Elinor awoke the next morning to gentle knocking on the door to her and Fergus' chambers. She sleepily lifted her head and looked over to Fergus' side, which was absent and cold. The knocking continued and a voice called,

"Elinor?"

"Come in." Elinor rubbed her eyes and sat up as Lady Betha walked into the room, holding a breakfast tray. Elinor smiled meekly at her mother-in-law. "Fergus isn't here now."

"Oh, I know, dear. I saw him this morning at the crack of dawn out by the stables. Tis strange though, he wasn't much of a morning bird till lately."

Elinor tried to pretend that she didn't know the reason for Fergus's change of habit, but it worried in the back of her mind. Betha set the tray down in front of Elinor and sat on the edge of the bed.

"I thought I'd come and see how you are doing." she smiled slightly, and reached forward to pour the tea into two cups. "I remember when I was first married to Fergus's father, rest his soul. Though it was different for me, I was just moving from my father's house to the lord's house. Sugar, dear?"

"Ah, yes, please." Betha handed the cup to Elinor and took one for herself, delicately stirring the steaming tea.

"I think it was very brave of you." Elinor took a cautious sip.

"What was?"

"Joining a completely different clan by marrying my son."

"Well, I didn't have much of a choice in the matter." Elinor said, before thinking. She gasped and covered her mouth. "Lady Betha, I apologize, that was-"

"Truthful." Betha chuckled at Elinor's mortified expression. "You didn't have much of a choice in the marriage. Very few people do, especially of our station. But that doesn't make it any less brave. When I was first married, I was scared and nervous and worried all at once. There were so many new responsibilities and people looked at me differently. And being the wife of the future lord, I couldn't talk about any of it with my old friends. Am I getting close, dear?" Betha asked, with a twinkle in her eye. Elinor slowly nodded and held out the plate of sweet buns to Betha.

"A little too close. It's all so new and different."

"I think every newly married woman experiences this sort of thing. Some more than others. And in a way, I think it's a good thing."

Elinor looked up from the bun she had been picking at. "Good?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. Betha nodded.

"Because in all of this uncertainty, and all these changes and doubts and worries, there will always be one person you can rely on: Fergus."

Elinor looked away and shook her head. "I don't know..."

"Listen, I'm not just saying this because I'm his mother, though I am." Betha smiled. "You're husband and wife now, he's the one you're going to be spending your life with, not your parents, and not me, though I do enjoy our time together. Not even your children, when they come."

Elinor blushed a little at the mention of children. Betha continued,

"Fergus can be a little shy, he's not a man of many words outside of his closest friends."

Elinor looked down and softly said, "I guess we're sort of alike in that way."

Betha smiled. "Well, it's a place to start. I promise you, that Fergus will do everything in his power to make you happy and show you love. But you are married, and that's also your duty as well."

Elinor met Betha's gaze and nodded solemnly. Betha's words stuck with Elinor as she went about the rest of her day and they were still on her mind as she was in her chambers that night, combing out her hair. Fergus quietly opened the door and was surprised.

"Oh, ah…you're awake." He grimaced to himself. Elinor managed a smile towards him.

"I waited for you." She admitted. Fergus's red eyebrows raised, and she held out her comb. "Would you mind helping me again?"

He coughed and quickly nodded, dropping on the bed behind her. He took the comb and gently pulled it through.

"How was your day?" Elinor asked, Betha's words in mind. Fergus was a little slow to respond.

"Fine…" he began. "It was a busy one, though."

There was a paused, and Elinor racked her brain for conversations that she had overheard her parents have.

"Preparing for the growing season?"

"Yes, that and a witch came in today, claiming all sorts of mad things. Threw the whole clan into a frenzy."

Elinor froze. "What kind of things?"

Fergus rolled his eyes as he remembered the woman. "That disaster was soon upon us, and other nonsense."

Elinor jumped around, eyes wide with fear. "Fergus, what if she was right?"

"No, no, it's fine." He reached out and rested his hands on her shoulders. "She claims something like this more often than not, and besides, there's no such thing as magic."

"You don't believe in magic?" Elinor asked, her eyebrows raising. Fergus shook his head. "The Will of the Wisps? Nothing?"

"It's all fairy stories, good to frighten children in their beds. Not much use in real life."

"Oh, Fergus." Elinor slightly shook her head, Fergus's hands still on her shoulders. "Magic…magic is what makes the world wonderful."

Fergus paused for a minute, gazing at her, and said, "I think my world is still fairly wonderful without it."

Elinor slowly smiled and nodded.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note: And we're back! Sorry for the delay in posting, my parent's wi-fi filter had fanfiction blocked for some reason...but all is well now. Thanks for all the favorites and don't forget to review. I love hearing your thoughts, even if they're critical or incoherent.