I would have been happy with the simplest of weddings: just Ciarán to say the words, Cathal by my side and my family looking on. My sisters, however, saw the two-day preparation period as a challenge. Deirdre and Muirrin worked from dawn until dusk to make me a wedding dress in soft blue wool, its sleeves and hem decorated with bands of embroidery taken from a favorite old gown of Mother’s. Sibeal planned the ritual with Ciarán and Conor, adding her own personal touches. Eilis wove a garland of fresh flowers for me to wear on my hair. Even Coll made himself useful, running errands and generally keeping folk in a good temper. Knowing that Cathal and I would neither expect nor want a celebration of the same grandeur as Deirdre’s, Mother organized a special supper for the family, Johnny’s men and our household retainers. Everyone in turn would have time off guard duty or kitchen duty to share the meal, tell tales and sing songs. It was to be a joyous occasion; we would not let the impending parting shadow our happiness. I was sad that Maeve could not be with us. Father had used his link with Aunt Liadan to tell the family at Harrowfield our rather startling news, and my absent sister had sent her love. Still, it was not the same.

Before the ritual I sat with my father in the small council chamber while, upstairs, Mother fed the baby. It was hard to believe that tomorrow I would be gone; that it might be years before I saw my parents again. I would miss Finbar’s growing up. If Deirdre had children, I would be a stranger to them.

“Thank you for agreeing to this, Father,” I said. “It was a lot to ask, I know. I’m sorry I won’t be here to talk to you and to help Mother with everything.”

He nodded, saying nothing. There was a pensive look on his strong features.

“You’re a remarkable father and a remarkable chieftain,” I told him. “The treaty was a great achievement. Considering how worried you were about Finbar, the way you managed everything so calmly showed great strength. What about Eoin of Lough Gall? Anyone who can make that man smile and crack a joke must possess exceptional skills at the council table.”

“You still have faith in me, Clodagh. Yet I treated you so unfairly. I was cruel to you. I cannot forgive myself that.”