United States or Austria ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
At length, when silence had fallen upon her grief, Grania arose, and ordered that five hundred men should go to the hill and bring to her the body of Dermat. Then turning to Finn she begged of him to leave with her Dermat's hound. And Finn would not. But a noble, hearing that Grania wished the hound took him from the hand of Finn and gave him to the Princess.
But no sooner was he slain than he again took his own shape, and Finn knew that Dermat was still alive in the quicken-tree. Then nine times did a man of Finn's army climb the tree, and nine times was he thrown to earth and killed by his own friends. For each time did Angus cause the warrior to take Dermat's shape.
But Dermat answered, 'Were we to flee, yet would Finn overtake us, and it were as ill to fall into his hands then as at this time, but neither he nor his men shall enter this hut without my leave. Still Grania feared greatly, but she spake no further, for in Dermat's eyes she read his gloom.
Yet again did Finn play against Oisin and his friends, and once more had Oisin to make but one move to win the game. Then did Dermat throw down a berry as before and it struck the right man. And Oisin moved the piece and won the game. A third time did Oisin, son of Finn, play against his father, and it fell as before, for once more he won with Dermat's aid.
And they called the hound and told him secretly what he should do. Bran listened with ears erect, and then, losing no time, he followed the track, nor did he miss it once until it brought him unto the hut. And going in he found Dermat and Grania asleep, and he thrust his head into Dermat's bosom.
But so deep was the wound in Dermat's side that when Finn came to him he found the hero near unto death. And Finn said, 'Now am I well content, for thine end hath come. 'Sure the words that thou speakest come not from thine heart, answered Dermat, 'for it is in thy power to heal me, and that thou knowest full well. 'How might I heal thee? asked Finn.
The fear she had felt in the night would not be stilled, and when at length Finn came in sight, leading by the chain Dermat's hound, she knew that she would not henceforth see Dermat alive. And when the truth had taken hold upon her, she fell in a swoon from the tower, and her handmaiden stood over her in great fear.
So Finn and his nobles left the hill, Finn leading Dermat's hound. But four of the nobles turned back and laid their mantles over the champion. Then they once more followed the King. Grania sat that day on the highest tower of Rath-Grania, watching for Dermat.
And he offered great reward to any man that would go up into the tree and bring to him the hero's head or force him to come down. One of Finn's men then spake: 'It was Dermat's father that slew my father, therefore will I go up into the tree. And he went up.
But the two chiefs were firm and would not be moved, for it were better to die in their quest than to return to the hilly slopes of Allen at enmity with Finn. So they left the palace, and journeyed without rest until they came to Dermat's hut by the clear well.
Word Of The Day