Gnaw Eve
Once again I continued me tale of the adventures of the champion of the Aes Sídhe, Beannaithe, daughter of Aengus...
'You may recall that Beannaithe and the mysterious Ranger Captain defeated the Blackwatch.'
'Aye,' says Diolun, 'and we didn't know whether the Blackwatch were truly vanquished or were merely vanished.'
'That's correct,' I assured him. 'Once the deed were done,' I continued, 'the Ranger Captain looked at Beannaithe as if seeing her for the first time, so focused he'd been on defeatin' their foes.'
'What did he say?' asks Darowva.
'"Young miss, you are arrayed as an Elf," the Captain tells her, "and you fight with the ferocity of a Dwarf."
Beannaithe did smile to hear it.
"Yet you have the stature of a Halfling. Which of these are you?"
Beannaithe thought for a moment before answerin' with a shrug. She weren't entirely certain, but thought it likely she were not any one thing but perhaps a combination of the three: sired by one of the Fair Folk, given birth by a Hobad máthair (hobbit mother), and raised by a Dwarf.
"You do not know yourself? I find that not entirely surprising," the Ranger said with a chuckle. Beannaithe saw him smile for the first time since they'd met. "Let me accompany you back to our refuge where you may reclaim your steed."
Beannaithe curtsied, then, takin' the Ranger's hand, walked down the long red carpet towards the front door of the palace. Together they escaped the fortress and the grounds surroundin' it to return to the ranger refuge.
Once the lass were reunited with Mac, they rode together to their home in Lyndelby for yet another well-deserved respite. Their stay, however, were very brief indeed. The evenin' after their return Áine appeared to Beannaithe in a dream.
Beannaithe in thought asks Áine whether it would be easier to defeat Balor directly rather than those that merely serve him.
"It is not as simple as that," Áine replied. "Balor is very strong in himself, and has many that guard and protect him,"
"Why do they serve him? Are they themselves evil?" the lass inquires in thought.
"Men may serve him for a variety of reasons," Áine tells her. "Yes, some may be evil in themselves, or perhaps were innocent at first but were led into evil by those whom they trusted. Others may serve Balor unwillingly because if they do not those that they care for will be made to suffer and die."
"How do I avoid becomin' like one of those who fall into darkness?" Beannaithe asks.
"Stay true to yourself. Do what is right always. Most assuredly it will not always be easy, but the wise know that in the end they will be better for it," says Áine.
"Sufferin' in the short term for greater benefit in the long term?" asks the lass.
"Yes," Áine tells her.
"How do I know what is truth and what is false?" Beannaithe inquires.
"I confess that it is not always easy," answers Áine. "Evil may disguise itself as good in an effort to mislead those who are naïve or foolish."
'"Gnaw eve"?' asks Diolun. 'Is that other name for supper?' His siblin's and cousins laughed.
'A naïve person is one lackin' in knowledge and experience, and is too trustin' in those who are untruthful,' I tells him.
'Aine reflected on her charge. How young she were and full of hope. Innocent, yet day by day becomin' more wise in the ways of the world. Would Beannaithe remain true to her destiny? Did she have the fortitude to carry it through despite the pain, sufferin' and anguish? It remained to be seen, yet Áine was confident that in the end Beannaithe would prevail over the challenges she would face.
Beannaithe asks Áine about pursuin' goblins in the Dwarf halls of old beneath the Misty Mountains.
"No, child, the Dwarf mansions have become a dark and fearful place. Courage is one thing, but foolhardiness is another," Áine tells her. "In the depths of the mountain dwells a deamhan (demon) of great power. It has already slain two Dwarf kings, and many others beside. The task of defeating this terror is best left to another."
Beannaithe were surprised by this answer. "By another?" she asks herself. "Who could this hero be? Cú Chulainn? Or perhaps his father Lugh? Surely not Manannán mac Lir!"
Áine smiled to herself while observin' Beannaithe's ponderin'. "Do not concern yourself with that, child. Instead, set your mind on the task ahead."
"Where shall I go if not to the Dwarf halls?" asks Beannaithe.
"The Hill of Sorcery," Áine answered.
"But you said that I weren't ready to fight Balor," said Beannaithe.
"I did," said Áine, "yet you may weaken his defences. Come the morning you must gather your provisions and bid farewell to your family. The time has come for your next adventure."
"And after that?" asks Beannaithe.
"We shall see," Áine replies. "Your focus should be solely on your next task."
"As you wish," says Beannaithe.'
'And it is my wish that the lot of you go to your beds,' interjected me daughter Ériu.
'Aye, we've let this story go on too long as it is," added her sister Banba.
'I apologise for that, my daughters, but...' I began to say.
'Do not fret, dear Dadaí,' Fódla assures me. 'We, too, have been enjoyin' your story.'
'Thank you, m'inion (my daughter),' I says to her. 'Sleep well, me darlin's,' I says to them all.
'Good night, Granda,' me grandkids say.
