apology began, but Rupert abruptly stopped him by embracing him in a bear hug.

"Dinna fash cousin," He smiled, "What can we do to help?"

Jamie glanced down at Daniea who now was sitting by herself staring at the water. He could see the drying tears resting upon her cheeks.

"I need yer help to make this special fer her…" He stated quietly.

Ned appeared behind him, patting him reassuringly on the back.

"Aye, a wonderful idea lad."

Jamie thought for a moment then fumbled around in his sporran, moments later he withdrew an iron key. Grasping it tightly, he asked Rupert to get a wedding ring made from the bow end of it, along with inscribing it.

Rupert gladly rode off in search of a blacksmith.

"What else lad" Ned inquired, sensing how nervous he had become since deciding upon this venture.

"This may not be what she envisioned on her wedding day but she deserves more than anyone to feel special… a dress. She needs a dress….. And a proper church!" He quickly added.

Ned smiled from ear to ear, patting him once again in reassurance as he made way to ride to the next town over, followed closely by Willie and Dougal.

Murtagh needn't ask Jamie for any more plans because he knew exactly what needed to be done, starting with taking Daniea to the Inn where she could relax and prepare for the days to come. As she was mounting her horse, Jamie contemplated going over and saying something… anything, to help break the tension between them but before he could move a muscle she was galloping away from the camp, Murtagh at her heels.

Angus was the only one to remain at camp with Jamie, "Anything else you need?" He asked, curious of what more could be done for the last minute nuptials

"Aye," he took Angus's flask, "Someone to drink with" He smirked, unsure of what the morning had in store.

Daniea felt on the brink of an anxiety attack as she rode toward the Inn. The cold night air didn't even help relieve some of her stress.

"Lass, I know this isn't what ye want but"

"I don't have a choice… I know, it's just." As she tried to finish her sentence her voice fell silent, unable to finish her thoughts.

"You being safe is all that matters." Murtagh assured, "Do you want whiskey for the night?"

She shook her head no, all she wanted was to be away from everything, to be alone with her thoughts and fears.

He helped her up to her room but before he left he turned towards her and gently grasped her in a much needed hug.

"Everything is going to be alright Lass, that I do promise you. I also promise that Jamie is the right choice."

Daniea tried to cut him off, "But Rupert?"

"Aye Rupert would be a bonnie choice if you weren't who you are Lass. You need all the protection you can get and Jamie is not only the Laird's nephew and has had dealings with Randall, but he is one of the best warrior's I have ever fought with on the battlefield."

It was no use arguing with Murtagh because deep down she knew his words rang true, but facing Jamie at the altar was a journey she was not sure she could endure.

As the early morning colors burst across the horizon, Daniea finally slept while the men made frantic preparations for the next day. The first to arrive back at camp was Murtagh with a full satchel.

"How is she?" Jamie frantically asked before he even knew he had opened his mouth.

"Surviving." Murtagh answered, weary from his long night. Dismounting he signalled for Jamie to follow him over to the fire.

Sitting the satchel down between them, Murtagh grabbed a hot drink and took a moment to compose himself.

The older man could see worry in Jamie's eyes, he felt for him but could not pick sides in this arrangement. As Murtagh slowly opened the bag Jamie could see the dress tartan for his clan folded neatly.

"A man should only marry once, and to the woman he truly loves above all others…" he began, slowly withdrawing the kilt handing it to Jamie. "I have seen how you look at her, how you react when anything comes to her…. But I have also seen how you pushed her away and I will never be able to forget the feeling of her limp, bleeding body in my arms that could have been prevented if it wasn't for yer cowardice boy!"

Jamie looked at the ground, not denying Murtagh's anger towards him, but as he calmed himself he finished.

"She's bonnie lad, not just on the outside but the inside as well. She deserves all you have to give and you deserve to marry the lass as a Fraser; Not a Mckenzie." He smirked, pushing Jamie in the arm as he collected himself.

"I can't thankye enough."

Murtagh only nodded and left to bed down for a few hours.

But before he fell asleep he muttered, "Your parents would be proud."

Finally in the afternoon Ned returned looking well rested but empty handed. Before Jamie could question him ned informed him a dress had been found and already delivered to Daniea at the Inn. The panic quickly subsiding within Jamie and continued to lower as Rupert reined in his horse, handing over the ring he had requested.

Lastly, it was Dougal and Willie to return. It took a few churches and different methods of persuasion but they finally found a church and priest to perform the ceremony the following morning. So the only thing left to do was mentally prepare for the day to come and all it had in store.

Daniea stayed away from the ale in the Inn as much as possible because she knew getting drunk was not the answer, so instead she prayed to her family that had passed away for their protection, then finally drifting off into a sound sleep; the exhaustion of all the weeks travels finally catching up to her. Meanwhile Jamie was receiving supposedly sage advice from his elders and cousins about the wedding night and how to keep a wife. Most of which he took with a grain of salt and a wee drink of whiskey.

The sunrise seemed to appear slowly for Jamie that day, as if in slow motion the colors blossomed over the horizon and the dew began to glitter in the newborn daybreak. He took his time down by the river, making every effort to look his very best for his bride. When he arrived at the church he made his way into the side room to dress in his new Fraser kilt and dress clothes. Along with proudly displaying his clan's pin along the lining of his black coat.

For over an hour he stared into the candlelight twirling her wedding band between his callused fingers.

Murtagh was the first one awake before dawn that day, while Jamie was getting ready at camp, he rode into town to escort Daniea to the church and if need be help her in any way possible. When he arrived, she was already in her dress and was slowly pinning up some of her hair. Curls cascaded in dark waves down her back while two bands of silver, laid across her forehead, crowned her head.

Murtagh couldn't help but smile as he witnessed her, Daniea was his chance of fathering a daughter, if only for a short while. Slowly he withdrew something from his sporran as he approached her. A thistle and a clover appeared in his palm.

"You are of both my dearest, so you shall have both on this day."

A teary smile emerged on her face as he gently tucked them into a silver comb within her hair. He then leaned down and kissed her cheek gently as that of a proud father, before escorting her to the woodland church.

The color bursts were high in the sky as the frosty morning air was beginning to warm. Down within the church awaited Jamie, unsure that she would even go through with the arrangement. What seemed like eternity later, Daniea and Murtagh arrived. Dismounting her horse she wasn't quite ready to remove her heavy cloak.

"Lad, she's here." Dougal announced into the depths of the candle lit church.

Jamie closed his eyes, drawing in one last deep breath before he slowly made his way up the stairs and into the sunlight.

Immediately his eyes landed on his cloaked bride to be. Slowly he approached her, nerves coursing through his body. Murtagh decided it was time and carefully lowered her hood and removed her cloak. Jamie stopped in his tracks as he saw her. The magnificent white and grey dress sparkled in the light, hugging every curve of her porcelain body. Her bare shoulders began to quiver slightly as he looked on, she truly was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.

Her eyes also couldn't help but wander over his handsome attire but her emotions couldn't be contained, so she lowered her eyes to the ground until she felt a gentle touch upon her chin lifting her face to him. Jamie tenderly brushed her cheek before withdrawing a string of pearls from his sporran. Dougal quickly glanced over to Murtagh, unbelieving of what was going on in front of them.

"These were my mother's," He told her, his voice deep and quiet as he slowly fastened them around her bare neck. "She wished me to give them to my bride on our wedding day."

Daniea smiled slightly, caressing the scotch pearls now draped around her neck.

"Their beautiful." Was all she said, before Dougal interrupted motioning them into the church.

Daniea had one more moment alone with Murtagh before meeting Jamie at the altar. As if he could read her mind he reminded her once more than everything was going to be ok and try and enjoy the day. She nodded, gathered her flowers from her saddle pack and allowed Murtagh and Dougal to walk her down the aisle into the candlelit abyss of the church.

Both gentlemen kissed her on the cheek then Dougal handed her over to Jamie. The priest's words seemed to be in a far off distance as Daniea stared into Jamie's eyes. It wasn't until he spoke that she snapped out of her trance and realized where she was once more.

"I James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser take thee Daniea Jane Branna Douglas to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, fer better, fer worse, fer richer, fer poorer, in sickness and in health till death us do part." He spoke melodic and deep, never stumbling over the oath.

The priest then looked to Daniea, who without thinking grasped Jamie's hand tighter than ever.

"I…. Daniea… Jane… Branna Douglas, take thee James Alexander….. Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser to be my wedded… husband." As she spoke each word, her voice became quieter and quieter, yet she forced herself to continue. " To have and to hold from this day forward, fer better, fer worse, fer richer, fer poorer, in sickness and in health till….. Death...us do part."

Jamie couldn't help but smile coyly as he handed over the ring to the priest. Moments passed as latin was spoken over the ring to bless it, an agonizing wait for Daniea. With the last words of the prayer, Jamie tentatively slide the ring onto Daniea's finger, before taking her hands once more.

It was then Dougal made his way toward the couple, dagger in hand. Carefully he slit each of their wrists before tying them together with a cord for the handfasting ceremony. With this act she knew it was forever for handfasting was the old way of their people. She knew what was to be done, and for the first time all day her voice was steady, ringing out in beautiful gaelic as they spoke their blood vows to one another.

" You are blood of my blood, and bone of my bone. I give you my body that we two may be one. I give you my spirit, 'til our life shall be done. You are blood of my blood, and bone of my bone."

Her heart raced as they had finished reciting the old Pagan vow.

"You may now kiss your bride." The priest cheered. Everyone held their breath unsure of what would occur but as Jamie leaned down, Daniea met his lips with more ferocity than both had expected. With each passing second she continued to take his breath away. A moment he had so longed for finally had been obtained and he was quickly drowning in her touch.

Finally she withdrew and dared not look at him or speak as he escorted her out of the church and into the sunlight. The easy part was now over, but the wedding night now loomed over like a storm threatening to destroy her.