The Legends (5 page)

Although the residence was technically only one room, various cloth and animal hide drapes provided privacy for the many members of the king’s court who resided within the structure. One principal fire in the center of the building provided heat and kept the residence reasonably dry. The fire was vented through a small grid in the ceiling, but because of drafts from the sides of the structure the smoke did not always make its way out through the grid. The result was that when the weather was cold and damp, the building was filled with a smoky haze.

Smaller buildings, also round in shape with earthen walls, and poles supporting a thatched roof were scattered at the base of the hill inside the perimeter wall. These buildings provided the support services for the great hall as well as lodgings for many of those associated with the court. Included among the support buildings was a granary where wheat was ground into flour, a forge where weapons and farming utensils were fashioned and a kitchen where meals were prepared.

As Cathbad approached Emain Macha, he stopped on an adjacent hill and surveyed the king’s fortress for the best part of an hour. Then, satisfied that nothing was amiss at his destination, Cathbad showed himself at the main gate and was escorted with much ceremony, up the hill and into the great hall.

The residence of the king was dark and the smell of burning wood contrasted starkly with the sweet fresh air that the travelers had enjoyed. Although the sun shone brightly, it was still early spring and there was little warmth on the hills overlooking the Boyne. In contrast, the great hall was warm as the flames from the great fire in the middle of the room still leaped toward the vent above. Inside the great circular house was a beehive of activity as its residents and staff scurried around attending to their daily chores.

After pausing for a moment just inside the entrance so that he could become accustomed to the dark, Cathbad strode toward the back of the great round house where he knew his son would be seated, tending to his own responsibilities. As Cathbad walked around the great fire, Conchubar Mac Nessa, the high king of Ulster, himself an old man, rose and greeted his father, the great druid.

Conchubar had once been tall and strong as befits one of the greatest kings of pre-Celtic Ireland. He had been successful in many battles and defended the people of Ulster against invasions in time of war and led them to prosperity in times of peace. Conchubar had ruled his kingdom for many, many years but now he was growing old and tired. Age had not only shrunk the once great warrior but he was also so badly bent forward that the beard and moustaches flowing from his broad chin, no longer touched his chest. In addition, his body was often wracked with coughing spells and there was no question but that the end of his mortal life was nearly at hand. Despite that, Conchubar maintained a remarkable good sense of humor since, like all of his people, he had no fear of death. He knew his soul would continue on its journey after his body passed from the earth.

Noting the bundles against the older man’s chest Conchubar said with a smile, “Are you putting on a few pounds there, Father?”

“I’m afraid it is you that will be putting on a few pounds,” Cathbad replied as he produced young Fergus and Ferdia.”

“And who might these little fellows be?” Conchubar inquired pushing the children’s gowns down so he could have a better look at their faces.

Cathbad replied, “These are your grandnephews, Fergus and Ferdia, sons of Cúchulainn and Emer and grandsons of your sister Dechtire. It seemed the prudent choice to take them from Dundalk and deliver them into your protection.”

“Indeed,” the king replied taking one child and looking down he was captivated for a moment by Ferdia’s strangely intense blue eyes. He then looked over at Fergus offered with extended arms by Cathbad and stared into an identical pair of eyes. “And I wasn’t aware of the existence of any child of my nephew except that young lad Connla who was killed at that unfortunate incident on the seaside.”

Cathbad looked at his son with a raised eyebrow. Although he said nothing he thought that “unfortunate” was an interesting choice of words considering it was Conchubar himself who ordered Cúchulainn, despite his champion’s objection, to kill the young man. It was only while Connla, a brave young warrior, was in the throes of death that Cúchulainn discovered his adversary was actually his son by Aoife a princess Cúchulainn had dallied with before marrying Emer. Cúchulainn was so completely distraught at the thought that he killed his only son, that it had taken Cathbad months to bring him out of his depression.

Rather than reminding the king about the details of that unfortunate incident, Cathbad replied. “It seems that Emer eventually bore Cúchulainn not one but two sons that they always dreamed of but when she died rather than living without her husband, these young lads were left orphans. Since Conall has avenged Cúchulainn by killing Maeve’s son there is a very real concern that she will want to avenge her son and these little fellows are likely targets. That is the reason I decided to deliver them to your protection.”

Conchubar again examined the child. “I see,” he replied, “but considering my age and state of health, I’m not sure how long or how well I can protect the children. What happens if I can no longer undertake the children’s protection?” As if to emphasize his state of health, the old king was suddenly wracked by a long fit of coughing.

“A fair question,” Cathbad responded, “but one for which there is no simple answer. I suggest that we discuss the matter further when I have had an opportunity to rest and reflect on what I have seen. Perhaps then the best interests of these children will become clear.”

Conchubar agreed and ordered that the elderly women who lived under the king’s protection and were responsible for taking care of infants and small children should be called. After identifying the twins and explaining the importance of their protection, the little fellows were passed into the delighted hands of a group of the women who took turns examining and cuddling the sons of the great Cúchulainn. They were visibly impressed with what they saw and began marveling at the intelligence of their expressions and their muscular constitution. Amidst the oooing and ahhhing over the babies the two men exchanged mock expressions of exasperation, although they were pleased that the women, who had tended so many infants, were so obviously taken with their most recent charges. And then first Ferdia and then Fergus smiled, winning the hearts of the women as well as their approval, and another chorus of ahhhs rose to the rafters.

Some hours later Cathbad, feeling rested and refreshed, left the fortress and wandered into a sacred oak grove not far from Emain Macha. Such groves were the natural cathedrals in which the great druids communed with nature gaining the strength and insight that would enable them to instruct and guide their people. There, in the quiet and solitude of the forest, Cathbad sat on a large rock, closed his eyes and seemed to enter into a trance. For several hours he sat without moving and if anyone had happened across the druid in this state, they might have assumed that his spirit had left his body.

It was nearly dark when Cathbad finally opened his eyes. Slowly he turned his head to the right and left, stretched his arms, and pushed himself to his feet. The combination of the bone-jarring ride and the extended period of motionless meditation left the old man stiff and sore. As he moved awkwardly through the forest he muttered to himself, “I am getting entirely too old for this nonsense.”

His mind refreshed by his solitude, Cathbad returned to the hill fortress to meet with the king and his advisors. After Cathbad announced his intention, runners were sent out to gather as many nobles as were available on such short notice. When the meeting convened a short time later in the great hall, nearly all of the wise men and women of Conchubar’s court, including Sencha, his chief advisor, Amerigan the poet and Morann the chief judge, were present. Also included were several champions, Red Branch Knights, pledged to protect Emain Macha and Ulster, an assortment of druids and druids in training as well as older people who were valued for their wisdom. Many other subjects who had not been invited to the conference gathered outside in the courtyard waiting whatever proclamations might come from the meeting. When everyone took their place Cathbad made his appearance to the greetings of all present.

Conchubar opened the proceedings by stating, “I have gathered you here this evening to discuss a matter of grave importance. As you know, our greatest champion, my sister’s son Cúchulainn has been treacherously slain and his wife, Emer, has died of a broken heart. While we mourn these tragic losses, the life cycle continues as Emer has given us Cúchulainn’s sons, Fergus and Ferdia, who are now orphans.”

The king paused, coughed into a cloth that he held in his left hand and took a drink from a goblet at his side. Meanwhile the murmuring among those gathered announced that the presence of an heir to the great Cúchulainn was still very much a surprise to many of the advisors. After a few seconds, Conchubar took a deep breath and continued. “Under normal circumstances there would be no question as to the fosterage of such children. I fostered these boys’ father and hundreds of other young men who subsequently served Ulster with courage and dignity, the greatest of whom have become Red Branch Knights. I have little doubt that Cúchulainn’s children are destined for great things and there is nothing I would rather do than foster these children.”

When he again caught his breath, he spoke in a quiet voice, “Unfortunately, my time on this earth has almost run its course and I sincerely doubt that I will see the children’s second year, never mind their twentieth year. For some weeks now, I have heard the voices calling for me and while once they were distant echoes, each day the voices grow stronger and more impatient.”

Again he paused and this time shouts were heard from the back of the hall, “No… no… Conchubar will live a thousand years.”

The king raised his hand to quiet the group and then he continued, “I have no fear of the next life. I have lived a full life and I am tired. It is nearly time for me to go and none of you should begrudge me the right to die in peace and dignity. However, this conference is not about me or my impending death, rather it is about two lives, new lives, the lives of my grandnephews Fergus and Ferdia. I will not be here to see them become men but a decision must be made by those who might. I have invited all of you to listen to what Cathbad has to say, consider this matter carefully and give whatever counsel and advice you may consider important.”

With that, Conchubar slumped into his chair; quite clearly the old and tired man he professed himself to be. Taking yet another drink from the goblet, he turned to his father extending his hand to pass on the proceedings to the chief druid.

Cathbad acknowledged the gesture with a small bow and addressed the gathering. “Well my young son,” he began with a smile, “if you think you are old consider that I was old when you were born.”

The statement brought an uneasy laugh from the gathering and even Conchubar was forced to smile. “Perhaps,” he remarked, “if I had spent more time communing with nature and less time trying to avoid having my head lopped off, I would be left to face my later years in a bit healthier state.”

This brought a more robust laugh from those gathered who, in better times, had become accustomed to the exchange of witticisms between father and son.

Cathbad, himself leaned his head back and laughed heartily before he continued, “No truer words were ever spoken and I do know that neither of us are what we once were. I would never question that you have heard the voices because that is personal to every one of us. I too, have heard the voices for some years now but so far, they remain distant. I know that while I, and indeed all of us, am eternal in one respect, that eternity will not be experienced forever on the plain that we now share. The day will soon come when my soul will also leave my body and I will not be here to see my daughter’s grandsons reach the fullness of age.”

Cathbad continued, “My king, however, has spoken the truth when he said that we are not here to consider the end of one, or even two lives on earth. That is a matter for some future gathering. As for Cúchulainn’s sons, I have held Fergus and Ferdia in my hands and I have not only looked into their eyes but I have done everything in my power to discover their future destinies so that we might properly determine our present course. I will relate what I have seen and perhaps our combined wisdom will discern what it means.”

Cathbad paused for a moment and those present held their breath awaiting the next words.

“I am sorry to say,” the druid began, “that only parts of my vision are clear and even some of those visions defy my attempts at interpretation. I present them at this gathering in the hope that together we can determine the appropriate path.”

Those gathered in the room looked at each other in amazement. This was certainly a departure from what they had come to expect from their chief druid. In all the years he had counseled them, his words were spoken with confidence and they never doubted the wisdom, or indeed truth of his predictions or advice. In fact, much of the younger druids’ and druidess’ knowledge had been acquired at Cathbad’s knee because he was the teacher as well as the practitioner. Now, for the only time in any of their memories, Cathbad was admitting before the entire assembly, that his vision was unclear. Perhaps he was getting old and nearing the end of his life on earth, but in deference to all that he meant to them, those present listened carefully hoping that they would have the right vision that, surprisingly, their teacher could not see.

Cathbad understood the confusion his revelation caused but he also knew that to assert a course about which he was not certain would not be honorable and might even result in the death of Fergus and Ferdia. It was better that the gathering thought him less a druid than he bring dishonor to himself or his profession after so many decades of seeking the truth.

Raising his hand for silence, Cathbad surveyed the gathering for a moment and then began. “First and most importantly, let there be no doubt but that I have seen greatness in the eyes of our youngest champions Fergus and Ferdia sons of Cúchulainn. They will live the lives of champions as befits their blood lineage and in the fullness of time, like their great father before them, Fergus and Ferdia will acquire a status, legendary among men and among all the generations that follow. These things I see as clearly as any vision the gift of sight has ever bestowed upon me.”