Unaware of the battle raging in the south, Tuatha, Laegaire and their company said farewell to Dun Emain and entered the forests. Lord Conrad of the deer herders was their guide through the confusing array of tracks and paths. They would have become very lost without him. He led them to the pass to the north of the Sleive swamp and waved farewell, returning to his people to prepare for going in aid of Athlethan.

  To their left there was the mountains and to their right cliffs and beaches. At times from high on a sea cliff they could see the sea stretching into the distance flanked by the land of Dun Emain and Muinremar.

  When they finally reached the great northern road, they were delighted to see their beloved horses, Cethern, Fintan, Factna and Sencad standing under the shade of a tree. Their feet were sore from walking, so, they thanked the woman from Dun Emain who had gone to fetch them, weeks before. She reported they had been stabled, and well cared for in the small village on the edge of the Sleive swamp where they had been left. The reunion was joyous as the horses pranced about, nuzzling, showing their approval of being once more reunited with their beloved friends.

  As they still had a way to go to find a place to camp, they hurriedly loaded the horses with their belongings and leaped into the saddles.

  Tuatha once more rode Sencad, and Laegaire, light in stature, sat behind Tuatha, her arms around his waist.

  The trip was uneventful. Tulpha gangs wisely kept their distance when they saw these warriors in splendid gold-plated and silver-plated armour, shining in the sun, sitting atop majestic stallions.

  The hills were beginning to turn into grassy plains and as they travelled, each day the grasses became sparse till rocks and sand became visible. Eventually it would become the edge of the great desert which formed an impassable barrier in the middle of the Deep Lands.

  They missed Fergus terribly as his guidance and experience had made an enormous difference to their comfort whilst travelling. But they remembered a lot and were coping well. Fergus had stayed back as his work was now the preparation of the armies and training extra soldiers before the ships of Muinremar arrived. His people had been generous in providing provisions for the army, such was their support of this effort to destroy the evil that threatened even their existence, even though it was so far away. A volcano had begun to erupt in the mountains, a sign that even deep in the ground there was tumult, as if the whole of Deep Lands knew what was coming from the things that had occurred in the south under Mount Triune.

  The road became more well-kept as they got closer to Muinremar. At one stage they could see desert to the south and forests to the north.

  It was when they were a cycles journey from Muinremar that they were spotted by people on horses, who approached them hesitantly. It was a scouting party from the city. They looked concerned and approached with their lances lowered.

  “Who approaches the country of Muinremar” asked the leader of the group of scouts. A tall and commanding faced woman with long, dark hair that flowed from under a helmet that covered her face.

  Tuatha rode forward.

  “I am Tuatha De Daanan Findabair, son of King Aillel Findabair Emain. Ruler of Athlethan. We come to seek aid for all those in this world against the dark forces that seek to destroy all that is good.”

  The tall warrior looked surprised. News had not yet reached this far north of the threat of a war.

  “How can you confirm this?” she asked, “if indeed there is an enemy, how are we to know you are not the enemy, come to deceive us?”

  Tuatha drew Salchah and held it out in both hands toward her. “This is Salchah, bane of Sennol. The sword of Emain.”

  She came close and looked at it, wonder in her eyes.

  “I have heard of this sword, it is legend. I will tell my king of it and he will want to see it and meet with you. I will go ahead of you now and prepare for your arrival. I am Audin, captain of the horse scouts. I am honoured to meet you, Tuatha. She turned her horse and signalled to her company, the horses galloped off, carrying them back to their city.

  When the city finally came into view, half a cycle later, the scouts had told the authorities and criers had spread the news. Warriors on horses arrived ahead of a welcoming procession of Lords and Ladies. The people of the city had come too, cheering and shouting as they rode past. The citizens ran to them offering sweet biscuits and fruit. Laegaire was given a beautifully made silk robe that was fastened at the neck by golden clasps. She put it on, and the crowd cheered, impressed by the honour she gave them in taking their gift. Children stood on the side of the road and gaped for a while then ran after them. Their imagination running wild with adventure and princes and princess warriors from afar.

  It wasn’t long before they saw another procession approaching. It was a welcome party in full splendour, shining golden armour and long pikestaffs with the flags of both Muinremar and Athlethan, a symbol of their long-lasting and ancient relationship. Loud music was played by a band. The soldiers surrounded them, smiling and forming a guard of honour. They slowly made their way up the main road of the city, leading to the palace on the hill which functioned as a centrepiece of the golden city of Muinremar.

  Arriving at the palace steps, a man walked down toward them. At first, Tuatha thought he was a servant who would guide them, but on closer inspection he saw the simply dressed bearded man was wearing a crown.

  The man smiled and spoke. “Welcome to our humble city, O Tuatha de Daanan Findabair, son of Aillel.” He bowed toward Tuatha and then went to Laegaire’s horse, held the reins, and held out his hand to her. She took it and dismounted. “My lady,” he said. “I am your humble servant. Please ask me what you require, and it will be supplied.”

  Laegaire glanced at Tuatha over her should and motioned “WOW” with her mouth.

  “It is I who should be your servant, my king”, she said.

  Still holding her hand, King Furbaide Ferbend looked at Tuatha. “Where, may I ask, did you find this amazing warrior princess?” The king asked. “I thought I had found the only one in existence.”

  He motioned to a tall smiling woman at the top of the steps.

  Laegaire gasped. She had never seen a queen like this before. Laegaire’s mother was a remarkable sight, but this woman was on another level. The queen came down the steps toward Laegaire and took her hand from the king’s. “Take no notice of the king,” she said. “He is smooth tongued, a real devil.” She spoke in a laughing singsong sort of voice that the newcomers were quite speechless from hearing.

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  Tuatha dismounted and bowed to the king of Muinremar.

  “My king, said Tuatha, I come on urgent business involving the war in the south.”

  “I know why you come,” the king said. “Captain Audin had told me, I would like to know more. Preparations have begun, but there are things we all need to talk about. But first, please let us make you all comfortable. We have prepared refreshment and rooms for you to wash away the grime from your journey. It grows late, we will have time in the morning to speak of these things.”

  He turned to the three brothers following respectfully behind. “Do not think you are unknown to me, warriors of Esclarmonde,” he said. “Your bravery and names are well known here. Please, come up here with us, you are part of this as much as I.”

  The three brothers bowed and seemed visibly awed by this king and his queen.

  “Walk with pride,” King Furbaide said. “You are princes of Muinremar while you are here, welcome!” he paused, his eyes lighting up, “Do any of you know my daughter, Princess Fiall?” he asked.

  Ardan was the first to speak. “We do not know her, but Tuatha has told us of her.”

  The king looked at Ardan. “You are the oldest?” he asked. “My daughter is companion to Princess Caer Omaith of Muirthemne. If she will have you, I should like her to be your wife. I would so like to have a good affiliation with the people of Esclarmonde. This would unite our two nations and make us both stronger. It was my desire that she would marry Tuatha, but he has already chosen well, and so has Laegaire.” He smiled at her again and she smiled back.

  Tuatha felt a tinge of jealousy at this but wiped it away when he could see how much love this king had for his queen, and his open honesty and charm.

  For the king to ask this of Ardan was not a surprise. Kings often found partners for their sons and daughters, as was the tradition since their arrival to this land. A King that knew his children was trusted to suggest a bride or groom, but marriage was never forced upon the children of a king.

  King Furbaide saw in Ardan the qualities that would please his daughter.

  The beauty of this country and its people made Tuatha feel very much in love with Laegaire, and everyone in the party felt that this country had to be the most romantic one in the whole of the Deep Lands.

  After a few moments, Ardan nodded to King Furbaide, “As you wish my king and as Princess Fiall wishes.”

  “Well said, my man,” said King Furbaide. “She will be furious with me for asking this of you without her knowledge, but once she has met you, I know she will see what I see.”

  Ardan bowed. “Sir, it will be my honour to even just meet her. From what Tuatha has said, I would be a very happy man if she agrees.”

  Laegaire looked around in wonder, shaking her head as if to clear it. This place was like a dream for her. Its people were kind and loving, to the point where one might imagine it would fade away because it was not real. Every person respected the other, and in fact seemed to put others on a pedestal above themselves, and it started with the king who did not even regard himself as the most important person there. If the king could, he would have every man, woman and child at the decision table. But this attitude made him the most trusted leader that had ever existed, and he only ever had their wellbeing at the foremost in all the decisions he made.

  As if in a dream, Laegaire walked hand in hand with the breathtaking queen, who looked sideways at her, smiling, every few seconds. As if to check on her wellbeing, that she was always comfortable.

  “My name is Celthair,” said the queen in her silky voice. “I just know we will be friends.” She leaned close to Laegaire’s ear. “You are with child,” she whispered, squeezing her hand. Laegaire looked at her with amazement. She had suspected but was not sure, yet this miraculous woman had seen it with such clarity it almost felt alarming. These people were like gods, such was their calmness and control of themselves. Laegaire had never felt as safe as she did now. She decided she would name her child after this queen if she had a girl.

  When they got to their rooms, the queen handed Laegaire to Tuatha. “Take care of her,” she said as she looked at him. “She is a gem amongst gold.” But Tuatha already knew it and took his love into their room.

  After the meeting with the king was complete and preparations were underway, new arrived from the south. Tuatha, Laegaire and the three brothers eagerly listened as the herald read the scroll that had been sent by runners across the continent.

  They heard of the battle of Enna Aignech and shed tears at news of its fall. The bravery of the Rochad horsemen and the retreat to Rochad.

  The loss and saving of Princess Caer Omaith.

  The death of King Magach and his two sons and the loss of Morann, presumed dead also.

  Tuatha and Laegaire walked back to their residence hand in hand and Laegaire could sense a melancholy in Tuatha.

  “What is it?” she asked. “Why do you look so worried?”

  “I feel helpless and guilty. I feel I should be over there helping them. I am here, in this safe place and it seems so unfair. Why do I get to be here, and they are all suffering? It doesn’t seem right.”

  Laegaire stopped and looked into his eyes. “Tuatha, your journey is more difficult than theirs. You must prepare the armies of the known lands and make them move to the south and help destroy the evil there. Your time will come where you will join them. It’s a heavier weight on your shoulders knowing all you must do, not knowing if you will succeed.” She smiled at him, seeing the fear and worry in his eyes growing. “But you have us,” she said brightly, turning and looking at their friends walking and talking behind them. Tuatha looked as well and felt the strength in their presence. “Together we will help fulfill your purpose and prove that you are indeed the next king of Athlethan,” she said. Tuatha nodded, grinning faintly.

  It was not only Tuatha who felt this way. The news from the south put them all into a state of melancholy for a while, but it wasn’t long before the place they were living in worked its magic and brought their minds back to the present.

  Two weeks later, the reality of his destiny hit Tuatha hard. Tuatha was lying in the arms of Laegaire, dozing in the warm sunshine in the gardens of the palace of Muinremar. He had needed this rest, and its healing gave him the strength for what was to come.

  It began like a small black dot behind his eyelids, like one gets after looking at a candle flame and the residual light fades and then goes dark. He felt his mind going dark and he was powerless to stop it. Fear rose in his chest. His eyes would not open. Laegaire, unaware, dozed at his side.

  But it was different, there was no pain like last time. It was a warm feeling in the black, not cold and dreadful like when Amerghin had tried to cloud his mind and body. Then a foggy form drifted into the blackness, becoming brighter and more in focus. “Tuatha,” he heard a woman say. “It is I, Dagemar.” His mind relaxed a little, allowing her in. Her voice became stronger. “Listen,” she said, I don’t have much time. Go to Emain Macha, you will find help there. Do not fear, we will see you again.” The voice became fainter toward the end and just before it faded, he heard, “Laegaire is missing…” Then the voice faded away completely and Tuatha awoke to Laegaire speaking into his ear. “Tuatha wake up, come back to me.” She was holding him tight again and a look of fear was on her face. When he opened his eyes, she looked at him with concern. “Was it him again?” she asked.

  Tuatha shook his head, trying to clear the fogginess from his mind. “Don’t worry, it was your mother. Trying to tell me something.”

  “What did she say?” asked Laegaire eagerly.

  “We are going to Emain Macha,” said Tuatha simply. “It is time. That was all she told us to do. Oh, and she does not know where you are, I do wish I could have replied.”

  ***

  In the early days, just after the creation of the Deep Lands by the Riangbra, there were giants that lived amongst the men and women. They were the healers and protectors. But over time they had withdrawn themselves from men and been pushed away and disappeared beyond the desert, sea, and mountains to the northwest. The only giants that had been seen since were Emim, and some halfmen, who were still massive. These were the ones that had joined the Dark Lord’s forces and had already attacked Enna Aignech and Rochad.

  The place of the giants was called Emain Macha, as a warning by King Emain the first himself. It meant ‘Emain do not enter.’

  But nobody believed the giants existed. Men who had ventured west from Muinremar had never returned. After that no one really was interested in going there to find out.

  ***

  “My poor mother,” said Laegaire sadly. “It takes a lot out of her to enter minds. I have often seen her sleeping for days after she does it. I hope she is okay. I hope father is being kind to her. I hope to see her again soon.”

  “How does she do it?” asked Tuatha inquisitively.

  “She told me once,” continued Laegaire. “It is a gift very few have had in her family.” It is not power she uses like my father; it is an ability she has worked hard to build on. She often calls me to dinner using her mind, but over long distance it takes a massive toll.”

  “She also said she uses it to converse with a friend of hers. Another woman called Rhiannon, a Riangbra scribe and keeper of the Chronical Prophetica.”

  Tuatha looked at her in surprise. “Old Rhiannon the scribe? Yes, The keeper of the books of Riangbra.” He thought about it for a while, and they sat in silence. Suddenly Tuatha sat up, making Laegaire jump.

  “Of course! That makes sense now. Rhiannon is telling your mother to pass on to me where to go next, based on the prophecies. That’s why she told me to go to Emain Macha.”

  “Don’t jump up like that when I’m sitting on you, please,” Laegaire murmured, putting her head into the crook of Tuatha’s neck. They sat huddled together for a few moments, their minds wandering over what they might experience over the days following. What was their destiny?

  “When should we leave?” asked Laegaire, a concerned look on her face.

  “Why are you looking worried?” asked Tuatha.

  She looked at Tuatha, her eyes wide. “I am with child” she said. Tuatha leaped up, his arms high and a cry of pure joy escaped his lips. He pulled the now laughing Laegaire to her feet and spun her around, leaping around her like a mythical faery. “Oh!” he said quickly, his face full of concern, gently placing her carefully back on her couch. She laughed again. “Oh Tuatha, I am neither weak nor ill. I am a warrior, able to carry children into battle.”

  Tuatha’s face filled with horror. “Over my dead body!” he said. Then once again he pulled her to her feet and danced wildly with joy, till he was breathless. Then he took her in his arms and danced her around the room slowly, their foreheads together, smiling happily.

  “We will stay here till they are born,” he whispered.

  Laegaire nodded. “Yes, my loves,” holding Tuatha and her slightly swollen belly.