Read Online The Legends by Robert E. Connolly - Free Book Online
Authors: Robert E. Connolly
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then be revealed in the fullness of time.”
Most of those gathered agreed that Cathbad’s decision was proper, but Mairéad asserting her role as the boys’ protectress, asked in a loud, clear voice, “How do you propose to offer these children to Lugh? If, as you say, Lugh is not interested, I would hope that you will return with a happy and healthy Fergus and Ferdia.”
Cathbad smiled, “Ah old sister, do you take me for a barbarian? There will be no bloodletting and no harm will come to the children. The choice will be left to the Tuatha de Danann. We have all heard stories of people who were invited into the fairy forts and no physical harm is involved in the process. So it will be with Fergus and Ferdia. They will be presented at the fairy fort and if an invitation is not forthcoming, they will be returned to Emain Macha in the fullness of their health.”
“I knew a fellow,” a very old man who was prone to storytelling began – to the groans of many present – “who was invited into a fairy fort. He spent one entire night dancing and singing and drinking the finest mead, and when the morning came he awoke with a ferocious headache, lying in the grass outside the fairy fort.”
A number of those gathered had undoubtedly heard the story on any number of occasions, but out of respect for his age, the old fellow was allowed to continue. “Most peculiar thing though, when he went home to his wife he found that she had been dead for nearly fifty years, so she was. And, the wee children he knew before he went into the fairy fort were now old people. So it seemed that one night with the Tuatha Dé Danann was like many, many years on this earth. Sure didn’t I meet the man himself some years back? What do you make of that?”
Cathbad responded with a tolerant smile. “Well spoken my friend. I know we are offering Fergus and Ferdia to a world that is so strange we cannot understand even how time passes. But it is also a strange world in which I have seen the boys’ future so we must take whatever steps are necessary to allow them to fulfill their destinies, even if they are to be found in so strange a world. And one thing further, if Lugh of the Long Hand offers his hospitality, the children will be beyond the reach of Maeve and her revenge.”
For several minutes after Cathbad concluded his remarks, those present spoke among themselves. Cathbad stood looking around the gathering waiting to see if anyone had further questions or comments but it appeared that most of the conversations affirmed the wisdom of his decision. After several minutes Cathbad nodded toward Morann. The chief judge leaned over and spoke quietly to Conchubar who inclined his head to more clearly hear what Morann had to say. After some minutes of contemplation, the king rose from his chair and the entire room was immediately silenced.
Conchubar looked around and spoke simply, “So be it.” With that, he left the hall.
The word of Cathbad’s decision to offer the children to their grandfather, Lugh of the Long Hand, quickly passed from the great hall into the courtyard and it soon became the principal subject of conversation throughout the countryside. When Maeve’s spies arrived a few days later they had no difficulty discovering what had been decided. They knew that Maeve would be delighted to hear that the children would be taken from the security of the stronghold. Unfortunately, they would also have to report that no one, even Cathbad himself, knew when the infants would be moved. That, they knew well, would infuriate their queen. They would also have to report that the chance of snatching the children would be remote at best because of all the attention the infants were attracting as they awaited their journey. After some discussion the two men drew lots to determine who would return to Cruachan with the potentially fatal news while the other waited for further developments. As soon as the sun rose, the unfortunate spy headed
Most of those gathered agreed that Cathbad’s decision was proper, but Mairéad asserting her role as the boys’ protectress, asked in a loud, clear voice, “How do you propose to offer these children to Lugh? If, as you say, Lugh is not interested, I would hope that you will return with a happy and healthy Fergus and Ferdia.”
Cathbad smiled, “Ah old sister, do you take me for a barbarian? There will be no bloodletting and no harm will come to the children. The choice will be left to the Tuatha de Danann. We have all heard stories of people who were invited into the fairy forts and no physical harm is involved in the process. So it will be with Fergus and Ferdia. They will be presented at the fairy fort and if an invitation is not forthcoming, they will be returned to Emain Macha in the fullness of their health.”
“I knew a fellow,” a very old man who was prone to storytelling began – to the groans of many present – “who was invited into a fairy fort. He spent one entire night dancing and singing and drinking the finest mead, and when the morning came he awoke with a ferocious headache, lying in the grass outside the fairy fort.”
A number of those gathered had undoubtedly heard the story on any number of occasions, but out of respect for his age, the old fellow was allowed to continue. “Most peculiar thing though, when he went home to his wife he found that she had been dead for nearly fifty years, so she was. And, the wee children he knew before he went into the fairy fort were now old people. So it seemed that one night with the Tuatha Dé Danann was like many, many years on this earth. Sure didn’t I meet the man himself some years back? What do you make of that?”
Cathbad responded with a tolerant smile. “Well spoken my friend. I know we are offering Fergus and Ferdia to a world that is so strange we cannot understand even how time passes. But it is also a strange world in which I have seen the boys’ future so we must take whatever steps are necessary to allow them to fulfill their destinies, even if they are to be found in so strange a world. And one thing further, if Lugh of the Long Hand offers his hospitality, the children will be beyond the reach of Maeve and her revenge.”
For several minutes after Cathbad concluded his remarks, those present spoke among themselves. Cathbad stood looking around the gathering waiting to see if anyone had further questions or comments but it appeared that most of the conversations affirmed the wisdom of his decision. After several minutes Cathbad nodded toward Morann. The chief judge leaned over and spoke quietly to Conchubar who inclined his head to more clearly hear what Morann had to say. After some minutes of contemplation, the king rose from his chair and the entire room was immediately silenced.
Conchubar looked around and spoke simply, “So be it.” With that, he left the hall.
The word of Cathbad’s decision to offer the children to their grandfather, Lugh of the Long Hand, quickly passed from the great hall into the courtyard and it soon became the principal subject of conversation throughout the countryside. When Maeve’s spies arrived a few days later they had no difficulty discovering what had been decided. They knew that Maeve would be delighted to hear that the children would be taken from the security of the stronghold. Unfortunately, they would also have to report that no one, even Cathbad himself, knew when the infants would be moved. That, they knew well, would infuriate their queen. They would also have to report that the chance of snatching the children would be remote at best because of all the attention the infants were attracting as they awaited their journey. After some discussion the two men drew lots to determine who would return to Cruachan with the potentially fatal news while the other waited for further developments. As soon as the sun rose, the unfortunate spy headed
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