Gods and Fighting Men
Birth of Bran
This, now, is the story of the birth of Bran.
Finn's mother, Muirne, came one time to Almhuin, and she brought with her
Tuiren, her sister. And Iollan Eachtach, a chief man of the Fianna of Ulster,
was at Almhuin at the time, and he gave his love to Tuiren, and asked her in
marriage, and brought her to his own house. But before they went, Finn made him
gave his word be would bring her back safe and sound if ever he asked for her,
and he bade him find sureties for himself among the chief men of the Fianna. And
Iollan did that, and the sureties he got were Caoilte and Goll and Lugaidh Lamha,
and it was Lugaidh gave her into the hand of Iollan Eachtach.
But before Iollan made that marriage, he had a sweetheart of the Sidhe,
Uchtdealb of the Fair Breast; and there came great jealousy on her when she knew
he had taken a wife. And she took the appearance of Finn's woman-messenger, and
she came to the house where Tuiren was, and she said: "Finn sends health and
long life to you, queen, and he bids, you to make a great feast; and come with
me now," she said, "till I speak a few words with you, for there is hurry on
me."
So Tuiren went out with her, and when they were away from the house the woman
of the Sidhe took out her dark Druid rod from under her cloak and gave her a
blow of it that changed her into a hound, the most beautiful that was ever seen.
And then she went on, bringing the hound with her, to the house of Fergus
Fionnliath, king of the harbour of Gallimh. And it is the way Fergus was, he was
the most unfriendly man to dogs in the whole world, and he would not let one
stop in the same house with him. But it is what Uchtdealb said to him: "Finn
wishes you life and health, Fergus, and he says to you to take good care of his
hound till he comes himself; and mind her well," she said, "for she is with
young, and do not let her go hunting when her time is near, or Finn will be no
way thankful to you." "I wonder at that message," said Fergus, "for Finn
knows well there is not in the world a man has less liking for dogs than myself.
But for all that," he said, "I will not refuse Finn the first time he sent a
hound to me."
And when he brought the hound out to try her, she was the best he ever knew,
and she never saw the wild creature she would not run down; and Fergus took a
great liking for hounds from that out.
And when her time came near, they did not let her go hunting any more,
and she gave birth to two whelps.
And as to Finn, when he beard his mother's sister was not living with Iollan
Eachtach, he called to him for the fulfilment of the pledge that was given to
the Fianna. And Iollan asked time to go looking for Tuiren, and he gave his word
that if he did not find her, he would give himself up in satisfaction for her.
So they agreed to that, and Iollan went to the hill where Uchtdealb was, his
sweetheart of the Sidhe, and told her the way things were with him, and the
promise he had made to give himself up to the Fianna. "If that is so," said she,
"and if you will give me your pledge to keep me as your sweetheart to the end of
your life, I will free you from that danger." So Iollan gave her his promise,
and she went to the house of Fergus Fionnliath, and she brought Tuiren away and
put her own shape on her again, and gave her up to Finn. And Finn gave her to
Lugaidh Lamha that asked her in marriage.
And as to the two whelps, they stopped always with Finn, and the names he
gave them were Bran and Sceolan.

|
 |