The Lady of the Lake
I continued me story where I had left off the night before...
'Once again the next evenin' Beannaithe went into her grandfather's garden with the thought of dancin' in the Fairy Ring. The sky were cloudy, no moonlight could be seen, and Beannaithe could not find the Fairy Ring. Disappointed, she returned to her bed.
In a dream, however, she heard Áine's voice say, "To the Lake of Twilight you must go. There you will find the Lady of the Lake."
"But where is it?" Beannaithe thought. "And how shall I get there?"
No answer were forthcomin'.
Over the next few days the weather became severe in the mountain vale. There were winds and rain. The thunder were so loud that it shook the ground. Great bolts of lightnin' filled the sky. The villagers were greatly afeared. "The end of the world is upon us'!" some thought, but it were not so. It were just a storm, a strong one perhaps, but a storm nonetheless.
When the storm cleared the moon could again be seen high in the sky at night. The Fairy Ring reappeared. When Beannaithe danced in it she found herself transported to an ancient land with many ruins scattered throughout.
In the center of this ancient land were a vast lake. On the shore Beannaithe found a small boat. When Beannaithe sat in the boat it began to move, takin' her to the far end of the lake. There she spied the openin' to a cave.
"This must be where I'm to go," she thought. She climbed out of the boat, waded though a shallow pool then entered the cave.
This were no mere cave: it were a grotto. It were green and teemin' with life. So deep were the grotto that Beannaithe walked several minutes before she finally found its end.
There Beannaithe found a strange woman. Blue she were, and stern of countenance. Her dress seemed as it were covered in fishes' scales. It were beautiful, Beannaithe thought, though quite peculiar. The strange woman said nothin'. Beannaithe felt very uneasy in her presence. Then she recalled hearin' the tall river-maiden in the Hall of the Huntsman say, "Remember your courtesy". Beannaithe politely curtsied to the strange woman in the cave. It seemed to be the thing to do.
"I am known by many names," the strange woman said, "but to the Little Folk of the Mountain Vale I am known as Bean an Tí na Locha ('The Lady of the Lake'). Who sent you to me?"
Beannaithe merely stared at the strange woman, not knowing how to answer her.
"You cannot speak, this I understand. Merely think of what it is you wish to say and I will hear you."
"The Huntsman sent me to you," Beannaithe answered in thought.
"The Huntsman? Is that what he calls himself now? He, too, is known by many names. Your folk may know him as Fer Benn, the Horned Man," explained the strange woman. "Were not his antlers magnificent?"
Beannaithe nodded.
Seemin' from nowhere the woman drew forth a long sword. It shone with a light that nearly blinded wee Beannaithe. "This blade I hold is called Claíomh Solais, the Sword of Light. It was the sword of Nuada Airgetlám, Nuada of the Silver Hand. Do you know of him?"
Beannaithe shook her head.
"That is a pity," the strange woman answered. "His story is an interesting one, but very long. We have not the time for me to tell it to you now, but perhaps one day you shall learn of him from another."
The woman looked Beannaithe over, slowly noddin' her head as if answerin' her own question.
"Claíomh Solais was Nuada's longsword, but to one of your stature it shall be as a great sword. It will require you to use both hands to wield it. Will you be able to do that?"
Beannaithe nodded her head. She had seen Dwarves wield great axes with two hands. "How much different could it be with a sword?" she thought to herself.
"This sword I now place into your hands. When you have fulfilled your destiny, you must return it to the waters of the Lake of Twilight. I shall receive it.
Do you understand?"
Confused though she were, Beannaithe agreed to do as the strange woman instructed. Beannaithe received the sword with both hands. The sword gleamed with a great light as she gripped its hilt. It were surprisin'ly lightweight for its size.
Suddenly Beannaithe found herself back in her room in Lyndelby. "I must douse this light!" she thought. Quickly and quietly Beannaithe found a spare blanket to wrap the sword in, then placed it under her bed hopin' that none would find it.'
Beannaithe yawned, then climbed into her bed. She were quite content now that the mystery surroundin' her were comin' into focus. She slept 'til the sun were high in the sky.'
'The poor thing must've been knackered somethin' fierce to sleep so long!' observed Darowva.
'I've never been allowed to sleep so late,' said a frownin' Dooli.
'And you never shall!' said his mother Ériu with a laugh.
'Aw!' he replied.
'Off to bed with ye!' I said to me grandkids.
Like sheep, with the guidance of their mothers as shepherdesses, me grandkids silently meandered off to their beds.
