The Legends (6 page)

The gathering responded with an appreciative sigh of relief. Cathbad raised his hand and once more the room again fell into silence as he continued.

“Perhaps that is enough. Perhaps one should be satisfied in knowing that these young children will be blessed with extraordinary powers, but what of their destinies? It is here that my sight grows confusing. I do not see blue sky and green grass rather I see black skies and a grey firmament. I do not see horses, swords and chariots but strange beasts that whine and rumble. I do not see mountains and fields and forests but peculiar man-made structures of every size and configuration, rising into the sky. I do not recognize this place and I do not recognize anyone who occupies this place where I have no doubt that young Ferdia and, perhaps Fergus as well will be crowned in glory.”

The room fell silent as everyone considered what had been said. Finally an elderly druid spoke, “My friend, Cathbad, is there anything in your vision that you do recognize which might help to clarify the vision?”

Cathbad replied, “In truth, I do see a hurley and ball but I see them in the hands of a young man, perhaps Ferdia or Fergus, so I do not know whether they will become part of one or both of their legends. Perhaps they are mere reminders of the twin’s legacy.”

The other druid then asked, “You have said that you don’t see anyone you recognize. Do you see any other druids with whom we might communicate?”

“No,” Cathbad responded, “I see no druids or any other person with whom I might even consider communicating. The people in my vision are strangers with strange dress, strange manners and a strange language. I have never heard or seen the likes of them and as you would well know, I have seen many things in my life.”

The room again fell silent as everyone thought about the answer. After a time, a young druidess timidly rose to speak. “I am sorry if what I have to say may seem silly as I have only recently completed my training, however as I have been invited here, perhaps I might say something.”

“Of course,” Cathbad replied with a smile.

“It seems to me,” the young woman said, “that Fergus and Ferdia are to become great champions however perhaps they will achieve their destiny in a land that is far away from Ireland.”

“You have spoken wisely,” Cathbad responded. “I too have considered the possibility of another land. Perhaps all of the strange things I have seen are not to be taken literally but only represent a culture and society that is totally alien to our own. On the other hand, there are many ways to reflect a foreign land but this vision was so strange and unbelievable that I questioned the possibility that their destinies lay in another land. After all, despite my travels and meetings with people from all over the world, I have never met anyone who has described a land that remotely resembles the land and people of my vision. Despite this, you may well be correct, but that is what is entirely unclear to me.”

Prompted by the reception received for the young druidess’ suggestion another druid rose to speak. “Father Cathbad, perhaps rather than another land, the twin’s destinies are to found in another world. Perhaps there is a world that none of us have ever seen that has been shown to you in your vision.”

Cathbad pondered the young man’s observation, “Once again, thank you for your comment. I will not say you are wrong, because I do not know. I too have considered the possibility of another world. We know that Cúchulainn was conceived in the land of our ancestors the Tuatha Dé Danann far below the earth. The boys’ grandfather is Lugh of the Long Hand, so called because he was a great king whose hand was always extended to help his people. It was Lugh who took his people into a kingdom beneath the earth when the Milesians overcame them many decades ago. It does follow that the sky beneath the earth is black, the firmament grey and perhaps the Tuatha Dé Danann still enjoy hurling. All of that might suggest that the destiny of this child is to be found in Tuatha Dé Danann or some similar world about which we know nothing.”

“However, although none of us have seen this world, legends do not suggest that there is anything strange or peculiar about these people, at least not to the extent of those I have seen in my vision. After all, the people of Dana were once like us and there are those among us, including these children, who are direct descendants of these people. What you say, however, is not without merit and once again, I must admit that I just do not know.”

Over the next several hours many of those gathered rose to offer their opinions and suggestions, all of which were respectfully received by Cathbad and the other wise people gathered in the hall. It was nearly dawn when Morann, the chief judge rose from his seat and announced, “We have spent the night discussing Cathbad’s vision and we are no nearer to an answer than we were when we began this discussion. Perhaps Cathbad might suggest some course of action to test these theories. It has taken great courage for Cathbad to state that his vision is not clear and each of you has assisted in whatever manner you thought appropriate. Surely neither Cathbad nor any of us can be faulted if, after all of this, the wrong course of action is chosen.”

“As befits your station Morann, you have spoken wisely,” Cathbad responded. “We should all retire and consider what has been said. I will also retire and in the morning I will once again seek the wisdom of the universe. When we reconvene in the evening, I will announce the course I intend to take and unless all of you believe it to be improper, I will proceed.”

The plan met with general agreement and everyone retired for the remainder of the night. There was no sleep for Cathbad, however, and he knew the decision he must make would be the most difficult of his long and distinguished career.

The great druid walked silently into the nursery where Fergus and Ferdia lay together in a double crib and looked in on his great-grandsons. Mairéad, who had apparently not delayed in travelling to Emain Macha and asserting her position as the primary guardian of the children, rose and greeted him.

“Thank you for your diligence, old sister, Cathbad said.

Mairéad bowed her head and replied, “It is not only my destiny but also my privilege. The children are well.”

The little fellows were indeed sleeping peacefully and Cathbad uttered a silent prayer that whatever decision he made would be correct. Most of all, however, he prayed that his decision would not harm the only surviving sons of the great Cúchulainn. Just as he was about to leave, Cathbad took one last look at the boys who chose that moment to simultaneously open their big blue eyes. Fergus and Ferdia looked up at the old man and both smiled.

Maeve’s company of champions rode steadily to the east for two days arriving in the present day County Louth just as the sun was setting. They knew well that their every move was being tracked by scouts sent out by nobles loyal to King Conchubar. On the other hand, because they were travelling in what was effectively a “no-man’s land” near the border between Ulster and Leinster their presence was unlikely raise any great alarm. Although twenty champions was a significant force, it was hardly an army. As such, it required monitoring but would not be considered a threat, unless it took some aggressive action. Fineen, who led the detachment, realized that questions were being asked about his presence but he knew that if his command moved slowly and purposefully, he would be less likely to be challenged. After all cattle raiders would not bypass prosperous farms in the Boyne Valley, which were much closer to Connaught. Lacking any distinctively aggressive purpose, Fineen’s force would be seen only as travelers from Connaught to an ally in either Leinster or Munster.

After setting up camp within sight of the Boyne, Fineen sent his own scouts out to talk to the local people and, hopefully discover the whereabouts of his prey. As it happened, he had little difficulty in discovering that Cathbad had taken Cúchulainn’s sons to Emain Macha. After all, the events of the last several days were on the lips of the many travelers who were returning from the funeral for the great hero and his wife and they saw little danger in sharing the gossip with anyone else they might encounter.

Fineen considered this intelligence in trying to decide on his next move. While it might have been safe enough for Fineen to travel toward Dundalk, a turn north in the direction of Emain Macha would arguably be seen as hostile and would create difficulties for his relatively small force. After all, Emain Macha was well fortified and the arrival of Maeve’s champions would certainly be met with a show of force, particularly in light of Cúchulainn’s death at her hand.

Rather than make a wrong move and risking not only the wrath of his queen, but also quite possibly his head, Fineen sent a mounted messenger back to Cruachan to seek specific orders from Queen Maeve. The following morning he moved a bit further south and away from Ulster and set up his camp while awaiting her response.

When Maeve heard the messenger’s report the following day, she was not particularly surprised. The infant sons of any dead hero, and undoubtedly the sons of a famous Red Branch Knight would hardly be left in a residential dwelling without a champion to protect it. The most likely destination for such infants would obviously be the stronghold of Ulster’s King especially since Cúchulainn was Conchubar’s nephew. In sending Fineen and his men out, Maeve hoped to move against a soft target like Dundalk if Conchubar was slow in relocating the children. Even if the twins were no longer there, they might have been able to intercept the children as they travelled to Emain Macha. Since the boys had been moved quickly there was little her champions could have done about it and even she could find no fault in their actions.

Resigned as she was to the message she actually received, Maeve spared the messenger, even though he bore bad tidings and Maeve deplored bad tidings. She had far more important things to consider, the first of which was some other way to kidnap Cúchulainn’s whelps. A lesser woman, or one not so driven by revenge, would probably have conceded that the twins were beyond her reach. A lesser woman would have bided her time until an opportunity presented itself to either capture or kill the children. Maeve, however, was not such a woman so she considered the various possibilities.

An attack on Emain Macha was totally out of the question. Even if she were to make it through miles of hostile territory to the gate of the fortress, Conchubar’s stronghold was heavily fortified. Quite apart from that, her forces were still weakened from their previous battles with Ulster and it was unlikely that her allies in Leinster and Munster would respond favorably to another campaign.

Maeve ultimately decided that if she were to succeed in her goal of capturing the infants, it would have to be by trickery or deceit. Now that was certainly not something that was difficult for her to contemplate. Before even planning an operation, Maeve knew that she needed better intelligence and so she sent her spies into Conchubar’s stronghold at Emain Macha. At the same time, she sent a messenger to Fineen instructing him to remain encamped within striking distance of Emain Macha and await further instructions. Maeve reasoned that if she was, somehow, able to spirit the babies out of Conchubar’s fortress, perhaps by simply snatching the infants when no one was looking, her force of champions could escort the children back to Connaught.

Cathbad spent the night and much of the day in the sacred oak grove sleeping, meditating and seeking wisdom from the spirits. Late in the afternoon the great druid slowly rose and raising his eyes toward the tops of the towering trees, he expressed his gratitude for their indulgence. Head down with hands locked behind his back, Cathbad slowly returned to Emain Macha. He knew exactly what he would say and do.

When Cathbad entered the great hall it seemed that nothing had changed from the previous evening. Conchubar’s entire court was gathered and everyone returned to nearly the same spot they had occupied twenty four hours earlier. An even greater crowd gathered outside because the word quickly spread that Cathbad was going to announce his decision. Soon after Cathbad took his place near Conchubar’s chair, the king arrived, shuffling slowly from his resting place at the back of the great round house.

When everyone settled, Morann raised his hand for silence. As chief judge he would preside over the meeting and he began by summarizing what had occurred. “As our noble king has stated, the time has come to make a decision, whether it be right or wrong. We have discussed the vision revealed to Cathbad and we have agreed that these infants’ destiny does not lie in the world, as we know it. I have the greatest faith and confidence in my brother Cathbad. No one has served our people so long and so well, without any thought of personal favor or gain. I think it a measure of Cathbad’s greatness that he came before us to seek clarity rather than making a pronouncement about which he was not completely confident. Our extended discussions of Cathbad’s vision have not eliminated any possibility so all we now know is that Fergus and Ferdia’s destinies, great though they may be, may not unfold before us.”

Most of those gathered, nodded their heads agreeing with the summary.

Morann continued, “Cathbad has now consulted with the spirits, meditated on the problem and he has considered an appropriate course of action. I now call upon Cathbad to impart to us his wisdom and counsel.”

Rising stiffly from his chair Cathbad looked over the assembly and stroked his beard nodding toward the chief judge before beginning, “Thank you my friend for your kind words. I trust that you will understand not only what I believe to be the appropriate course, but the reason I think it proper.”

“First, I believe there are two possible courses of action. The first is to do nothing but allow the children to grow and develop hoping that their destinies will become clearer in time. Unfortunately, since neither Conchubar nor I will be alive to provide guidance we must rely on others to rear the children and, perhaps more importantly, protect them from any revenge Maeve might chose to extract. If I were to choose this course, the lives of these infants would be at risk for at least as long as they are unable to protect themselves. Maeve will doubtlessly consider that the day will come when Cúchulainn’s sons will be a threat to her life. She might well decide to terminate the potential threat before it becomes real. Remember, Maeve with her black magic, turned the head of Cúchulainn’s best friend, Ferdia, and she is also responsible for the death of Cúchulainn himself. She presents a formidable threat to the young boys’ lives, even if they could rely on the protection of Conchubar or me.”