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Updated: May 9, 2025
Now as the men left Rath-Grania to bring home the body of Dermat, it was revealed to Angus of Bruga that the hero lay dead on the hill. And he at once set out on the wings of the wind and reached the sorrowful place ere Grania's messengers had come there. And they, when they came, found Angus mourning over the body of Dermat, and he asked them wherefore they were come.
And Dermat, when he saw his foster-father, greeted him gladly and told him of the solemn vow which the Princess Grania had laid upon him, and how she was his wedded wife. 'And now are we in sore strait, for Finn, whose will it was to marry Grania, hath pursued us and would fain take my life.
And so sure was his aim that it reached the witch through the leaf, and she fell to the ground dead. Then Dermat cut off her head and took it to Angus. Early on the morrow Angus rose and went where Finn was, and he asked him if he would make peace with Dermat. And Finn, because he had now lost his witch-nurse as well as many men, was glad to make peace in whatever way Dermat might choose.
And he took counsel of the nobles who had come hither with Finn, and there was not one but said, 'Even though death come of it, thou canst not depart from thy solemn vow. Then Dermat arose, and when he was armed he bade his companions a tearful farewell, for he knew they might see his face no more.
Again the noble spake: 'Now pledge I thee the word of a true warrior that, unless the skies fall upon me or the earth open and swallow me up, no harm shall come nigh Dermat, for under my care I take his body and his life. And looking up, the noble cried, 'O Dermat, I pledge thee my body and my life that no ill shall befall thee this day, therefore come down out of the tree.
And when Dermat heard the shouts he said to Grania, 'Well I know whose is the voice that shouteth, and full well I know that it cometh as a warning that Finn is nigh. Then great fear took hold of Grania, and she trembled, and again she said, 'Let us flee, for how shall we withstand the wrath of Finn?
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.
When a year had passed, it chanced one night that the distant yelping of a hound woke Dermat from his sleep, and Grania too awoke and in great fear said, 'Of a truth doth that sound forebode ill. Heed it not, but lie down on thy bed and rest. Dermat lay down, but ere long he again heard the hound's voice.
So they made ready, and it was agreed that they should use nought save their hands in the combat. And if Dermat were overcome then should his head be taken by the chiefs to Finn; if they were overpowered then should their heads be forfeit to Dermat. But the fight was short, for the chiefs were as children in the hands of the hero, and he bound them sore in bitter bonds.
And Grania, when she came to the quicken-tree, would not gather the fruit, for she said, 'I will eat no berries save those plucked by the hand of my husband. So Dermat plucked the berries, and Grania ate and was satisfied. Then the champion gave berries of the quicken-tree to the captive chiefs, saying, 'Take these to Finn and so win your peace. And this he said as though they were free men.
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