The Lone Lady
I continued me storytellin' to me grandkids about Beannaithe's journey across the the Land of the Five Streams...
'Beannaithe's adventure in Stone-land had thus far been uneventful. She felt, however, that it were about to change. She were correct.
At last the lass came to a ford in the River Erui, as the locals call it, Erui meanin' "Alone". Ye might assume that the Lone Lady took her name from the river what she protects, but that weren't true. The Lone Lady were called that because she had become separated from her sisters Roamingstar, Grey-eye, Silverfroth, and Truetongue. This separation were the cause of their concern. As it so happened, their concern were justified. The River Erui were "alone" because it were the only one that flowed directly into the Great River without any tributaries.
As Beannaithe came to the ford in the River Erui the sky grew dark. Beannaithe were immediately reminded of her encounter with Naruhel.
Long ago the Big Folk had built a beautiful fountain at the ford, but it were now old and partially in ruin. There had been a battle at this ford between those supportin' the rightful king of the Stone-land and those that supported the despotic usurper.
Beannaithe arrivin' at the ford wearin' armour and havin' a sword strapped across her back provoked The Lone Lady's memory of the events of long ago.
Much blood were spilt in the waters at the ford. It had been more than 1,600 years since the battle had occurred, but The Lone Lady had not forgotten it.
"No more blood shall be spilt in my waters!" The Lone Lady said. "Drown, Beannaithe, and trouble me no more!"(1)
Unlike Naruhel, The Lone Lady did not herself attack Beannaithe. Instead, she summoned gúla (wights) clad in the rusted armour of those who had supported the usurper. The gúla were no match for Beannaithe, not when she wielded Claíomh Solais.
Two gúla were summoned, and two were defeated. Two more were summoned, and again they fell. This occurred again and again. After each pair of were gúla were defeated one of Five Sisters appeared. First Roamingstar, then Grey-eye, then Silverfroth, and finally Truetongue. They summoned their powers to protect and heal Beannaithe, while also pleadin' with The Lone Lady to set aside her anger.
Exhausted, at last The Lonely Lady collapsed to the ground. She began to weep.
"As all our rivers converge, let us also reunite as one..." said Silverfroth.
"...and stand together against the evil in the East!" added Roamingstar.(2)
Brushin' away her tears, The Lone Lady turned to Beannaithe and said, "I am glad you urged my sisters to seek me, and thankful that they could pull me from the depths of my sorrow...You have done me a great favour, little one. I shall not trouble you again."(3)
'Were Beannaithe injured at all?' asked Diolun.
'Nay,' I told him. 'She were unharmed by the attacks of the gúla, terrifyin' as they might be.'
'And the relationship between the sisters were repaired?' asked Darowva.
'Aye, it were,' I answered her.
'Are ye all ready for bed?' Ériu.
'Nay!' me grandkids said with mischievous laughter.
'Well, your aintín (aunties) and I are, so you had best get ready right quick!' said Banba. Fódla merely laughed at her sisters' cleverness.
'All right, me wee darlin's, ye heard your mams. Away to your beds!' I said.
'Good night, Grandad,' they said to me.
'Oíche mhaith, me wee'uns!' I called after them as their mams gently guided them towards their beds.
This is the end of Part 5.
(1)(2)(3) Adapted from the dialogue of the quest instance Rage of the Erui.
