Emerald Magic_ Great Tales of Irish Fantasy - Andrew M. Greeley [116]
“Your Majesty,”a nswered Oisin, “I am honored to be welcomed with such ceremony. Greetings and salutations to you and your queen. I thank you with all my heart.”H e bowed courteously to the royal couple. Then Niamh placed her hand inside the crook of his elbow, and together they approached the royal house. All the aristocrats emerged to meet them, both lords and ladies.
Oisin and Niamh were married on that very day.When the nuptials had concluded, Manannán mac Lir led the newlyweds to the Great Hall of the palace. It was filled with hundreds of tables set with snowy linen and tableware of silver-gilt. Platters and dishes were sumptuously piled with sweetmeats of all descriptions.
“Herewith,”said the king of Tír na Nóg, indicating the hall with a wave of his hand, “in celebration of your arrival and wedding, a feast.”
The feasting and revelry continued through the length of ten days and ten nights, and afterward Oisin went to dwell with Niamh in their own palace.
THRICE THE SEASONS TURNED. Seasons did revolve in Tír na Nóg, because eternal sameness grows tedious eventually. Yet, temperate and sunny were the winters and the summers were balmy, while spring was an explosion of flowers and autumn a riot of leaves in scarlet, bronze, and amber.
Three beautiful children Oisin had with Niamh, two young sons and a daughter. Niamh gave the two sons the names of Fionn and of Osgar. The name Oisin gave to their daughter was Bláth: “The Flower.”
It seemed to Oisin that three cycles of the seasons numbered three years, for he was accustomed to measuring time, and could not shake off the habit despite that he knew he was dwelling in a land where time had no actuality. He did not feel moments passing, because they never passed, and only at an idle moment did he attempt to calculate the years at all.
But in that idle moment, when he began to consider the passage of hours and days and years, he recalled also the look of sadness in his father’s eyes and the dejection on the countenances of his friends when they had parted. And the desire came over him to see his father and his comrades again.
There came a morning when Oisin was walking among the blossoms with his beautiful wife, Niamh, in the company of Manannán mac Lir. The king and his daughter laughed and conversed, as blithe as always, but Oisin remained silent and thoughtful.When they asked what was troubling him, he said, “I long to see, once again, my father and the Fianna.”
Then it was the turn of Niamh to fall silent, whereas the king said gravely, “If that is your wish, Oisin, I will not prevent you. Mark you—it is on Capall Bán you must make the journey, for that great horse has the ability to cross back and forth between Ireland and Tír na Nóg.”
Following suit, Niamh said to her husband, “You will get leave from me, for I will never prevent your happiness. But for all that,”sh e added quietly, “it is bad news you are giving me, for I am in dread you will never come back here again through the length of your days.”
Oisin smiled at her. “Have no fear, my darling. Capall Bán will bring me safe back again from Ireland.”
Niamh placed herself in front of her husband, obstructing him, so that he must stop in his tracks and look down into her face, meeting her steady gaze. “Bear this in mind Oisin,”sh e said, “if you once get off the horse while you are away, or if you once put your foot to the ground, you will never come back here again.”
He nodded assent. “Your worries are unfounded, because I will only be gone long enough to see my father and comrades, then I will return swiftly.After all, if I am not to dismount, I will not bide in Ireland for more than one day, for it would be difficult to find any rest while couched on the back of a horse!”
Yet she was not appeased.